Babycorn Pepper - Salt

This week......is Chinese special........I am trying to re create Indo Chinese recipes, that I am missing out here when I want to have them

10 - 12 baby corn, boiled
1/2 tsp cornflour
2tsp refined flour / plain flour
1.5 tsp black pepper corns freshly crushed - you can also use pink and white instead
2Tbsp Spring Onion greens - chopped
2 Stalk Spring onion bulbs - sliced vertically
Salt to taste
2 green chillies - finely chopped
1tsp ginger - finely chopped
1tsp garlic  - finely chopped ( i avoided this, but it does increases the flavor)
1Tbsp celery - chopped
1/2 tsp white pepper powder
1tsp Vinegar
1tsp Soya sauce
1/2 Tbsp + for deep frying - Oil

Cut the boiled baby corns vertically ( 2 -3 cuts for a babycorn) into smaller pieces - bit size pieces
In a bowl add the baby corn and season with with salt and white pepper, add cornstarch / cornflour along with plain flour to dust and mix it well
Heat oil in a pan and add the coated baby corn and fry until crisp
In the meanwhile heat oil in a wok and add garlic, ginger , green chillies and celery ( you can add more apart from the specified quantity in case you like celery)
Give it a stir and add the onion bulbs, you can also add sliced onions
Saute well
Also keep a check on the babycorn, and stir it so that its evenly cooked and crisp - crunchy
Add soya sauce to the wok along with salt and the crispy babycorn , directly from the oil at this stage
Give it a mix and add vinegar, crushed peppercorns and garnish with spring onion greens
Serve it immediately since the baby corns needs to be crunchy and crisp......tat s when you will enjoy it the most

Raw Banana Kebab

Ingredients

2 raw banana
1/2 cup fresh sweet corn - roughly chopped
1/2 cup grated paneer
4Tbsp grated carrot
1Tbsp chopped raisins
1tsp green chillies - finely chopped
1tsp grated ginger
2Tbsp grated potato
1Tbsp lime juice
Salt to taste
1tsp red chilly powder
1tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1tsp chat masala

Oil

Boil raw banana / plantain along with the skin, I used a pressure cooker for 2 whistles, alternatively for 20 min Remove from water and let it cool , prolonged exposure to water can result in the plantain being mushy and very soft
Once cooled, remove the skin and grate
Add all the other ingredients except oil and make a firm dough
(In case you feel the dough is soft and sticky add corn flour / maida )

Now you can either opt to

- deep fry the kebab , either in form of round tikkis, or roll in a skewer , press the ends and remove it gently to slide down in hot oil
- Oven bake .... pre heat the oven at 450 and place the kebab in a skewer and apply oil on the surface, after 15mins turn it to BROIL , turn the kebabs at regular intervals until brown on all sides

Garnish with Onion rings and mint springs, with a dash of lemon and sprinkle some chat masala
Serve hot with Chutney / Sauce of your choice

Sesame Bagel with Cucumber and Sour Cream - Sandwiches

This is one of my fav TD snack....


Ingredients

4 sesame bagels or burger buns , lightly buttered
2 cucumbers, sliced
8 thin slices paneer (cottage cheese)
4 large lettuce leaves
1 tbsp dill (shepu / suva bhaji) leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper (kalimirch) powder to taste

For the sour cream
1/4 cup whipped cream
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
salt to taste
freshly ground pepper



Method
Cut each bagel into two horizontally and place a large lettuce leaf on one half of the bread.
Spread a layer of sour cream on the lettuce.
Top with a few slices of cucumber followed by 2 slices of paneer.
Sprinkle some dill leaves, salt and freshly ground pepper and sandwich with the other half of the bagel.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients and bagel to make 3 more sandwiches.
Serve immediately.