Matar Karanji/ Gujiya

This crispy and tasty gujiya is a very good option for a Tea time snack or as a appetizer.

Ingredients:

For outer cover:

4 cups all purpose flour/ Maida

5 tbsp ghee/butter

1/2 tsp salt

water to kneed the dough

For filling:

3 cups green peas / matar

1 boiled potato mashed

1 onion finely chopped

2 tbsp oil

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp mustard seeds

2 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp kasuri methi

1 tsp fennel / sauf powder

salt to taste

oil for deep frying

 

Method:

In a large bowl take all purpose flour salt and ghee and mix everything together. now add little water and kneed the dough till it is nice and soft. form a ball and cover it with wet cloth, and keep aside for few min.

For filling:

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard and cumin seeds and once they splutter add onions and saute till they turn light brown. now add all the dry spices and mix well.

Then add green peas and mashed potatoes, lemon juice, salt and sugar and mix well. remove from heat and let the mixture cool down a little.

Now kneed the dough again and divide the mixture in small round. with a rolling pin roll the rounds in small round sheets, place 1 tbsp of mixture in the center of the sheet and fold the the sheet in half moon shape. seal the edges well so the mixture will not come out while deep frying.

Repeat the process to make the reaming gujiyas. deep fry on medium heat till the outer cover turns golden brown in colour. 

serve hot with Tamarin chutney or ketchup.

Enjoy!

Pohe / Poha

This is a typical Maharashtraian dish and one of my all time favorite breakfast menu. It is made from flattened rice which is called poha and is tempered with green chilies, curry leaves and served with dash of lemon and fresh coriander. 

Ingredients:

3 cups thick poha

1 finely chopped medium onion

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 ½ tsp turmeric powder

3- 4 chopped green chilies

Few curry leaves

½ inch ginger finely chopped

Handful of roasted peanuts (optional)

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp ghee

2 tbsp oil

Salt to taste

Finely chopped fresh coriander

Method:

In a strainer take poha and wash tightly under running water and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and cumin seeds once they start to splutter add curry leaves, chopped green chilies and ginger. Sauté for few seconds and add chopped onion and cook the onions till they are translucent.

Now if u want to add peanuts u can add at this stage. Also add turmeric powder, salt and sugar and sauté till everything gets mixed properly.

Then add washed poha and mix well till it is covered with all the spices.

Now add lemon juice and ghee (ghee gives nice aroma to the dish). Give it a quick stir, and cover for a min. (sprinkle little water if they turn too dry)

Garnish with chopped fresh coriander and serve hot with a wedge of lemon.

Enjoy!

Fruits and Oats with yogurt

Start your day with this Delicious healthy Breakfast. full of fibers and nutrition. After sampling this yummy Breakfast treats at my Uncles place, I asked for the recipe. It was simple, easy, yet delicious.

Ingredients:

1 cup Quick Oats

4 cups French vanilla yogurt.

2 cups chopped Seasonal fruits like Blueberries, strawberries, grapes, apples etc. (if u like to add banana add it just before serving)

Dry fruits and Nuts of your choice.

1 tsp vanilla essence (optional)

Method:

In a large bowl mix together all the above ingredients, cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 to 5 hours. Delicious breakfast is ready in minutes.

Enjoy!

Vegetable Couscous

Couscous is granular semolina it’s among the healthiest grain based product. Numerous different names and pronunciations for couscous exist around the world. Cooked couscous is served in variety of different ways, sometimes with vegetables or meat stew or even as a dessert made with milk, dry fruits and cream.

Ingredients:

1 packet couscous

½ cup chopped red, orange and yellow bell pepper

1 chopped onion

1 medium eggplant chopped

1 zucchini chopped

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chili powder

1 tbsp lime juice

Salt to taste

Method:

Cook couscous according to the instruction given on packet.

Heat oil in a pan, add onions and sauté till they are translucent. Now add eggplant and cook for a min. then add bell pepper and zucchini and cook for another 2- 3 min.

Add chili powder, lime juice and salt and mix well

Now add cooked couscous and mix till it’s covered with all spices.

Serve as a snack or as a complete meal for a weekend brunch.

Enjoy!

Rice Cutlets

Left over rice, what to do with it??? I usually temper rice with mustard seeds, onion and green chilies and it tastes delicious, but instead this time I tried to do something different. These cutlets taste great with a hot cup of tea. It requires very few ingredients which u can always find in your pantry.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked rice

2 tbsp chickpea flour (Besan)

1 boiled potato (mashed)

½ tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp cumin powder

1 tsp chili powder

2 green chilies finely chopped

1 tsp lemon juice

½ cup finely chopped coriander

Salt to taste

4 tbsp oil for shallow frying

Method:

In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients, except oil.  Then divide in small equal parts.

Roll them between your palms and press down to make cutlets.

Heat oil in pan, and on a low heat, shallow fry on both the sides, till it turns golden brown in color.

Serve these crispy cutlets with ketchup.

Enjoy!

Cheesy open sandwich

These open sandwiches with vegetables and cheese are one of my favorites.  A good option for brunch and also for kid’s lunch or snack box.  Quick and easy recipe where you use vegetables of your choice and imagination to arrange them and make them more interesting

Ingredients:

6 bread slice

2 potatoes boiled

½ green peppers finely chopped

2 tbsp spring onion finely chopped

1 tomato thinly sliced

1 tsp chili powder

½ cup shredded cheese

Butter spread

Salt to taste

Method:

Preheat oven at 350⁰ F.

Mash boiled potatoes, add spring onion, green peppers, chili powder, salt and mix well.

Spread butter on one side of each bread slice. Then spread potato mixture and arrange tomato slices on top.

Then add cheese to each slice and bake for 20 min or till cheese melts.

Cut in Halves, rectangle or serve these Cheesy open sandwiches as it is with tomato ketchup.

Enjoy!       

                                          

Instant Dahi wada

When it comes to evening snack i like quick and easy recipes which needs no cooking, My kids keep me busy all the time, and so by evening i get very tired to cook anything. so here is one more simple 10 min recipe. It’s easy to make and tastes yummy and is less in calories.



jeera biscuits



Ingredients:

8 to 10 Jeera biscuits

2 cups Hot water

1 cup Yogurt

½ cup water

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp sugar

½ tsp chili powder

Salt to taste

Fresh Coriander for garnishing

Method:

Mix together yogurt, water, cumin powder, chili powder, salt and sugar and keep aside.

Take hot water in a bowl and soak jeera biscuits for about a min (don’t soak them for long or they will turn mushy) then gently press between your palm and place in serving bowl.

Then pour yogurt mixture and sprinkle some cumin and chili powder on top and garnish with fresh coriander. You can also add any sauce or chutney of your choice to make it spicier. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Rice chat

I know this sounds a very unusual dish, but it is really tasty. I like to experiment a lot with the available ingredients in my pantry, and that is how I came up with this dish which I made with leftover rice.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked rice

1 small onion finely chopped

1 cucumber finely chopped

Spring onion finely chopped

1/3 cup sev

1 tbsp mayonnaise

½ tsp chili powder

½ tsp chat masala

Salt to taste

1 tsp ketchup for garnishing

Method:

This chat is very easy to make.Mix together all ingredients. Garnish with ketchup, cucumber, onion, sev, spring onion and serve.

Enjoy!

Crackers with fancy topping

It is very difficult to make kids eat veggies. So here is a good solution. Just grab some crackers and make them colorful with variety of vegetables and cheese. Add some fun by letting your young one help you to make them.

Ingredients:

Crackers

1 Avocado/Boiled Potato

Cherry tometoes

1 Cucumber

Ketchup

Chesse

Coriander

1 tsp Chat masala (optional)

(You can add vegetables of your choice to make it more interesting)

Method:

Mash avocado, add some cheese and mix well. Cut cucumber and cherry tomato in round slices.

Arrange crackers in a plate and layer with mashed avocado, cucumber, cherry tomato, ketchup and coriander, sprinkle some chat masala and serve.

This bite size snack is definitely a hit recipe for all ages.

Enjoy!

Semolina vegetable cake

 

This savory semolina/ suji/ rawa cake is perfect dish for a evening snack.

Loaded with vegetables and tempered with mustard and cumin seeds.

This tasty and healthy cake is also a good option for your kid’s lunch/snack box.

Ingredients:

160 grams semolina/suji/rawa

½ cup yogurt

½ cup mix chopped vegetable like corn, carrots, green beans and green peas  

½ tbsp baking powder

1½ tbsp oil

½ tsp mustard seeds

½ tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp sesame seeds
Salt to taste

Method:

In a bowl mix semolina, curd, vegetables and baking powder.

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard and cumin seeds, and let them crackle. Then add turmeric powder, salt and mix it with semolina mixture.

Pour this mixture in a baking dish and sprinkle sesame seeds on top, to give nice crunchy crust. now bake in a preheated oven at 350⁰F for 40 to 45.

Cut into small pieces and serve with tomato ketchup.

Enjoy!

5min Cornflakes bhel

This healthy and tasty bhel is a real super simple recipe. Just 5min and its done.

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups cornflakes

1 small onion finely chopped

½ cup finely chopped coriander

½ cup fine sev

1 tsp chat masala

1 tsp lime juice

1 tsp chili powder

½ tsp sugar

Salt to taste

Method:

Mix together all the ingredients, garnish with chopped coriander, sev  and  serve immediately.

Enjoy!