Daal Baati with Khayri


D
aal Baati is one of my favorite and whenever I visit Chennai my sister always prepare for me, and this time was no difference. She made Daal Bhaati and Khayri for me and others and it tasted just awesome as ever.

Though I have tried making baati in microwave, oven but never exactly get the taste as my sis one! So here is what I had and sharing with you all.

Here is how baati cooker looks



For Baati

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour - 1Cup
Semolina - 1tbs
Carom Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Ghee/Oil - 2tbs + 5-6 tbs for severing.
Water

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredient and form a stiff dough using water keep aside for 30mins.
2. Make small balls of dough. Heat baati cooker and place the balls.


3. Cover with lid and cook in medium flame for 30mins or until golden brown. Keep turning the baati every now and then.

If you are using microwave then the cooking time will be more, just
place the baati in rack and cook for 20mins, turn the baati and cook
for another 20mins or until golden brown.




Break the baati, pour ghee as much as you want and enjoy with daal.




For Daal:

Ingredients:

Bengal gram/Chana Daal - 1/2 cup
Split Green Lentil / Hara Daal - 1/4 cup
Onion - 1 large [chopped]
Tomato - 1 medium [chopped]
Green chilli - 4 [chopped]
Redchilli Powder - 1tsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaf - 1
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2-3 tbsp
Ghee -
Water -
Coriander leaves - 2-3 tbsp chopped
Curry leaves - few


Method:

1. Soak the daals for 15mins and cook both the daals with water and turmeric in pressure cooker for 15-20mins and keep aside.

2. In a pan or wow heat oil or ghee, add bay leaf and cumin seeds, let it splutter.

3. Add chopped onion, green chilli and curry leaves, mix well and cook for a min.

4. Now add ginger-garlic paste and saute until onion turns light brown.

5. Add all powder masala and stir well. Add chopped tomato and cook until tomato become soft in medium flame.

6. Add cooked daal and mix well, cook for 2 mins with lid on in medium flame.

7. Now add salt and water and cook for 5mins in low flame, garnish with coriander leaves.

Server with ghee.





For Khyari

Ingredients:

Cooked Rice: 2 Cups
Chickpeas Flour [ Besan] - 1/2 cup
Onion - 1 medium [chopped]
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cashews - few
Raisins - few [optional]
Garlic - 4-5 pods crushed
Redchilli powder - 1tsp + 1tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaf - 1
Oil - 5-6 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Water - little + for boil
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - chopped few


Method:

To make Gatta

1. Mix chickpeas flour with 1tsp redchilli, a pinch turmeric powder, salt to taste, few fennel seeds, 1-2tbsp oil and mix well. Add little water at a time to mix and to form rolls of mixture in cylindrical shape and boil in water for 10-15mins or until cooked.

2. Remove the gatta from water and cut in small pieces.

3. In a pan heat remaining oil add bay leaf, cumin, fennel and mustard seeds and allow them to crack, add garlic, chopped onion, curry leaves and saute only light brown.

4. Add cashews, redchilli and turmeric mix well.

5. Add gatta pieces and mix and fry for 2mins. Add rice and give a good stir, add salt and raisins cook for 5mins with lid on in medium flame.

Garnish with chopped coriander and enjoy...




And this delicious spread goes to Rak's Cooking For Guests” Event

And to Sonu's Flavours of Rajasthan a event started by Nayna.

And to Shanti's State Special...this recipes are very famous Rajasthan though different states prepare daal baati in little different way.

Almond Pistachio Milk Recipes | Navratri Fasting Vrat Recipes

Almond Pistachio Milk Recipe
Tried this simple Almond milk with the leftover almond pistachio paste I had from Stuffed Almond Dates, and the milk tasted just good with crunch of pista, almonds bites. Do try this simple and delicious and healthy drink for any time of the day.

Birthday Celebration Continues....Part III



H
i Guys, So all gud? Well, am back with another slot of the celebration. Check Part I and Part II here please. Let's go straight to the recipes...before that here's the thali...





Main Menu

Chickpeas Salad - Click here for recipe

Stuffed Capsicum - Click here for recipe

Dum Aloo - Click here for recipe

Paneer Jalfrezi - Click here for recipe

Boondi Raita - Click here for recipe

Daal

Hmmm you really don't want to know my daal blunder!...Ok here is what happened, I was so tempted with Preety's Daal Makhani, so I thought let's try. I know you guys must be thinking wrong timing for trying isn't it? But I did tried the stuffed capsicum, paneer jalfrezi, stuffed dates, chickpeas salad all for the first time too...ya, am like that!!...

so I all set for the Daal and soaked everything and followed her recipe just the same, everything was going well after I finishing making the daal I kept wondering why the dal colour if not same at least somewhere close to Preety's ones...and then it stuck me..OMG! I did a blunder..instead of BLACK Urad Daal, I used the normal (white) urad daal, now can you believe that? I red her recipe so many times but somehow every time I missed the [black urad daal]....hmmm.

So for lunch we had daal, rice, I asked DH howz the daal he said okie...then he asked me what daal it is and I told him it's Daal Makhani...he told me pls don't say that to anyone ;)...hehehe..In my mind it was like what the hack...what to do now. So DH told me just add some khatta to it it should be okie and I did the same added some tamarind paste, salt and trust me the daal taste so gud..infact everyone liked it too :-)...so here is a look on my so call daal makhani!




Paratha

Paratha is normal simple one.

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour - 1 cup
Oil - For brushing
Water

Method:

1. Make dough of wheat flour and water. [You can add salt in the dough too, normally I don't]
2. Divide the dough in equal portions or make medium lemon size balls.
3. Roll in circle, apply few drops of oil and spread. Now fold it in triangle or square.
For triangle:
a. In circle roti apply oil and fold into half.
b. Again apply few drops of oil and fold into half. You will get triangle shape.
c. Roll it again, make sure the edges are not very thick.

For Square:

a. In circle roti apply oil, fold right corner of roti into center it will be 1/3 of roti.
b. Fold left corner into center too. So it will be 2 folds.
c. Apply few drops of oil and now again there will be 2 folds from left and right and you will get square shape.
d. Roll again to make it bigger.

4. Heat a tawa or griller and cook the paratha both sides for 2mins each. Apply oil/ghee or butter.




Jeera Rice


I do have few version of jeera rice, and this one is a bit different again.

Check here the different types of Jeera(Cumin) Rice

Simple basic Jeera Rice
Jeera Rice in Pressure Cooker
Jeera Rice in Pressure Cooker with spices and raisins
Jeera(Cumin) Pepper Rice from leftovers


Seem like am fascinated with jeera rice ;)....let's checkout this version of jeera rice which I made in electric rice cooker.

Ingredients:

Rice - 2 cups
Dry Red Chilli - 10-12nos
Peas - 1/4 cup
Cumin Seeds - 1tbsp
Garlic - 5 pods
Ghee - 3tbsp
Oil - 2tbsp
Water - 4 cups
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Clean and wash the rice, keep side.
2. Crush the garlic.
3. In a pan or wok heat ghee and oil, add cumin and let it splutter.
4. Add dry chilli and garlic saute for 30secs.
5. Add washed rice, peas and mix well, cook for 2mins.
6. Add water, salt mix well.
7. Re-place the rice and water in to electric rice cooker pot and cook until done. OR cover the pan with lid and cook until done.



White Rice - Perhaps some day I will post :)

And this post goes to Rak's Cooking For Guests” Event

Birthday Celebration Continues....Part II



DH
has conveyed his heartfelt THANK U to all of you for your wishes. Continuing from my last post let's move on to the main course but before that I didn't mention in my last post that those Almond Stuffed Dates are awesome...it's just melt in mouth and everyone liked it so much, want to thank again Yasmeen :)

So after starters we move on to main course:

Chickpeas Salad - Check in previous post

Stuffed Capsicum

After looking here n there I settle with SuperChef's Stuffed Peppers. I made few changes in the recipe and it was super hit, the most appreciated item was this Stuffed Capsicum and it's pity simple to make too. Thanks SuperChef for the recipe ..here is my version:


Ingredients [ For Original Recipe click here]

Capsicum - 6 [I used green, yellow and red]
Onion - 2 medium size [chopped]
Ginger-garlic paste - 2tsp
Cooked Rice - 1&1/2 cup [a cup which can hold 150ml]
Kasturi Methi - 2tbsp
Raisins - 2-3 tbsp
Olive oil - 3-4 tbsp
Cheese - 1/4 cup [ I used Parmesan cheese]
Pepper - 1-2 tsp freshly ground
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F - 390F.

2. Wash, dry and scoop out the seeds from capsicums [use sharp knief
and scooper] and brush them with olive oil and bake for 15-20 mins. [I
baked for 20mins in 390F].

3. Heat some olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions and ginger-garlic paste until onion turns light brown.

4. Soak kasturi methi in warm water with 1/4tsp of salt for 10-15mins. Drain the water and keep the methi.

5. Add soaked methi, rice, raisins, salt and pepper mix well and cook for 2-3mins.

6. Take out the capsicums from oven and fill them with rice mixture [use different size of spoons for filling will help]

7. Top with grated cheese and bake for 20 mins in 390F. [ I sprinkle some fresh crushed pepper on top of cheese]

Yummy stuffed peppers are ready.



Dum Aloo
- I have posted the recipe here and trust me this is full proof recipe...always tasty, everyone liked it very much again.



Next up is Paneer Jalfrezi

I thinking a lot for what to make with paneer and after so much of thinking I settle for jalfrezi, I search lot of recipes but nothing excited me much so I came up with my own.

Ingredients:


Paneer - 500gms
Capsium - 1/2 cup Julians [I used red and yellow]
Onion - 1 large [chopped]
Tomato - 1large [julians]
Carrot - 1 medium [julians]
Ginger-garlich paste - 1tsp
Dry red chilli - 1
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Redchilli Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 4tbsp
Water - 1/2 cup
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. In a pan heat 1tbsp Oil and saute paneer until golden brown, keep aside.

2. In a same pan add remaining oil and heat. Add cumin and fennel seeds, dry chilli and allow them to crack.

3. Add chopped onion and ginger-garlic paste and suate until onion turns brown. Add carrot and capsicums and fry for 2mins.

4. Add tomato and all powder masala fry for another 2mins. Now add 1/2 cup water,salt [add more if you want] mix everything well and cook for 5mins in medium heat.

Enjoy Paneer Jalfrezi



Other items will be in next post :)..Dum Aloo and Paneer Jalfrezi goes to Viki's Side Dish for Chapathi Event.

And this post goes to Rak's Cooking For Guests” Event

Birthday Celebration...



Y
esterday was DH birthday, celebrating 1st time after our wedding so got to be special rite? I arrange for small get together and and surprised him. After lot of thinking I settle for the below menu. I manage to take few pics here n there in hurry...so don't pay much attention to them;)

Before moving on, let me remind you guys today is last day to send in entries for Festive Food: Raksha Bandhan Event. Thanks to All for your entries.




Starter

Aloo Bujiya
Sev Bujiya
Mixture
Chiwda
Chickpeas Salad
Almond Stuffed Dates
Tea
Cold Drinks

Main Menu


Chickpeas Salad
Stuffed Capsicum
Dum Aloo
Paneer Jalfrezi
Daal
Boondi Raita
Paratha
Jeera Rice
White Rice

Dessert

Fruit Salad with Ice cream
Cake

Sound interesting rite? So let's start with the recipes

Starter [Strikeout are store ones:)]

Aloo Bujiya

Sev Bujiya
Mixture
Chiwda, I have blogged this one before click here, I have used brown beaten rice this time.




Chickpeas Salad


Ingredients:

Chickpeas - 1/2 cup [soaked overnight and boiled]
Kidney Beans/Rajma - 2tbsp
Boiled Potato - 2tbsp [chopped]
Vegetables - 1/2 cup [finely chopped carrot, cucumber, onion, tomato etc]
Pomegranate - 3tbsp [optional]
Chopped nuts - 2tbsp [almond, walnut - optional]
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Pepper - 1/2 tsp
Lemon Juice - 1tbsp
Olive Oil - 1tbsp

Method:

1. Heat oil and chickpeas and chopped potato saute for 3-4mins, place in a large bowl.

2. Mix all the ingredients with saute chickpeas and potato.

Enjoy the filling salad.



Almond Stuffed Dates
- For this I followed Yasmeen recipe, I was too good. Thanks Yasmeen for the easy and healthy recipe.




Tea - Perhaps some day I'll post :)
Cold Drinks

This post goes to Rak's Cooking For Guests” Event

Rest will come in next post...

Chawal Aloo Paratha w Bondi Raita - Leftover Magic



I didn't had much in my pantry except little leftover rice, some mashed potato. After lot of thinking I endup with Chawal Aloo paratha and it did tasted good with Boondi Raita as I used fresh sweet curd. Best way to use leftovers what say?

Festive Food: Raksha Bandhan Event last date for entry is 16th Aug 09 so send you entry soon.
Also can you guys give me some suggestion for Birthday get together dinner menu? Indian food, simple and fast to prepare?








For Paratha
Serving : 8 medium size parathas

Ingredients:


Cooked Rice - 1/4 cup
Boiled Potato - 3 tbs [ mashed]
Wheat Flour - 1/2 cup
Redchilli Powder - 1tsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil -
Water

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients except oil and make dough. Do not use too much of water, keep it to minimum. [Refrigerated rice works just fine]

2. Make medium size balls, roll and cook in hot tava both sides, apply oil/butter or ghee. [Do not keep the dough for long it will become very sticky..make paratha immediately]




Bondi Raita

Serving : 1cup

Ingredients:

Curd/Yoghurt - 1Cup [ beaten]
Bondi - 2 tsp
Redchilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Water - if required.

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients, add water if required. Garnish with bondi, chilli and cumin powder. Serve immediately.
Note: Add bondi just before serving raita or it will become soggy.



Entry for FF:Rakhi with Awards & Tag



T
his year I tied my niece Meenu's Rakhi to my nephew Kedar and made Ajwain Paratha, Aloo Tari and Kayari for dinner but didn't manage to click the pics! So here the Rakhi picture for my Festive Food: Raksha Bandhan Event. The last date for entry is 16th Aug 09 so send you entry soon.

Also can you guys give me some suggestion for Birthday get together dinner Menu? Indian food, simple and fast to prepare?





And here coming to the awards, received Kreative Blogger Award from Prasu, Raji, Suparna, Hema, Khaugiri, I love your Blog Award from Raji, Hema, One Lovely Blog Award from Hema. Thank U guys so much for sharing these wonderful awards to me I really appreciate.








The Kreativ Blogger award are having some rules …

  1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
  2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
  3. Link to the person who has nominated you for the award.
  4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
  5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
  6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
  7. Leave a comment on which of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated


So 7 things about myself.. Let's see if you find this interesting...

  • I like to make friends.
  • I'm not a morning person, so I can never wake up at 6am and I can never sleep at 9pm [ as per my DH]
  • I started the blog just like that!
  • I love street food, chat etc and I don't like chocolates much!
  • My likes changes every now & then.
  • I like to experiment with food, but my sis always saying now a days to cook usual thing when ever she come to our place :)
  • I don't like anyone lying, specially when I give them chance to come out clean!

And here are some of the tags I received:

  • What is your current obsession?
Blogging I guess
  • What are you wearing today?
My fav. denim jeans and fav. black kurti ;)
  • What’s for dinner?
No idea as of now.
  • What’s the last thing you bought?
Some frames, lot of wood stuff, containers, and lot more from IKEA
  • What are you listening to right now?
The more I see you from Micheal Buble
  • What do you think about the person who tagged you?
All of them are cool and creative bloggers
  • If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
I guess Delhi will do :)
  • What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Cotton kurtis, sun block, sunglasses and tons of water
  • If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I'm still so stuck with my last week India trip, would like to go to India again!
  • Which language do you want to learn?
French and Mandrian
  • What’s your favourite quote?
Nobody's Perfect, I'm Nobody
  • Who do you want to meet right now?
All my family members.
  • What is your favourite colour?
None
  • What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?
Same, my denim jeans, black kurti and my wedding attire
  • What is your dream job?
None, there are better things to dream than to think about job
  • What’s your favourite magazine?
Reader Digest
  • If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Clark's sandal
To wear too many jewellery with western outfits
  • Who are your style icons?
None
  • Describe your personal style.?
Simple
  • What are you going to do after this?
Continue browsing
  • What are your favourite movies?
So many to list here
  • What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
Facewash, compact and burberry brit
  • What inspires you?
Good suggestion, good work, encouraging words and aim to excel.
  • Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
Know what's suits you, never overdo your makeup, try to keep it simple and comfortable.
  • What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Look through my sis wardrobe or go shopping.
  • Coffee or tea?
Tea
  • What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Do something else, eat something sweet, listen to some gud music
  • What is the meaning of your name?
Priti means Love/affection
  • Which other blogs you love visiting?
There are so many out there.
  • Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Rasmalai, Motichur laddu
  • What's the best feeling?
To know you are special for someone.
  • Who do you love most and why ?
I love my husband the most, there is no particular reason for that!

Here is my new question: Reason(s) for you to blog?

Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one
question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and
add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.

So now it's time to award & tag others and I would like to share all the awards and tag with Vani, Sukanya, A2ZVegetarian Cuisine, Preeti, Rush, Mangala, Varsha, Suma Pls accept the awards and ignore the tag if you have done before.




Bittergourd in Tamarind Gravy from Rekha Blog



B
itter gourd means only two thing to me bitter gourd fry or stuffed version. But when Rekha post her version of bitter gourd in tamarind gravy I knew I had to try that and which I did. The result was awesome, too good for me but unfortunately DH doesn't like much of tamarind :-(...But whatever this was super yummy. I did little alteration to the original recipe, Rekha boiled the bittergourd in buttermilk, I skip that step and went for shortcut method ;) Thanks Rekha for the wonderful recipe.





Serving - 2 persons

Ingredients: [Orignial Recipe click here]

Bitter gourd - 1 large [ sliced]
Onion - 1 large [ chopped]
Tomato - 1 small [ chopped]
Garlic - 1tsp [ chopped]
Tamarind Pulp - 1 tbs
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Redchilli Powder - 1tsp
Jaggery - 1/2 tsp [ grated/powder]
Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves - 4-5 leaves
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - to taste
Oil - 2 tbs
Coriander leaves - few [ chopped]
Water


Method:


1. Chop onion, tomato and garlic. Peel bitter gourd and slice them in circle. Sprinkle little of turmeric powder and salt over bitter gourd pieces and keep aside for 5 to 10mins

2. Heat oil in a pan, add Asafoetida, cumin and mustard seeds allow them to crack. Add onion, garlic and curry leaves, fry until onion turns light brown.

3. Add turmeric and chilli powder mix well, now bitter gourd and cook for 2 mins. Add chopped tomato, salt and cook for another 2mins with lid on in medium flame.

4. Once the tomato mashed, add tamarind pulp and cook in low flame for 10-12mins. Add water if required, I added little water.

5. Add jaggery and mix well. Adjust salt if required. Cook for 3-4 more mins. Garnish with Coriander leaves.






Enjoly hot with rice.





Happy Raksha Bandhan 2009



W
ish you all Happy Raksha Bandhan, hope we all celebrate this day of love with our brothers and loved ones or at least call our brother(s)? I celebrated Rakhi on 2nd Aug itself since I was in India and tied rakhi to my brother, after so many years I got to tie a Rakhi!

Meanwhile below are some Rakhi snaps I shot during my shopping, but this year there was not fun n fare in Chennai otherwise we use to see so many shops selling rakhi but this year only few! So enjoy these pics and don't forget to send your entry for Festive Food: Raksha Bandhan Event soon. This post is my entry to the event :)


Some funky ones


Baigan Fry - Eggplant fry



H
ope everyone is fine and ya I disappeared again. I went to India for a week, I did wanted to write a post and inform you all but work kept me too busy for that too :-(my trip was okie..one week is too short perhaps ;)....so here am back and this post was suppose to be for FIC- Bringal but I couldn't send it!... And before I forget lets come to award. It's a wonderful come back with many awards shower on me. Thanks you all, I wanted to post all the awards here but all the awards are coming with tags and it's too long (read am lazy to do tag now) so I'll post soon ;)

Baigan Bharta has many version with different names and with different type of eggplant. This version is one of the simple, easy and delicious. Surprising was my nephew doesn't like eggplant but he loved this baigan bharta and asked me to prepare again n again!

Serving: 2-3 persons

Ingredients:

Eggplant - 2 [if using long ones]
Redchilli Powder - 2tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp [ optional]
Salt - to taste
Oil - to stir fry

Method:

1. Wash and cut the eggplant in circle (immerse them in water immediately to avoid getting black patches)

2. Take out the pieces from water and pat dry. Sprinkle chilli, turmeric, coriander, salt and garam masala powder and leave it for 5mins (more than 5mins and the salt will start oozing water!)

3. In a flat pan or tawa sprinkle little oil and place eggplant pieces. Cook in slow or medium flame for 4-5 mines. Drizzle few drops of oil if required.

4. Flip other side of eggplant pieces and sprinkle little oil on top of them, cooking again in slow flame for 4-5 mins.

Our Eggplant Fry is ready.