Baked masala mathris

Masala mathris

I love combining ingredients and play with them always. This was one such trial that worked wonders. 

1 cup flour

1/2 cup suji

1/2 cup oats meal

1/2 cup maida

1/4 cup oil

1 cup grated cheese

1/4 cup crushed peanuts

1 tbsp sesame

1 tbsp flax seeds ground

200 ml curd

1 tsp ajwain

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsp onion chutney , you could use any

1tsp baking powder

Method

Mix all the ingredients into a tight dough. Rest for an hour. 

Roll into a 3 mm thick round and cut into squares.

Bake at 180 deg till golden. 

Yummy !!

Tomato pickle

The South Indian pickles are my favorite and here is one more such recipes from my kitchen.

Ingredients

1 cup Tomato purée/ chopped tomato can

100 gms tomato paste

6-8 green chillies

1/2 pod garlic

2" piece ginger

3 tsp sambhar powder

1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp methi powder
1 tsp mustard powder

1/2 cup Olive oil

1 tbsp Chana dal

1 tsp urad dal

1 tsp methi seeds

1 tsp mustard

Curry leaves

1/4 tsp hing

Method

Crush ginger , garlic and green chillies. 

Hear oil , add hing, methi and mustard. Let them splutter. Add the dals and let them color.

Add curry leaves and the crushed ginger paste.

Cook for a while.

Add tomato purée and paste and sauté.

Add salt , chilli powder, methi and mustard powder and sambhar masala. Cook till all the water evaporates and oil starts leaving the mixture.

Cool and store.

Flammkuchen

Flammkuchen

This is one of the easiest and yummiest quick recipes I can think of. This comes from Germany and I just loved it. Good thing is it can be used in our kitchen very often and uses everything that our desi kitchen has and one of them being roti ka atta!!! I am sure this would be a great dish for kids lunch boxes and a cocktail snack. You could use any toppings and it looks more like a pizza.

Ingredients

Roti dough a big ball

Sour cream/ cream cheese

Olive oil to spray 

3/4 tbsp grated cheese

1 Onions sliced

1 bowl sliced mushrooms

Use any other vegs or toppings 

Pizza spice

Salt pepper

Method

Roll the dough into a 3 mm thickness like rotis

Spread sour cream or cream cheese

Sprinkle salt and pepper

Sprinkle cheese on it.

Spread the vegs on it and sprinkle salt , pepper and spices.

Spray oil and bake in very hot oven till golden brown and crisp.

Cut into wedges to serve as cocktail snack or for kids lunch box. Delicious !!!!!

Kale chane with kale leaves on potato wedges

A healthy yummy weekend recipe to satiate my taste buds. Very happily enjoyed by family.

Healthy kale chane with kale leaves on grilled potatoes. 

1 cup soaked kale chane overnight

2 chopped onions

3 cups chopped kale leaves

500 gms chopped tomatoes

2 tbsp grated ginger

2 tbsp chopped garlic

2 chopped gr chillies

2 tbsp oil

1 tsp jeera

Bay leaf, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon 

2 tsp chole masala

1 tsp dhaniya powder

1/2 tsp chilli powder

Haldi

Salt

Lime juice

For potatoes

1 kg washed potatoes with skins 

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt, pepper and chilli powder

Method

Boil kale chane with salt and haldi till soft.

what oil and add jeera and khada masala. 

Add ginger, garlic and chopped chillies and let them color.

Add chopped onions and cook till translucent.

Add tomatoes and mash well.

Add all the spices and cook well.

Put the leaves and cook a bit so that they reduce in volume.

Add boiled chane and add water.

Pressure cook for about another 15 /20 mins and let it cool.

Open and check the texture, if needed boil more.

Adjust water to required need and add lime juice and dhaniya leaves.

Cut potatoes into wedges and mix salt , spices and oil well.

Spread on an aluminum foil or a baking dish and bake at 200 deg till golden and crisp.

In a dish put some wedges and pour the chana gravy , namkeen , chopped onions , dhaniya leaves and green chillies. I had no patience. Enjoy hot!!! Yummy and healthy!!

Savory muffins

This has baandh on my mind since long but a post on Ghar ka khana by Shilpa just pushed me into making it. I modified it to my tastes and the ingredients at hand and there I have a finger licking snack and even a full dinner with soup. Sharing the goodness.

Ingredients 

2 cups flour

1/2 cup suji

1 cup chopped parsley

1 chopped onion

3/4 cup grated cheese

Chilli flakes

15 gms baking powder

1 tbsp vinegar

Salt

1/4 cup oil

Topping

Green mojo sauce or any other

Poppy seeds

Method

Mix all the ingredients for the muffins and pour into muffin molds.

Top with the sauce and poppy sends and bake at 180 deg till golden brown. 

Serve with soup or give it as snacks for the kids. 

Daal ki kachori ya kachori waffles

Daal ki kachori ya kachori waffles.

My experiments continue. Waffles my all time favorite never stop at just few changes. I made these since I had a packet if ready to make daal kachori mix from Delhi. Just knead , roll and fry....fry???? Not me .... And so here they take the shape of my fav waffles!!!my hubby loved it. Packed him some for his snack tomorrow.

Ingredients

1 cup ready made kachori mix

1 cup suji

2 tbsp oil

1 cup curd

Pinch of hing

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 cup grated radish

1 cup chopped spring onions

1 chopped onion

1.5 cup curd

1/2 tsp chilli

Ch green chillies

1 tsp baking powder

Method

Mix all the ingredients except baking powder and adjust consistency by adding water if needed. Keep for 30 mins.

Add baking powder and mix well.

Heat waffle iron and brush with butter.

Pour the batter and grill till golden and crisp. A few mins from off the grill and they turn more crisp.

Serve with chutney of choice or aloo ki spicy curry. I mixed gun powder with garlic flakes, curd , olive oil and salt. Yummy!!!!

Guacamole thepla

A good way to combine good health with taste. Try these lovely variation to thepla , cooking in Germany can be fun too.

Guacamole flavored theplas

1 Avocado

3-4 cloves Garlic

3 Spring onion

2 gr Chilli

1 tsp Bhuna jeera

1/2 cup green Dhaniya

Salt

Whole wheat flour as required

Method

Grind all the vegetables with salt and jeera to a paste. Add atta as required and knead into a soft dough. Roll into parathas and cook on skillet with olive oil. Healthy yummy parathas are ready.

Ragi thattai

Another quest for healthy cooking for those Inbetween time snack.

Thattai ragi oats ki

1 cup ground oats

1/2 cup ragi flour

1/2 cup rice flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp flax seeds

5 tbsp mixed seeds( sunflower, pine,pumpkin)

Chilli flakes

Pepper

1/3 cup oil

Curd 

Salt.

Method

Mix all the flours and masalas with oil to bread crumb consistency.

Add seeds and baking powder and add curd to make a stuff dough.

Rest for 30 mins.

Roll and put on baking sheet. Brush with milk.

Bake at 180 deg C till crisp. About 15 mins.

Enjoy!!

Apple masala thepla

I am suddenly liking the use of the sour apples in my cooking here. It's cheaper to buy those and use them as vegs than buying the desi vegetables which have travelled so far and have no nutrition. Loved the tartness they lend to the parathas. 

Ingredients 

1.5 Apple puree or grated fine

3-4 Garlic crushed

1 tbsp grated Ginger

2 Chopped Gr chilli

2 tbsp Ground flax seeds

2 tbsp Honey

1/2 cup sour cream/ curd

1 tsp Cinnamon

Salt

1/2 tsp Chilli powder

1/2 tsp Haldi

1 tsp Dhaniya powder

1 tsp Saunf powder

1/5 tsp Hing

2 tbsp Oil

Mix all the ingredients well and into a smooth dough. Rest for 30 mins.

Roll and cook on skillet to make parathas.

Enjoy with chutney or raita.

Apple cranberry cake

Apple cranberry cake

1.5 cup Grated apple

2 tbsp ground Flax seeds

1 tbsp Ginger grated

2 tbsp Honey

2 cups atta

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup cranberry

2 tbsp desiccated coconut  

10 gms baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon powder 

1 tbsp vinegar

Milk as required

Method

Mix all the ingredients with the blender. Use milk as required.

Pour into a greased tray and bake at 200 deg C till the skewer comes out clean.

Slice when cold. This cake is really delicious with a cup of coffee. Has a bite in it. 

Baked thattai

1 cup rice flour

1 cup while wheat flour

1/3cup oil

2 tbsp butter

3 tbsp Coconut paste

Chopped curry leaves

2 tbsp soaked chana daal

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp jeera

1/5 tsp hing

1 tsp coarsely crushed coriander seeds

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

1/2 cup curd or as required.

Knead a tight dough and rest for an hour.

Roll into 2" rounds and bake in a preheated oven at 200 deg C till golden brown. Enjoy.

Tofu bhurjee/ bharta

As a family we have started to like tofu as an option to paneer. I have used it for many dishes and this one seems to be an all time favorite. It's difficult to make out the difference and I use it for many things now. 

Ingredients

200 gms crushed hard tofu

1 chopped onion

3 chopped spring onion

3-4 chopped tomatoes

1/2 chopped bell peppers

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp jeera

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1 chopped chilli

1/3 tsp haldi

1 tsp dhaniya powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

Juice of half a lime

Dhaniya green to finish.

Method

Heat oil and add jeera.

Add green chilli and onions and fry till golden.

Add the rest of vegs and sauté well.

Add dry masalas and cook well.

Now put in tofu and cook till almost dry.

Apple ki muthia

My interaction with ghar ka khana .. A food group on Facebook has made me more excited about cooking. This has got me into documenting my food again. One such post on apple chutney made me think beyond my limits and excited me about using the sour apples in cooking savory food. I thought of my all time favorite muthias! And they just turned out absolutely fabulous. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

2 grated sour apples

1 grated carrot

1 tbsp grated ginger

1 tbsp grated garlic

1/2 suji

1 cup atta

2 tbsp oil

1/2 cup curd

1 tbsp sugar

Juice of half a lemon

Chilli powder

Haldi

Salt

1/5 tsp hing

For tadka

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp sesame seeds

Curry leaves 

Green chilli

Method

Except suji and atta mix all the ingredients well. Add suji and atta. Add atta according to the requirement. The dough should be soft.

Shape into rolls with help of water and steam for 15 mins.

Cool and cut into pieces.

For tadka, heat oil and add sesame and mustard. When they splutter add curry leaves and chillies slit. Sauté.

Add the muthias and cook in slow fire till they turn golden and well coated. Too with dhaniya and serve.

Just loved them... Enjoy!

Baked pyaaz ki kachoris

One of the yummiest snack I have eaten is pyaaz ki kachoris in Jaipur! Mouthwatering and flavorful and the name is enough to drool over.the only issue was it being fried and so tried my hand at baking them. I worked on the pastry dough and got it as close to the taste of fried stuff such that my son was wondering what's with me ! That's how bad my reputation is with frying. So here is this mouthwatering dish!

Ingredients

4 large onions chopped

3/4 chopped gr chillies

4/5 cloves crushed garlic

1 tbsp chopped ginger

2 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 tsp hing 

4 tbsp besan

1 tsp chilli powder

2 tsp dhaniya powder

1/2 tsp haldi

2 tsp amchur

1 tsp crushed saunf

Chopped dhaniya

For pastry

1 cup maida

1/2 cup atta

1/2cup suji

1/4 cup oil

2 tbsp butter

3 tbsp sour curd thick

Salt

Method

In a bowl mix all the flour and salt and add oil and butter . Rub well to get it like bread crumb consistency.

Add curd and cold water to make it into a tight dough.

Keep this aside for good 3/4 hours and then in the fridge for 30 mins.

Meanwhile heat oil and add hing and mustard.

Add garlic , ginger and green chillies.

Add onions and sauté till trancelucent. Today I added spring onion also. 

Add besan and sauté .

Add all the masalas and sauté.

Add green coriander and keep aside.

Make balls with dough and roll into small circles.

Put generous helping of masala.

Cover well and roll to 4 inch rounds.

Put on a baking sheet. Apply some butter and put in a preheated oven at 200 deg till golden brown.

When done, brush with butter again.

Serve hit with green chutney and tamarind chutney.i served with amchur chutney.

Amchur chutney.... 2 tsp amchur with salt, kala namak, bhuna jeera , chilli powder and dhaniya powder , mix with water and boil. Add sugar and reduce. Chutney is ready! 

Enjoy!!!!

Tirangi mirchi

2  packets of bell peppers!! That's what it took to come out with this mirchi preparation. Spicy, colorful and very tasty ! Here goes the preparation.

Ingredients

3 chopped bell peppers (yellow, red, green)

1 tbsp garlic

2 sliced green chilies

2 tbsp besan

2 tbsp dahi

Chilli powder

Haldi powder

1 tsp dhaniya powder

1/2 tsp saunf powder coarse

1/5 tsp hing

1/2 tsp each of mustard, methi and jeera

1/2 tsp amchur

1 tbsp olive oil

Method

Heat oil and add hing and mustard methi n jeera. Let it crackle.

Add garlic and sauté.

Add chillies n bell peppers.

Sauté in high heat.

Add all masalas and besan and cook on high heat.

Add the curd and cook well on high heat so that water evaporates and color of bell peppers remains.add amchur and mix well.

Remove and serve hot as a side dish.

Ratatouille lasagne

 

 My family loves lasagna any day and I find it very interesting to put it together. I keep thinking of ways to make it more interesting and healthy and at the same time do not like to go out venturing looking for ingredients. The recipe should be simple, few steps and with easily available ingredients. This lasagna also was the brainchild of one such a lazy day. Since many things are available here like white sauce, it  makes it is easier to put together and also less work in cleaning. But for people who want to make it from scratch can do so too. So here goes the spicy ratatouille lasagna as I combined the two lovely Italian dishes into one. The product is amazing.
Ingredients
2 chopped aubergines
2 chopped zucchinis
1 chopped onion
1 chopped bell peppers
1 scrapped corn ( I used it)
8-10 cherry tomatoes halved
2 tbsp minced garlic
100 gms of tomatoes puree
4-5 tbsp tomato paste( can use more tomatoes cooked to thick paste)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp Italian spice
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp chilli flakes

1/2 tsp garlic powder
Pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1 cup grated cheese
12 Lasagna sheets Soaked in hot water
400 ml white sauce- Heat 2 tbsp butter, add 2 heaped tbsp flour and saute. Add 2 cup milk and keep cooking till coats the back of the spoon. Add salt and pepper.

Method
Heat olive oil and add minced garlic and saute.
Add the onions and saute few mins.
Add the aubergines and zucchini and cook to color a bit and cook a bit.
Add the tomato puree and paste and mix well.
Add 1 tsp each of the herbs, salt and pepper.
Cook till the vegs are half done.
Add cherry tomatoes and keep aside.
Take a baking dish and grease it with butter.
Pour half the vegetable in the dish.
Layer up sheets of pasta on the vegetable.
Pour half the white sauce on it and sprinkle half the cheese.
Pour the rest of the vegetables.
Layer up rest of the sheets and top with white sauce and cheese.
Sprinkle the rest of the oregano, Italian spice , garlic powder and chilli flakes.
Bake at 200 deg till golden brown.
Rest it for 15 mins before cutting and serving.

  

Stuffed karela

The thought of a stuffed spicy karela with daal is mouth watering.I just love this vegetable though it is so bitter. Its a very nutritious vegetable and good for diabetes. Here is one made healthier and sweet and sour , just the way I like with even a left over rotis from the previous day.....divine food!

Ingredients
3 Karelas scraped,slit and cut into 3 inch pieces( keep the scrapes for stuffing)
1/2 tsp haldi
1/2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 spoon garam masala
1 tsp crushed saunf
2 tsp amchur powder
Salt
2/3 tbsp oil
1 walnut size jaggery grated
2 tbsp flax seeds

Method
Apply salt to karelas and the scrapings and keep for 30 mins.
Squeeze the water out and keep aside.
Mix scrapings with all the dry ingredients.
Fill them well in the karelas.
Heat oil and put karelas and cook on low heat , turning them well so that it cooks and colors on all sides.
Poke to see if they are cooked well and serve.

Nectarine cake

A fruit cake is such a delight. I love the sourness from the fruit, a bit of mushy fruit and the sweet base of the cake. Germany has such a variety in such fruit cakes. I made this and my family loved it.Its nutritious and light and great with a cup of coffee or tea.

Ingredients
1.5 cups of flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oil or melted butter
1/2 cup fruit juice
1/2 cup milk or as required
15 gms baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp vinegar
4/5 sliced nectarines( you could use any other fruit)
Brown sugar or normal sugar to sprinkle
Cinnamon powder to sprinkle

Method
Mix all the ingredients for the cake well except the fruit, sugar to sprinkle and cinnamon.
Pour into a greased baking dish.
Line up the nectarine slices and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon.
Bake it in a pre-heated oven at 180 deg for 15 mins and then at 160 deg till a skewer poked in comes out clean.
Cool and cut into slices.
Serve with cream and a cup of coffee.

Eggless Danish cake

Danish cake is such a delicious cake and I had it once at a friend's place and wanted to bake it at home. The flavors are so good and they suit us as it has coconut. I tried making it and realized that the next day it tastes even better. Very close to the one I ate.Sharing the recipe.Of course mine is eggless but you could try making it with eggs. Its the topping that makes it different.
Ingredients
2.5 cups flour
3/4 cup melted butter or oil
15 gms baking powder
1 cup sugar, I like a less sweet.
1 cup buttermilk
milk as required
Vanilla essence or sugar 1 tbsp/15 gms
1 tbsp Vinegar

Topping
1 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup sugar
50 gms butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla essence or 1 tbsp Vanilla sugar

Mix all the ingredients for cake and beat well. Pour into a greased tray and bake at 180 deg till a needle poked in comes clean.
Meanwhile cook all the ingredients for topping and cook till a bit of fluid is left only.
Spread it on top of the cake and bake again till the top is crusty golden brown.
Cool well before slicing. The next day tastes better and slices easily.
Enjoy !

Maize flour and chutney scones

I love this pull apart thingy... Tried buns and now scones. Opened my fridge for inspiration and there is the maize flour, store bought onion and pineapple chutney and some cream cheese. So scones it is for my weekend hubby's evening snacks.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 cups all purpose flour

1 cup maize flour

50 gms chopped butter cold

200 ml cold curd

3 tsp baking powder 

3 tbsp chutney( I had onion n pineapple from the store)

100 gms sour cream

2 tbsp cream cheese

Salt

METHOD

Mix flour, maize flour, salt, butter, curd,baking powder and chutney. With light hands mix to a nice dough. Keep for 15 mins.

Make small balls and put in a buttered dish close to each other.

Mix cream cheese, sour cream and salt well.

Put it on the rolls and spread well.

Bake at 180 deg till golden brown. 

Enjoy hot from the oven .

Zucchini chutney

South Indian cuisine is such a fascinating cuisine and my family craves it constantly. My friend Uma is very good with her stuff and specially the chutneys. Learnt a basic from her and decided to experiment with zucchini. It was most amazing. I have tried this with carrots too.

INGREDIENTS

2 sliced zucchinis

1 sliced onions

4/5 cloves garlic

1" piece of ginger

4 red chillies

Curry leaves a few

2 tbsp oil

1/5 tsp hing

1 tsp urad dal

Walnut size ball of tamarind

1 large tomato or 2 tbsp tomato paste 

1 tsp mustard seeds

Salt as per taste 

 

METHOD

Heat 1 tbsp oil, add hing, garlic, red chillies, ginger, onion ,tamarind and zucchini.Add tomato in case uou are not using paste.Cook till golden .

Cool and grind to paste.

Heat oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal and fry till golden.

Add curry leaves and add the paste.

Add salt and tomato paste and cook for 5 mins.

Serve out with idlis , dosa or rice balls .

Plum and oats cake

Another good way to have your oats and also stop those cravings for a sweet . Since plums are in season.. I used these to satisfy the pangs.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 cups all purpose flour

1 cup ground oats

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

100 gms sour cream

Orange juice as needed

3 tsp Baking powder

1 tbsp vinegar

250 gms halved plums

Sugar to sprinkle on top

METHOD

Mix all the ingredients except plums for a few mins in a mixer. 

Add orange juice as required.

Pour into a greased baking dish.

Pour the cake mixture.

Too with plums.

Sprinkle sugar.

Bake in a pre- heated oven at 180 deg till golden on the side.

Poke in to see if the knife comes clean. 

Serve with whipped cream.

Papaya and spinach parathas

Yes an odd combination but that worked well. It's a great way to add a vegetable that's not easy to use and be accepted by all. I tried this and turned out great... Good in taste and high in health!

Ingredients

1 cup grated raw papaya

1 cup chopped spinach

1 tsp grated ginger

1/2 curd curd

2 chopped gr chilles

Whole wheat flour as required

Salt

Chilli powder

1 tsp saunf powder

Hing

2 tbsp oil

Method

Knead everything to a tight dough and keep for 15 mins.

Roll into 6" rounds and make parathas with oil on hot tawa.

Enjoy with green chutney.

Healthy parathas

My quest to give healthy and delicious meal make me use the things that add value even in a single dish. Since the regular palak and methi are missing here, I tried using the crunchy leaves with the coarse moong daal powder I had. The result was really nice. I also went ahead and made them as wraps.

Ingredients

A bunch of chopped salad leaves

1/2 cup coarsely ground moong daal powder

Whole wheat flour as required

2 tbsp flax seed coarsely ground

1 cup sour cream

Chopped chillies

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp fennel seeds crushed

Hing

1 tbsp oil

Salt

Method

Mix all the ingredients into a dough.

Make balls and roll into 6" round parathas

Heat a skillet and put this paratha on it ,cook on both sides.

Put some oil and turn over.

Cook till golden on both sides.

Serve hot with butter and curd.

 

Carrot raisin waffles

My oven is not functional and the need to bake was immense as I needed to take a little something for a friend... Waffle maker to the rescue. Made these and my friend nursing her baby hasn't stopped raving and munching them! We had them hot with jam on top! Yumm!! Sharing the sin with goodness! 

Ingredients

2 cups grated carrots

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup crushed almonds

1/2 cup suji

1/2 cup flour 

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup curd

Milk as required

Sugar as per taste 

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup unsalted grated cheese (yes!)

Vanilla essence or sugar

1 tsp vinegar

Method

Mix all the ingredients and keep for 10 mins. Adjust consistency. Apply butter on hot waffle iron , pour batter . Bake till golden brown , apply a little butter and serve with jam or sauce of your choice! The goodness of carrots and a wonderful dish is ready ! 

Toor daal and rice steamed balls

Spicy peanut tomato no cook chutney

This chutney recipe was given by my sister in law and I was hooked. I use it for almost anything and goes very well as a dip with snacks and veg sticks.

Ingredients

3 Chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup roasted peanuts

2/3 cloves garlic

3 red chillies

1 tsp vinegar

Salt 

Method

Blend all the ingredients into a fine purée.

Refrigerate for few hours. Tastes better in a day or two.

Healthy zucchini and blue berry waffles

I think one of the best ways to eat a healthy all time recipe is waffles. I love my waffle iron and cannot imagine life without it.i experiment so much with it and love the crisp too and soft insides of it. I add almost anything and manage a good breakfast, a lunch , snack it even a dinner. I use it as a finger food , brunch or just about " when you are hungry" meals.Here I tried an experiment and the kids loved it. Phew , what a relief. This way I got my 17 yr old son who isn't much focused on food n fruits into eating few fruits.Loved the tangy taste in between.

Ingredients

1 cup oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup suji

1 grated zucchini

1 cup curd

1 chopped onions

3/4 cup blue berries

2 tbsp flaxseeds

2 chopped spring onions

1/2 tsp chilli pwd

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp fennel pwd

Salt 

1/2 cup grated cheese

2 tsp baking powder

Method

Mix all the ingredients well except baking powder and keep for 30 mins.

Add water to make a thick batter.

Heat waffle iron, put enough batter and close and cook till brown. 

Enjoy with spicy tomato peanut chutney. Posting recipe.

Crumble topped cake

I dislike wasting anything and I am called the " bacha- kucha queen" for what I can do with leftovers. I use all my skills to use things to make new dishes specially if there is a risk of wastage.Here I used the sides of multigrain bread which had all kinds of full corn like oats,flaxseeds,wheat etc. Here I combined two types of cakes and the result is fantastic! I was hugely complimented.

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup apple juice

1/2 cup milk, use more if needed

2 cups crushed multi corn bread

1/2 cup almond crushed

1/4 cup walnut crushed

1/4 cup raisins

2 tbsp butter

3 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp vinegar

Vanilla flavoring 

Method

Mix flour , 1 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla, oil, milk , juice , baking powder and vinegar. Pour in a greased tray.

Mix bread crumble with 1/4 cup sugar, almond and walnut crush , butter and raisins. Liberally put in the cake and bake at 180 deg till knife comes clean and too is golden brown. Keep for an hour before cutting. Could also add grated apple , chopped berries in the bread and baked! Enjoy the goodness.

Garlic peanut healthy fingers

My passion and romance with healthy food continues. Baked some mathris but you could fry them too.love the flavor of garlic and crunch of peanuts.

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup crushed oats

1/2 cup suji

1/2 cup oil

200 ml curd

1/4 cup crushed peanuts 

2 tbsp crushed flax seeds

2 tbsp crushed garlic

2 tbsp grated ginger

1 tsp crushed saunf

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp salt

Method

Mix all the ingredients into a tight dough, add water if needed.Keep for 30 mins.

Roll and cut into thick fingers.

Brush with buttermilk.

Bake at 150 deg till golden brown.

Enjoy with a yogurt dip or just pig out as they are.

Energy cake bars

My continuous efforts to make healthy food keeps me pretty busy and helps me to push my edges a bit more. My feelings when I see happy faces after my efforts make me so content with my life. People often tell me that my recipes and adventures in the kitchen are successful with no compromise on taste.. Which is all we try to achieve.So here is one such recipe for an in between snack at work for my weekend hubby with his cup if coffee. This is a bit drier and crumbly than the regular cake. Sharing the goodness.

Ingredients 

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup whole wheat flour( next time I would do almond meal)

1/2 cup suji

1/2 cup dehydrated fruits of your choice

1/2 cup mix of raisins,chopped almonds and walnuts

1/2 cup oil

25 gms butter

3 tbsp honey

1/2 cup sugar.. Add more if you like 

1/2 cup apple or orange juice.

15 gms baking powder

1 tbsp vinegar

Cinnamon or flavoring of your choice 

Milk as required. 

Method 

Mix all the ingredients well in a mixing bowl and keep for few mins.

Add more milk if required to adjust the thickness to cake batter consistency.

Pour in a greased and lined baking tray.

Give it a slight thud to remove any air bubbles.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180deg on the middle rack till done. Enjoy the goodness with no guilt.

Onion pickle

I  came across this recipe on a group I subscribed to.. Ghar ka khana.i twisted it to my liking a bit and the result was amazing. Goes well with mah ki daal, daal maharani,rajma or missi roti.

Ingredients

2 sliced onions

4/6 crushed garlic

3/4 chopped red or green chillies

3 tbsp vinegar

Salt

1 tbsp panch phoran crushed

3 tbsp olive oil

Method

Mix vegs with vinegar and salt.

Heat oil and add the panch phoran mixture. Heat thr ought for 10 secs or so.

Pour on to the vegs , stir well.let the flavors blend and serve.... Chathkhedaar!

Suji dhokla

My mum seems to cook like a magician. I  have the passion for cooking from her.As a kid of 6 , I saw her cooking with so much passion that I joined her and stood on a little stool by her and watched and helped her where I could. By age 10, I was making a full meal. 

Suji ke dhokle has been her left hand job. I think no one can make them like her. Today I share her recipe here. 

Ingredients

1.5 cups suji

2 tbsp besan ( optional)

1 cup sour curd

1 tbsp oil

1/4 tsp haldi

Pinch of hing

15 gms / 1 tbsp Baking powder 

Salt

For tempering

2 tbsp oil

Pinch of hing

1 tsp mustard seeds

Curry leaves

1 tsp sesame seeds

Few slit green chillies

Lime juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tsp sugar 

Method

Mix all the ingredients for dhokla exceot baking powder. Add enough water to make a thick batter.keep for 30 mins.

Now adjust the thickness of batter and add baking powder and mix well.

Grease a 24" round dhokla tray and keep to steam. Pour the batter and steam on high for about 15 mins.

Stick a knife to see if it comes clean.

Cool for about an hour.

Cut into small squares in the tray.

Heat oil in a pan, add hing, mustard and let them splatter.

Add curry leaves, sesame seeds and green chillies and let them give out aroma.

Pour half a cup of water in it and add heat through with sugar.

Add lime juice and pour over the dhoklas.

Keep for an hour, sprinkle chopped coriander and serve with chutney of your choice.

Baked spicy Bhakharwadis

Crisp, crunchy, golden , spicy treats. 

Baking is something I really enjoy and if I can get a fried food as close to frying by baking, it gives me a good high. Bhakharwadis are a delight to the palate wit their various tastes tingling on the tongue. My love for them started years ago on a train journey and the love hasn't stopped since then. The frying bit bothered me and decided to try baking them ...and lo....they came out really very well.So sharing my recipe here. I even went a step ahead and made them with atta instead of maida. Hope the affair with these beauty continues.

Ingredients

1 cup Atta/ whole wheat flour    

1 tbsp suji

3 tbsp oil

1-2 tsp baking powder

Salt 

Filling 

4 tbsp desiccated coconut

3 tbsp crushed peanuts

2 tbsp sesame 

2 tbsp Crushed garlic

1/2 tsp haldi

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp saunf pwd 

2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp vinegar

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

1 tbsp amchur 

Pinch of hing

Salt

Method 

Mix all the ingredients for the dough and mix with warm water to a tight dough and keep for an hour.

Mix ingredients for the filling.

Roll the dough, spray a bit of oil and spread this filling well.

Roll into a roll and press well.

Cut into pieces and press them well such that the filling stays inside.

Put on a baking sheet, brush with oil and bake in a preheated oven at 180 deg till golden brown. 

Serve as a snack hot or keep in airtight container.

Makki ka kees / Corn curry

Corn is such a versatile vegetable. I have heard so much about makki ka kees but never tried it. Here I am with a can of cooked corn and tried making it according to my taste and availability of ingredients , a little off the recipe. Of course since it was cooked , it was jhat pat, fast and yummy.Try this yummy dish which we all loved!

Ingredients

1 cup Crushed corn

1 chopped onion

1 tbsp ch garlic

2 ch spring onion

1/2 chopped bell peppers

2/3 cup milk

2 chopped gr chillies

1/4 tsp haldi

1/4 tsp chilli powder 

1/3 tsp garam masala

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

Salt to taste

Lime juice

Method

Heat oil and add mustard seeds, let them crackle.

Add chopped chillies and garlic and sauté.

Add chopped onions and sauté till golden .

Add spring onions and bell peppers and sauté.

Add the dry spices and sauté ,be careful not to burn it.

Put in the crushed corn and sauté well. 

Pour the milk and on slow flame cook till it's thick.

Squeeze lime juice and enjoy it hot with bread, rotis or just the way it is.

Baked masala Mathris/ baked spicey Crackers

My family loves mathris but the thought of frying puts me off. The calories, , heat and then the heaviness of having one too many is too much. So have learnt to bake them. Easy , simple and less pain. Now that is what cooking should be.

Ingredients
Whole wheat flour                        2 cup
Crushed rolled oats                       1 cup
Crushed peanuts,sesame, fax seeds     1 tbsp each
Curd                               150 ml
finely chopped spring onions      3 nos
garlic powder                              1 tsp
Oil                                              1/4 cup
Chilli flakes                                 1/2 tsp
Ajwain                                        1 tsp
baking powder                            1 tsp
Grated cheese( optional)              1/4 cup

Method
Knead all the things well and keep aside for an hour.
Roll into mathris or shapes of your choice.
Bake at 180 degrees till golden brown.