Punjabi Cholle Masala..

Punjabi Cholle Masala.. I have waited for another week to start my holidays but I don't think so that's going to happen soon and now I have stopped waiting and left it to the right time.. In all these days I have learnt one lesson that what ever has to happen it will happen in it's own date and time specially what is not there in my hands... After a week I could not control myself for blogging so I am putting my holidays plan on side for time being and starting to blog again... Feeling so good to be back...

Ingredient's.

250gram Cholle (Kabuli Chana) 

2 medium onion, 2 green chilli, 2 medium tomato (finely chopped)

1tsp red chilly powder, 1tsp turmeric,

1tsp coriander powder, 1tsp garam masala

2tsp punjabi cholle masala

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 big black cardamom, 1 cinnamon stick 

1tsp cumin seeds, 1 bay leaves

Oil and salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Soak the cholle over night.

Boil cholle with cardamom, cinnamon stick, salt and 2cup of water in pressure cooker (for about 3 to 4 whistle).

After cholle is boiled, take them out with the water and set it aside. In a same pressure cooker, add oil, cumin and bay leave, when they start spluttering, add chopped onion and green chilli and fry to golden brown.

Then add all the masala powder and ginger garlic paste and fry for another 2 to 3minutes. Add the chopped tomatos and cook till the tomatoes are fully smash and oil starts floating on top.

Now add boiled cholle along with the water and adjust the seasoning. Cover the lid and cook for another 3 whistle (1 in high and 2 in low).

Garnish with chopped Coriander

Serve hot with Poori, Roti or Jeera Rice.

Mango Pickle/ Aam Ka Achar.. (Home-Made)

Mango Pickle.. This was my first attempt to make mango pickle at home and it turn out to be very delicious and perfect. It is not like I don't know to make pickles I use to help my mother alot to make pickles every time and she makes the best pickles in the world. It has been a 4 years I dint help her and I also use to buy pickles from market or get it from my mom's place, that's how I never got a chance to make at home. I made this in very small batch to see how it will come but I must say it taste very similar..

Ingredient's.

2 large raw mango

1tsp cumin seeds

1/4tsp fenugreek seeds

1/4tsp black pepper corn

1/4tsp coriander seeds

5 dry red chilli

10 curry leafs

2tsp red chilli powder

1/2tsp yellow mustard seeds

10 garlic pods (crushed)

6tbsp Oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Cut the raw mango in to medium chunks and keep it aside.

Dry roast the cumin, fenugreek, black pepper, coriander seeds, curry leafs and dry red chilli and grind to a coarse powder.

Heat oil in a deep frying pan, add garlic, mustard, and red chilli powder and fry on a low flame for 1 minute.

Then add the grounded powder and fry for another 1 to 2 minutes, Switch off the flame and allow the pickle masala to cool.

Then add salt and raw mango and give a good mix and transfer it to jar and keep in the sun light every day..

Pickle is ready. You can start eating this pickle after 2 to 3 days.

Fried Egg And Potato Curry.. (Aaloo Aur Anday Ki Sabji)

Fried Egg And Potato Curry.. This is a authentic North Indian curry, which goes very well with Plain or Jeera Rice. This is very often cooked in my In-Laws place in a little different way, even I follow the same steps but with my own touch and little variation... I prefer this curry as rich and spicy but this days I'm not eating that spicy food so I cooked with less oil and less spicy. I have already posts of Egg curry, which is almost a same procedure, you can change or add ingredients according to your taste...

Ingredient's.

4 hard boiled eggs

2 potato (cut into big chunks)

2 medium size onion, 2 green chilly, 2 medium size tomato (finely chopped)

1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder, 1tsp red chilly powder, 1tsp garam masala

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp cumin seeds

1 green cardamom, 1 clove, 1 cinnamon stick

2 bay leaves

2 dry red chillies

3tbsp oil + 2tbsp for frying eggs and potato

Salt as per taste.

Cooking Method

In a non-stick pan, add 2tbsp oil and fry the eggs and potato to golden brown and keep it aside.

In a pressure cooker add oil, cumin, bay leaves, dry red chillies, cardamom, cloves and cinnemon, when they splutter, add onion and chilly fry till it become’s golden brown, add all the masala powder and ½ cup water fry till it starts leaving oil, add tomato and cook till all the masala has come together, that will take about 5 to 6 minutes.

Then add fried eggs, potato, salt and mix. Add another 2cup of water, cover the lid and cook for 3 whistle (1 in high flame and 2 in low flame).

Garnish with coriander leafs

Serve with Ghee Rice, Plain Rice or Jeera Rice and Roti.

Salli Murgh. (Parsi Chicken Curry)

Salli Murgh. Spicy Parsi Chicken Curry. This is basically yoghurt base chicken curry and served with fine fried potatoes straws, but this time I have tried with little thicker fried potatoes and saved the thin potato straws recipe for the later... I got this recipe from Vahchef on youtube and it was so easy to cook and the way he was eating my mouth started watering. Without wasting a minutes I cooked this curry and my hubby also loved it. When my hubby finishes his full potion of non-veg dish what I have served him, that means it is worth trying new dishes in non-veg... It is always a good idea to serve different dishes to our loved ones...

Ingredient's.

1/2kg chicken (cut into medium pieces)

1 large onion (finely chopped)

2 whole green chillies

1 cup yoghurt

1tsp red chilly powder, 1/2tsp turmeric

1tsp coriander powder, 1tsp chicken masala

1tsp ginger garlic paste

1/4tsp cumin seeds

1 green cardamom, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick

2 bay leaves

Salt to taste

3tbsp oil.

Ingredient's for Potato Straws.

1 large Potato (peel and cut into thin or thick straws)

Oil for deep frying

Pinch of salt.

Cooking Method.

In a deep frying pan add the oil and deep fry the potato to lite golden brown and set it aside for later use.

In the same frying pan leave 3tbsp of oil and take the rest. When the oil is hot, add cumin, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon, when they start crackling, add chopped onion, whole green chilli and fry to golden brown, add ginger garlic paste, chicken and salt, fry the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes.

In a small mixing bowl add yoghurt, red chilli, turmeric, coriander and chicken masala and blend the nicely. then add into the chicken and give a good mix and cook on a medium flame for another 20 to 25 minutes.

Take out in a serving bowl and garnish with fried potatoes straws.

Serve hot with Roti, Nan or even with Rice.

Medu Vada/ Urad Dal Vada/ Lentil Fritters.

Medu Vada is a urad dal based fried snack, a delightful dish from the South Indian cuisine... When I was in India this use to be our breakfast on every Saturday, because there were so many South Indian restaurant near our house and I use to never feel like cooking on weekends, all you have do just get up from the bed go to have hot hot breakfast and then do what ever you want whole day.. After coming to UK my life has changed completely. On weekends we are stuck with bread omelette or cornflakes, if we want to eat something else then cook and eat. I really miss India and I keep asking my husband when are we going back? and he reply's - very soon. I have no idea when that very soon will come :)

Ingredient's.

100 gram urad dal

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2tsp cumin seeds

1/2tsp black pepper (coarsely ground)

1tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Pinch of Hing 

Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying.

Cooking Method.

Wash urad dal several times until the water appears clear and soak it over night or atleast 5 to 6 hours.

Drain the water and blend dal to coarsely texture. Just using enough water as needed to blend. 

Then add onion, cumin, black pepper, coriander, hing and salt. Whip dal batter using a spoon in a circular motion for about two to three minutes until batter become light and fluffy.

In a deep frying pan add oil and allow oil to become hot on medium flame. To check if oil is ready put a little batter into the oil, oil will sizzle and batter should start expending upwards slowly without changing color.

Then place a plastic sheet on to a flat surface and apply little water, then put 2tbsp batter on to plastic sheet and slowly flatten the vada and make a small hole in a centre. Take the plastic sheet slowly up and leave the vada into hot oil for frying. Fry until they are golden brown..

Serve hot with Coconut Chutney and Sambar.

Black-Eyed Peas And Potato Curry.. (Pressure Cooker Version)

Black-Eyed Peas And Potato Curry.. A wonderful dish to go with Rice, Roti, Bread or it can even make a delicious chat, just topped with some chopped onion, green chilli and coriander leaves and from curry to chat is ready in no time.. This curry has been the most favourite for me, I don't know from when, and I never want to replace this curry with any other dish in my favourite list. When ever I cook this I always cook in a bulk, so that I can eat 2 to 3 times and the next day the taste becomes even more better.. In-front of this curry if you give me chicken, mutton or fish, but I will choose this curry only... Serve with almost anything of your choice it will taste great..

Ingredient's.

1+1/2 cup black-eyed peas (Lubia)

3 potato (cut into chunks) 

2 onion, 3 tomato, 3 green chillies (finely chopped)

2tsp red chilly powder, 1/2tsp turmeric 

1tsp garam masala, 1tsp coriander powder

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp cumin seeds 

Oil and Salt as per taste

Copped coriander leafs for garnishing.

Cooking Method 

Soak the black-eyed peas over night.

In a pressure cooker, add oil, when it is hot add cumin seeds, when they splutter, add onion, and green chillies fry it to golden brown. Then add all the masala powder and ginger garlic paste and fry for 5 to 6 minutes, then add tomato and fry till it starts leaving oil.

Now add soaked black-eyed peas, potato and salt, mix them all together nicely and add 2cups of water, close the lid and cook for 4 to 5 whistle (1 in high flame and rest in low flame).

Garnish with chopped coriander leafs and Serve hot with Rice, Roti or Bread.

Dahi Vada.. (Curd And Lentil Vada With Tangy Tamarind Chutney)

Dahi Vadas are lentil dumplings topped with a spicy savory yogurt and tamarind chutney. These are great as a side dish on any occasion or served as a chat too.. This dahi vada was made by Nupur my friend on Diwali day in a different way and with different ingredients... I use moong dal to make dahi vade but she made it with urad dal, exactly the way we cook medu vada. It was very good and I'm happy to know one more recipe of dahi vada..

To be honest I'm not a great fan of dahi vada, because of that only I use to avoid cooking.. But this time it was totally opposite because of the tamarind chutney, I ate 2 dahi vada with lots of tangy tamarind chutney and chat masala.. It was awesome and I have a plan to cook it again in some time... Thanks to my friend Nupur for a such a yummy dahi vada recipe..

Ingredients For Vadas.

1 cup urad dal

Oil for deep frying.

Ingredient's For Curd.

1 1/2 cup yogurt

3tbsp milk

1tsp salt

1/2tsp roasted cumin powder.

Ingredient's For Tamarind Chutney.

1cup tamarind pulp

2tbsp sugar

3/4 cup jaggery

1/4tsp red chilly powder

1/2tsp roasted cumin powder

Pinch of salt.

Cooking Method For Tamarind Chutney.

In a heavy bottom pan, add all the ingredinets of tamarind chuteny and cook on a low flame, till tamarind pulp becomes semi thick and dark in color.. That will take about 30 minutes. (keep stirring in between to avoid sticking at the bottom) When it is done take out in a bowl and allow it to cool.

Cooking Method For Vada.

Wash urad dal several times until the water appears clear and soak it over night.

Drain the water and blend dal to very creamy texture. Just using enough water as needed to blend. 

Whip dal batter using a spoon in a circular motion for about two to three minutes until batter become light and fluffy. If needed add few spoons of water.

In a deep frying pan add oil and allow oil to become hot on medium flame. To check if oil is ready put a little batter into the oil, oil will sizzle and batter should start expending upwards slowly without changing color.

Then place a plastic sheet on to a flat surface and apply little water, then put 2tbsp batter on to plastic sheet and slowly flatten the vada and make a small hole in a centre. Take the plastic sheet slowly up and leave the vada into hot oil for frying. Fry until they are golden brown and fry the vadas in small batches

After you have made all of the vadas, place the vadas in luke warm water and soak for about 20 minutes.

Next squeeze the vadas gently to take out the water, be careful not to break the vadas.

To make Yogurt topping and Garnish.

In a large mixing bowl take yogurt, milk and mix until very smooth. add salt and cumin powder give a good mix.

Then soak all the vadas in the yogurt for at least twenty minutes, giving the vadas time to absorb the yogurt.

Slowly pick up each vada and transfer into a serving dish, pouring a few spoons of extra yogurt all over the vadas.

Just before serving, sprinkle red chilly powder and chat masala finish off with a drizzle of tamarind chutney.

Cluster Beans And Potato Stirfry (Guwar Aaloo Ki Sabji)

Cluster Beans And Potato Stirfry!! I have seen many people who don't like to eat cluster beans because of it is bitter taste, but some how I really like this beans and I make sure I cook them atleast 2 to 3 times a month. My mom cooks in a many different ways even she adds dry baby prawns in it and it taste awesome. But I cook with simple ingredients and in a very easy way. I'm eagerly looking for dry baby prawns here in market, as soon as I find it cluster beans would be the first dish to cook.. This recipe is specially for those people who don't like to eat cluster beans, just try out this dish once and I'm sure you'll all start liking it...

Ingredient's.

250gm cluster beans (cut into small pieces)

2 medium potato (cut into small pieces)

1/4tsp cumin

1/2tsp red chilly powder, 1/4tsp turmeric

1/2tsp coriander powder, 1/4tsp garam masala

1tsp ginger garlic paste

2tbsp Oil

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves for garnishing.

Cooking Method.

In a non-stick pan, add oil, when oil is hot, add cumin, when they crackle, add all the dry masala powder along with ginger garlic paste and fry for 4 to 5 sec. Then add the cluster beans, potato and salt, given a nice mix and clover the lid and cook for 10 to 15 minutes on low flame.(keep stirring in between)

Then open the lid and increase the flame and stirfry for another 3 to 4 minutes.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with Roti or as a Side Dish with Dal and Rice.

Channa Ki Kadhi.. (Potato & Black Chickpeas Cooked In Tangy Tamarind Curry)

Channa Ki Kadhi... Chickpeas are a source of zinc, foliate and protein. Chickpeas are low in fat and most of this is polyunsaturated. Nutrient profile of desi channa (the smaller variety) is different, especially the fibre content which is much higher than the light coloured variety. One hundred grams of mature boiled chickpeas contains 164 calories, 2.6 grams of fat (of which only 0.27 grams is saturated), 7.6 grams of dietary fibre and 8.9 grams of protein. Chickpeas also provide dietary phosphorus (168 mg/100 g), which is higher than the amount found in a 100-gram serving of whole milk. Source from Wikipedia...

Ingredient's.

250gm black channa

2 medium potato, 2 brinjal (cut into big chunks)

1/2cup coconut paste

1/4tsp cumin seeds

1 medium onion, 2 tomato, hand ful of coriander leaves

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander

1tbsp ginger garlic

2tbsp tamarind paste

Oil and Salt to taste.

For Tempering.

10 to 15 curry leaves

1/4tsp mustard seeds

1tsp Oil.

Cooking Method.

Soak the chickpeas (channa) over night. and boil them using pressure cooker for 10 to 15 minutes on low flame..

Grind the onion, coriander leafs and cumin to a smooth paste, then grind the tomato's to a smooth paste separately. In a pressure cooker add oil, when it is hot, add the onion and coriander paste, fry for 2 minutes, then add all the masala powder, ginger garlic paste, tamarind paste and coconut paste, fry for another 2 to 3 minutes, then add the tomato paste and fry till the oil separates, add the boiled channa, potato and salt, mix it well. Close the lid and cook for 2 whistle. In a mean time prepare the tempering by adding all the tempering ingredients .

Then open the lid and add the brijal, tempering and 2 to 3 cup of water and mix it well and add salt if needed and cook for another 1 whistle in medium flame.

Serve hot with Rice, Roti or even with Ragi Balls.

Tomato And Potato Curry. (Aaloo Tamatar Ki Sabji)

Tomato & Potato curry.. This is a authentic North Indian curry which is made in almost every occasions. You don't need any fancy ingredients or any kind of planning to cook this curry, you just need is potato, tomato and few other ingredients and you will be ready with a delicious curry to go with Poori, Rice or Roti...

I had learn this recipe from my co-sister because my H loves it and now I'm also a big fan of this curry. I always like to add few curry leaves in this while cooking because it gives a very nice aroma and little bit of different taste too.. You can even add green peas and don't change the ingredients because it will spoil the taste... So if you don't have a idea what to cook for lunch or dinner, go ahead and cook this Aaloo Tamatar Ki Sabji...

Ingredient's.

2 large boiled potato (peeled and cut into big chunks)

2 large tomato, 1 onion, 2 green chilli (finely chopped)

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder

Few curry leaves (optional)

1tsp ginger garlic paste

1/4tsp cumin, 1/4tsp mustard seeds

2cups water

2tbsp Oil

Salt to taste

Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing.

Cooking Method.

In a deep frying pan, add oil, when the oil is hot, add cumin, mustards seeds and curry leaves, when they splutter, add chopped onion and green chilli, fry to golden brown

Then add red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder and ginger garlic paste, fry for 1 to 2 minutes, add chopped tomato and fry till the oil starts separating from the masala.

Now add potato and salt, give a nice mix and add water.

Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes on a medium to low flame.

Garnish with coriander leaves and Serve hot with Rice, Roti or even Poori..

Masoor Dal Makhni.. (Whole Red Lentil Curry)

Masoor Dal Makhni... After I started cooking this whole masoor dal makhni I totally forgot about the dal makhni... I really feel this dal is more tastier and easier to cook. You don't need to add cream or milk it taste delicious even without any of the heavy ingredient's and gives the same taste as Dal Makhni.. I have tryded even with cream, but I like with out cream or milk.. You can change or add ingredients according to your taste.. Serve with Jeera Rice and Naan and take my words you'll also forget about the other dals...

Ingredient's

1 cup whole masoor dal

1/4 cup rajma

1 medium onion, 1 large tomato, 2 green chillies

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder, 1tsp garam masala

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp cumin

Hand full of chopped coriander leaves

1/4 cup cream or milk (optional)

Butter 2tbsp

Oil 1tbsp

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Soak the rajma for 3 to 4 hours, then in a pressure cook add whole masoor dal, rajma, salt and 2 cups of water and boil for 4 to 5 whistle on a low flame. After boiled take out from the pressure cooker and set it aside.

In the same pressure cooker, add butter and oil, when hot add cumin, onion and green chillies, fry to golden brown, then add all the masala powder, ginger garlic paste and tomato, fry all the masala till the oil start separating and keep smashing the tomato in between.

Now add the boiled dal and little water if required and give a nice mix, adjust the salt and close the pressure cooker lid and cook for another 2 whistle on a low flame.. Allow the pressure to go completely before opening the pressure cooker. Then mix in the coriander leaves and (cream or milk) give a quick mix and again close the pressure cooker.. Whole Masoor Dal Makhni is ready to serve.

Serve hot with Jeera Rice or Naan..