Aditi's kitchen

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!