Corn & Fenugreek Rolls...Apt accompaniment to my winter evenings!

Sunday evenings are relaxed. If its winter season then for sure after an afternoon nap, my husband and i curl up in a warm blanket in our living room and watch our favorite movie. My best time! 

So last Sunday had been a hectic affair. Too much of cooking happened in my kitchen and by the afternoon i was half dead.  I had already planned a simple dinner, a bowlful soup with some homemade garlic bread. Yes, so now you know what got me so tired. Sunday was all about baking. A fresh fruit cake (which will be coming in soon) and then a garlic bread. Aaaah! A yummy tummy weekend for me and P. 

I had made some food preparation for our evening movie time as well. Yes, Of course! I know, i am incorrigible. After so much whole day work, i couldn't resist making some snacks for the best time i look forward to spending with Mr.P.

Since long i wished to use fresh methi leaves in deep fried rolls. I had freshly bought produce from the market and before i could use it in my aloo-methi, i thought to innovate! So i caught hold of some frozen corns and paneer and just made a delicious roll, different yet delicious. A lightly spiced fried roll along with some curry leaves dip came out as an apt evening snacks for winters. Swathed in layers of quilts, my P and i simply loved them with ginger tea and lost the count of how much we ate. 

A Sunday full of baking activities, an evening with my love and a hearty light meal. Who says that only fancy stuff can be alluring. You need to have an eye for the best! Such a perfect Sunday, well spent with my two favorites, my P and kitchen lulled me to a contented peaceful sleep with no worries of Morning morning blues!

Ingredients:-

1 cup Fresh Fenugreek leaves (washed & very finely chopped)

3/4 cup Cottage cheese (crumbled)

1 cup sweet corn kernels

2-3 green chillies

1 tsp red chilli flakes

1 tsp minced ginger

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garam masala 

5 tbsp maize flour

2 tbsp rice flour

Oil to deep fry

Chaat masala to sprinkle

Steps to follow:-

1. Wash the fenugreek leaves and chop them very finely. 

2. Remove the excess water from the leaves by pressing the leaves in batches between your palms. Keep it aside.
3. Blanch the sweet corn kernels and strain it, to remove the excess water.

4. Whiz the sweet corn kernels roughly.

NOTE: You don't have to make a paste here. Just roughly blitz them.

5. Mix all the ingredients (except oil and chaat masala) and roll them into cylindrical shape.

NOTE: Only if you feel the mixture is dry, then add water drop wise else as per my recipe the water from the washed fenugreek leaves will suffice.

6. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
7. Deep fry until crisp and golden brown.
8. Transfer them on paper napkins to remove excess oil. 

9. Sprinkle some chaat masala and serve hot with tomato ketchup or any green chutney along with coffee or ginger tea.
 

Isn't this a simple yet a perfect evening snacks for those breezy winter evenings, when you sit down by your terrace and watch the sun go down and listen to chirping of the birds while they flock back to their nests, calling it a day!

Have a sumptuous snacker evening! 

Cheers.. :)

 

Kadhai Paneer | Cottage Cheese and Capsicum in spiced gravy

I love partying and i love it more if it is with my family, friends and loved ones. And if its a house party...Gosh! You certainly know what you talking about..It is maddening to the core, yes, Indeed. Its fun hosting a house party and for me its a big event. I leave no stones unturned in ensuring that my guests have good time. Theme party with fun games, good food, music and huge list of guests is my idea of absolute enjoyment. Spending some good time with your favorite people around breaks the monotony of a routine life. 

Planning a party is an event at my house. Oh..my Mr.P goes crazy with the shopping and the level of detailing i do for the preparations. Be it the theme, the lightnings, the decor, food or games and gifts. I patiently manages with his freaky wife! He knows for me its an occasion! Throwing a party is a great way to celebrate life and share happy moments. I enjoy every bit of it, even the next day when i spent most of my time cleaning the post house party storm! No regrets ever..

Mr. P becomes our official bartender for house parties and me as always the chef of the house! So this time. Both of us make a lethal pair when it comes to parties. Cooking, bartending and exquisite photography, all courtesy US! :)

Last weekend was one such party which i enjoyed it to the core and not to forget my guests love it! This time it was a bit hatke..an Indian theme, with Indian food, cocktails with desi twist and ethnic decor! Whaooooo...my guests were overwhelmed and so was i seeing them happy and enjoying to the fullest.

Food like every time has to be the BEST..no compromises pls! I hate to repeat a menu until its on a guests request else i always try new to lay new dishes or those which i have mastered. So this time for Indian theme party, on my P's request, i served Kadhai Paneer, which he claims to be the best and totally restaurant style. Mr.P is very fussy about food and the flavors and if the appreciation comes from, you better acknowledge it. So like an obedient wife (which i am totally ;) ) churned out an elaborate menu for the party, with hubby's help. Voila!! My guests loved it and my Kadhai Paneer turned out to be a hit! Aaaahh..the real pleasure is in seeing eyes filled with contentment and happiness.

Ingredients:-

215 g - Paneer/Cottage cheese, cubed
1 big sized Capsicum, cubed
1 medium sized onion - cut lengthwise, cubed 

2 small sized onion -  grind to a paste

1 tsp - ginger garlic paste

2 tsp - kasuri methi

1/2 cup tomato puree

3 - green chillies, slit lengthwise

1 tsp - Cumin seeds

1 tsp - lightly roasted coriander seeds

1/2 tsp - lightly roasted fennel seeds

1/2 tsp - Red Chilli powder
1 tsp - Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp - Garam Masala

1 pinch of powdered black cardamom seeds

1 pinch - Asafoetida

1 tbsp Tomato Ketchup
Salt to taste

Oil for cooking
Chopped Coriander leaves and ginger julienne, for garnish

Steps to follow:-

1. Roughly pound coriander seeds and fennel seeds in a mortar & pestle.

NOTE: Just roughly pound. DO NOT make it a powder.

2. Heat oil in a wok and add asafoetida and cumin seeds. Let it splutter.

3. Gently crush kasuri methi between your palms and throw it in the oil.

4. Add green chillies, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, ginger garlic paste and saute for sometime over a low flame.

5. Add onion paste and bhuno till its goldenish brown in color.

NOTE: You could add a pinch of salt while sauteing the the onions as this quickens the 'bhunoing' process.

6. Add capsicum and onions saute

7. If the onion paste is sticking to the bottom of the pan, you could sprinkle some water intermittently to avoid the mixture from burning.

8. Keep sauteing for 2-3 mins and then add spices - Red Chilli, Turmeric and black cardamom powder.

9. Now add paneer cubes to the vegetable mix and saute with light hands ensuring paneer cubes do not break or crumble. Close the pan with a lid, leaving a small gap and let it cook for 5-7 minutes over a low flame.

Tip: You can keep the paneer cubes in warm water at the start of cooking. This will keep the paneer soft.

10. Mix in tomato puree and bhuno for another 7-8 mins. Let the tomato puree reduce in thickness and render the gravy a bit dry.

11. Finally add tomato ketchup and garam masala.

12. Sprinkle some chopped coriander leaves and ginger julienne.

13. Serve hot with lachcha parathas or naans.

Vegetarian Shaami Kebab...a tryst with royalty!

I come from a city which is known for its culture, architectural heritage and sumptuous lip smacking Awadh cuisine. Oh yes! You named it right, i belong to Lucknow, fondly known as the ‘City of Nawabs’ or the ‘City of Tehzeeb’. 

It is no exaggeration to call the capital of Uttar Pradesh, one of the finest cities of  the country in terms of mannerisms and culture. The culture of Lucknow has a great feel and is an amalgamation of complete sophistication, warmth, manners (etiquette), courtesy and a fine taste in standard of living. Many cultural traits of the city have become the landmarks of ‘Tehzeeb’.
 

The heritage of Lucknow not only excels in culture but has shown a profound presence in dance, music, literature, Urdu poetry, drama and food. Lucknow's Awadh cuisine is world renowned and has a unique nawabi style attached to it. Some of the major highlights of the list being Kormas (gravies), Dum pukht Biryani and kebabs. Just looking at an elaborate layout of Lucknow cuisine will make your mouth water. The most famous of all dishes are the succulent Kebabs (pan fried meat balls) which Lucknow and its residents are proud of.

My today's post is a vegetarian version of the succulent and much celebrated Shaami Kebabs from Lucknawi Cuisine and is undoubtedly a show stopper in all the parties and get together at my place. The kebabs are rich in protein, flavorsome, loaded with spices and some of curd and melt in mouth delights, which makes this an apt introduction to all my readers to Swad-e-Awadh journey.

Ingredients:-

1 Cup Whole Bengal Gram (Kala chana)

4-5 cloves

2 Black cardamoms (seeds removed and crushed in mortar and pestle)

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste (roughly pounded in mortar and pestle)

1 inch cinnamon stick

3 tbsp curd (no hung curd needed here but then curd to be used must be stiff and should have no excess water. I used Mother Dairy curd)

1 tbsp of very finely chopped garlic 

1 tbsp of very finely chopped ginger

1/4 cup very finely chopped onions

2 tbsp of very finely chopped green chillies

2 tsp Garam Masala

Salt

Ghee for shallow frying on tava/griddle (You could use oil instead as well)

Steps to follow:-

1. Soak whole bengal gram overnight along with cloves, cinnamon stick and black cardamom crushed seeds

2. Next day, add the ginger garlic paste, garam masala, salt and pressure cook them with minimum water just to ensure that the lentils get boiled well but there is not too much water after pressure cooking.

3. Turn off the gas stove after 3-4 whistles. Let the pressure release on its own.

NOTE: Once you open the pressure cooker lid ensure that there is not much water. Boil in open till some water evaporates. Too much water will make the kebab dough watery.

4. Once the lentils are done, blitz them in a blender in batches along with the curd.

NOTE: Do not make its paste. Keep it a bit grainy as it will gives a good texture to the kebabs.

5. Transfer the lentil-curd mixture to vessel.

NOTE: If at this stage, you see the mixture to be runny, then heat a pan, simmer the gas and saute the mixture by constantly stirring it so that the additional water gets removed.

6. Add finely chopped onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies and some garam masala if needed still.

7. Mix all the ingredients well.

8. Now heat a pan and melt some ghee and swirl the pan so that the ghee spread across the pan.

9. Spoon out a mixture and place it on the tava/griddle.

NOTE: Do not overcrowd the griddle. You could put 4 at a time if using a bigger griddle else two at time. This will ease out the process of flipping the kebabs on the tava.

10. While the kebabs are getting cooked, keep the flame low-medium. Fluctuating in between the two as needed.

11. Add half teaspoon of melted ghee on the kebabs and flip them. Now let another side roast for sometime.

12. Once both the sides are done and well browned, transfer them to a platter and serve with mint chutney and sliced onions.