AALU KA HALWA (POTATO HALWA)

This halwa used to be one ofmy favourite childhood delicacies. Even today i am in love with this simple dish that has a real good taste and a smooth texture. And yeah, the melt in mouth factor is something to add to its taste.You can make this during fast too.

INGRIDIENTS:
1/2 kg mashed potatoes, boiled
1/2 cup ghee
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp chopped pistachio (for garnishing)

RECIPE:
1. Heat ghee in a wok.
2. Add potatoes to it and roast it for about 20 mins. Keep stirring it continuously till potato mixture leaves sides of the wok.

Stage 1

Add Sugar

3.Add sugar,mix it well and roast it for 2-3 mins.

Ready to eat

4. Garnish with pistachios and serve hot.

STUFFED GARLIC BREAD (IN KADHAI)

Hello visitor, now you and your kids don"t need to visit any pizza store to have your favorite garlic bread ( that too stuffed with cheese and veggies....it tastes yumm i know 𝩀) as you can make the same or even better version and that too in a kadhai. Have a look at the recipe and enjoy making it :)

 Makes 2 breads

INGRIDIENTS:-

1 & ½ cup all purpose flour

¾ cup water

1 tsp active dry yeast

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3-4 tsp garlic, grated

2 tsp oil

1 tbsp oregano

½ tbsp chili flakes

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

For filling

1 cup chopped vegetables (onion, bell pepper, carrot, corn, mushroom etc. )

Salt to taste

½ tsp black pepper

¼ tsp garam masala

1 tbsp oil

For garlic butter

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp garlic, grated or chopped

RECIPE:-

1. In a bowl, add warm water, sugar and yeast.

2. Keep it aside for 5-10 mins. It will become frothy at top.

3. To knead the dough, add flour, salt, garlic, yeast-water mixture and form soft dough.

4. Brush the top of dough with oil and keep it covered in a warm place for about an hour.

5.To make filling,heat oil in a pan, add chopped vegetables and salt, saute for 5 mins, add black pepper & garam masala and keep it aside.

6. Punch the dough and smoothen it.

7. Now divide the dough in 2 parts. Spread flour on table top and roll the dough into a round base about ½ centimeters thick.

8. Spread prepared garlic butter on it using brush. Add grated cheese and prepared filling onto half side of base.

9. Brush little water on edges and seal both ends.

10. Place butter paper on a round plate. Shift the bread onto the plate and keep it covered for 10 mins.

11.To make bread in kadhai, add sand to it and keep a round stand in between.

12. Cover the wok(kadhai) and heat it on medium high flame for 10 mins.

13. Now, brush the top of bread with garlic butter and sprinkle oregano and chili flakes (as much as you like 😉) and make marks using knife.

14.Place the plate on the stand in the wok.

15. Cover it with a heavy utensil and let it cook on medium high flame for about 15-20 mins.

16. After the bread has been cooked raise the flame to high and check it after every 5 mins to get perfect golden brown color.

17. Brush the top with leftover butter and serve hot.

NOTES:-

1. You can try different variations of filling in this bread.

2. To prepare the bread in oven, bake it at 180*C for 15 mins.

EGGLESS FRUIT CAKE

Egg-less cakes are a boon to vegetarian families. But instead of trusting on expensive cake shops, here is something that is completely trustworthy and even more delicious. So try out this egg-less version of fruit cake that is filled with juicy fruit and nutrient rich-nuts.

INGREDIENTS:-
1 Basic Eggless Sponge Cake
200 Gms Amul Cream
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 Cup Chopped Nuts
1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup Tutty-Fruitty
Chopped fruits to decorate the cake (Orange,grapes,plums etc.)
4 tbsp Sugar Syrup

RECIPE:-

1. Take the sponge cake and even out its top side. Now slice it in two equal rounds using bread knife.
2. To make icing, take a large bowl and add some ice to it. now take the whisking bowl,place it in the  larger bowl and whip cream till it reaches a thick consistency.
3. Add powdered sugar to it and mix sugar using cut-and-fold technique
4. Place whipped cream in the fridge to allow it to set for about 1/2 hour.
5. Take a cake slice and spread half of the sugar syrup on it. now spread a layer of whipped cream on  it and level it.
6. Spread chopped nuts, chocolate chips and tutty fruity on he cream layer.
7. Now place another cake slice on it. Spread whipped cream on this layer as well as on the sides of    the cake.
8. Even out the cream using pallet knife or a spatula.
9. Decorate with fruits and nuts and whipped cream flowers.

NOTE:-

1. Prepare the cake base a day before to cool it completely before cutting.
2: Place the whisking bowl and whisker in the freezer for about 1/2 an hour before whipping the cream.

EGGLESS SPONGE CAKE

Of course you need to start with a perfect sponge cake as a base for a perfect cake.And yeah a major problem with most of vegetarian bakers like us is the "egg" (I mean baking a perfect cake without egg :P). So for all the baking lovers here is an easy and perfect egg-less sponge cake recipe.
Just go on with it.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup All purpose flour (Maida)
1 tsp Baking powder
1/4 cup Butter
3/4 cup Powdered sugar
1/3 cup Yogurt
1/4 cup Water
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/8 tsp Salt (Just a pinch)

Make sure that ingredients like butter,yogurt and water are at room temperature.

METHOD:

1. Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder ,baking soda in a bowl and keep it  aside.

2. In a large bowl, add butter and powdered sugar. Mix well.
3. Add yogurt. Mix well.

4. In the meantime grease the cake mold with oil/butter and preheat the oven for 10 minutes.
5. Now add the flour mixture (half at a time) to the wet mixture. Mix well. Add the rest of the dry  mixture. Mix it. Now add water and salt to it. Mix it well.
6. Add vanilla essence. Mix the batter well and transfer it to the cake mold.

7. Tap the cake mold 2-3 times to remove any air bubbles for an even baking. Put it in the oven and bake at 180*C for about 25-30 minutes.
8. When done let it cool completely and then decorate it the way you like. Enjoy :)

NOTES:

1.You can add nuts to enrich its taste. But don"t forget to coat them in all purpose flour before adding them to the batter.
2.Baking time and temperature varies according to your oven type.So adjust them according to you oven.
3.Check the cake in-between and also turn the mold sideways for even baking at all sides.

COLD PASTA SALAD

This pasta salad made using beans(rajma) and veggies is very easy to prepare and tastes refreshing. I tried making a healthier version of this by using curd and very little mayonnaise. Try this healthy cold salad to beat off the heat.

INGREDIENTS:- 
2 cups boiled pasta

Pasta,kidney beans,tomatoes,potatoes and curd mixture.

1 cup boiled kidney beans(rajma)
1 cup potatoes, cut into cubes
1 cup tomatoes, cut in cubes
1/4 cup hung curd
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp powdered sugar  
1 tsp oregano (optional)          
1 tbsp chopped coriander  (for garnishing)


METHOD:-
1. In a bowl, add hung curd,mayonnaise,sugar and all the spices and mix well.
2.Take a large size bowl and add potatoes, tomatoes, kidney beans and curd mixture to it. Mix it well.
3.Add pasta and toss the salad well. Keep it in freezer for 15 mins.
4.Garnish it with coriander and oregano and serve cold.

NOTE:-
1.Use fresh curd to make this salad.
2.While boiling pasta, add some salt and oil to it.

HONEY CHILLI POTATOS

Here is a quick recipe for a delicious crispy snack.

Serves-4

INGREDIENTS:-

3-4 large size potatoes
2 tsp salt
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp cornflour

For the sauce:-

1 tbsp Oil
2 tsp Garlic paste
1 tsp cornflour
2 tbsp Honey
1 tsp Soya sauce
1 tbsp Tomato sauce
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper
1/2 tsp Garam masala

METHOD:-
1.Cut potatoes in finger shape and dip them in salty water for about 1/2 hour.

2. Now drain the water and empty the potato pieces on a dry cloth.

3. Place the potatoes in a bowl and spread cornflour, red chilli powder and salt over them and mix well.
4. Now fry the potato fingers till golden brown in color.
5. For the sauce, heat oil in a pan, add garlic paste and roast it well for 10-20 seconds.
6. Now add cornflour to 1/2 cup water and add this to the pan.
7. Add rest of the ingredients and stir it well and add fried potato fingers to it.
8. Mix it well and serve hot garnished with sesame seeds and coriander leaves.

CORN CHEESE BALLS

A Yummy snack prepared in very less time and thoroughly enjoyed by both adults and young ones.
Treat the cheese lover in you with this cheesy snack.

Preparation Time: 20 mins
Serves:16-20 pieces


INGREDIENTS:-
3 tbsp All purpose flour
1 cup Frozen corn
1/2 cup Cheese,grated
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Green chilly,chopped
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
1/2 tsp Garam masala
1/4 cup Milk
Oil, for frying
Bread crumbs, for coating

METHOD:-
1.First soak frozen corn in warm water for 10 mins and then chop them finely.
2. In a bowl, add all purpose flour, cheese, corn, green chilli, salt, red chiili powder, garam masala and mix them well.
3.Make small balls of this mix. Heat oil in a wok. Dip the balls in milk and then roll them in bread crumbs evenly.
4.Deep fry them and serve hot with ketchup.

NOTE:-
1.You can use any cheese you like, either processed or mozzarella (i used mozzarella)