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Apr 27, 2010

Eggless Marble Cake (Microwave Version)

Ingredients:
Flour - 1 cup
Sugar (powdered) - 1/2 cup (or as per taste)
Milk - 3/4 cup
Butter - 3 tbsp.
Baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp.
Cocoa powder - 3/4 tbsp.
Drinking chocolate powder - 1 tbsp.
Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp.
Butter - 1 3/4 to 2 tbsp. (to melt chocolates)



Method:
Sieve flour and baking powder together 4 times.
Cream sugar and 3 tbsp of butter till they turn light and fluffy.
Add lukewarm milk, flour gradually and mix with a electric hand-mixer.
Combine the vanilla essence.
In another microwave bowl, add butter and melt butter on microwave high for 30 seconds.
Mix cocoa and drinking chocolate with melted butter.
Pour quarter batter in a micro container and on the top add 1 tbsp. of chocolate mix.
Again add little batter, chocolate mix and continue the process till you finish the batter and the choco mix.
Roughly mix with the help of a tooth pick.
Micro high for 5 minutes.
Let it stand in microwave for another 5 minutes (no cooking).
Remove the container and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Enjoy the cake immediately, as the cake dries fast.
Note: Butter the container before pouring the batter.

Apr 22, 2010

Carrot Halwa with Nuts (Microwave Version)



Ingredients:
Carrots - 400 gm (grated)
Fresh cream - 400 gm
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Cahewnuts and almonds - 1/4 cup (mixed)
Ground green cardamoms - 1 tsp.
Almonds and pistachios - 2 tsp. (chopped)


Method:
Take carrot, cream and sugar in a casserole. Microwave high for 5 minutes. Stir in between.
Now microwave high for 20 minutes by stirring in between every 3 to 4 minutes until liquid is almost evaporated.
Blanch almonds and chop both almonds and cashewnuts.
Add the nuts and ground cardamom. Microwave medium for 4 minutes.
Take out and spread out in a serving plate.
Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios.
Serve warm or chilled.

Sent off to Priya's "CWS-Cardamom Seeds" and "MEC-Kids Party Food" (hosted by asankhana and started by Srivalli).

Apr 20, 2010

Beans Pakodi Kura/French Beans Fritters Stir-Fry, Dondakaaya Vepudu/Ivy Gourd Fry, Gutti Dondakaaya/Stuffed Ivy Gourd (T&T- Sailu's Kitchen)

Here is the original recipe.

French Beans Fritters Stir Fry


Ingredients:
French beans - 1/4 kg (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
Oil (for deep frying)

For coating:
Bengal gram flour/ Besan - 3 tbsp.
Cornflour - 1 1/2 tbsp.
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp.
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp.
Salt (to taste)

Seasoning:
Onion (small) - 1 (chopped)
Red chilli powder - a pinch
Ginger - 1/2 tsp. (chopped)
Garlic - 3/4 tsp. (finely chopped)
Green chillies - 2 (chopped)
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Oil - 2 tsp.
Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp.

Method:
In a vessel add chopped beans and the coating ingredients. Sprinkle little water and combine well. Only a little water is required.
Heat oil for deep frying.
Slowly drop the beans coated with batter and fry them in medium or medium-low flame till they turn golden colour. Remove and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Add ginger and garlic and sauté for a minute.
Add green chillies and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.
Add the chopped onions and sauté till onions change colour.
Add chilli powder and crispy beans and stir fry on high flame.
Finally add the coriander powder and toss.
Serve as a snack or as a side dish for rasam rice or sambar rice.
My family finished this dish as a snack.

Ivy Gourd fry
Here is the original recipe.


Ingredients:
Ivy gourd/Kovakkai - 1/4 kg

For Stuffing:
Onions - 2 (finely chopped)
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 tsp.
Chilli powder - 1 tsp.
Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp.
Fennel powder - 1/4 tsp.
Peanuts - 1 1/4 tbsp. (coarsely powdered)
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp.
Salt

Seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp.
Cinnamon Stick - 1 inch
Black gram dal - 1 tbsp.
Fresh curry leaves



Method:
Trim the ends of ivy gourds and slit till three-fourth of the gourds.
Mix all stuffing ingredients in a vessel and stuff them in the ivy gourds.
Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds and allow them to crackle.
Now add the urad dal, cinnamon stick and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.
Add the stuffed ivy gourd, left over stuffing and start to cook for 4-6 minutes by stirring every 2 minutes.
Reduce the flame and cover it with a lid. Stir once in a while. This process will continue for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook for few minutes till tender. It will be little bit crunchy.
Serve as a side dish for rice.

Stuffed Ivy Gourd

Here is the original recipe.

Ingredients:
Kovakkai - 1/4 kg
Onion - 2 (medium size)
Jaggery - 1 tsp. (grated)
Tamarind - lemon size
Salt (to taste)
Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp.
Coriander leaves (to garnish)

To powder:
Dry chillies - 4
Black gram dal - 1 tbsp.
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp.
Oil - 1/2 tsp.


Seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Garlic - 4 cloves
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs

Method:
Heat the tamarind in 1/4 of warm water and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, black gram dal, red chillies and fry for 3-4 minutes. Make a paste along with onions and salt.
Trim the ends of ivy gourds and slit till three-fourth of gourds.
Stuff the paste in every ivy gourd.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and let them crackle.
Add the cumin seeds, curry leaves, garlic and sauté for a minute.
Add the stuffed ivy gourd and the remaining stuffing. Cover it with a lid.
After 4 minutes, remove the lid and turn the pieces.
Cook for another 15 minutes by stirring in between.
Now add the tamarind extract along with 1/4 cup of water.
Cook with lid till the ivy gourd becomes tender in low flame.
Add jaggery and mix.
After 4 minutes, uncover the lid and turn the pieces.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Remove from heat and serve with hot white rice.

Sent off to "Tried & Tasted-Sailu's Kitchen" event (hosted by Kitchen Chronicles and started by Zlamushka).

Apr 19, 2010

Goda Masala

Maharashtrian Goda masala is used in vegetables, lentils and meat. I adapted this masala from a cookbook.

Just now we had a hail lasting for 4 minutes only.


Ingredients:
Coriander seeds - 1 3/4 cup
Dry red chilli - 25 gm
Dagad phul/Rock flower/Kal pasi - 1 tbsp.
Kopra/dessicated coconut  - 1 cup
Cumin seeds - half of half a cup
Shah jeera/Caraway seeds - 1 1/4 tsp.
Sesame seeds - 1/2 cup
Bay leaves - 4
Black cardamoms - 7
Cloves - 8
Cinnamon- 5
Black peppercorns - 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp.
Asafoetida - 1 tsp.
Oil
Salt

Method:
Dry roast the sesame seeds till it turns light brown color.
Fry all ingredients in oil one by one or in groups of 2 or 3 spices till dark brown color without burning except turmeric and asfoetida.
I added 2 pinches of salt while frying chilies.
Powder them in batches and mix the turmeric and asafoetida.
Mix all well and store them in an air-tight container.

Dagad phul/kal pasi:

Sent off to Priya's "CWS-Cardamom Seeds" event.


Note:
I didn't add nag kesar as it wasn't available. 

Apr 18, 2010

Butter Paneer Masala



Original recipe is here.

Ingredients:
Paneer - 250 gm
Onions - 2 (big)
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp.
Tomatoes - 3 (big)
Cashew nut paste - 3 tbsp.
Kashmiri red chili powder - 1 1/2 tsp.
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp.
Kasoori methi (dry fenugreek leaves) - 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric powder (haldi) - a pinch
Salt (to taste)
Butter - 3 tbsp.
Ghee (to fry paneer)
Fresh cream - 2 tbsp.

Garam Masala to powder:
Cloves - 3
Cardamom - 3
Cinnamon - 1

Method:
Blanch the onions and puree them.
Blanch, de-skin and puree the tomatoes.
Cube the paneer and sauté them in ghee till they turn golden brown color.
Add this paneer to 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
Heat 2 tbsp. of butter in a pan and add the onion paste.
Sauté till they turn golden brown.
Add garlic-ginger paste and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add chili powder and cashew nut paste.
Add the tomato puree, kasoori methi, coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt and garam masala. Sauté for 2-4 minutes.
Add the fried paneer and simmer for 4 minutes.
Add a small cup of water and let it cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
Remove from heat and add the 1 tbsp. of butter and fresh cream.
Let the curry sit for 10 minutes and garnish coriander leaves (I didn't add)
Enjoy with roti or naan.


Sent off to "Blog Bites#2: Copycat edition" hosted by Nupur and Priya's "CWS-Cardamom Seeds" event.

Apr 17, 2010

Palakura Bobbarlu Vadalu/Spinach Black-eyed Peas Fritters (T&T-Sailu's Kitchen)


Here is the original recipe

Ingredients:
Black-eyed peas - 1 1/4 cup
Spinach - 1 cup (chopped)
Onions (big) - 1 (chopped)
Green chilies - 3 (deseeded and chopped)
Ginger - 2 inches (finely chopped)
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp.
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp. (chopped)
Salt (to taste)
Oil (for deep frying)

Method:
Soak black-eyed peas for overnight.
Drain and grind into coarse paste adding little water.
Add onion, Green chilli, ginger, cumin seeds, salt, spinach, coriander leaves and mix well.
Make a lemon sized ball and flatten it like a patty. Continue with the remaining mixture.
Heat oil and add the patties and fry till golden brown color.
Enjoy with tomato sauce or chutney.

Sent off to "Tried & Tasted-Sailu's Kitchen" event (hosted by Kitchen Chronicles and started by Zlamushka).