Veggie Mini Vol-au-Vents#SundayFunday

These are excellent party appetizers, try them and your guest will enjoy them. We enjoyed these, could not stop at one, so make more in case, your guest ask for another one.

Ingredients 

15 Mini Vol-au-vents Shells - used ready shells
For the Filling 

¼ Cup Finely Chopped French Beans
¼ Cup Finely Chopped Carrots
¼ Cup Green Peas
1 Cup Bechamel Sauce

¼  Teaspoon Mixed Herbs

¼  Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes

Salt to taste 

Cheddar Cheese as required
Method

Parboil all the veggies and keep aside.
In a sauce pan heat the Bechamel Sauce, mix well to make it smooth and lump free, add rest of the ingredients except the cheese. Taste for salt and add accordingly. Keep aside to cool.

To Assemble 
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, turning both the elements on ( i.e. grill rod too). 

Take each shell and core it with a spoon carefully so that you do not break right into the bottom ( this is to give a little depth).  Like wise prepare all the shells.  Arrange them in a lined tray.

Place a teaspoon of filling

Grate the cheese on top

Place it in the oven bake  till the cheese melts say about 7 -10 minutes or so.

Serve and Enjoy!!

Labels :  Vol-au-Vents, Vegetarian, Cheddar Cheese, Party pleasers, Baked, Puff Pastry, Bechamel Sauce, Sunday Funday

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 

Dal Sultani#AlphabetChallenge

This yummy dal is a Mughlai cuisine of Uttar Pradesh. Its rich and creamy .  Goes well with both rice/pulao or chapattis.
Ingredients 
1 Cup Moong Dal - washed and soaked for an hour
2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Red Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt 
For the Gravy 

200 Grams Yogurt
200 ML Milk
100 ML Fresh Cream
6 Cloves  - coarsely ground
6 Small Cardamoms  - coarsely ground
½ Teaspoon Saffron Strands - mix in a Tablespoon water

For Tempering 
½ Cup  Butter or Ghee - I used  half of each
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
8 Cloves Garlic  - chopped
For garnishing coriander leaves  - finely chopped
A Piece of Coal for Dungar / Smoke 

Method

Soak lentil for half an hour, add in it water, salt, chilly powder and boil the dal till its cooked. 

In a another bowl mix,  yogurt,  milk and  malai (cream), beat  well, add the cardamom and cloves powder mix well.  

When lentil  is cooked, add in creamy mixture, stir the dal well, cook on slow flame for 10 minutes  stirring it so that it does not burn at  the bottom.  Switch off flame,  add the saffron water give it quick stir.

Prepare The Tempering

Heat ghee and butter in a pan add the cumin, chopped garlic when the garlic starts to brown take off flame and pour on dal . Cover with a lid. Lastly place the lighted coal in piece of foil or a small bowl pour ghee over it and keep it over the dal covered for 5 minutes. Open garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot. We had this thick, rich, creamy and yummy dal with roti or Naan. 

My Notes 
This dal is not spicy so don't add more chilly powder, this will ruin the taste and color of the dal. 
Do not skip giving dungar/smoke to the dal, as this enhances the flavor.
You can use split pigeons peas/tur dal too instead of moong dal. 
Labels: Dal, Moong dal, Lentils, Mughlai Cuisine, Uttar Pradesh, Alphabet Challenge, Vegetarian

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

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Double Dark Chocolate Waffles 

Blogghetti: Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl 

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Dutch Macaroni 

Mayuri’s Jikoni: Date Salad, Ottolenghi Style 

A Messy Kitchen: Sugarplum Date Balls 

Culinary Cam: Gluten-Free Crystal Dumplings 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Chicken with Dates 

Palatable Pastime: Balkan Lamb and Rice Casserole (Djuvec) 

Magical Ingredients: Dill Pickle Dip 

Food Lust People Love: Small Batch Dried Apricot Jam 

Sneha’s Recipe: Dal Sultani 

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sun-Dried Tomato Dip with Italian Seasoning 

Burmese Tofu With Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce#EatTheWorld

This makes a fresh, delicious meal with a flavorful garlic, ginger and sauce. 
Makes 3-4 servings 
Ingredients
400 Grams Extra Firm Tofu
2 Tablespoons Peanut Oil / Olive Oil
2 Scallions - finely chopped
1 inch Fresh Ginger - minced
5 Cloves Garlic - minced
3 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Toasted Sesame oil
1 Tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Red Chilly Sauce 
1 Teaspoon Chili Flakes
1 Fresh Red Chilly - chopped - optional
Sesame seeds, for garnish - optional
Chopped Coriander leaves - for garnish -optional

Method

Pat the tofu with a paper towel until dry.  Cut into 2" cubes.
Heat a large frying pan or skillet on high heat and add some of the oil, then immediately turn the heat to low. Add a batch of the tofu, laying the pieces face-down on the pan  and let fry for  until brown on the pan side. Keep on flipping the sides until all sides are brown. Remove and plate. You will likely need to fry the pieces in batches. The oil can splatter, so be careful.
Mix together the, ginger, garlic, chopped fresh red chilly, all the sauces, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and chili flakes to make the sauce.

In another pan add the sauce, when the sauce  comes to a simmer switch off the flame add in scallions.
When the tofu is done cooking, turn off the heat for the pan. Plate the tofu and pour the sauce over the tofu. Garnish with the coriander leaves / green scallions.
You can eat this dish at any temperature you like. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Enjoy this satisfying dish!!

Labels: Eat the World, Burma, Tofu, Soy Sauce, Asian Cuisine, Vegan, Gluten free, Keto, Low Carb, Vegetarian

Check out all the wonderful Burmese dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!

• For Eat The World we are sharing recipes of Burma
•  Tasty Trio from Myanmar by Culinary Cam
• Burmese Tofu with Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce by Sneha's Recipe
• Chile Garlic Oil Noodles ;by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Garlic Oil Noodles with Chicken by Amy's Cooking Adventures 

Chettinad Mushroom Masala#Alphabet Challenge

Button mushrooms sautéed in spicy Chettinad curry. Happened to taste this dish at a local Indian restaurant, since then wanted to try it out myself. Tried this recipe with my own blend of Chettinad spices and it turned good and it's a superb recipe. Chettinad Masala powders have special ingredients which gives the unique taste to the dish.

Ingredients

To Dry Roast Each Separately
3 Dry Kashmiri Red Chilies
1 Tablespoon Heaped Coriander seeds
¾ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Teaspoon Poppy seeds
1 Teaspoon Split Roasted Gram / Pottukadalai/Dalia
1 Tablespoon Heaped Grated Dry Coconut or Desiccated Coconut
To Grind along with the above Roasted Ingredients
5 Shallots/Sambar Onion
1" Piece Ginger
5 Cloves Garlic
5 Curry leaves
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Kerala Garam Masala
Other Ingredients
200 Grams Button Mushrooms - chopped
1 Large Tomato - chopped
1 Green Chilly - slit
1 Bay leaf
2 Small Piece Dagdful /Black Stone Flower / Kalpasi
5 Curry leaves
1 Tablespoon Chopped Coriander leaves
½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
3 Tablespoons Oil
125 Ml Water

Method
Clean, chop the mushrooms, cut them into pieces and keep aside. Slice them vertically for a even look.

Dry roast the ingredients separately will each releases an aroma . Let them all cool. Grind all the spices and coconut powder in a spice blender/ mixer and powder them to fine texture. This is your dry masala powder. To this add the small onions, ginger, garlic, curry leaves & turmeric powder to the spice powder and grind to coarse texture. A few pulse in the mixer will be sufficient to chop the onions and ginger garlic. 

Keep this wet masala ready for the preparation.

In a kadai, heat oil and toast the bay leaves, dagdful, green chilly and some curry leaves. Now add the wet masala mixture and fry along for few minutes.

Add the sliced mushrooms and tomatoes at this stage and add half cup of water. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes over low flame.

Mushroom has the tendency to release water when cooked, so the gravy will be watery at this stage. Simmer till it reaches a semi-thick consistency, over low flame for the oil to separate.

Now garnish with chopped coriander and curry leaves and switch off. Serve as a side with rice or roti of you choice, this goes well with idli and dosa too!

My Notes
Poppy seeds & split roasted gram is added to give thickness to the gravy.

Labels: Alphabet Challenge, South Indian, Mushroom, Vegetarian, Sabzi, Side Dish, Indian
Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "C" 

• Sneha’s Recipe: Chettinad Mushroom Masala
• Food Lust People Love: Chicken Chorizo Traybake
• Blogghetti: Captain Crunch French Toast
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Chickpea Chaat Salad
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Hot Chocolate Cookies
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Cider Glazed Chicken Wings
• Magical Ingredients: Cheesy Corn Dip
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Chia Seed Protein Bites
• A Messy Kitchen: Cappuccino Mousse
• Culinary Cam: Lemon Lavender Blackberry Cake
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Cheesy Cheddar Taco-Seasoned Corn Chip Dip

Keto Broccoli & Tomato Soup#SundayFunday

This Broccoli & Tomato Soup that is thick, creamy and delicious. The bright color should perk your winter up too! It has such great flavor, nutritious, light and can be served hot or cold.

Serves 6
Ingredients
1 Small Head Broccoli - chopped
1 Small Onion - chopped
2 Cloves Garlic - chopped
6 Medium Tomatoes - cut into quarters
2 - 3 Cups Vegetable Stock
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
½ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
½ Teaspoon Black Pepper powder or to taste
A Dash Of Red Chilly Flakes - optional

Method

Heat the oil in a large pan/kadai.
Add the onion and garlic and sauté till the onions start to caramelize. Add the broccoli and sauté for another 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and stock, bring to the boil, cover and cook until the broccoli is tender.
Blend with either a hand blender or food processor. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy! This is a thick tasty soup and a good way to sneak broccoli into your loved one's diet. They will never know, it's a delicious soup

My Notes
This is a thick soup, you may want to add more stock if you prefer a thinner consistency.

Labels: Soup, Broccoli, Tomato, Garlic, Keto, Low Carb, Vegetarian, International Cuisine, Sunday Funday

• Bacon Cheeseburger Soup from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Cabbage Roll Soup from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Chicken and Dumplings Soup from Palatable Pastime
• Chicken Enchilada Soup from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Homemade Golden Mushroom Soup from Food Lust People Love
• Keto Broccoli & Tomato Soup from Sneha's Recipe 

Baked Vegetables Pasta Less Lasagna#SundayFunday

A delicious vegetable lasagna no pasta noodles necessary! Yes, it’s all veggies, cheeses and  sauce for a tasty comforting vegetarian dinner. (You won’t miss the noodles!)
6 inch Pyrex dish
Serves 2 as a complete meal

Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
¾ Cup Homemade Pasta Sauce
To Sauté Vegetables
1 Tablespoons Oil
1 Teaspoon Butter
1 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Garlic
1 Medium Onion - diced into small cubes
½ Cup Boiled Sweet Corn
1 Cup Diced Colored Capsicum - small cubes
1 Large Tomato - de seeded and diced
½ Teaspoon Oregano
½ Teaspoon Red Chilli flakes
½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
10 White Bread Slices 
150 Grams Cheeza Cheese 
Method
For The Veggies 

Heat oil in a pan add the chopped garlic sauté for a minute add onions and sauté this for a minute add rest of the veggies, salt and dry spices sauté for 2 minutes stirring continuously then add tomato and sauté just for a minute. Keep aside to cool.
For The Bread

Flatten the bread slices with a rolling pin thinly
Assembling The Lasagna

Grease a oven proof glass dish/Pyrex dish 6 inch, spread 2 - 3 tablespoon red sauce, then on it drizzle a tablespoon heaped white sauce, arrange a layer of bread slices to cover the bottom leaving no gap ( fill the gaps of the dish), again spread red and white sauce over the slices/ base, spread little of the veggies and then a layer of processed & mozzarella cheese( I used cheeza). 

Again spread white and red sauce and on top the layer of veggies , a layer of cheese to cover it again white and red sauce, a layer of bread slice covering the base ( no gaps), again red and white sauce, layer of veggies again cheese bread slices, again all of the remaining red and white sauce and remaining veggies all of the remaining cheese, arrange for garnishing some diced colored capsicums, a dash of oregano, red chilly flakes.

Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 15 minutes with both elements on.

Baked Vegetables Pasta Less Lasagna is ready, cut in square and serve immediately. Making Lasagna at home has never been so easy, make your own vegetable Lasagna at home and Enjoy!

Labels: Bread Slices, Bread Slices, Lasagna, Pasta Less , Pasta sauce, Cheese Sauce, Coloured Bell Peppers, Sweet Corn, Cheese, Baked, Serves Two, Vegetarian, International Cuisine

For Sunday Funday , we are sharing "Comfort Foods"

Sneha's Recipe: Baked Vegetables Pasta Less Lasagna 

Amy's Cooking Adventures: Broccoli Cheese Pierogi Soup 

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Roast Pork Loin with Cherry Sauce 

Karen's Kitchen Stories: BBQ Glazed Meatloaf with Sweet Potatoes and Pearl Onions 

Food Lust People Love: Lemony Spring Vegetable Chicken Soup 

Culinary Cam: Comforting Beef Stroganoff 

Zambian Dried Beans Curry#EatTheWorld

Dried Beans is a nutritious dish among Zambian local cuisines. It is a healthy alternative to meat for vegetarians. It can be enjoyed with rice. It is quite easy to prepare.

Ingredients

1 Cup Black Eyed Peas - can use any type of beans
2 Medium Tomatoes - chopped
1 Onion - chopped
1 Scallion/Spring Onions Greens - chopped
2 Tablespoon Oil
Salt to taste
Seasoning / Spice of your choice - optional

I used Red chilly powder & Cumin powder
Method

Wash the beans and put in a pot add enough water and put on heat to cook.
Let the beans cook until the beans it soft. Continue adding water bit by bit if the water evaporates.
In another pot heat oil, add sauté the onions till translucent then add the tomatoes, cook till they soften. 

Now add the cooked beans and stock, salt to taste and spice of your choice and mix well. Bring this to a boil, reduce the flame and let is simmer for 15 minutes stirring in between till the gravy thickens. Then add the chopped spring onion greens, cover and let this cook only for a minute. 

Switch off the flame and serve hot. Serve with rice.

Labels: Eat the World, Black Eyed Peas, Zambia, International Cuisine, Main course, Vegetarian, Scallions

For Eat The World we are sharing recipes of Zambia.

Check out all the wonderful Zambian dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!

• Zambian Dried Bean Curry by Sneha's Recipes
• Zambian Spinach by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Village Chicken by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Taking Inspiration from Zambian Flavors by Culinary Cam