Samosa from Kawan Paratha

Samosas are yummy snacks/appetizers to have but often not considered a regular option to prepare at home mainly because of efforts required. If you ever thought about preparing it but gave up thinking its tough then here is a relatively easy way. The trick is, use ready made frozen parathas (ex: Kawan is one of the known brand here in US) as your outer samosa layer. So all you need is prepare the stuffing. Thaw the frozen parathas for few mins, cut them into half or quarter pieces based on your intended somosa size, fill the stuffs and you are ready for baking or you can deep fry it too. 

So here is the recipe.. Hope you like the recipe.

Ingredients:
2-3 potatoes boiled
1 carrot chopped
green peas a handful
1 tblsp gingergarlic crushed
1/4cup chopped onion
2-3 green chillies chopped
fresh curry leaves 
red chilli powder 1tsp
cumin-coriander powder 1tsp
roasted fennel seeds powder a pinch
garam masala 1 tsp
turmeric powder-a pinch
amchur powder as per your taste
oil 2 tblsp
1tsp cumin-mustard seeds
salt to taste
chopped coriander leaves
Frozen khawan parathas (4-5)

method:

Microwave carrots for 2 min and peas for 1 min. Roughly mash the boiled potatoes. 
Heat oil in a pan. Splutter cumin-mustard seeds.
Add chopped onion, green chilli, curry leaves to it. Saute till onions are translucent. Add crushed ginger garlic. saute for 2-3 min till raw smell goes away. 
Add turmeric powder, fennel seeds powder, cumin-coriander seeds powder , garam masala, amchur powder and salt. 
Saute it and now add boiled potatoes, peas and carrots. Mix well. saute for 8-10 min in a low flame till masalas are well coated with veggies. sprinkle some coriander leaves and your masalas are now ready for samosa stuffing. let it cool for some time.

Preheat oven to 350 F .

Cut paratha into half, place filling at one side and fold like a pastry, use a fork or knife to press the edges to  seal.

Brush  melted butter/ milk over pastry.
Bake for 15 -18 minutes or until golden brown.  I baked them for 15 mins and broil them for 2 min for nice golden color. 

Your samosa is ready to devour with ketchup or sweet tamarind chutney.

Vada pav

Vada pav is a vegetarian fast food dish native to the Indian state of Maharashtra. A simple creation involving a deep fried potato patty with some coriander and spices..Place the hot vada in between the pav. 
Whether you are travelling to Shirdi Sai or Mumbai or any part of Maharashtra your trip would be incomplete without having a bite at this popular snacks..Its been few years we moved out of Pune but my taste bud always looks for it and when ever I get a chance I prepare for evening snacks for it ends up as dinner too :)
Follow the recipe and make your own Vada Pav

For batata vada:

2-3 large size potatoes boiled and mashed
asafoetida- a pinch
mustarad and cumin seeds- 1tsp
curry leaves a few
2 garlic pod chopped
2 green chillies chopped
few coriander leaves chopped
red chilli powder- 1tsp
turmeric powder- 1tsp
salt to taste 
oil- 1-2 tblsp


for outer cover

3/4 cup besan/ cheak pea flour
1tblsp rice flour (optional)
water as required ( Batter should be thick not runny)
salt as required
ajwain/ carum seeds 1tsp
Pinch of baking soda
1tsp red chilli powder
pinch of turmeric

Oil for deep frying the vadas

Dry garlic chutney
6-8 Pav Buns
2tblsp oil/butter for roasting the buns

Method:

Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin and mustard seeds.let it splutter.
Add curry leaves and asafoitida. 
Add chopped garlic,chili and saute for a minute. Add turmeric , red chilli powder to oil. immediately add the mashed potatoes to it. adjust salt. saute for 5 mins on low-medium flame. add chopped coriander leaves and mix properly. Let it cool.

Now make lemon size balls from the potato mixture.


Take a bowl. Mix all the ingredients given  for preparation of outer Covering. Add water slowly and mix with hand or hand beater. This batter has to be thick.

Now Frying vada:

Dip the potato balls in batter and add it to hot oil.
Fry the vadas in medium to high flame till the vadas become golden brown in colour .Now vada for vada pav is ready.
  

Heat a pan or Griddle. Cut them in half. Apply oil or butter to both side of the bun . Now roast the buns. Apply Garlic chutney in between the buns (You can also add green chutney or dates and tamarind chutney to the pav ).

Place vada pav. add chopped onions . Gently press using your palm and serve with garlic chutney and tomato ketchup.

Your vada pav is now ready to devour.

Batata Vada

Batata Vada  is a popular Indian vegetarian fast food in Maharashtra, India. It literally means potato fritters. The name "Batata" means potato . It consists of a potato mash patty coated with chick pea flour, then deep-fried and served hot with savory condiments called chutney. They can be placed within  pav or bun. You simply can not have just one... So here is the step wise recipe of Batata Vada..

For Batata vada:

2-3 large size potatoes boiled and mashed
asafoetida- a pinch
mustarad and cumin seeds- 1tsp
curry leaves a few
2 garlic pod chopped
2 green chillies chopped
few coriander leaves chopped
red chilli powder- 1tsp
turmeric powder- 1tsp
salt to taste 
oil- 1-2 tblsp


for outer cover

3/4 cup besan/ cheak pea flour
1tblsp rice flour (optional)
water as required ( Batter should be thick not runny)
salt as required
ajwain/ carum seeds 1tsp
Pinch of baking soda
1tsp red chilli powder
pinch of turmeric

Oil for deep frying the vadas

Dry garlic chutney
6-8 Pav Buns
2tblsp oil/butter for roasting the buns

Method:

Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin and mustard seeds.let it splutter.
Add curry leaves and asafoitida. 
Add chopped garlic,chili and saute for a minute. Add turmeric , red chilli powder to oil. immediately add the mashed potatoes to it. adjust salt. saute for 5 mins on low-medium flame. add chopped coriander leaves and mix properly. Let it cool.

Now make lemon size balls from the potato mixture.

Take a bowl. Mix all the ingredients given  for preparation of outer Covering. Add water slowly and mix with hand or hand beater. This batter has to be thick.

Now Frying vada:

Dip the potato balls in batter and add it to hot oil.
Fry the vadas in medium to high flame till the vadas become golden brown in colour .

Your Vada is ready..you can have it with tomato ketchup and garlic chutney or simply place in pav and enjoy.

Oats and Apple crumbs

Ingredients:

2 pound apple peeled, cored and sliced
1 tbsp. granulated sugar
2-3 brown sugar to mix with apples
½ cup brown sugar
1/2  tsp cinnamon powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup rolled oats (uncooked)
¼ cup pecans chopped
1/3rd cup all-purpose flour
4 tbsp unsalted butter (cut in to pieces)

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Coat a 8*8 inch pan with butter. Keep aside.

Take a pan boil the apples with 1 tbsp sugar for 5-10 mins. Don’t make it too soft.
Now remove from heat & strain. Keep aside for 10-15 mins. Let it cool. 

Take a bowl. Mix together butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, salt & pecans until evenly combined.
With your fingertips mix all until small clumps form & the butter is mixed well.
Keep aside. 

Now take another bowl. Combine apples, brown sugar and cinnamon, salt & toss well to coat. Place the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Now sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples & bake for 45-50 mins till the toppings are crispy & apples are tender. Let it cool properly before serving. 

Maple Oatmeal cookies (Eggless)

These cookies are easy to make, taste delicious & healthy too as no sugar is added to it. My husband’s colleague, who is a good baker, sent these cookies for me. When I took the 1st bite Mmmmm it was sooo yummy just melting in my mouth.  Then I asked for the recipe & he shared it with me. His recipe was having egg but mine was eggless & adding the nuts, will give the extra flavour to these cookies. Believe me the taste was super delicious. A must try recipe. So here u go….

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup all purpose flour 
 1 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
½ cup maple syrup
2 tblsp cup honey (optional)
2 tblsp butter (should be in room tempr.)
1/4 cup yogurt or you can use buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans & walnuts
choco chips (optional)

Preparation:

In a small bowl, beat curd. Keep aside.

Tale a medium size bowl. Add all the dry ingredients to it except nuts. Mix well.
Now in a large bowl, take butter. Beat it properly. Add honey & maple syrup & again beat it.
Now add the dry ingredients to bowl and mix together. Add the curd to it. & mix properly with your hands. It will be kind of sticky. Add the raisins, chcoco chips ,pecans and walnuts and mix.
 If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit of flour/ oats. 
Cool the mix for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto the baking sheet. 
Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden on the bottom of the cookie. U can Broil the cookies for 2-3 mins for the nice dark color
 Place cookies on rack to cool for 10-15 minutes and now Enjoy with hot hot tea.

My 2nd TRY ...