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.

Khasta Gobhi /Crisp Caulflower Fritters

Crisp cauliflower fritters

Fried snacks and starters are a hot favorite during winters.As cauliflower is very easily available during this seasons so we make many recipes and starters with cauliflower.
My favorite is Aloo gobhi ki subzi and Gobhi matar ka keema  .There are so many fried snacks but I often make this easy,delicious and crispy cauliflower fritters which I make in few variations.
Today I am sharing my favorite version of making gobhi pakora ,to make this blanched cauliflower florets are dipped in gram flour,corn flour and semolina batter and then deep fried to a nice golden colour.These Gobhi pakoras are good to serve a crowd or on any special occasion,can be served with tomato ketchup or any tangy and spicy dip.

Prep time-10 min
Cooking time-8-10 min
Difficulty level-easy
Cuisine-Indian
Type-snack,starter
Serve-4

INGREDIENTS-

• Cauliflower /gobhi  - 250 gms
• Gram flour /besan - 3/4 cup
• Corn flour - 3/4 cup
• Semolina /sooji - 1/4 cup
• Red chili powder - 1tsp
• Cumin powder - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Cooking oil- to deep fry

PROCEDURE-

1. Make medium size florets from cauliflower.
2. Boil 2 glasses of water add 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder.
3. When it start boiling add cauliflower florets and cook for 1 minute.
4. Drain and let it cool down completely.
5. In a bowl add gram flour,corn flour,turmeric powder, semolina, salt, chili powder and cumin powder.
6. Add water in the mixture and whisk well.
7. Make a medium thick batter and rest for 10 minutes.
8. Dip the cauliflower florets in the batter and deep fry in hot oil on medium heat.
9. Fry till golden in colour.
10. Drain on a paper napkin and serve hot.

Serving suggestions-serve with tomato ketchup or any spicy dip

Moong Daal Pakora / Bhajiya

Crispy fried nuggets made with yellow lentil, fresh fenugreek and potatoes

During winter season we all  like to have hot and crispy snacks .This daal ka bhajiya or Vati daal na Bhajiya is a easy and popular snack in North India.These lentil  fritters are called as vadas in Southern India and in North India they as popular as bhajiya or pakoras. 

Yellow lentil or moong daal is soaked and ground and then few spices ,fresh chopped fenugreek leaves and potatoes are added in it and then small nuggets are dropped in hot oil and fried to make golden crisp pakoras /vadas .

You can also make these pakoras without fenugreek leaves if not available easily,and can also use chilkewali moong daal(split moong daal with skin) instead of yellow moong daal or use half of each daal.

I have also posted a different version of Moong daal pakora which is a popular snack /street food of Delhi- Ram ladoo /Pakora chat

Prep time-15 min
Cooking time-15 min
Difficulty level-easy
Cuisine-Indian
Type-snack
Serve-4

INGREDIENTS-

• Yellow lentil /moong daal- 3/4 cup
• Potato,boiled - 2 small
• Fresh fenugreek/methi , chopped-3/4 cup
• Green chilies, chopped- 2 tsp
• Chili powder/Mirch- 1 tsp
• Salt- to taste
• Asafoetida /Hing- 1/3 tsp
• Cumin seeds /Jeera- 3/4 tsp
• Cooking oil- to deep fry
• Coriander seeds/Dhaniya, crushed- 1.5 tsp

PROCEDURE-

1. Wash and soak moong daal for about 3 hours.
2. Grind daal to make a smooth and thick paste(no need to add extra water)
3. Peel and chop boiled potato into small pieces (like we chop to add in poha).
4. Wash and finely chop methi leaves  and coarsely crush coriander seeds in mortar and pastle.
5. Take ground moong daal paste in a bowl and whisk well.
6. Now add all the spices and methi leaves and mix well.
7. Then add chopped potatoes and mix gently.
8. Heat oil in a deep and wide pan to deep fry.
9. Drop small portions of lentil mixture in the oil with the help of your fingers or with a small spoon.
10. Deep fry on medium heat till golden in colour.
11. Drain on a paper napkin when done.
12. Serve hot.

Serving suggestions-serve hot with green chutney,tamarind chutney or ketchup.

Shakarkand Ki Chaat

Spicy Sweet potato snack - quick and oil free

Shakarkand/sweet potato is a tuber and is very high in vitamin B6,good source of VitC,D ,Iron,Magnesium and is very rich in fiber and is fat free so now becoming popular worldwide.It is a versatile tuber ,you can bake, roast, grill or boil it and can make many different types of dishes with it or just enjoy the plain roasted one as a snack.

Roasted shakarkandi is very popular during winter as a snack or can be enjoyed just plain roasted one. street vendors on small stalls sells these charcoal grilled sweet potatoes,which are then peeled ,cubed and few spices and tangy chutnies are mixed in it and a tangy and spicy snack is served in just few minutes.
Traditionally sweet potatoes are grilled on charcoal for the wonderful smoky aroma but you can also bake them in an oven or just boil them in a pressure cooker.
you can mix lemon juice and dry spices only or add tamarind and green chutney,both versions taste great.

Prep time-5 min
Cooking time- 10 min
Difficulty level-easy
Spice level-medium hot
Cuisine- North Indian
Type-Snack,side
Serve - 4

INGREDIENTS-

• Sweet potato /shakarkandi  - 2  (400 gms)
• Tamarind chutney -1.5 tbsp
• Green chutney - 1.5 tbsp
• Red chili powder -1 tsp
• Black salt /kala namak - 1/4 tsp
• Roasted cumin powder  - 1/3 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Green chili,chopped -1 tsp
• Fresh coriander,chopped -  2 tbsp
• Lemon juice- 2 tbsp

PROCEDURE-

1. Boil shakarkand /sweet potato in a pressure cooker with a glass of water,if its big then make into 2-3 big pieces.
2. Boil on medium heat fopr 3 whistles.
3. When cool down completely then peel the skin completly.
4. Chop the boiled sweet potato into medium size cubes.
5. Take a big bowl and add chopped sweet potatoes.
6. Add all the spices and both chutney and lemon juice.
7. Mix preperly add chopped green chili and fresgh coriander.
8. Serve with a tooth pick and a lemon wedge.

Tips-

1. For the smoky flavour- slice the boiled and peeled sweet potato into 1 inch thick roundels. grease a non stick flat pan with few drops of oil.arrange the sweet potato slices over it in single layer and cook on medium heat till it get nice golden color,turn the sides and cook from other side too. make cubes and make chat.
2. Can also make without the chutnies.
3. You can substitute lemon juice with orange juice.
4. Can also add some boiled potatoes and ripe banana cubes in it.

How to make vada pav /Vada pav recipe

 An Indian version of burger - very popular street food of Mumbai

Vada pav is the popular street food of Maharashtra. As it is very reasonable priced and a quite filling snack so is is also a brunch or lunch of many Mumbaikars. It is quite easy to make and you will also get all the ingredients easily at home.

A spiced potato dumpling is dipped in gram flour batter and deep fried to a nice golden colour and then served hot with spicy green chutney and a fried green chili.Its quite easy and quick recipe.You can easily adjust the spices according to your taste.

There are few variation of making the batata vada but the main ingredients and spices remains the same.You can adjust the spices according to your taste.

Prep time - 10 min
Cooking time -15 min
Difficulty level - medium
Spice level-medium hot
Cuisine - Indian,Maharashtra
Type - snack,street food

INGREDIENTS

• 6  - Pav buns (recipe here )
• 6 - Batata Vada (recipe here )
• 4 tbsp - Green chutney (recipe here )
• 4 tbsp - Tamarind chutney (recipe here )
• 4 tbsp - Dry coconut chutney (Recipe here )
• 6  - Green chilies
• 1 tsp - Chat masala

Cooking Directions

1. Take a pav bun and slit it from the center but keep attach from the end.
2. Poke the whole green chili and deep fry or shallow fry in hot oil
3. Remove chili from the Pan and sprinkle some salt or chat masala and keep aside.
4. Apply some green chutney on the inner side of the pav.
5. Apply tamarind chutney on the second half of the bun.
6. Slightly press the vada pav and stuff in between the pav.
7. Sprinkle dry coconut chutney over the vada pav.
8. Close the bun and serve with fried green chili.

Dahi Aloo Chat

Quick and tempting snack of boiled potato,yogurt and Indian spices

Potato is the worlds most popular vegetable.We don't have to think much about using potatoes as there are endless numbers of recipes to make with potatoes.In fact most of the Indian street food are made with potatoes. side dish ,snack,curries and even dessert can be made with potato,my favorite sweet is -Potato halwa.

Potato bread rolls,  minty potato, Potato cup chat are many snack I have already posted,but they need some pre planning, stir frying or deep frying.As we all know that if potato is fried then only it become loaded with calories,boiled potato is not that high in calorie so can be used easily and guilt free.

This dahi aloo chat is a popular street food/chat of North India specially from my home town.
boiled potatoes are soaked in yogurt and then roasted cumin powder, chili powder is sprinkled over it. A spoon full of green chutney and tamarind chutney is drizzled over to make it delicious and tempting.\
This is also a ideal recipe for fasting days as it didn't require frying or roasting and use the  delicious -Aam papad chutney and green chutney to drizzle over it if you are fasting

Prep time- 10 min

Difficulty level-easy

Spice level-mild

Cuisine-North Indian

Type-Snack,street food

Serve-3

Dahi Aloo Chat

Ingredients

• 3 (small size) - Potato, boiled
• 1 cup of - Yogurt /dahi
• To taste- Salt /namak
• 1/2 tsp - Chili powder /lal mirch
• 1/2 tsp - Roasted cumin powder/bhuna jeera
• 1/4 tsp- Black salt /kala namak
• 2 tbsp - Tamarind chutney /imli ki chutney (recipe here)
• 2 tbsp - Green mint chutney /hari chutney(recipe here )
• A pinch of - Sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Peel and chop potatoes into small cubes.
2. Take yogurt in a bowl and whisk it well
3. Add sugar,salt and black salt in the yogurt and mix well.
4. Add chopped potatoes in the yogurt.
5. Let it soak for 15 minutes.
6. Now serve in individual serving bowls.
7. Sprinkle chili powder and roasted cumin powder over it.
8. Drizzle some tamarind chutney, mint chutney and pomegranate seeds.
9. Best served chilled.

NOTE-

1. If you are fasting then use pepper powder instead of chili powder.
2. Use mango leather chutney /aam paapd chutney if you are fasting.
3. Instead of boiled potatoes you can also use deep fried potato cubes.

Namkeen Lemon Daliya

Quick,easy and healthy breakfast made with broken wheat

Daliya/fada is made with unpolished broken wheat ,it is very healthy breakfast option from ancient time.there are so many recipes to make with broken wheat.you can easily substitute it with modern healthy options like oats,quinoa ,burghal etc.It is very cheap and easily available in comparison to oats etc and also very easy to cook and easy to digest so a very good option to include in your daily diet.

You can make sweets, savoury snacks, idli and many many more recipe and varieties with daliya.This Namkeen lemon daliya is a very easy and quick recipe,you just need few spices and a healthy,filling and delicious breakfast is ready to serve,its also very good to carry in lunchboxes and for travelling.
I have also posted many daliya recipes in my blog as this is a regular in my kitchen.so try this easy and healthy lemon Daliya in your kitchen.

Prep time-5 min
Cooking time-10
Difficulty level-easy
Spice level-mild
Cuisine -Indian,Rajasthani
Type-breakfast,main

Lemon Daliya

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup - Broken wheat /daliya/fada
• 1.5 tbsp - Ghee or oil
• 1 tsp - Cumin seed /jeera
• 1.5 tsp - Green chili,chopped
• 8-10 Curry leaves
• To taste - Salt /namak
• 1/2 tsp - Turmeric /haldi
• 1.5 tsp - Lemon juice
• 2 tbsp - Fresh coriander,chopped

Cooking Directions

1. Heat ghee or oil in a pressure cooker.
2. Add cumin seeds,curry leaves and chopped green chilies.
3. Add daliya and stir fry every thing till it become slightly white in colour and start giving a nice aroma.
4. Now add turmeric,salt and 1.5 cup of water and mix
5. Pressure cook on medium heat for 3 whistles or cook till done.
6. Open when cool down completely.
7. Add lemon juice and chopped fresh coriander.
8. Serve hot.

Check some more Daliya recipes-

• Daliya upma
• Daliya khichdi
• Daliya ki kheer

NOTE-
Cooking time depends on the size and quality of daliya so cook accordingly,

Multi Grain Veggie Pancakes | Elekta Stand Mixer Product Review

Product review for the Elekta Platinum Series Stand Mixer

I got a chance to try out the new Elekta Platinum Series Stand Mixer recently. Elekta Gulf had reached out to me, and were very generous in sending me a piece to try. This is not a sponsored review in any way, so you can be assured of the integrity of this review.

Though I have used quite a few kitchen appliances, I have never really had the chance to use a stand mixer. Mainly because I was not really aware of the value it adds to a kitchen, and partly because I have been cooking in the same kitchen for the past 30 years. Kitchens back then were pretty small :)

Now about the mixer - It is an Elekta Platinum Series Stand Mixer. Elekta is an consumer electronics company based out of Dubai, and have distribution in all of the Middle East, and many other countries. Their "Platinum" series is their premium range of products, with a strong focus on contemporary designing, and using high quality steel even for the exterior.

The device looks very decent (look at the pictures below), and is not very large (occupies less space than a standard Indian "mixie"). It comes with a three litre bowl, three different types of attachments:

1. Whisk
2. Beater
3. Dough Hook

I used the whisk to great effect in making the pancakes in this recipe. Using an appliance for whisking the batter made a perfectly frothy batter - something that may be very hard, if not impossible to achieve with a manual whisk. This attachment will be perfectly useful for whisking pretty much everything - from buttermilk to pakoda batter. Lumps in the batter mix would be pretty impossible.

I didn't get a chance to use the beater - but I do feel that it may come in very handy while making icing for cakes.

The highlight of the device, for me, was the last attachment. The Dough Hook. I was not really expecting great results from a machine - but it kneaded the perfect dough. It's a delight to actually see the hook at work - the way it first mixes the flour with the water, and then keeps jabbing at the mix - replicates the exact way we knead with our hands. This attachment can easily save a good 30-40 minutes a day that are spent in kneading chapati dough for a family.

Overall, I really liked the device - it looks great, is not noisy, and does its job pretty well. Good job Elekta!

Prep time- 10 min
Cooking time- 10 min
Difficulty level-easy
Spice level-mild
Cuisine- international
Type-snack,breakfast

INGREDIENTS-

• 1/4 cup - Maize flour/makki ka atta
• 1/4 cup  - Quick cooking Oats
• 1/4 cup-  Gram flour /besan
• 1/4 cup - Semolina /sooji
• 1/2 cup - Wheat flour/atta
• 1/4 cup - Yogurt /dahi
• 1/2 cup - Grated cabbage
• 1/2 cup - Grated carrot
• 2 tbsp  - Chopped fresh coriander
•  2 tsp  -  Green chilies,minced
• 1 tsp  - Crushed black peeper
• To taste - Salt
• 1/4 tsp - baking powder

PROCEDURE-

1. In the Elekta machine bowl add all the flours,spices ,yogurt and 1.5 cup water.
2. Attach the whisk attachment in the machine
3. Whisk it for 2 minutes.
4. Add grated vegetables and whisk again for 2 minutes.
5. Remove the bowl from the machine and add baking powder and mix.
6. heat a non stick flat pan and grease it with little olive oil.
7. Spread a laddlefull of batter on the pan and spread in a circle.
8. Cook on medium heat and sprinkle few drops of oil over it.
9. When cooked, flip the side and drizzle few drops of oil or butter and cook to nice golden colour from other side.
10. Remove from the pan and serve hot with ketchup.

NOTE-

• You can add 1/4 tsp oregano or cumin powder in the batter.
• Can add any grated vegetable of your choice

This is a honest product review. My reviews were not influenced in any ways by the views of Elekta Gulf. Thank you Elekta Gulf for this wonderful review opportunity.  In accordance with FTC rules, I am disclosing that I received the free products mentioned in the post to provide my opinion and review. This was not a paid endorsement nor have I received any form of compensation to do the review.

How to Make Batata Vada , Mumbai Batata Vada Recipe

Spiced potato dumpling coated with gram flour batter and fried-very popular street food of Mumbai

Batata vada is the most popular street food of Maharashtra,It is a very popular snack of Mumbai. As it is very reasonable priced and a quite filling snack so is is also a brunch or lunch of many Mumbaikars.
Boiled potatoes are roughly mashed and then few fresh herbs and spices are added in the potato mash ,then a flavorful tempering is added in it and then shaped in round balls .Then these spicy potato dumplings are dipped in gram flour batter and deep fried to a nice golden colour and then served hot with spicy green chutney and a fried green chili.Its quite easy and quick recipe.You can easily adjust the spices according to your taste.
There are few variation of making this vada but the main ingredients and spices remains the same.

Prep time-10 min
Cooking time - 15 min
Difficulty level - medium
Spice level - medium hot
Cuisine - Indian,Maharashtra
Type - snack,street food

Batata Vada

INGREDIENTS-

• 250 gm - Potato,boiled
• 1 tbsp - Green chili,minced
• 1 tsp - Ginger,chopped
• 1/2 cup - Fresh coriander,chopped
• To taste - Salt/namak
• 1/3 tsp - Turmeric
• 1/4 tsp - Citric acid/tatri *
• 1 tsp - Mustard seeds /rai
• 1/4 tsp -white lentil /urad daal
• 1/4 tsp - Asafoetida /hing
• 8 -  Curry leaves
• 1 tbsp - Cooking oil

Batter-

• 1 cup - Gram flour /besan
• 2 tbsp - Rice flour/chawal ka atta
• 1/4 tsp - Turmeric/haldi
• 1 tsp - Chili powder
• 1 tbsp - Hot oil
• To taste  - Salt
• Pinch of  - Soda-bi-carb (optional)

Cooking Directions-

1. Peel and coarsely mash the boiled potatoes(don't make a paste of potatoes )
2. Heat oil in a pan and add urad daal and mustard seeds.
3. When seed start crackling add asafoetida,curry leaves and green chilies.
4. Stir and then add turmeric powder and boiled potatoes.
5. Add salt and citric acid and stir to mix every thing.
6. Remove from the flame and add chopped fresh coriander.
7. Mix it and let it cool down a bit.
8. Now make small balls from this potato mixture and keep aside.
9. In a bowl add gram flour, rice flour, salt,chili powder and turmeric.
10. Add water to make a batter of pouring consistency.
11. Add hot oil and mix well.
12. Heat oil in a deep and wide pan.
13. Dip the prepared potato balls in the gram flour batter.
14. Gently add in the hot oil and deep fry on medium heat.
15. Change the sides 2-3 times in between so get a nice colour from all the sides.
16. Remove from the pan when become golden and crisp.
17. Drain on a paper napkin to absorb the extra oil.
18. Slit or poke hole in few green chilies and deep fry them.
19. Drain on a paper napkin and sprinkle some chat masala or salt over them.
20. Serve hot vadas with green chutney,ketchup and fried green chilies.

NOTE-

1-To add sourness in the vada you can add either citric acid or lemon juice.

2-Don't mash the potato completely,just mash roughly,don't make a paste of potatoes.
3-You can reduce the quantity of minced green chilies and add some red chili powder in the potato mixture.
4-for variation -you can also add some boiled peas at step -3

Kuzhi Paniyaram / Appe / Punugulu (Crispy dumplings made from leftover Idli batter)

A crisp and delicious shallow fried snack made with leftover idli batter

Kuzhi Paniyaram / Appe / Punganalu is a South Indian snack, originally from Chettinad. It is often made with leftover slightly sour Idli batter. It is usually served as a snack at breakfast (or tiffin - as popularly termed in South India). It is made in both sweet and savory versions, with the savory version being the more popular one.

Firstly, to make paniyaram you will need a special paniyaram pan. There are generally 2 types of paniyaram pans available - a traditional iron pan which is quite heavy and takes some time to cook , and a non stick paniyaram pan which is lighter and cooks faster. Both version are easily available in the market. I have the traditional iron one, which I have used for this recipe (pics at the bottom of this post).

Irrespective of the type - a paniyaram pan is a heavy bottom pan with deep holes in it. A little oil is drizzled in these holes and then about 1-2 tbsp (depends on the size of the pan) of prepared batter is added in it. The pan is then placed on medium heat for few minutes to cook the paniyarams. The paniyarams are then turned with a skewer and cooked on the other side too till golden in colour. Paniyarams can be served with coconut chutney,tomato chutney or any dip of your choice.

Prep time - 10 min
Cooking time - 15 min
Difficulty level - Easy
Spice level - mild
Cuisine - Indian,south
Type - Snack / Tiffin

INGREDIENTS-

Kuzhi Paniyaram

INGREDIENTS-

• 2 cup - Idli batter
• 3 tbsp - Fresh coriander, chopped
• 2 tsp - Green chili, chopped
• 1.5 tsp - Ginger, chopped
• 8- 10 -  Curry leaves, chopped
• 2 tbsp - Grated coconut
• 2 tsp -  Cooking oil
• 1 tsp - Mustard seeds / Rai
• 1 tsp - White lentil / Urad daal
• 1/4 tsp - Asafoetida / Hing
• A pinch of  - Fruit salt / Eno

Cooking Directions

1. Heat oil in a small pan.
2. Add mustard seeds and white lentil/urad daal in the oil.
3. When seeds start crackling add green chili, asafoetida, and curry leaves.
4. Now add this tempering in the idli batter (dropping consistency batter)
5. Add chopped coriander and ginger and little salt if needed.
6. Mix well and then add eno just before preparing.
7. Heat paniyaram pan and drizzle few drops of oil in the non stick paniyaram pan.
8. Fill the holes with about a tbsp of prepared batter.
9. Cover with a lid and let it cook on medium heat till it become dry on top and sides become golden.
10. Now drizzle some oil on the top of the paniyaram.
11. Turn the side with a fork or skewer stick and cook till it become golden from the bottom.
12. Remove the cooked paniyarams from the pan .
13. Serve hot with tomato chutney or coconut chutney.

My Tips-

• You can also add some grated carrot ,cabbage,spinach or any vegetables of your choice in the batter.
• Can also add some cashew nuts in the tempering at step-3

 Paniyaram pan-

Roasted Phool Makhana Namkeen

Crisp and low fat lotus seed snack

Makhana or phool makhana is a seed from lotus plant so commonly used during fasting days.This is very easily available in all Indian stores and is very light in weight.
There are so many recipes made with phool makhana.it is also used to make curries and the roasted makhana powder is used to thicken curries.I have posted -Makhana ki kheer and makhana paag and both are fasting recipes.
It is also good for health as it is light on stomach and have many medicinal properties. It is rich in calcium, it regulates high blood pressure,good for arthritis, detoxify body, cure insomnia and very good to have as a post natal food .
This namkeen makhana is very filling and a low fat snack.Though it is very easy to make but it takes some time to become crisp so you have to roast it on low heat else it will become crisp from outside but the inner portion remain raw and chewy.

Cooking time-15 min
Difficulty level-easy
spice level -mild
Cuisine-North Indian
Type-snack,vrat ka khana
Serve -4

Ingredients

• 50 gm - Makhana/ phool makhana /fox nut/Lotus seeds
• 2.5 tbsp - Ghee or oil
• As required - Rock salt /Sendha namak
• 1/2 tsp - Pepper powder/ Kali mirch
• 1/2 tsp - Mango powder /amchoor

Cooking Directions

1. Heat ghee or oil in a pan.
2. Add lotus seeds and roast on low heat and keep stirring.
3. Roast for about 10-12 minutes till they become crisp.
4. Press a roasted seed to check, if it is roasted well then it will break into pieces,and if it still feel soft and chewy then roast for some more times.
5. When roasted then add the spices and 1 tsp of ghee and mix well.
6. Let it cool down completely.
7. Store in air tight jar.

Serving suggestions-serve as a snack with tea,coffee or any beverage

Aloo Chiwda / Vrat ki Falahari Namkeen

Fried potato sticks,peanuts and cashews tossed Indian style

During Navratri and other fasting days we need some snacks or munchies along with the main course meals.As there are only few option to use during fasting ,so often we have to try something mainly with potato,banana and yam.This aloo chiwda can be easily used during fasting.
Potato is grated and fried and then fried peanuts,cashews,green chilies and few spices which are acceptable in fasting are added .You can also make this with sundried potato sticks if you want to make it quick and easy.but the taste and texture will be slightly different.

Prep time- 10 min
Cooking time-20 min
Difficulty level-medium
Spice level-mild
Cuisine-North Indian
Type-snack,vrat ki recipe
Yield-approx. 5 cups

INGREDIENTS-

• Potatoes /aloo - 4 medium(500 gms)
• Peanuts/moongphali - 3/4 cup
• Cashew nut/kaju,halves- 3/4 cup
• Raisins /kishmish - 2 tbsp
• Green chili/hari mirch ,chopped- 2 tsp
• Curry leaves/kadi patta - 10

Spice mix-

• Castor sugar/pisi hui chini-1.5 tsp
• Tatri/citric acid,powdered -1/4 tsp *
• Pepper powder/kali mirch - 1 tsp
• Rock salt/sendha namak-to taste

PROCEDURE-

1. Peel potato and then grate it with a thick grater .
2. Wash the grated potato with enough water and then squeeze well.
3. Now spread it on a kitchen towel for 20 minutes.
4. Take a small bowl and mix all the spices and keep aside.
5. Heat oil in a deep and wide pan.
6. Add the grated potatoes in the pan and fry on high flame for 2 minutes.
7. Then lower the flame and fry till they become golden and crisp.
8. Drain the fried potatoes on a paper napkin.
9. Repeat the process and fry potatoes in batches.
10. Then fry peanuts on low heat till they become golden and crisp,drain on a paper napkin.
11. Fry cashews on low heat till golden and then drain
12. Add chopped green chilies in the hot oil and fry,after few seconds add chopped curry leaves .
13. When curry leaves become crisp, add raisins.
14. When raisin floats on top of the oil then take out and drain on a paper napkin.
15. Now sprinkle the spices over all fried ingredients and mix well.
16. Let the chiwda cool down completely then serve or store.

Note-
1-Citric acid can be substituted with mango powder,or you can skip both.
2-Instead of making with freshly grated potatoes,you can also make this potato chiwda with readymade sun dried potato sticks/sev .But the taste and texture will be different

To make sun dried Aloo sev and papad-check the recipe here

Kolhapuri Misal Pav (Spicy Tomato Stew with Sprouts)

Spicy tomato stew with moth sprouts and topped with Indian croutons

Misal Pav is a very popular street food/breakfast from Maharashtra. Healthy and spicy, there are a few different versions of making this, depending on the region. Misal is a medley of sprouts, a spicy broth and a crispy topping, served with fresh sweet buns (pavs).

I've never had misal pav before but had been wanting to try this from a long time now. A few days back I found this recipe in one of my old dairy, and I tried it immediately. I had no clue its such a wonderful dish, and will surely be making this more often!

This Kolhapuri Misal recipe, as the name suggests, is a popular street food from the city of Kolhapur. It consists of three main parts: 

1. Freshly ground spice mixture.
2. Stir frying the sprout mix (usal)
3. A spicy and tangy tomato broth (kat). 

The three are then topped with Indian fried savory mixes (namkeen/farsan), which is then collectively called as Misal, and served along with fresh sweet buns (pavs).

This recipe may look daunting because of its length, but is actually a very quick and easy to follow recipe. Enjoy my version of hot and spicy Kolhapuri Misal Pav!

Prep time-10 min
Cooking time-20 min
Difficulty level-medium
Spice level-hot
Cuisine-Indian
Type-snack,street food
Serves - 4

Ingredients-For sprouts/usal

• Moth/Matki sprouts - 3 cups
• Refined oil/tel - 3 tsp
• Mustard seeds/rai - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds /jeera- 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 8
• Asafoetida /hing- 1/4 tsp
• Chili powder /mirch- 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric/haldi - 1/2 tsp
• Salt/namak - 1 tsp

For the dry spice mix (masala)

• Refined oil/tel-1/2 tsp
• Cloves /laung-6
• Pepper corns/sabut kali mirch- 8
• Cinnamon /daalchini -1/3 inch
• Cumin seeds /jeera -1 tsp
• Coriander seeds /sabut dhaniya -1 tsp
• Sesame seeds /safed til -1/2 tsp
• Fennel seeds /saunf -1/4 tsp

For the broth (rassa/kat)

• Coconut, dessicated and dry roasted - 1.5 tbsp
• Tomatoes, chopped - 2
• Ginger, chopped - 1/2 inch
• Kashmiri Red Chilies, whole -4
• Tamarind /imli  - 1 /2 inch
• Misal Masala-1 tsp*
• Turmeric /haldi -1/3 tsp
• Chili powder /mirch -2 tsp
• Jaggary/gur-1 tsp
• Salt /namk -1 tsp
• Water- 3 cup
• Refined oil-3 tbsp

For garnishing and serving

• Sweet Buns (Pav) -8
• Mixed Namkeen - 4 tbsp
• Fresh Cilantro - 2tbsp
• Lemon wedges - 4
• Sweet Chutney - 4 tbsp (optional)
• Yogurt - 3 tbsp (optional)

PROCEDURE-

1. For the Dry Masala (Can also use readymade masala )
1. Heat a tsp oil in a pan and add all the spices listed under For the dry spice mix (masala). 
2. When the cloves start swelling up, remove the spices and grind to make a fine powder. 
3. Take out in a bowl and keep aside.
2. For the Sprouts/Usal
1. Wash and pressure cook sprouts* with 2 glasses water for 2 whistles or till almost cooked (al dente).
2. Heat 1.5 tbsp oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and cumin seeds, and when the seeds start crackling add asafoetida and curry leaves.
3. Now add turmeric and boiled sprouts, then add salt and chili powder, saute for few seconds.
4. Add 1 cup water, cover and cook till water almost dries up.
5. Take out in a bowl and keep aside.
3. For the Broth 
1. Grind tomatoes, kashmiri chilies, tamarind and the roasted dessicated coconut together and make a fine paste.
2. Heat 4 tbsp oil in a pan and add the tomato paste and saute till oil separates from the sides.
3. Now add the dry masala, misal masala**, chili powder, turmeric, jaggary, salt and 3 cups of water.
4. Boil the broth for around 3-4 minutes.

How To Serve- 

1. Take a individual serving bowl and then add sprouts, pour the hot broth on top, depending on how spicy do you want your misal to be.

2. Garnish with Namkeen Sev/Farsan and chopped fresh cliantro.

3. Serve with sweet buns/pavs and another small bowl of just kat/broth.

MY TIPS and NOTES--

1-*To make moth sprouts-  
 Wash and soak 1 cup moth beans overnight in 4 cup water. Next day drain the water ,cover   with a muslin cloth and keep covered for 2 days to sprout them.
2-**Misal masala, is easily available in Indian stores and you can substitute it with garam masala.
3-You may substitute moth/matki sprouts with mungo (moong), black gram, dried green peas or with mixed sprouts.
4- You may also add some boiled potato cubes, crispy potato chips, roasted salted peanuts on top of the misal.
5 -If you are short of time then you may use readymade goda masala or Kolhapuri masala instead of freshly roasting and grinding the spice mix.
6 -Add yogurt and sweet chutney if you find the broth a bit too spicy for your taste. 
7-Misal also tastes great with steamed rice .

Moong Sprout Kachori

Crisp home made pastry shells stuffed with mildly spiced bean sprout filling

Kachoris are very popular breakfast and snack from North India.They are flaky and crisp shells made with refined flour, stuffed with either savory or sweet stuffing but savory version is the most popular version of kachoris.

They are often made on festivals,on every special occasion or can be made any day when ever you want to have some thing crisp and spicy. Kachories are easily available in all restaurants ,chat corners and on road side stalls.They are served with chutney, kadi or allo ki subzi depending on each city and region. In Rajasthan kachoris are served with kadi and in Uttar pradesh kachoris are served with sweet and sour kaddu ki subzi. and thin potato curry

They are usually made with refined flour/maida but can also be made with wheat flour or a mix of wheat flour and refined flour or even with multigrain flour. Stir fried spicy lentil or vegetable mixture is made to stuff inside the kachori and then the stuffed kachoris are deep fried on medium heat till golden and crisp.

There are so many variations and versions of making kachoris .If you love making kachoris then do check these kachori recipe from my blog -The popular  Urad daal ki khasta kachori  ,  Aloo ki kachori,  Corn kachori , Moong daal ki khasta kachori  and tangy and spicy Kachori chaat

Prep time-25 min
Cooking time -15 min
Difficulty level -medium
Spice level -medium
Cuisine-North Indian
Type-snack

INGREDIENTS-

For outer layer/puff

• Refined flour /maida- 2 cup
• Semolina /sooji - 3 tbsp
• Cooking oil- 4 tbsp
• Lemon juice- 1/4 tsp
• Salt /namak - to taste

For the stuffing-

• Bean sprouts /ankurit moong - 3 cup
• Potato /aloo, boiled - 1(medium)
• Mint leaves /pudina, chopped - 2 tbsp
• Fresh coriander,chopped- 2 tbsp
• Green chili /hari mirch, chopped - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric /haldi - 1/3 tsp
• Ginger /adrak, grated - 1tsp
• Mango powder/amchoor - 1.5 tsp
• Chili powder/lal mirch - 1.5 tsp
• Coriander powder /dhaniya - 1.5 tsp
• Garm masala - 1/4 tsp
• Salt /namak -to taste
• Cooking oil /tel - 2.5 tbsp
• Cumin /jeera - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida /hing - 1/4 tsp

PROCEDURE-

For the outer covering

1. Mix and sift flour,sooji and salt in a bowl
2. Add oil and lemon juice and rub to mix well
3. Add water and make a soft dough.
4. Cover and keep aside for 20 minute

For the filling-

1. Wash bean sprouts very well with normal water.
2. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan.
3. Add cumin,chopped green chili and asafoetida
4. When cumin start crackling add bean sprouts and saute for a minute
5. Now add turmric and salt and 1 tsp of water
6. Cover and cook on low flame till it get cooked but remain crunchy,don't over cook them.
7. Now add mashed potato and all the spices .
8. Stir fry for a minute.
9. Take out in a bowl and let it cool down completely.
10. Now add chopped mint and coriander and mix .

Making the kachori-

1. Knead the prepared dough to make it soft and pliable.
2. Make small size balls of equal size from the dough and keep aside.
3. Cover the balls with a damp cloth .
4. Take a ball and flatten it a little with the rolling pin.
5. Put about 1.5 tbsp of filling in the center.
6. Bring together all the sides and collect in the middle .
7. Close it and press it slightly,make sure it will seal properly.
8. Press the kachori with your palm to flatten it slightly.
9. Heat enough oil in a deep pan.
10. When it become medium hot then gently slide few kachoris in hot oil.
11. Now lower the temperature to medium.
12. The kachori will puff up then turn the side.
13. Fry it till it become golden from both the sides.
14. Drain the fried kachori on a paper napkin.
15. Serve hot .

Serving suggestions-Serve with green chutney and date and tamarind chutney.