Apple Plum Reduction

1  apple diced - i had a green apple that was in the fridge for quiet a while
1 plum - diced
1" Cinnamon
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup sugar ( add more if you like to)
2Tbsp water


In a pan all the ingredients along with 2Tbsp sugar and cook it over low - medium flame
Once the apple becomes soft add the remaining sugar and cook until all the ingredients have blended well and the fruits are very soft - turned into a semi solid form

Once done cool and blend it into a paste ( if you dont want a strong flavor , remove the spices, I went on to keep it and blended it all together)
Strain the paste and store it in an air - tight container

This can be used for a variety of stuffs........Like ice tea - over ice creams - mix fruits ............rest experiment yourself!!!

Tawa Aloo Chat

Here is one of my favorite recipe, and I can just have this 24*7 - 3 times a day......


3 boiled potatoes - cubed
4 Tbsp oil / ghee - for shallow fry
Salt - To taste
1Tbsp Tamarind pulp
1 Tsp Lemon juice
1 tsp red chilly powder
1tsp roasted cumin seed powder
1/4 tsp black salt
1/2 tsp Jaljeera / Chat masala

And loads of excitement + mouth watering moments


In a pan heat oil and add the potatoes , shallow fry until brown and crispy - If you wish you can also deep fry it once until light brown and then fry it on a tawa with ghee until crisp
Once done remove the potatoes in a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients
Mix well and serve

Tips:-

You can serve these on plastic plates - like the one I got from BJ's or in paper plates
Garnish it with coriander / cilantro / pomegranate pearls - I could not wait long to garnish it over
If you want to make it a lil bit healthy - you can add in finely chopped cucumber - tomatoes and onions...it tastes really good and gives a very colorful look to the dish
I did not add tamarind pulp ( I never miss it though), and that s why the aloo chat has turned a lil bit as a dry version, the tamarind helps in coating the masala evenly

So what are you waiting for.................Happy Chat-ing

Kathiyawadi Khichdi / Masala Rice

This recipe is from the famous chain , serving Rajasthani and Gujarati thali s - RAJDHANI

Serves : 4



Rice: 1 cup
Green onion : 3 medium sized - finely chopped
Garlic : 2 - finely chopped
Beans : 1/2 cup, chopped
Green peas : 1/2 cup
Brinjal : 1 medium sized - diced
Curry leaves : 8 - 10
Green Chilli : 3 chopped
Red chilli : 2 table spoon
Asafoetida (Hing) : a pinch
Salt : to taste
Garam masala : 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder : 1/2 teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1 teaspoon
Jeera : 1 teaspoon
Oil : 3 tablespoon
Ghee : 2 tablespoon



Wash and soak the rice for half an hour , drain and set aside
In a pan heat some oil and ghee , add cumin and mustard
Once the seeds cracke / splutter add onions and cook until light brown
Now add garlic and green chillies , fry for a minute
Add the dry masala powders( red chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder)
Fry for a while and add the drained rice
Add beans, green peas and brinjal to it
Pour in warm water till it is about two inches above the level of the rice. If the water dries up, more warm water may be added
Add salt and hing. When the water starts bubbling, lower the heat and simmer till rice is cooked.
Garnish with coriander leaves
Serve hot with dahi / curd


Note: The original recipe called in for 1/2 cup tomatoes, which I have omitted , if you wish to, add it along with the other vegetables

Masala Vada

Masala Vada and these 2 words just take me back to my college days, where everyday I longed to have the vada at the University Canteen ......the vada tasted same everyday and she used to keep aside some for me , cos as they plated the vada, it would just vanish...So this recipe is from our Canteen Amma from the University of Madras......

So all you need is a cloudy weather....masala tea or coffee and vadas :)...Can't ask for anything more

So we shall start off with

1 cup Soaked Channa Dal ( soak it for 2 - 3 hrs)

1 Green Chilly

2" Ginger

Keep aside 2 Tbsp of dal  and grind the rest into a coarse mixture

Next you would require

1large Onion - finely chopped

1Tbsp fennel seeds / saunf

10 - 12 curry leaves

2 pinch asafoetida

1Tbsp red chilly powder

Salt to taste

Now add the channa dal ( whole , kept aside) and the ground mixture to the above ingredients

Mix well

Heat oil in a pan

Shape the vadas to your convenience , you might just want round ones or flat it on a plastic sheet and then slide it slowly 

Keep the gas over medium to low heat , else the vadas might be uncooked from inside

Deep fry until brown and drain on a kitchen towel

Serve hot with chutney , sauce of your choice

99labels.com

Hello Friends.......

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The delivery also was quiet prompt, so this time I ve ordered my Rakhi along with the chocolate box and it includes rice+nariyal - coconut + kumkum - roli......and after discount it costed me some 300Rs /- which I thought was fine.....

Waiting for more festivals n occasions :)

In case you too want to join , you can click on the below link and get a Rs 500/- coupon, which is redeemable on your first purchase

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Happy Shopping !!!!!!!!!

Tawa Pulav

I always crave in for spicy food...and the other day while I was watching a documentary on Mumbai Street foods, caught a glimpse of tawa pulav and after much research came up with my own version of tawa pulav...Try and let me know how did it turn out !!!

1 Cup Rice
1 small onion finely chopped
1 medium tomato finely chopped
1/4 cup peas( i used the frozen version)
1/4 cup diced carrot
1/4 cup baby corn - diced / cut into pieces
1/2 cup bell peppers - mixed or just green ( I used red and green )
2 Bay leaves
2 Cloves
1" cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilly powder
1 tsp rasam powder
1.5 tsp pav bhaji masala ( you can alter this according to the level of spicy you prefer)
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
Lime juice for garnish
Oil


- Soak rice and cook it by adding 3 cups of water in a heavy bottom vesel
- When the rice nearing to cook, add 1/4 tsp turmeric, pinch of salt, peas, carrot and baby corn
- Strain rice when done and allow it to cool
- Heat oil in a vessel or a shallow tawa, add cumin seeds, bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon
- Ad chopped onions and saute until translucent
- Once done add bell peppers and mix well for 3 - 4mins, now comes in the tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes are a bit soft
- Now add all the dry masala's ( turmeric, red chilly, rasam , garam and pav bhaji masala)
- Mix well and add the cooked vegetable and rice
- Add salt to taste and mix well

- Sprinkle some lime juice before serving
- Serve hot with curd / Raitha of your choice
- You can also use fried onions for garnish along with finely chopped cilantro / coriander springs



Note:

You can also add in other vegetables such as beans, cauliflower
In case you are using left over rice, boil the vegetables separately

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