Tag Archives: Brunch

Thalipeeth


A typical maharashtrian dish made with multi grain flours, usually served as breakfast or snack with butter, yogurt or some dry garlic chutney.  Although quite filling, it is light on the stomach and satisfying.

Thalipeeth can also be made with readymade ‘Bhajani flour’ available in most stores in India, specifically Maharashtra, as it a typical Maharashtrian dish.  In Maharashtrain household Bhajani is made at home by roasting various millets, lentils and grains, grinding to a flour and storing it.  Such flour comes handy when a quick meal is to be prepared.  Bhajani Thalipeeth is popular in West India and Maharashtra in particular which would include Mumbai, the place I grew up!  An important characteristic of making Thalipeeth is a hole is made in the centre so that ghee or oil can be drizzled into it for even frying.  Thalipeeth is a very good to carry for travel as it keeps very well for prolonged periods without refrigeration!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup besan (Gram/chickpea flour)
  • 1 cup jowar flour (Sorghum flour)
  • 1 cup rice flour
  • ½ cup bajra flour (Pearl millet flour)
  • ½ cup wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp. each, chilli, coriander, cumin & garam masala powder
  • 1 tsp. turmeric
  • 2 tbsp. grated Jaggery
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves
  • 2 tbsp. garlic, finely chopped (optional)
  • Salt to taste
  • Ghee for applying

Mix all above ingredients and knead with enough water into a soft dough.  Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.  Knead lightly again and form the dough into small balls.  Place one ball in between  2 sheets of greased plastic or a wet muslin cloth and roll out the thalipeeth as thin as possible.  Meanwhile, heat the tawa.  Lift one side of the cloth and place the thalipeeth directly onto the hot tawa.  Carefully remove the cloth.  Make a hole in the center of the Thalipeeth.  Can use plastic sheet instead of cloth (make sure the plastic does not touch the tawa to avoid burning).  Cook well on both sides and smear with ghee.  Serve hot with dry garlic chutney or yogurt or raita or fresh coconut and chilli.

Egg Frittata with potatoes and sausages


Egg Frittata with potato and sausages

A spin-off on the famous Parsi “Papeta par Eedu”, with the additon of sausages, this is a really simple and quick breakfast bake, albeit in a frying pan! For more Egg-based options check out ‘Eggciting breakfasts’!

Ingredients

5 eggs

2 medium onions, chopped

1 Potato, thinly sliced

1 Tomato, chopped

2 green chillies, chopped

¼ tsp turmeric powder (optional)

4 Beef or Chicken Sausages (Frankfurters), thinly sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

1 tbs. ghee

Slice the sausages thinly and fry 2 minutes till the edges turn crisp.

Fry the chopped onions & green chilli adding 1/2 tsp. salt. Add the tomatoes and fry for a minute and top with the sliced potatoes. Sprinkle over with salt and pepper. Cover and cook ten minutes.

Spread the fried sausages over the potatoes and break the eggs one by one over the sausages. Cover and cook till done. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

On a frying pan or skillet, heat ghee and fry the sliced sausages for two minutes or till crisp at the edges. Remove and set aside. 

To the same pan add chopped onion and green chillie and saute till onion is light brown, add a spoon of ghee if required. Add turmeric and mix.

Add tomatoes and sauté for a minute, add ½ tsp salt and mix. 

Spread the potato slices evenly over the onion tomato mixture.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and let cook 10 minutes on low flame, till potatoes are almost cooked.

Spread the sausage slices over the potatoes and then break the eggs one at a time over the sausages.  Cover and cook ten minutes or until the top is opaque and the eggs are cooked.  

If you like the eggs runny, remove as soon as the whites are set. Sprinkle with coriander leaves and serve immediately.

Cheese Stuffed Buns


Cheese stuffed buns

Crispy crunchy buns on the outside with delicious soft luscious cheese and egg on the inside!

Ingredients

  • 3 buns, medium sized
  • 100 gms cheese (1.5 cups grated)
  • 2 tbsp. butter or as required to brush the buns
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 medium onion
  • ¼ cup coriander eaves
  • 1 green chilli
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Grate the cheese and season with salt and pepper.  Add finely chopped onion, green chilli and coriander leaves and mix.  Cut the top of the buns in small circular shape, about 1” dia, and scoop out the soft dough from the centre of the buns.  Melt the butter and brush the inside of the buns including the top.  Divide the cheese mixture between the buns and break one egg on top of each one without breaking the egg yolk.  Replace the lids over the buns and bake in a moderately hot oven about 190 deg C or gas mark 4 for 20 to 30 minutes to set the eggs,  Serve hot.  If desired, serve with grated cheese and carrots.

P.S.: Use the leftover soft centre of the buns to make bread pudding or save in the freezer for breadcrumbs when required.

Chhole Bhature


Chhole (Khatte Chane) Bhature

Two-in-one recipe Chole bhature is a typical dish widely eaten in Northern India mainly Punjab.  It is a combination of chana masala (spicy white chickpeas) and bhatura/puri, a fried bread made from maida.

Chole bhature is often eaten as a breakfast dish, sometimes accompanied with lassi. It can also be street food or a complete meal and may be accompanied with onions, pickled carrots, green chutney or achaar.

 Ingredients

  • 2 cups Kabuli chana (Chickpeas) soaked overnight and boiled (or use 2 cans of ready chick peas 400 gms. each)
  • 3 large tomatoes, chopped (or one cup pasatta, or 2 tbsp. tomato paste)
  • ½ tsp whole black pepper corns
  • 1 tsp Ajwain (caraway seeds)
  • 2 tsp. Kashmiri chili powder
  • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp. tamarind pulp
  • 1 tsp. roasted cumin powder
  • ½ tsp. garam masala powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp. Ghee or Oil
  • Chopped onions for garnish
  • Chopped coriander for garnish
  1. Heat ghee and add the pepper corns and ajwain. Add chopped tomatoes and cook till they turn soft (alternately use a cup of pasatta and cook few minutes).
  2. Add chilli, turmeric and fry till oil separates.
  3. Add the boiled chana alongwith the liquid and adjust salt.
  4. Bring to a boil and simmer few mintues while mashing some of the chana to thicken the gravy.
  5. Add the tamarind pulp, cook five minutes and then add the cumin powder and garam masala powder.
  6. Stir well and simmer till fat surfaces and gravy is thick.
  7. Serve garnished with chopped onions and coriander leaves alongwith Bhaturas  (Recipe Bhaturas)

Bhaturas

Ingedients

  • 2 cups Maida (all purpose flour)
  • 1/2 cup Rava
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. soda bicarb
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tbsp. yogurt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2.5 tsp. ghee
  • Oil for frying

Method

  1. Sieve with the flour and rava with the baking powder and soda bicarb and salt.
  2. Mix 1 tsp. sugar with 2 tbsp. yogurt, make a well in the centre of the flour, add water little at a time and bring the flour together and knead to a soft but firm dough.
  3. Cover with a wet cloth and leave for 10 minutes.
  4. After 10 minutes, add melted ghee and knead the dough soft and smooth. 
  5. Leave covered with cloth to rest for 45 minutes.
  6. Divide into lemon sized balls or as per desired size and roll out into discs and deep fry in hot oil till puffed up on both sides.
  7. Serve hot with Chhole garnished with chopped onion & coriander leaves.

Punjabi Samosa and Chaat


Punjabi Samosa with Garlic, Green & Sweet Chutneys

Delicious and scrumptious “street food”. Make and enjoy in the comfort of your home at your convenience using pure and fresh ingredients.

Punjabi Samosa and Chaat

Makes 12 large or 24 small samosas

Ingredients

For the samosa dough

  • 2 cups flour (maida, All purpose flour)
  • 1 tsp. ajwain (optional)
  • 6 tbs. melted ghee
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste
  • Water to knead

Filling

  • 2 large potatoes
  • ½ cup green peas (optional)
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
  • 3 green chillies
  • 1” pc. ginger
  • 1 tsp. amchur powder
  • ½ to 1 tsp. chilli powder (as per taste)
  • 1 tsp. garam masala powder
  • 2 tbsp. coriander leaves
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp. ghee
  • Oil for frying

Method

  1. Mix the flour with the ajwain, salt and ghee and mix well. 
  2. Add small quantities of water and make a hard dough. 
  3. Knead for 3 minutes, cover with a damp cloth and keep aside for 15 minutes.
  4. Peel the potatoes, wash and chop into small cubes. 
  5. Heat ghee in a pan, add the cumin . 
  6. When it crackles add the chopped green chillies and the potatoes. 
  7. Saute for 2 minutes. 
  8. Add the salt, chilli powder, amchur and garam masala powder and toss for a minute. 
  9. Add water little at a time until peas and potatoes are cooked.  (If using fresh peas, parboil them before adding to the potatoes). 
  10. Add coriander leaves and mix well. Take off the heat.
  11. Divide the dough into 12 balls to get 24 samosas, (I have rolled into 6 to make 12 bigger size samosas) and roll out each as thin as possible into a somewhat elongated shape. 
  12. Using a knife cut into two in the centre. 
  13. Wet the cut edge and form into a cone shape with your hands. 
  14. Fill the cone with a heaped tbsp. of the filling and bring the edges to cover the filling and press together to secure. 
  15. Heat oil to smoking, reduce heat to low and fry the samosas few at a time till golden brown on all sides. 
  16. Serve hot with sweet chutney (saunth), garlic chutney & green chutney.

To make Samosa Chaat:

Samosa Chaat with Ragda

Ragda

  • 1 cup white peas, boiled till soft
  • 1 tsp. Ginger paste
  • 1 tsp. garlic paste
  • 2 green chillies, finely chopped (or 1 tsp. green chillie paste)
  • ½ tsp. cumin seeds
  • ¼ tsp. asafoetida
  • 1 tsp. coriander seeds powder
  • 1 tsp. red chilli powder
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp. ghee
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • ½ tsp. Garam masala powder
  • 2 tbsp. coriander leaves

Method

  1. Heat ghee, add cumin seeds, when they sizzle add asafoetida, ginger, garlic paste and chillies. 
  2. Saute for a minute.
  3. Add coriander and chillie powder, turmeric powder and mix well. 
  4. Add some water to prevent the masala burning. 
  5. Add the cooked peas and stir to mix. 
  6. Add salt 1 cup water and cook till fat surfaces. 
  7. Add garam masala and fresh coriander and cook 3 to 4 mintues.

To assemble:

  • Break samosa into large pieces and cover with the  2 to 3 ladles of ragda. 
  • Top with green chutney, sweet chutney (saunth) and garlic chutney and some chopped onion. 
  • Sprinkle some chaat masala. 
  • Add some sev all over and garnish with coriander leaves. 
  • Add additional chutneys if desired
  • Serve immediately.

To make Dahi Samosa Chaat:

Dahi Samosa Chaat
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • ½ tsp. chaat masala
  • Few pomegranate seeds
  • Green chutney
  • Garlic chutney
  • Coriander leaves
  • Sweet chutney
  • Sev

To assemble:

  1. Place 2 samosas in a bowl. 
  2. Top with ½ to 1 cup beaten yogurt. 
  3. Drizzle garlic chutney, green chutney, sweet chutney, garnish with pomegranate seeds, coriander leaves, sev.
  4. And sprinkle some chaat masala
  5. Serve immediately.

To make green chutney:

Grind to a paste:

  • 1” pc ginger
  • 2 green chillies
  • 2 flakes garlic
  • 1 to 2 cups fresh coriander leaves
  • ½ cup mint leaves
  • 2 tbsp.  lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • Grind all together to a paste without adding water as far as possible. 

To make garlic chutney:

Grind to a paste:

  • 1 cup garlic
  • 3 red chillies
  • 1 lemon, juice
  • Salt to taste
  • Grind together to a smooth paste adding water as required. 
  • To serve take as much chutney as required and dilute with water and serve.

To make Sweet Chutney (Saunth)

Made from Mango powder and usually served with snacks

  • 5 tsp mango powder (Amchur)
  • 3/4 cups sugar or jaggery (I used jaggery)
  • 2 ½ tsp. cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp. Black salt
  • 1 tsp. black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp. black cardamom seeds (use white if not available)
  • 1 tsp. red chilli powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 drop red food color
  • 1 small raw mango

Method

  1. Roast the cumin on a pan, cool. 
  2. Pound black salt with a pestle if it is in chunks.
  3. Powder the cumin, black salt, peppercorns, cardamom seeds to a fine powder.
  4. Transfer to a dry bowl and add the red chill powder and salt and mix well. 
  5. Sieve the mango powder to break up the lumps. 
  6. Peel, and cut the mango into small pieces. 
  7. To make a larger quantity, double the ingredients.
  8. Put 1 cup water in a saucepan, add mango powder and whisk to prevent lumps. 
  9. Cook on medium heat, stirring continuously until it thickens and becomes glossy.
  10. Add the remaining ingredients (except mango pieces) and stir till jaggery dissolves. 
  11. Simmer 5 minutes. 
  12. Remove and sieve through a soup strainer and cool. 
  13. Add the mango pieces and refrigerate.

Kashmiri Dal


Ingredients

  • ½ cup Chana dal (split gram (chickpeas) dal)
  • ½ cup Moong dal (split green gram)
  • 3.5 cups water
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste
  • 2 to 3 tbsp. oil or ghee
  • Coriander leaves and lemon for garnish
  • For tempering:
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 tsp. ginger paste
  • 2 Red chillies
  • 1 or 2 Bay leaves
  • ½ tsp. fennel seeds
  • ¼ tsp. cumin seeds
  • 1” stick cinnamon
  • 4 cardamoms
  • 3 to 4 cloves
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice

Method

  1. Wash and soak dal for 1 hour. 
  2. Then boil in 3.5 cups of water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes till soft. 
  3. Add salt and simmer. 
  4. Transfer to another container and set aside.
  5. Powder the dry ingredients from red chillies to black pepper. 
  6. Add the lemon juice and ginger paste, some water if necessary to make a paste.  
  7. Set aside. 
  8. Heat a pan, add 1 tsp. oil or ghee and fry the chopped onion and cook till soft and translucent. 
  9. Add the spice paste and cook 2 to 3 minutes stirring till the water evaporates. 
  10. Add the dal and mix. 
  11. Adjust seasoning and cook 5 minutes. 
  12. Fry the sliced garlic in 1 tsp. oil or ghee till light brown and add to the cooked dal.
  13. Take off heat. 
  14. Garnish with chopped coriander and lemon wedges. 
  15. Serve hot with Kashmiri Rotis, Kashmiri Pulao or Amritsari Kulchas, etc.

Amritsari Kulcha


Amritsari Kulcha

Ingredients

Dough – Makes 12 Kulchas

  • 4 cups Maida (All Purpose flour) Wheat flour may be used
  • 2 tbsp. Oil
  • 2 tsp. yeast
  • 2 tbsp.2 cups warm milk
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste

Stuffing

  1. 3 to 4 Large potatoes, boiled and mashed
  2. ¼ cup coriander leaves
  3. 1 tsp. chaat masala
  4. 1 tsp. garam masala powder
  5. ½ tsp. pomegranate seed powder or amchur or lemon juice
  6. 3 green chillies, finely chopped
  7. 1 tsp. salt or to taste

Garnish

  • Butter or ghee, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander leavmes

Method

  1. In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour and salt and mix. 
  2. Make a well in the centre and pour 1/4 cup warm milk. 
  3. Stir in the dry yeast, sugar and oil and let sit 10 minutes till it foams. 
  4. Knead the dough with the yeast mix by adding the remaining milk and knead for 5 to 10 minutes. 
  5. Keep in a lightly greased bowl covered and leave to rise till double.

Meanwhile prepare the stuffing:

  1. Mix the boiled and grates potatoes and all the remaining ingredients and divide into 12 equal portions. Check seasoning.
  2. To cook in the oven, place a pizza stone or baking sheet on the lower rack of oven and preheat the oven @ 250 deg C for ½ hour to 45 minutes. 
  3. Punch the risen dough and knead. 
  4. Grease work surface with oil and knead 2 minutes. 
  5. Divide into 12 equal portions. 
  6. Roll one portion and stuff with one portion of the stuffing and close to make a ball. 
  7. Place the ball in a plate or tray. 
  8. Repeat with the remaining dough/stuffing and let the balls rise again for 10 minutes. 
  9. Then roll to desired thickness. 
  10. Sprinkle over with a pinch of chilli and cumin powder, copped coriander leaves and press or roll lightly so the leaves adhere to the kulcha. 
  11. Transfer the kulcha to the baking sheet (I have used a ceramic tile) and bake 10 to 12 minutes till bottom turns crisp and golden brown. 
  12. Remove and apply butter or ghee. 
  13. To fry on pan on stove top, place the rolled kulcha on a regular pan or tawa. 
  14. When brown flip over and apply some butter or ghee. 
  15. Turn again and apply butter/ghee to the other side. 
  16. Remove when both sides are brown. 
  17. It is quicker to make on tawa. 
  18. If you can bake multiple kulchas at a time in the oven, will be better and quicker. 
  19. Enjoy the hot kulchas with Kashmiri dal, Chhole, etc.

Besan and Jowar flour chilas with Hari Chutney


A good way to add millets to the diet, add some jowar (sorghum) flour to the besan flour for an healthy option. Have for breakfast or as a snack or make a meal of it. For variation, add some finely grated potato and/or zucchini to the batter.

Pancake style – makes 4 to 5 Chilas

Ingredients

  • 1 cup besan (gram flour, chickpea flour)
  • ½ cup jowar (sorghum) flour (or maida, oats, ragi, bajra)
  • 2 green chilies, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • ½ tsp. Ajwain (carom seeds)
  • Small pc ginger, chopped fine
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp. baking powder (to make the chilas thick & fluffy like pancakes)
  • 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • Oil for greasing the pan

Method

  1. Mix all the above with sufficient water to make a thick batter and keep for 5 to 10 minutes. 
  2. Heat a frying pan, smear the pan with ½ tsp. oil and add ½ cup of batter. 
  3. Cover the pan and allow to cook on medium till underside is light brown. 
  4. Smear the top of the chilla with ½ tsp. oil and turn over to cook the other side to a light brown. 
  5. Remove and serve with Green coriander and mint chutney, Masala Bharwa Mirchi and yogurt.

 To make Hari Chutney (Green Chutney)

Grind to a paste:

  • 1” pc ginger
  • 2 green chillies
  • 2 flakes garlic
  • 1 to 2 cups fresh coriander leaves
  • ½ cup mint leaves
  • 2 tbsp.  lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste

Grind all together to a paste without adding water as far as possible.  Serve with chilas, etc.

Six Breakfast Sandwiches to kickstart your day


Six Breakfast Sandwiches to kickstart your day!

Quick and Easy with minimum preparation!

Make a meal of these sandwiches, for brunch, lunch, dinner or simply as a quick snack to satiate you.  If you wish to cut down on the carbs, have them as “open sandwiches”, using only one slice of bread. Enjoy these crisp, crunchy sandwiches with various fillings with fresh ingredients that can be adapted to suit your taste. Instead of tomatoes, use cucumbers, jalapenos or gerkins. I am partial to fresh basil and like to use it in everything if I have it on hand. You can substitute basil with parsley or fresh coriander. Feel free to use your preferred sauces like, tomato, mayo, mustard, etc. to suit your taste.

  1. Tapenade and Feta Cheese Sandwich with Zaatar (Wild Thyne or Oregano)

Ingredients – Per Sandwich

2 Slices bread

2 tomato slices

2 tbsp. crumbled Feta cheese

2 to 3 tbsp. Black Olive Tapenade

1 tsp. Zaatar

2 tsp. olive oil

Lettuce, fresh basil and cherry tomatoes for serving

Method

Apply Tapenade to the bread slices.  Put one tbsp. olive oil on a hot pan and place the bread slice tapenade side up.  Spread the crumble feta cheese, sprinkle the zaatar, drizzle some olive oil and top with the tomato slices.  Place the second slice of bread on top of the tomato slices tapenade side down.  Apply olive oil to the top of the bread.  By now the underside of the sandwich should be brown.  Turn over and toast both sides.  Serve crisp olive tapenade and feta cheese sandwich with soft succulent centre, with some iceberg lettuce and fresh basil.

2. Grilled Pepperoni Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients – Per sandwich

2 Slices Bread, of your choice

2 slices cheese

8 slices pepperoni

Butter to coat the bread

Dijon Mustard

Method

Butter one side of the bread and place on a skillet or pan, buttered side down.  Place 1 slice of cheese and 8 slices of pepperoni on the top of the bread.  (You may broil the pepperoni for ½ to 1 minute in the microwave if you wish).  Top the pepperoni with a slice of cheese.  Cover the open-faced sandwich with a lid.  Spread some Dijon mustard on the second slice of bread.  When the underside of the open-faced sandwich is brown, top the sandwich with the other slice of bread, mustard side down.  Butter the upper side of the bread and turn to brown the other side.  The cheese should be melted by now.  Remove and serve immediately when brown and crisp on both sides.

3. Grilled Halloumi Tapenade Sandwich

Ingredients – per sandwich

2 slices Bread

3 slices Halloumi Cheese

2 to 3 slices tomato

Iceberg lettuce (or any lettuce you have at hand)

Some fresh basil

2 tbsp. tapenade

Olive oil to brush the bread

Method

Grill the halloumi slices on a hot pan till brown on both sides. Brush the bread slices with olive oil and spread tapenade on the other side of the bread.  Place the olive oil side on a hot pan with the tapenade facing up.  Top it with the tomato slices, lettuce, basil and halloumi and cover with the second slice of bread, olive oil side facing up.  When brown on the underside, flip the sandwich over and toast till brown.  Serve immediately, crisp and warm on the outside and crunchy, salty and tangy on the inside!

P.S.:  I am partial to fresh basil and use it in everything if I have it at home.  Feel free to use any fresh herbs of your choice.

4. Tuna Melts

Ingredients – for one sandwich

1 small tin Canned Tuna (in sunflower oil)

1 small Onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp. Mayonnaise, or as required

1 green chilli, finely chopped (optional)

1 tsp. Sweet relish (optional)

1 tsp. Dijon Mustard (optional)

2 slices of tomato

Fresh Basil

1 slice cheese

Method

Put the tuna alongwith the oil in a bowl, add the chopped onion and green chilli and mash to a paste.  Mix with mayonnaise and the sweet relish and mustard, if using.  The tuna would taste as good though, without the relish and mustard.  But if you love their complex flavors, you would enjoy these additional flavors.   Butter one side of the bread and place on a heated griddle, buttered side down.  Top with the tuna mayo paste, tomato slices and cheese slice.  Add the fresh basil and cover with the second slice of bread, buttered side up.  Flip the sandwich over when the underside is brown and toasted.  Brown both sides and serve hot and crunchy with the soft juicy delicious tuna filling.  Serve with some crisps or potato chips.

For variation: Add gherkins or jalapenos instead of tomatoes

5. Grilled Egg & Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients – for one sandwich

2 slices bread

2 eggs

Salt and pepper for the eggs

2 tomato slices

Butter to spread on the bread

Method

N.B: You need to use a large skillet for this recipe so you get enough of the egg omlete to fold over the sandwich.

Grease the skillet with a little butter and add the beaten eggs seasoned with salt and pepper and spread evenly over the pan.  Place one slice of bread buttered side up in the centre of the egg omlete.  When the egg browns lightly and sets completely, flip over so that the buttered side of the bread is now touching the pan . Fold the egg over the four sides of the bread. Top with tomato slices and fresh basil (or lettuce or baby spinach) and a slice of cheese. Place the second slice buttered side up on top of the cheese slice and turn the sandwich over the brown both sides.  Serve hot and crisp with some green salad or sprouts salad if you wish to serve it as an express lunch or dinner!

6. Halloumi Lettuce Wrap

Ingredients – for one wrap

1 tortilla wrap

Mayonnaise or mayo Sriracha, etc as desired to spread over the wrap

3 to 4 Tomato slices, grilled

3 to 4 Grilled Halloumi

Lettuce, fresh basil, (or coriander leaves or mint)

Method

Place the tortilla on a warm pan on low heat.  Drizzle mayonnaise as required and place on one end of the tortilla, grilled halloumi slices, tomato slices, lettuce and basil. Fold into half and serve immediately.

Millets Dosa


Millets Dosa

Millets Dosa

(Jowar – Bajra Dosa) (Sorghum – Pearl Millet Dosa)

Ingredients

Makes 8 to 10 Dosas

½ cup Bajra flour (Pearl Millet flour)

½ cup Jowar flour (Sorghum flour)

½ cup Rice flour

¼ cup flaxseeds powder (optional)

1.5 cups thin butter milk (Chaas)

Water as required to make a thin batter

1/2 tsp. cumin seeds

½ tsp. green chilli paste

½” pc ginger finely chopped

½ tsp. pepper powder

1 tsp. Salt or to taste

Ghee as required

Mix the flours and combine well, add salt, cumin, green chilli paste, ginger, pepper and mix with butter milk to a pouring think consistency.  Add additional water if required and adjust consistency.  Cover and set aside for 5 minutes.

Heat a dosa pan to very hot.  Pour a ladle and a half of the batter and cook till brown.  Drizzle ghee in the centre and all around.  After a minute, flip and fry on the underside for a minute.  Remove and serve while crisp and hot with Idli Podi (Gun Powder) or any chutney of your choice. Continue frying the remaining dosas ensuring the batter is thoroughly stirred and mixed before each dosa is put on the pan, as the flours tend to settle to the bottom of the dish.  Leftover batter can be stored in the refrigerator and later or the next day.

P.S.:  To ensure the bajra and jowar flour remains fresh, store in the freezer.

Dal Palak


Dal Palak

The combination of Dal & Palak makes it extremely healthy and nutritious. Split yellow moong dal is rich in vitamins, proteins and essential nutrients and palak (spinach) a rich source of iron.

Tastes delicious with chapatis, puris or any Indian bread. Even goes well with steaming hot rice and a little pickle!!

Enjoy this meal-in-one dish, which is not only delicious and satisfying, but healthy too.

Dal Palak

Ingredients

  • 1 cup moong dal, soaked in water for an hour
  • 1 large bunch spinach, chopped
  • 1 Large tomato, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped roughly
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1” piece ginger
  • 4 green chillies
  • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp. chilli powder
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp. ghee

Method

  1. Grind garlic, ginger, chillies, onion, turmeric and chilli powder to a paste.
  2. Heat ghee and add cumin seeds, saute for 1/2 a minute,
  3. Then add the masala paste and fry till ghee separates.
  4. Add tomatoes and salt.
  5. Cook till tomatoes turn soft.
  6. Add the soaked dal and 2 cups of water.
  7. Bring to a boil, cover and cook till dal is tender.
  8. Add chopped spinach, add a cup or two of water if dal is dry and adjust consistency.
  9. Cook 10 minutes, then add some chopped coriander leaves, save some for garnish.
  10. Remove to a serving dish and serve hot garnished with coriander leaves
  11. Serve with rice or any Indian bread.

Cabbage Paneer Parathas


Cabbage Paneer Parathas

Healthy, nutritious, cabbage and paneer stuffed parathas. Enjoy them hot for breakfast or brunch or as a quick meal. Satisfy those hunger pangs and have as a snack!! Try the Aloo Parathas too…

CABBAGE PANEER PARATHAS

Ingredients

  • 2 cups wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp. melted ghee or oil
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • ½ to 1 tsp. Ajwain (Carom seeds)
  • 2 cups cabbage, shredded fine
  • 1 cup paneer, crumbled
  • ½ cup coriander, chopped
  • 2 green chillies, chopped fine

Method

  1. Wash, drain and sprinkle salt over the cabbage and keep aside for 10 minutes. 
  2. Sieve flour with salt. 
  3. Add the melted ghee/oil and mix well.
  4. Add water and knead well to a soft dough.
  5. Cover with wet cloth and set aside.
  6. Squeeze out the water from the cabbage and add the paneer, coriander, green chillies, salt (if required) and mix well.
  7. Keep aside.
  8. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions.
  9. Roll out each portion into circle of about 4” diameter.
  10. Spread 2 heaped tbsp. stuffing over the entire circle and cover with another circle.
  11. Roll the paratha lightly to compact it and seal the edges.
  12. Heat a tawa and fry till done on both sides. 
  13. Spread little ghee and remove. 
  14. Serve hot with yogurt and pickle or with butter.

Vegetable Korma


Vegetable Korma

Vegetable Korma turns out delicious and even if you are not a great fan of veggies, you will enjoy this korma. Although these are the basic vegetables for this dish, you may skip one or the other if not available. So don’t limit yourselves and feel free to cook this amazing vegetable korma with any vegetable you may have on hand and enjoy with some warm Indian bread of your choice!!

Ingredients

  • 2 medium carrots
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 1 cup green peas
  • ½ of medium cauliflower
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
  • 1 tsp. salt, or to taste
  • 1 tbsp. ghee
  • Grind to a paste
  • 1” pc ginger
  • 4 flakes garlic
  • 1 tsp. chilli powder
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 2 tbsp. poppy seeds (substitute with sesame seeds or cashewnuts)

Method

  1. Clean wash and chop the carrots and potatoes into small cubes. 
  2. Cut the cauliflower into small florets and soak in warm salted water for 10 minutes.
  3. Shell the peas if using fresh
  4. Grind the ginger, garlic, with the chilli powder, turmeric and poppy seeds to a paste with ¼ to ½ cup water.  I have used sesame seeds as poppy seeds are not available here.  Can be substituted with cashewnuts. 
  5. Chop the onion fine. 
  6. Wash and chop coriander leaves. 
  7. Heat the ghee in a vessel or cooker. 
  8. Fry the chopped onion till light brown. 
  9. Add the masala and salt and saute for a minute. 
  10. Add the masala water and cook till most of the water evaporates, stirring occasionally. 
  11. Add the vegetables and fry 2 to 3 minutes. 
  12. Add 2 cups water, mix well, cover and cook 10 minutes.  In cooker for 3 minutes.
  13. Open the lid, stir and add half the coriander leaves and cook for 2 minutes. 
  14. Check seasoning and if potatoes are cooked. 
  15. Remove to a dish, garnish with coriander leaves and serve with phulkas, rotis, parathas, pooris or any bread of your choice.

Lemon Masoor Dal


Lemon Masoor Dal

This light satisfying meal will certainly be relished after the festive season after spending days feasting on sorpatel, vindaloo, roasts and heavy festive food. Dal rice is invariably our go to meal when we just need to slow down on our cooking to give our digestive system a bit of rest. Having said that, dal rice is one meal that is welcome anytime.

This Lemon Masoor Dal is cooked without tomatoes and includes lemon to add a bit of tang. Make it thick to eat with rotis or pooris or a bit runny to pour over your rice and enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups masoor dal
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1” pc. Ginger shredded
  • 1 tsp. red chilli powder
  • 2” pc cinnamon
  • 1 lemon
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves, chopped
  • Tempering
  • 2 tbsp. oil or ghee
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2 green chillies
  • 2 to 3 bay leaves
  1. Clean and rinse the dal, add 4 cups water, alongwith the onion, ginger, cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil. 
  2. Reduce flame and cook 10 minutes.  Add the red chilli powder, juice of the lemon (discard the seeds) and add the peels to the dal. 
  3. Bring to a boil and cook 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally till soft. 
  4. Heat oil in a pan, add the chopped onion, garlic, green chilli and bay leaves and fry till onions are brown. 
  5. Add to the dal. 
  6. Remove the bay leaves and the lemon skins and garnish with chopped coriander leaves. 
  7. Serve hot.

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