Spicy Kurkmura Mixture

We all love to have a little bit of crunchy, salty, spicy snack in evening. This recipe is way better than store bought and healthier as well.

Ingredients

Kurmura 1 big packet
Corn flakes 1 packet
Peanuts 3 cup
Chana dal or dalia 1 cup
Curry leaves 5- 6 spring
Uncooked rice 2 tbsp
Oil

Dry spices
Chili powder 1 tsp or to taste
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Amchur powder 1/2 tsp
Hing 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp or to taste
Sugar 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Roast rice and let it cool
2. Grind roasted rice with dry spices
3. Taste and adjust spices as needed and keep aside
4. In a pan heat oil and fry below ingredients , one at a time, 
1. Peanuts
2. Chana dal (If you use dalia, no need to fry)
3. Curry leaves till crispy
4. Corn flakes, if not crispy
5. In the end in remaining oil fry kurmura and corn flakes so that they become hot and oily and spices stick to them
5. Mix all ingredients in a big bowl while kurmura is hot
6. Let it cool and store in air tight container

Easy Quesadilla

This is an easy peasy mexican Quesadilla  recipe. Its got lots of cheese and sourcream so I prefer to go the fatfree variety but still tastes good.

Ingredients

corn-bean salsa - store bought from walmart

1 medium onion chopped

1 bell pepper chopped

salt as per taste

pepper as per taste

sour cream as per taste - I use the lighter variety

Flour tortilllas

shredded cheese - I use Krafts 4 blend fat free cheese 

olive oil

Method:

1. Stir fry onion and bell pepper for 3-4 minutes with a sprinkle of salt
2. In a vessel, make filling mixture by mixing together salsa, onion- pepper fry, salt, pepper and sour cream.
3. Heat tortilla in pan with olive oil on both sides
4. Apply thin layer of sour cream on 1 side
5. Put cheese on one half of the tortilla
6. Spread filling mixture on top
7. Top with cheese
8. Fold the tortilla
9. Heat in low till cheese melts

Tip:

Add stir fried, shredded chicken in filling mixture if you crave for a chicken quesedilla!

Chicken/Fish Cutlet

This is a very tasty recipe for making cutlets. My mom makes beef and chicken cutlets. I have ventured to try fish and vegetable ones too. They are yummy and like they say, no one can have just one.
Ingredients:

1. 2 big size potatoes mashed
2. Bunch of cilantro
3. 6 green chilies
4. 1 onion finely cut
5.  2 cup ground chicken or beef OR 2 cans tuna
6. 1 tsp red chili powder
7. ¼ tsp turmeric powder
8. 3 egg whites
9. 4 bread slices
10. Oil
11. Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat the bread slices in microwave till they become stiff. Grind them in grinder to make breadcrumb powder. The powder should be fine.
2. Fry onion and green chilies. Add chili and turmeric powder.
3. When onion turns transparent, add tuna/chicken/beef and fry till cooked/done. Keep aside for cooling it down.
4. Mix this fried mixture with mashed potato, cilantro and salt to make dough.
5. Divide the dough to make oval shaped patties with this dough. Size is around 3“ long and ¾ “ thick. Press it in centre to flatten it a bit.
6. Roll this patty in egg white and then in breadcrumb powder. Make sure that the patty is coated completely in this powder. To make crunchier cutlets, repeat this step.
7. Deep-fry the patties till the color turns golden brown.
8. Remove the patty from oil, strain oil and place them on tissue to remove excess oil

Serves 4
Serving suggestion: Serve hot with tomato ketchup

Kaala Channa fry

I like to make this very simple, savory dish on days that I feel like snacking all day!

Ingredients:
1 cup black chick peas (Kaala chana)
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 pinch asafoetida
4-5 curry leaves
3-4 green chilies
1/4 tsp sugar/jaggery(optional)
2-3 tbsp fresh/frozen coconut
A little oil
Salt

Method:

1. Soak the legumes overnight 
2. Discard water and pressure cook them till they are soft.
3. Heat oil and add mustard seeds. 
4. When they start popping, add curry leaves, green chilies, asafoetida. 
5. Now add cooked chane, salt, sugar/jaggery and cook for 5-6mins. 
6. Garnish with coconut, mix well and serve.

Sheera

Sheera is one of the few sweet dishes I love. The combination with Kaala chana fry and Puri is palin awesome! I distinctly remember having this at a pooja where kids were invited. The taste from childhood still lingers...

Ingredients
1 cup sooji
¾ cup sugar
3 tbsp ghee
1 cup milk
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
¼ cup cashew pieces, toasted
2-3 cardamom pods (lightly crushed)
pinch of saffron
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Method:

1. In a flat pan on medium high, heat the ghee and add the semolina when just melted.
2. Keep stirring continuously so as not to burn, til the semolina turns light brown in color and a nutty fragrance is emitted.
3. Add the raisins. This may take up to 5-6 minutes.
4. Simultaneously on another burner gently bring the milk to a low boil
5. Add the saffron and let it seep for 5 minutes.
6. Add the warmed saffron milk slowly, while stirring, to the toasted semolina, raisin and ghee mixture so as not to form any lumps.
7. Stir to combine well, reduce the heat to low, cover and let simmer for 4-5 minutes.
8. Stir and add the sugar, nuts, freshly grated nutmeg and the cardamom pods.
9. Cover and let cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Kanda Aloo Poha

This is a tasty Maharashtrian snack that is made from beaten rice (poha).

Ingredients:

4 cup poha (beaten rice)
1 onion (kanda)
1 potato (aloo)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
4 green chillies
curry leaves
4 tbsp grated coconut
4 tbsp cilantro (coriander leaves)
4 tsp lemon juice
salt to taste

Method:

1) Cut potato into 1" cubes and half-cook them till just about tender (around 5 min in microwave)
2) Heat mustard seeds in oil till they splutter. Add chillies and curry leaves. Fry for a minute
3) Then add onions and fry them till they turn brown. Add turmeric and red chilli powder.
4) Then add half-cooked potatoes and fry them till they are done.
5) Soak poha in water for about 2 minutes.
6) Add poha and mix carefully, so that poha is not mashed. Cook for about 2 mins.
7) Add a dash of lemon juice and salt to taste
8) Garnish with grated coconut and cilantro

Tip: Green peas can also be fried along with potatoes.

Serves 4
Serving Suggestion: Serve with tea

Vegetable Cutlet

This is a very tasty recipe for making cutlets. My mom makes beef and chicken cutlets. I have ventured to try fish and vegetable ones too. They are yummy and like they say, no one can have just one.

Ingredients:

1. 2 big size potatoes mashed
2. Bunch of cilantro
3. 6 green chilies
4. 1 onion finely cut
5. 2 cup finely cut vegetables (peas, cauliflower, beans)
6. 1 tsp red chili powder
7. ¼ tsp turmeric powder
8. 3 egg whites
9. 4 bread slices
10. Oil
11. Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat the bread slices in microwave till they become stiff. Grind them in grinder to make breadcrumb powder. The powder should be fine.
2. Fry onion and green chilies. Add chili and turmeric powder.
3. When onion turns transparent, add vegetables and fry till cooked/done. Keep aside for cooling it down.
4. Mix this fried mixture with mashed potato, cilantro and salt to make dough.
5. Divide the dough to make oval shaped patties with this dough. Size is around 3“ long and ¾ “ thick. Press it in centre to flatten it a bit.
6. Roll this patty in egg white and then in breadcrumb powder. Make sure that the patty is coated completely in this powder. To make crunchier cutlets, repeat this step.
7. Deep-fry the patties till the color turns golden brown.
8. Remove the patty from oil, strain oil and place them on tissue to remove excess oil

Serves 4
Serving suggestion: Serve hot with tomato ketchup