Food for the Soul...

Soul Food...

Will start with recipes who are very close to ones heart...usually the chatpati ones that remind you of good old days..Happy eating :)

Chole Bhature:

Its the staple food for any north indian home..yummy and delicious one cannot go wrong with kids on this one

Chole
1 cup kabuli chana (white chick peas), soaked overnight 1 tea bag or tsp tea leaves , tied in a muslin cloth (optional) 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) 1 onion, finely chopped12 mm (1/2") piece of ginger, grated2 cloves of garlic, grated2 tsp chole masala 2 tsp chilli powder 2 tsp dried mango powder (amchur) 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi) 1 tbsp coriander (dhania) powder 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) powder 2 tbsp oil salt to taste

Bhature
1/2 cup plain flour (maida) 1/2 cup potatoes, boiled and grated 11/2 tbsp oil Oil for deep-frying

Method

Chole

Pressure cook the Kabuli chana with the tea bag for 3 whistles until they are soft . Drain and keep aside. Discard the tea bag. Heat the oil in a pan, add the cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the onion, ginger and garlic and sauté till the onion is golden brown. Add the chole masala, chilli powder, amchur, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin seed powder and salt and sauté for another minute. Add the Kabuli chana and 1 cup of water and mix well. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Bhature

Combine the flour, potato, 1½ teaspoons of oil and salt and knead into a firm dough without using any water. Knead the dough very well till it is smooth Cover with a wet muslin cloth and rest the dough for 10 minutes Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and roll out into circles of 125 mm. (5") diameter. Deep fry in hot oil till the bhaturas puff up and both sides are golden brown.

Serve hot with the chole, sliced onion and lemon wedges.

Pav Bhaji....

Another hit dish, specially with kids. I have this dear friend who is a pav bhaj aficionado... she can eat pav bhaj...morning, noon and night. This is for her from me....

Ingredients:

Pav Buns - 10
Onions - 2, finely chopped,
Coriander Powder - 2 tblsp
Tomatoes - 2 cups, finely chopped
Cumin Powder - 1 tblsp
Potato - 2 cups, cooked and mashed
Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Peas - 1/2 cup, cooked
Pav Bhaji Masala - 1 tblsp
Green Beans - 1/2 cup, finely chopped
Coriander Leaves - 1 cup
Cabbage - 1 cup, shredded
Lemon Juice - 1 tblsp
Capsicum - 1/2 cup, chopped
Ginger - 2 tsp, grated
Garlic - 1 tsp, crushed
Green Chillies - 2, finely chopped
Water - 1/2 cup
Salt as per taste

Method:
1. Add onions to hot oil and fry till pink.
2. Add garlic and fry for a minute.
3. Add tomatoes, salt, coriander powder, cumin powder and chilli powder.
4. Stir for a minute.
5. Add the other ingredients and cook on low heat for 5 minutes.
6. Cook chopped vegetables except capsicum, covered for 5 minutes on medium heat.
7. Mash well.
8. Add 1/2 cup of water and simmer.
9. Add chopped capsicum.
10. When all the vegetables are well mixed, garnish with coriander and lemon juice.
11. For the pavs, slit the pav buns horizontalls from the middle.
12. Apply butter on the cut surface and fry in hot pan.
13. Remove when it is golden brown.
14. To serve, sprinkle chopped onions, coriander and pav bhaji masala over bhaji.
15. Serve hot with pav buns.

Pizza...

I guess there is hardly anyone in India who is not affected by the Pizza culture...from the bachelors to the kids, all love the yummy and delicious pizzas that come in 30 minutes. Instead of the Dominoes and the Pizza Huts of the world, why not try and make some yummy and delicious right at home. You can substitute vegetables with Non- Veg of your choice...enjoy eating

For the Base:

100 gm flour (maida)
30 gm butter
100 gm potato
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Sauce4 tbsp readymade tomato puree
½ tsp garam masala
½ tsp coriander powder
¼ tsp Oregano
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp chilli powderTopping
50 gm cheese
½ medium onion (thinly sliced)
½ medium capsicum (thinly sliced)
1. Put the potato in a polythene bag and Micro high for 2 ½ minutes.
2. Mash the cooked potato to a smooth paste. Keep aside to cool.
3. Rub butter into the flour till it resembles breadcrumbs.
4. Add mashed potato, baking powder and salt.
5. Knead to a dough using a few tbsp cold water.
6. To prepare the sauce, mix all the ingredients.
7. Roll out pizza dough and spread out in the dish.
8. Spread the sauce on the base, leaving ¼" space all around.
9. Micro high uncovered for 6 minutes.
10. Mix a little salt to the onion and capsicum. Sprinkle this mixture on the pizza.
11. Grate cheese over it. Micro high uncovered for 1 minute
1) Preheat oven to 480 F (250 C)
2) Spread Pizza sauce evenly over Pizza base
3) Then sprinkle little Cheese
4) Rub gently little salt to all cut vegetables. Spread these vegetables over Pizza base
5) Then add Marinated Paneer Pieces and sprinkle remaining cheese
6) Bake for 7-8 minutes or until surface become very light brown.

Vegetable Chowmein...

Whenever i think of street food, i invariably think of Momos and Chowmein. Staying in Delhi, i used to find ample opportunities to savor the yummy Chinese from the road side thela...its no where near hygienic, yet it always tempted me to take a bite...try this Chowmein...just for old times sake...cant guarantee a street taste...but close enough...ENJOY

Ingredients:
1 Packet Noodles
1 Onion Sliced
1 Capsicum Sliced
1 Cabbage Shredded
1 Carrot Sliced
1/2 cup Beans Chopped
2 tbsp Soya Sauce
1 tbsp Vinegar
1 tbsp Chili Sauce
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp Pepper Powder
2 tbsp Oil

Method :

Boil Noodles in enough water. Take care do not overcook. Strain Noodles through cold water 2-3 times and drain water and set aside, add few drops of oil to the noodles to avoid sticking. Heat oil in a wok and add sliced onions and stir fry for 20-30 seconds, add all other vegetables and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper and mix well. Now add boiled noodles and mix well (take care that noodles don't break) . Add vinegar, chili sauce and soya sauce and stir fry for a minute. Serve the vegetable chowmein hot. Note : According to taste vinegar, soya sauce and chili sauce can be increased or decreased.