Garlic Cheese Smashed Potatoes | GF meals in 30 minutes

You guys know I love potatoes….I do! I may not share too many recipes with potatoes in them, but the Lord above knows my love for these spuds….and my love for them is shared by my hubby!! Talk about marriages being made in heaven…..for us, it’s more like a spud-farm 🤣🤣🤣😂

Breakfast to dinner, I can live on them. Start your day with some scrumptious Aloo ke Parathe (potato stuffed Indian flatbreads). These are are absolutely awesome and very mildly spiced to start your day with these parathe and you will full almost up to lunch time…I serve them with some home made yogurt, some mango pickle and a lot of butter on top of these….the butter melts all over these piping hot beauties 😍…Mmmmm!

Not looking for something so heavy early in the morning….then you can try my super-yum….brilliant beyond brilliant Baked Potato Wedges 😉 We, the spud-lovers are particularly partial to it and can never share it…hence we make ourselves two whole trays of them, beauties……one for him and one for yours truly 😜

Next, if your looking something Indian…curry style for a proper supper, just go with the Aloo Dum, pair it with some Pooris (fried flatbreads) or Laccha Paratha or even some rice, a quick home style salad (sliced red onions + chopped tomatoes + chopped cucumber + salt + a bit of lime juice) on the side and just step into the food coma …..it’s that good 😍  For something a bit less spicy…look out for my Rassedaar Aloo (potatoes and tomatoes simmered in a thin gravy with little spices),  just a few easy ingredients and it’s ready in under 30 minutes?

You must also try my Aloo Ki Kachori if you love a good North Indian fare 😉 It’s easy to put together and works well for brunches!

Anyways…..that’s a whole lotta potatoes recipes for you guys…not to mention that I’ve not even included a few  here…they are all there in the blog archives ➡️➡️ …go, look them up!

So…about these crisp, gorgeous looking smashed potatoes…well, I have been meaning to share this recipe for a while…I have many other variations for these, but the one which I’ve here today, is like the best way to have potatoes 😍😍 they are just everything one looks for in a side dish … a bit of spice from the chilli flakes (or, you could use smoked paprika), that comforting warmth from the garlic, a bit smokiness as I’ve used smoked sea salt (you could always use regular salt or even plain sea salt)…..spicy becaaaaaause…I’ve added my favourite spice mix in the whole wide world….yeah! Peri Peri spice powder and that last bit off oozing good in the form of Mexican blend cheese  😋 Yes please!!!

Let’s see how can we get you to make these babies….

Yield: serves 2

Equipment: baking tray, measuring cups/ spoons, pressure cooker, cooling rack.

Ingredients:

300 gms baby potatoes

sea salt to taste

1 tsp peri peri spice mix (store bought)

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp garlic powder (use fresh minced garlic if you don’t have garlic powder)

3 tbsp oil

1/4 cup Mexican cheese mix (store bought, easily available in any supermarket or hyper stores)

some fresh green coriander to garnish

Method:

Take 2 cups of water in a pressure cooker, add a pinch of regular salt to it along with washed baby potatoes. Cook them for about 10 minutes or one whistle is good enough. We need to soften them but not turn them into a watery mush!

Once cooked, drain the water and let the potatoes cool down a bit. Then, grease the baking tray with about a tbsp of oil. Roll the boiled potatoes in the oil on the tray. Spread out the potatoes and use a fork to smash them a bit.

Pre-heat the oven @200’c.

Now, drizzle some more of the remaining oil over the smashed potatoes. Sprinkle sea salt, garlic powder, peri peri spice mix, chilli flakes and the cheese and some oil if you like.

Bake these at 200’c for 12-15 mins or until the cheese bubbles and the top of these potatoes turns a bit crisp using both the upper and the lower heating rods/ elements.

Garnish with some chopped coriander and sprinkle some more cheese if you like 😉 Serve these piping hot with some drinks or just as it is!

They will melt in your mouth😋😋😋😋 so tempting…and so easy to put together!

Love,

Shreya💕

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Mango Kiwi Popsicles

The sweltering heat…sticky, humid afternoons and my loss of appetite 😑😑 yeah…I do manage to skip meals very easily. Somehow, I never tend to feel all that hungry too… but it’s the thirst and constant craving for something chilled that keeps me running to the refrigerator every few minutes 😂 Chilled, ice cold water and I have a very, very long relationship….more like a love and hate relationship…because I love it and it tends to give me throat issues every now and then…hence the hate bit 😂😂😜😜😜

It doesn’t make any difference to me! Lol! Anyways…it’s the chilled stuff that keeps me going in summers. And, people who follow the blog regularly know that I have been posting a lot of ice creams and Popsicles since the summers have started….I even shared a recipe of a lovely, exotic drink, my Rose and Pineapple Cooler . It is one of the most refreshing drinks that I have ever put together, obviously after my Tropical ice tea!😍

Since it’s the summers, mangoes can’t be far away…can they!? Juicy, ripe and so sweet…they are my go to snack these days. A couple or more of chopped Alphonso (always Alphonso) mangoes and that’s my lunch pretty much sorted (I adda couple drops lemon juice and a few torn mint leaves), it’s so refreshing and helps me push through my work for another couple of hours during the long afternoons….sigh!! Yeah, summers do make me lazy and processing picture after picture can take a lot out of me…😂😂🤣

Anyways… talking about tropical stuff always reminds me of Kiwis, they are another of my most favourite tropical fruits…. and I always have a few in my refrigerator…they pair well with almost every other fruit (read making a quick fruit salad thingy) and look too pretty if you need to add them as a quick garnish for drinks or mocktails….which reminds me….you must go take a look at my Kiwi mojito Popsicle 👌🏼 You’ll be making it even before logging out of the blog 😁

So what do I do when I have to clear out my refrigerator over the weekend to make room for fresh produce…I look at all the leftover bits of sliced mangoes and some kiwis sitting at the back of the refrigerator…I think frozen goodies to take me through my misery of the week ahead that is going to need a tad bit of extra efforts….phew! Popsicles….my mind jumps at the prospect of the very thought! Hahha….but a girl needs to make her snacks healthy, doesn’t she!? What more can I add to these beauties to ensure that….well, enough said…check out the recipe below and go make yourself some….call it a Mango Kiwi Popsicle or tropical smoothie Popsicle 😍

Yiled: 4 Popsicles

Equipment: a blender, Popsicle mound, measuring cups, ice cream sticks.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup fresh mango pulp (I used Alphonso mangoes, they have a beautiful colour and the taste is unmatched)

1/4 cup fresh tender coconut water

2 slices Kiwi (use green or golden kiwi as per your choice)

2-3 tbsp Kiwi fruit pulp (use green or golden Kiwi as per your choice)

Method:

In a blender jar, add coconut water along with mango pulp and give it a whiz.

Now, pour half of this mixture into each Popsicle mould, fill them only about to the 1/4 th capacity. We will use the remaining half for the next step. Place the moulds in the freezer for setting the pulp, for about 2-3 hours.

Then remove the moulds with the set pulp. I have added kiwi slices in the first 2 mounds and kiwi pulp in the remaining two moulds. Then pour remaining mango-coconut mixture into all 4 moulds (the kiwi and mango pulp blend into each other very naturally and I think it looks pretty too) and add an ice cream stick into each mould. Place them in the freezer to set for another 4-5 hours.

That’s it, once they have frozen completely, to serve them, dip the lower halfs of the moulds into water for 1-2 minutes, gently tug at the ice-cream sticks and pull out each Popsicle. One of the healthiest ways to enjoy frozen treats without added colours or artificial sweetners. 😊

They look so delicious… do make these and let us know how you like them!

Love,

Shreya💖

 
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No-Churn 3 Ingredient Eggfree Vanilla Ice Cream | Gluten-Free Recipe for Vanilla Ice Cream

My first few memories of enjoying ice-creams are very fresh in my mind. Small, perfect white scoopfuls in a plastic cup with a handy wooden spoon. The flavour was Vanilla, always Vanilla. Nothing exotic or fancy…just some good old sweet, delicious and classic Vanilla 😍 And ever since then, Vanilla happens to be my go-to flavour for desserts, specially ice-creams!

Most people will agree with me when I say it’s alost everyone’s  favourite flavour of ice-cream. A no-fringe, straightforward Vanilla ice-cream is such a comfort food at times. The summers, for one, call for constant relief and I find some in my homemade No-Churn, 3 Ingredient Eggfree Vanilla Ice-Cream 🍦🍦

There was a time when just three or four flavours ruled the roost…back when we were kids Tutti Frutti ice cream was what most of us kids got and the elders picked butterscotch ice cream or some such basic flavour. But going out for ice cream these days is such a task …I look at the array of new flavours we can try and I am overwhelmed at the choices thrown at me….I almost get confused and pick something I can identify with and make my peace with it😄😄😂….hubby, on the other hand is the adventurous type and keeps trying new flavours…at times, even he’s in for a rude shock and looks at me sheepishly!

Look at the creamy, luscious texture of the ice cream. Each spoonful is melt in the mouth good and has no ice crystals either. Making eggfree ice creams is indeed a treat and so so fun. I have added neither CMC nor GMS to this recipe and it just doesn’t need any! Just some basic pantry ingredients and a bit of prepping is all you need. But ensure that you use good quality Vanilla extract or essence. It’s the Vanilla that will give you the flavour and the beautiful aroma 😊

I rarely add chocolate syrup or any toppings to my Vanilla ice cream but these cute little sugar sprinkles looked too adorable to miss during my recent visit to my favourite baking needs store and I picked it…and these do add a touch of colour to the pristine white ice cream 😍 the prettiest pastel shades ever ☺️

Anyways…so I will share this recipe now, its quick but needs a few things to be done before you start with actual preparation. Let’s get on with it…

Yield: serves 4-5 (makes about 7-8 small scoops)

Equipment: a manual or an electric whisk, an aluminium tin or any freezer safe container to set the ice cream, a large stainless steel bowl, measuring cups/ spoons, silicon or rubber spatula.

Ingredients:

400 ml sweetened condensed milk

1+3/4 cup full fat whipping cream (heavy cream/ double cream)

1+1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

To begin with, keep the whipping cream (I chilled the whipping cream overnight), the manual whisk or the electric whisk attachments and the large stainless steel bowl in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour to chill.

Next, place some ice cubes on a large tray/ platter (make an ice bed), place the chilled bowl on top of the ice cubes. Pour the chilled whipping cream in to the bowl and using the manual whisk or the electric whisk, whip the cream until it has firm peaks. Took me about 5-7 mins using an electric whisk on setting 3 but keeping the ice cubes beneath the mixing bowl helps a lot in achieving the firm peaks in this heat.

Once, the whipped cream holds the peaks well, add the vanilla extract and the condensed milk. Now, DO NOT whip anymore. Use a silicon or a rubber spatula and gently fold everything together in the bowl. Make sure the bowl is kept on an ice bed all through the process.

Pour the ready mixture into the tin or into the freezer safe container, cover the container/ tin with some cling wrap and set it for 2-3 hours in the freezer.

After 2-3 hours, remove the container from the freezer and pour the mixture into another bowl and give good mix to the half set ice cream using a manual whisk (do not use the electric whisk for this step). Pour the contents back into the tin/ container, cover it with a cling wrap again and let the ice cream set for about 7-8 hours in the freezer.

That’s it, your smooth, creamy and delicious 3 Ingredient, No-Churn, Eggfree Vanilla Ice Cream is ready 😊

To serve, let the tin/ container sit on the kitchen platform for 5 mins before scooping out the ice cream.

I think…after all my love for Popsicles, I can definitely say that Vanilla ice cream is my favourite 😋

Love,

Shreya💝

 

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Eggless No Cook No Churn Tutti Frutti Ice Cream

Hey all….yes..I have been a bit out of it lately…blame the summers..! Yes, please do blame the summers…so that you have an excellent excuse to make yourself some creamy….dreamy ice cream 😍

My No Churn, No Cook and egg free Tutti Frutti Ice Cream 🤗🤗 should cool you down I guess….it certainly did cool us down…scoop after scoop were polished off this last weekend and I have been ordered by my man to make some more ice cream ASAP! I will indulge him😘 I always do…..

I prefer ice creams rarely…more of a Popsicle girl..(see my Fruity Volcano Popsicle here …you’ll love it!). But when I do make an ice cream…I make a mean one! It’s always on point! 👌🏼😉 I love ice creams that need no churning machines and fancy equipment….and definitely no fancy ingredients! They need to be simple, easy to put together and they must taste better than the ones at your favourite ice cream place..!

This Tutti Frutti ice cream checks all the right boxes and is big on flavour!! 💃🏻It’s slightly citrusy…..that’s my version. You can go with the classic vanilla flavour or even almond extract would go beautifully. There are infinite options…if you like, add some cardamom flavour or even a bit of saffron (Kesar).

Coming to how to get that beautiful texture which is so creamy and yet has a firmness…. we come across many recipes which are no-cook, no-egg and no-churn but many of these recipes are complicated or call for some preservatives too. I won’t advocate such recipes…I like the idea of making ice cream only because it can be done without any CMC or GMS powders. These are obviously exceptional ingredients to ensure a good textured ice cream, but the challenge lies in making home made ice cream without any of these.

I have used very basic ingredients which are easily available and since it doesn’t need any machine to churn the mixture, a simple wired whisk or an electric whisk can do the magic!

Lets make some ice cream.

Yield: serves 4 (about 8-9 medium sized scoops)

Equipment: electric whisk (wired whisk will do too), an aluminium tin to set the ice cream, a large stainless steel bowl to whisk the ingredients, measuring cups/ spoons, aluminium foil, rubber spatula.

Ingredients:

400 ml condensed milk (I used Amul Mithai Mate tin)

1+1/2 cup chilled heavy whipping cream (Amul red tetra packet)

1/4 cup dairy whitener (milk powder)

1/2 cup mixed Tutti Frutti bits

4-5 drops orange gel colour (or even liquid)

1/4 tsp fresh lemon zest

Method:

Place the the wired whisk or the whisk attachment of the electric whisk along with the stainless steel mixing bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes an hour for them to chill.

In the chilled bowl, take the chilled whipping cream, whisk it for 4-5 minutes using the electric whisk until the cream has soft peaks. It will take about 10-12 minutes manually.

Next add the milk powder and whisk again until it is fully incorporated. Now, pour the condensed milk into the whipped cream and using a rubber spatula, gently fold the condensed milk into the whipped cream. Add the lemon zest next. If you are using the colour, add that colour and the tutti frutti bits. Mix everything gently so the the air incorporated into the cream doesn’t escape.

Pour the the mixture into the tin and cover the tin with some aluminium foil. Set it in the freezer for about 2 hours, it will be partially set by then. Remove from the freezer after 2 hours, remove the partially set ice cream in another chilled stainless steel bowl and whisk it again for 2-3 minutes. Pour the mixture back into the tin and cover it again with the foil. Freeze the mixture for 6-7 hours.

To serve, keep the ice cream in room temperature for 10 minutes before scooping it into bowls and devouring it😉

Tip: I have used the lemon zest to cut the sweetness, the ice cream does taste very mildly citrusy. You can omit the colour or choose any other colour.

Hope you try it out soon…you’ll be revisiting this recipe often which is adapted from my Mango Tutti Frutti ice cream which I had shared last year.

Love,

Shreya❤️

 

Rose and Pineapple Cooler

I can live on cool drinks all year long…😉 Being a teetotaller couple, we are constantly looking forward to trying some new flavours of mocktails and coolers…and more often than not we come across great finds👌😚

Speaking of great finds, I also find it interesting to try and make a new flavour combination right in the comfort of my kitchen! Earlier, I have shared the recipe of tropical iced tea which was a total hit! I make it every summer and we can’t get enough of it😀 I keep myself and the hubby hydrated as we sip on some of the most delicious homemade coolers. I have been told by people who have tried my Fruity Green Tea cooler, that it was one of the best ways to enjoy their green tea!

Coming to this gorgeous beauty that has gotten you all parched is my take on two amazing flavours…tropical Pineapple and the very exotic Rose. Rose, on it’s own is very cooling. I have combined it’s flavours with the sweet and slightly tangy juices of local Pineapples and added my twist to it….😁 The resulting cooler/ mocktail is a bit spicy, has the freshness of summer mint and is loaded with ice! Just the thing you need in these sweltering afternoons.

Let’s get started….

Yield: serves 2

Equipment: mortar-pestle, measuring cups/ spoons, mixing spoons, 2 glass/ bottles of your choice to serve the drink.

Ingredients:

1+1/2 cup fresh or canned pineapple juice

4 tsp rose syrup

9-10 fresh mint leaves

1/2 tsp chaat masala (Indian spice mix easily available in Indian Grocery/ Food Stores. If you can’t find chaat Masala, replace this ingredient with some salt and pepper to taste)**

1/4 tsp ginger juice (grate some ginger and squeeze the juice to add to the mocktail)

ice cubes as needed

Method:

Muddle together mint leaves, chaat Masala** and ginger juice together in the mortar-pestle.

Add two tsp rose syrup in each of the 2 serving glasses/ bottles.

Top the rose syrup up with 1-2 tsp of the mint leaves, ginger juice and chaat Masala** mixture.

Add ice cubes. Lastly, pour the Pineapple juice. The flavours will combine on their own, however, you can give them a quick stir. Garnish the drink with a sprig of mint! Enjoy!

Love,

Shreya❤️

Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce – Glutenfree and Vegan

It’s always better to have a go to pasta sauce recipe…this one here, happens to be mine😊 Especially during these hot summers days….when cooking up a storm isn’t exactly someone’s dream…having this ready in the refrigerator or the freezer can be a lifesaver! 😄

There are days when I go through the entire ritual of sautéing some exotic veggies like some American sweet corn, broccoli, some snow peas and a bit of bell pepper along with some crushed garlic to go with my pasta…and then are days when all I want to do is dump the sauce with some boiled pasta and give it a quick stir and I serve it without any fancy-shmancy garnishing…just a bit of grated cheese and I am all sorted🤗

And hence, happens my quick macaroni with some spicy, vegan-Glutenfree arrabbiata sauce! Just like that….and obviously it’s one of my favourite meals👌🏼😍

This sauce can also be used for topping up your bruschetta along with some slices of olives or just some crumbled feta cheese…..some capers, if like little bursts of salty..briny flavours….see..I have given you some ideas for your next girls’ night in…or if you’re a dude reading this here…make a bruschetta platter for your buddies as you watch the latest season of IPL ’17….or impress a lady friend with your sauve kitchen moves😉

I use this sauce for my chip-n-dip platters on movie nights with my fella…it’s healthy and definitely delicious! Follow this easy recipe for some healthy Wholewheat crackers to go with this sauce.

**Coming to how you would go about storing this sauce. I make a slightly larger batch and refrigerate it and it stays fresh for almost 10-12 days. I don’t add salt while this sauce especially when the purpose is to store it. To freeze, simply cool the sauce and pack them in small ziplock pouches and freeze them. The freezer sauce needs to be thawed at room temperature for about an hour before using it. Always remember to season it using the stored sauce. When making the sauce for immediate consumption, then do add salt as per taste.

Now, on to the recipe….

Yield: serves 2-3 persons

Equipment: a heavy bottomed saucepan, measuring cups/ spoons, a ladle, hand blender.

Ingredients:

3 cups blanched and roughly chopped tomatoes (choose ripe tomatoes)

3/4 cup finely chopped onions

salt to taste (I used sea salt)

freshly cracked black pepper to taste

4 tbsp olive oil

3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed

a few fresh basil leaves (or use dried)

2 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

some warm water if needed to correct the consistency

Method:

Heat oil in the pan, once it is hot enough, add crushed garlic and onions. Sweat these until the onions turn translucent and the garlic turns a bit golden. Then go in the roughly chopped chopped blanched tomatoes.

Keep the flame on low, season with salt, chilli flakes, cracked black pepper, rosemary and oregano. Keep stirring these together for a few minutes to ensure the flavours blend well. Add some warm water at this stage to correct the consistency (I added about 3/4 cup), mix well and cover with a lid and let the sauce cook for about 10 mins on low flame.

Open the lid after 10 minutes, the sauce should be done by now. Turn off the flame, let the sauce cool off a bit. Then using a hand blender, blend the sauce as much as you prefer. I like my sauce a bit chunky so I don’t go overboard with the blending.

If you are making a pasta dish immediately, just add this entire sauce to about 2 cups of boiled macaroni or penne and give them a good toss. Garnish with some finely chopped fresh basil leaves and some grated cheese!

**scroll above to read about how to store this sauce.

Do try this sauce soon…you know what? This even works as a great pizza sauce😉😉

Love,

Shreya💖

 

Mango Kulfi | How to make Kulhad Kulfi

An Indian dessert that is loved by everyone and I guess there is rarely anyone who’d say no to Kulfi! This luciously creamy, deliciously sweet and chilled dessert is perfect for summers and compliments any Indian meal when looking for that perfect end to your meal 😍👌🏼 Flavour it with whatever takes your fancy! Mangoes….yes that is what I have used here to make it even more irresistible and delicious.

Look at the golden colour..and I have used a bit of freshly pounded cardamom powder to elevate the flavour of Alphonso Mangoes….the King of fruits 😍 and garnished it with some pistachio slivers and homemade dried rose petals (organic) ….this recipe also calls for some fresh, thick cream from full fat milk…yes homemade made fresh cream, it makes the Kulfi even more smooth and the taste is very authentic! But then again, you can always use fresh cream from a tetra pack too😋

Last year I had shared an easy recipe for Kesar Pista Kulfi on the blog and this recipe is another take on that!😀 You can add some chopped pistachios and almonds to this Mango Kulfi recipe and make it a Dry Fruit Mango Kulfi too!

I used kulhad and matkas (Indian earthenware) of different shapes and sizes to set the Kulfi, you can use simple Kulfi or Popsicle moulds as well or simply use little stainless bowl to set them. Although the kulhad and matkas I have here aren’t actually earthenware, they are all made of porcelain.

Common, let’s make Kulfi!

Yield: 5-6 kulfis

Equipment: a heavy bottomed pan, a ladle, measuring cups/ spoons, kulfi moulds/ Popsicle moulds/ small bowls, ice cream sticks etc.

Ingredients:

500 ml milk (I use Amul toned milk – 2%fat)

pulp of 3 nos. medium Alphonso mangoes

1/4 cup warm milk

2+1/2 tbsp cornflour

1+1/4 cup sugar (adjust as per your preference)

1/2 cup cream (I used homemade cream from full fat milk, you can use tetra packed Amul fresh cream as well)

1/2 tsp cardamom pwd

chopped pistachio & dried rose petals to garnish

Method:

Heat 500 ml milk in the pan, let it boil until the milk reduces a little and becomes thick. Keep stirring so that the milk does not stick at the bottom and burn.

Mix cornflour with 1/4 cup warm milk until it’s lump free. Add this mixture to the reduced milk and keep stirring until the cornflour blends properly with the milk. Add sugar, cardamom powder and the mango pulp. Cook for two mins more. Keep it aside to cool for a few mins.

Next, lightly beat the cream. Add the cooled milk and mango mixture to the beaten cream. Beat again for a few mins (I used a electric beater). Fill this mixture into moulds/ matkas/ bowls and keep it in freezer to set for about 7-8 hours or even overnight.

Once the Kulfi has set for 3-4 hours, put an ice cream stick in the centre of each mould if using Popsicle mould or traditional Kulfi mould.

Thaw the frozen Kulfi for a few mins, rub the moulds between your palms, tug on the ice cream stick and unmould it gently. That’s it! Your creamy Kulfi is ready☺️ Look at that texture…..yumm!

Love,

Shreya💗

 

 

Sindhi Kadhi and Karare Aloo and a lazy lunch scene

Weekends are for slow starts… we truly believe that! Nothing makes me rush through my weekends…I simply choose not to get fussed and bothered about much. I pretty much hit the snooze button on Fridays…say around noon 😜 and try to finish all my commitments before Friday..😜 Trust me, no one can even catch me on the cell! Besides, it’s just the two of us….the boons of being a couple with no kids ….no responsibilities! I mean, we love kids…but I guess this works for us better👌🏼

So when I decide to cook on a weekend…that’s if I do plan on cooking on weekends..I look for comfort food apart from being quick and absolutely fuss-free. Yes, I am not a kitchen person when I am on the snooze-mode. More of a couch potato…..who literally loves her potatoes 😍 Hence, I will share a very delicious recipe from my Mom’s kitchen of Aloo ki Bhujia or as my hubby chooses to call it, Karare Aloo 👌 (No onion no garlic). Such basic ingredients with absolutely stunning flavours. I can practically live on this! This recipe is typically a U.P. Style of preparation…but one can find variants of the same being made across India.

Sindhi Kadhi….again a personal favourite since childhood, I can have it by the gallon! Give me some steamed rice …a bit of my Mom’s Karare Aloo along with a few ladlefuls of her lip smacking, tangy Sindhi Kadhi…and I’ll probably love you forever! 😂…yeah…my love sounds cheap…but it’s really difficult to make a teeny space in my heart…..so it’s not a bad deal actually!

Look how luscious this kadhi looks….a roasted chickpea flour base is given lots of flavour using tamarind pulp, some whole seeds and dried red chillies add to the punch…..the best part it again had no garlic ….onion, yes, but that is a must for the sweet aRoma that it gives to the kadhi (curry).

A side of some home style onion and tomato salad with lots of lemon juice and a dash of salt along with a glass full of chilled Masala Chaas (not in the pictures above…as I’d already chugged that down while I shot for this post 😉) completes this meal!

Let’s start with the Karare Aloo…

Yield : serves 2

Equipments: a heavy bottom wok, measuring cups/ spoons, a spatula.

Ingredients:

3 nos. large potatoes (peeled, washed and cubed)

4 tbsp mustard oil (this tastes best in mustard but feel free to use any oil of your choice)

a pinch of hing (asafoetida)

1/2 tsp paanch phoran (mixed seeds) 

salt to taste

1/2 tsp turmeric pwd

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

1/2 tsp amchoor pwd (dry mango pwd)

Method:

Heat mustard oil until it starts smoking** in a heavy bottomed wok. Turn off the flame. Let the smoke subside. Turn on the flame again. Add hing and the paanch phoran. Let these crackle a bit. Add the cubed potatoes. Stir them around in the oil. Add salt and turmeric. Sauté for 5 mins.

Add all the other dry spices except amchoor powder. Mix well and let the potatoes cook on low flame. Stir them about occasionally. Let them gently crisp up.

I try not to cover the wok when I am making dry version of any veggies. So here too, I haven’t covered the wok with the lid. The potatoes took about 20 mins to cook out completely. They took another 10-12 minutes of cook time to crisp up on low flame and look like what they do! Add the amchoor powder in the end once the potatoes have crisped up.

You can add Garam Masala too in the end along with the amchoor powder but I avoid that in the summers.

**(Use any other oil in the usual way you heat it for everyday use, only mustard oil needs to be heated really well).

These potatoes are best enjoyed piping hot…from the wok to the plate kind of thing…☺☺

On to the Sindhi Kadhi….just the way my Mom makes it.. disclaimer….it may not be authentic but this is how we have been eating it all these years..if any one out there knows a different or a more authentic version, do let us know and we’d  love to try it out too☺️ and probably even publish the same with recipe credits on PolkaPuffs!

Yield: serves 2-3

Equipments: a wok, measuring cups/ spoons, a lid, a ladle.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chick pea flour (Besan)

water as needed

3 tbsp refined oil

1/2 cup sliced, fried onion

1/2 cup sliced, fried potatoes

1/4 cup sliced, fried okra (bhindi)

salt to taste

1/2 tsp red chilli pwd

4 tbsp fresh tamarind pulp

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp each methi seeds (fenugreek seeds) and jeera seeds (cumins seeds)

a sprig of curry leaves

a pinch of hing (asafoetida)

2-3 nos. whole dry chillies ( I used ber mirch, the fat, round ones)

Method:

Heat oil in the wok, once it’s hot, add the hing, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, whole red chillies and the curry leaves. Once these begin to crackle, add the Besan (chick pea flour) and keep stirring it continuously on low as it may stick at the bottom and burn.

This needs to be roasted with the oil and the other ingredients for a good 6-8 minutes or until the Besan changes it’s colour and gives out an earthy aroma.

But be careful to keep this on low flame and stir it constantly. Once it has been roasted, add water as per the consistency you’d like to have for this while serving with rice. I added about 1+3/4 cup as this kadhi thickens a lot as it cooks out. Also, season with salt, red chilli pwd and turmeric powder. Mix well. Cover with a lid and let it come to a boil, that will take about 6-7 mins on medium flame.

Open the lid, add the fried veggies and also the tamarind pulp. Add more water if the kadhi has reduced a lot (I added another 1/4 cup at this stage). Cover once again with the lid and let it cook for a further 10 minutes on low flame.

This is what it looks like once ready. Rich colour and an amazing aroma…mmmm…yum!

That’s it, turn off the flame and serve it piping hot!

Meals like these are so so good! Go ahead…do try this out and let us know how you liked it☺

Love,

Shreya💗

 

 

Strawberry Iced Tea

I know I’ve been away for a few days….was just tied up with a few things….been on the road for a fair bit of time…phew! Yes….summers and traveling around isn’t the best combination but I did manage it after all. Needless to say, I did need an entire week to recoup and get back the usual routine with the blog and everything else…😁😁

Summers and this scorching heat takes out all the energy from your body…it’s very draining! I hate stepping out in the sun 😩…I just prefer sitting at home and wait for the sun to set 😂 and sip on some cool drinks…homemade fresh fruity drinks are the best way to hydrate yourself and are way healthier than those fizzy, sugar laden sodas.

Yes! My favourite fruit this summer….came to my rescue once again..they are sweet and full flavour so why not use them to make some delicious summer mocktails….I mean, most of you who’ve been regular here are aware that the husband and I, we are teetotallers. So, such fruit based drinks are our best bet against the summers 😜 Speaking of which, have a look at my take on Aam ka Panna (raw mango cooler)

Lets make some Strawberry Iced Tea….🍓🍓☺

Yield: makes 2-3 servings

Equipment: measuring cups/ spoons, a small sauce pan, a potato masher.

Ingredients:

1 +1/2 cup chopped strawberries

4 tbsp sugar (optional, avoid if the strawberries are sweet. Mine were a bit tart hence I used sugar)

3 cup water

2 nos. tea bags (I have used regular tea, no speacial flavour)

ice cubes as needed when serving

Method:

In a saucepan, boil 3 cups of water. Turn off the heat. Add the tea bags and let them steep for about 10 mins. Remove the tea bags and pour the tea from the sauce pan into a jug. Refrigerate the tea for a minimum of 1 hour.

In the meanwhile, in the same sauce pan, add the chopped strawberries along with sugar and cook them together on low heat until  the strawberries are cooked well and look mushy. Use a masher to mash them as they cook. Take them off the heat. Allow the strawberry compote to cool down completely, then using a hand blender or any other other blender, make a purée and set that too in the refrigerator until you have to serve the Iced Tea. (I don’t strain the strawberry compote, you can strain it if you prefer).

Assembling:

Add the cooled strawberry purée to the jug of chilled tea. Add some crushed ice cubes and give it a stir.

To serve:

Fill your favourite glasses/ mason jars with ice cubes and pour the ready Strawberry Iced Tea over them. Place a small strawberry on the top and serve chilled! You can even add a couple of slices of lime as a garnish ☺️ Enjoy!

The strawberry purée and the cooled tea can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

Love,

Shreya❤

 

 

 

 

Volcano Popsicles | Strawberry and Orange Popsicles

Yes, I am absolutely obsessed with Popsicles of any and every kind…actually anything icy! I loved chilled things, even in the dead of cold, I could never pass a chance of enjoying a Popsicle! Not ice-cream though, although my blog has many recipes for both, I am more of a Popsicle girl😋😋😍

If you ask me why not ice-creams…I don’t really have a reason. I just love the juicy and watery flavours of fruit based Popsicles! Always have….always will! They do give me bad throat infections at times but I think they worth every course of anti-biotics I’ve had over the years 😜😜😂

Don’t they look llike your best mate for every summer afternoon!? I can have them for breakfast, lunch ….dinner!! 😉 Besides, making them is a breeze! Just pick whatever flavours you like or if you are like me…choose your fruits….summer fruits like mango, kiwis or even oranges work very well!

But with this recipe, I will teach you how to make perfect store bought-like texture for these Popsicles. Yes, store bought Popsicles are not full of icicles in them. They are more smooth and have a very even texture, almost like a sorbet but firmer. However, if you wish can follow simple juice and freeze method tooand make Popsicles but they will have icy bits (icicles) in them. I don’t like icicles in my Popsicles and hence this recipe is good for me…I was keen to understand what ingredients goes into the store bought Popsicles, and just on the cover of each popsicle, it is mentioned ‘glucose’….so I’ve done exactly that! Liquid glucose worked so well. Obviously, I adjusted the measurements as the cover never mentioned the proportion and alongside the store bought ones have a fair bit of preservatives too. But I have used just 4 ingredients to make them!

Yield: 4 Popsicles

Equipments: a sauce pan, a juicer (if using homemade juice), measuring cups/ spoons, Popsicle mould, ice cream sticks.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pulp of fresh strawberries (I did not add sugar, you may if the berries aren’t sweet enough)

200 ml freshly squeezed orange juice (juice of approximately 5-6 oranges)

2 tbsp sugar (I used some for the orange juice as the oranges were a bit tart)

2 tbsp glucose syrup (sweetened, it’s available in any store that stocks all the baking related ingredients) or even corn syrup.

Method:

Keep the mould ready.

In a saucepan, heat orange juice for a few mins. Once it has come to a gentle boil, add the sugar. Mix well using a whisk. Next add the glucose syrup and whisk quickly. Make sure the syrup is mixed very well. Now, turn off the flame and let the orange juice cook down for a few minutes.

Next, fill about 3/4th (approximately 50 ml) of each popsicle mould with the orange juice- glucose mixture. Place the moulds in the freezer and let them set for about 2-3 hours. Remove from the freezer and insert ice-cream sticks in the center of each mould. Freeze again for about 1 hour.

Remove the moulds again from the freezer after an hour, fill each mould to it’s brim with the strawberry pulp. (I didn’t treat the strawberry pulp with the glucose syrup as the pulp doesn’t really have any icicles after freezing).

Freeze the moulds for another 3-4 hours or until the Popsicles are frozen well. To serve, dip the mould in some lukewarm water for 2 mins, gently tug the ice cream sticks and pull out the popsicle from the moulds! Voilà!!! 😍😍 enjoy!!

(Note- adding glucose syrup is optional, we can omit that as well and make basic Popsicles)

You can follow this recipe for any fruit juice/ pulp in any combination…they are so delicious and absolutely preservative free. They keep well in the freezer for upto a week, but I suggest try to finish them and make fresh batches every few days. It’s so easy 😄

Love,

Shreya💗