Paneer & Sprouts Wrap

 A quick lunch pack for school, office etc. A wrap filled with the richness of paneer and crunchiness of the sprouts with an amazing blend of flavours from spiciness of the chillies to the tangy taste of the mango powder and vinegar. Grab, go and have at ease!!!

Ingredients
300gms paneer/cottage cheese, cubed
1/2 cup bean sprouts
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 green chillies, chopped fine
1/2 tsp garlic paste
1/2 tsp ginger paste
1 onion, sliced
1 small capsicum, sliced into thin strips
1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 teaspoon amchoor/dried mango powder
2 Tbsp oil
salt to taste
4 parathas/chappathis/roomali roti/ tortilla

Method

• Mix the vinegar and the chopped green chillies and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan. Add the garlic paste and ginger paste. Fry for half a minute.
• Add the sliced onion and saute for half a minute more.
• Add the sliced capsicum, chilli powder, turmeric powder, mango powder and salt. Mix well.
• Add the paneer cubes and saute over medium heat for two minutes.
• Now add the bean sprouts and saute for a minute more. Remove from heat and keep aside.
• To prepare the wraps, equally divide the paneer and sprouts mixture into four portions.
• Spread each portion over each paratha or roti. Drizzle the vinegar and chilli mix on top and roll the paratha. Secure the roll or wrap with aluminium foil.

There goes a perfect and healthy wrap into a kids lunch pack or even yours. Something that you can grab, go and have at ease:)(Remember to omit the chillies for a kids pack)

Thakkali Muringakka Pulinkari

 Ingredients

2 tomatoes chopped into medium pieces

1 drumstick, cut into 2 inch sticks

15 shallots, sliced

a gooseberry sized tamarind ball, soaked in half a cup of water

To roast and grind

3 Tbsp grated coconut

2 shallots

1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds

few curry leaves

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1/4 tsp garam masala powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

For tempering

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 tsp urid dal

few curry leaves

salt to taste

3 tbsp oil

•  In a pan take two shallots, fenugreek seeds, coconut and curry leaves. Roast this until the coconut turns brown in colour.
• Once cooled grind this along with the chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and turmeric powder into a fine paste. Keep this aside.
• Now heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan. Add the sliced shallots. Fry until the onions start to turn golden brown.
• Now add the tomatoes and drumstick. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
• Then add the grinded masala paste. Saute everything well until the raw smell of the masala goes(approximately 2-3 minutes).
• Squeeze out the tamarind juice into the soaked water. Strain the tamarind juice and add it to the curry.
• Add 1 cup of water and salt too. Allow this to come to a boil.
• Cover and cook for 10 minutes on a medium low flame, until the gravy thickens slightly and the drumsticks get cooked.
• Heat 1tsp oil in a small kadai, Add the mustard seeds. Once they start to crackle add the urid dal and curry leaves. As the urid dal starts to turn into light brown colour, remove the kadai from heat and pour this seasoning over the tomato and drumstick curry. Mix well and serve hot with  steamed rice. 

Carrot & Oats Dosa

Another healthy breakfast option that can be made instantly. This delicious crepe is something that can be made in no time as the hours long fermentation process is not required here.Not only is this an alternative to the regular South Indian  dosas, this is more healthy as well as its key ingredients are oats and carrots.

Ingredients
2 cups oats
1 Tbsp semolina/rava
1 Tbsp wheat flour
1 Tbsp rice flour( 1 Tbsp of idli batter would also be fine)
1 onion
1"piece of ginger
1 medium carrot
3 green chillies
few curry leaves, chopped fine
few coriander leaves, chopped fine
salt
oil

Method

• Coarsely grind the onion, carrot, ginger and green chillies.
• Mix oats, semolina, wheat flour and rice flour together.
• Add the coarsely grinded carrot mix, chopped curry leaves ,coriander leaves and salt to the oats and flour mixture.
• Knead everything until mixed well.
• Add water and mix well until you get a dosa batter consistency.
• Keep this batter aside for 10 minutes.
• Heat a griddle or non- stick dosa tawa.Pour a laddle full of the batter and spread into a thin dosa in a circular motion. 
• Drizzle some oil on the top and sides of the dosa.
• Flip it and cook the other side too until light brown in colour.
• Serve hot with coconut chutney.

Grilled Malaysian Chicken

Ingredients
800 gms boneless chicken, cubed
4 long red chillies
2 green chillies
1 inch ginger , peeled
4 large garlic cloves, peeled
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 Tbsp turmeric powder
1-2 shallots, sliced
2 1/2 cup coconut milk
2 Tbsp oil
2/3 cup light brown sugar
2 Tbsp tamarind paste
salt

Method

• Deseed the chillies and grind them into a smooth paste along with ginger, garlic, coriander powder, cinnamon powder, turmeric powder and shallots.
• Marinate the chicken with half of the prepared paste, little salt and 1/2 cup of coconut milk. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
• In a pan,heat oil and saute the remaining paste on a medium heat for about two minutes.
• Stir in the remaining coconut milk, sugar and tamarind paste. Season with salt.
• Bring the sauce to a boil and let it simmer for about 3 minutes and then remove from heat.
• Skewer the marinated chicken pieces and grill over a medium heat basting with the prepared sauce, until the chicken is done.
• Drizzle the remaining sauce on top just before serving.

Garlic Broccoli & Paneer in coconut milk

Ingredients
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup paneer cubes
8 + 2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 onions, sliced
1 tomato diced
2-3 green chillies, slit
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
2-3 tbsp oil
2 tbsp kasoori methi
1/2 cup thick coconut milk
1 tsp butter/ghee
salt to taste

Method

• Heat oil in a pan. Add garlic cloves(8) and onion. Saute well until the raw smell of garlic is gone and onions turn translucent.
• Add the tomatoes, green chillies, kasoori methi, turmeric and salt. Saute for a minute and keep this aside.
• Once cooled grind this mixture into a fine paste.
• Heat the butter/ghee in  another pan. Add the garam masala powder to the hot ghee. After about a second add the grinded mixture to this. Let it simmer for a minute.
• Add the broccoli and coconut milk. Lower the heat and allow this to come to a boil.
• Now add the paneer cubes. Mix well. Continue to cook for two minutes more and then remove from heat.

Seasoning(optional)
In a little oil, fry the remaining two chopped garlic cloves and drizzle this oil on top before serving.(You can avoid this if you don't prefer too much of the garlicky flavour)

Crispy baked sweet potato sticks

A snack that was loved by kids, a healthy alternative to the age old french fries. Its quite cold out here and drizzling too!!! This is something that is perfect for today's weather!!!
Ingredients
1 large sweet potato
1 tsp paprika powder
1 Tbsp olive oil or any other oil
salt to taste

Method

• Peel and cut the sweet potato into long sticks.
•  Line an oven safe tray with parchment paper or foil paper. 
• Toss the sweet potato sticks with olive oil, paprika powder and salt. Spread them out on the tray so that the sticks don't overlap each other and so that they get cooked and turn crisp uniformly.
• Cover the  tray with an aluminium foil and bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 200 degree Celsius
• Half way through cooking, flip over the sticks and return it back to the oven.
• Keep checking and if its not crisp you can keep for 5 minutes more in the oven.. 
• Crispy and yummy sweet potato fries are ready for you to relish!

Mixed Vegetable Balchao

"Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is a part of the cycle."
This New Year quote is true in every aspect. Resolutions are made at the dawn of every fresh year and breaking them during the course of the year is a part of the cycle. Hope this year we all can stick to our resolutions.Planning to include more of vegetables and healthy dishes to the blog this year. So, the first post to this year is a mixed vegetable dish. Hope you like it! Off to the recipe of Mixed Vegetable Balchao.

Ingredients
100 gms mushrooms, quartered
100 gms paneer, cubed
50 gms green peas
100 gms french beans(cut into 1/2 inch pieces,blanched)
50 gms corn kernels(blanched)

For the Balchao paste
8 whole red chillies
2 tbsp ginger chopped
1 tbsp garlic chopped
5 cloves
3-4 green cardamom
2 inch cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
5 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp sugar

For the gravy
1 large onion chopped
1 large tomato chopped
few curry leaves
oil
salt to taste

Method

• Grind all the ingredients for the balchao paste into a smooth paste.
• Heat oil in a pan, add the chopped onions and saute till brown in colour.
• Add the tomatoes and cook for two minutes. 
• Stir in the balchao paste along with salt and cook for two minutes more. Add half a cup of water and let it simmer.
• Now add all the vegetables except the paneer and cook till done.
• Mix in the paneer cubes and curry leaves gently. Cook for two more minutes and switch off the heat.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.

Chicken 65

A dish that is always seen in a typical South Indian restaurant menu. This dish has always been a favourite among kids as well adults, something that is always ordered as a starter or side dish. The story behind how this dish got its name has many versions, as well as the way how this dish is made also has many versions. The weather here now leaves us with the craving to eat something hot and spicy. So gave a try to this spicy and juicy chicken dish. I have used yoghurt in this recipe, but I feel lemon juice or vinegar could have also been used instead of yoghurt, that would have been equally good too. You can try it that way too!
A perfect starter, this can be added to your New Year party menu:)
Ingredients
For marination
1/2 kg boneless chicken cut into small cubes
1 Tbsp ginger- garlic paste
1 Tbsp kashmiri chilli powder
1 Tbsp crushed black pepper
2 Tbsp corn flour
1 egg beaten well
 a pinch of red food colour(optional)-(I didn't use)
salt
For the masala
1 cup yoghurt
few curry leaves
2-3 green chillies slit
1/2 tsp crushed red chillies
1 Tbsp ginger- garlic paste
2 Tbsp tomato ketchup
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
2-3 sprigs of spring onion, chopped for garnishing
salt to taste
oil for frying

Method

• Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients under marination and keep it overnight in the refrigerator or at least for 3-4 hours.
• Fry the chicken pieces in hot oil until dark red in colour and keep aside, drained onto a kitchen towel to absorb the excess oil.
• In another pan, heat approximately 2 Tbsp oil. Add the mustard and cumin seeds. Once it splutters add the curry leaves too.
• Now add the ginger-garlic paste, crushed red pepper and fry for a second. Remove the pan from the flame and add the yoghurt and tomato ketchup. Mix well and return it back to the flame.

• Add the fried chicken pieces and mix well.
• Add the green chillies, garam masala powder and cumin powder. Check salt and add as required(as there is already salt added to the fried chicken).
• Cook till the masala is fully absorbed by the chicken and it becomes dry.
• Garnish with the chopped spring onions and serve hot.

Fruit Cake

Merry Christmas to all !
 Won't your Christmas be incomplete without a classic Christmas cake on the table? If there is no time left for a traditional Christmas cake that involves the months long procedure of soaking the fruits and nuts in rum, preparation of the caramel syrup etc, you can give a try to this simple fruit cake that can be made easily without rum or juice, not even eggs. What more this doesn't even require a beater to whip up the ingredients. If not for Christmas this cake is perfect for tea time too.

Ingredients
300gms mixed dry fruits( black raisins, chopped dates, walnuts, glaced cherries, cashewnuts)
125 gms soft  brown sugar
125 gms unsalted butter
200 ml brewed tea(preferably Earl Grey flavour)
2 tsp ground allspice powder(powder 1 stick cinnamon, 2-3 cloves, 2 cardamoms, a small piece of nutmeg with a pinch of sugar)
finely grated zest of 1 orange
225 gms self raising flour, sifted
1 Tbsp warm honey

Method

• In a saucepan place the mixed fruits and nuts, sugar, butter, tea and allspice powder. Heat until the butter melts, stirring occasionally.
• Bring it to a boil. Allow it to boil for 1 minute. Then remove from heat and add the orange zest. Mix and set aside. Leave this overnight.
• Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius. Grease and line a 6 or 7 inch baking pan.
• Fold the sifted flour into the fruit mixture. Mix gently then pour it to the prepared baking pan and bake in the oven for 50- 55 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven and brush the top of the cake with warm honey.You can also place some ccaramelized nuts on top.
• Leave it to cool completely and then turn out and serve in slices and enjoy.

Chettinad Chicken Biriyani

An aromatic biriyani cooked in a pressure cooker wherein the rice is cooked with the chicken infused with the richness of coconut milk and spices. This biriyani was bookmarked in my to make list since a long time, finally made it as per the recipe in my dear friend Rafee's blog. She has got an amazing collection of biriyanis and moreover each recipe I have tried out from her place was absolutely lip-smacking.

Ingredients

1 kg chicken, cut into medium pieces
3 cups basmati rice, washed and drained
3 tbsp ghee
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 cardamoms
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
3/4 tsp fennel seeds
3 large onions, sliced thin
4-5 green chillies ,slit
2 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsp garlic paste
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 tbsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
Salt to taste
1-1/2 cup hot water
1-1/2 cup coconut milk
a handful of mint and coriander leaves chopped



Method

• Heat ghee in a pressure cooker(you must use a big one). Add the cloves, peppercorns, cardamoms, cinnamon, bay leaf and fennel seeds and fry for a minute.
• Now add the sliced onions and green chillies. Saute until the onion turns translucent.
• Add the ginger paste and garlic paste. Saute well until the raw smell goes.
• Add the tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes turn mushy.
• Add the coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder, chicken and salt. Mix well and cook until the chicken is three fourth cooked.
• Pour the hot water and coconut milk. Add the rice, half of the mint and coriander leaves and mix well. Close the cooker. Put on the whistle and cook on medium flame.
• Once the cooker gives off one whistle, switch off and allow the pressure to go by itself.
• Once the cooker is ready to open, open and fluff up the rice with a fork.
• Garnish with the remaining coriander and mint leaves.
• Serve with an onion raita, pappad and pickle.

*You can garnish with ghee fried cashewnuts and raisins too.

Ari Unda

Ingredients

1 cup matta rice

1/2 cup cashew nuts

1/2 to 3/4 cup grated coconut

1 1/4 cup grated jaggery

1/2 teaspoon powdered cardamom

A pinch of salt

Method

Wash matta rice 3-4 times in water and drain.
Heat a non stick pan and add rice to it.
Stir on medium flame for 15 -20 minutes until the rice pops up.
Turn off the flame and allow it to cool.
In the same pan dry roast cashew nuts  on low flame until the colour changes to light brown.
Grind the roasted rice and  cashew nuts to a coarse powder.
In a bowl,add rice,cashew nuts,coconut,jaggery,cardamom powder and salt.
Mix everything well with hands and make small balls out of it and serve.
 

Bread Uthappam

 A quick and instant breakfast dish- uthappam with bread.

Ingredients
3 slices of bread(crusts removed)
3 Tbsp semolina
3 Tbsp wheat flour(atta)
1/4 tsp yogurt
1 onion chopped fine
1 green chilli chopped very fine
1/4 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
1/4 tsp finely chopped ginger
 2 Tbsp finely grated carrot
1 tsp finely chopped coriander leaves
salt
oil

Method

• Cut the bread slices into small pieces.
• Blend the bread pieces with semolina, yogurt, atta and salt, by adding little water into a smooth and thick batter.
• Transfer the batter to a bowl and add the onion, green chilli, jeera, carrot, ginger and coriander leaves.(You can also add chopped tomatoes and capsicum)
• Mix the batter well. The consistency of the batter should be neither too thick nor too thin. It should be a semi thick batter.
• Heat a skillet and grease it lightly. Pour a laddle full of the batter and spread it into the consistency of a thick pancake.
• Drizzle some oil around the uthappam and allow it to cook  on a low flame for about two minutes.(You can cover and cook to ensure even cooking). Open and flip over to cook the other side too for about two minutes.
• The uthappam should be golden browned on both sides.
• Serve these uthappams with coconut chutney or coriander chutney.

Recipe adapted from here( with some changes by me)  and inspired by my friend Reshmi. Thankyou Reshmi for that inspiration.

Cabbage Manchurian

Ingredients
2 cups grated cabbage
1 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup  gram flour
1 tablespoon corn flour
1/2 cup cold water
2 green chilies chopped
3-4 crushed garlic flakes
1 table spoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon pepper powder
1 onion chopped fine
2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
Salt to taste
Spring onions for garnishing
Oil for frying

Method

• In a bowl, mix cabbage,carrot,onion,gram flour,salt,coriander leaves and pepper powder.(Don't add water, as water from the cabbage will make it moist enough to make balls)
• Make small balls out of the above mixture.
• Heat oil in a pan and fry these balls until golden brown and keep aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a seperate pan.
• Saute garlic and greenchilies.
• Reduce the flame and add salt and soy sauce.
• Gently add the fried balls and mix gently so that the sauce coats the balls.
• Mix 1 tablespoon corn flour in 1/2 cup water and add to the above mixture.
• Reduce the flame and cook for 5 minutes.
• Turn off the flame and garnish with chopped spring onions.
• Serve hot with fried rice.

Simple Tomato chutney

This is one chutney which I make frequently at home, as this is the easiest and simplest chutney which you can make in no time. A chutney that goes along perfectly well with your dosas and idlis.

  Ingredients

1 ripe tomato

1 onion

1 tsp chilli powder

salt to taste

1 tbsp coconut oil

Method

• Grind the onion and tomato with salt and chilli powder.
• Transfer into a serving bowl.
• Drizzle coconut oil on top. Mix and serve with hot and crispy dosas.

Kaju Katli

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL!

 DROOLSSS CELEBRATED DIWALI WITH SOME KAJU KATLI!

Ingredients

1 cup cashew nuts(kaju)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon rose water

few saffron strands(optional)

1 tablespoon ghee.

Method

• In a dry grinder,grind  the cashewnuts(kaju) to a smooth powder.
• In a pan, make sugar syrup by boiling sugar,rose water,saffron and water on low flame until it reaches one string consistency.
• Now add the cashew powder and stir on low flame until it thickens and reaches a soft dough consistency(this will approximately takes 8-10 minutes).
• Transfer the dough to a plate.
• When the heat is enough to handle add 1 tablespoon ghee and knead well.
• Flatten the dough and place it on a greased butter paper.
• Roll the kaju dough with a rolling pin.
• Cut into diamond shapes.
• Cool and store in an airtight container.

*If there is crack on the dough while rolling,place a butter paper on top and roll for a smooth even surface.
.

Hyderabadi Dum Chicken Biriyani(Kachi style)

 This beautiful and aromatice traditional biriyani was actually scheduled to be posted during the Eid holidays. But somehow it got delayed due to some engagements. Anyhow as it said  ' better late than never'. 

Now this recipe was shared to me by my little one's classmate's mom Zara. Thankyou Zara for sharing this authentic dish of your place. It was really yummy! The smell that lingers in your home when this biriyani is getting cooked is really droolworthy. So off to the recipe of HYDERABADI DUM BIRIYANI- Kachi style i.e the uncooked meat is cooked along with the rice.

Ingredients
1 kg chicken, cut into medium sized pieces
1 kg basmati rice, washed well
1/4 cup oil

 For the marination
2 Tbsp fresh ginger- garlic paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
4-5 green chillies + a handful of mint leaves and coriander leaves(all grinded into a paste)
500 gm yoghurt
6-8 medium sized onions, sliced thin and fried in oil till golden brown and crisp
salt to taste

For the rice
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
 1 tsp shahi jeera/black cumin
3 broken cinnamon sticks
4 cardamom
3 cloves
 4 green chillies
 few mint leaves
3 bay leaves
salt

1-2 Tbsp ghee
a pinch of saffron mixed in 1 Tbsp warm milk
 juice of 1 lemon
handful of chopped mint and corainder leaves

Method

• Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients under marination(except the fried onions) for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
• Boil water for the rice with salt, garam masala. shahi jeera, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardomom, green chillies, mint leaves and bay leaves.
• Add washed and drained rice to the boiling water and cook for just 5 minutes.( The rice grain should break into two pieces when pressed with the end of your thumb i.e. just 1/4 cooked). Drain the rice and keep aside.
• Crush the fried onions with your hands and add it to the marinated chicken.
• Take a heavy bottomed big vessel and pour 1/4 cup oil and layer the marinated chicken at the bottom of the vessel.
• Layer the rice on top the chicken.
• Sprinkle the top of the rice with chopped mint and coriander leaves.
• Drizzle the ghee, lemon juice and saffron milk mixture on top.
• Close the vessel with a tight lid. Seal the edges with a dough made of maida/wheat flour+water (or you can even seal it tightly with aluminium foil).
• Cook this on very low heat for 20 minutes. Once you start to get the aroma increase the flame to  medium low and cook for 5 minutes more. Switch off and relish the beautiful aroma that engulfs you as you open the dum.

* The same recipe can be done with mutton too. The only variation is the cooking time. Mutton will take approximately 45 minutes to get cooked and moreover tender mutton must be used.

Almond & Coconut Ladoo

The time when the forces of good won over the forces of evil.

 The time when victory stood with truth.

Wishing everyone a Happy Vijayadashami!

 Lets celebrate this auspicious day with some sweet ladoos:)

Ingredients
1 cup fresh grated coconut
1/2 cup jaggery
1 Tbsp ghee
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2- 1 cup coarsely ground almonds

Method

•  Melt the jaggery in little water and strain to remove the impurities if any and keep it aside.
• Add the grated coconut to the jaggery and cook until the jaggery is almost absorbed by the coconut.
• Add the ghee , vanilla essence and mix well.
• Add the  ground almond little by little mixing well until you get the mixture into such a consistency that you can make small balls out of it and that it holds its shape.(You can grease your hands with a little ghee to prevent the mixture from sticking onto your hands)
• Roll these ladoos in ground almond powder and serve.