Vada Pav.. (Mumbai Street Food)

Vada Pav.. I have eaten this many times in Goli Vada Pav in bangalore, in starting I use to feel good and use to have 2 to 3 times in a week, then the masala what they use started giving me problem and I totally stopped eating Vada Pav. I always wanted to try at home, but use to feel why to do some much of work when you can get it from opposite of the road and stop myself from cooking.. But here there is no option what ever we want to eat I have to cook at home only and I really feel this is a very good opportunity for me to try out many recipes which I have been waiting to try from ages..

This was my second attempt to cook Vada Pav at home and it turn out to be the tastiest Vada Pav we have ever had and my H loved it and he ate 2 Vada Pav along with 2 green chilli. where he use to always by 1 and eat only half.. When ever he eats happily and more I feel my this much of effort is worth.. Enjoy the simple and tasty recipe of Vada Pav and make your family members happy..

Ingredient's For Vada.

3 medium boiled potatoes (peeled and mashed)

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 green chillies, 1 medium onion (finelychopped)

1/4 tsp tumeric powder

1/4 tsp mustard seeds

6-7 curry leaves

2tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Ingredient's For Batter of Vada

1 1/2cups gram flour (besan)

Oil for deep frying

1 pinch of red chilli powder, 1 pinch of turmeric

1/4tsp ginger garlic paste

1 pinch of cooking soda (optional)

Salt to taste

6 Pav buns (square buns).

Ingredient's For Spicy Red Dry Chutney.

1tbsp red chilli powder

1/4 tsp cumin

8 curry leaves

1tbsp grated coconut

1/4 cup peanuts, 3tbsp sesame seeds

5 garlic cloves, 1 green chilli (finely chopped)

1 pinch of asafoetida

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Step-1. First dry roast all the ingredients of spicy red dry chutney. and grind them into powder (do not add any water) and set it aside.

Step-2. Then in a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients of batter for vada and mix them nicely and make a thick batter like we make for bajji.. set it aside.

Step-3. Now in a deep frying pan, add 2tbsp oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves, when they start spluttering, add onion and green chilli and fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add ginger garlic paste, turmeric, potato and salt, fry for another 3 to 4 minutes. Take out the mixture in a separate plate and allow the mixture to cool. when the potato mixtures is cooled, make 6 to 7 large lemon size balls and keep it aside.

In the same frying pan add oil for deep frying the vada's. When the oil is hot, dip one potato ball at a time into the gram flour batter to coat well and then deep fry till golden. Drain on paper towels.

Take one Pav bun, slit in half (not completely - leave one edge joined) and put a spoonful spicy red chutney on it. Place a potato ball on the bun and fold over, pressing down gently.

Serve while the Vada is still hot with fried green chilli..

Mutton And Potato Curry (Oil-Less)

Mutton and Potato Curry (Oil-Less). To cook this mutton curry I have not used a single drop of oil. It is cooked in it's own fat. When ever we think of non-veg dishes we always think spicy and rich. But I'm assuring you after cooking this curry you'll forget the other curries.. The most important ingredients in this is the meat, if you have not got right meat then the curry will not be tasty. You just need to asked the butcher to give the meat which has fat and bones...

This is a very good curry to cook for the people who don't like to eat oily and spicy.. I cook this mutton curry when I'm on diet and still want to eat mutton and this curry gets cooked in no time. But this time I have added more green chillies because I wanted to eat something spicy but not oily.. You can adjust the ingredients according to your taste..

Ingredient's

1/2kg mutton

2 large potato, cut into big chunks (optional)

1cup chopped coriander

8 green chillies

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1tsp black peppercorn

15 curry leafs

1 medium tomato

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method

Soak and wash the mutton for 15 minutes.

Grind all the above ingredients (except potato) to a smooth paste and set it aside.

In a pressure cooker add the mutton and cook till the water is evaporated and keep stirring in between to avoid sticking at the bottom of the cooker.

Now add the grounded masala, potato and salt, give a nice mix and add 1cup water and cook till the meat is tender. That will take about 3 to 4 whistle. Depending upon the meat.. Then allow the pressure to go before opening the pressure cooker.

Serve hot with Rice or Roti.

Banana & Dry Fruits Bread...

Banana & Dry Fruits Bread... Banana is a fruit which I can never say no and can eat as many as I can in a day. Most of the time I add banana in my baking and it always gives me best results. First I was thinking will just bake banana bread, then I ended up adding dry fruits because it is very healthy. I think adding banana to cake, bread or muffins is one of the best choice and it gives a very soft and fluffy texture. This bread can be served in Breakfast and in Tea time also. One of the best bread I have bake till now...

Prep time: 10 minutes

Baking time: 50 to 55 minutes

Yield: One loaf.

Ingredient's.

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup mix dry fruits

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour.

Baking Method.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Whisk in the butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking powder and salt over the mixture and mix.

Now add the flour, dry fruits and mix it nicely. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle some chopped almond from top and Bake for 55 minutes (mine was done in 50 minutes). Cool on a rack.

Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Ragi Malt.. (Finger Millet Porridge With Yoghurt)

Ragi Malt.. Drinking or eating Ragi is very good for the health and Ragi also know as finger millet is a rich source of calcium, protein, fiber, iron and other minerals. I really want to bring back these old and forgotten recipe to our modern life style.. This recipe looks very simple but very very healthy, this porridge is still daily drink in many houses of Karnataka.. Ragi can be used in many ways, you can even make Ragi balls, Roti's, Dosas, Idlis etc...

During Ramzan my mom use to cook this in a bulk and make all of us to drink everyday, sometime I use to just drink this porridge and keep the fast, though I don't like it.. But slowly I started liking this porridge and I cook this atleast once in a month.. I know I know it is not sufficient but still in my opinion having something is better than having nothing... Here come's the healthiest porridge recipe which you can add in you everyday diet...

Ingredient's

1cup Ragi flour (finger millet)

2 1/2cup water

1cup yoghurt

1 medium onion, 1 green chilli (finely chopped)

Handful of chopped coriander

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

In mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup water and ragi flour, mix it nicely and set it aside.

In a deep pan, add rest of the water and salt, bring it to a bowl.

Then slowly add the ragi flour mixture and keep stirring to avoid any lumps and sticking to the bottom of the pan. cook till the raw smell goes for about 4 to 5 minutes..(keep stirring).

Allow the ragi mixture to cool down a bit, then add yoghurt, onion, green chili and coriander, mix them nicely and Serve warm or cold..

Baby Corn Pizza.. (Home-made Pizza)

Baby Corn Pizza.. I had made this pizza for my friends on Monday, they liked it so much and we finished the large pizza in just 5 to 10 minutes. We three were eating like as if we have not eaten pizza for ages. The best part was, one of my friend was not at all allowing me to take the pictures also. I have hardly taken 4 to 5 pictures only. The moment I finished taking pics, she was the first one to jump on it and by seeing her I din't even bother to look at the pics and started eating... Some how the pizza also had come out very very tasty and awesome looking... Making pizza at home is so easy if you have pizza sauce ready and I always make pizza sauce and keep it. So when ever we feel like eating then I just make it. Making pizza at home is healthier then store bought... I want to suggest everyone start baking pizza at home and you'll really enjoy..

Ingredients For The Pizza Base

Makes 1 Large Pizza Base

1/2 cup warm water (100 degrees to 110 degrees)

3tbsp warm milk

1/4 tsp sugar 

1+1/8 tsp active dry yeast

1+1/2cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1/4 tsp salt

2tbsp oil, plus more for bowl.

Ingredient's For The Topping.

Pizza Sauce ( recipe follows)

10 black olives (cut into circles)

1/2cup baby corn, 1 large tomato, 1 medium onion, (thinly sliced)

12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, (grated).

Ingredients For The Pizza Sauce

Make For 2 Large Pizza

2 tsp oil 

6 large tomato's

3tbsp tomato puree

1tbsp chopped ginger and garlic

3/4 tsp Italian seasoning

3/4 tsp dried oregano 

1 1/2 tsp salt or to taste

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper.

Directions For The Pizza Base

Pour warm water and milk into a small bowl. Add sugar, and sprinkle in yeast. Using a fork, stir the mixture until yeast is dissolved and water has turned a tan color. Let yeast stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, add flour and salt. Then add yeast mixture and oil. Mix until the dough comes together, adding more flour as needed until dough is smooth, not tacky, when squeezed. Transfer to clean surface; knead for 5 to 10 minutes.

Brush the inside of a medium bowl with oil, and place the dough in the bowl, smooth side up. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and place in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1hour. Remove plastic wrap, and press your fist into the center of the dough to punch it down. Fold the dough back onto itself four or five times. Turn dough over, folded-side down, cover with plastic wrap, and return to the warm spot to rise again until the dough has doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Punch down the dough, and transfer to a clean surface. Knead the dough four or five turns into a ball. Lightly flour a clean surface, place the dough pat into a flattened circle, cover lightly with plastic wrap, and let rest 5 minutes. Using your fingers, begin to flatten and push the dough evenly out from the center until it measures about 7 to 8 inches in diameter. Do not press the dough all the way to the edges. Leave a slightly raised border, about a half-inch wide, around entire circumference of pizza dough.

In a mean time pre-heat the oven for 20 minutes at 250c. 

Arrange the pizza dough into a circle on top of the baking flat tray. Leaving the raised edge uncovered, pour 8 to 9 tsp of the pizza sauce onto the dough. Using the back of a tablespoon, evenly spread the sauce leaving a half-inch border of dough uncovered. Arrange half of the mozzarella slices on top of the sauce and arrange all the veggie's on top, then cover with left over mozzarella slices.

Bake until the crust is golden brown and crisp on the edges and the bottom, 7 to 8 minutes, turning the pizza halfway through baking. Using a pizza wheel, slice the pizza into eight pieces, and serve immediately.

Directions For The Pizza Sauce

Pour oil into a large skillet, and place over medium heat. Using your hands, squeeze tomatoes to crush them. Add to the warm oil, along with the remaining ingredients. Cook over medium-low heat, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is thick, 40 to 50 minutes. Allow it to cool and grind it to a smooth paste...

Sauce is ready to use, after using the sauce to pizza you can store the remaining sauce in a fridge for the next time use..