Palakachi Patal Bhaji (Spinach cooked with Chana dal and peanuts maharastrian style)

I was searching to try this recipe for ages..but finally got this recipe from one of my friend. Today I tried this for lunch & it turned out soo delicious. I m going to make this again & again. This is a popular maharastrian traditional recipe with  delicious combination of palak, peanuts & channa dal....& slightly adding termarind puld, jagerry & goda masala will enhance the flavor....

Ingredients:-


1 bunch spinach (washed & chopped)
1/2 cup chana dal
1/2 cup peanuts
1 medium size onion chopped
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
2 green chillies chopped
2-3 garlic flakes finely chopped
1 tsp mustard seeds & cumin seeds
Pinche of hing/ asafoetida
1 tbsp maharastrian Goda Masala
1 tsp grated jaggery (according to your taste)
2 tblsp tamarind juice (according to your taste)
1 tbsps gram flour/ besan
2 tbsps oil
salt tot taste
1 tblsp  fresh coconut grated (optional)
2-3 dry red chillies


Method


Soak Peanuts and Chana dal in water for 1 hour.
Pressure cook spinach, Chana Dal, peanuts along with 1 tsp salt upto 2whistles.
Heat oil a pan. add red chilles, mustard/cumin seeds, after they crackle add asafoetida, chopped onion,green chillies & garlic flakes. Sauté till onion becomes translucent. Then add turmeric powder, goda masala mix well. & then add the besan , stir it till all lumps are gone.
& fry for 1 min.
 Add  the cooked spinach mixture in to it.  Now add tamarind pulp and jaggery ,salt to taste.
 Let the curry boil for another 1-2 min till it reaches to semi thick consistency . Garnish with fresh coconut. 
Serve with Hot roti/Rice/ masale bhat.




Tips: 


Instead of frying the besan u can also add water to the besan to form a paste & add it to the curry for thickness..


u can do additional seasoning to the curry also....take a pan. Add 1tblsp oil. add mustard seeds & curry leaves. Let them splutter. Then pour the tadka to the prepared gravy just before serving ...:)it will give a nice taste to the curry..:)

creamy pasta salad..

Last month I went to one of my friend’s  birthday party.. There 1st time I had one creamy pasta salad..what a pretty salad it was..It was amazing...i just loved that & immediately I decided to make that pasta salad @ my home. I love pasta and if it is creamy then i double love it..The creamy pasta, juicy tomatoes and crunchy veggies  would make for a great combo! I couldn’t wait to make it. I made the salad & it came out very well & was so delicious. My husband loved it as well & wanted to eat the whole bowl :) ...so friend here is recipe..:)

Mix pasta –500 gms  (I mixed penny pasta, tie pasta & macaroni)
1 cucumber chopped
½ cup onion chopped
½ cup sweet corn
½ cup Celery
1 tsp chilli flakes
½ cup chopped Green pepper
½ cup chopped tomatoes/ Grape tomatoes
1 cup Mayonnaise
2-3 tbsp sour cream
2tblsp  small cubed or shredded sharp cheddar cheese 
1 tsp black pepper powder
salt as per the taste
½ tsp garlic powder

Method:


Cook pasta according to package directions. Strain. Run cold water over the top until the pasta is cooled.
Take a large bowl . Whisk  mayonnaise, sour cream, cheese, chilli flakes, garlic powder & salt together. Stir cooled pasta, tomatoes & all veggies  into the dressing. Toss to combine. You can eat right away, or  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
You could also add cooked chicken, cooked shrimp, crab meat, tuna or bacon if desired.

chingudi Besara/ shrimp curry (typical Odisha style)

Prawns are delicious and healthy as well...When we were kids.. me and my brothers used to count as to how many each one would take, just to make sure no one will get more! Anyone who knows me will tell you of my love for prawns .... 

I always like odisha style cooking. ma family always love to savour prawn dishes. this recipe is great for times when you need to quickly prepare a meal that will satisfy the taste of your guests. Tasty , healthy & easy to make recipe..:)

Shrimp/Prawns (peeled and de-veined) -500Gm  

 Onion - 1 large chopped

 mustard oil 2-3 tblsp

2  tomatoes sliced

2 tsp red chilli powder

2 tsp turmeric powder
curry leaves  handful

Salt as per the taste

Mustard seeds/ cumin seeds- ½ tsp each

Chopped coriander leaves

 dry mango- 1 (ambula) optional

For masala:

1 green chilly large

2 tsp mustard

1tsp cumin seeds

1tsp Poppy seeds (posto) optional

3-4 garlic cloves

Method:

First Grind the spices which we will use for masala & make a smooth paste.

Wash Shrimp and Marinade with haldi and salt  & keep aside for 10-15 min.

Heat a Kadhai. Put oil and fry the shrimps. Keep aside.

Add a 1-2 tsp oil in a kadai . Add cumin/ mustard seeds. When they starts cracking ,add the curry leaves & onions. add turmeric powder, red chili powder .
Add the tomatos stir for some time. Add mustard paste & salt. Stir for 15-30 sec.


Add 1 cup of water. Let the curry boil for 10 min. Add the dried mango piece. Then add the fried shrimps  and boil it  for about 2-3 minutes. Garnish it with coriander leaves before serving. Serve hot with rice or roti.

Aloo Zuchini posto

Aloo posto is the most staple in our kitchen. I always love to experiment with vegetables & I picked some very beautiful zucchinis  freshly arrived on the supermarket counter. I decided to use them right away.. This time I wanted to do some changes with my alloo posto recipe soooo decided to make zucchini & alloo posto......& It turned out very nice.....:)okay friends lets start the recipe.... 

Ingredients:

2 medium potatoes, washed, peeled & cut into 1" cubes
2 zuchini ( cut into 1” cubes )
3 tbsp khus-khus / posto / poppy seeds
1 tbsp mustard oil / u can use normal veg oil also...
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 Green chillies, slit 
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp kalonji / kala jeera / nigella seeds
A pinch of sugar
Salt to taste


Soak poppy seeds for 30 minutes and grind them in a mixer with ½ cup water, 2 green chilies, and garlic cloves  till poppy seeds are soft. Ensure that the consistency of the paste is not too watery. Keep aside.
  Add  mustard oil in a skillet and heat it up. Add mustard seeds , kalonji & 1 green chili.
 Add the potatoes & zuchini, fry well on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.

When they starts browning, add posto paste in to it.

 Keep stiring for 1-2 minute. Add turmeric powder  & salt.


Add ½ cup of water to it and cover. Check after 5-7 minutes.


 Once the veggies are soft and fully cooked, let the water dry up and stir them without mashing them or breaking them. 




Sprinkle a little  mustard oil on top, adjust seasoning, bring to a final boil and remove from flame.
Serve hot with stamed rice & daal/ chapatti/ roti...

health benefits of Zuchini

High in fiber, water, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium, zucchini offers an abundance of nutrients to support your health. 

The water and fiber in this tender summer squash help you manage your weight by providing low-calorie volume.

 Its vitamins and minerals boost your immune system and promote the health of your heart, skin, lungs and eyes. 

To make the most of this vegetable's nutritional value, include its nutrient-rich skin when cooking with zucchini, the University of Illinois Extension advises.

Pav Bhaji

I was in Pune,so whenever we go outside we definitely  Eat Pav Bhaji...& now I am staying in US and keep craving for pav bhaji we get there.. .Esp my husbaund loves to eat this..so do i love to cook ..It is a spicy vegetable bhaji that you sop up with pillowy bread...I tried Bhaji topped with chopped onion, tomato, chili pwd.,Pav bhaji masala, salt all mixed together & the final touch.. squeeze lemon...and not to forget the DOLLOP of butter ! :) turned out real nice....Its a delight to see the butter melt on the bhaji, and the bhaji melt in your mouth! Absolutely Yummmy! :) I tried the Pav Bhaji recipe, last night for dinner, turned out simplyyyyy great. For the Pav, I used burger buns ( where i live in US, i cannot find 'normal pav' so i used burger buns ..), slathered with butter and toasted on the tava.....so friends here z the recipe.....

Ingredients
Pav Buns - 10-12 nos
Onions - 3 chopped
Large Tomatoes  3 nos finely chopped
kashmiri red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Pav Bhaji Masala - 2-3 tblsp
3-4 potatoes 
1 cup cauliflower, florets
Green Beans - 1/2 cup, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup green peas
2 medium size carrots, cut in to pieces
1 medium size capsicum, chopped
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp
Water
Salt as per taste
4 tbsp butter

For serving
2tblspbutter
1 large sized onion, chopped
 lemon wedges
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Method:

 Boil the potatoes, cauliflower, beans and carrots till they are soft. Drain out the excess water.

Heat the butter in a large pan, add the onion and  sauté for 2 minutes  till they turns pink. this time add  kashmiri red chilli powder.It will bring a nice color to the bhaji. Add chopped capsicum and saute for 2-3 mins. Then, add the ginger garlic paste & and sauté for 2-3 min. Add tomatoes, salt, pav bhaji masala . 

 cook for 2 to 3 minutes in medium flame  till the oil separates from masala.
Add the green peas. Then add the boiled vegetables along with  potatoes and mash thoroughly using a potato masher, Mix well & add 1 cup of water.



let it boil &  keep string for 10-15 mins till gravy becomes thick.Then  add 1 tbsp butter to the gravy & switch off the flame. Add chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice. Mixwell.




 Slice each pav into 2 horizontally. Apply a little butter to each side . 


Heat tava and cook the pav on both sides till the pieces are lightly browned.
 Serve the hot bhaji  with  chopped onions, chopped coriander  leaves & with the hot pav and lemon wedges.



Finally found pav.. from a near by  Indian store..:)
sharing some snaps with u all....

Suji Kakara (ରଜ ପାଇଁ କାକରା ପିଠା) Raja special...

Suji Kakara with bhaja pura

KAKARA a  deep fried  traditional sweet cake from Orissa and is delicious...These kakaras  are one of my favourite ...I love them ,even now also if I go to my Moms place she will prepare this dish for me .In my school days I used to have them on shiv ratri, dashahra, raja & some other festivals too . 




Finally after a long time I gathered enough courage to prepare this dish all by myself. I called  my MOM  & asked the recipe...These were on my mind for couple of weeks and today I could not resist  , as today is  1st  day of Raja .... so  tried this for the first time and it did taste good.
So friends here is the recipe..:)

Ingredients:

Suji (rawa ) -2 cups (u can add jaggery instead of sugar, believe me the taste will be doubled)
Water 4 cups
Sugar -1 ½  cup ( u can adjust sugar according to your taste)
cardamom- 5 pcs ( make powder)
Shredded fresh coconut- half a coconut
Freshly Grounded Black pepper- 1tsp
Chenna (soft paneer) -50 gms (optional)
Refined Oil- for frying
Salt - a pinch


Method:
In a frying pan, mix properly the shredded coconut, half of Sugar, black pepper powd.  and cardamom powder and then roast it for 5-7 minutes , Dont fry the coconut too much  then add the soft panner & mix well . remove from flame and  keep them aside.




Boil about  4 cups of water (double the amount of rawa))& add sugar, a pinch of salt to it. When  sugar dissolves, Add Rawa to it. Mix  them  fast to avoid any  lumps. Stir it Keep it on the flame for 2 min. Remove from flame and keep aside.


Let the dough cools down to room temperature.
Then apply ltl oil in your palms. Kneed the dough till it becomes soft.




Make small small balls from the dough & flatten them using your palms , 



Make  a deep depression in between ( make it like a cup) using your fingers  & put  the coconut stuffing. 





Then Close it form all sides .Make the above balls into flat shape  with the help of  your palms.




Heat oil in a frying pan . When hot, drop these stuffed balls one by one 




& fry in a lower flame till they  turns golden brown from each side.









 Kakara pitha is ready and serve it hot or cool anyway u like it.




 sending this to Bon Vivant #5 - Appetizers

Award time Again

Hi friends  Agaainnnnnn .....I have a good news with you all... That is about my sweet award...
I am honored to say that I have been awarded by Sorisha - Cooking at Pragyan's
Thank you so much for selecting me  . And I accept these with the greatest honor and appreciation........

I have been inspired by a lot of fellow bloggers whom i would love to share this award  given by  Pragyan .... Pls accept this as award as a token of lov 4m me....


ANU'S HEALTHY KITCHEN
Cooking Fundas, mugdha-cookingfundas.blogspot.com
My Kitchen Flavors - Bon Appetit!
Kaarasaaram
Odisha Cuisine
Oriyarasoi - Flavours from ...
Santosh's Kitchen

• The Mad Scientist's Kitchen!!
• Tickling Palates
• US Masala
• YUMMY TUMMY
• Zesty Palette
• Taste of Pearl City
• • Prats Corner
  • Priya's Versatile Recipes

There are a few rules and criteria to be followed for this award:


Create a post with the following details
Thank the person who nominated you for this Sunshine Award and link them back
Then tell something about you
Spread the joy by nominationg you fellow bloggers and friends, it is a way of appreciation
Finally convey the bloggers about the nomination


The rules of this is:


Please accept the award and post it in your blog with the name of the person who has given you the award with his or her blog link.
Share 7 completely random pieces of information about you.
Include these set of rules.
Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and let them know about the award by leaving a comment in their blog.


Some things about me:


I love to do paintings
Learning photography from my hubby dear & i just love it now....
Love to sing &  also to record in my mobile so that i can also hear my voice..:P
Learning to Bake Professionally for my hubby dear.
I love making long trips with my hubby dear.
Love to decorate my home
Love to do gardening...





Thank you so very much  Pragyan for the encouragement and appreciation. :)Pls accept  this as a token of love 4m me..