Urad Daal ki Khasta Kachori (Bedvi) / Deep fried Lentil Shells

Urad Daal Kachori /Spicy Lentil Puffs) -Specialty from the state of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan


Kachoris with Pumpkins and Potatoes is to Uttar Pradesh, what Misal Pav is to Mumbai, Aloo Parathas and Lassi to Punjab and Sambhar and Idli to Chennai. The essential heavy and hearty breakfast!

Kachoris are mainly made with refined flour. A Spicy stuffing of lentils or vegetables are stuffed in the small portion of dough and rolled into medium thick disc and then deep fried in hot oil.Urad daal kachori is very popular in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Urad daal/white lentil is soaked and coarsly ground and then a mix of different spices are added in the filling. This crisp and delicious kachori is best served with special-Mathura ke dubki waley aloo ki subzi and khatti methi kaddu ki subzi

I have also posted -

• Aloo ki khasta kachori
• Moong daal khasta kachori
• Corn kachori
• Moong sprout kachori

Prep time-15 min
cooking time-15 min
Difficulty level-medium
spice level-medium
cuisine-North Indian
type-snack

INGREDIENTS 

For the shells:

• Refined Flour /Maida - 250 gms
• Semolina /Sooji - 2tblsp
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Cooking oil - 50ml

For the Stuffing:

• White lentil/Urad daal(white) - 1/2 cup
• Fennel seeds /saunf ,Crushed - 2 tblsp
• Chilli Powder/lal mirch - 2 tsp
• Green Chillies /hari mirch- 2
• Ginger grated  /adrak- 1 tsp
• Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida /hing- 1/2 tsp
• Coriander Powder /dhaniya- 2 tsp
• Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
• Oil - 1 tsp

PROCEDURE :  

1. Take the refined flour and semolina in a bowl, add salt and refined oil, mix well 
2. Add water to make a soft dough and keep aside.
3. Wash and soak urad daal for 4 hours, then drain and wash well.
4. Coarsely grind the urad daal, fennel, chopped green chillies and ginger in a mixer .
5. Take this mix in a bowl and add red chill powder, coriander powder, asafoetida, 1 t.s oil and mix well (it will look like the picture on the right).
6. Add soda bi carbonate to this mixture just before you start making kachoris .*
7. Take a small walnut sized ball of the dough, flatten it and stuff 1 tsp mixture in it and seal the edges.
8. Roll it a bit to make a  thick kachori (about the size of a small waffle).
9. Heat oil in wok,  Then add the kachoris to the oil, and turn down the flame to medium. Every few seconds, flip the kachoris so that they are cooked form both the sides. Fry till both sides are brown and crispy and the kachori is puffed completely.**

NOTE-

1-*Soda bi carbonate is added to ensure that  all the kachoris puff up well.

2- * *If you put the kachoris in hot oil and if it puffs up before turning the side, chances are that the daal masala will stick only to one side of the kachori,but if you turn it over once in the oil, before it starts puffing, then the masala will be on both the sides.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake -Eggless

Pineapple cake with the topping of caramelized sugar and pineapple slices

I have started baking after a long break. I often used to bake cakes for my children, but now  they are grown up and started avoiding sugar and fat loaded goodies so I don't feel like baking anything just for the two of us....why? Perhaps baking, for me, is associated with kids only :). 
But this pineapple upside down cake is still there favorite so I try to make it on some special occasions.This pineapple cake is easy to make and assemble as its don't need any icing to decorate it and still looks tempting and taste awesome.I have added some finely chopped pineapple pieces in the batter but this is optional you can add or skip it according to your taste preference.
Be careful while caramelizing the sugar ,if you overdo it then it will burn and ruin the taste so give a nice golden colour and spread it in the pan,always prefer to use a nonstick pan to make this cake.
For more eggless bakes on my blog check- here

          

Prep time-10 min
Cooking time-45 min
Difficulty level-medium
Cuisine-International
Type-bake,dessert

 INGREDIENTS-

• Refined flour(maida)-250 gm
• Condensed milk -1 tin (400 ml)
• Butter - 125 gm
• Sugar - 6 tsp
• Pineapple slices - 10
• Club soda -    1 bottle
• Baking powder -1 tsp
• Baking soda - 1 tsp
• Salt  -a pinch of.
• Yellow food colour - 1/2 tsp
• Pineapple essence-  1/2 tsp
• Glazed or fresh cherry - 6

PROCEDURE-

1. Take sugar in a nonstick pan and caramelize it on medium flame (cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon,until sugar dissolves and turn into a golden brown syrup like honey).
2. Immediately remove from heat and pour in the baking dish to coat the base evenly.it may not cover the whole bottom now,but will melt and spread while cooking.
3. Now arrange pineapple slices over it,and put cherry or walnut pieces in between the pineapple slices.
4. Mix refined flour,salt, baking powder and baking soda and sieve twice.
5. Take a mixing bowl and add melted butter(on room temperature),essence, colour and condensed milk and mix well.
6. Chop 4 pineapple slices into small pieces and mix in the butter and milk mixture (A)
7. Now add 2 tbls flour mixture in the mixture A,mix well
8. Now add 2 tbls of soda water and mix it and keep repeating this process(step7 and 8)i.e-add some flour mixture then add some soda water then flour ,then soda water ,dont add all together. keep repeating untill you finished the flour mixture.
9. Don't mix the full can of soda water.you need approx. half can of drinking soda
10. The mixture should be of dropping consistency (slightly thicker then the pakora batter)
11. Bake in a preheated oven at 170 degree C  for 40-45 minutes.Place the cake in the center rack with both rod on.
12. Check with a tooth pick insert it in the center, if cake is done perfectly then  it comes out clean .
13. When done,remove from the oven and cool off  for 10 minutes.
14. Run a sharp knife around the edges and then invert the cake onto your serving plate.
15. Don't allow the cake to be in the baking tin for more then 5-10 minutes,otherwise the caramel become hard again and the pineapple topping will stick to the pan .