Friday, November 30, 2012

Pathrode Ghashi | Konkani Recipes

One thing I am yet to master from both my ammas is making good use of leftovers.I admire anyone who can turn a leftover dish into a new delicacy without turning up noses at the dining table.I mean,the maximum I do is to add leftover Dal into Sambhar or make Rasam out of it.Of course making Upma out of Idli and Bread does constitute as leftover cooking,doesn't it?

 Pathrode Ghashi
Pathrode/Pathrode is a routine dish that gets made in both homes.Usually a big batch is made depending on the availability of Taro leaves.Most of us at home like it fresh the most,steaming hot out of the Pedavan.After that comes the roasted version,thin slices are cut and roasted till crisp in tawa liberally topped with some coconut oil.If there is still some leftover,this ghashi is made.

No rocket science,this one too.A basic Coconut masala is made and slices of pathrode is added and simmered for a while.Served with rice it makes for a delicious meal.
Pathrode Ghashi
Pathrode | Phanna Pathrode | Palak Pathrode

Pathrode Ghashi | Konkani Recipes

Ingredients

Leftover Pathrode - roughly about 1-1 1/2 cups,chopped
Onions - 2,finely chopped
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

For the Masala

Grated coconut - 3/4 cup
Roasted red chillies - 3-4
Tamarind - 1 small pea sized (or you could use 1 Bimbul)

Method

Pathrode Ghashi 
Grind to a smooth paste,the ingredients mentioned for the masala and keep aside.
Pathrode Ghashi 
In a kadai add oil and saute half of the chopped onions till brown.
Mix in the rest and saute till the second batch of onions too get slightly brown.
Pathrode Ghashi 
Add the coconut masala and enough water required to make it a thickish gravy.
Mix in the chopped pathrode pieces.Check for salt and add if required.
Serve hot with rice.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Eggless Microwave Brownie in 3 Minutes | Easy Microwave Recipes

It is tough for me to stay away from baking.Fortunately,I am lucky to share my baked goodies with friends,which is the sole reason and inspiration for me to bake more and more.Imagine sitting with a huge cake and no one to share it with,of course I do get greedy at times and wished it was a possibility but sanity prevails.
3 Minute Microwave Brownie
Off late I haven't been baking much.In fact I scratched my brains and figured that it's been one whole month of not baking.Blasphemy,right?I decided I am baking something definitely today.Was not in the mood for an elaborate bake as I didn't want anything to to put me off.Almost decided on this,but was out of Nutella so decided on this super simple,quick and delicious 2 minute Brownie.

All it takes is less than 3 minutes,to assemble,mix and bake.Isn't that amazing?Dangerous even.
3 Minute Microwave Brownie

Eggless Microwave Brownie in 3 minutes
Recipe source - Art of Dessert

Ingredients

Melted Butter - 2 tbsp
Milk - 2 tbsp
Vanilla - 1/4 tsp
Sugar - 4 tbsp
Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
Flour - 2 tbsp
Chocolate chips - 2 tbsp
Salt - a pinch

Method

3 Minute Microwave Brownie 
In a bowl,mix together all the ingredients and make a batter.
3 Minute Microwave Brownie 
Pour the prepared batter into a Microwave safe dish,I used 2 ramekins.
3 Minute Microwave Brownie 
Microwave at full power for 1 minute and 30 seconds.Let it rest for another 2 minutes.
Tastes delicious on its own,but best served with a dollop of Vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce.Yumlicious:)


Monday, November 26, 2012

Bredda Upkari/Bread Upma | Leftover Bread Recipes

Bread Upma

I sleep well in the night if I know what's for breakfast the next day.Not necessarily ready to eat stuff,but things like vegetables chopped for masala dosa,freshly ground dosa batter and grated coconut for chutney.Or even ideas for breakfast.But there are days when I am left staring inside the fridge,scratching my head for breakfast ideas.On those days,I turn to bread.

We are not a bread-omelette eating family.I don't eat eggs and Ajay is not a big fan of eggs,so bread breakfast mostly means toasted bread with butter and jam along with oats or cereals.Bread usli is saved for tea time.When last time in-laws were here,ma-in-law made this delicious bread upkari which tasted very similar to upma and which was so good on its own.Perfect breakfast in 15 minutes!

Bredda Upkari / Bread Upma

Ingredients


Day old bread - 1 loaf
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Green chilly - 2,slit
Red chilly - 1,broken into two
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Onion - 1,sliced
Thick curd - 1/3 cup
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Grated coconut - 2 tbsp


Method

Chop the bread slices into small pieces.

In a thick bottomed kadai add oil and splutter mustard seeds.
Mix in the green chilly,red chilly and curry leaves.



Add in the sliced onions and saute till they turn golden brown.
Meanwhile mix together curds,sugar and salt.



Add in the grated coconut followed with the curd mix.Mix in the bread slices and cook till the bread cubes turn golden brown and crisp.

Update - Adding curd to the Bread Upma is a unique idea of my ma-in-law.She started making this upma with wheat bread.As it is,wheat bread becomes hard and chewy when it is stale,adding curd makes it soft.I follow the same method for white bread too which makes the bread soft on the inside and crisp on the outside.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Paneer & Baby Corn Jalfraizi

Many a times,my cooking is based on justification.Yes,you read right.If at times it is for justifying an impulse cookbook purchase,other times it is for making use of the impulse wholesale purchase of vegetables.Sometimes it is for making myself feel good(read Pasta)or sometimes it is for making our friends feel good,so on and so forth.

Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi

A while back,I had purchased few Tarla Dalal books saying I didn't have enough ideas for North Indian side dishes for rotis and rice.I was shocked to discover I hadn't tried out a single recipe from it and it has been at least 6 months since the purchase.Add to it the two blocks of paneer I had bought when one came free with the other.So I had to justify these two purchases,right?

Right along came this recipe.Anything paneer is a sure shot favorite of mine and no doubt,this one is too.Combining two of my favorites,Paneer and Baby corn,this tangy curry or rather dry sabzi goes well with rotis and is tasty on its own too.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi

Paneer Baby Corn Jalfraizi

Recipe source - Tarla Dalal

Ingredients

Paneer - 100 gms
Onion - 1
Capsicum - 1/2 of one medium
Baby corn - 6-8
Tomato - 1
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Red chilly powder - 3/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp
Tomato sauce - 1 tbsp
Fresh Tomato puree - 3 tbsp
Vinegar - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves for garnish

Method

Cut the paneer and vegetables into thin strips.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi 
In a kadai add oil and saute onions.Mix in the capsicum and saute for 2 minutes.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi 
Add baby corn,haldi powder,red chilly powder and coriander powder.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi 
Saute for a minute and then add the tomato,tomato sauce and tomato puree along with salt to taste.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi 
Mix well and let it come to a boil.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi 
Add the paneer and vinegar.
Paneer baby Corn Jalfraizi 
Add garam masala,sugar and coriander leaves,give a good mix.
Serve with rotis.


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Badam Chikki | Diwali Greetings

Badam Chikki
Are you all done with your Diwali preparations/celebrations yet?I am running around like a headless chicken with many tasks finished,many more yet to,with Diwali celebrations bang on in our apartment plus a friends get together tonight,phew,this Diwali has been tiring!
Badam Chikki 
As is the ritual,finished making Gajar ka Halwa and Nankhatai,so was thinking of something new for this year and came across this super simple recipe at Manjula's kitchen.I have not tried making the traditional Peanut chikki yet since I am wary of messing up the sugar syrup consistency etc,but this recipe requires none of that and is quite easy even for a beginner.
Badam Chikki
Badam Chikki | Almond Brittle
Recipe source - Manjula's Kitchen

Ingredients

Butter - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1 cup
Salt - a pinch
Badam,chopped - 1/2 cup
Sesame seeds - 1 tsp,toasted

Method

Badam Chikki 
In a thick bottomed pan add butter and mix in the sugar and salt.
Badam Chikki 
Keep stirring till the sugar starts caramelizing and changes colour into a deep golden brown.(takes anywhere between 4-6 minutes).
Mix in the chopped almonds and sesame seeds.
Badam Chikki 
Switch off flame and immediately pour into a greased plate/tray and flatten.
Let it set for 3-5 minutes and then break into bite-able pieces and serve.

Wishing a safe and Happy Diwali to every one who celebrate:)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Diwali Sweets and Snacks Recipes

Come Diwali and the top keyword searches on this blog are Nankhatai and Gajar ka Halwa.Not surprisingly,that is what I make without fail every year for Diwali too.Though a stickler for following traditions and rituals,when it came to festival food,amma had only one rule-make what you and your family loved to eat.What is the point in making something specifically for a festival if your family doesn't enjoy it.

So here are a few recipes which you might like to make for your family for Diwali this year.

Gajar ka Halwa 

Gajar ka Halwa

Coconut Laddoo


Shahi Tukda

Shahi Tukda | Chakh le India Cookbook Review


Nankhatai 

Nankhatai

Coconut Barfi 

Coconut Barfi

Dates Kheer

Dates Kheer

Chocolate Barfi


Chakkuli - Potato Murukku

Chakkuli 1

Masala Cashewnuts


Sugar Diamonds


Khadi - 5 cup Barfi


Wishing all of you a safe and Happy Diwali!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore | Restaurant Review

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore

I think it must have been at least 15 years since I've been hearing about Taj Mahal cafe-about the yummy breakfast,sweets and the special brew of coffee and lots more.Few years back,while we were in Mangalore,we were lucky to taste a few dishes from Taj Mahal as part of a breakfast fare we were served at an aunt's place.Ever since,the craving has only increased.

We had headed to Mangalore to join the family for a wedding and number one agenda on our minds was a breakfast at Taj Mahal's.We were there at the crack of dawn,not surprisingly to a packed restaurant.The door opens at 5 in the morning,we were told.

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore 
There is no written menu as such,though outside a white board with specials for the day is written,no one is interested in that.The regulars know which day what special item is served.We relied on the expertise of a cousin who accompanied us.

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore 

First item to reach our table was Teekha Roti.As the name says,it is a spiced poori,crisp on the sides and soft in the middle,accompanied by thick coconut chutney.

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore We also got a Potato bhaji,which is also known as 'Bhattali bhaaji aka poojari/pandit's bhaji' since it does not contain onion or garlic.Though it appeared initially as though we ordered too many rotis,they were gone in a few seconds flat!

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore Biscuit Roti was the one to arrive next.I don't think I've had hot biscuit rotis from the kadai to my plate anywhere else.Of course homemade ones are an exception.The filling was spicy and sweet and the roti was crisp and hot!

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore After another set of teekha roti,we ordered Buns.Yes!Buns the size of our palms,pillowy soft inside with the right hint of banana and just sweet enough to pair with chutney,it was truly a treat for our palates.

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore Tuppa Dose was next.Maybe I had huge expectations from this one,as it was one of the first dishes I'd had a while back or maybe that's the way it is supposed to be,or maybe the earlier dishes were all out of this world.Tuppa dose didn't match our expectations.It was tasty no doubt,but we wanted something more:)

Ended the breakfast with coffee specially brewed in the restaurant.Wanted to come back for more but that's for another time.

New Taj Mahal Cafe,Mangalore A breakfast for five including coffee cost us Rupees 270/-.Read more about Taj Mahal here and here.

Food - 9/10
Ambience - 7/10
Service - 9/10
Value for money - 10/10

Disclaimer-This is not a paid review.I liked the restaurant and thought of sharing my experience with my readers.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Coconut Barfi | Thenga Barfi | Easy Diwali Recipes

Every year during Diwali,I have so many things planned in advance.Clean up the house room by room,plan what sweets and savories to make and give away(also for the blog!)and make a list of things to buy etc etc.However much I plan,the last minute rush is always there.I think the festival of lights and sweets is too special and precious that whatever we do seems inadequate.

Coconut Barfi

This year is our first Diwali in our new home,so preparations have doubled.I doubt if I can keep up with posting sweet recipes here,but thought of sharing a very simple sweet which I used to make ages ago.

Coconut Barfi or Thenga Barfi is a sweet made with freshly scraped coconuts and sugar.Ideally the barfi should look pristine white with no brown spots,but some on I think the brown spots give the barfi more character,don't you think so?
Coconut Barfi

Coconut Barfi | Thenga Barfi
Recipe source

Ingredients

Grated Coconut - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 cup
Cream - 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder - a pinch
Powdered sugar - 2 tsp
Ghee - 1 tsp

Method

In a thick bottomed pan mix together coconut,
Coconut Barfi 
sugar,
Coconut Barfi
cream 
Coconut Barfi 
and
Coconut Barfi 
cardamom powder. 
Coconut Barfi
Cook on low flame for 15 minutes or till the barfi becomes slightly golden brown and comes together as a lump. 

coconut barfi
Mix in the powdered sugar. 
Coconut Barfi
Grease a pan with ghee and pour the coconut mix into it and level with the back of a spoon.
coconut barfi
Let it set for 10-15 minutes and cut into desired shapes.