Besan Almond Ladoo#Alphabet Challenge

These ladoo's are my hubby's favorite, he simply loves them. I have already posted a recipe of the these ladoo's , but, this is with almond meal, it has a nutty taste.
Ingredients
¾ Cup Ghee
2 Cups Chickpea Flour/Besan
½ Cup Ground Almonds/Almond meal
½ - ¾ Cup Caster sugar
½ Teaspoon Cardamom powder

Method

Heat the ghee. Stir in the chickpea flour and cook over low heat until the chickpea flour is toasted and the mixture smell fragrant, about 10 to 15 minutes. The mixture should be pasty, not powdery. Remove the mixture from the heat and cool slightly. Add the ground almonds, caster sugar and ground cardamom to the pan and mix thoroughly. Taste for sugar, add according to the sweetness you require. While the mixture is warm, shape it into balls.

Store the ladoo's in an airtight container and they can be eaten immediately, but taste better after several hours.
Labels: Almond Meal, Besan, Diwali Faral, Festival Sweets, Maharashtra, Sugar, Ladoo, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "L" 

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Lychee Martini A Messy Kitchen: Lemongrass Chicken and Asparagus 

Food Lust People Love: Lobster Butter Culinary Cam: Enamored with Culinary Lavender: From Sips to Sweets 

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Lemon Pudding Cookies

Blogghetti: Pink Lemonade Rice Krispies Magical Ingredients: Lentil Lasagna Dip Mayuri’s Jikoni: Lobia Paneer Salad A Day in the Life on the Farm: Preserved Lemons

Sneha’s Recipe: Besan Almond Ladoo Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Chickpea Salad with Lemony Swiss Chard Pesto

Palatable Pastime: Tahdig Lubia Polo

Gravywali Gatte Ki Sabji#AlphabetChallenge

There are many variations of making Rajasthani "Gatte Ki Sabzi". Rajasthani Gatte Ki Sabzi is a delicious main course dish prepared from besan flour, roundels called "Gatte: which are cooked in a  yogurt based gravy. It's so delicious vegetarian dish that you will love  and it's gluten free too. 

Have no veggies in the house, then no worries, make this comforting  and finger licking "Gravywali Gatte Ki Sabji"

Ingredients

For Gatte
1 Cup Heaped Besan/Chickpea Flour
½ Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Saunf / Fennel Seeds

½ Teaspoon Cumin  Seeds

2 Tablespoons Yogurt - whisked

¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder

2 Teaspoons Oil 

For the Gravy

¼ Cup Oil
2 Teaspoons Cumin Seeds

1 Bay leaf
Salt to taste 
1½ Teaspoons Red Chilly Powder or as per spice level

2 Tablespoons Coriander powder
1 Teaspoon Level Garam masala powder
1  Medium Onion  - grind to fine paste
 3 Cloves Garlic - grind to fine paste 
2 Green chillies - finely  chopped
3 Tablespoons Malai - optional
200 Grams Yogurt - whisked 
Mint and  Coriander leaves - for garnishing.

Method 

For the Gatte 

Mix all ingredients make tight dough roll them into long sausages.  

Then steam them in a plate for 10 minutes. 

Let them cool completely, then cut into small pieces.

For the Gravy 

Heat oil in kadai, add cumin  seeds when they sizzle, add the  bay leaf and the onion garlic paste, saute till  it starts to leave oil from the sides. Now  take the kadai off flame and add the whisked yogurt,  mix it well, place the kadai back on flame add the green chilles , red chilly and coriander powder and fry till oil surfaces.  

Add about a cup of hot water and  mix well bring this to a rolling boil, add salt to taste and the gatte, cover and let it cook for 5 - 6 minutes, stirring in between.  Now add the garam masala powder and malai(cream), mix it well, switch off the flame. 

 Garnish it with mint and coriander leaves. 

Enjoy this with rice or rotis. 

Lables:  Gluten free, Besan, Rajasthan, Vegetarian, Main course, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "G" 

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Ginger Salad Dressing

Sneha’s Recipe: Gravy Wali Gatte Ki Sabji 

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Stir-Fried Tomato Ginger Beef

Food Lust People Love: Extra Herby Gremolata

Culinary Cam: Garlicky Fregola with Edamame, Mint, and Ricotta

Blogghetti: Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Salmon 

Mayuri’s Jikoni: Guava Salad, Burmese Style

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Garlic Honey Chicken Thighs

A Messy Kitchen: Gâteau Ardéchois (Chestnut Cream Cake)

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Guinness Stout Crockpot Simmered Corned Beef 

Gluten Free Besan Cheela/Chickpea Flour Pancake#SundayFunday

I, have made these Gluten Free Besan Cheela/Chickpea Flour Pancake two ways one without cheese and the other with cheese. They both taste good, but, hubby loved the one with cheese. We usually make this for a light dinner with soup or when we have guest for breakfast. This is quick one to make and the best part it that you can add or minus whatever spices or veggies you like a very versatile recipe. You can make this vegan but no adding the yogurt, instead add a pinch of baking soda to get a fully pancake.

Serves 4
Ingredients
2 Cups Besan/Chickpea flour
1 Scallions /Spring Onion- finely chopped.
1 Medium Tomato - finely chopped
•Red Pepper flakes - 1/2 tea spoon.
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
¼ Teaspoon Ajwain/Carom Seeds
2 Green Chillies - finely chopped
Butter or Oil as required
Salt to taste
2 Tablespoons Yogurt - optional
2 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Coriander leaves
Grated Cheese - as required

Method

Take a bowl, add chickpea flour, salt, pepper, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, chopped green chilies, chopped coriander, carom seeds, mix this like a pancake batter. 

Heat a non stick pan with butter, pour the batter like pancake on the heated griddle, cook this both sides. 

Serve hot with sauce or chutney.
For The Cheese Cheela 

Added a little cheese in the batter  

Also spread cheese after flipping and fold. 

Cook till both sides of the fold are golden. 

Enjoy!!

Labels: Gluten free, Besan, Pancake, Scallions, Cheese, Breakfast, Healthy, Sunday Funday, Indian

For Sunday Funday we are sharing Savoury Pancake Recipes 

• Bacon, Chive, & Ricotta Pancakes from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• A Savory Pannekoeken from Culinary Cam
• Crepes Sushi from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Colcannon Cakes from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Savoury Chickpea Flour Pancakes from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Gluten Free Besan Cheela/Chickpea Flour Pancake from Sneha’s Recipe
• Potato Pancakes from Palatable Pastime
• Oats and Lentil Pancakes (Chila) from Cook with Renu

Gola Bhaat With Kadhi - Varhadi Thali#SundayFunday

This is the specialty of Vidharbha, which is the north-eastern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra, I learnt this ‘Gola Bhaat’ from my husband's aunty, who's a fantastic cook. It's a slightly lengthy process but worth the effort, to enjoy something different. 

This is a gluten free meal. If you don't want to enjoy it with kadhi then even vegan's can enjoy this meal. My daughter enjoyed this minus the kadhi.
In the gola/balls adding yogurt is optional, but, adding it gives a softer gola /balls. 
1 Cup Measurement = 250 ML
Serves 3
Ingredients

For The Gola / Balls / Dumplings
1 Cup Coarsely Ground Besan/Gram Flour
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Ajwain Seeds
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
1 Tablespoon Heaped Roasted & Coarsely Powdered Peanuts
1 Tablespoon Heaped Roasted Dry Coconut
A Pinch Asafoetida
1 Tablespoon Yogurt - optional
2 Tablespoons Heaped Oil
4 Curry Leaves - finely chopped

For The Rice/Bhaat
1 Cup Rice - I used Wada Kolam
2½ - 2¾ Cup Water
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
A Pinch Asafoetida
1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
For the Tadka
2 Tablespoon Heaped Oil
½ Teaspoon Mustard seeds
3 Cloves Garlic - slit
2 Dried Red Chillies
A Sprig Curry Leaves

For The Kadhi
½ Cup Yogurt - slightly sour
Water as required
1 Teaspoon Heaped Besan/Gram Four
1½ Tablespoon Heaped Oil
½ Teaspoon Mustard seeds
5 Grains Fenugreek Seeds
2 Cloves Garlic - finely chopped
¼ Teaspoon chopped Ginger
1 Sprig Curry Leaves
2 Green Chillies - slit
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
A Pinch Asafoetida
Method
For The Gola / Balls / Dumplings

In a large bowl, mix together the besan and all the given dry ingredients well, add yogurt and oil and mix well with your hand. Now knead to make a slightly stiff dough, add more oil if necessary a teaspoon at a time( do not add water to make the dough, it will make the duplings/gola's hard. Add oil since this will make the dumplings/gola's soft). 

Cover the dough with a damp cloth and keep aside for 10 - 15 minutes. 

Then make small marble size gola's/dumplings from the dough. In the meantime lets start with the rice.   

For The Gola Bhaat

Wash the rice well and soak it for 20 minutes. After the soaking time drain all the water. 

In a mud handi/trezal , add 2½ cups water, salt, turmeric powder, lemon juice, asafoetida and the rice.
Bring this water to a rolling boil, lightly stirring it, when it comes to a boil add oil, again lightly stir it. Reduce the flame to medium high and let the rice cook till 50% done only or till it water is just a little above the rice. 

Now arrange all the gola/dumplings, lightly press them with a spatula . Cover with a lid add ½ cup water on the lid and let this cook on medium low flame till the rice is fully done , yet each grain should be separated. Open the lid every 2 minutes and lightly stir it with a spatula. 

The Gola Bhaat is done... 

When the rice is cooked keep it covered till we make the Kadhi to enjoy with it.
For the Tadka

Heat oil in a tadka pan, add mustard seeds when they crackle add the garlic, when the garlic changes color add the dried red chillies, stir it lightly , switch of the flame add the curry leaves. 

Pour this over the rice and we are ready to serve. 
To Make the Kadhi

Whisk the yogurt well in a large bowl. Add the besan and whisk it well so that no lumps are formed.
Add 1¼ cup water and whisk it again ,salt to taste, turmeric powder.
Heat oil in large pot/kadai, add the mustard seeds , when the crackle, add the fenugreek seeds, when they start to brown add the chopped ginger, garlic and asafoetida, sauté till it starts to change color, add the curry leaves, slit green chillies, turmeric, fry for a minute. Take this off the flame and add the yogurt besan mixture, whisk it well. Place this back on the flame and on medium high keep whisking continuously till it comes to a rolling boil, reduce the flame to medium low, let it simmer till it thicken a little for about 15 to 20 minutes. 

Add coriander leaves and it's ready to serve. 

Serve this with papad, pickle and salad. When you eating mash the gola/dumplings lightly and mix it with the rice, pour the kadhi. 

Enjoy... Nagpur Varhadi Thali!! 
My Notes
If the yogurt is not slightly sour add a teaspoon of lemon juice, whisk it nicely check for sourness or add more. 
Labels: Nagpur, Maharastrian Cuisine, Rice, Kadhi, Yogurt, Besan, Main course, Thali, Sunday Funday, Vegetarian, Gluten free, Vegan, Pulao, Dumplings

For Sunday Funday our theme is "Yogurt".    

• Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken Thighs by Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Dahi Kachumber (with Yogurt) by Palatable Pastime
• 2 Ingredients Mango Yogurt Smoothie by Cook with Renu
• Gola Bhaat With Kadhi - Varhadi Thali by Sneha’s Recipe
• Lemon Yogurt Cake, Eggless by Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip by Food Lust People Love
• Strawberries with Minted Yogurt by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Onion Pakoda/Bhajiyas#SundayFunday

Onion pakodas, also called onions fritters/ onion bhajiyas are a popular snack that is eaten all over India. It is super easy to make bhajiyas are crispy and crunchy onions mixed in chickpea flour and spices. Onion Pakoda is a famous street food from Mumbai. The key to making your best crispy onion pakoda is in the slicing, make sure that all the slices are uniformly.

When I was working on the way back from work, a small South Indian restaurant use make these bhajiyas in the evening and these were so irresistible that most of day's I used to pick up these for us to have as an evening snack.

In monsoons my mother would make different types of pakodas for us to have with our evening, chai and this is the world’s best combo ever! Even today when it rains heavily, I crave for a hot plate of pakodas, since my hubby doesn't like deep fried items often, I always wish someone would make them and give me to enjoy 😋!!

Serves 2
Ingredients
3 Medium Onions - thinly sliced
½ Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Besan / Chickpea Flour
1 Tablespoon Rice Flour
1 Tablespoon Chopped Corinader Leaves
1/8 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
¼ Teaspoon Red Chilly Powder
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Heaped Hot Oil
A Pinch Baking Soda
Oil as required for Deep Frying

Method  

Slice onions and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Add ½ teaspoon salt and mix it well, keep this aside.

Heat oil in the deep frying pan/kadai on medium low flame.

Let's make the batter while the oil is heating.
In a bowl add besan/chickpea flour, rice flour, cumin seeds, chilly powder, turmeric powder and salt, mix this well.
Squeeze out the water from the onions , add this squeezed onions along with coriander leaves to the chickpea flour mix and mix it by squashing the onions as it is getting incorporated into the mix. Do not add water. Leave this aside, till the oil is really hot, and the onions will release it's moisture into the batter. To check whether the oil is ready, take a little of onion, leave it into the oil, when added it should immediately float to the surface. The oil is perfectly ready to fry the onion bhajiyas.
                            

Take a teaspoon heaped of the hot oil, add the onion mix and mix it with a spoon ( this oil will make the bhajiyas, crispy and light). When well mixed add a pinch of baking soda and immediately give it good mix with your hands. Take little of the onion mix and leave it in hot oil on medium high flame, when all of the bhajiyas have risen to the surface reduce the flame and fry them on medium low flame till they are brown and crispy. Take one and check if the it cooked. When your are removing them with a slotted spoon then again increase the flame to medium high, this will prevent the bhajiyas from absorbing a lot of oil.

These onion bhajiyas are best enjoyed hot, when they start to get cold they will loose their crispiness!
Serve them immediately with some green chutney or ketchup! If you are like me, you will gobble it up as it is, they are so crispy and irresistible.

Labels: Pakoda, Bhajiyas, Besan, Deep Fried, Street food, Snacks, Sunday Funday, Serves Two, Vegan, Gluten free

For our event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. Our host for this week's event is
Renu Agrawal Dongre of Cook with Renu 

Recipes with Chickpea Flour

• Airfryer Banana Crisps by Sizzling Tastebuds
• Onion Pakoda/Bhajiyas by Sneha’s Recipe
• Spiced Chickpea Flour Gnocchi with Spinach Coconut Sauce by Food Lust People Love
• Tawa Bread Pakora by Mayuri's Jikoni
• Vegan Chickpea Tomato Omelette by Cook with Renu
• Zucchini Fritters by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Fresh Green Peas Soup With Veg Cheese Parcel#Soupswappers

Ingredients
1 Small Potato - chopped
1 Small Onion - chopped
1 Cup Shelled Fresh Pea
700 Ml Vegetable Stock
2 Tablespoons Mint leaves
1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
Salt to taste
Black Pepper powder to taste

Method

In a pan heat the oil add  the onion until it just begins to soften. Add the potato and the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. Once half done, add the peas and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Once potatoes and peas are well cooked, add the fresh mint leaves and then blend the soup thoroughly until it is completely smooth. 

If the soup is too thick for you, you can add some more vegetable stock to thin it out until you have a consistency you like. 

Serve with Veg Cheese Parcel and Enjoy 
Veggie Cheese Parcel

A savory snack; soft & fluffy from outside with gooey cheesy inside. It is a perfect dish which you can prepare as breakfast or an accompaniment to a soup, or as kids tiffin box.

We had these with a our soup and this was our filling dinner.

Ingredients 
1 Cup Besan / Chickpea Flour
1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
½ Teaspoon Sendav Namak/Himalayan Salt 
½ Teaspoon Black pepper powder
Salt to taste 
Water as required to make a omelette  consistency batter
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
Bread slices as required
Cheese slices as require
1 Small Onion Finely Chopped Onion
2 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Green Capsicum
1 Finely Chopped Green Chilly
Oil as required

Method

Take besan & all purpose flour in a mixing bowl. Add black salt, black pepper & salt to it. 

Prepare a dosa batter by adding water to it. Add water gradually while whisking so that no lumps are left.  It should be of spreadable consistency so that it spreads on its own when we pour it. Keep this aside for till we get rest of ingredients together.

Trim the edges of the bread slice.Keep these bread & cheese slices ready.

Now add the baking powder, chopped onion, capsicum and green chillies to the batter.  Give it a good mix.

Heat a  non stick pan with a teaspoon of oil. Spread it with a tissue so that entire pan is coated evenly.

Now on low flame, take a laddle full of batter and pour it on pan. Lift the pan and tilt it on all sides so that batter is spread properly.  Place a bread slice on it and turn it immediately so that it is coated with some batter on both sides. 

Place a cheese slice on this bread. Sprinkle some oil near the edges of pancake and let it cook on medium flame.

Check the edges of the pancake after a minute or two.  

While it still wet on top and slightly done down. Fold it into a parcel. Don't let the pancake cook completely else it will start breaking in the process of folding.

Cook it on pan till it os golden brown on both sides.

So cheesy

Enjoy these delicious Veggie cheese Parcel with  the soup and
 you have a filling and light filling dinner.

Labels: Cheese Slice, Soup, Soup Swappers, Green Peas, Bread Slices, Besan, Healthy Dinners  
See other recipe of  soup using fresh vegetables, our host  Colleen Delawder
Colombian Crema de Aguacate by Pandemonium Noshery
Cream of Mushroom Soup by Palatable Pastime
Fresh Corn Soup with Seared Scallops by Karen's Kitchen Stories
Fresh Green Peas Soup With Veg Cheese Parcel by Sneha's Recipe
Minestrone from Campania by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Pesang Manok by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Poached Shrimp & Spring Onion One-Pot Soup by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
Tuscan Style Turkey Soup by Making Miracles