Potato fry | Potato kachrya | Aloo fry recipe

 This dish is very simple and easy to make specially when you are caught up in hustle and bustle or even on a lazy day. You can have it with chapatis, dal-rice or stuff in sandwiches or wraps. Makes a quick lunch box for kids.

Ingredients:

1 large potato sliced
1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
generous amount of asafoetida
2 green chillies ( slit)
finely chopped coriander leaves
few curry leaves
oil
salt to taste

Method:

• Peel and chop potatoes into thin slices and place them in a bowl of water fully immersed so that it doesn't get discolored.
• Place a non-stick pan on low heat, add oil and mustard seed.
• Once the seeds starts crackling add cumin seeds, hing, turmeric powder, curry leaves and coriander powder.
• Drain out the water completely from potatoes and add them into the pan.
• Mix everything very well and spread the potatoes evenly in the pan. Close the lid and let them get cooked on low heat. This process will take less time.
• Keep stirring in between until potatoes gets completely cooked and becomes little crisp.
• Lastly add red chilli powder and finely chopped coriander leaves and give it a last mix and simmer it for 1 minute without lid.
• Serve this with chapati, rice or stuff it in sandwiches.

Pictorial:

Peel and chop potatoes into thin slices and place them in a bowl of water fully immersed so that it doesn't get discolored

                       Place a non-stick pan on low heat, add oil and mustard seed.

Once the seeds starts crackling add cumin seeds, hing, turmeric powder, curry leaves and coriander powder.

                              Drain out the water completely and add them into the pan.

 Mix everything very well and spread them evenly in the pan. Close the lid and let the potatoes get cooked on low heat.

           Keep stirring in between until potatoes gets completely cooked and little crisp.

                    Lastly add red chilli powder and finely chopped coriander leaves.

                                       Mix and cook on low heat for 1 minute without lid.

                                                Simple yet tasty dish is all ready to serve.

Paneer Pulao recipe | Paneer Rice | Cottage cheese with rice

 There are many ways rice can be used in a dish. Easy, quick and healthy recipe with veggies of your choice. This dish can be served with any Indian curries or pickle.

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati rice
2 cups water
1 medium onion
1 medium tomato
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 cup veggies chopped
salt to taste
2 tblsp ghee
1 bay leaf
1 small cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp cumin seeds

Method:

• First cook the rice in a pressure cooker for 1 cup of basmati rice use 11/2 cup of water for 2 whistle. Keep it aside.
• Heat a pan and add some ghee / oil and shallow fry the paneer / cottage cheese cubes. Just fry till the outer layer turns light golden brown ( this step is optional) You can even use the fresh paneer grated or cubes for this recipe.
• In the same pan add one bay leaf ,small cinnamon stick and cumin seeds.
• Then goes in finely sliced onion and ginger and garlic paste.
• Once the onions turn translucent add finely chopped tomatoes. Mix well and let the tomatoes become nice soft.
• Next add finely diced carrot, capsicum and peas ( can use any veggies of your choice and shape). Mix everything on medium to low flame.
• Stir the veggies for 1 minute and then add the seasoning like garam masala, coriander powder, red chilli powder and salt. Give a nice mix.
• Then add the lightly shallow fried paneer into it, mix it and add around 2-3 tblsp of water and cover the pan with a lid and cook for another 1-2 minutes so that masala gets infused into the paneer.
• Before adding the cooked rice make sure the mixture is dry and not watery or else rice with become soggy.
• Give a nice gentle toss, be careful not to break the rice grains.Add some finely chopped coriander leaves / cilantro on top and mix gently.
• Serve hot.

Pictorial:

Heat a pan and add some ghee / oil and shallow fry the paneer / cottage cheese cubes. Just fry till the outer layer turns light golden brown ( this step is optional) You can even use the fresh paneer for this recipe.

   Next in the same pan add one bay leaf ,small cinnamon stick and cumin seeds.

            Then goes in finely sliced onion and ginger and garlic paste.

 Once the onions turn translucent add finely chopped tomatoes. Mix well and let the tomatoes become nice soft.

 Next add finely diced carrot, capsicum and peas ( can use any veggies of your choice and shape). Mix everything on medium to low flame.

Stir the veggies for 1 minute and then add the seasoning like garam masala, coriander powder, red chilli powder and salt. Give a nice mix.

Then add the lightly shallow fried paneer into it, mix it and add around 2-3 tblsp of water and cover the pan with a lid and cook for another 1-2 minutes so that masala gets infused into the paneer.

Before adding the cooked rice make sure the mixture is dry and not watery or else rice with become soggy.

                     Give a nice gentle toss, be careful not to break the rice grains.

              Add some finely chopped coriander leaves / cilantro on top and mix gently.

                                                    Serve hot with raita or some curries.

Notes:

1. Use any veggies of your choice like beans, broccoli, different colours of bell pepper, mushrooms etc.
2. Amount of water required to cook rice may vary depending upon the quality of rice.

Tutti frutti cake | Christmas cake recipe

This Tutti frutti / candied cake is colorful, delicious, soft and spongy. Tutti frutti is one of those thing my husband is addicted since his childhood. So, thought of  baking this cake at home.I never expected baking this at home was so simple and easy. If you are a beginner in baking like me, don't worry this cake is super easy to bake. It's an absolute beginners delight. To be frank, i was not at all sure about this recipe so used very little tutti frutti. But to my surprise this turned out Yum!! n thought of sharing with you all.

 You can customize it in many different ways. Do try this you are gonna love it...

 Ingredients:

2 cups All purpose flour / Maida
1 cup white Sugar
1/2 cup soft buter / 1 stick
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup tutti frutti
2 tsps vanilla essence
pinch of salt

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C and grease the pan with butter and flour.
• Sprinkle some flour on tutti frutti and keep it aside.
• In a mixing bowl sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and keep aside.
• In a large bowl, add soft butter and sugar and whisk till it becomes nice smooth and creamy. 
• You can use manual or electric beater to whisk.
• Then add egg and vanilla essence and whisk it again.
• Next add the flour which was kept aside in 2 batches alternating with milk. Do not over beat just mix and fold well till combined. If using electric beater use the low speed.
• There should be no lumps, fold and combine it into a smooth batter.
• Next add 3/4th of the tutti frutti ( you can also use nuts) and fold and mix it again
• Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and sprinkle the leftover tutti frutti on top.
• Bake it for 40-45 mins until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick or skewer inserted comes out clean 
• Once it's done place a pan on wire rack to cool down completely before slicing and serving.

Pictorial:

                             Sprinkle some flour on tutti frutti and keep it aside.

                          Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C and grease the pan with butter and flour.

          In a mixing bowl sieve flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and keep aside.

In a large bowl, add soft butter and sugar and whisk till it becomes nice smooth and creamy. You can use manual or electric beater to whisk.

                              Then add egg and vanilla essence and whisk it again.

Next add the flour which was kept aside in 2 batches alternating with milk. Do not over beat just mix and fold well till combined. If using electric beater use the low speed.

   Next add 3/4th of the tutti frutti ( you can also use nuts) and fold and mix it again

                                        Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan

Sprinkle the leftover tutti frutti on top.Bake it for 40-45 mins until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick or skewer inserted comes out clean

Once it's done place a pan on cooling rack to cool down completely before slicing and serving.

Notes:

1. Keep an eye on the cake while baking it may take less or more time as all oven is different so is the settings.
2. If your cake starts turning brown from top right away or before 30 mins lower your settings.

Pav Bhaji recipe - with step by step photos

Pav Bhaji is the most popular Mumbai street food or fast food. This is a spicy curry made of mixed boiled vegetable blend with special pav bhaji masala served with pav / bun / roll. This is spicy, rich, smooth yet chunky curry.

Ingredients:

2 medium Potatoes
1/2 cup Cauliflower
1/2 cup carrot
1/4 cup Peas ( fresh or frozen)
1 Onion
2 medium Tomato
1/2 cup capsicum / bell pepper
1/2 tsp ginger and garlic paste
1-1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder ( Kashmiri)
2 tablespoon pav bhaji masala ( store bought)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon oil
salt to taste
water
Pav / Buns

Method:

• In a pressure cooker add washed cauliflower, carrot and peeled and chopped potato for 2-3 whistle. Can also boil in a saucepan, add some water and cut the veggies into cube size and boil until fully cooked. Drain the water and keep aside for later use.
• Heat some butter / oil in a pan.
• Add chopped onions and salt,saute until it is nice translucent.
• Then add finely chopped bell peppers, saute for few seconds and then add ginger and garlic paste.Mix everything cook for few seconds.
• Next add finely chopped tomatoes and Peas. If you are using fresh Peas can boil it with rest of the veggies. I am using frozen Peas here. Close the pan with a lid and let it cook.
• Once tomatoes are all nicely cooked add the boiled vegetables.
• Next mash all the vegetables with the masher or back of the spatula. You can mash cooked veggies into the texture you prefer - little chunky or smooth with no chunks of veggies.
• In another pan add some oil and roast the dry spices kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric powder and pav bhaji masala on low flame ( this step is optional) or you can directly add the spices into the veggie mixture.
• Mix everything well so that all the veggies get coated with the spices and cook for few minutes on low flame.
• Then add water and cook for 5-6 minutes and this stage check for salt and add more if required.
• Switch off the flame and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and mix well.
• Next take the pav / buns. Cut them halves.
• Place a tava on medium flame, add some butter and place pav / buns on the tava and roast them until light golden brown spots appear. Do this on both side.
• In a serving plate place some pav bhaji, roasted pav / buns with some finely chopped onions and lemon wedge. Can also add some butter on top of pav bhaji.

Pictorial:

In a pressure cooker add washed cauliflower, carrot and chopped potato for 2-3 whistle. Can also boil in a saucepan, add some water and cut the veggies into cube size and boil until fully cooked. Drain out the water and restrain for later use.

                                                   Heat some butter / oil in a pan.

                          Add chopped onions and salt,saute until it is nice translucent.

Then add finely chopped bell peppers saute for few seconds and then add ginger and garlic paste.

Next add finely chopped tomatoes and Peas. If you are using fresh Peas can boil it with rest of the veggies. I am using frozen Peas.

                       Once tomatoes are all nicely cooked add the boiled vegetables.

Mash all the vegetables with the masher or back of the spatula. You can mash cooked veggies into the texture you prefer - little chunky or smooth with no chunks of veggies.

                                           Texture should look some what like this.

In another pan add some oil and roast the dry spices kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric powder and pav bhaji masala on low flame ( this step is optional) or you can directly add the spices into the veggie mixture.

                                                  Add the roasted spices into the mixture.

                                   Mix well and cook for few minutes on low flame.

Add water and cook for 5-6 minutes. Check for salt at this stage and add more if required.

                         Turn off the flame and add chopped coriander leaves and mix well.

Bhaji is ready for serving. For Pav / Buns cut them into halves. Heat tava on medium flame. Add teaspoon of butter and place buns and shallow fry them until golden brown spots appear. Place them on a plate with some finely chopped onion and lemon wedge.

Notes:

1. Use kashmiri chilli powder instead of regular chilli powder as it gives nice colour.
2. You can use any veggies of your choice like french beans, sweet corn, beetroot etc.