KHAMMAN DHOKLA - STEAMED SAVOURY CAKE OF GRAM FLOUR AND SPICES!!!!

A very healthy vegetarian "Gujarati Snack" which is quick and can be  made instantly.

   INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5 cups besan/gram flour
• 3 tsp ginger-green chilies paste
• 2 pinches of turmeric powder
• 1 tsp salt or as per taste
• 2 tsp eno or fruit salt or ½ tsp baking soda.
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 1/4 tsp of asafoetida
• 1 cup water or add as required to make a thick yet flowing batter.

 FOR TEMPERING:

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• ⅓ cup water
• 1 tsp white sesame seeds
• 1 green chili, chopped
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 2 tsp sugar

  METHOD:

•      Mix all the ingredients except eno to make a smooth batter.
•      Keep it aside for 5 minutes.
•      Meanwhile grease the steamer dish and keep water  for boiling in the         steamer,quantity of water depends upn the size of the steamer ...a medium sized  steamer will use 4cups of water.
•     Add the eno to the mixture stir evenly and quickly.
•     Put in the greased pan and now it is ready to be steamed.
•     Put the pan in the steamer ...the water has to be boiling.Steam for about 15-20                 minutes...check in between.
•     Insert a toothpick,if it comes out clean.It is done...When cool cut in squares.

                                                                                                                              FOR TEMPERING:

1. Heat the oil in a small pan put mustard seeds and allow to crackle.
2.            Add sesame seeds and chopped green chillies and saute ,do not let it over brown else it will give a bitter taste.
3.               Add water and when it comes to a boil add the sugar,let it dissolve and then pour this over the steamed cake .
4.               Garnish with chopped corriander and coconut(optional). 

     

                                       

GREEN MINT DIP SANDWICH-WITH A NICE SPREAD OF MINT DIP N COOL CUCUMBER!!!

Sandwiches-can be had for breakfast to start your day,brunch,lunch,evening-snack or end ur day with,any time in short.Sandwiches are usually made of bread slices with a filling of any kind of meat,vegetables,fruits and various sauces like tomato ketchup,mayonnaise,cheese,yogurt,etc for giving various flavours.Its very filling can be consumed for a complete meal or as a quickie to ward off hunger pangs.The best thing about Sandwiches are they can be made in a jiffy and they taste great!
    These Sandwiches are called 'Çhutney-Sandwiches''-with a nice spread of mint chutney.Heres the recipe:

Preparation time:5-10mins.
Serves-1

Ingredients:

• Bread slices: 3no
• Butter/Margarine- 1tsp
• Mint-Dip- 4tsp
• Cucumber(sliced)- 1no(small-size)
• Tomato(thin-slices)- 1no(medium-sized)

Method:

• Remove the bread corners,if you want.
• And spread butter on two slices evenly.
• Then spread the mint-dip on the buttered slices.
• Arrange the Cucumber slices and tomato slices on one of the buttered slice.Keep this slice on another buttered slice and cover with a plain slice.
• Cut in to half diagonally.
• Serve with a nice hot brewing cup of coffee.

This goes to Jihva-Breakfast event hosted by Suma and also linked to Mahanandi

Sambar- Spicy-Tangy stew of Vegetables,aromatic spices and lentils!!!

Sambar- It wont be unfair if you call this dish as the king of South Indian cuisine.A staple in South India - is a spicy-tangy stew of vegetables,aromatic spices,lentils,coconut and tamarind to give it the sour taste.It goes well almost with everything plain rice,dosa,Idli.Vada or just have it hot like a soup.Sambar with rice is one of the most common meals in any South-Indian home and also a part of formal cuisine.
The main ingredient of this dish is the 'Sambar powder' and there are zillions of versions,proving its versatility and likeability.And the vegetables used to pepare,each vegetable gives a different flavour or a combination of them.There is the 'Drumstick-Sambar','Turnip-Sambar','Onion-Sambar' and so on.
There are ready made varieties of Sambar-powder available in groceries and super markets which are good to use if you are in a hurry but nothing like the Home-made Sambar powder.So try out and let the aroma fill your home:Heres are the recipes for Sambar and Sambar powder: 

Cooking time:30mins
Preparation time:15mins
Serves-8persons

Ingredients:

• Toor dal/Pigeon peas- 1cup
• Onion (sliced)- 1no(medium size)
• Tomatoes(chopped)- 5no(medium size).
• Green chilli- 1-2no
• Ginger n Garlic paste- 1tsp
• Tamarind - 40gms
• Jaggery/Sugar- 1tsp
• Red chilli powder-1/2tsp
• Turmeric powder- 1/4tsp
• Corrainder leaves/dhanya- 1bunch
• Mixed vegetables(of your choice)-drumstick 5-6 small pieces,pumpkin 2-3 small pieces,shallots-2-3no,lady finger-3-4,brinjal -1no,etc......(optional)
• Sambhar powder- 5tbsp
• Salt to taste
• Ghee- 1tsp
• Oil- 2tbsp
• Mustard- 1/2tsp
• Cumin seeds- 1/2tsp
• Fenugreek seeds-1/4tsp
• Dry  Whole red chilli- 2no
• Asfoetida powder- 1/2tsp
• Curry leaves- 10no

Method:

• Wash and soak Toor dal  in water for atleast 1 hour. Then pressure cook it with little salt,turmeric powder,tomatoes and put 3 cups water for 4 whistle and simmer it  for 5-10mins.Once when the pressure releases, open and mash it immediately or blend well and keep aside.
• Soak tamarind in water for about 10 mins.extract pulp and keep aside.
• Heat the oil  in deep sauce pan and add mustard, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, dry red chillies, curry leaves and asafetida, let them splutter, then add the onion, green chilli,ginger and garlic paste and saute them for about 2-3 mins
•  Now add red chilli powder,and add the vegetables now add 2 cups water.cook for about 5mins.
• Now add salt, tamrind pulp, cooked dal( please see the important note below), jaggery/sugar and sambhar powder. Let this come to a boil and add ghee at this stage and add corriander leaves.
• Let it simmer for around 10-15mins.
• Seve hot with your choice of accompaniment.

Important note: If you are using readymade Sambar powder then add 1/4 cup of coconut powder or 1 cup thick coconut milk when you are adding cooked dal to the mixture.
Sambar powder:
Ingredients:

• Corriander seeds/dhanya- 1/2cup
• Cumin seeds/Zeera- 1/2cup
• Fenugreek Seeds/Methi seeds- 1/4cup
• Mustard seeds/Rai dana- 1/4 cup
• Dry Coconut powder- 1cup
• Whole red chilli-1/4cup
• Dried Curry leaves-20
• Raw rice-1/4cup
• Black pepper corns- 1/4cup
• Black gram/urad dal- 1/4cup
• Red gram dal/Chana dal- 1/4cup
• Cinnamon/dalchini- 2"piece
• Cloves/laung-5
• Turmeric powder/Haldi- 2tbsp
• Asfoetida powder/Hing- 2tsp

Method:

• Dry roast all the ingredients on a pan except turmeric and asfoetida,on a medium flame till you get a nice aroma.
• Cool the mixture.
• Add turmeric and asfoetida and mix well.
• Store in a cool place in an air-tight container.

This goes to CWS event hosted by  Radhika and Priya.

Poha-flattened rice with onions and peanuts!!!

Poha-Rice flattened into flat light dry flakes.Poha or Pauwa in Hindi, Pohe in Marathi.Pohe (Maharashtrian) is a speciality of Western India particularly, Maharashtra.It is usually had for breakfast or served as a tea-time snack.Poha serves as a light meal and yet very satisfying.Poha is a good source of carbohydrates that provide energy. It is also high in fibre and rich in protein.There are two kinds of poha:

1. Thick-poha- is mostly used to make breakfast dishes.
2. Thin-poha-is usually used to make "chiwda"or other savouries.

Brown-Poha nutritional wise is better than white-poha as the fibre content is higher than white-poha,so it takes more calorie to digest and the fibre content helps in digestion It can be prepared with potatoes called "Batata-poha" or onions called "Kanda-poha".Here's the recipe for "Kanda-poha":

Cooking time: 8-10mins
Preparation time: 10mins
Serves- 2persons.

Ingredients:

• Poha(thick)-1cup
• Onion(chopped)- 1(medium-size).
• Green chillies(chopped)- 3-4no
• Corriander leaves(chopped)- 2tbsp
• Turmeric powder/haldi- 1/4tsp 
• Lemon juice- 1tsp  
• Sugar- 1/4tsp   
• Grated Fresh coconut- 1tbsp (optional)
• Peanuts(roasted)- 1tbsp
• Whole Cumin seeds- 1/2tsp
• Curry leaves- 5-6
• Oil- 1tbsp
• Salt to taste. 

Method:

• Put the poha in a sieve and wash under running water for 2 minutes. Keep aside to drain. 

Note:Never keep the poha in water and wash.Always in a sieve else they will become very soft and stick together.

• Add the salt, sugar, turmeric powder, lemon juice  to the poha and mix well.Keep aside.
• Heat oil add cumin seeds let it splutter.
• Add Onion,green chilli,curry leaves and peanuts and fry untill soft.

Note:If you want to put potatoes,Cut 1 medium-sized potato in small-thin cubes and add along with the onions.

• Add the mixed poha, and stir gently.Sprinkle 2tsp water.
• Cover and cook on low flame  for 3-4 minutes, stirring in between.
• Sprinkle coconut and chopped coriander.
• Serve hot with mint-chutney.

Sesame Squares-Potato filling on whole wheat bread done with sesame!!!

These delectable squares can be had for breakfast or as a snack anytime,good source of carbohydrates to give a quick boost to the energy level,make in any desired shapes and sizes and the result will be liked by all especially children.Try it out!!!

Cooking time:30mins
Preparation time:10mins
Serves: 2-3persons

Ingredients:

• Whole wheat bread-4 slices
• Butter/Margarine-1tsp
• Potato-2(large size)
• Carrot(grated)- 1/4cup
• Tomato ketchup- 1tbsp
• Green Chillies(chopped)- 2no
• Lemon juice- 1tsp
• Corriander leaves(chopped)- 1/4cup
• Sesame seeds-1tsp
• Salt to taste
• Oil- 1tsp

Cooking Method:

• Boil potatoes.when cool peel the skin and mash them fine.
• Dry roast the sesame seeds on medium flame for about 5mins.
• Add carrot,tomato ketchup,green chillies,lemon juice,salt and  corriander leaves to the mashed potatoes.
• Take a pan heat oil and put this potato mixture and saute for 5 mins.Keep aside.
• Butter the slices lightly and cut the bread slice in to four pieces,1 bread slice will yield four squares.
• Now you can toast these squares on a pan till crisp,I used electric sandwich maker,I put these squares for 10 mins in it,they came out nice crisp.
• Now put cleanly the potato mixture on these squares and sprinkle sesame seeds on them.
• Serve with tomato ketchup.

This goes to Srivalli's event and Jihva -Breakfast event.

EGG Sandwiches-My Kid's Favourite!!!

Sandwiches-There is never a fixed recipe for it,we can experiment always with the ingredients and the results always good.These sandwiches are  my kid's favourite,its quick and easy and very healthy  and wholesome too.A complete meal in itself.

Cooking Time- 10 minutes

Serves- 1 or 2

INGREDIENTS:

• Brown bread slices- 4
• Eggs(Hard boiled)- 2
• Olives(sliced)- 6
• Tomato sauce- 2 tsp
• Butter - 1 tsp
• Mustard paste- 1tsp
• Black pepper powder- 1/8 tsp
• Salt to taste

METHOD:

• Remove the corners of the bread slices if desired,and butter the slices.
• Cut the boiled egg  in to thin slices.(I remove the yolk).
• Take a buttered slice,spread tomato ketchup well and then arrange the egg slices,sprinkle salt and pepper and put mustard paste and olives,finally put another buttered slice on top.Press it lightly.

• Brown both sides carefully on a hot griddle,you can even grill it in a microwave or an oven.
• Cut Diagonally in to halves and serve.