Aditi's kitchen: 2013

Chana Masala

Ingredients -

Chickpeas (soaked in water for 7-8 hours) - 2 small cups
Jeera Seeds - 1 tbsp
Red Onions - 1 large
Tomatoes - 2
Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
Ginger Paste - 1 tbsp
Chana/Chole Masala Powder - 4 tbsp
Amchur powder - 1/2 tbsp
Turmeric
Red Chili Powder

Method -

This is a quick recipe, which I make in a cooker when am short of time. Alternatively you can boil the chickpeas and add it to the masala (mentioned below),water to make your desired consistency.
In the cooker, heat some oil and add jeera and onion paste.
Add the ginger and garlic paste and saute for some time till the onion paste is light brown. Then add the chopped tomatoes.
Add the masalas - red chili powder, turmeric, chana masala, amchur, salt and saute it for 7-8 mins.
Add the soaked chickpeas and saute it for another 5 mins.
Add water - level it with the mixture. Add salt to taste.
Put the cooker cover and cook it till 3-4 whistles.
Serve hot with puris/chapatis with red onions and lemon. You can also serve with jeera rice.

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Malpua

Ingredients -

Maida - 2 cups
Suji - 1 cup
Sugar
Raisins - Soak them in water for atleast 20 mins
Fennel Seeds (Saunf) - 1 tbsp
Small Elaichi - 2/3

Method -

To make the batter, mix the maida, suji, 1/2 cup sugar and water to make a medium consistency batter. Keep it aside for 15-20 minutes.
During this time, you can prepare the sugar syrup. Add 1 cup sugar, 2 cup water in a bowl, small elaichi seeds and heat it make a thin consistency sugar syrup. Set it aside.
Now, its time to fry the malpua's. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Add the raisins in the batter and mix it well. Fill a round ladle with the batter and pour it slowly in the centre of the oil(keep the center thicker than the sides). Fry the malpua one at a time. Once golden brown, remove from fryer and dip it in sugar syrup.
Soak each malpua in sugar syrup for atleast 5 mins, remove it and serve ! Yummm!

Aloo Vada

One of the most favorite street food in Mumbai is vada-pav and I simple LOVE it. Here's my take on making the vadas. Simple, yet such a great snack.

Ingredients -

Potato - 4
Onion - 1
Besan
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tbsp
Coriander leaves
Green Chilies
Ginger - Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tbsp
Chili powder
Udad dal seeds - 1 tbsp
Oil

Method -

Boil, peel and mash the potatoes.
Finely chop the onions and green chilies.
Heat oil in a pan on medium heat, add mustard seeds, udad dal seeds, ginger-garlic paste, onions, chilies, turmeric.
Add the potatoes, salt to taste and coriander leaves.
You can add some lemon juice (optional).
Mix it for 5 minutes, remove from heat and let it cool.
For batter - Add besan in a bowl, 2 tbsp oil, salt, chili powder, salt to taste and add water.Ensure the consistency is medium thick, we need to use this batter to coat for frying.
Heat oil in pan for frying.
Make small round balls out of the potato mixture, dip it in the batter and fry it at medium heat.
Serve hot with sauce or green chutney....enjoy!

Coffee Cake

Simplest Coffee cake recipe ever!

Ingredients -

Yellow Cake Mix
Instant Coffee - Nescafe
Chopped Almonds

Method -

Prepare the yellow cake mix batter per instructions on the box. Save some water to make the coffee. Example - If the box says add 1 cup water, add 1/2 cup to the batter and save 1/2 cup for coffee.
Pour the water in a cup and add 2 tablespoons of instant coffee. Microwave it for 1 minute. Remove and stir it to ensure the coffee has completely dissolved. Let it cool for 5 mins.
Add the coffee to the cake batter,chopped almonds and mix it properly and bake as per the instructions on the cake mix box.
Enjoy the cake with tea or coffee. Simple....but tastes delicious!

Banana Bread

This is my friend Divya's recipe. She had got it at work once and it was soooo good, I had to try it myself. Believe it or not, its a super easy recipe!

Ingredients -

White Sugar - 1 Cup
All purpose Flour - 1 Cup
Vegetable Oil - 1/2 Cup
Eggs - 2
Salt - 1/2 tbsp
Baking Soda - 1 tbsp
Ripe Bananas - 2
Chopped Almonds - 1/2 Cup (This is my twist to the original recipe ;-) , feel free to add walnuts instead)

Method -

Mash the bananas properly.
Mix all the other ingredients (except almonds) and make a smooth batter.
Lightly grease a baking tray and add the mixture.
Now add the chopped almonds on the top.
Pre-heat the oven at 350 and bake for 45-60 min.
Please remember, it does take a little longer than most cake recipes. So a minimum of 45 mins is definitely needed. Make sure you insert a toothpick and ensure it comes out clean. If not, keep it for few more mins until done.
Remove, let it cool and then cut it in slices.
Enjoy with a cup of hot tea or coffee or even just like that :-) !

Corn Cutlet

Ingredients -

Frozen Corn - 1 cup
Potato - 2
Frozen Peas - 1/2 cup
Onion - 1
Green Chilies - 3 or 4
Ginger Paste - 1 tbsp
Jeera/Cummin Seeds
Corn Flour / Corn Atta
Red Chili powder
Chat Masala
Chopped Coriander
Maida - 2-3 tbsp

Method -

Boil the potatoes and then grate it.
Take a bowl filled with water, add the frozen corn and peas and heat it in microwave for 1 minute.
Then drain the water out,add green chilies and make a coarse paste in a food chopper.
Heat oil in a pan, add jeera seeds. Once they crackle, add the chopped onions.
Once the onions turns light brown, add the ginger paste, corn-peas paste.
Add the potato and mix it up.
After 1-2 mins, add red chili powder, Salt and Chat masala.
Heat it for 5 mins, finally add the chopped coriander and turn off the heat. Let the mixture cool for 20 mins.
Make small cutlet shaped patties.
Let these cool in fridge for about 1/2 hr to 45 mins.
Once its time to make them, remove the patties from fridge.
Add water to the maida, medium consistency. This will be used to coat the cutlets, so make sure its not too watery.
Now, take the corn flour/atta, add some salt and red chili powder to season it.
Optional - You can replace the corn flour/atta with bread crumbs too.
Heat oil in pan for frying these cutlets.
Take a pattie, dip in maida mix and roll it over corn flour and deep fry them at medium flame.
Serve hot with ketchup or coriander chutney. Enjoy!!!

Palak Paneer

One of my favorite dishes from childhood...love it even now!!! :-)

Ingredients -

Paneer
Fresh Spinach - 1 bunch
Tomatoes - 1 big
Red Onions - 1 medium
Potato - 1 medium
Ginger - 1 inch
Garlic Powder - 2 tbsp
Bay leaves
Cumin Seeds
Cinnamon powder - 1 tbsp
Fresh cream - 2 tbsp
Green Chili - 1
Turmeric

Method -

Heat water in a bowl and when warm, add fresh spinach leaves. Once soft take it out and add it in a blender jar.
Cut tomatoes into big pieces and add them in the blender. Add a pinch of salt and make a smooth paste.
Add the onions,ginger and green chilies in a chopper and grind it together.
Heat oil in a pan. Cut the paneer into small pieces and saute them in the pan for 1 min. Add a pinch of salt and turmeric. Remove it in a bowl. (Don't saute too much else paneer cubes become hard)
Now cut the potato in same size as that of paneer and saute them until half done and then remove it in a bowl
In the remaining oil, add 2 Bay leaves, add 1 tbsp of cumin seeds. As the seeds crackle, saute the chopped onions.
When they become golden brown, add the spinach paste,garlic powder,salt and pinch of turmeric and mix well. Simmer for 2 mins.
Add fresh cream and simmer for 2-3 mins.
Then add the cinnamon powder and let it simmer for another 2 mins.
Finally add the potatoes and paneer and mix it well and let it stay on low flame for 5-6 mins.
Serve hot with paratha....enjoy!

Sabudana Khichdi

Having lived in Mumbai, I grew up eating this great dish. It is usually eaten during fast(upvas) but I can simply eat it any time of the day, any time of the year. It took me a long time to actually cook this the right way, but after 3 yrs of relentless trying and practicing, have finally managed to get it right :)

Ingredients -

Sabudana (Tapioca) - 1 cups
Boiled Potatoes - 1 (medium sized)
Chopped Coriander
Jeera
Roasted Peanut powder
Ginger - Chili paste
Sugar
Lemon juice

Method -

The first thing I learnt after trying this recipe multiple times is, ensure you buy good quality Sabudana (look for bigger anf fuller grains - If you live in US, I like to buy the Laxmi brand sabudana)
Soak the sabudana for 20-30 mins in water. Then drain the water completely. Now take some water and sprinkle over the grains just so that all the grains are wet. Cover with a lid and keep it for 4 hrs.
Roast some peanuts and grind it with 1/2 tbsp red chili powder to make a coarse powder.
Take a wok. Add oil + little ghee and heat it. Make sure it is on medium-low flame.
Add 1 tbsp Jeera seeds, once the seeds crackle add a tbsp of ginger - green chili paste
Cut the boiled potatoes into small pieces and add it in the wok. Mix it for 1-2 mins.
Add the sabudana and peanut powder
Add salt to taste, 1 tbsp sugar, lemon juice
Keep mixing it. Add 1 tbsp of ghee, then some chopped coriander. If you feel the grains seem a little dry, feel free to sprinkle some water.
Mix it 7-8 mins and its ready. Serve hot! Enjoy!!!!

Khandvi

Ingredients -

Besan - 1 cup
Curd - 1 cup
Water - 2 cups
Green Chilies - 2-3
Ginger - 1 inch
Hing - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric
Salt to taste
Sesame seeds
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves
Chopped Coriander
Grated Coconut

Method -

Mix the Besan, Curd, Water well, keep mixing them until there are no lumps.
Add the Hing, Ginger-Chilli paste, turmeric, salt to taste and mix well
Heat a non stick pan, add 1 tbsp of oil. Add the mixture to it and keep stirring it for 10 mins on medium flame. Make sure you keep stirring the whole time.
If the besan mixture feels a little raw, consider stirring it for 1-2 more minutes.
Spread this mixture on a flat surface such as cookie pan sheets or flat steel plate.
Allow it to cool for 15-20 mins.
Start rolling from one end like a swiss roll. Cut out pieces from the roll.
Now in a small pan, add oil, heat it , add mustard, sesame seeds, curry leaves, pinch of hing.
Spread it over the pieces.
Sprinkle chopped coriander and grated coconut and serve.
Enjoy!!!! Serves as a great side item or appetizer.

Veg Puffs

Ingredients -

Frozen pastry sheets(You can find them in any grocery store like Fry's)
Frozen Peas
Potato
Red Onion
Jeera
Chat Masala/Amchur Powder
Pam cooking spray/Light Oil brush is good too

Steps -

First lets make the stuffing

Boil the potatoes
Put the frozen peas in a bowl filled with water and microwave for 1 minute
In a chopper, add some jeera and add the peas, make a coarse mix (don't make a paste)
Now heat a pan, add some chopped red onions and saute till light brown
Add the boiled potatoes and the peas mixture(Optional - Add little garlic powder)
Add salt to taste, pinch of chat masala or amchur powder(dry mango powder)
Cook for 2-3 minutes and set to cool

Now lets stuff the pastry sheets
Usually you get them as 3 fold sheet, open them up
Add the veggie mix in the middle fold, cover one fold, spread a thin layer of the mix again and cover it with the 3rd fold
Spray some Pam and bake the puffs in pre-heated over of 375 deg for 15-20 mins, until the top turns golden brown
Enjoy hot!!

Deetzas

Ingredients -

Bread slices - 5
Cherry tomatoes (if you don't find it, that' ok. Chopped tomatoes is equally good) - about 10-15
Chopped Green Bell pepper - 1
Sweet Corn kernels - 1/2 cup
Chopped Red onions - 1 small
Tomato ketchup - 1/2 cup
Garlic powder - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oregano - for taste
Shredded Mozzarella cheese (feel free to use any other cheese of your choice)

Directions -

Mix all the ingredients (except bread and cheese)
Spread some butter on the bread slice
Then spread the mixture on each of them
Top it off with the cheese
Optional - You can sprinkle some sesame seeds on top too
Bake it in the oven for 12-15 mins - 375 degrees till the cheese is nice and melted
Serve hot!

Veg Fried Rice

Ingredients -

Cabbage - 1/2 cup
Bell peppers - Green, Red(You can add Orange and Yellow too if available) - 1/2 cup
Carrots - 1/2 cup
Red onion - 1/2 cup
Green Chilies - 2/3
Spring Onion - 2
Garlic - 4/5
Ajinomoto - A small pinch
Soy sauce - 3/4 tablespoon
Red Chili Sauce - 1 small teaspoon
Salt to taste
Rice - 1 cup

Directions -

This recipe is extremely simple. Cooking time is 10 mins. Preparation time - 20 mins.
Cut the vegetables lengthwise finely chopped.
While you are doing that, cook the rice in parallel. I usually use long grained rice(Basmati).
Now you need a large wok. Heat some oil in it.
Add green chilies and garlic. Saute it for a minute.
Now add cabbage, onion, carrot, peppers. Saute it for 3-4 mins
Now add the chopped spring onions, Saute it for a minute.
Add red chili sauce and ajinomoto(This is for the flavor, so just add a pinch - its optional, avoid it if you don't want)
Add the cooked rice and soy sauce, some salt to taste. Saute it for 2mins and its ready! Serve hot!
Non Veg version - Add some scrambled eggs and sauteed grilled chicken and/or shrimps.
You can enjoy this with a Manchurian dish. Recipe to come soon ;-)