Mini - Focaccia

Ingredients:
350 gm All purpose flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Packet Dry yeast
2 Tbsp Olive oil
200 ml Lukewarm water
100 gm Green or black olives, deseeded and cut into half

For the topping:
2 Big Onions, Cut into rings
2 tsp Olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

Method

First grease a backing tray and keep aside.

Sieve the flour and salt. Add the yeast and mix well with a wooden spoon. Add olive oil and water and work together to form a soft and stif dough. Work the dough with your hands for about 5 minutes.

Rest the dough in a greased bowl covered in a warm place for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours, till the dough doubles in size. Then knead the dough again for 1 - 2 minutes.

Mix half of the olives into the dough and knead again.

Divide the dough into 4 equal parts, flatten it and arrange it on the prepared tray. Lightly press(or prick) the surface of the dough using your finger all over.

Spread onion and the remaining olives on the surface. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and thyme leaves.

Cover the tray and rest in a warm place for another 30 minutes.

Bake in a preheated oven of 190 deg C For 20 - 25 minutes ,till the outer layer turns golden brown and the inner layer is completely baked and soft.

Cool completely before you serve.

Variation:
You can bake a big Focaccia loaf,using the same dough.

Batura

Batura is a soft deep fried Indian bread. This is a breakfast dish which is normally taken in North India and is originated from Punjab. It goes great with Channa masala(Chickpeas curry).

Ingredients:

2 Cups all purpose flour
1/2 Cup Fine Semolina
5 Tbsp Curd
1 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
3/4 cup Water
1 tsp Ghee
Oil for deep frying
Extra flour for dusting

Method

Mix in the flour, semolina, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix all these ingredients well.

In another small cup, take curd and add sugar to it. Mix well and add it to the flour mixture.

Add the water and ghee and knead well to form a soft dough.

Close and rest the dough in a warm place for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile keep oil in a deep pan for heating. Take the dough and make golf sized balls and roll them into circles of about 6 to 7" in diameter.

Slide the rolled dough carefully into the hot oil and just press them lightly with a spatula so that it will swell up like a ball. This will take just few seconds. Flip the poori over and cook the other side until golden brown.

Serve hot with channa masala.

Click here for the Channa Masala recipe..

Cheese and Spring onion Tarts

Ingredients

Dough:
100g Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
75 g Butter, Cut into small cubes
1-2 Tbsp Water

Filling:
1 Egg
100 g Cream
50 g Gouda Cheese, Grated
3 Spring Onions, finely chopped
Salt
Cayenne pepper

Method

For the dough, Sieve Flour and salt together. Add in the butter and mix it with your fingers to form a crumbly texture. Add water if required and knead well to form a soft dough. Cover and keep the dough in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Take the dough out of the refrigerator and place it on a clean surface dusted with little flour. Roll the dough and cut small circles of about 7 1/2" diameter. You'll get about 12 pieces. Place the circles onto a muffin tray.

For the filling, Mix in the egg, cream,cheese and finely chopped spring onions. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste and mix well with a spoon till all the items are well incorporated.

Preheat the oven to 180 Deg C.

Fill in the filling mixture into each circle in the muffin tray and bake for about 20-25 minutes.

Serve warm or cold.

Cheese Scones

I got the idea of making these cheese scones from Tastes Like Home. They looked very yummy and first thing i did was i went and got cheese. This recipe worked out great for me and i loved it. Do give a try..

Ingredients;
225 gms All Purpose Flour
3 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
50 gms Unsalted Butter
125 gms Cheddar Cheese, Grated
1 tsp Sugar
1/4 tsp chilli powder
pinch of Mustard powder
1/2 cup Spring Onions, Chopped
2 tsp Chives, Chopped (optional)
100 ml Milk
Pepper powder, to sprinkle

Method;
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add in the Butter to the flour mixture and mix well with your hands to form a crumbly texture.

Now add the cheese, mustard powder, sugar, spring onions, chives. Add milk and knead well to form a soft dough.

Now shape the dough into a circular shape with about 2 1/2 cm in thickness using your hands.

Cut the cirle as shown in the figure into 8 pieces using a knife.

Place the pieces on a baking tray lined with a baking paper. And brush some milk on top of all the pieces. Sprinkle some pepper powder on top of that.

Now place the tray in the center of the oven and bake at 220 deg C for about 15 - 20 minutes.

Lovely and yummy scones are ready to eat.. Enjoy!!

Chilli Paneer

Ingredients:

200 gms Paneer
1 Egg
1/2 cup Corn Flour
1 tsp maida
2 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
2 Onions, Chopped
4 Sliced Green Chillies
1 tsp Soya Sauce
2 tsp Vinegar
1/4 tsp Ajinomoto
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
Oil for frying
salt to taste

Method:

Cut paneer into cubes.

Mix together salt, egg, corn flour, garlic, ginger and maida. Dip paneer cubes and see that each piece has been coated well with the cornflour mixture.

Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the cornflour coated paneer pieces till golden brown in color.

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a pan and fry the onions with a pinch of salt over high heat till they turn soft. Add the green chillies and ginger garlic paste and fry for another minute.

Add salt, soya sauce, vinegar, ajinomoto, ketchup and the fried paneer cubes.Mix well.

Garnish the chilli paneer with finely cut spring onions and coriander.