Happy Makara Sankranthi, Pongal & Lohri

"Gova kane ani chane dali Go'd khichidi" or Broken Wheat and Split chickpeas dessert is normally made during festivals especially during "Sankranthi" festival.
Its easy to make.... 
Like most Konkani/South Indian desserts, this khichidi/dessert is best served with ghee...
My Mom is an expert at making this, and recently I learnt from her.

#Happy Ganesh Chaturthi (Gowri Ganesh Festival Special)

Happy Gowri Ganesh festival to you in advance.I am going to be really busy for the next few days making preparations for the festival puja and bringing together all that is needed to cook this delicious festive lunch.
Here is what I cook on Ganesh festival day every year.

If you wish to cook any of these dishes for #ganeshchaturthi, please click on the names of the dishes to go to the recipes.

• Phagila Phodi
• Alasande Upkari
• Bhenda Sagle
• Jeev Kadgi Bajo
• Batate Phodi
• Pathrode
• White Rice
• Dalithoy
• Tomato Saaru
• Go'd Phovu
• Madgane'
• Patholi

I will be posting recipe "Tomato Saaru" soon.

Dish # 451 - Grill Dill Wings

Dill Grill Wings... my very own recipe... simple yet lip smackin' good...Grilled so healthy too... A good evening starter using Dill leaves and Chicken Wings.
Dill helps reduce Depression and lowers Cholestrol.
This is a simple dish which is quick and easy to make... the longer the marination better the taste...

Ingredients:

Chicken wings - 500 gms
Dill leaves - 5 tbsp
Garlic finely chopped - 5 tbsp
Red Chilly powder (Kashmiri/non spicy one) - 1 or 2 tbsp
Lemon juice - 1 tsp
Salt to taste

Method:

Prepare the marinade by mixing all the ingredients except the chicken wings in a small bowl. Then marinate the chicken wings with this marinade for minimum 2 hrs in the fridge. But keeping the wings marinated overnight in the fridge will further enhance the taste.
Pre-heat the Grill (Electric or Gas or Bbq grill) and grill until done. For even better taste, brush with butter while grilling. Serve hot garnished with Dill leaves.

Dish #450 - Chilly Mushroom (Andhra Style)

I know its been a few months since I blogged a new recipe...
After I moved to this new project, travel has taken precedence over cooking....
From April 2017 have been travelling a lot....eating a lot of new and amazing dishes....but somehow not finding time to cook a new dish or blog it..
Have been getting a lot of requests from friends and followers to put up a new recipe so here goes...
Chilly Mushroom....the very name gives a tinging feeling to your palate...yes its totally yum...a very easy dish to make...with a little influence from the Indian state of Andhra...yes I have used Gongura leaves to give that boost....The potential of the "Green Chilly" is fully realized in this recipe.

Dish #449 - Moong Dal Halwa or Split yellow gram dessert

A favorite at home...easy to make and today was the perfect occasion for this...."Mother's day"...
Of course my mom's moong dal halwa is the best...but I have made this using her own recipe so undoubtedly this is also very good :-)

Dish #448 - Cheesy Soya Pepper Cups

An easy to make snack which you can also make as one of the dishes on your Sunday brunch... 
This dish is especially for those who don't like the taste of soya but want to eat it.
Soya Chunks are also famous with the name of Soya nuggets, nutri nuggets, soy chunks and soy nuggets. Soya chunks are odourless and tasteless food item, but this unique food is highly nutritional and full of rich proteins.
Soya nuggets is a wonder beans for the grown-ups and teenager. Soya chunks are extremely high in protein.They are pure vegetarian beans, hence good choice for the vegetarians and rich in protein diet and essential for complete nutrition. It is proven a healthy food item for young as well as for old people. It is unproblematic food item, especially for diabetics and heart patients. Soya nuggets provides a good amount of vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein for growing children. Soya contains high amount of fiber, it helps in loosing weight as well. It's one of the best non-fish sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids, that can help in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Soy protein can provide positive results for people with high blood pressure.

Ingredients:
Colored Bell peppers - 4 (yellow, red, green)
Soya chunks - 500 gms - minced
Onion - 1 large - finely chopped
Tomato - 1 large - finely chopped
Garlic - 4 cloves - peeled and finely chopped
Ginger - 2 inch piece - finely chopped
Green chilly - 1 - finely chopped
Coriander leaves - 1 handful - finely chopped
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Red chilly pepper - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon - 1 - juice
Oil - 1 tbsp
Cheese - of your choice which can be easily grated

Method:
Wash the bell peppers and cut into halves so that they resemble cups. Remove the seeds from inside and apply little salt and lemon to the inner part of the bell peppers and keep aside.
Take a large frying pan, add the oil, fry cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, green chilly and onions till onions become translucent. Then add the tomatoes, salt to taste, red chilly powder and the minced soya chunks. Saute' well, switch off the heat and allow to cool a bit. 

Now fill the bell pepper cups with the soya mince, arrange the cups onto a baking tray or dish, generously grate cheese and bake in oven for 10 mins and then grill for 5 mins till the cheese melts and golden.

Serve hot.

Dish #447 - Makki ki Roti, Sarson ka Saag

I don't know why but I find the state of Punjab very intriguing.....the culture, the people and most importantly the punjabi food...now after our visit to Punjab loved the Golden's temple's serenity, the beautiful sarson ke kheth/mustard fields, the golden wheat fields, the warm hospitality, the cool and refreshing lassi, the yummy Beera chicken, the crispy Makhan fish and the golden Makai ki roti and sarson ka saag...(Indian Corn/Maize bread served with Punjabi mustard leaves curry).
Here is the authentic recipe which I got from one of my Punjabi friend's mom.

Ingredients:
Maize flour (makai ka atta) - 2 cups
salt to taste
maize flour (makai ka atta) for rolling
butter for smearing

Method:
Combine the maize flour and salt and knead into firm dough using enough warm water.
Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into 10 equal portions and roll out each portion into a 125 mm. (5") diameter circle with the help of a little maize flour for rolling.
Heat a non-stick tava (griddle) on a high flame and when hot, place the roti gently over it.
Cook it till small blisters appear on the surface. Turn over the roti and cook for few more seconds.
Cook it on an open flame till it puffs up and brown spots appear on both the sides.
Repeat with the remaining dough portions to make 9 more rotis.
Smear butter on top and serve hot.

Ingredients:
Mustard leaves (sarson ke patte) - 5 cups washed and chopped
Spinach (palak) - 5 cups washed and chopped
Green chillies - 1 1/2 tbsp. roughly chopped
Oil - 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 tsp
Garlic (lehsun) - 1 tbsp finely chopped
Ginger (adrak) - 1 tbsp finely chopped
Onions - 1/2 cup finely chopped
Asafoetida (hing) - 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder (haldi) - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander-cumin seeds (dhania-jeera) powder - 1 tsp - optional
salt to taste

For Serving
makai ki roti

Method:
Boil enough water in a deep non-stick pan, add the mustard leaves, spinach and green chillies, mix well and cook on a high flame for 4 to 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
Strain using a strainer and drain well.
Refresh it twice in enough cold water immediately and drain well again. Keep aside for 2 to 3 minutes to cool slightly.
Blend in a mixer to a coarse mixture using ½ cup of water. Keep aside.
Heat the oil in a non-stick kadhai and add the cumin seeds.
When the seeds crackle, add the garlic, ginger and asafoetida and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds.
Add the onions and again sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the mustard leaves-spinach mixture, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
Serve hot with makai ki roti.