Biscuit Sandwich Pakora

Biscuit Sandwich Pakora

Ingredients :

For the filling:

• 2 medium size boiled potatoes
• 1 tspn green chili, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro/coriander leaves
• 1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
• 2 tspn raisins
• 1 tspn roasted groundnuts
• Salt to taste

For the outer crisp coating:

• 2 cups besan (chick pea flour/gram flour)
• 1 cup cornflour
• a pinch of hing
• 1/4 tspn red chili powder
• water
• salt
• vermicelli  or crushed cornflakes

And 8-10 Marie Biscuits and oil for frying.


Method :
Peel the boiled potatoes. The potatoes should be boiled really well. Mash the potatoes when they are still warm.Add the coriander leaves, green chili,ginger-garlic paste,raisins, ground nuts and salt to the mashed potatoes.Mix these with the mashed potatoes. Check the seasonings and adjust accordingly. Keep aside.

Preparing the besan batter:
In a bowl, take the besan (chick pea flour/gram flour) and cornflour.Add the red chili powder, asafoetida and salt.Add around 1/2 cup water and mix. .The batter should not be very thick nor too thin. Check the seasonings and adjust accordingly.Add a few drops of oil to the batter and mix well.Keep the ready batter aside.

Assembling and Frying the Biscuit Pakora:
Before you do the following steps, heat up some oil for deep frying the pakoras.Take 2 tbsp of the mashed potato mixture and apply it on the biscuit evenly.Cover this potato stuffed biscuit with another biscuit . I choose to keep it plain. But if you want, you can apply the same green mint coriander chutney or tomato sauce or sweet chaat chutney to this second biscuit .You have now a beautiful biscuit sandwich. Just slightly press the sandwich. Take the entire sandwich in your hand and dip it in the besan batter.Coat the stuffed biscuit sandwich evenly with the besan batter. Be gentle with the pakoras. Take care not to keep the stuffed biscuit sandwich a long time in the batter as the biscuit tends to break.Coat pakoras with vermicelli or cornflakes. By now, your oil is hot and you can easily slid the besan batter coated biscuit sandwich in the oil.Fry the biscuit pakoras on a medium flame till they are crisp and golden brown.Drain on a tissue.Serve them hot or warm with tomato sauce or with any chutney of your choice,  or even coconut chutney. .Enjoy the bread pakodas in the rains with a cup of indian ginger chai or masala chai.

 

Tomato Soup

Tomato Soup

Ingredients :

• Ripe Red Tomatoes -  4

• Carrot - 1

• Beetroot - 1 small piece

• Corriander Stems - 4

• Garlic - 3 cloves

• Ginger - 1 inch size

• Cinnamon stick - 1 inch in size

• Cloves - 2

• Pepper  - 5

• Bay Leaf  - 1

• Star Anise - 1 small

• Corn Flour - 2 spoons

• Water - 2 cups

Method :

Cut the tomatoes into 4 parts and transfer them into a vessel that could fit in your pressure cooker. add the spices bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and pepper to the tomatoes. add ginger and garlic to. add a small bit of beetroot, one chopepd carrot, corriander stems and 2 cups of water. pressure cook all together upto 3-4 whistles. alternatively you can cook them stove top for over 5-10 mins or also microwave them at very high for about 5-6 mins.

Cool them and remove the spices(cinnamon,cloves,star anise and bay leaf) except pepper.

Meanwhile prepare the corn starch by mixing 2 spoons of corn flour with 1/4 cup of water without any lumps.

grind and filter the soup. while you filter, the nutrients of the vegetables is also filtered!! but filtering is just to remove the tomato skin. boil the soup. add the corn starch to the boiling soup and give a stir. let the soup boil in sim for about 2-3 mins. add salt to taste, bit of pepper powder and a bit of aji-na-motto(optional, acts as a taste maker). serve hot! 

 

Gobi Parantha..

Gobi Parantha..

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Whole Wheat Flour

• 2 cups Grated Cauliflower

• Finely chopped Coriander leaves

• 1-2 Chopped Green chillies

• 1 Teaspoon Ginger-garlic paste

• Garam Masala as per taste

• 1/2 Dhane-Jeera powder
• 1/2-1 Teaspoon Amchoor( Dried Mango) Powder
• Salt to taste

• Butter /Oil for frying

Method:
Make dough out of whole-wheat flour (atta).
Mix grated cauliflower (gobi), green chillies, ginger-garlic paste, coriander leaves, garam masala, dhane-jeera powder, amchoor powder , salt as a filling in paratha.Make two medium size roti, add the filling to the one roti and cover it with the second one. Now roll it slightly.Cook on a pre-heated Tawa and pour half tablespoon oil or butter on it.Spread it on the paratha and shallow fry over low heat.
Turn it and again pour oil or butter on the other side.Cook on a low heat till golden brown.
Serve Gobi Paratha hot with curd.

Chole Masala

Chole Masala

Ingredients :

•  1 cup chickpeas/ garbanzo bean/ chana (soaked overnight) 
•  2 Medium onions
•  2 medium tomatoes
•  1 Teaspoon garam masala
•  Red chilli powder as ( per taste)
•  2-3 tsp chole masala (any brand)
•  1 Teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• Finely chopped coriander
• Salt to Taste 
• 1-2 tablespoon Oil/ Ghee

Method :
 Pressure cook the chickpeas/ garbanzo bean/ chana using sufficient water. Keep aside.Puree the tomatoes and the onions in a blender and keep aside. Take a heavy bottom pan, add the oil/ghee ,add the ginger-garlic paste and saute until the garlic turns light brown.Add onion puree and saute till  it turns transparent.Then add tomato puree and saute until the raw smell of tomato is gone.Then add garam masala, red chilli powder, Chole masala, Salt and mix well. Add the cooked chickpeas/ garbanzo bean/ chana along with the water and continue to cook covered. Simmer for a while until the gravy blends with the beans.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with puri or bhatura.

Moong Daal Bhaji / Pakoda

Moong Daal Bhaji / Pakoda

Ingredients :

• 1 cup moong daal(yellow) ( green gram)
• 2-3 finally chopped green chilies
• 1/2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• 1/4 tablespoon mango powder
• Some chopped coriander leaves
• Salt to taste

Method :
First wash moong daal and soak it in the water for 3-4 hours.Take it out from water. Mis all other ingredients with daa and grind the mixture Deep fry on medium heat to golden brown.Fry slowly so that you will get crispy moong pakode.Serve hot with tamrind or pudina (mint)chatni.

Spicy Appe / Spicy Appam

Spicy Appe / Spicy Appam

Ingredients :

• 1/4 cup urad dal
• 3/4 cup rice
• 1-2 Tsp Coriander-Green chillies-Ginger Paste
• Oil for frying
• Salt to taste

Method :
Soak rice and dal separately for 3-4 hours. Grind them separately to a smooth paste and keep in different containers. Allow it to ferment for 10-12 hours. Mix both the batter together, add salt , add Coriander-Green chillies-Ginger Paste and mix well. Heat Appe Maker and add some oil to all the moulds. Now Half fill the moulds with batter and prepare appam by cooking on both sides.
Serve hot with coconut chutney.

DrakshaRatan Korma / AngoorRatan Korma

DrakshaRatan Korma / AngoorRatan Korma

Ingredients :

• 1 Cup Fresh Grapes
• 2 Tbsp Cashew-nuts Paste
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup Fresh Cream
• 3/4 Cup Curd 
• 50 / 75 Grams Khoya / Khoa
• 2-3 Tsp Sugar
• 1 Tsp Black Paper Powder
• 1 Tsp Cardamom Powder
• 2 Tbsp Water
• 2-3 Tsp Truity Fruity
• 2 Tsp Finely  Chopped Coriander
• Salt to Taste

Method :
Take a Pan / Kadai . Add cashew-nuts paste and water and mix well.Then add curd ,Sugar mix well and On the Gas ,put Pan on it ans stir for 5 minutes till mixture becomes little thick.Then off the Gas, Add Milk, Khoya, Fresh Cream, Black Paper Powder and Salt to the mixture and mix well.Now add Grapes, Truity Fruity, Coriander leaves& Mix well .

Garnish with some chopped grapes and Truity Fruity and Serve Hot with Butter Roti.

Anda Bhurji / Egg Bhurji

Anda Bhurji / Egg Bhurji

Ingredients :

• 4 Eggs
• 1 Finely chopped Onion
• 2 Finely chopped Green chillies
• 1 Tsp Chilli powder
• 1/2 Tsp Haldi 
• 1/2 Tsp Garam Maasala
• 1 Tsp Cumin seeds
• Salt to taste
• 2-3 Tsp Oil
• 1/4 cup Finely chopped Cilantro / Coriander leaves

Method :
Blend the eggs well.Add salt ,red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala to blended eggs.Now heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and saute for a minute.Then add chopped onion and chopped green chillies, Saute till onion become soft and light pink in color .Now add blended egg's mixture to it and continuously stir and let it cook for 5 minutes.Mix coriander leaves and serve hot.

Alu Vadi

Alu Vadi

Ingredients :

• 5-6 colocassia leaves (Alu chi pane in Marathi)
• 1/2 cup gram flour
• 1/4 cup rice flour (for crispiness)
• 1 Tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 Tsp black maharashtrian masala or garam masala
• 1 Tsp tamarind paste
• 2 Tsp jaggery or sugar
• 1 Tbsp white sesame seeds
• 1 Tsp turmeric powder
• 1-2 Tsp chili powder
• 1/4 Tsp asafoetida
• Salt to taste
• Oil for frying

Method :


Remove stems and wash colocassia leaves. Drain and wipe off the excess water.Mix gram flour and rice flour. Add sesame seeds, black masala, tamarind paste. jaggery, chili powder, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, asafoetida, salt and water to make a thick paste.Spread the paste on one leaf,spread some sesame seeds, put another leaf on it and again spread some paste on it , the sesame seeds. Like this arrange all the leaves one above the other with the layer of paste in between them.

Wrap the leaves tightly and make a roll. Tie it with a thread if required.Steam cook alu vadi for about 25 minutes.

Remove and insert a toothpick or knife into the roll to check the doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, the roll is cooked. Let cool and slice.Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Deep fry the pieces in hot oil. Or shallow fry them on a flat griddle. Remove when golden brown and crisp. 

Sweet Corn Cheese Roti / Paratha

Sweet Corn Cheese Roti / Paratha

Ingredients :

• 1.1/2 Cup whole wheat flour
• 4 tbsp soya flour
• 1/2 Cup boiled and crushed Sweet corn kernels ( makai ke dane)
• 2 tsp Ginger - Green chilli Paste
• 1/2 Cup Grated Cheese
• 1/4 cup Finely chopped Coriander
• Salt to taste
• Oil for kneading & cooking

Method :
 

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and knead it into a semi-stiff dough using enough water as required. Keep aside for 10 minutes under a wet muslin cloth.(P.N : keep dough aside for only 10 min , nor more than that ) Knead again using soya oil till smooth and divide it into equal portions.Roll out one portion of the dough into circle using a little flour for rolling.Cook the roti on a tava (griddle) over a medium flame using soya oil till both sides are golden brown.Repeat for remaining dough.Serve hot.

Tandoori Prawns / Shrimps

Tandoori Prawns / Shrimps

Ingredients :

• 7-8 Pieces of Jumbo Prawns
• ¼ cup Yogurt
• 1 tsp Tandoori Masala
• 1 tsp Chili powder
• ½ tsp Turmeric
• 1 tsp Coriander powder
• 1 tsp Garlic and ginger paste
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp chopped coriander leaves
• Salt to taste

Method :

Mix yogurt, salt, tandoori powder, chili powder, coriander powder, garlic/ginger paste, olive oil, and turmeric powder together. Then add shrimp to the yogurt mixture and marinate for 4 hrs or overnight. Grill the shrimp on a grill pan or on an outdoor grill until done.Garnsih with coriander leaves and serve.

Gajar ka Halwa / Gajar Halwa

Gajar ka Halwa / Gajar Halwa

Gajar (Carrot) Halwa is a traditional dessert made with carrots and milk/ khoya

Ingredients :

• 2 Cups Grated Carrots .
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 Tbsp Khoya
• 2 Tsp Fresh Cream
• 2-3 Tbsp Dry Fruits Pieces
• 1 Tbsp Clarified Butter / Ghee

Method :

Heat ghee in a thick-bottomed pan, add grated carrots and saute for five minutes.Ad sugar and cook for two to three minutes or till the sugar melts and mixes well, stirring continuously.When mixture dries little bit then add khoya to the mixture and saute for 3-4 minutes. Then add fresh cream , fry fruits pieces and mix well and cook for 2 minutes. Garnish with some dry fruits and serve hot or at room temperature.

MultiGrain Mathari

MultiGrain Mathari

Ingredients :

• 1/2 Cup Wheat Flour
• 2 Tbsp Rice Flour
• 2 Tbsp Finger Millet / Raagi / Nachani Flour
• 2 Tbsp Sorghum / Jowar/ Jwari Flour
• 2 Tbsp CornFlour
• 2 Tbsp Finely chopped Coriander leaves
• 2 Tbsp Ajwain ( bishop's weed)
• 1 Tbsp White Til seeds ( sesame )
• 1 Tbsp Hot Clarified butter / ghee
• 1 Tsp Black Paper Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder
• Salt as per taste
• Water as required
• Oil for deep frying 

Method :
 
Mix all flours in a bowl. Add Clarified butter, Ajwain,Sesame seeds,Coriander , salt, Red chilli powder,Black paper powder.Then add water as needed and  make tight dough Set the dough aside and cover with a damp cloth. Let the dough rest for 15-20 minutes.Then divide dough into small ball,roll it and make light marks with Fork.Deep fry in oil and serve hot / cool.You can store them in Air tight container for 4-5 days.

Masale Bhat

Masale Bhat

A staple of any Maharashtrian wedding menu, this special rice preparation is a spicy, vegetarian and Maharashtrian version of the North Indian  Pulav. The spice that really makes this dish “masaledaar” (spicy) is the Maharashtrian Goda/Kala Masala. Adding a vareity of veggies like peas, gherkins (thondli/tinda), cabbage, cauliflower, onion and eggplant (single or combination) to this quick and easy one pot concoction not only enhances the flavor but also adds to the overall color and texture of the dish.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup Basmati rice
• 2-3 Tbsp oil
• ½  tsp mustard seeds (rai/mohri)
• ½  tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
• ½  tsp red chilli powder
• 1-2 pinches asofoetida (hing)
• ½ cup fresh peas
• 2-3 tsp Cashew Nuts pieces
• 2 ½  cups water
• salt, to taste
• 1½ tsp Maharashtrian Goda/Kala Masala (if can’t find it, you can use the regular Garam Masala)
• Grated Fresh coconut (optional for garnishing )
• Finely chopped Fresh coriander(  for garnishing )
• Ghee (clarified butter optional)

Method :

Rinse the basmati rice in water and set aside.

Heat oil in a large pot and add mustard and cumin seeds.When they cackle add turmeric powder and pinch of aesofoetida.Then add the peas and sauté for a min. Add the rice and cashew nuts and sauté for another min or so.Season with salt, goda/kala masala and red chilli powder. Add water, mix well and cook covered for 15-20 mins on medium-low heat, stirring once in a while, till the rice soaks up all the water and is well cooked.Garnish with chopped coriander and grated coconut. Serve hot with a teaspoon of melted ghee

Puri / Poori

Puri / Poori

Puri is an unleavened Indian bread, commonly consumed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other countries of South Asia.Puri is most commonly served at breakfast. It is also served at special or ceremonial functions as part of ceremonial rituals along with other vegetarian food offered in prayer as prasadam.

Ingredients :

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup water (lukewarm)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon oil
• Oil to deep fry

Method :

Mix whole-wheat flour and salt . Add water as needed and  make tight dough.Dough for puri should be firm but smooth.Set the dough aside and cover with a damp cloth. Let the dough rest for 15 minutes or longer.
Then divide dough into small ball,roll it and deep fry in oil and serve hot

BeetRoot Paratha

BeetRoot Paratha

Ingredients :

• 2 Cups Wheat Flour
• 1 Cup Grated Beetroot
• 1/2 Cup Finely chopped Coriander Leaves
• 1-2 Finely Chopped Onions
• 2-3 Finely Chopped Green Chillies
• 1 Tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
• 1/2 Tsp Amchur ( Dried Mango) Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric Powder
• Salt to Taste
• 2 pinches of Asafoetida (Hing)
• Oil as required

Method :
Mix grated beetroot, onion, coriander leaves, green chillies, ginger-garlic paste, amchur powder, garam masala, salt, turmeric powder in a bowl. Then add wheat and knead a soft dough adding enough water.

Then let the dough rest for 25-30 minutes.Now make equal size balls and roll out parathas.Heat tawa and fry parathas applying oil in both sides. Serve hot with Curd or Pudina Chutney.

Bread Paneer Rolls

Bread Paneer Rolls

Ingredients :

• 1 Cup grated Paneer
• 1 Finely chopped onion
• 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Amchoor(Dry Mango) Powder
• 1/4 Tsp Jeera (Cumin) Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
• 1 Tsp Tomato ketchup / sauce
• Some Finely chopped coriander
• Butter to toast
• 6 -8 slices of bread
• Salt to taste

Method :
In a bowl take grated paneer.Add red chilli powder, garam masala, chopped onion, cumin powder, chopped coriander, salt to it and mix well.Then add tomato ketchup and ginger garlic paste and mix well again softly and set aside.
Now take bread slices and cut their edges and roll out / flatten the  white portion of bread with rolling pin. Then place about 1 Tbsp of filling on one end of the bread slice and gently roll out the slice from one end to make a roll.Make sure that filling stays well within the first turn of the roll. (Note : You can Apply some thick maida + water paste at the end so that roll will not open). Repeat for remaining slices.Then heat pan, apply butter to rolls well on all sides . Now roast rolls in a pan lightly, so that all sides turn brown. Serve with tomato sauce.

Rasgulla

Rasgulla

Ingredients :

For Rasgulla :

• 4 Cups Milk
• 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice dissolved in 1 Tbsp Water
• 1 Tbsp Maida (All purpose flour)

For Syrup :

• 4 Cups Water
• 2 Cups Sugar
• 1/4 Tsp Cardamom Powder
• 4-5 sticks of Kesar

Method :

Heat Milk and bring it to boil. When it starts boiling, add lemon juice and wait fro milk to curdle completely.
Then remove from heart and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.After that pour it over a thin cotton cloth and tie it with a tight knot. On straining this milk, what we get is Paneer.Wash this paneer nicely under cold water to remove lemon juice flavor.Now knead Paneer for 5-7 minutes to make a smooth dough.Add Maida and knead again for few minutes.Then make small balls of dough and keep aside.(Note: remember , balls will grow in size when cooked in syrup, so make them small in size , about 1.1/2-2 cm in size.)
Now for making sugar syrup, mix sugar , water and cardamom powder in a saucepan and bring it to boil.Add kesar sticks and then add those paneer balls to hot syrup on medium heat and let it cook for 20 minutes with lid partially covered.Once rasgullas cooked, transfer to serving dish, refrigerate and then serve chilled garnishing with some dry fruit pieces.

MalPua

MalPua

Ingredients :

• 1 Cup Wheat flour
• 1 Cup Maida
• 1 Cup Jaggery
• Water as required
• Oil 

Method :

            Dissolve jaggery in a water and add Wheat flour and Maida to it to form a batter of pouring consistency. Heat oil in frying pan and pour some batter with the ladle to form a malpua.Fry both the sides till it becomes golden brown in color. you can serve malpua with dry fruits on the top.

Paneer Paratha

Paneer Paratha

Ingredients :

• 2 cups wheat flour
• 1tbsp oil
• Water to knead the dough
• A Pinch of Salt

      For stuffing

• 1.1/2 Cup Grated Paneer
• 1 Finely Chopped Onion
• 2 Tbsp Green Chilli Paste
• 1 Tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
• 1/2 Tsp Roasted Cumin Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Dry Coriander Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 Tsp Amchoor ( Dry Mango) Powder
• 1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
• Salt to taste

Method :

Take a bowl , mix wheat flour, salt, oil and then add water little by little to make a stiff dough.Cover dough with wet towel and set aside for 20-30 minutes. For stuffing mix all the ingredients listed above.Now divide the dough into small balls. Roll out balls into a small circle , place stuffing in the center, bring up the ends upwards above the stuffing to cover it. Once they are brought together like a pouch, make sure they overlap and press your palm on it.It will flatten the dough. Then roll it out into a circle.Heat tawa and place paratha on it. Trickle little ghee around paratha.Flip and cook evenly on both sides till it turns golden brown on both sides.Serve hot with pickle or tomato ketchup.