Mathura ke Dubki Maar Aaloo ki sabji

This recipe is surely a show stealer. You can have it with pooris,kachoris or parathas.
The tastes comes from the mixture of freshly grounded dry recipes.
I made this with the dal and pyaz ki kachori.

Ingredients:
4-5 Par boiled potatoes (peeled and roughly cubed)
1tsp Hing
1tbsp Mango Powder
1tbsp Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander chopped
Water 2-3 cups

For the fresh dry Masala
2tbsp Coriander Seeds
2 Whole Red Chilies
1 Cinnamon stick
1tbsp Cumin seeds
2 black cardamom
2 green cardamom
6-7 cloves

Other Ingredients:
3 tbsp Oil
1tsp Kashmiri Red chilly powder

Procedure:

• Dry roast all the whole masalas.
• Blend it keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a kadhai. add in hing.
• Lower the flame add in turmeric, mango powder and fresh grounded maslaa.
• Mix well, add in the chopped potatoes, mix
• Let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Add in water.
• Add in fresh coriander.
• Let it simmer on low flame 7-10 minutes.
• Serve hot with dal pyaz ki kachori, poori or paratha
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Dal Pyaaz ki Kachori

I really miss the kachori's and samosas that you get in the north part of India. I am always skeptical of buying these at any store in Pune, as you very well know at the back of the mind that you wont get the same taste.
So then I decided to make these at home,and saw  the recipe from a fellow blogger. bingo, I went in the kitchen , checked my pantry, Had all the ingredients in hand, and started my hand at it.

It was a Sunday morming, hubby at home wanted him to surprise him with something new. So here is my version of Kachori. I served it with dubki maar aloo.

Ingredients:
For the outer cover:
1 cup Maida
1 1/2 cup Wheat Flour
1tsp salt
8tbsp Ghee or Oil

For the filling:
1 large onion (finely chopped)
1/2 cup of moong dal (soaked overnight and then blended)
2tbsp oil
A pinch of hing (asfoetida)
1tbsp Fennel Powder
1tsp Red chilly powder
1tsp Turmeric Powder
1tsp Cumin Powder
1tsp Mango Powder
1tsp Coriander Powder


Procedure
For making the outer cover 

• Mix both the flour together, then add in the salt.
• Add in the ghee or oil. Rub it with the fingers so that the oil and flour are mixed well.
• Knead using enough water to form a medium firm dough.
• Cover it with a damp cloth. set aside.

For making the filling:

• Heat oil in  a pan , add the chopped onion.
• Once it browns add the coarsely grounded moong dal.
• Cook for 7-10 minutes. keep stirring
• Now add all the dry masalas in it.
• Mix well.

Assembling of kachori:

•  Divide the dough into 15 balls or as per your preference. If u want mini ones then it would make about 20 .
• Roll out the ball, put in a a spoonful of the masala.
• Make into a ball again, sealing the joints well. 
• Flatten with hands to form a disc.
• Heat oil.
• Deep fry these kachoris on medium flame.
• Make sure the oil should not be very hot as they will change color from outside but remain uncooked from inside.
• Once done take it out on a kitchen paper to remove the excess oil.
• serve hot with chutney or dubki wale aaloo ki sabji.
• yOU CAN STORE IT AN AIR TIGHT CONATINER ALSO FOR 2-3 DAYS.

Moong dal halwa (Yellow lentils Desert)

Of all the halwas, Moong dal halwa is my favouirte. I just wait for the winters to make this delectable sweet which is rich in flavours.
This halwa helps us to keep our boday warm in winters, tats what our elders tell us.
This halwa requires a lot of patience while making, as the dal is cooked in ghee on low flame. The more you roast it well the more flavoursome it becomes.

Moon Dal Halwa

I guess you will get to taste this desert in alomost all the weddings and celebrations.

Ingredients
250gms Moong Dal
300gms (Khoya) or mawa
1 cup sugar (according to taste u can differ)
4 cups of water
1/2 cup ghee
9-10 almonds (chopped in flakes)
5-6 cashew nuts (chopped)
10-12 Raisins
2 tbsp chironji

• Soak the moong dal in enough water for 4-5 hrs preferably overnight.
• Take the dal, remove the water and blend the dal in the food processor.
• Now in a kadhai, melt the ghee. Once its done add in the grinded dal in it.
• Stir the dal well so that it does not stick to the base of the kadhai.
• Keep on stirrimg the halwa on a low flame till the raw smells of the lentil disapperas.
• The fat should get separated and the lentil changes its color.
• This whole process will take around 40-45 min.
• It can be more also.
• In order to save some time, I roast my khoya in a separte pan.
• For this you need to take a pan, and dry roast the khoya.
• After 45 minutes when the lentil is cooked properly, add in the roasted khoya in it.
• Mix them well and keep on stirring till the lentil and khoya is cooked properly.
• In the meanwhile prepare a sugar syrup with 4cups of water and 1 cups of sugar.
• When the sugar and water mixture starts boiling add in the halwa mixture.
• Mix well and keep on stirring.
• Add in the dryfuits.
• Let it cook for 15-20 minutes
• When the ghee starts appearing on top, this shows that the halwa is cooked well.
• Garnish it with almond flakes.
• Serve hot.

Shaam Savera (Spinach Kofta in Tomato Gravy)

A lot happened since my last post. I was blessed with a baby boy and time just with my little bundle of joy. I got so busy tat I had no time to cook and try new recipes or I never wanted to leave my baby alone. But now he is 4 months old so i am back with one of my most favorite recipes.
This is the dish which I always order whenever I go for dinner at Yellow Chili- Sanjeev Kapoor's Restaurants. Sham Savera is their signature dish. Made up of Spinach and rich tomato gravy this dish is surely the master of all the kofta recipes.

This recipe is adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's website with little variations here and there.

Shaam Savera

Ingredients:
For Koftas:
500gms Spinach Leaves
2tsp Gram Flour (Besan)
Salt to taste
2tbsp Oil
1tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
1tsp Turmeric Powder
1 Green Chilly (finely chopped)

For the filling of Kofta:
100gms Fresh Homemade Paneer
Green Cardamom Powder
Salt to taste

For the tomato Gravy:
5 Ripe Tomato (made into puree)
1tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
3tbsp Cashew Nut Paste
Salt to taste
2tbsp Butter
1 Green Chilly

Procedure:
For the Koftas:

• In a bowl add in the grated paneer. 
• Add in green cardamom powder and a pinch of salt.
• Remove the stems of the spinach leaves.
• Boil them in 4 cups of water.
• When cooled finely chop them
• Take a pan, add in 2tbsp of oil, add in cumin seeds + Ginger garlic paste + Chopped Spinach + 2tbsp of besan. Mix them well.
• Cook till all the water evaporates.
•  Add in salt + turmeric powder.
• Remove from stove Allow it to cool down
• Divide the spinach and paneer mixture into equal balls.
• Now take each spinach portion, press it on your palm, place a ball pf paneer in it.
• Gather it together, make into a ball.
• Do the same with the remaining spinach and paneer mixture.
• Roll the balls in cornstarch if required.
• Heat a kadhai for frying these balls.
• Fry till golden brown.
• Drain on absorbent paper.

For the gravy:

• Heat 2tbsp oil, add in ginger garlic paste.
• Now add in tomato puree.
• let it cook till the oil separates.
• Add in salt + red chilly powder.
• Allow it to cook.
• add in cashew paste. mix well.
• Add in butter. Mix it well.
• Allow it to cook for 2 minutes.
• Half the koftas. Place on the gravy
• Serve

Indian Desert: Falooda Recipe

I remember having this awesome delight during my stay in Mumbai when I was here for the first time. We were staying in Holiday Inn, so one night after dinner, we were craving for some Indian desert. Pondering over the menu I came across Falooda read the description and found it quiet interesting, without second thought I ordered it. And so I discovered this awesome desert which is just superb with loads of flavours.
Then I came to know that it is the famous street food of Mumbai, Again I ate this in Chowpatty. So I  just wanted to try this at home.
Its quiet a simple dish to prepare and all the ingredients are readily available.You need to make little effort in finding the sabja seeds, I odered  it online from Big basket.com. Will review it in one of my posts later.

Falooda 

Yield:
Makes one Glass

Ingredients:
1glass of Milk (Full Cream)
50gms Falooda Sev or Vermicelli
2tbsp Rose Syrup
2scoops of Kesar Pista Kulfi (you can use any variant)
1tbsp Sabja Seeds (Sweet Basil)

Procedure:

• Soak Sabja seeds for at least one hour before making the desert.
• Boil the Falloda sev or vermicelli in water till its done.
• Remove the water once it is cooked, add the cooked noodles in milk.
• Add in sugar 1tsp and rose 1tbsp rose syrup.
• Cook this for five minutes.
• Remove it from gas. Allow it to cool.
• Keep it the freezer or refrigerator untill it is chilled.

For Serving:

• Take a tall glass, add in 1tbsp of Rose syrup at the bottom of the glass.
• Now add in sabja seeds.
• Pour the milk over it.
• Add in kesar pista kulfi.
• Serve chilled.

Falooda

Palak ki Chaat (Spinach Served in Chaat Style)

Its Holi. That time of the year when everything is colourful and bright. Get together of friends and families over a tasty and chatpata meal. where you want to play with colour, have bhaang, thandai, drink and dance and eat. So the menu on the day of the Holi is  always something that you can gobble down without having to sit and eat formally. You can eat while playing with colors.
I am posting a very spicy treat, which will make an apt dish for the festival of Holi...
Down the memory lane, I used to have this chaat at the most famous Chaat Vendor in Lucknow known as King Of Chaat. Its the only place where you get this healthy and tasty Chaat.

Palak Ki Chaat

Ingredients:
200 gms Spinach Leaves
4tbsp Gram Flour (Besan)
1tbsp Cumin Powder
1tsp Cumin Seeds
1tbsp Coriander Powder
1tbsp Mango Powder (Amchur)
1tbsp Red chilly Powder
2 Green Chilies
1tsp Ginger Paste
Water to make the paste
Oil to Fry

Serving the chaat:
3tbsp Curd
1tbsp Sugar
Water
Tamarind Chutney
Mixture of assorted Spices (Red chilly Powder + Cumin Powder + Coriander Powder + Mango Powder)

Procedure:

• Separate the spinach from the stems.
• Wash them nicely.
• Cut the leaf into 2 half if the leaf too long.
• Now in a bowl, add in besan + salt + cumin powder + coriander powder + amchur + red chilly powder + cumin seeds + green chilies + ginger paste.
• Add in enough water and mix well so that no lumps are made.
• The batter should be of a flowing consistency but not very thin like you make for pakodas.
• Heat Oil in a kadahi.
• Dip each of the spinach leaf into the beasn batter and fry them till crispy.
• Drain from oil,
• Keep it on a tissue paper to remove the excess oil.
• You can serve these pakodas alongwith kectchup and green chutney.

Plating of the dish to serve as a Chaat:

• Take a plate, place the fried pakaodas on the plate.
• Now pour in curd over it.
• Add in tamarind chutney over it.
• Sprinkle the assorted masala mixture over it.
• Serve and enjoy the Holi!!!