KADAI VEG MASALA POWDER

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Coriander seeds	2 tbsp
Cumin seeds	2 tsp
Dry red chili	2
Black peppercorn	6-8
Cinnamon stick	2-inch stick
Cloves	4-6
Cardamom	2
Cashew nuts	6-8
Kasuri methi	2 tsp

 

METHOD:

In a pan, dry roast coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chili, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom, cashew nuts and kasuri methi until fragrant.

Keep aside and cool down. Coarsely grind the spices in blender and kadai veg masala is ready.

KADAI MASALA POWDER

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Coriander seeds	2 tbsp
Cumin seeds	2 tsp
Dry red chili	2
Black peppercorn	6-8
Cinnamon stick	2 – inch stick
Cloves	4-6

 

METHOD:

In a pan, dry roast coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chili, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, cloves until fragrant.

Keep aside and cool down. Coarsely grind the spices in blender and kadai masala is ready.

Use this masala powder as required for Kadai Paneer or Dahiwale Gobi.

BROCCOLI PESTO SPAGHETTI

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Spaghetti / Pasta	250 gm
Broccoli	1 large head
Coriander leaves	1 cup
Pudina/Mint leaves	10-12
Green chili	1-2
Lemon juice	1 tbsp
Almonds	10-12
Oil	2 tbsp
Salt	As needed
Black pepper powder	1 tsp
Italian seasoning	1 tsp

 

METHOD:

Cook the spaghetti or pasta as per package instructions. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water before draining.

Also, dry roast the almonds on low med flame until the skin are lightly browned. Once done, keep aside to cool down the roasted almonds.

Cut the broccoli into florets. Wash and blanch the broccoli for 3-4 mins. Reserve 3/4^th of the blanched broccoli. Sauté the remaining 1/4^th broccoli with ½ tbsp oil, salt, ½ tsp black pepper powder and Italian seasoning.

In a food processor, add roasted almonds, the reserved 3/4^th blanched broccoli, coriander leaves, mint leaves, green chili, salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Pulse and grind everything into a smooth paste.

In between stop the processor and scrap the sides. Also add 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Once the everything has been ground into semi-fine paste.

In a wide pan, heat ½ tbsp oil and add spaghetti. Mix in the broccoli pesto and roasted broccoli florets well with the spaghetti. Add 2-3 tbsp of reserved pasta water if needed.

Serve the warm broccoli pesto spaghetti with few almond slices on top and enjoy!

MIRCHI KA ACHAAR

INGREDIENTS:

 

Green chili	10-15 - chopped
Mustard seeds	1 tsp
Cumin seeds	¼ tsp
Fennel seeds	1 tsp
Methi seeds	¼ tsp
Oil	1.5 tbsp
Asafetida	¼ tsp
Garam masala powder	¼ tsp
Vinegar	1/2 tsp -3/4 tsp
Salt	As needed
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp

 

METHOD:

Dry roast mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds and methi seeds on low flame for 3-4 mins.  Remove from heat and let it cool down. Grind the spices into fine powder and keep aside the achaar masala powder.

In a kadai, heat 1.5 tbsp of oil on med flame. Add asafetida and chopped chilies. Sautee for 4-5 mins until the chilies soften.

Add salt, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ¼ tsp garam masala powder, and achaar masala powder. Mix well and saute for another min.

Remove from heat and add ½ tsp vinegar. Mix well and check for seasonings. Add more salt or vinegar to balance the spiciness of chilies.

Transfer the mirchi achaar into a clean glass container and store in refrigerator. It stays fresh for 7-10 days.

Enjoy the achaar with parathas. 

 

DHANIYA DAHI CHUTNEY

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Coriander leaves	1 cup tightly packed
Green chilies	1-2
Salt	As per taste
Curd	3-4 tbsp
Pudina leaves	Few leaves
Roasted cumin powder	¼ tsp

 

METHOD:

In a blender, add the chopped coriander leaves, green chilies, salt and pudina leaves, roasted cumin powder. Blend into a smooth paste.

In a bowl, add 3-4 tbsp of yoghurt and ground coriander paste. Whisk and mix everything well.

Serve the Dhaniya Dahi Chutney with Handvo or Cheelas. 

HANDVO

INGREDIENTS:

 

Rice	1 cup
Chana dal	½ cup
Toor dal	¼ cup
Urad dal	2 tbsp
Yoghurt	½ cup
Lauki	½ cup grated
Carrot	½ cup grated
Coriander leaves	2 tbsp chopped
Salt	To taste
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Red chili powder	¼ tsp
Sugar	1 tsp
Ginger paste	1 tsp
Green chili	1 – finely chopped
Baking soda	¼ - ½ tsp
Oil	1 tbsp
Curry leaves	1 sprig
Mustard seeds	1 tsp
Cumin seeds	1 tsp
Sesame seeds	1 tsp
Asafetida	A pinch

 

METHOD:

In a bowl, add 1 cup of rice, ½ cup chana dal, ¼ cup toor dal and 2 tbsp urad dal. Wash the rice and dals thoroughly thrice. Soak them for 3-4 hours.

Drain the water out from the soaked rice and dal. Grind the rice and dal with ½ cup yoghurt into a smooth thick batter. Ferment this batter for 6-8 hours or overnight.

After fermentation, add the grated lauki, carrot, coriander leaves, salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, sugar, ginger paste and chopped green chili. Mix everything well.

Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan/kadai. Add curry leaves, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, sesame seeds and a pinch of asafetida. Let the seeds splutter.

Meanwhile, divide the batter into two equal parts. Add ¼ tsp of baking soda to one part and mix well.

As the seeds splutter, add the batter with the baking soda on to the kadai/ pan in a thick layer.

Cook the batter on low-medium heat for 10-15 mins. Keep the kadai covered. After 15 minutes, the bottom of the handvo would be cooked and turned crisp.

Carefully flip the handvo with a spatula and cook the other side on low-med heat for 10 more minutes.

Check whether the handvo has cooked properly by inserting a toothpick in middle. If it comes out clean, the handvo has cooked fully. Remove the handvo from pan to a plate.

Add baking soda to the remaining batter. Also prepare the tadka with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, curry leaf and asafetida in kadai and continue cooking the remaining batter in the same way.

Cut the cooked handvo into triangles and serve with coriander chutney or ketchup.

 

 

PANEER METHI MAKHANI

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Paneer	150 gm – cubed
Methi leaves	½ -3/4 cup chopped
Onion	1 medium chopped
Tomato	2 medium - pureed
Ginger paste	1 tsp
Salt	As needed
Red chili powder	½ tsp
Coriander powder	1 tsp
Garam masala	½ tsp
Milk	¼ cup
Evaporated milk / Cream	2-3 tbsp
Sugar	¼ tsp
Oil	1 tbsp

 

METHOD:

In a pan, heat oil and add ginger paste and saute till raw smell goes. Add chopped onions and saute for few minutes.

When the onions turn translucent, add the tomato puree. Sauté until the raw smell of tomato goes and oil start to appear from sides.

Add red chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder. Mix well and cook for 1-2 mins.

Add chopped methi leaves and salt. Mix well and cook for 3-4 mins on low heat. Add ¼ cup of milk and bring it to a boil.

Add paneer cubes and mix well. Adjust the consistency by adding ¼ cup of lukewarm water if needed.  Cook for 2-3 mins.

Add the sugar and 2-3 tbsp evaporated milk/cream. Mix well and remove from heat.

Serve the paneer methi makhana with paratha/rotis.

WHOLE LENTIL SOUP

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Whole masoor dal	1 cup
Onion	1 small – chopped
Tomato	3 large -pureed
Potato	½ cup – diced
Carrot	½ cup – diced
Broccoli	½ cup florets
Oil	1 tbsp
Salt	As needed
Black pepper powder	½ tsp
Red chili powder	¼ tsp
Coriander powder	½ tsp
Cumin powder	¼ tsp
Ginger paste	1 tsp
Lemon juice	½ tbsp
Bay leaf	1-2
Water /Vegetable stock	2.5 cups

 

METHOD:

Wash the lentils thoroughly and keep aside. Chop the vegetables and puree the tomatoes. Blanch the broccoli florets and keep aside.

In a pressure cooker, heat 1 tbsp of oil and add bay leaf and ginger paste. Add chopped onions, potatoes, and carrots. Sauté for 3-4 mins.

Add pureed tomato, salt, red chili powder, coriander powder and cumin powder. Let the puree come to boil.

Add the washed lentils and 2.5 cups of water. Cover and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles until the lentils and veggies are cooked.

After the pressure releases, open the pressure cooker and mix the soup well. Add the blanched broccoli florets and black pepper powder.

Adjust the consistency of soup by adding ¼ cup of warm water if required. Let the soup come to a boil and remove from heat. 

Discard the bay leaves and add ½ tbsp of lemon juice and mix well.

Serve the soup hot along with french bread slice or corn on cob and Enjoy!!!

 

AALOO MATAR PANEER

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

Potato	1 cup - diced
Green peas	½ cup
Paneer	1 cup - cubed
Onion	1 medium - chopped
Tomato	2 large - chopped
Ginger	1-inch piece
Green chili	1
Oil	1 tbsp
Cumin seeds	1 tsp
Salt	As needed
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Red chili powder	½ tsp
Coriander powder	1 tsp
Sugar	¼ tsp
Garam masala powder	½ tsp
Kasuri methi	½ tsp
Coriander leaves	2 tbsp
Heavy Cream	2 tbsp

 

METHOD:

In a pan, heat ½ tbsp of oil and add chopped onion, ginger and green chili. Sauté until onions turn translucent and then add chopped tomatoes.

Sauté till tomatoes are mushy and then transfer to a plate to cool down the onion-tomato mixture. Blend the cooled mixture into a smooth paste.

In the same pan, add the remaining ½ tbsp of oil and add cumin seeds. After cumin seeds splutter, add the ground paste and saute for 2-3 mins.

Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder. Continue sautéing till oil starts to ooze from sides.

Add the chopped potatoes, green peas and 1.5 cup of water. Cover and cook on medium flame until the potatoes are cooked. Check in between and add more water if needed.

Add the cubed paneer, sugar, garam masala and crushed kasuri methi Mix everything well and cook for 1-2 mins.

Add the heavy cream and chopped coriander leaves. Mix well and remove from heat.

Serve the aloo matar paneer masala hot and enjoy with phulkas, rotis or parathas.