Punjabi Style Chole Masala

Today let us see how to make this Punjabi style chole masala. It is a traditional north Indian dish. Chole masala is a blending of equal proportion of spices to the fresh chick peas. It is quite spicy too so watch out before giving to kids.

Nutritional facts:

One cup of cooked chickpeas contains 269 calories, 45 grams of carbohydrate, 15 grams of protein, 13 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of fat and 0 grams of cholesterol. Additionally chick peas contains vitamin K, folate, Phosphorus, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Choline, selenium.

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serving: 4 members

Ingredients:

For masala paste:

Big Tomatoes – 2

Garlic pods – 5

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Dry red chili – 6

Coriander seeds – 2 tsp

Other ingredients:

Oil – 1 tbsp

Green chili – 1, slit

Boiled chick peas/ channa – 1 cup

Garam masala – ½ tsp

Salt

Cilantro to garnish

Method:

1. Add tomatoes, garlic, ginger, dry red chilies, and coriander seeds into a blender and blend it into a smooth paste without adding water.

2. Heat oil in pan, Add the ground paste and fry till the raw smell disappears and oil leaves the sides of the masala. It will take about 8 – 9 mins.

3. Add the green chili and enough amount of water, cook for about 5 mins.

4. Now add the boiled chickpeas/channa and give a good mix. Let them cook for about 15 mins on a low flame.

5. Now add the garam masala, salt and cook for 2- 3 mins. Switch of the flame and garnish with cilantro.

6. Spicy and delicious chole masala is ready.

Steamed Vegetable Momos

Momo is one of the popular foods in Nepal. Momos are easy to cook and they are undoubtedly a low calorie snack. They can be either steamed or fried with a meat or vegetable filling. They are generally served with a red chili sauce. Today I am going to give you the recipe of steamed vegetable momos.

Prep time: 50 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 1 hour 10 mins

Ingredients:

For Momo

All purpose flour – 1 cup

Salt to taste

Oil – 1 tsp

Water

For Filling

Oil – 1 tbsp

Onion – 1, finely chopped

Garlic – 2 pods, finely chopped

Carrot – 2, finely chopped

Cabbage – 1 cup, finely chopped

Salt to taste

Pepper – ½ tsp

Soy sauce – 1 tsp

Method:

1. In a bowl mix all purpose flour, salt, oil. Add water in parts and knead a firm dough. Cover the dough and keep aside for 30 minutes.

2. Heat oil in a skillet, Saute garlic for 1 min. Add onions and saute for 2-3 mins.

3. Add all the vegetables and fry them on high heat for 6 mins. Add salt, pepper and soy sauce to it, continue to fry on high heat till the vegetables are cooked.

4. The vegetable stuffing is ready. Let it cool for some time.

5. Dive the dough in to equal portions of balls. Roll it in to a small thin disc. Place the vegetable filling in the center.

6. Bring the sides of the disc together to the center, pinching firmly together to form a momo shape.

7. Steam it in a steamer for about 10 mins. Delicious vegetable momos are ready..

Caramel Carrot cake

Today I am going to post the recipe of delicious carrot cake. Yesterday I and my husband celebrated our 1 year engagement anniversary and today my sister gave birth to a boy baby, as a double treat I baked this carrot cake and enjoyed each delicious piece. Carrot cake is very simple to prepare and also we can feed carrot to kids in an easy way. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B8, potassium, iron, copper and manganese.

Prep time: 25 mins

Cook time: 40mins

Total time: 1 hour and 5 mins

Ingredients:

Eggs – 2

Sugar – 1 cup + 5 tbsp

All purpose flour – 1 cup + 1 tbsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Baking powder – ½ tsp

Butter/Ghee – ¼ cup

Oil – ¼ cup

Grated Carrots- 1 cup

Cinnamon powder – ½ tsp

Nutmeg powder – ½ tsp

Caramel syrup – 2 tbsp

Almonds and cashews – few, coarsely powdered

Butter – to grease

Method:

1. For preparing caramel syrup, Heat 5 tbsp of sugar. Once it turns brown and watery, remove from the gas and allow it to cool.

2. In a bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda and keep it aside. In another bowl beat the eggs well.

3. Add sugar to the beaten eggs and beat again. Add the four mix little by little to the egg, sugar mixture and keep on beating till the whole flour is added to the egg, sugar mixture.

4. Add oil, butter/ghee and give a good mix. Now slowly add the carrots, cinnamon and nutmeg, mix them well.

5. Add the coarsely powdered almonds and cashews to the mixture. At last add the caramel syrup and give a good mix.

6. Pre heat the oven to 180 degree, 10 minutes before baking. Transfer the mixture to the butter greased baking tray.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 -40 mins. Delicious caramel carrot cake is ready.

Capsicum (Bell Pepper) Egg

Capsicum egg is a healthy side dish which goes excellent with rice and roti. Capsicum is the common name referred by Asians and Australians. In Us and Canada they are called as Bell pepper. Capsicum is very good for health. Capsicums have very high content of vitamin A, C and E. It also has almost the whole range of vitamin B complex. It also has many medicinal values. In this Capsicum egg, I used spices but you can also avoid spice, which can be served to kids.

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time:  15 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Serving: 3 members:

Ingredients:

Oil – 1 tbsp

Cumin seeds – ½ tsp

Curry leaves – 1 spring

Onion – 1, chopped

Green chilies – 2 slit

Capsicum - 1, chopped

Red chili powder – 1 tsp

Eggs – 4

Salt to taste

Method:

1 Beat the eggs and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a non-stick skillet, Temper with cumin seeds and curry leaves.

3. Saute onion and green chilies, till onion turns translucent. Add capsicum and allow to cook.

4. Add chili powder, salt and fry for 2 mins. Now add the beaten eggs and scramble it well.

5. Stir continuously till the egg is well cooked and dried up. Healthy Capsicum egg is ready.

Ulundu Vadai

Ulunda vadai is a popular South Indian fried snack. It is traditionally prepared during festival seasons and weddings. Weight watchers can enjoy baked version of ulunda vadai.

Prep time: 2 hrs 15 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 2 hrs 35 mins

Ingredients:

Urad dal – 2 cup

Green chilies – 5, chopped

Shallots – 15-20, chopped

Ginger – 1 inch piece, chopped

Curry leaves – few

Cilantro – few

Salt to taste

Asafoetida – ¼ tsp

Method:

1. Soak urad dal for about 2 hrs. Drain the water and grind without adding too much of water.

2. Add Green chilies, shallots, ginger, curry leaves, cilantro, asafetida and salt. Give a good mix.

3. Wet your hands and take a medium ball sized batter and pat slightly, make a hole in the center.

4. Heat oil in the pan. When the oil becomes very hot, place the vadas in oil and fry till it turns golden brown on both sides.

5. Enjoy hot and crispy vadas.

Note:

1. If you add more water during grinding, Vadas will drink more oil.
2. If the oil is not very hot vadas will drink more oil.

Egg Cutlet

Egg cutlet, a delicious Indian snack prepared by wrapping the hard boiled eggs with potatoes. These yummy cutlets are so easy to prepare and it is an excellent evening snack.

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Egg – 1, hard boiled

Potatoes – 2, boiled and mashed

Green chili – 1

Red chili powder – 1 tsp

Coriander powder – 1 tsp

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Garam masala – ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Cilantro to garnish

Bread crumbs – ½ cup

Method:

1. Add green chili, cilantro, salt and all the spices to the mashed potatoes. Give a good mix.

2. Slice the hard boiled eggs vertically into four pieces. Wrap the egg piece with potato mix.

3. Roll the cutlet over bread crumbs on all sides.

4. Heat the skillet, place the cutlet and cook until it turns golden brown on both sides.

Kerala style baked fish

This is a simple kerala style baked fish. It is also known as Meen polichathu in kerala. It is one of the lighter way to cook fish which makes a healthy dinner for a family. This is mostly baked in oven by wrapping the fish with a banana leaf. Since it is tough to find banana leaf in my area, I used silver foil for baking.

Prep time: 25 mins:

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 1 hour and 5 mins

Ingredients:

For Marinating:

Tilapia fish fillets – 2

Red chili powder – 2 tsp

Garlic powder – ½ tsp

Pepper powder – ½ tsp

Salt to taste

For Sauce:

Oil – 1 tbsp

Onion – 1 chopped

Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp

Green chilies – 3, slit

Red chili powder – 1 tsp

Coriander powder – 1 tsp

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Garam masala – ½ tsp

Tomato – 1, chopped

Salt to taste

Lime juice – 1 tsp

Cilantro to garnish

Method:

1. Marinate the fish with all the spice powders and salt. Refrigerate it at least for 1 hour.

2. Heat oil in a skillet, saute onion till it turns golden brown. Add green chilies, ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off.

3. Add all the spice powders, salt and tomato, saute till it turns mushy. At last add lime juice and cilantro.

4. Heat the oven to 400 F. Place the silver foil on the tray and grease it. Place some of the cooked sauce in center of the foil. Place the fish on the top and spread some more sauce over the fish.

5. Tightly cover the fish with the foil and seal the edges so it can be formed as packed parcel.

6. Place the tray in oven and bake it for about 40 minutes. Now the juicy baked fish is ready for serving.

Parupu vadai

Festival days are not fulfilled without special dishes. Parupu vadai is a most popular south Indian snack that are mostly enjoyed during the festival days. It is very easy to prepare and no difficulty in making the shapes. You don’t need any special ingredients to prepare this vadai.

Prep time: 2 hours and 30 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 2 hours and 50 mins

Ingredients:

Chana dal – 2 cups

Green chilies – 5

Fennel seeds – 2 tsp

Garlic – 1

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Shallots – 15 – 20

Cilantro- few

Curry leaves – 1 spring

Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying

Method:

1. Soak chana dal for about 2 hrs. Drain the water completely and coarse grind with green chilies, fennel seeds, ginger and garlic using very little amount of water.

2. Transfer the grounded coarse paste to a bowl and add shallots, cilantro, curry leaves and salt.

3. Heat Oil in a heavy bottomed vessel.  When oil is hot, shape the coarse paste into a vadai and drop it in the oil.

4. Deep fry it till it becomes golden brown on both sides. Spicy and crispy parupu vadai is ready.

Poori Chaat

Poori chaat is a kid’s favorite recipe and it can be easily prepared in home. It can be served as evening snack. It is a popular street food snack in Mumbai.

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Oil – 2 tsp

Onion – 1, chopped

Green chilies – 2, slit

Ginger – 1 inch piece, chopped

Garlic – 2 cloves, chopped

Tomato – 1, chopped

Boiled white chickpeas (Chana) – 1 cup

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Red chili powder – 1 tsp

Coriander powder – 1 tsp

Garam masala – ½ tsp

Chaat masala- ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Cilantro to garnish

Poori – 10 pieces

Method:

1. Heat oil in a skillet, saute  onions, green chilies, ginger and garlic for 5 mins.

2. Add tomatoes and all the masala powders, salt,  saute till it turns mushy. Add boiled chana and give a good mix.

3. At last while serving crush the pooris and add to the top. Garish with cilantro.

Pepper Chicken

Pepper chicken is one of the most spiciest and aromatic side dish. Black peppercorn is the main ingredient which gives spiciness and hot taste to the chicken. Pepper chicken also tastes good for cold, the hot taste of pepper will be comfortable during cold and fever. It goes well with rice and roti’s.

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Serving: 4 members

Ingredients:

Oil – 2 tbsp

Onion – 2, chopped

Curry leaves – 1 spring

Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp

Green chilies – 4

Turmeric powder- ¼ tsp

Red chili powder – 1 tsp

Coriander powder – 2 tsp

Cumin powder – 1 tsp

Chicken – 500 gms

Pepper powder – 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Cilantro to garnish

Method:

1. Heat oil in a non-stick skillet, cook onion and curry leaves till it turns golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and green chilies and fry till the raw smell goes off.

2. Add all the spice powders and fry for 2 minutes. Add chicken, salt and cook until it becomes tender.

3. At last add the pepper powder and give a good mix. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot..

French Toast

French toast is one of the great breakfast dishes.  It is sweet and healthy way to start your day. Try these sweet version of French toast and enjoy it.

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Bread slices – 10

Egg – 1

Milk – 1/2 cup

Sugar – 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Beat egg, milk, sugar in a shallow bowl. Dip bread in egg mixture, turn to coat both sides evenly.

2. Cook on a butter greased non-stick skillet until browned on both sides

Crunchy Homemade Chicken Nuggets

These homemade chicken nuggets are healthier than the restaurant version.  The spices and the breadcrumbs lift the taste of the chicken and it can be easily prepared.

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 25 min

Total time: 45 min

Ingredients:

Paprika – 1 tsp

Cayenne pepper – ½ tsp

Oregano – ½ tsp

Garlic powder – ½ tsp

Pepper powder – ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Chicken breast pieces - 3

Egg – 1, whisked

Bread crumbs – 1/2 cup

Parmesan cheese – ¼ cup

Method:

1. Cut the chicken pieces into small bites. Marinate them with the first six ingredients. Let it sit for 15 mins in room temperature.

2. In a bowl mix the breadcrumbs and cheese. Dip the marinated chicken pieces into the whisked egg and then coat with the mixture of breadcrumbs and cheese.

3. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Grease the tray with butter and place the chicken pieces.

4. Cook for about 25 min, Flip aside in the halfway through. Crunchy homemade chicken nuggets are ready now.

Ghee Mysore Pa

This is the easy way to do soft ghee Mysore pa at home. Mysore pa is a very popular south Indian sweet. It is very soft, delicious and I am sure that kids will love this.

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 45 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Water – 1 cup

Sugar – 1 ½ cup

Gram flour / kadalai maavu – ½ cup

Ghee – 1 cup

Method:

1. To get smooth gram flour, sieve it without any lumps. Heat 1 cup water in a heavy bottomed vessel and add sugar to it.

2. Stir continuously till the sugar syrup get a single thread consistency. Keep the flame medium, add gram flour slowly and give a continuous stir so that the flour will be mixed with sugar syrup.

3. Once the gram flour is completely mixed with sugar syrup, add 4 tbsp of ghee at first. Stir continuously till the ghee is fully absorbed by the gram flour mixture.

4. Add the next 4 tbsp and follow the same process mentioned above. Continue the process till all the ghee is finished.

5. After some time the mixture gets thicken and leave the sides of the pan. Remove the mixture from flame and spread it in a greased tray evenly.

6.  When they starts to cool down, Cut the Mysore pa mixture into your desired shape. Now the delicious Mysore pa is ready.