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

Just Parantha's

This week the cloud is so dark and gloomy out here.....craving to have something hot .....and it reminded me about Paranthas with aachar.......ummmm.....Of late i was enlightened that Parantha comes from Parath + Atta ...which means layers of cooked flour.....I am sure while you must have come across it been described as An Indian Flatbread .....or shallow fried flat bread....and so on...so here I am with some of the few successful flat (bread )experiments ...though you can make 100's of different varieties combining different mixtures for stuffings of your choice

If you are nt used rolling these parantha's you might want to have a look at - http://indianfood.about.com/od/breadrecipes/ig/How-to-Make-Parathas/Making-Parathas---Step-1.htm


SPINACH AND BABY CORN PARATHAS


These parathas has a high nutritional with wheat flour,and corn.Spinach adds to its wealth of  iron, folic acid and vitamins
These nutritious parathas are ideal to be packed in your kid's lunch box. They can also be served at parties with spicy pickles like garlic pickle or with a sweet and spicy vegetable pickle.

Makes 6 parathas.

For the dough

 1 cup whole wheat flour
 2Tbsp Milk / 1Tbsp curd
 1 teaspoon ghee / unsalted butter
 salt to taste

For the spinach and baby corn filling 

 ½ cup spinach, blanched, drained well and finely chopped
 ½ cup baby corn, finely chopped
 2 green chillies, finely chopped
 1 tsp ginger , finely chopped
 2 tsp masala ( mix in garam masala, cumin powder, amchoor, red chilly powder, whole cumin seeds)
 1 teaspoon oil
 salt to taste

Other ingredients 

 Vegetable oil for cooking - you can also use Olive oil / spray

For the dough

• Combine all the ingredients and knead into a soft dough using enough water. Knead well , cover it and keep it aside for 10 - 15mins. 
• Divide the dough into 6 equal portions

For the spinach and baby corn filling 

• Heat the oil in a pan, add the baby corn and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Add the spinach and all the remaining ingredients and mix well. Saute for a minute and turn off the flame

To proceed

• Roll out one portion of the dough into a circle of 75 mm. (3") diameter. 
• Place one portion of the spinach and baby corn filling in the centre of the circle.  
• Bring together all the sides in the centre and seal tightly. 
• Roll out again into a circle of 150 mm. (6") diameter with the help of a little flour. 
• Cook the parathas on a hot tava (griddle), using a little oil, unitl both sides are golden brown. 
• Repeat with the remaining dough and filling to make more parathas. 
• Serve hot...goes well with the raw mango loungi