Ribbon Pakoda / Ola Pakoda

This is another addictive savory snack. Ribbon Pakoda is a snack that I enjoyed in my young age and still love eating it. When my daughter was schooling this was a regular snack that was in her tiffin. This is also called Ola Pakoda in Tamil. During festival eating to many sweets one gets tried,  you want something spicy and this snack balances that sweetness. Try this addictive and super easy snack.

Ingredients

2 Cups Chickpea flour / Besan
1 Cup Rice flour
A pinch Asafoetida
1 Teaspoon Red chilly powder - adjust to taste
1 Tablespoon White butter
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
Oil for deep frying

Method

Sieve the rice flour and besan thrice. 

In a bowl mix all the above ingredients together, add water little at a time and knead it into the  soft dough. 

Make the dough a little soft so that the it can be squeezed easily from the murukku maker.  This is plate that is used to make the ribbon / ola pakoda.

Heat oil in a kadai.  

Grease the inside of murukku press with oil.  Make a ball and put in the murukku press and press it directly in the oil. When  they turn light golden brown, flip the side and cook till light golden.  Remove pakoda and place it on a tissue paper to drain the excess oil. 

Let it cool completely and then store it in an airtight container.  Repeat the same for the remaining dough too. You can keep this for a month and enjoy this as a tea time or tiffin snack.

Labels : Savory Snacks, Festival Sweets, Chickpea flour, South Indian, Tamil Nadu

Thai Red Coconut Chicken Curry

As I have already shared with you in my previous post here, that my daughter and me love Thai Red Curry and this a another delicious dish.  So let's go to the recipe.

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Red Curry paste - I used Pantai
1(400ML) Can Coconut Milk 
Small Eggplants, cut into quarters

2 Garlic cloves - minced
1 Teaspoon Ginger - chopped

3 Teaspoon  Fish sauce
1 Tablespoons Brown sugar
1 Cup Chicken stock
1 Onion - chopped
300 Grams Chicken - cut in curry pieces

A few Lime leaves

A few Basil leaves

2 Tablespoon Oil

Salt to taste

Method

Heat oil to wok, stir-fry eggplants, onion, garlic, ginger and curry paste until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Then add the chicken pieces and stir fry  again for about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken stock, coconut milk and bring to boil stirring it continuously. When it comes to a boil reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.

Add fish sauce, sugar, lime leaves , salt, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened about 10 minutes. Add basil and serve hot with steamed rice enjoy.

Labels : Chicken, Thailand, Red Curry Paste, Fish Sauce, Asian Cuisine

Baked Beans and Olives Salad

My daughter loves baked beans, this salad is often made and she has this has her dinner. This is a filling and super healthy. Its easy to make. Make this salad just when your ready to serve to preserve the crunchiness and nutrition.

Ingredients 

1 Tin Baked Beans
2 Small Tomatoes - seeded cut into squares
2 Cucumbers - cut in roundels
1 Small Iceberg Lettuce - torn in pieces  

1⁄3 Cup Black Olive, sliced - can use green too
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
3 Tablespoons Olive oil

1 Teaspoon Pepper powder  or to taste

Salt to taste

Method

Prepare the salad dressing by mixing the vinegar, mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper powder in a  small bottle. Shake the bottle well until an emulsified mixture is formed.

In a large serving bowl. Place the lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Top it with the baked beans and olives.  Drizzle the salad dressing over it and just enjoy...  

this is bliss ....

Lables : Salads, Healthy

MURTABAK – A Savory Pan Fried Bread of SAUDI ARABIA

In Mena's Cooking Club, this month we are going to make a savory pan fried bread of Saudi Arabia called Murtabak .

Murtabak, is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread. The name Murtabak in Arabic means "folded". This is a savory pan fried bread filled with minced meat and eggs  which can be served as snack or a complete meal. This bread originated in Yemen, but  also spread to Asian Countries. 

Let's see the ingredients to make this....

Ingredients
For the covering

3 Cups All Purpose flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon Sugar
Warm Milk or Water to make a dough

For the Filling

500 Grams Minced Meat (mutton/beef/chicken)
2 Onions – finely chopped
1.1/2 Teaspoon Ginger - Garlic paste
4 Green chilies - finely chopped
2 Teaspoon Meat Masala powder
1.1/4 Teaspoon Chilly Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Oil
A pinch of Sugar

3 Tablespoon Coriander leaves – finely chopped
4 to 6 Eggs - beaten

For the Pickle

1 Small Cucumber
1 Small Onion
1 Tablespoon  Apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1/4 Cup Water

A pinch of Salt

Method
First Let's Make the Pickle

Mix all the ingredients and keep in fridge.

To Make the Filling

To make the filling  I, used chicken mince.

 
Mix chili powder, turmeric, meat masala powder and ginger garlic paste with a little water to form a paste.

Heat oil in a pan, add onions and saute till translucent, add masala paste and saute for 2 minutes then add the mince and saute till the colour changes. Add salt mix well cover and cook till the mince is done. Open and check if the mince is cooked and it is completely dry. Keep aside to cool. Add chopped coriander.

Let's Make the Dough

Sift the flour and salt together.

Take the flour, sugar, oil in a bowl and knead with milk (a little at a time) to make a soft and smooth dough. Let it rest covered for 30 minutes .

Let's Assemble the Murtabak
Divide dough into equal parts. Shape it into balls.

Divide the Mince into equal portions depending on the size of murtabak and dough balls.

Take a bowl beat an egg add a portion of filling, mix well.

Flatten each ball with a rolling pin into a medium thick roti. Add the egg filling in the middle of the flattened dough.

Fold the sides

Enclose the filling by wrapping completely.

Spread a little ghee in a frying pan place the murtabak and on medium flame fry one side till golden brown then

Turn it over and cook the other side. Keep frying and turning until both sides are crispy and golden.

Serve the Murtabak

with the pickle and tomato kethcup.... Enjoy!

Labels : Murtabak, Breads, Saudi Arabia, Continental Cuisine, Rotis, Chicken Mince, Mena Cooking Club

An InLinkz Link-up

CHICKEN IN A BLANKET #BREADBAKERS

A copy cat  of Pigs In A Blanket  - a sausage wrapped in dough, then baked.  It is served as a snack at parties / kitty party since they are one or two bites. They can be served with any dipping sauce. Mostly bacon or pork sausages are used for this. 

Since I, have used chicken cocktails sausage, I have renamed them Chicken In A Blanket.When I made these and tasted them , the sausage was bland but the rolls soft and moist. I felt they required some spice, since the chicken cocktail sausages that are used is absolutely bland. So, sliced the rolls in the center poured a spoon full of spicy hot sauce and served, these were devoured in no time. I am going to make these again and with a variation.

Sending these to Bread Bakers event Host of the month  Pavani at : Cook's Hideout  - http://www.cookshideout.com/ - theme Think special! Think festive! Breads that you would bring a family feast or celebratory dinner! Thank you Pavani for hosting this event and making it special and festive.

So here goes my Chicken In A Blanket recipe.

Ingredients

3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Sachet Fleischmann's Rapid Rising Yeast
1 + 1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Oil
2 Tablespoon Butter - I used salted butter
Luke Warm Water for kneading the dough as required
Chicken Cocktail Sausages as required

Method
In a large bowl add flour, sugar, salt, oil, yeast and egg mix well. Add in the luke warm water and knead everything until the dough turns soft and smooth. Take it on to a work surface, add the butter a teaspoon at a time by stretching and folding the dough till all the butter is incorporated and the dough is smooth and shiny.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, wrap the bowl with a cling film and keep it to rise double its volume say about an hour and half, depending on the weather and temperature in your kitchen.

Beat the egg,  add a teaspoon of water and a pinch of salt, mix it well. Keep aside  - this is for sealing edges of the rolls and brushing the top.

When the dough rises , punch it down . Take it on to the work surface and divide the dough into 6 equal parts.   

Roll each part into a chapatti of 1/4 inch thickness, trim the sides to make a square.  

Cut it into broad strips.   

Take each strip of dough place the sausage at one end and roll it ( see pic).   

Brush the ends with egg wash.   

Keep this in a greased baking tray - ends down to rise for a another 30 to 45 minutes.   

Then brush it with egg wash and bake in a preheat oven at 200 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes - baking time depends on the size of the rolls. These got baked in 25 minutes.  

When baked immediately brush them with butter or oil,  cool them slice it in the center and pour some spicy hot sauce and enjoy these yummy Chicken In A Blanket.   

Labels: Breads, Chicken Sausage, Bread Bakers, One Bite,  Appetizer 

Let's take a look at what my fellow bakers have baked for this month’s Family Feast Breads event:

• Butterflake Rolls from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Cardamom Fig Braid from A Shaggy Dough Story
• Challah Bread from la cocina de Aisha
• Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Buns from Food Lust People Love
• Chicken in a Blanket from Sneha's Recipe
• Classic Dinner Rolls from A Baker's House
• Cloverleaf Rolls from En La Cocina de Caro
• Cranberry & Orange Spice Bread from Baking in Pyjamas
• Eggless Coconut Pineapple Quick Bread from Seduce Your Tastebuds
• Edible Bread Basket from Passion Kneaded
• Mallorcan Ensaimadas from Ruchik Randhap
• Meyer Lemon & Cranberry Einkorn Bread from The Schizo Chef
• Pear Pie Cinnamon Rolls from From Gate to Plate
• Poppy Seed Coiled Challah from Bakingyummies
• Poppyseed Roll from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Povitica from Spiceroots
• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls from Cook's Hideout
• Pumpkin Yeast Bread from Hostess At Heart
• Rose-shaped Buns from Sara's Tasty Buds
• Savory Cheddar Honey Butter Rolls from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
• Simple High Fibre Baguettes from What Smells So Good?
• Smoked Cheddar Caramelized Onion Dinner Rolls from Noshing With The Nolands
• Sweet Dumpling Squash Drop Biscuits from Magnolia Days
• Thanksgiving Wreath Braided Bread Centerpiece from Pastry Chef Online

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.

Besan Ladoo

Besan Ladoo is an all time favorite sweet ladoo made from chickpea flour, for festivals like Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi , Dussehra, etc.  This is my hubby's favorite and its made regularly in my house. Whenever he feels like having something sweet, he will pick a besan ladoo and enjoy. Today am, going to share a simple besan ladoo recipe, I prepare these in different ways - even with dry fruit powder. This is an easy recipe with simple ingredients that are easily available.

I, roast the flour partly in the microwave and then in the end fry the flour on the stove. Roasting the flour in the microwave gets done quickly, using less energy, ghee and time.

So let's go to the recipe.

Makes 14

Ingredients

2 Cups Heaped Besan / Chickpea Flour
1/2 Cup Desi Ghee
2/3 Cup Level Powdered Sugar
2 Teaspoons Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
Raisins for garnishing

Method 
In a microwave proof plate spread a cup of flour at a time and microwave  on high for a minute, then stir it well and again microwave for a minute do this process three to four times, but after every minute stir it well, then keep it again microwave.

After completing this process 4 times, add a tablespoon of desi ghee and mix well, remove any lumps and again microwave on high - 3 -4 times - for a minute each , after every minute remove and stir well. Do the same process for the next batch of flour and keep aside.

In a heavy bottom pan, on low flame, heat the remaining desi ghee, add the roasted flour and keep frying till it changes color and releases a fragrant aroma of fried besan. Then add the milk and continue stirring till it is lump free, smooth and you will find a luster on the besan. Switch off the flame and continue stirring till the pan cools.

Remove it in a  bowl and keep it to cool completely.  When cold say after an hour or two, add the cardamon powder and sugar, mix well by taking the flour into hands and rubbing it so the the sugar is well incorporated.  

Make medium size ladoo and garnish each ladoo with a raisin. Store in an airtight container. This remains good for a month.  Enjoy....  Happy Diwali..

My Notes 

Adding milk makes the ladoos light and it does not stick to the palate while eating.

Labels : Besan, Festival Sweets, Sugar, Diwali Faral, Maharashtra

Akki Roti - Karnataka

Akki  means rice in  Kannada and Roti is a pancake or flat bread .  This is usually served for breakfast or dinner in Karnataka.  We loved having this and Ragi Roti another famous and  popular dish of Karnataka, during our stay in Bangalore.  We use to go to the famous kaugalli at V  V Puram and partically taste every dish freshly  prepared.  

Akki Roti is served hot and is eaten along with chutney. Akki Roti is also served with dash of white butter or pure ghee. Another way of making Akki Roti is to spread the dough over a plantain leaf and then cook it over the griddle with the plantain leaf on the top.   We have tasted different types of akki roti in Bangalore.  

My daughter who studied in Bangalore really missed the tasty and variety of food she enjoyed having there. When I made these at home she was thrilled. These are so milky white and soft with a splutter of green here and there, beautiful light pink spots.  These were
 so very appetizing, mouth melting, as you dip a small piece into spicy red chutney. So let's go to the recipe.

Sending this to this month's BM week 4 - Flat Bread / Pancake.

Makes 8 rotis
Ingredients 

4 Cups Rice Flour
1 Large Onion - finely chopped
3 Green chillies - finely chopped
2 Sprigs Curry leaves - finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Coriander leaves - finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
Salt- to taste
Warm Water- as required
Oil for frying
Spicy Red Chutney for serving

Method 
Mix finely chopped onions, coriander leaves, curry leaves, green chillies and cumin seeds in a bowl. Add these, to the rice flour with salt and mix with warm water to make a dough ( Oil your hands to avoid the dough sticking) knead into a soft dough and keep aside for 5  to 10 minutes. 

 Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. 

Apply oil on a polythene paper or take a piece of cloth or plantain leaf . Take a ball of the dough , spread one on the paper with your hand in the shape of rotis.   

This roti should be 1/4 inch thick or else it will crack while placing it on the girdle. Make small holes on the roti (see pic).

Heat a girdle/pan and lightly brush it with oil.  

Place the roti in it, pour little oil on to the holes and sides, cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes, open, flip and cook this side till light pink spots appear.  

Repeat the procedure for the remaining dough. Serve hot with Spicy Red Chutney. Enjoy...  as we  did  for dinner. 

Labels :  Karnataka, Breakfast, Flatbread, Pancakes, Roti, Blogging Marathon

Whole Wheat Pancakes - Eggless

Making pancakes for breakfast is easy and quick. These are healthy, fluffy, soft and delicious. Prefect for breakfast. You can add topping of fresh fruits, almonds, cherries or chocolate chips  or with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey as per your taste. We had it with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and enjoyed it with a cup of hot coffee.

Sending this to this month's BM week 4 - Flat Bread / Pancake.

Makes 5 -6 Pancakes
Ingredients
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 Cup Hung curd
1 Cup Milk
1/2 Teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 Teaspoon Baking soda
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla essence
A pinch of  Salt
2 Teaspoons Oil
2 Teaspoons Sugar or according to taste
A pinch of Cinnamon powder

For the topping
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup dried chopped cherries or fresh fruits
Maple syrup or Honey to drizzle - I used chocolate sauce

Method

Mix all the wet ingredients together. Sift the dry ingredients together and combine with the wet until just combined and smooth batter. Cover and leave it for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Heat a non stick pan on medium flame. Grease the pan with little oil. Using a large ladle pour the pancake batter on the pan, cover and cook for 2 minutes then open.  Once the top seems dry, flip it over and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes.

Drizzle a serving plate with chocolate sauce and place the pancake on it. Drizzle some more chocolate sauce. Make all the pancakes and stack them on top of each other, drizzle some chocolate sauce on them. Serve them hot with a cup of coffee.   Enjoy these delicious pancakes.

My Notes :
Do not overmix your pancake batter. Overmixing your pancake batter will result in dense, heavy pancakes.

Brush the pan with oil or butter between each pancake. 

If you add cherries  or sliced almonds on the pan cake then sprinkle them immediately after you pour the batter in the pan.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 57

Labels : Pancakes, Eggless, Whole Wheat, Healthy, Breakfast, Blogging Marathon

Tawa Kulcha

Whenever I, visit a restuarant for a meal, ordering a kulcha or naan is a must. lt was on my to do list, but, somehow making these in my kitchen too a long time. Since I, was making a traditional Pakistani breakfast for the Mega BM decided to make these kulchas. They turned out super soft, delicious and was prefect with the prepared dishes. Do try  these Tawa Kulchas which are super easy to make.

Sending this to this month's BM week 4 - Flatbread / Pancake.
Ingredients
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Yogurt
2 Teaspoons Ghee
1/2 Cup Milk
2 Teaspoons Oil
Water as required for kneading the dough
Butter for brushing the Kulchas

Method 

Melt the ghee, add the curds, sugar, salt and mix well till incorporated.

Sieve the flour, baking powder and baking soda and keep aside. 

In a bowl add flour, and the ghee mix rub it into the flour well till it represents bread crumbs. Then add the milk and knead it into a dough, if the milk is not enough make a soft, dough add water as required. Knead it into a smooth dough. Oil yours and keep knead the dough till the soft and smooth. 

Grease a bowl with oil, place the dough in this bowl and keep covered for 2 to 3 hours or till the dough doubles in volume.

After the dough doubles in volume, punch the dough and divided into 6 equal parts.  

Dust the work surface with flour and take a ball of dough roll it into a round disc, about a 1/4 inch. Keep it aside for 10 to 15 minutes to rest. Repeat the same process with rest of the dough balls. 

Heat a tawa on medium flame and place a kulch and let it cook for 3 minutes, then flip and let the other side cook till brown spots appear.  

Then flip and again cook this side till brown spot appear. When done then brush it butter. Repeat the process with the remaing Kuclhas. Serve hot with Khagina and Andha Bhurji. Enjoy these with the Pakistani Breakfast. 

Labels : Tawa Kulcha, Pakistan, Flatbread, Breads, Blogging Marathon