Chocolaty Smiling Faces...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,

This chocolate coated smiling faces is very tasty sweet loved specially by kids, but even i love it:-))...I had eaten a similar sweet some months back for a party and i had liked it a lot.It was a cake ball coated with chocolate.So i decided to give it a try at home and it was succesful.It gets ready soon and is very tempting.It can be served as special sweet for a kids birthday party at home,they will love it.

INGREDIENTS:
200 grams chocolate sponge cake
3-4 table spoon strawberry jam
2 table spoon totty-footy
1/4 cup roasted and chopped almonds
2 cups grated dark semisweet chocolate
1/4 cup condensed milk

For Decorating:
20 gems
10 almonds
10 whole cashewnuts

METHOD:

Crumble the cake in a bowl to fine powder.Add jam, tooty frooty and almond pieces in it and mix it well.Kned it little to form a balls.Now take little mixture and roll big lemon size ball of it.Repeat it with the remaining mixture.Keep aside.

Now Melt the grated chocolate in microwave for 1 min or melt it using a double boiler.When its almost melted add the condensed milk in it and cook for few seconds.

Remove it and dip the rolled balls in it and let them get fully coated with the melted chocolate mixture.Place them on butter paper.Put gems as eyes, cut almond as nose and cashewnut as smiling lips.

Refrigerate it for 15 mins and it will get fully set.Can be stored in refrigerator for up to one week.

Clams(Teesri) Stirfry...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: , ,

Clams are very famous in goa among non-vegetarians. They are found near river banks here for some months and they have big demand.Even i am a big fan of clams.Generally two varieties of clams are available white and black ones.White ones are called "Teesryo" or "Tisryo" and black ones are called " khubbe" in goan language konkani.In clams soft and tasty meat is present in between hard shells.While using for cooking, the clams are opened carefully and the soft meat inside the shell is used in a variety of dishes. Usually one of the two shells is kept intact and the whole meat of thet clamp is tranfered in it,offcourse that shell is discarded during eating. Keeping one shell and cooking gives a nice look to the dish as well its real fun to remove the soft meat from it and eat:-)).Here many traditonal dishes are prepared from it.This is clamp stirfry which i love.Its called "Teesri Sadsadaille" in konakani which means stir fry.Its a very simple recipe which my mom makes and i just love it.

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups cleaned clams (with one shell kept)
1 cup chopped onions
2-3 green chillis slitted
2-3 table spoon freshly grated coconut
1 tea spoon turmeric
2 tea spoon goan garam masala or normal garam masala(optional)
1/4 tea spoon assafoetida
3-4 dry kokum peels(or kokum water)
salt
oil

METHOD:

Heat a pan and add little oil and when it gets heated add assafoetida.In it add 1/4 cup chopped onion and saute it till light brown.Now add the clams and saute them for 3-4 mins in it.

Add remaining chopped onion and green chillis.Add water till the clams get dipped in it, do not add much .Close the lid and let the clams get cooked in it.They do not take much time hardly 5-7 mins.

When they are done add salt,turmeric powder and garam masala.Mix it and cook for 2 mins.Garam masala is optional if you want it to be less spicy avoid it and use more green chillis.Now add the grated coconut and cook for more 2 mins.Now when its almost done and water its dried up, add the dry kokum
peels and cook for 1 mins and remove from flame.

Serve hot with rice and goan fish curry.


NOTE: If kokum is not available you can use tamrind pulp to give the dish a bit sour taste.In goa kokums are used it and they are more preferred.


Preparation Time: 20 mins




Wheatgrass Chocolate Pudding...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: , , ,

This wheatgrass chocolate pudding is made using sprouted whole wheat and milk, and flavoured with cocoa powder to give it a nice chocolaty taste.It is a very healthy dessert and can be made quickly if sprouted wheat is available.It is little similar to famous ragi pudding which is very famous in goa called as "satva".I will post that recipe soon.Try this healthy chocolaty pudding and i am sure you will love it.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sprouted whole wheat
4-5 cups whole milk
1-2 table spoon cocoa powder
1 table spoon vanilla custard powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 tea spoon vanilla essence


METHOD:

Grind sprouted wheat along with little milk, custard powder and cocoa powder to a fine paste.Mix this paste with the remaining milk.

Heat a non-stick pan and add this mixture in it.Cook on very low flame stirring countinously.This is important as if not stirred properly the mixture will form lumps.Do not allow it to form lumps and go on stirring.

Add sugar and keep on stirring.After some time it will start thickning.Countinue stirring and cooking it until it starts leaving the pan and get a thickning consistency.

When done add vanilla essence and mix.Remove from flame.Pour in moulds and allow it to cool.When its cooled refrigerate it till fully set.

Garnish with finely grated chocolate and glaced cherries.


NOTE: To get sprouts for wheat, soak them in water for 24 hours.Then drain the water and keep it closed for more 24 hours in a warm and dark place.You can even tie them in dark coloured cloth to get sprouts early.Wash the sprouted wheat well in water 2-3 times before use.
Add amount of cocoa powder according to your taste.


Preparation Time : 25 mins

Spanish Omelette(Tortilla De Patatas)

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: , ,
Spanish omelette or tortilla de patatas is a typical Spanish dish consisting of an egg omelette with fried potatoes. Frequently it also includes onion , spring onion depending on region or taste.I like this dish from before and i modify it by adding and changing its ingredients.This is my most favourite version in which i add mushroom, bellpeppers etc. Its a very simple recipe yet tasty:-))

INGREDIENTS:

4 eggs
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bellpeppers
3/4 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup finely diced potatoes
3-4 table spoon milk(optional)
1 tea spoon pepper powder
1/2 tea spoon termeric
olive oil
salt

METHOD:

Heat a pan and add little oil.Add chopped onions and saute them till soft.Now add the diced potatoes and saute them for 2 mins.Now close the lid and let them get cooked for 2-3 mins.Saute them till they turn light brown.

Now add chopped capsicum and saute for 2-3 mins.Now finally add sliced mushrooms and cook for 1 min.Add little salt and turmeric and saute more for 2-3 mins.By now mushrooms must have also got cooked well.

Beat the eggs well in a bowl and add milk.Milk is added as it makes the omelette more fluffy.Add salt and pepper powder according to your taste and mix it well.Now add the sauted veges in it and mix it.

Heat a non-stick pan and add olive oil.Add all the egg mixture and spread it evenly on it.Normaly for 4 eggs 8" pan is well suited as this omelette needs to be thick.But i had 12" so mine is a bit thin.Close its lid and let it get cooked on low flame.

After 5-6 mins it will get cooked.Base of it will get brown, no need to turn it and cook.Remove it from flame.

Slice it and serve with bread toast or plain.


NOTE: You can even add whole spring onion in it.


Preparation Time: 10 mins

Mushroom Peas Masala...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,

This mushroom mutter masala is a mushroom dish which i had tried some days back.Normally we make simple mushroom stir fry when we get the local tasty mushrooms here in rainy season.They are very very tasty, i have posted few recipes of them before. But in this season we get the normal button mushrooms which are not that tasty so i decided to add more taste in it by adding green peas in it.I even added tomato puree and onions paste and it tasted very good.I loved this preparation as it was very quick and simple. Here our some of my mushroom recipes which i had posted before.



INGREDIENTS:

2 cups chopped button mushrooms
3/4 cup green peas
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup blanched onion paste
3/4 cup tomato puree
1 table spoon ginger-garlic paste
2 tea spoon kitchen king masala
1 tea spoon garam masala
1-2 tea spoon red chilli powder
1 tea spoon dry oregeno
salt
oil

METHOD:

Heat little oil and saute the sliced mushrooms for 2-3 mins.Blanch green peas in hot water.

Heat a pan and add oil.Saute the chopped onion till light brown.Now add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for more 2 mins.

Now add the sauted mushrooms and green peas.Add chilli powder, kitchen king masala, oregeno and salt.Mix it well and cook for 2 mins stirring countinously.

Now add onion paste cook for 1 min.Add tomato puree and little water and let it get cooked for some time.Add sugar and garam masala.When its almost cooked well and bit dry remove from flame.

Serve hot with parathas or roti.


Preparation Time: 20 mins

Egg Stuffed Spinach Paratha...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: , ,


This egg stuffed spinach paratha is a very tasty and filling dish.This egg paratha was a common recipe at my place, so i modified it by using spinach paratha dough instead of normal and they turned out to be very tasty .They make a healthy and filling snack or breakfast.

INGREDIENTS:

For Dough:

2 cup wheat flour
1 cup spinach leaves(palak)
1 inch ginger
3-4 green chillis
1/2 cup coriander leaves
2 tea spoon cumin powder
1 tea spoon chilli powder
1 tea spoon corainder powder
salt
oil

For Stuffing:

3 eggs
2 onions chopped
1/2 tea spoon pepper powder
1 tea spoon turmeric powder
salt
butter/oil

METHOD:

For dough grind all the ingredients except flour and oil into a fine paste using little water.Now mix this paste into flour and kned into a soft dough using water and little oil.Keep aside for 30 mins.

Now add salt and turmeric powder to the chopped onions.Beat eggs and add to this mixture and add pepper powder.

Now make balls and roll out thin rotis of it.To make a single paratha roll out two thin rotis of equal size.Heat a tawa and add butter.Now put one roti on it and spread egg mixture on it.Do not add lots of it as it can come out.Fill the whole roti with it leaving 1 inch area around its edge.

Now take the second similar size roti and place it exactly on top of the first one.Press and seal the edges carefully so that mixture do not come out.Let the paratha get cooked.When its done on one side turn it and cook on other side.Add butter in middle.

When its done on both the sides, cut it into pieces and serve with ketchup.


NOTE:Vegetarains can use grated paneer in this paratha instead of egg.Add salt. turmeric and little chat masala and lemon juice to grated panner and use as its stuffing.
This spinach dough can be used to make simple parathas also which taste very good with pickle or curd.


Preparation Time: 20 mins

Beetroot Burfi...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category:


I was in mood of making some colourful sweet.I like the colour of beetroot,as it gives a nice natural red colour to any dish in which it is added.So i decided to make its burfi, as halwa was bit common.I used the normal carrot halwa recipe, but used fresh grated coconut as it helps burfi to set and keeps it firm and also id did not want to use khoya.I also did not use milk in it as i had to store it for some more days and milk would make it sticky.I made this burfis and they were very nice.I liked its colour so i did not garnish it with any dryfruits to keep its natural look.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup grated beetroot
1/2 cup freshly grated coconut
1/4 cup cashewnut powder(optional)
3/4 cup sugar
2-3 table spoon ghee
1/2 tea spoon cardomom powder

METHOD:

Squeeze the grated beetroot to remove extra juice from it and make it bit dry.Heat a kadai and add 1 table spoon ghee.

when the ghee is melted and hot add the grated beet root and saute it till it becomes dry and soft.It will take around 3-4 mins.Now add the grated fresh coconut and cook it while stirring countinously for 2-3 mins.

Now add the cashewnut powder and stir well.Cook for 1 more min.Now add sugar and keep on stirring till the mixture thickens.Use sugar according to your taste.When it is thickened well add the remaining ghee and stir till the mixture forms a ball and the ghee starts coming out of it.spinkle cardomom powder and remove from flame.

Now grease a tray and spread the mixture evenly.After 5 mins when its almost half set give it desired shape and let it set fully.

It remains fresh in refrigerator for more then a week.


NOTE: I had used heart shaped buscuit cutter to give it heart shape.


Preparation Time: 20 mins

Corn On The Cob...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,

Roasted or steamed corn always tastes good.Its more famous in important tourist spots.In goa on every beach you will find many roasted corn stalls.Here corn is roasted and lemon juice, salt and spices are applied and sold.Eating it at this places is always fun.I had been a big fan of this roasted spiced corn from childhood.I make it often at home and enjoy it.I had never tried to modify its preparation.But somedays before i came across this recipe and found it very interesting as the mariantion applied was different and even the roasting procedure was different.It was very much different from the usual roasted corn.So i tried it and just loved it.It was nice buttery and tasty.This recipe will taste best only when american sweet corn is used as it is more sweet campared to our indian corn.This recipe has got its name as "corn on the cob" cause of its special roasting and serving technique.Corn on the cob is the culinary term for a cooked ear of freshly-picked maize from a cultivar of sweet corn. The ear is picked while the kernels are still tender. Other varieties called field corn are edible as "roasting ears", but are not tender or sweet. Ears of corn are roasted, steamed or boiled, with or without their green husks. The husk leaves are then removed before serving.Corn on the cob is usually eaten while still warm. I am sure you will love it.

INGREDIENTS:

1 whole american sweet corn
1 table spoon butter
1 table spoon chopped corainder leaves
1 table spoon finely chopped garlic cloves
salt

METHOD:

Peel the corn and keep aside.Do not throw its husk out.

Take a bowl and add butter in it.Then add chopped garlic, salt, corainder and mix it well.Apply a thick layer of this paste on the corn.

Cover it fully with kept husks,Just one thin layer enough to cover it fully.Then tie a long thread fully around it,and roast it evenly on hot charcoals or even gas will do.Do not allow the tied husks to fall.

when husk is almost black that means the corn is done.Remove the tied husk and serve hot.


NOTE: Use only american sweet corn for this recipe.

Preparation Time: 10 mins

Saffron-Carrot Drink...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,


This is a very tasty and healthy drink recipe.I had read it on one of the health magazines and tried it.Apart from being very nutrituous and filling its also very tasty.Now i have decided to enjoy it frequently:-))

INGREDIENTS:

2-3 fresh carrots
15-20 almonds
2 glasses of milk(400 ml)
few saffron strands
2 tea spoon kesar-elaichi syrup(or cardomom powder)
sugar
2-3 table spoon charoli nuts(chironji)

METHOD:

Peel the carrots and dice them.Blanch almonds in hot water and peel them.

In a vessel add carrot pieces , almonds , saffron strands and little milk so that the carrot pieces get dipped in it fully and pressure cook this for 2 to 3 whistles until soft and allow to cool.

Now blend it along with sugar and kesar elaichi syrup.Add the remaining milk and blend it more.If required add more milk to adjust the consistency.

Refrigerate it and serve chilled as it tastes best when chilled.While serving add charoli nuts and serve.

Preparation Time: 25 mins

Cheese Kutchi Dabeli...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,

Kutchi dabeli is very famous snack originaly from gujrat, but now also popular in Maharashtra specially in Mumbai and Pune.Its a spicy and tangy indian sandwich also called as double roti.I love its taste, i used to enjoy it during my stay in Pune.It was a common snack in most of the sandwich joints.Mostly i used to enjoy cheese dabeli which is very popular now, so here i have made it as now i miss it a lot here.Original dabeli do not have cheese, so its optional.Don’t get scared looking at long list of ingredients because the recipe is simple and very straight forward. Along with spicy potato filling, I am also giving the recipes for 3 different chutneys which are used in it.Original recipe contains just Sweet & Sour tamarind chutney and green mint-coriander chutney but one special dabeli stall in pune used 3 chutneys and it was very tasty. He used one more red chilli chutney,so i tried to make closer to his version. I enjoyed making this dabeli and loved it.

INGREDIENTS:

4-5 round soft breads(pav)
1 cup thin yellow sev
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped corainder leaves
3/4 cup masala peanuts
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds(optional)
3-4 table spoon butter
1 cup grated cheese(optional)

For Potato Filling:

3 potatoes boiled and mashed
2 table spoon dabeli masala
1 tea spoon chilli powder(optional)
1 table spoon lemon juice
salt
oil

For Sweet Tamrind chutney:

1 lemon sized tamarind (soaked in water)
1 tea spoon red chilli powder
4-6 table spoon jaggary
1/2 tea spoon cumin powder
Salt to taste

For Green Mint chutney:

1/2 cup mint Leaves
1 cup Coriander Leaves
4-6 Green Chillies
¼ tea spoon tamarind paste
Salt

For Red Chutney:

10 dry red chillis(or 3-4 tea spoon chilli powder)
1 medium tomato
2-3 garlic cloves
1/2 tea spoon tamrind pulp
salt


METHOD:

First to make sweet tamarind chutney, grind all the ingredients to a smooth paste using very little water.

To make green chutney grind all the ingredients to form thick green paste.It should be very fine.Adjust the number of green chillis, i love bit spicy so have added more.Similarly to make red chutney grind all the ingredients to form thick and smooth paste.Tomato is used as it helps to grind chillis very finely or else they are difficult to grind.

Now to make the potato filling heat little oil in a non-stick pan.Add mashed potato, little water and salt and mix it.Cook it on low flame.Now add dabeli masala, chilli powder, lemon juice and 2-3 table spoon of sweet tamrind chutney.You can skip the chilli powder if you do not want it to be more spicy.Adjust the masala to your taste.Cook till the mixture gets dry.

Now slit the breads horizontally without cutting through.Now apply green chutney on one side and red chutney on the other side of bread.Apply tamrind chutney on the lower side and above it spead a thick layer of potato mixture.

Heat a tawa and add butter.Place the stuffed bread on hot tawa and toast it till crispy on both side.While toasting press it gently in middle to toast evenly.Now remove the hot toasted bread from tawa and add chopped onions and corainder leaves above potato mixture.Now spinkle lot of sev and masala peanuts.add some pomegranate seeds.Finaly add the grated cheese and close the bread and press it a bit.

Hot cheese dabeli is ready.

NOTE:Dabeli masala is easily available in stores.If you cannot find it, refer its preparation here .I had used ready made one.
In tamrind chutney you can even add 4-5 dates, but then reduce the amount of jaggery.


Preparation Time: 25 mins

Peppery Baby Potatoes...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,

This is a very tasty starter recipe.I had seen it on one of the tv shows some days back.I liked the way it was prepared,so decided to try it as it was very simple recipe and ingredients were also less.I made it with few modifications and i loved its taste.It was just superb.I had not expected that such simple ingredients can give such a good taste and flavour.The pepper and crisp fried garlic become a superb combo along with corainder and give a nice taste.I am damn sure anyone who will taste it will love it.I will definetly say for this recipe that no1 can eat it just once...he he

INGREDIENTS:

10-12 baby potatoes
1/4 cup thinly sliced garlic cloves
1/2 cup chopped corainder leaves
1-2 tea spoons pepper powder
1-2 table spoon fresh cream
salt
oil

METHOD:

Prick the baby potatoes at 1-2 places and half boil them with salt.Now peel them and keep aside.

Heat a non-stick pan and add 2-3 table spoons of oil.I know its lot of oil, but for this recipe its a mustas garlic and corainder needs to be fried till crisp in oil.Now add the sliced garlic and fry till it becomes golden brown.Now add salt in this oil only.This step is important as the salt nicely coats garlic and gives a nice taste.

Now add the half boiled baby potatoes and mix properly.By now the garlic must have got crispy.Do not allow garlic to get burned but it should become crispy, so keep the flame medium low.

Now add chopped corainder and let it also get sauted in the oil along with potatoes.After 2-3 mins of sauting add pepper powder and mix it well so that it gets distributed evenly for all potatoes.Add pepper powder according to your taste, if you want mild flavour add less .I had added bit more as in original recipe and liked it.Now close the lid and cook it for 2 mins.

When done add the cream and saute for 2 mins.Cream is added as cause of it all the other ingredients gets coated on the potatoes, so add it accordingly.Remove from flame.

Serve hot.


NOTE: You can even add little chilli flakes if you want that spicy taste, i had not added it.
If you do not get baby potatoes you can scoop out normal potatoes and use.


Preparation Time: 15 mins

Chicken Shawarma...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: , , ,

Shawarma is a Middle-Eastern sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken or a mixture of meats. The meat is placed on a spit or rotisserie and may be grilled on for as long as a day. Shawarma is a fast-food staple across the Middle East and North Africa.It is thinly sliced meat, wrapped or filled in pita bread with pickled and/or plain veggies and sauces is a delicious quick meal.This is the traditional shawarma, but in india we get different shawarma rolls and wraps with different sauces and dips.Pita bread is the most common bread of middle east so its mostly used for shawarma there.This shawarma rolls are one of the famous street foods in arabic countries .This is my 2nd middle eastern recipe as i was interested in trying some of them, so i tried it with little modification and it tasted very good,I liked the way chicken is marinated and cooked and when it gets stuffed in pita pocket with pickled veges and sauces it tastes awesome.I even added vinegar pickled veges in it and it tasted more good,

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup boneless chicken pieces
3-4 pita breads(or any other bread)
1/4 cup tahini sauce( refer recipe here)
olive oil

For Marination:
1/2 cup yogurt
2 table spoon vinegar
2 table spoon lemon juice
1-2 tea spoon chilli powder
2 table spoon ginger-garlic paste
1/2 tea spoon turmeric
1/2 tea spoon pepper powder
2 green cardomoms
salt

For Salad:

1/2 cup sliced onion
1/2 cup sliced tomatoes
2 table spoon yogurt
1 table spoon mint leaves
1/2 tea spoon pepper powder
1/4 cup shopped cucumber(optional)
1 tea spoon tahini paste( for recipe refer here)
salt

For Yogurt Sauce:

1 cup yogurt
2-3 table spoon lemon juice
2 table spoon garlic paste( or crushed garlic)
salt

For vinegar pickling:

1/2 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup sliced beet root
3-4 green chillis
1 cup white vinegar
1 tea spoon sugar

METHOD:

Cut the chicken in small pieces and add all the ingredients of marination and keep it for 7-8 hours in refrigerator.

For pickling veges add sugar to vinegar and heat it till it gets slightly warm and add the sliced beet root pieces , carrots and green chillis.Keep overnight.Because of this the veges will have very nice and different taste, even the chilli will become less pungent.

To make yogurt sauce whisk the yogurt well and add salt, garlic paste and lemon juice and whisk it again to form a smooth sauce.You can even pass it and squeeze through muslin cloth to become more fine and smooth.

For salad mix sliced tomatoes, onions ,salt and pepper powder.Add tahini and yogurt and mix well.

Now finally to cook the chicken you have two ways either you can apply olive oil and grill it in oven or you can cook it in pan.I used pan to cook.Here add little olive oil in a pan and add the marinated chicken pieces and let them get cooked on medium flame for 20-25 mins.Be sure not to overcook it. If chicken becomes a little dry, add a few drops of water after every 5 mins throughout cooking duration, this is very important step so that chicken remains moist and gets cooked well.

Now finally to assemble the shawarma.Cut the pita breads in two halves.Apply tahini sauce at one side and yogurt sauce at other side on the pita bread pockets.Add the hot chicken pieces ,salad and vinegar dipped veges.Drizzle yogurt sauce in middle and serve immediately.


NOTE: While cooking chicken pieces i had added 1 tea spoon tandoori masala to make it more spicy.Its not in the traditional recipe.
If you do not get pita bread you can use normal bread also.
If you get very thin pita bread then you can even wrap all the things with it like a frankie.


Preparation Time : 40 mins

Green Masala Rice...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,


This is a very easy and quick rice recipe.Ideal for situations when a quick rice item has to be prepared.Its very tasty also.This recipe was told to me by my one of my friends and i tried it and loved it.Now its a frequent recipe.This rice contains green paste which can be made and stored for atleast 2 weeks and can be used in a hurry.

INGREDIENTS:

For Green Paste:

1 cup corainder leaves
2 inch ginger
10 garlic cloves
4-5 green chillis

For Pulav:

2 cups rice
1 cup gree peas
1/2 cup finely chopped potato
2 tea spoon garam masala
2 big onions sliced
1/2 cup chopped cashewnuts
oil
ghee
salt

Whole Masalas:

1 tea spoon shahi jeere(black cumin seeds)
2 inch cinnamon stick
1 masala cardomom
4-5 cloves
6-7 peppercorns
2 bay leaves


METHOD:

Roast garlic cloves and green chillis in little oil for 2-3 mins.Grind it along with corainder leaves and ginger to form a fine green paste.

In little oil fry potato pieces and green peas for 4-5 mins till almost cooked.Fry the cashewnuts pieces in ghee for 2 mins.Soak rice in water and drain it and keep for 20 mins.

Heat a kadai and add equal amount of oil and ghee.adding both gives a good taste.1-2 tea spoon of each will be enough.Add all the whole spices and saute for 2-3 mins.Then add the sliced onions and fry them till they turn golden brown.

Now add the soaked rice and saute for 2-3 mins.Now add sauted potato pieces,green peas and cashew nuts.Add 4 cups of hot water.Add the green grinded paste.3-4 table spoon of green paste will be enough.Add salt and garam masala and stir.

Close the lid and let the rice get cooked on medium flame.Add little more water in middle if required.when the rice gets fully cooked and dry, remove from flame.

Serve Hot with pickle or plain.


NOTE:Green paste in this recipe can be prepared in bulk and stored in freezer for2 weeks, and can be used in hurry.
You can make this rice without adding green peas and potatoes also.


Preparation Time : 20 mins

Dum Aloo Amritsari...!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,


Dum aloo is a very popular dish in india.I Decided to try it, but i combined its recipe with aloo amritsari and it turned out to be a very tasty dish and i named it dum aloo amritsari.I had used little yogurt in it which gave the gravy a very nice tangy flavour.We all loved this recipe,now i will make it often.Somtimes mixing two different recipes gives a very nice third recipe:-))

INGREDIENTS:

10-12 baby potatoes
4-5 onions
1 cup tomato puree
1 table spoon ginger-garlic paste
2-3 table spoon yogurt
1/2 cup cashewnuts
1 n 1/2 table spoon poppy seeds(khus khus)
2 table spoon fresh cream
1 black cardomom
1 tea spoon turmeric
1 tea spoon tandoori masala
1 table spoon besan
1/2 tea spoon pepper powder
1 tea spoon chat masala
1 -2 tea spoon chilli powder
1 table spoon corainder powder
1 table spoon garam masala
2 tea spoon kasoori methi
salt
butter
oil

METHOD:

Prick the baby potatoes with fork and half boil them in water with salt.When cooled peel them and keep .

Mix besan,1/2 tea spoon turmeric, 1/2 tea spoon tandoori masala,pepper powder,chat masala and little salt.Marinate half boiled baby potatoes in it and deep fry them in oil for 2-3 mins.Drain them on absorbent paper and keep aside.You can even shallow fry them if you want to use less oil.

Soak cashew nuts and poppy seeds in water for 2 hours.Grind them together to form a fine paste.Boil the onions and grind them to paste with black cardomom.

Heat little oil in a non stick pan.Add one table spoon of butter and saute the onion paste in it till oil starts seperating from it.Now add ginger-garlic paste and saute again for 2 mins.

Add chilli powder,corainder powder and turmeric powder and mix well.After 1 min add cashew nut-poppy seeds paste and stir.Saute for 2 mins and add tomato puree and mix.Now add yogurt and mix well.Add tandoori masala and stir.

Add the fried potatoes one by one to it.Now add water to make the gravy a bit thinner.Adjust according to your required consistency.Add salt and garam masala.

Close the lid and let it simmer on low flame for 4-5 mins.When gravy is enough thick, add fresh cream and mix.Finaly add kasoori methi and cook for 1 min.Remove from flame.

Serve hot with parathas or naan.


NOTE: You can even use normal sized diced or scooped potatoes in this if you do not get baby potatoes.
Add the amount of spices according to your taste.

Preparation Time: 30 mins


Baked Layered Macaroni With Veges And Sauces...!!!!

Author: Siddhi Shirsat // Category: ,

I was bored trying the same pastas with normal sauces, so i decided to try something interesting.I had seen in many recipes that after cooking pasta sometimes its baked with cheese, so i decided to try something similar.So i prepared this layered and baked macaroni.But i tried to make it more innovative so i used two sauces in between the layers of macaroni pasta along with veges and cheese.I made marinara sauce and bechamel sauce , and used it in layers between.I baked it with cheese and it tasted awesome.It got over in no time.Give it a try once, i am damn sure you will like it.


INGREDIENTS:

2 cups macaroni pasta(or any other pasta)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup sliced onions
2 cup sliced capsicum
1 cup grated mozerella cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tea spoon chilli flakes
2 tea spoon mixed herbs
butter

Sauces:

For Marinara Sauce:

5-6 garlic cloves chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 n 1/2 cup tomato puree
2-3 fresh basil leaves
1 tea spoon kashmiri chilli powder
1/4 tea spoon pepper powder
1/2 tea spoon oregeno
salt
olive oil

Bechamel Sauce(you can refer its recipe here)

METHOD:

Heat enough water and when its starts boiling add salt and oil.Then add macaroni to it and cook it till done.Drain the water and pass running cold water through it.Spread on a plate and keep aside.

To make marinara sauce. First heat butter in a pan.Saute garlic pieces in it till light brown.Then add chopped onion and saute till almost cooked.Now add hand torn fresh basil leaves and saute for 1 min.Add tomato puree and mix.Add salt,chilli powder and pepper powder.When it starts boiling add oregeno and remove from flame.

Heat a pan and add 1 table spoon butter.Add the sliced onions and saute till they are soft.Now add sliced capsicum and saute till it gets cooked and onions become brown.Now ad sliced mushrooms and saute for a min.Add salt and close and cook for 2 mins.Keep it aside.

Now take a baking dish and grease it.Spread a layer of half qunatity of cooked macaroni evenly.Spread all the tossed veges all over evenly on it.Spread enough marinara sauce so that it covers all the veges well.Spinkle some chilli flakes and mixed herbs.I have shown a pic below of half spread marinara sauce.


Now spread layer on remaining macaroni on it evenly.Pour the prepared bechamel sauce all over it as shown below.


Now spinkle bread crumbs and grated cheese on it as seen below.


Bake it at 180 deg for 20 mins or till all the cheese melts and turns slight brown.Cut in pieces and serve hot.

NOTE: You can even add one egg white in bechamel sauce .When cooked remove from flame add egg white and whisk countinously, do not allow to form lumps.Again cook it for 1 min stirring countinously.


Preparation Time : 35 mins

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