Oats bhel

Healthy and tasty...this bhel is surely a dieter’s paradise food. It’s filling, takes away cravings of spicy snack and is right for those snacks dinners. I tried to use a good mix of everything that I love.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 small boiled potato cubed
1 chopped red onion
1 green chili chopped
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup boiled sprouts/chickpeas
1/2 cup potato stick chips
1/2 cup sev or mixed namkeen
2 tbsp tamarind chutney
2 tbsp coriander chutney
2 tbsp roasted peanuts
1 tbsp chaat masala
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp roasted cumin seed powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp mustard oil- optional
1/2 lemon juice
Salt to taste
METHOD
1. Put all ingredients in a big bowl.
2. Toss well.
3. Adjust seasoning.
4. Top with fresh coriander leaves.
5. Serve with lemon wedges. 

German onion cake (Modified)

A great hit with everyone. I modified it for my kitchen and is high on taste.

Ingredients

2 cups flour 

1 tsp salt

1 tsp instant yeast 

2 tbsp oil 

Warm water to knead 

1/4 cup thick curd/ cream cheese

2 sliced onions 

Italian herbs 

Crushed pepper

1/4 cup grated cheese

Method 

1. Mix flour with salt and yeast. Add warm water and knead the dough. 

2. Add oil and make into a ball and keep to prove it. 

3. Roll the dough on a baking tray. 

4. Spread yoghurt or cream cheese. 

5. Top with onions. 

6. Put seasonings. 

7.  Top with cheese and put into a preheated oven at 200 deg C and bake for about 20 mins. 

8. Cut and serve. 

Baked cheesy sesame garlic squares

Baked cheesy sesame garlic squares

A crunchy garlicky squares great for pick up snacks  for parties with dips or as side snacks for kids. 

1 kg all purpose flour

1/2 cup warm oil

2 tbsp garlic chili paste

1 cup curd

1 tbsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 cup grated cheese 

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1 tsp ajwain

1 tbsp vinegar

Salt to taste 

Method 

Mix flour with all the ingredients and mix well. 

Add enough hot water to make a medium soft dough.

Keep for 15 mins.

Roll and cut into squares.

Poke with a fork and bake in a preheated oven at 200 deg C.

Bake till brown and golden. 

Store in sealed containers.

Garlic chilli cheese pinwheels

A quick fix recipe for party snacks and work great as finger foods.
1/2 atta
1/2 cup maida
2-3 tbsp suji
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
salt as required
1 big pinch baking soda
chaas/buttermilk as required

Method
Roll the dough, spread finely chopped garlic , parsley, grated cheese, salt, chilli flakes and pepper. roll tight and cut into spirals, bake in preheated oven at 200 degC till golden about 10-15 min depending on your oven.

Pumpkin and nut sweet fingers

I often try and make baked snack as they are healthy and light and one can make them according to the need and tastes. This is one yummy recipe.
Ingredients
1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup suji
100 gms pumpkin boiled and mashed
50 ml oil
4 tbsp butter
10 gms baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup almonds crushed
Method
Mix all the dry ingredients.
Add oil and butter and mix well to get crumbly mixture.
Add pumpkin and mash well.
Add orange juice and make a firm dough.
Keep in fridge for about an hour or so.
Roll into a 5 mm thick round and cut into fingers.
Put on a baking sheet and bake at 200 deg C till golden brown.
Cool and serve the crunchy treat.

Vegetable Vegetable puffs with mushrooms and Kale leaves

Vegetable puffs with mushrooms and Kale leaves
Often I have kids asking for a little something or guests coming down for a surprize visit.This comes as a quick 15 mins snack that keeps most people happy and asking for more.
Ingredients
1 sheet of puff pastry/phyllo sheet
4 chopped mushrooms
1/2 chopped bell peppers
1/2 bowl frozen or cooked Kale leaves/spinach
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pizza spice/ Italian mix
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp tomato paste/ketchup
Salt to taste
Grated cheese as required
Method
Cut sheet into small squares about 3"x3"
Heat oil and add chopped vegetables and saute.
Add spices, tomato ketch up /paste and salt and cook till water dries up.
Put a tbsp each on the squares and top with cheese.
Fold opposite ends and seal.
Bake at 180deg C till golden.
Enjoy hot from the oven.

Oats and poha namkeen

   

Oats and poha namkeen

200 gms poha

200 gms oats

50 gms shelled peanuts

25 gms cashew nuts

Few Sliced dry coconut

50 mixed spicy potato chips 

2 chopped chillies

Handful of curry leaves

2 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tbsp sesame

1/4 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp haldi

1 tbsp powder sugar

1 tsp amchur 

1 tbsp vinegar

Salt 

Method 

Mix oats and poha in a microwave proof bowl.

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, sesame seeds and let them crackle.

Add chopped chillies, curry leaves and let them color.

Add peanuts , cashew halves and coconut sauté. 

Add the haldi, salt ,chilli powder, amchur and powder sugar. Sauté and make sure it doesn't burn.

Remove from flame and add vinegar.

Pour onto the oats mix and mix well. Toss well. 

Put into microwave on high for five mins.

After every minute remove from microwave and stir well. 

It would be steaming but keep cooking in microwave till it's crisp. Takes about 6-7 mins. When cool it will turn very crisp. 

Store in moisture proof jars. 

Rasgulle ke syrup ki sweet fingers

What do you do when you have syrup from rasgulle and gulab jamuns? I make this besides ther things! Try these baked fingers.

Rasgulla syrup sweet fingers

I love to use every bit that I have in my kitchen. This time it was sugar syrup from rasgulle. Most times we throw it... I use it.

250 ml sugar syrup

1/4 cup oil

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1/4 cup oats

1/4 cup suji

2 cups atta 

2 tsp baking powder

2-3 tbsp Sugar /acc to taste

Mix syrup with oil , sugar and sesame n poppy seeds. 

Heat and give it a boil.

Cool a bit and then add oats, suji and start adding atta.

Only add as much atta as needed. Make into a firm dough. The dough will be a bit warm, this makes them crunchy.

Keep for 1 hr.

Roll into long think fingers and bake at 180 deg C till golden brown. They will be slightly soft but once they are cool they get crunchy!

Enjoy them !

Aloo chaat chatpati

Chatpati aloo chaat

I remember the chaat wala making this on his little make shift dukaan. I was about 12-13 but was so loved the smells when I passed him but didnt dare to eat as it looked so unhygienic. Mum used to be very upset. So recollected the smells and tried my hand on it and here is killer aloo chaat! You can give it warm but I chilled it for few hrs to blend the tastes and added crushed garlic! Highly recommended!

Ingredients

4 Boiled potatoes sliced while still warm

1 sliced onion

3-4 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp chilli flakes 

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp roasted cumin pwd

2 chopped green chillies

Lime juice from 1/2 lemon

1/2 bowl imli pulp

Dhaniya patta chopped

Method 

In a mortar add garlic, chilli flakes, cumin and crush roughly.

Mix all the ingredients very well. Make sure it has a little water in it. It would get absorbed soon.

Cover and let the flavors blend for few hours in the fridge.

Open after a couple of hours and feel your mouth drool and beat the heat by adding more to it! 

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!!

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.

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 ! 

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.

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.

Potato and vegetable grill sandwich

       Grilled sandwiches are really good as a meal and also when you are in a mood for a snack.One can use any combination and enjoy with coffee or a nice drink.I made this and it was a hit with us all.It has potatoes which the kids just love and other vegetables and cheese too.

Ingredients
Whole wheat bread of choice                 4 nos
Boiled  and mashed potatoes                  2 nos
sliced onions                                          1 no
sliced red bell peppers                            1/2 no
slices of cucumbers                                10 nos
tomato slices                                          6-8 nos
chopped olives                                       as per taste
curry powder/chaat masala                     as needed
Pepper powder                                      1/2 tsp
olive oil                                                 1 tsp
Cheese slices                                         2 nos
Butter as per taste
salt to taste                                            
Method
Heat oil and add the slices of onions.Saute till translucent.
Add mashed potatoes ,pepper and salt.
Put in the bell peppers and mix well.
Butter the slices of bread.Put the potato mixture. Sprinkle curry powder/chaat masala.
Layer up with chopped olives,tomatoes and cucumbers.
Put a cheese slice and put in a pre-heated grill till golden brown.
Apply some butter and serve with ketch up and mayonnaise.

Bread pizza

     One of the biggest problem I face and most mothers face is...what to pack in kids lunch boxes.Well I make this very often for my kids lunch box and they love it.Bread pizza is something they love even when it is cold and top them with vegetables and we are glad too.Try this recipe.I like to make it with multigrain bread , so more fiber and great taste.

Ingredients
Multi grain slices of bread            6-7 nos
tomato sauce                              1 cup
chopped broccoli                       1 cup
chopped onions                          1 no
chopped bell peppers                 1/2 no
chopped olives                           for topping
grated pizza cheese                    as required
pizza spices                               1 tsp
salt to sprinkle
butter to spread on bread
Method
Butter the slices of bread.Spread the tomato sauce evenly.sprinkle the grated cheese liberally on the sauce.Arrang broccoli and other vegetables of choice (mushroom,corn,zucchini,spinach etc).sprinkle salt and pizza spices.Put the oilves and put them for baking in a pre-heated oven at 200deg C for 8-10 mins till the cheese browns and the bread is crispy.Pack them in foil and let your child enjoy the lovely lunch at school.

Grilled vegetable sandwich

     This morning we wanted a break from a very big lunch.We have been stuck at home with Prisha being down with fever, snow outside and 3 days of holidays for Christmas.So decided to make some grilled sandwiches with variety of breads in the house.We all loved the change.I sauteed the vegetables for the filling.Sharing this recipe.

Ingredients
Multigrain breads/buns         2-3 nos
Broccoli                               1 no
Bell peppers                          1/2 no
Onions                                 1 no
garlic chopped                      1 tbsp
olives                                    6-8 nos
Chilli salsa                              2 tsp
lemon juice                            1 tbsp
butter  for spreading
cheese slices as per choice
salt to taste
mixed Italian herbs               1 tsp
olive oil                                1 tbsp
Method
To prepare the vegetables, slice broccoli and bell peppers and onions.Heat oil and add the chopped garlic, saute.Add sliced onions and then add broccoli and bell peppers and saute.Add salt, herbs and saute on high heat so as not to overcook vegetables.Add lime juice.
Butter the insides of the breads or buns.I choose multi very grainy breads and buns.Gives the sandwich more texture and taste.Spread the chilli salsa.Top this with loads of vegetables,olives,cheese slice and another slice of buttered bread.Put it in the grill and grill both sides till golden.Once done remove and brush with butter and serve them crisp with mustard sauce.Delicious is the word here!

Raw banana cutlets/kebabs

This is one my all time favorite these days when I get raw bananas from the Indian store.I like to get them and keep as they stay fresh for quite long in the fridge.They come out absolutely awesome-crisp, healthy and the best is they are not fried but baked(I picked up this trick from my teacher Mrs.Alaka Hudlikar) and so the whole family can actually eat them together.I avoid frying , I am famous for being conscious of my diet and feed healthy food consisting of loads of seasonal vegs, less oil, whole grains and portions too are enough and so no left overs!I serve this with carrot relish.An awesome combination!
Ingredients
Raw banana         2 nos
boiled potato        1 no
chopped onion      1 no
chopped green chilli   1/2 tsp
chopped ginger          1/2 tsp
curd                      2 tbsp
chilli powder          1 tsp
hing                       1/4 tsp
coriander powder   1tsp
salt to taste
lemon juice           1 tsp
semolina                1/2 bowl
oilve oil for brushing
Method
Grate or mash peeled ,boiled banana and poatoes.Add the onions,chillis, ginger and other ingredients and mix well.Shape them into cutlets or round kebabs.Roll them into semolina well and arrange them on a greased baking dish.Brush them with olive oil and bake them at 250 deg in the middle rack of a preheated oven till they turn golden brown.Serve them with the tangy carrot relish or chutney of your choice.