Samosa/ Banarasi Samosa Chaat

I don’t think there is anybody who doesn’t like ‘Garama-Garam Samosas’!! ❤️❤️…my personal favourite among all the ‘desi’ snacks!! 

Crispy…golden brown….& piping hot. Stuffed it’s some spicy potatoes & green peas. Earthy flavours within a light, flaky outer coating! 😬

These flavours are once again, typical from my family’s hometown..’Varanasi’/ ‘Banaras’ and are smaller in size as you can see. They are made in almost the same way all over U.P. and the adjoining areas. Flavours of Garam Masala & asafoetida (hing) are very dominant. Besides, we don’t add peanuts or raisins in the stuffing. But you can do so if you like😊

And then…comes the Chaat! 😜😜😜 Benarasi Chaat is very famous…and the flavours are unbeatable😁😁’Chaat Bhandaars’ (shops) dot the map of this Holy City🙏 So when it comes to samosas…they add lots of tang and flavour to it…chickpea curry (Mattra), chutneys…chopped onions, some broken Sev top the samosa👌👌😋 it’s finger-licking good☺️☺️

Doesn’t this make you drool!? My Mom makes the best Samosas and Banarasi Samosa Chaat..and today I am sharing her recipe here…😄

Let’s start the recipe..

️Yield: 12 medium samosas

Equipment: a wok, a pan, rolling pin, measuring cups/ spoons, a slotted ladle, extra spoons & plates as needed, a pressure cooker.

Ingredients:

For the dough:

2 cup Maida (APF)

2 tbsp warm ghee

1 tsp ajwain (carrom seeds)

salt to taste

water as needed

Method:

Mix all the ingredients except the water in a bowl. Rub the ghee with the Maida for at least 10 mins as this gives very good, flaky samosa. The texture will resemble breadcrumbs. Then add little water at a time and make a semi-stiff dough. Let it sit let for a minimum of 30 mins.

For the stuffing:

3 nos. boiled and chopped potatoes

1 cup green peas

1/2 tsp hing

1 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp chopped coriander leaves

1 tsp each of coriander pwd, cumin pwd (Jeera pwd), red chilly pwd, Garam masala.

1/2 tsp amchur pwd (dry mango pwd)

A pinch of turmeric pwd

salt to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a pan, add hing & cumin seeds. Once they splatter, then add the potatoes and green peas. Sauté for 5 mins. Then add the dry masalas and season with salt. Cook for 5 mins. Turn off the flame. Add coriander leaves & mix well. Let the stuffing cool completely before proceeding ahead.

Assembling the samosa:

Make a lemon sized ball of the dough…divide the dough similarly. Now roll each ball to a thickness of about 3mm. Not more. Cut the the rolled dough into two half circles. Make a cone of each half. Seal it carefully. Add the stuffing into the cone…about 1 tbsp in each cone or little more.

Then close the third side of the cone well. Use some water to seal the dough well. Repeat for all the dough. Keep aside for 20 mins before frying them.

Next, heat enough oil in a wok to fry the samosas. Once the oil is hot enough, reduce the flame and drop 2-3 samosas into the oil. Deep fry them at low flame to get crispy & well cooked samosas.

Once done, remove from the oil & drain on some tissues. Serve them piping hot with dips/ chutney of your choice☺️

Now…if you are want to serve it as a Chaat…

Ingredients for the Mattra:

1 cup dry, white chickpeas

3 cup water

salt to taste

1 tsp roasted Jeera pwd

1 tsp Deggi mirch

1/2 tsp chaat masala

Method:

Soak the chickpeas for 5-6 hours. Then add the soaked chickpeas in a pressure cooker with some salt & 3 cups of water. Cook for 4-5 whistles. Let the steam release on its own. Then add the other masalas mentioned above and mix well. That’s it.

Plating for the Chaat:

Take 2-3 samosas, break them into pieces. Add the mattra, chopped onions, Sev, tamarind chutney, green chutney & chopped coriander leaves over the pieces of samosa. Squeeze some lime juice! That’s it…enjoy it warm😊😊

Well…I am drooling again! So it’s time I go and gorge on some of this awesome food! 😜

Love,

Shreya💕

Do check out authentic Litti Chokha too!

Litti Chokha Bhune Tamatar ki Chutney aur Dhaniya Lehsun ki Chutney

Litti Chokha is a very common street food in Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh too! And we basically hail from U.P….so it’s obvious that our love for this kind authentic food is very strong😁

I remember visiting my Grandma’s place during winters…sitting On the terrace and enjoying the chilly weather while my Granny and my aunts would make these yummy Littis and Chokha..so warm and full of flavour!

Spicy chutneys would accompany them…Bhune Tamatar Ki Chutney and a fiery Dhaniya aur Lehsun ki Chutney! I can’t forget the flavours..the filling of the Litti would be so rustic and earthy. Every bite would taste different 👌☺️

These recipes have been in my family for ages and are passed on to every generation! Although the recipe is pretty much the same in every family in the region.

Here’s my Mother’s recipe which she learnt from her Mother..my Granny😘 …I am sure you will love it.

Yield: serves 2-3 persons (8-9 Litti)

Equipment: a large mixing bowl, measuring cups/ spoons, 3-4 extra mixing bowls, ladles and spatulas, a pair of tongs, a wired roasting rack, a baking tray, a cooling rack.

Ingredients for Litti:

2 cup wholewheat flour

Salt to taste

2 tbsp warm ghee

1 tsp carrom seeds (ajwain)

Water as required to knead the dough

Method:

Take all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, add the ghee and mix everything well. Then using little water at a time, make a semi stuff dough. Cover it and set it aside while we continue with the stuffing.

Ingredients for Stuffing:

1 cup sattu (roasted chickpea flour, available in stores. But we use only homemade)

Salt to taste

Oil from mango pickle to taste

1 tbsp chopped green chillies

1 tsp chopped coriander leaves

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 tbsp lemon juice

A pinch of hing (asafoetida)

3 tbsp raw mustard oil (use any other oil if you like, but mustard oil gives the authentic taste)

1/2 tsp grated ginger

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients well in a bowl. Set it aside for the sattu to absorb the flavours.

Assemble the Litti:

Divide the dough in equal parts. Flatten each part a bit and fill a tbsp orso of the filling like we do for Parathas. Make sure the outer layer isn’t too thick else it won’t cook through. Seal the Litti well. Repeat for the entire batch of dough. Set the stuffed Litti aside. You can cook them in a Tandoor. But I do it this way…check the below pic…it’s self explanatory. Cook all the Littis this way on each side for about 4-5 mins in low flame.

That’s the Litti done! 👌👌

Ingredients for Chokha:

3 nos. boiled, peeled & mashed potatoes

Salt to taste

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 tbsp chopped green chilli

1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

2 tbsp mustard oil (use it raw, or heat it well…cool & then add it)

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl. Set it aside. It’s always served at room temperature. Not hot.

Ingredients for Bhune Tamatar ki Chutney:

4 nos. tomato (roasted)

1 tbsp grated ginger

1 tsp chopped green chilli (roasted)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Salt to taste

2 tbsp mustard oil (use it raw or heat it well…then cool & add it)

Method:

You can roast the tomatoes in the tandoor or open flame (my mom does it on an open flame). I do it in the oven, so preheat the oven to 200’c. Prick the tomatoes a few times, apply oil on them ..do the same with one green chilli too. Place these on a greased or foil lined baking tray. Bake for 35 mins using both upper and lower heating coils/ rods at 200’c.

Cool them well, remove the peel from the tomatoes. Mash them roughly, chop the roasted chill too. Mix tomatoes with all the other ingredients well. Set it aside. Chutney is ready. (The roasted garlic is not used in this chutney, but do roast some. We will need it soon. Also, remove the green chilli & garlic pods within 15 of the baking time to avoid burning them. Continue to roast the tomatoes for the rest of the time)

Ingredients for Dhaniya aur Lehsun ki Chutney:

1+1/2 cup clean and chopped coriander leaves

4-5 nos roasted and peeled garlic

1 nos chopped green chilli

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 cup sliced onion

Salt to taste

1-2 tbsp water

1 tsp lemon juice

Method:

Grind all the ingredients in a blender, except the lemon juice. Add the juice post the chutney is ready. Mix well. That’s it!

(My Granny always made the chutney on a Sil-Batta, ‘Sil’ is a traditional stone board and the ‘Batta’ is a heavy stone batten which crushes the ingredients…you get an awesome taste of the traditionally pounded chutney 😊)

Now, serve these together as shown in the pic below along with some onions and mooli (radish) and some green chillies..👌👌😋 break open a Litti…put some Choka over it..and dip it in the Chutneys..and do not forget to bite into one of the chillies…I am drooling again😜

Hope you liked this traditional touch from my kitchen….it’s a must try for everyone….😀
Love,

Shreya💗

Paneer Bhurji/ Paneer Pav Bhaji/ How to make Paneer Bhurji

Paneer Bhurji happens to one of my many quick fixes during weekdays…like Besan Wale Shimla Mirch Aloo😬 Also, it happens to be my hubby’s and my favourite! We both enjoy this for breakfast with some toast or even for lunch or dinner with hot Phulkas or Paratha! Such a great combo…served with some sliced onions and a squeeze of lime juice..👌👌😋 

This one even gets packed for his lunch box! At times, I stuff the leftovers between two slices of Wholewheat bread, toast it and slather the sandwich with some spicy garlic chutney! Another way you can serve it is by pairing it with some warm, buttered Pav, like Paneer Pav Bhaji…because the ingredients are the same😉😉

My mom makes a very delicious version of this Bhurji, but my version is slightly different. Actually you can also make egg Bhurji using this recipe! You will hardly take 30 mins to prepare this …let’s get started..

Yield: serves 2

Equipment: a wok, measuring cups/ spoons, a ladle.

Ingredients:

200 gms paneer (cottage cheese)

1 nos onion finely chopped

1 nos tomato finely chopped

1 nos capsicum finely chopped

2 tsp green chilly-ginger-garlic paste (ggg paste)

1/2 tsp red chilly pwd

1/2 tsp degi mirch pwd

1/4 tsp turmeric pwd

1 tsp roasted cumin pwd (bhuna Jeera)

1/4 tsp coriander pwd

1 tbsp pav bhaji masala

salt to taste

chopped coriander leaves as needed

1/4 tsp lemon juice

2 tbsp oil/ butter (I usually use butter😁)

a pinch of asafoetida (hing)

Method:

Crumble paneer properly and set it aside.

Heat oil in the wok, add hing next. Let it sizzle for a minute, add the onions next. Let the onions sauté for for 2-3 mins so that they turn translucent. Then add ggg paste and again cook it for 2 mins. Add the capsicum and all the dry spices except pav bhaji masala. Also, season with salt. Sauté these together for the next 5 mins or until the capsicum turns soft. Then add the tomatoes and Pav bhaji masala.

Sauté for 5 mins, the tomatoes should be cooked and turn soft and pulpy. Add the crumbled paneer and mix well. Mash the paneer with the masalas nicely. Cook covered for about 2-3 mins. Turn off flame, add coriander leaves and some lemon juice 👌👌 that’s it! Ready…enjoy!

You can also try my Pav Bhaji recipe!

Common, try this out soon…you will love the lip smacking flavours!

Love,

Shreya💞

Adapted from Tarla Dalal

Masala Puris with U.P. Style Aloo Dum / Spicy Indian Fried Flat Bread with North Indian Style Potato Side Dish

 Happiness is making perfect puffed, round Puris! 😀💕 And mopping it up with spicy Aloo Dum…!

I love Puris! Well, who doesn’t?! 🙌 Ever since we were kids, Puris were a staple during festivals, weddings, poojas… for breakfast or lunch boxes.. Basically, what I mean is that Puris are very accommodating…LOL!

So I made these for my Holi lunch with a spicy, rustic & flavourful Aloo Dum …in U.P. Style (potatoes cooked with onions and earthy spices in mustard oil) ….that’s because we are from U.P. Besides, for me, no festivities are quite over until I have Puris 💖 😬

So this time I made Masala Puris ( wheat flour along with some Indian spices ) to go with my Aloo Dum, the recipes of which obviously I have learnt from my mom! Who else?! And her Aromatic Garam Masala spice mix for the Aloo Dum! ❤️ and served them with some Dahi Wadas! Super duper hit pairing and my hubby was floored! 😍 We certainly did over eat ..hehe! Anyhow…time for the recipe 😛

Here’s my Mother’s recipe…

Yield: 15-17 Puris & 2 servings of Aloo Dum

Equipment: 2-3 large bowls, blender, 2 woks, 1 large ladle, 1slotted spoon, rolling pin, knives & peelers, measuring cups / spoons, kitchen towel

Ingredients for the Puris:

2 cups wholewheat flour

3 tbsp oil

1 tsp each red chilli pwd, cumin pwd

1 tsp crushed kasuri Methi

1 tsp crushed coriander seeds

1/4 tsp amchur pwd

1/2 tsp turmeric pwd, hing (asafoetida), ajwain (carrom seeds)

salt to taste, water to knead the dough

oil for frying the Puris

Method:

In a large mixing bowl mix together all the dry ingredients first. Add 3 tbsp oil to the dry ingredients and make a semi stiff dough using water. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and set aside for a minimum of 30 mins.

Now, make 15 – 17 equal portions of the dough and using the rolling pin, roll the dough in circular shape of about 3-4″ diameter. Do this for the entire batch. Next, heat the oil in the wok on a high flame, the oil needs to be very hot for frying t he Puris. Now check the heat of the oil by dropping a bit of the dough in the oil, if it immediately springs back up in the oil, start frying the Puris. Drop them one by one into the oil and gently nudge them to puff up and flip them over on the other side. They should each take about less than 30 secs if the temperature is correct. They need to turn light golden and puff up completely! That’s it…they are done! Best served piping hot! 😀

Ingredients for the Aloo Dum:

3 nos large potatoes peeled, washed & cubed

1 nos each bay leaf, black cardamom

1″ pc cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida)

1 tsp Aromatic Garam Masala pwd

salt to taste

8-9 tbsp mustard oil (optional, use whatever oil you prefer)

For the masala paste:

2 nos large onions peeled and sliced

1 nos tomato

5-6 nos garlic cloves peeled

2″ pc ginger peeled

2 nos green chillies

1 tsp each of coriander pwd, cumin pwd, red chilli pwd, turmeric pwd

2-3 tbsp water for blending

Method for the Aloo Dum:

Heat the oil in a wok until smoking point and then cool it down a bit (mustard oil). Shallow fry the cubed potatoes until crisp and golden. Set them aside. Save the oil.

Make a paste of the above mentioned ingredients for the masala using little water. Reheat the oil left in the wok after frying the potatoes and add the whole spices. Sauté for a min and proceed to add the paste. Cook the paste on a low flame for 12-15 mins or until the oil separates from the spice paste. Now add salt and aromatic Garam masala. Sauté once again for a few mins & then add the fried potatoes to the wok and mix everything gently and keep sautéing for another 7-10 mins. You may add some water to correct the consistency of the gravy although I prefer keeping it on a semi dry side. Once done, turn off the stove..and garnish as you prefer. Serve with hot Puris! ☺️

Hope you will try these recipes soon and fall in love with the flavours!!

Love,

Shreya 💞

Rava Laddoo / How to make Rava Laddoo

I always make these laddoos for nearly every festival in my home…and it’s so easy and fuss-free! My absolute favourite! 😁 So this time around, I’ve made it for Diwali! 🎊🎆 

These laddoos are moist, soft and slightly chewy...given that they are made of condensed milk. Too easy to make…if I must say! There is no chance that one can go wrong…I have made these so many times…that I have actually lost count😀

This is not a family recipe, because my Mom makes them in a different way….very tedious according to me! So I have never even attempted her recipe to this day😜

This recipe requires very little prepping…let’s get started..

Yield: 12 medium laddoos

Equipment: a non-stick wok/pan, measuring cups/ spoons, a spatula.

Ingredients:

1+1/2 cup Rava (sooji/ semolina…I used the fine variety)

1/2 cup desiccated coconut

1 cup condensed milk

2 tbsp ghee

a pinch of cardamom pwd (Elaichi pwd…optional)

garnish as per your choice…I used some strands of saffron

Method:

Heat ghee in a nonstick wok, add the Rava and roast it until it becomes slightly golden, it takes about 5-6 mins on medium flame. Then add the desiccated coconut into the roasted rava, further roast them together for 5 mins. Then add cardamom pwd (optional) & the condensed milk. Mix everything well on low flame and cook for about 5 mins, you will then see the mixture coming together like a thick dough. Turn off the flame.

Let the dough cool down for 10 mins. Grease your palms with some ghee and make laddoos with the dough. Keep the laddoos in the fridge for 15 mins. Then remove them from the fridge and re-shape them so that they are nice and round. That’s it! Done😉 they keep well for 4-5 days even without refrigeration. Enjoy!

If you wish, you can fried raisins and nuts too in the dough and make laddoos…but I like them plain! 😋

Yummy all the way!

Love,

Shreya💓

Adapted from My Kitchen Tweets

Khasti Mathri/ How to make Khasti Mathri

I am sure Diwali means a lot sweets and savouries to everyone! The same goes in my family too…I have to make Chaklis, Besan Laddoo, Kaju Katli, Kurkuri Masala Puri, Instant Doodh Peda and much more at home each year😁

And my hubby loves all of them! But among savouries, he likes the typical North Indian Khasti Mathri best😘 Infact, it’s the first thing that gets over followed by Kaju Katlis😛

I too enjoy them…particularly with some spicy Chutney! Wow! Totally lip-smacking😄..and trust me, making Mathris is very easy, pretty much every family follows a similar recipe. I have grown up eating them and hence find my Mom’s recipe the easiest to follow. Mathris can be flavoured as you like with different spices and stuff but I like keeping mine simple! And they are so crispy on the outside, and flaky on the inside…one bite & they just melt in the mouth! That’s how they should be…’Khasti’!

Let’s get on with my Mother’s recipe…

Yield: 12-13 medium sized mathris

Equipment: a large wok, rolling pin, rolling board, a knife, a mixing bowl, a slotted spatula, measuring cups/ spoons.

Ingredients:

250 gms APF (Maida)

salt to taste

8 tbsp warm ghee

1 tbsp nigella seeds (kalonji, you can use any other spices or masala as per your choice)

water as needed (I used about 1/4 cup)

oil to fry

Method:

Take all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, add warm ghee. Now rub these ingredients together for 10-15 mins, they should resemble breadcrumb like texture. This will make the mathris Khasti. Once that’s done, add water little by little to make stiff dough. Knead the dough for a few mins, cover it & set it aside for 15 mins (since I was in a rush today, I did not follow this step but still managed to get Khasti Mathri).

After 15 mins, knead the dough again for 2 mins. Then divide the dough to make equal sized balls. Using a rolling pin, roll them to a thickness of 1/2″ and prick them all over with a knife on both sides. Repeat this step for the entire batch of dough. Next, heat sufficient oil a wok to fry.

Once the oil is hot enough, reduce the flame to low and start frying 2-3 mathris at a time. Do not fry on high flame, the mathris won’t crisp up & will be raw from inside as well. Once they turn golden brown on both sides, remove from the oil & drain on kitchen tissues. Repeat for the entire batch of the rolled mathris. Cool them completely before storing in air tight containers. They keep well for 8-10 days.

That was super easy & quick! Enjoy these with tea too for some light evening snacking😀

Love,

Shreya💗

Masala Sev Recipe/ Kara Sev Recipe

Sweets go well with savoury snacks! Hence, I have made some spicy and flavourful Masala Sev for Diwali🎊🎊 you can even make some Chaklis, Kurkuri Masala Puri or Maska Mathri! These are very easy to do..and so delicious 😁😁 I can’t stop munching on them…😉

Although my mom used make these during Diwali, I never learnt to make them from her! Lol! And understanding how to go about these on a phone call isn’t my cup of tea…😝🙏🙏 so I looked everywhere and found a very good recipe with perfect instructions! Just what I needed! They are crispy and quite spicy….perfect when you have binging on sweets on day long!

I could make them very easily on my first attempt almost 2 years ago…each year I add different spices to make it in different flavours. Here I will share a basic version, however, you can make alterations in the spices to your liking. Let’s get started…

Yield: 1 large bowl

Equipment: kitchen press, a wok, a slotted spatula, a mixing bowl, measuring cups/ spoons.

Ingredients:

1 cup Besan (chickpea flour)

2 tbsp refined oil

A pinch of hing (asafoetida)

1/2 tsp red chilli pwd

1/2 tsp black pepper pwd

1/2 tsp turmeric pwd

1/2 tsp roasted cumin pwd

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp citric acid pwd (optional)

Salt to taste

oil to fry

lukewarm water as needed

Method:

Take besan in a mixing bowl, add all the spices and season with salt as well. Give it a mix. Add the oil and use lukewarm water to make a loose dough. The dough should be softer than that of roti (the dough should feel slightly sticky when u touch it, I used about 1/2 cup water). Let the dough rest for 30 mins.

Heat sufficient oil in a wok for frying.

Then, after resting it for 30 mins, fill the kitchen press with the dough and fit the plate with larger holes for thick Sev (see the pic above for reference). And slowly drop the dough into the hot oil from the press.

Fry the sev on medium flame until it turns golden brown. Remove from the oil and drain it on kitchen tissues. Repeat for the remains dough too. That’s it….it’s ready 😬 I usually serve these with some mango pickle! Tastes really yummy👌

These keep well for 10-15 days in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Love,

Shreya❤️

Adapted from Nisha Madhulika 

Chakli/ Murukku/ Rava Chalki

Diwali means unlimited munching to me! 😬😜 yes…ever since I was a kid…my mom would make yummy sweets and savouries…and we would go on munching and making merry:):)… And I too make a lot of stuff for Diwali each year…as my hubby also loves homemade sweets & savouries…😘

So, I started a tradition of making Rava Chakli/ Murukku last year along with Masala Puri for Diwali. Almost every household, across India makes some or the other version of Chakli. These Chaklis are so crispy and crunchy…just perfect, no-fail recipe 😁…But sweets are always loved right…something delicious and easy to do like these Kaju Katli or Besan Ke Laddoo ;)👌👌 these are always on the menu too😋

The recipe is very easy, let’s get started..

Yield: 20-22 medium Chaklis 

Equipment: a kitchen press (chakli maker), a mixing bowl, a saucepan, a slotted spatula, a large wok, measuring cups/ spoons.

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour

1/2 cup fine rava (semolina)

1/4 cup Besan (chickpea flour)

1 cup water + 3 tbsp

1 tbsp hot oil

salt to taste

1/4 tsp rock salt (kala namak)

1/2 tsp red chilli pwd

a pinch of asafoetida (Hing)

1/2 tbsp roasted cumin pwd

1/2 tsp cumin seeds (Jeera)

oil to fry

Method:

Boil 1 cup of water in the saucepan, then add rava and cook it, make sure it is without any lumps. Now, add rice flour, besan , salt to taste, kala namak, red chilli pwd, roasted cumin pwd, cumin seeds, hing and 1 tbsp hot oil to the cooked rava. Give them a mix. Add a little water and make a soft dough. Let the dough rest for 15 mins.

Then, make the Chaklis using the chakli maker on a plate or aluminium sheet. Heat sufficient oil in the wok. Once it’s hot enough, lower the flame and start frying the chaklis on medium flame. Don’t fry on very high flame, else they will remain raw from inside. Fry 3-4 chaklis at a time, don’t overcrowd the wok. Let them turn golden- brown in colour on both sides & drain them on kitchen tissues.

Store them in airtight containers, they stay fresh for 8-10 days.

Enjoy them soon.

Love,

Shreya💓

Adapted from Let’s Cook!

Paneer Lababdar & Wholewheat Tava Naan

I am a big of restaurant style gravies for various dishes. They are thick, luscious and really very flavourful. Specially Paneer (Indian cottage cheese). Paneer Lababdar is one such dish, it has a decadence of its own! And when paired with some Wholewheat Tava Naan, this combination is truly something to die for!

If you too are fan of such dishes, then do try Reshmi Paneer or Dhabewala Palak Paneer 👌😉..easy peasy, mouthwatering dishes!!

The texture of Paneer Lababdar is very creamy and soft and that is why it’s very popular in restaurant menus… Indians love their Paneer…and loving this dish comes naturally to everyone. I too have often ordered this at restaurants alongside some Butter Naan or Tandoori Rotis (Indian flat breads). But since the Naan served in restaurant is usually made of Maida (APF), I always make a Wholewheat version at home…without any yeast or baking soda. Completely healthy! It’s soft and stays fresh for a couple of hours without turning chewy!! 💃

The recipe I have used is very easy and doesn’t require much prepping. I have made it many times…and it always turns out super delicious! You can say, it can make a perfect party meal if you’re having guests…they will fall in love with your cooking skills😁

Lets start the recipe…

️Yield: serves 2

Equipment: a non stick pan, a blender, measuring cups/ spoons, a rolling board, rolling pin, a pair of kitchen tongs, a small saucepan, a pan for making the naan, a large bowl.

Ingredients for Paneer Lababdar:

For the sauce: 

2 nos tomato chopped

4-5 nos cashew nuts

2″ piece ginger

4-5 pods garlic

2 nos cloves

2 nos green cardamom (choti elaichi)

1/2 cup water

For the main dish: 

200 gms cubed paneer

2 tbsp grated paneer

1 nos onion finely chopped

1 nos bay leaf

1″ cinnamon stick

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp coriander pwd

1/4 tsp turmeric pwd

1 tsp degi mirch

1/2 tsp Garam masala

salt to taste

1/4 tsp sugar

a pinch of asafoetida

2 tbsp butter (optional)

1 tsp oil

2 tsp fresh cream (I used Amul, you can avoid cream if you wish)

1 tsp kasuri Methi crushed

Method:

For the sauce: 

In a saucepan, add water along with chopped tomatoes, garlic, ginger, cashew nuts, cloves & green cardamom. Bring these to a boil until the tomatoes have cooked and become soft. Add 2-3 tbsp more water if needed to cook them. Once done, cool these and make a fine purée. Set it aside.

For the main dish:

Heat butter and oil in the pan (skip butter if you are calorie conscious, use a little extra oil instead), add the asafoetida, bay leaf and cinnamon stick, sauté them for a minute. Then add chopped onions and cook until it turns golden brown.

Once it’s golden brown, add the tomato-cashew purée and mix well. Keep cooking these together until the oil separates from the purée. This will take about 7-8 mins. Next add the coriander pwd, cumin pwd, degi mirch & turmeric pwd. Sauté them for about 5 mins. Also add salt, sugar & 1/4 cup water (if required) at this stage. Mix well and cook for another 5 mins on low flame.

Next, add the cubed paneer & the grated paneer. Stir well but carefully so that the paneer cubes remain intact. Cook for 5 mins. Now, add the crushed kasuri Methi, garam masala & fresh cream. Stir well. That’s it…serve it hot with Wholewheat Tava Naan ☺️👌

Ingredients for Wholewheat Tava Naan:

2+1/2 cup wholewheat flour (gehu ka atta)

water as required to make the dough

salt to taste

1 tsp ghee

4-5 tbsp water for sticking the Naan on the pan

1 tsp kalonji (onion seeds)

some loose wholewheat flour to dust

Method:

In a large bowl, add wholewheat flour and use a little water at a time to make a soft dough. Grease the dough with ghee well and let it rest for 30 mins.

Keep the pan to heat on low flame.

Next, make large balls using the dough (about the size of an orange, I could make 6 such balls), dust the ball with some flour. Using the rolling pin and board, roll this ball in oblong shape and about 5-6 mm thick. Sprinkle some kalonji seeds and press well with the rolling pin. Now, apply some water on the other side of the naan which isn’t covered with kalonji, and put the watered side down on the pan.

Cook for about 2 mins on medium flame, then using the kitchen tongs, remove from the pan and cook it on open flame on both sides like we cook phulkas/ rotis. Ensure the heat isn’t too high, else the naan will turn dark in colour but remain uncooked within it. That’s it, the naan will be ready in just 3-4 mins. Do the same for the remaining dough. Apply some butter before serving these hot! 👌😬

Perfect meal is ready! My hubby enjoys this so much😘

Love,

Shreya💞

Adapted from Veg Recipes Of India 

Karachi Halwa Recipe/ Cornflour Halwa Recipe/ Custard Powder Halwa/ How to make Karachi Halwa

Some sweets always make you wonder…how was this made?… How was the texture so?! So on and so forth. I too wondered about Karachi Halwa or Cornflour Halwa…until the day I found a recipe some months ago! 💃 

Diwali is around the corner and sweets are a must have! So this seems like a good option to try other recipes from my blog….Kaju Katli, Anjeer Burfi, Mava Burfi, Dhoodh Peda, Kesari Phirni.  

This recipe has been been sitting in my bookmarks ever since…waiting to be tried. But the timing never seemed right. So, when Diwali approached, I thought to myself that I should try it out soon..and the festivities around me seem like the perfect excuse to go for it! ☺️

The texture is so soft, and not at all heavy on the palate. Slightly chewy, as it should be…and the crunchy bits of cashews just adds more flavour to it 👌👌😊

I was pleasantly surprised to see that making it is absolutely hassle free…very little prepping is needed. It’s safe to say that it basically prepares itself! 😬😬😛 ..Let’s start the recipe..

Yield: 17-18 pieces

Equipment: a non stick pan, a wire whisk, measuring cups/ spoons, a tray, a sharp knife, a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cornflour OR vanilla flavoured custard powder

1+1/2 cups water

a few drops of food colour (I used Orange Kesari)

1+1/2 cups sugar

1 cup water

2 tbsp ghee

1/4 tsp elaichi pwd

3 tbsp chopped cashew nuts

a few slivers of pistachio to garnish

Method:

Grease a tray with some ghee and keep it ready to set the Karachi Halwa

In a mixing bowl, add the cornflour/ custard powder + 1+1/2 cups of water. Also add the colour and whisk these well. Ensure there are no lumps in the mixture. Set it aside.

Next, in the non stick pan, add the sugar & 1 cup of water. Turn on the heat and these melt together. Stir it with a wooden spoon a couple of times. This needs to be done on medium flame. There is no need to get any thread consistency here. Just that the sugar must melt completely and the mixture should be bubbly and frothy. It must thicken slightly and be sticky. Once such a texture is achieved, stir in the cornflour/ custard powder and water mixture in the sugar syrup while stirring all the time so that there are no lumps. In 3-4 mins, you will see that the mixture has started to thicken and has turned glossy in certain parts. Keep stirring continuously.

Now, add the elaichi pwd and the ghee too. Keep stirring and mixing everything together. The texture will thicken more at this stage and become gluey. It will take another 5-6 mins for this. You will see the mixture slowly leaving the sides of the pan. Keep stirring without stopping as this stage is crucial and if you don’t stir, you will end up with lumps all over. Now add the chopped cashews (you can fry and add these, I didn’t fry it). Mix in the cashews quickly. Now you will see that the mixture is beginning to set if you stop stirring it.

Immediately pour the mixture on the greased tray and flatten it out a little bit. Garnish it with some slivers of pistachio. And let it set for at least an hour, at room temperature for the first 20 mins and then in the refrigerator. Once it’s set, use a sharp knife and cut it in any desired shapes. That’s it, it is ready😀 it keeps well in fridge for about 5-6 days.

Hope you will enjoy these soon.

Happy Diwali 🎊🎊😊

Love,

Shreya💗

Adapted from Sharmis Passions