Bread Vada - Spicy Bread Donut

Today, I am sharing a quick and easy snack, Bread vada..As in a name,this snack is made with bread and combined another ingredient which is shaped into medu vada ( uzhunnu vada) or donut...This snack is suitable for those who wants to have quick snack and it can be made for few minutes..You can make this snack for iftar too..It tastes crunchy and delicious..Off to the recipe..

Recipe source : here

      Ingredients

• Bread slices ( white,brown or whole meal) - 5 to 6 slices
• Yogurt - 1/2 cup
• Semolina ( rava or sooji) - 1/2 cup
• Rice flour - 1/4 cup
• Onion,chopped - 1 small 
• Curry leaves,chopped - 1 tsp
• Coriander leaves, chopped - 1 tbsp
• Chopped green chillies - 1/2 to 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Ajwain ( carom seeds) - 1/4 tsp ( optional)
• Salt - to taste 
• Oil - for deep frying

     Method

• Cut the bread into small pieces and combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and make into dough..

• Divide the dough into small equal parts..

• Take one dough and gently press and make a large hole in the middle like medu vada or donut as shown in the picture..Repeat with other balls..

• Deep fry the bread vadas till both sides are golden brown..

• Drain into kitchen paper towel and serve it with chutney or ketchup..

    Notes

• You can also add spice powders according to your requirement.

Vegetable Fingers

Today, I am sharing healthy and easy vegetable snack, Vegetable Fingers..As name suggests, this contains lots of vegetable and spice and taste delicious too..As Ramadan is approaching near,you can try this snack for iftar or tea tea time snack..This snack is shallow fried in very little oil..Its good for kid who don't eat vegetable..Off to the recipe.

    Ingredients

• Boiled Potatoes - 2 medium
• Boiled Carrot - 1/2 of one large carrot.
• Boiled green peas/frozen peas - 2 tbsp
• Boiled beans (chopped) - 3 to 4 no,s
• Chopped green chillies - 2 no.s
• Chopped onion - 1/2 of one small onion
• Chopped garlic - 1 tsp
• Fresh/Dry Fenugreek leaves ( Methi leaves/Kasoori methi) - 1/2 tsp
• Pepper pdr - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric pdr - 1/4 tsp
• Kashmiri/red chilli pdr - 1/2 tsp ( optional)
• Garam masala pdr - 1/4 tsp
• Amchoor pdr ( dry mango pdr) - a pinch ( substitute with few drops of lemon juice)
• Chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
• Bread slices - 2 no.s ( grounded into fine powder)
• Salt - to taste

    Method

• Mash the vegetables and combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and roll into finger shape..

• Heat very little oil in a frying pan and fry all the vegetable fingers till light brown on all sides..

• Serve hot with tomato ketchup or any sauces or chutneys of your choice..

    Notes

• You can add desired vegetables of your choice..

• You can adjust the spice powders according to your requirement..You can also ignore some ingredients which is not there in your pantry..

• Make sure when you boil vegetables,strain the water completely..There should not be any water content in vegetables,otherwise it will break when frying...

• If you can't shape it, add little more bread crumbs and shape again..

Homemade Mango Ice Cream

Mango is the national fruit in many countries like India,Pakistan,Bangladesh,Philippines and many other countries..There are different varieties of mango available in SM and Hypermarkets like Badami mango, Alphonsa Mango,Kesar,Pakistani mangoes etc..Mango is commonly called as 'King of Fruits'..Its a mango season for few months.. mango is my favorite fruit and I used to buy lots of mango in nearby supermarket..Sometimes I do convert mango into shake,lassi (yogurt smoothie)or dessert..Today, I am sharing a tasty and creamy homemade ice cream...Its so delicious with lots of fresh mango flavor and you don't need to buy anymore store bough ice cream...Its so easy to make homemade ice cream,but it takes more time to set..I made this ice cream before..There are many methods of making homemade ice cream in google..But now I am sharing a creamy texture of ice cream which I found somewhere in google...I am so amazed by its taste..My son loves my ice cream very much..I made this ice cream without ice cream making machine.I use electric beater or blender to make this ice cream...Lets go the recipe..Do try my other mango recipes:
mango lassi, Tender Coconut-Mango Smoothie and Mango Cheesecake.

     Ingredients
       Yields: 1 ltr Ice cream

• Fresh Ripe Mangoes - 3 medium ( I use alphonsa mango)
• Milk powder - 3/4 cup ( I used tea cup measurement)
• Milk - 1 cup ( I used tea cup measurement)
• Sugar - 1/2 cup ( I used tea cup measurement)
• Mango Essence/Vanilla essence - 1 tsp (optional)
• Whipping cream - 250 ml

    Method

• Peel the skin and discard the seeds of mangoes..Cut into pieces and keep aside.

• In a blender, add mango pieces, milk powder, milk, sugar, mango/vanilla essence ( optional) and blend into smooth paste..

• Keep the bowl and electric beater blades in a freezer for 10 minutes..Then take out and beat the cold whipping cream till stiff peaks forms..

• Add blended mango mixture into the whipped cream and fold it.

• Pour the mixture into a container and cover tightly with a aluminium foil or plastic wrap..You can use any large container with tight lid and keep it in a freezer..

• After 1 hour,take out the ice cream container and beat ice cream again with a electric beater or swirl lightly with a fork..Transfer these into container again,cover tightly and freeze it..

• Again after l hour, beat again and continue the step..Repeat this step three times..It is beaten three times in order to avoid forming of ice crystal..

• Freeze it for 6 hours or overnight...

• Take out the ice cream ,scoop and serve into ice cream bowls..

•  Enjoy eating this tasty creamy homemade ice cream..You can serve it with a pinch of saffron  and chopped mangoes ( optional)

     Notes:

• Better use fresh ripe mangoes to make this ice cream..Do not use overripe or under ripe mangoes in making ice cream,as it will not taste good.

• If using ice cream machine, no need to beat three times..But,if you are using electric beater or blender,you must beat the ice cream three times,after each l hr to avoid forming of ice cream crystals.

• Always pour the ice cream mixture into container with a tight lid or cover the container tightly with aluminium foil or plastic wrap..Do not keep it in a freezer uncovered as ice crystals will form in top.

• Instead of mango, you can add any seasonal ripe fruits of your choice or you can make it plain without adding any fruits..

Murgh Makhani - Butter Chicken

Today, I am sharing a famous and everyone's favourite tasty chicken curry,Butter Chicken..'Murgh' in Hindi means Chicken and 'Makhani' means Butter..This dish origin is in Punjab,India..According to Wikipedia, this dish is first cooked in restaurant chain , 'Moti Mahal Delux' which is introduced by Kundan Lal Gujral and Kundan Lal Jaggi..It also said that this curry is cooked to serve foreign guests who don't like to eat spicy curry..Gravy which is combined with spices is pureed in order to form thick consistancy..It has a final garnishing of cream and butter is added in order to reduce the spiciness..Hence it is called Butter Chicken..
In Butter Chicken,Boneless or Bone in chicken is marinated with yogurt and spices,which is kept for hours or overnight..Traditionally,Chicken is cooked in Tandoor ( Clay oven)..Most of the household don't have tandoor, so grill is used..I heard from other sources that butter chicken is made with left over tandoor or grilled chicken..The grilled chicken is cooked in gravy which consists of whole spices, onions,tomatoes and spice powders which are sauted in butter and pureed into thick paste..Some may add cashew paste for thick gravy..Finally it is garnished with cream and a dollops of butter for richer gravy..That makes the curry taste and it is not much spicy..It may be the reason butter chicken is favourite among foreigners too..
Infact,butter chicken is tasty and rich curry too..It might not be good for cholesterol patients and those who are health freaks ;)..But doesn't matter, if you prepare once in a while or if you have guests..Its not very difficult to make..Everyone has their own method for making this curry,but the basis of preparation will be same..I read the recipes from various sources and finally I have my own idea of making it..I had made it many times and it is hit among my family..Do make this curry and impress your family..Ok,Lets go to the recipe :)

Cute paper flower gifted by son's nursery at Mother's day 

     Ingredients 

       For Marination;

• Boneless Chicken/ Bone-In - 500 to 700 gm, cut into medium-small pieces
• Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp
• Yogurt - 2 tbsp
• Kashmiri Chilli pdr - 2 tsp heaped
• Turmeric pdr - 1/4 tsp
• Garam masala pdr - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin pdr - 1 tsp
• Coriander pdr - 1 tsp
• Kasoori methi  ( dry fenugreek leaves) - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - as required
• Lime juice/Vinegar - 1 tsp

       For Gravy

• Butter - 2 tsp + a dollop for garnishing
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Cardamom - 2 no.s
• Bay leaf - 1 no. broken into pieces
• Cinnamon - a small pc
• Cloves - 3 no.s
• Onions, roughly chopped - 3 medium
• Red Tomatoes,roughly chopped - 2 large
• Garlic,roughly chopped - 4 large no.s
• Kashmiri Chilli  pdr - 1 tbsp
• Coriander pdr - 1 tsp
• Turmeric pdr -  a pinch
• Kasoori methi - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Cashew nut paste - made from 5 to 6 cashew nut ( optional )
• Cooking Cream - 1/4 to 1/2 cup + few drops for garnishing.
• Chopped coriander leaves - required for garnishing

      Method

• Marinate the chicken as mentioned in 'For marination'  for 6 hours in a refrigerator or overnight for best results..This step is a must as it makes this dish tastier..

• Grill the chicken in a grill pan or oven till 80 percent cooked..Remaining it will cook on gravy..If you don't have grill never mind..You can shallow fry chicken pieces in a fry pan by adding little oil or butter..Take out the chicken pieces and keep aside..

• In a wide pan or kadai, heat butter in a low flame till melted..Add all the whole spices from ' cumin seeds' till 'cloves' and let it splutter..

• Add onions and saute till it changes colour..Add garlic and tomatoes and saute well for few seconds..

• Add mentioned spice powders and kasoori methi and saute well..

• Off the flame and set aside to cool completely..

• Blend the cooled mixture into thick paste..

• Switch on the flame again, add pureed thick paste in a kadai and saute for few seconds..Add 1/4 cup of water to loosen the gravy..

• Add grilled or shallow fried 80 percent cooked chicken pieces.. Cover and cook the chicken in a medium flame for 5 mins..

• Add cashew nut paste ( if using) and cook for few seconds..Add salt of your taste..

• Add cooking cream and cook in a low flame for 1 second..After adding cream,do not cook for more time otherwise cream will curdle..switch off the flame

• Finally add chopped coriander leaves and a dollop of butter..Cover it for few minutes to infuse flavour..

• At the time of serving drizzle few drops of cream to look attractive..

• You can add it with a combination of poori,battoora,appam,plain rice,ghee rice,chappati etc..

       Note:

• I strongly recommend to use kashmiri chilli powder to make this curry..It is not spicy and it gives nice red colour to this curry..I normally use homemade kashmiri powder which is made by my MIL in Kerala..I don't buy readymade kashmiri pdr..Ready made kashmiri pdr may be mixed with ordinary red chilli pdr and they do add preservatives..

• Most of the restaurant will add red colour to the curry to look attractive..I don't use any artificial colour in my cooking..Colour of K.chilli pdr gives nice colour to the gravy which is enough for me..Colour of the butter chicken gravy will be orange or orange red in colour..

• Some may blanch the tomatoes and make tomato puree seperately..I don't use this step..I saute the onions and tomatoes and spice powders together and puree it..It not only saves times it tastes delicious too..

• If you don't like to cashew nut paste and cream, substitute it with almond paste and little milk..

Crispy Nutella Cookies

Today, I am sharing one of the easiest  homemade cookies, Crispy Nutella Cookies..These cookies are thin in shape and crispy as in the name..This cookies are so tasty,you don't need to buy any more store bought cookies..These cookies are simple to make..It contains only 4 ingredients,which is easy to remember..I made these cookies second time :)..
Do make these cookies in large quantities and keep it in airtight container..As Nutella is one of the kid's favourite, I am sure they will love to eat these cookies too..Lets go to the recipe..

I made these cookies before ( Second pic)

      Ingredients

• Nutella ( Chocolate -Hazelnut spread) - 1 Cup
• All Purpose Flour - 1 Cup
• Large Egg,beaten - 1 no.
• Powdered White or Brown Sugar - 1/4 to 1/2 Cup ( I reduced to 1/4 cup,as Nutella contains sugar, which is enough for me)

       Method 

• Preheat oven to 180 degree C..Grease the baking sheet with oil or line it with parchment paper..

• In a bowl, mix all the ingredients one by one and mix all together with a large spoon,stand mixer or hand till it resembles smooth dough..

• Divide the dough into walnut or small lemon sized balls..Do not roll into large balls as cookies will increase the size while baking..

• Place all the balls in a baking dish..Leave distance with each balls in order to give space to enlarge while baking..

• Press each balls with a back of a glass slightly to form disks..

• Bake it in a oven for about 12 mins..Leave it in a oven for about 5 mins..Then, take out from the oven and leave it outside to cool for few second..Then take each cookies carefully and place it in a rack to cool completely...Cookies will turn crisp when it cools completely...

• Transfer it into airtight container..

• Serve it with a glass of milk or a cup of tea or coffee..

Homemade Beef Stuffed Buns

I am sharing a recipe of perfectly baked,soft and tastiest home made bun which has a stuffing of beef masala..My first attempt of baking bun is a flop..But when I tried second time, bun is perfectly baked and I am proud of it..I got the recipe from here and followed a basic of making bun,it turned successful,but I make my own filling..Making of bun is not very difficult,but you have to follow each method carefully..

Its much better than bakery bun..This is one of the tastiest and soft bun I ever tasted..I made these for dinner..My hubby and bro in law loves my bun very much..Next day, we had remaining for breakfast.

Lets move to the recipe..

Recipe Courtesy: Adapted from here ( bun dough)

    Ingredients

       For Bun Dough

• All Purpose Flour - 2 1/2 Cups
• Active Dry Yeast - 1 1/2 tsp
• Lukewarm water - 2 tbsp
• Sugar - 2 tsp
• Lukewarm Milk - 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup ( required for kneading)
• Veg Oil - 3 tbsp
• Egg - 1 beaten 
• Egg White - from 1 egg, for egg wash
• Sesame seeds - required for sprinkling

        For Beef Masala

• Chicken/Mutton/Beef - 200 gm shredded ( cooked with pepper,chilli,coriander,turmeric pdrs and salt)
• Onion,chopped - 2 medium size
• Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Chopped green chilly - l large
• Tomato sauce - 1 tbsp
• Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric pdr - 1/4 tsp
• Kashmiri chilli pdr - 1 tsp
• Chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
• Chopped curry leaves - 1 tbsp

     Method:

         Lets start the bun dough first:

• Add yeast and sugar in a luke warm water ( not boiling hot water,otherwise yeast will be killed) and set aside for 10 mins and cover..After 10 mins yeast will ferment and mix well..Keep aside..

• In a large bowl, add 1 cup flour ( do not add entire flour in one go),salt,veg oil and make it into a smooth paste...

• Add beaten egg,yeast mixture and another 1 cup of flour and knead by adding little lukewarm milk...Add remaining flour and lukewarm milk little by little and knead well for few minutes till you get a smooth dough without any cracks.(.If your dough is too sticky, add very little flour and knead again..If your dough is too dry, add very little lukewarm milk and knead again).. 

• Cover the dough with a large plate or plastic wrap and keep it in a warm place for 2 to 3 hrs till the dough double in volume..

          Lets make Beef Masala at this time:

• In a fry pan, heat oil and add 'chopped Onion' till 'tomato paste' and saute one by one..

• Add all the spice powders and chopped coriander leaves and saute well till raw smell goes away..

• Add cooked meat and saute well.

• Finally add chopped curry leaves and sprinkle little garam masala powder and switch off the flame and set aside to cool..

      Preparation of Bun

• Punch the double volume dough and knead again for few sec..

• Divide the dough into medium sized balls...I got about 9 buns..

• Flatten each balls into circles with your palm and add 1 1/2 tbsp beef filling each,,..Pinch the dough from all sides and re-shape into balls..

• Place the buns in a oil greased baking dish .. place pinch part of bun at bottom of baking dish..

• Brush all the buns with egg-white and sprinkle sesame seeds on top of it..

• Keep the buns aside for 15 to 20 mins to rise ..

• At that time, Pre heat the oven to 180 degree Celsius for 15 mins...

• Place the baking tray with buns in a oven and bake for about 15 to 20 mins till top of the bun turns brown in colour or click  'bread' button if you are using convection oven and adjust weight accordingly

• Immediately brush oil on top of all the baked buns to prevent drying..

• Serve warm with salads of your choice...

       Notes:

• While kneading the dough for any bread, please note that do not add all the flour in one ago and add flour little by little and knead till the dough is soft..

• Please make sure that if you are using active dry yeast ( yeast granules) it should be proofed in lukewarm water not boiling hot,otherwise yeast will get killed..Make sure that yeast should be brand new and do not use yeast which is near to expiry date,it will not proof..If using Instant yeast (powdered proofed yeast), no need to soak in water as it is already proofed,add it directly to the dough and knead ..

• Instead of All purpose flour you can add mixture of Whole wheat flour and All purpose flour...You can make with whole wheat flour too,without adding all purpose flour..Texture of whole wheat bun is dense in texture and it might not be too soft in the case of APF..

• Always add lukewarm milk/water to knead the dough of bread..

• You can make any filling for bun according to your spice level and taste,,You can also make plain buns without any filling..

Peanut Butter- Nutella Thumb Print Cookies ( Flourless Cookies)

Hi..I noticed that I didn't share the recipe of any of the cookies in my blog..Reason is that I rarely make any cookies and my hubby is not a sweet tooth either..Me and my kid is just opposite of him:). I decided to share a recipe of one of the homemade baked cookies, Peanut Butter- Nutella Thumb Print Cookies..As a name suggest,this cookies is definitely a combination of peanut butter and nutella,..Earlier,I shared these combination in the form of brownie,which is mentioned here...The base of this cookie is peanut butter which is filled with a dollop of Nutella in center..Unlike other cookies, it does not contain flour and is baked twice..My son is fond of Nutella,but not peanut butter..I decided to make peanut butter and nutella combination in the form of cookies...Finally, I decided to try this cookies,which is found here..Its name, attractive and mouthwatering looks of cookies tempted me to try this recipe..These cookies not only looks attractive,but tastes very delicious..Its very simple to make ..Do try these cookies and give feedback :)

Recipe Courtesy: here

     Ingredients:

• Creamy or Crunchy Peanut Butter - 1 Cup
• Brown/White Sugar - 1 Cup
• Egg beaten - 1 Large
• Baking Soda - 1 tsp
• Salt - 1 tsp
• Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp
• Nutella - required for filling

      Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius.

• In a bowl, add all the ingredients from 'Peanut butter' till 'Vanilla essence' and mix well with a spatula or a large wooden spoon and make it into a smooth dough..

• Divide the dough into walnut or goose berry shape balls..Do make into large balls, as cookies will enlarge while baking..Press each balls lightly with your palm..

• Keep these balls in a greased baking dish..Make sure to keep 1 inch distance from each cookies as cookies need space to enlarge while baking...

• Bake these cookies for 8 to 10 mins..

• Take the cookie tray from the oven, make a impression ( holes) with a back of half tsp measuring spoon or with your thumb ( make sure not to burn your thumb :P ) in the center of each cookies..

• Drop a small dollop of nutella inside the impression of each cookies..

• Return the cookie try back to the oven and bake for another 2 to 4 mins till golden brown..

• Take out the tray from the oven and set aside to cool..Take out the cookies carefully and place it in a rack to cool completely..Make sure to cool the cookies completely, so it will turn crisp..

• Store it in a airtight container,when it cools completely..

• Have it with a glass of milk, tea or coffee..Enjoy..

      Notes

• Original recipe said to make it with creamy peanut butter..But I used crunchy peanut butter as I liked to have a bits of peanut..

• Cookies may feel soft when you take out from the oven..Do not worry, it will harden and turn crisp when it cools down completely..