Paneer Bhurji....(scrambled Indian cheese)

one of the easy dish ...tastes yummy ...:) ..to tummy....:):) n healthy too...


INGREDIENTS:

½ pound   of fresh paneer

1            medium onion chopped finely

2           medium tomatoes chopped finely

3-4         garlic chopped 
¼ Cup     green peas    fresh or frozen
1-2         green chillies (optional)  finely chopped
¼ tsp      garam masala powder

1/4 tsp    coriander powder
½ tsp    cayenne pepper/chilli powder
½ tsp    cumin/jeera
salt to taste
1 Tsp    cooking oil of your choice.
freshly chopped cilantro for garnishing

add few drops of lime juice for extra taste....

METHOD:

• Chop onions, tomatoes and green chillies and keep aside.
• Take large sauté pan or kadai, heat oil, add cumin/jeera , garlic chopped and fry for a minute. 
• Add chopped onion and green chilles, add little salt and cook till the onions are translucent .
• Add green peas, chopped tomatoes ..
• Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala and chilli powder. Stir and let the tomatoes cook till the tomatoes leave oil from its sides or for another 6 minutes approx. 
• Meanwhile grate or crush by hands the paneer cube and add this to the onion-tomato mixture. Keep stirring continuously till all the flavours are blended together.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with rice or rotis/chapatti or any Indian Flat bread.ENJOY!!

thumbprint applejam cookies..

here's the cookie with jam filled in center , i first made it as normal cookie than tried jam version..:)... both tastes  good... but jam ones are more attractive as u can see...

INGREDIENTS:
1cup             maida or all purpose flour
1/2cup         cornflour
1/2cup         sugar
3/4cup        butter
1/2cup        nuts(optional)crushed i used almonds ..


METHOD:

• mix all ingredients and make firm dough.
• roll it , cut with bottle cap or cookie cutter , press in between and fill jam with spoon .
• for other type just roll it and cut with knife.
• bake at 350f ..for 20-25 min...that may vary...cool it on rack..ENJOY!!

Beet root curry

it's made from beet roots ,tastes little bit sweet becoz of beet 's flavor...n healthy too..usually made in south India.I like it's rich dark red color ...tastes good too...


INGREDIENTS:
beet roots           2-3 large size
mustard seeds     1tsp
curry leaves         2-4
cumin seeds         1/2tsp
asafetida or hing     pinch
chili pow.                  1/2tsp 
coriander powder  1/2tsp
turmeric powder      1/2tsp
oil                               2tsp
red chilli (optional)
salt to taste
grated coconut for garnishing (optional)


METHOD:

• Steam the beetroot, until soft and tender , if are fresh n soft then no need to do it.
• Heat oil in a wok, add cumin seeds,curry leaves, and red chilli. Allow them to crackle.
• Add asafoetida, turmeric powder, beetroot and salt. Saute for few minutes.
• Garnish with fresh grated coconut and serve hot with steamed rice and tomato rasam. Alternatively serve with chapatti  and dal.:

Eggless Naan recipe

Yay! my own first 50 recipes..cooked n posted so far..happy for that and thankful to  all my blog friends for their appreciation and comments!....:)
Today i came up with naan recipe , usually made in tandoor...and most common in INDIA.
Naan specially garlic one is my first choice whenever i order a paneer dish ...but today i made this first time !! and i am happy with the outcome...n tastes good...i made it in oven set on broil,on a cookie sheet...on top rack.. I made garlic one too but couldn't resist ...:)--and was soon consumed after cooking ...so can't upload it's pic. ..but it's easy to make...method is same...

INGREDIENTS:
all purpose flour or maida    2cups
dry yeast                              1tsp
salt                                        1tsp
sugar                                     1tsp
pinch of baking soda
oil  or butter                          2tblsp
yogurt or dahi                       2 1/2tsp
warm water                           3/4cup


METHOD:

• Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into large bowl. Make a well in center. Warm the milk and yogurt and mix in the yeast, butter .
•  Stir and pour into the well in the flour. Stir from center until mixed to a smooth batter. Knead on board 15-20 minutes or about 2 minutes in food processor.
•  Dough should be elastic but not sticky. 
• Add a little flour if the dough is sticky. Put in covered bowl and allow to rise until double (about three to four hours, unless it is warm, in which case the rise time could be halved)
• Divide ball into small pieces. Knead each lightly, flatten ball, pull into an oval forming a sort of pear shape. 
• Put on baking sheet(s), cover with damp cloth, allow to rise about 15 minutes. 
• Brush the tops with butter. 
•  Bake in pre-heated oven on broil, until golden brown.
• For garlic naan spread chopped garlic on top of naan before cooking and press them and then bake.
• serve with curry u like...ENJOY!!

Apple cinnamon oatmeal

INGREDIENTS:
rolled oats                        1/2cup
milk                                 1cup
cinnamon                        1pinch
apple                                1small size
sugar                                dash
METHOD:

• Heat a pan pour the milk give it a boil .
• now add rolled oats and cook for 5min.
• Cut the apple( may add any fruit) in pieces, lay them on top with a dash of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon.

Dahi-vada

INGREDIENTS:

for making vada:

urad or black gram washed                 2cups

baking soda                                          1 pinch

salt

oil for frying 

warm water

for making yogurt or dahi mixture:

yogurt, curd or dahi                    3-4cups

cumin powder                              1tsp

black salt , chili powder according to taste

for making chutney:

tamarind                   

roasted cumin powder

salt

sugar

chili powder 

METHOD:

for making vada:

• Soak the daal or black gram overnight in water.
• Grind it without adding water( as it's already soaked) in a grinder in a way so that the mixture has thick consistency.Grind in a food processor if u have one.
• Keep the mixture for 1/2hour or can add baking soda to make it soft.
• Heat oil for frying in a voke or kadhai.
• In a bowl take warm water and add some salt.
• For making vada wet ur hands, take some vada mixture make hole in between with finger and drop in oil carefully.Likewise , make rest of the vadas.
• Fry it on both sides till it  become light brown ,take it out with spatula and drop in warm water.
• Squeeze the vada to take out excess water and place it on another plate.

for making sweet n sour chutney:

• Soak tamarind in warm water for 30min. then mash it and seive it .(store bought tamarind paste can also be used)
• mix cumin powder , chili powder, sugar and salt according to your taste.Mix well.

for making yogurt mixture:

• Beat the yogurt so that there are no lumps and add salt ,some cumin powder and chili powder.
• Add soaked vada in yogurt  and keep it covered for 1-2hour , if they are hard and if ur vadas are soft u can serve it cool after few minutes.
• Serve vada with some yogurt mixture and garnish it with sweet sour chutney , cumin powder,chat masala, chili powder according to taste, u may also add green coriander chutney also.

Veggie flaxseed burger

INGREDIENTS:(servings -2)
buns                                2
potato                            1large size
carrot                              1medium size
flaxseed powder            1/2cup
tomato                            1 medium size
pickled jalapeno             according to taste
chili or pepper powder    1/2tsp
turmeric powder              1/4tsp
cumin powder                  1/2tsp
ketchup
mustard sauce 
oil for pan frying
salt acc. to taste
*cheese slice or grated cheese, lettuce , onion may be added in between. I didn't add those as i don't like...  but u can make ur own special burger..its all up to u!!!


METHOD:

for making patty:

• Heat a pan on medium , pour 1/2tsp oil add peeled chopped potato and carrot and add spices including salt.Give it a stir and add 1/2cup water then cover it .
• Let it cook for few min. until they become soft and mash able .
• Add some flaxseed powder ( ya! its healthy apart from adding all purpose flour )to bind the mixture and mash the potato and carrot .
• Make small patty of burger size or tikki out of the mixture and dust it with flaxseed powder on outside to not to stick with skillet.
• Heat a skillet , pour some oil and place patty over it .
• When it's cooked( although it's already cooked but for giving it a brown coating) on one side, flip over to other side.

for making burger:

• Put some butter slightly heat the buns(optional).
• apply some mustard on inner sides or any sauce u like...
• Place patty then tomato, jalapeno or onion slice , cheese or lettuce or spinach, can use other sauces or ketchup and place another half of bun.
• Here comes urs very own burger....ENJOY!!

Vegetable biryani

INGREDIENTS:
basmati rice                          1cup
onion                                     1 medium size
cumin                                    1tsp
ginger garlic paste                1tsp
green cardamom                   2-4 pieces
yogurt or curd                      1/2cup
biryani masala powder        1tsp
garam masala                        1tsp
oil / butter                             3-4tsp
salt acc. to taste
saffron color (optional)
vegetables of your choice can add beans, carrot, peas, mushroom,cauliflower, paneer , tofu..
mint and coriander chopped
green chili optional              2-3


METHOD:

• Soak rice for 20-25 min. and boil in enough water with some salt ,few drops of oil and cardamom.
• Sieve the rice when they are 80%done.
• Heat a pan , pour some oil or butter add cumin or jeera, ginger garlic paste and vegetables in bigger pieces and some salt .
• Cook the vegetables until they are 70% done , don't overcook.
• Add mint, coriander, biryani masala, little yogurt.Stir it , you can add paneer or raisins at this time.
• Take a foil or pyrex container or cake  pan and grease with butter. 
• Layer it with some rice at bottom and place all the vegetables in between and top it with another layer if rice .
• Fry some onions thinly cut in  butter and layer it on top . You can add some drops of saffron color on top if u like.
• Cover the pan with foil and put in oven for for 15-20min.
• Serve hot .

Fruit chaat

INGREDIENTS:

apple            

grapes  

papaya 

or any fruit you like guava, pear, orange, banana....

chat masala                             1tsp

orange juice or lime juice      1tsp  

honey                                      1-2tsp

METHOD:

• wash all the  fruits and cut them to bite size  .
• mix honey, chat masala, orange juice or lime juice , salt if needed.
• serve fresh as a snack with tooth picks.