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.

Microwave Chocolate Brownie

These chocolate Brownies are rich, dark and a very tempting dessert. They have crunchy nuts inside with a mushy texture and they just melt inside your mouth. They can be served as a dessert by itself or can even be served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or with whipped cream.


You'll need..

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4th cup coco powder
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (maida)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Method

Melt butter in a pan on a low flame and cool. Add the sugar and stir well to combine.

Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and coco powder. and add it to the butter mixture. Mix them well.

Add the eggs, keep mixing until smooth.

Add the vanilla and mix well. Stir in the chopped nuts.

Put the mixture into the microwave safe 8" square bowl and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes.

(The strength of each microwave differs, so first microwave for 3 1/2 minutes and check once with a tooth pick before you continue for another minute.)

Wait for it to cool for about 15-20 minutes. cut into cubes. Enjoy!!

Chinese Fried Rice

No Chinese meal is complete without a fried rice or steamed rice. To keep the rice grains seperate, spread the cooked rice grains on a tray and allow it to cool. Rub a little oil on the cooked rice and keep aside till you require it.

For the fried rice you'll need..
4 cups Chinese rice
1/2 cup beans, cut diagonally into hin strips
1/2 cup carrots, cut into long thin strips
1/2 cup Capsicum, cut into long thin strips
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 cup peas
1/2 cup Cabbage, shredded
1 tsp soya sauce
1 tsp Vinegar
1 tbsp Tomato ketchup
a pinch of Aginomoto powder
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1 tbsp oil
salt to taste
a tsp of sugar
1 cup spring onions

Method:

First parboil all the vegetables for about 5 minutes in a hot boiling water. Drain the water and keep the vegetables aside.

Heat the oil in a pan, add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute. Then add the vegetables, Aginomato and saute for another minute.

Add the prepared rice, soya sauce, Vinegar, Ketchup, Spring onions ,sugar and salt. Mix well and saute for 2 minutes..

Garnish with some spring onions and serve hot.

Kesari bath ( Saffron Dessert)

Kesari bath is a sweet dish which is prepared during most of the festivals, funtions and weddings in south India. Kesar meaning saffron gives a nice aroma and the rich colour to the dessert. It tastes best when its hot.

Use the exact measurements given below and this dessert will taste great.
Ingredients:

Banana - 1 (Big, Fully ripe)
Milk - 750 ml
Semolina(Rava or Sooji) - 100 gm
Sugar - 200 gm
Ghee (Clarified butter) - 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Honey - 2 tbsp
Saffron - few strands
Kesar colour(optional)

Ghee (clarified butter) 2 tbsp
Cashew nuts 50 gms( halved)
Raisins 50 gms

Method:

Stir and roast the semolina in about 2tbsp of ghee till it gets golden brown. One way to find out if the semolina is done is you get a very nice aroma and the semolina starts flowing easily with the spatula. Keep aside.

Mash the banana and fry it in a non stick pan with the remaining ghee for about 5 minutes.

Add milk and saffron and bring it to boil.

Now add the roasted semolina little at a time and keep stirring so that no lumps are formed. Add sugar and stir well.

Finally add the cardamom powder, honey. Mix it well.

Close the lid and on a medium to low flame, let it cook for few minutes.

In another small pan, roast cashews and raisins in 2 tbsp of ghee till golden brown.
Spread it over the kesari bath at the end and serve.

Yummy Kesari bath is ready.

Enjoy!!

Spinach and Carrot Pulao

This is a very simple microwave recipe. I got this recipe from Bawarchi. It can be done in minutes and Very tasty too..


Ingredients
Basmati Rice 1 cup
Chopped Spinach 2 cups
Finely chopped Carrots 1 cup
Ghee 2 tbsp
Sliced Onion 1
Saunf(Fennel seeds) 1 tsp
Cardamom 2 pods
Cloves 3-4
Red Chilli powder 1/4 tsp
Green Chillies 2
Cinnamon 1 inch piece

Method:

Soak rice for 30 min in a flat dish (microwave glass).

Add the ghee and spices with the onion.Microwave high uncovered for 3 min.Add spinach and carrots. Microwave high for 2 min.

Drain the water from the rice and add to the vegetables. Add two cups ofwater, salt and red chilli powder. Mix well. Microwave high covered for 12min.

Stir once after 5 min. Stand for 2 min.Fluff it up with a fork.

Serve hot.

There can be many variations done to this recipe.. You can add your favorite veggies (peas, potato..), a little pulav masala to make it more spicy or a tomato if you like it tangy.

Enjoy!!!

Mixed Vegetable Kootu

Ingredients:
Toor dhal - 1/2 cup
Urad dhal - 1/2 tsp
Vegetables Cut into chunks (Carrot, Beans, Peas, Ridge Gourd(Heerekai), Chayote Squash (Seeme badnekai), Potato) - 2 cups
Groundnuts (soaked overnight) - 1/4 cup
Kootu powder - 3 Tbsp
Greated Dry coconut - 3 Tbsp
Coriander leaves - few
Tamarind juice - 2 Tbsp
Jaggery - 1 Tbsp
Turmaric - a pinch
Oil - 1 Tbsp
Salt to taste

Preparation:
Pressure cook Toor dhal, groundnuts, and vegetables with a pinch of turmaric. Wait for 2 whistles. Let the cooker cool.

Grind coconut, kootu powder, coriander leaves to a paste with little water.

Take oil in a pan, when hot add urad dhal. When urad dhal starts turning brown, add cooked dhal and vegetables.

Add the grinded paste, tamarind juice, jaggery and salt to taste. Let it come to boil.

Kootu is ready. Enjoy it with rice and a tsp of ghee.