Green Chili Pickle

Ingredients

Green chilies (Big) – 300 gms

Turmeric powder – 1tbsp

Salt – 1tbsp

Fennel seeds – 25 gms

Fenugreek seeds – 25 gms

Mustard seeds – 20 gms

Mustard oil – 50-60 ml

Asafetida – ½ tsp

Method

Step 1: Wash the chilis and dry them for an hour in sunlight. Make sure there is no moisture as it will spoil the pickle later.

Step 2: Now for all the chilis, remove the top and slit them in between from one side but do not cut in half.

Step 3: In a bowl, mix fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds. Add 2 tbsp of oil in this and grind this coarsely

Step 4: Fill this preparation in the slit chilis and heat the remaining oil on low flame and add asafetida to this oil.

Step 5: Put the chilis in a glass jar and pour this prepared oil in this jar and the pickle is ready.

Tips

1.      Keep the jar in sunlight for 3-4 days and keep it covered with muslin cloth.

You can add 1tbsp vinegar to the pickle as a natural preservative.

Cornflakes Cookies

Ingredients

All Purpose Flour - 1 cup
Pure ghee - ½ cup (thick consistency)
Powdered sugar - ½ cup
Egg - ½ (Beaten)
Egg White - 1
Corn flakes - 1 cup
Baking Powder - ¼ tsp
Soda - ¼ tsp
Biscuit Essence - ½ tsp
Salt - 1 pinch

Method

Step 1: In a mixing bowl, sieve all purpose flour, salt, soda and baking powder.

Step 2: Crush the cornflakes with hands.

Step 3: In a large mixing bowl add pure ghee and knead it with your hands very well.

Step 4: Add powdered sugar, biscuit essence and mix vigorously along with ghee. Now add the beaten egg.

Step 5: Add dry ingredients to this and mix properly. Continue kneading the dough. If it is not sticking to the hand or the bowl, then it is ready. If it sticks, add 1 tsp all purpose flour (maida) to the mixture. On the other hand, if the dough is hard, add 1 tbsp beaten egg.

Step 6: Divide the dough into small lemon-sized round balls.

Step 7: Break the egg can keep yellow part separate, use only white part and beat lightly

Step 8: Now dip the dough ball into white egg and roll it in crushed cornflakes properly.

Step 9: Meanwhile preheat the oven on 160°C for 5-10 minutes and grease the baking tray

Step 10: Keep in the cornflakes coated dough balls on the tray at some distance from each other Bake on 160°C for 12-14 minutes.

Enjoy with evening tea or coffee

Eggless Pancakes

Ingredients

Wheat Flour - ⅓ cup (50 gm)
All Purpose Flour - ¾ cup (100 gm)
Powdered Sugar - 2 tsp
Baking Powder - 1½ tsp
Butter - 1 tbsp melted
Banana - 1
Salt - ¼ tsp
Milk - 1 cup (at room temperature)
Cardamom Powder - ¼ tsp
Cinnamon Powder - ¼ tsp
Fresh Fruits

Method

Step 1: In a mixing bowl, transfer wheat flour, all purpose flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cardamom powder, cinnamon powder, butter and mix all ingredients very well.

Step 2: Peel the banana, chop finely and transfer in an bowl. Mash it finely with a spoon or fork.

Step 3: Add milk gradually into it and mix together.

Step 4: Add all dry ingredients into milk mixture and stir well to get smooth batter. If batter seems thick add 1-2 Tbsp more milk into it and mix. The consistency of the batter should be semi thick not flowing.

Step 5: Keep this batter aside to rest for 10-15 min.

Step 6: Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat and grease with butter or ghee.

Step 7: Pour a ladle-full batter. Do not spread - it will take its own shape.

Step 8: Simmer and cook for 1-2 min or until it gets light brown in colour from bottom. You should see bubbles appear on the top surface.

Step 9: Flip the pancake and simmer for 1-2 min or until cooked properly.

Step 10: Serve the pancake with butter, honey or maple syrup. You can top it with freshly chopped fruit like banana, strawberries.

Vegetarian Pizza (with home-made pizza base)

Dough

Whole Wheat Flour - 1½ cups
All Purpose flour - ½ cup
Lukewarm water - 1 + ⅛ cups
Honey - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1 tbsp
Sugar 1 tbsp
Dry Yeast - 2 tbsp
Oil - 2 tbsp

Step 1: In a bowl, take water, add sugar and yeast. Mix it well and keep aside to ferment for 5-10 min. Cover with lid.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl sieve, both flour. Make a well in between the flour, add salt, honey, oil and ferment yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly to make smooth soft dough.

Step 3: Transfer to a lightly floured work table or kitchen platform and knead gently for at least 10 minutes. Shape the dough in balls, tuck it and keep it in a greased mixing bowl. Gently grease the dough with oil and cover with a wet cloth or wrap in cling film to set for 1½ to 2 hours.

Step 4: After two hours knock down the dough for 2 min and divide into 3 equal balls. Place on a plate and keep aside for 10 more minutes.

Step 5: Take a ball of dough and flatten it with your fingers on slightly floured work surface. With the fingertips, press the dough ½'' thick and 10-12'' diameter.

Step 6: Please prepared flattened dough on a greased baking tray and adjust the size of dough according to the tray. Prick the dough with fork to prevent bubbles.

Sauce

Onion - ½ finely chopped
Tomato - 5
Garlic - 3-4 cloves finely chopped
Butter - ½ tbsp
Tomato sauce - 1 tbsp
Sugar - ¾ tsp
Oregano - ½ tsp
Chilli Flakes - ¼ tsp
Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder - ¾ tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Salt - To taste

Step 1: Slit x at the bottom of tomatoes. Add slitted tomatoes into 4 cups of boiling water and boil for 4-5 minutes or until the skin starts to leave from tomatoes. Switch off the flame and allow to cool.

Step 2: Peel the skin, take 3 peeled tomatoes and blend to smooth puree and remove the seeds. Roughly chop other 2 tomatoes.

Step 3: Heat oil in a pan on medium flame. Add chopped garlic and saute until they become light brown. Add chopped onions and cook until they become translucent, then add chopped tomatoes and cook completely. Mash them well with ladle for 1-2 min then add tomato puree into it, mix well. Add salt sugar, chilli flakes, oregano and chilli powder. Mix all ingredients very well and let it boil.

Step 4: Cover with lid and simmer the sauce for at least 5 minutes or until the sauce turns semi-thick. After 5 mins add tomato sauce. This enhances the taste and flavour the pizza sauce.

Step 5: In the end add butter to make sauce more silky and tasty. Mix well. Keep aside to cool down.

Toppings

Mozzarella cheese - 100 gm
Onion - 2 thinly sliced
Capsicum - 1 sliced
Tomato - 2 sliced and de-seed
Corn Kernels -1 cup
Mushroom - 10-12 pieces
Oregano - 1 tbsp
Chilli Flakes - 1 tbsp
Salt - To taste
Black Pepper 1 tsp
Butter - 2 tbsp

Arrange the pizza topping:

Step 1: First, apply butter on the top of pizza base all over.

Step 2: Spread pizza sauce all over properly.

Step 3: Top with vegetables, sprinkle little salt, oregano, chilli flakes, black pepper

Step 4: Meanwhile preheat the oven on 180°C for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Bake Pizza for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes spread grated cheese all over the pizza and bake until cheese is melted, 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Cut into pieces and serve with ketchup

Tip - Bake time may vary. Every oven may take different time to cook.

"Steamed White Rice" - Without rice cooker

Ingredients

Basmati rice - 1 cup

Water - 5-6 cups

Salt - 1tsp

Desi Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method

Step 1: Wash the rice in running water until the water is clear and the rice has cleaned properly.

Step 2: Soak the rice for half an hour in a bowl with water that covers the rice.

Step 3: Boil water in a pot and add the rice in this with the salt and let it boil for 10-12 mins in medium flame.

Step 4: Check the rice by pressing the rice if it is soft else needs more boiling.

Step 5: Once boiled strain the rice and add the desi ghee and mix with a light hand.

Serve the rice with daal, rajma, chole, curd etc.