Vegetarian Chalupa – A Crispy Mexican Bread

A chalupa is a tostada platter in Mexican cuisine.  Chalupas are made by pressing a thin layer of  dough around the outside of a small mold or  folding it like a taco and then deep frying to produce crisp, shallow cups. These are filled with various ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork, chopped onion, chipotle pepper, red salsa, and green salsa etc.. 

This  is the  second recipe  for  first week BM,  theme  Tortilla based dishes.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon  Butter or oil
Water for kneading the dough
Oil for frying
Mold for making the chalupa

Method
For Making Dough

Mix all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) together.

Add in oil and mix it thoroughly throughout the dough.

Knead the dough using water . Keep kneading till it all comes together and dough feels soft. Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes to rest.


For Making Shells

Flour  the work surface and shape the dough like a flattened cylinder. Cut it into equal parts.

Roll each part between both palms to make a ball. Roll out each ball using a rolling pin into a small disc.  

Place the disc on the oiled mold and press it evenly, remove the excess flour from the top (see pic)

In the meantime heat oil over medium flame in a deep frying pan.

You can check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a little dough ball (of the size of a corn) in oil. If the dough ball rises immediately, the oil is ready. If it takes time, let the oil heat for a couple of minutes more.

Once the oil is ready, drop the mold in the oil.

The mold will rise up on the oil and will puff up. Let it fry till the mold will loosen side for 1 minute  or two and the chalupa is crisp.

With a pair of tongs release the mold, pick up the chalupa and flip it to the other side till both sides are light golden and crispy.  Repeat the process and make rest of the chalupas.

Ingredients for the filling

A can of Baked Bean
2 Cups of Sweet corns - boiled
2 Cups of Capsicum - cut into cubes
2 Cups  Onions - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Oregano
Salt  and pepper to taste
1 Cup Salsa Sauce
1 Cup Sour Cream
Cheese as required for topping
Lettuce leaves as required

Method

Open the can of baked beans and stir fry till the moisture dries,  add the oregano and pepper to taste .  Cool and keep aside.

To assemble

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.


After everything’s prepared, all you need to do is stuff it in your fried shell.

In the chalupa place the  lettuce leaves add the baked beans then add the onion on top, with some the capsicum, sweet corns, oregano and pepper powder to taste,  sour cream, salsa sauce then sprinkle grated cheese. 

Place the chalupas in the oven and bake for 3 -5 minutes or till the cheese melts.   

Serve immediately. Make and enjoy these crispy, crunchy and cheesy chalupas, we had for our dinner. 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#53.

Labels : Chalupa, Mexican, Vegetarian, Sandwiches, Blogging Marathon

Vegetarian Mexican Quesadillas

Queso” is cheese in Spanish. A quesadilla is a heated tortilla with melted cheese inside. But in addition to cheese, you can put practically anything in a quesadilla. 

Traditionally in Mexico quesadillas are made with corn tortillas, not wheat flour tortillas, and a melty white cheese. However in northern Mexico, quesadillas are made with all purpose flour tortillas.

In this week for the BM, will be posting three Tortilla based dishes.

Ingredients
For the Dough / Tortillas
2 Cups All-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon Baking powder
1/2 Cup Warm Water
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons Olive oil

For the Filling
2 Carrots - finely diced
2 Tomatoes - deseeded and finely diced
1 Cup Boiled Kidney beans / Rajma
1 Onion - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Diced Capsicum
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1 Teaspoon Olive oil

Grated cheese as required

Method

First we need to make the dough. Mix together salt and flour, baking powder,  in a bowl. Stir as you gradually add in water and oil.

Once the dough forms a ball, remove from bowl and knead for 10 minutes. Place kneaded dough in a bowl, cover with a damp towel and let rest for one hour.

Then divide the dough into 6 equal parts.  Lightly flour a flat surface to roll out your dough. Take a ball of dough and roll. The dough should form a tortilla shape: very thin and size should be that of a dinner plate. 

Heat a tava place tortilla and let is cook for a minute . 

Flip the tortilla over a few times, 10 seconds between flips.

Till light brown spots begin to appear. 

Remove and keep aside.  

Repeat the same method and make the remaining tortillas.

To prepare the filling
In a pan heat oil, add the onions, carrots, capsicum and kidney beans and saute for 2 - 3 minutes. Then add salt, cayenne pepper and saute again for a minute. Remove from heat and let it cool.

To assemble the quesadilla
Lightly toast the flour tortilla in lightly oiled pan. When pockets of air begin to form, take a handful of grated cheese, sprinkle over half side of the tortilla, making sure that the cheese does not land on the pan itself.  Add the filling and fold it. Sprinkle few drops of olive oil on the sides. After a minute or two , flip it over the other side, as if you were making an omelette and let it cook the other side till brown spots appear. The tortilla should by now be browned slightly. If it is not browned, turn the heat up to high and flip the quesadilla over every 10 seconds or so until it gets browned. Remove from pan and cut into wedges.

Serve with the salsa, sour cream.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#53.

Labels : Sandwiches, Quesadilla, Mexican, Vegetarian, Blogging Marathon, Tortilla, Flatbread, Breads

Salted / Namkeen Chicken

This recipe is from a TV show. This chicken is a dry roast type but salted and taste yummy. This can be had as a side dish or shredded for sandwiches or any filling. This dish is actually made with red meat.  Here I,  have used chicken. If you are using red meat then double the quantity of salt.  

What I, liked about this recipe that it easy and no cutting, chopping or grinding.  You have just everything in the kitchen that is required to make this dish.  It also taste yummy and can be frozen, used whenever required.


Ingredients
1 Kg Chicken - Cut into 8 pieces
1 Teaspoon Salt - slightly heaped
2 Teaspoons Black pepper - crushed
1 Tablespoon Ginger garlic paste
1 Large Onion - cut into four
1/2 Cup Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Garam masala powder

Method
Marinate the chicken with the salt, black pepper, ginger garlic paste and onion for 15 minutes.

In a large like a flat basin pan add oil spread the chicken in a single layer.   Seal pan and cook on low flame for one hour seal the pan with dough or put a weight on the lid.  Do not add water and do not stir the chicken.  Open pan only after 45 minutes to  an hour, if cooked, switch off the flame. Sprinkle garam masala powder . When cooled  discard onions and serve .  Enjoy this dish as a side dish or a filling for sandwiches, rolls, etc...

Labels :  Chicken, CCChallenge

Idli Fry - How to make Idli Fry

This is a quick fried snack made with left over idlis.  This is relished by kids as well as adults.  These can be packed as lunch box to kids.

This recipe one will get to taste in South Indian restaurants in Mumbai. Idlis are cut into finger chips and then fried. To make these healthy I pan fry them.

Ingredients
4-5  Idlis  or more as desired
A pinch of Salt
Oil to shallow fry the idlis

Method

Cut the idlis into fingers and sprinkle a pinch of salt.

Heat oil in a  pan till medium hot.  Add the idli fingers, keep space between each idli finger, as they stick to each other while frying.  Fry till light golden or slightly more till crisp from outside and soft from inside.  Keep turning them on the sides for even golden color .  Remove the smaller pieces first as they get fried quickly.  Drain the fried idlis on a paper towel to remove excess oil.  We like these without any extra seasoning (see - my notes).  Serve hot with  tomato sauce.  I also had some french fries, which are pan fried ( as in pic).

My Notes :

Use only left over idlis or day old idlis which have been refrigerated. don’t use fresh idlis, because they break in the oil while frying and  also absorb a lot of oil.

You can sprinkle red chilli powder or chaat masala or pav bhaji masala or idli podi on top of it.  Choose any seasoning you like.

Sending this post to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event, host of the month Sandhya - theme Snacking all the way week 4 day 3.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#52.

Labels : South Indian, Leftover series, Healthy snacks, Kids delight, Blogging Marathon

Rava Toast / Semolina Toast

This is another bread recipe that is quick, uncomplicated and does not take  much of time to prepare.  This toast is  so quick to make that it does not require much chopping and just no grinding. 
 
Bread is always present in the house, whenever my daugther use to say  Ma,  I am hungry what's there to to eat ? I used to prepare this snack for her and she use to happily enjoy this toast without a fuss.  Incidentally this Sooji Toast was my mother's favorite, once a week she would always make it a point to remind me to prepare this for her.  This is her recipe and she taught me how to make this simple and quick  toast.

Semolina/Rava toast can be made as a snack with evening tea too. The best combination to it is  tomato ketchup.

Ingredients

1 Cup Rava / Semolina
1/4 Cup Onions - finely chopped
1/4 Cup Tomatoes - finely chopped
1/4 Cup Capsicum - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Coriander - finely chopped

2 Green chillies - finely chopped
1/2 Cup Yogurt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper powder
7 Slices bread White or Brown
1 Tomato - cut into  thick slices 
Oil for frying
Salt to taste

Method

Mix the semolina, vegetables, yogurt, pepper powder and salt. Add water to make a thick batter.  Spread on one side of the bread. In a non stick flat pan or griddle, put a few drops of oil. Put the bread,  semolina side down, on the pan. Cook on medium heat. Press down slightly with a spatula to cook it evenly. If the toast side slides easily when the pan is shaken, it is cooked. 

When cooked, flip the bread and crisp the other side. You do not need to pour oil on this side. Remove from pan and serve hot with tomato ketchup. Enjoy with a hot cup of tea or coffee!

As you can see in the pic I have used tomato slice in few  of toast.

Sending this post to Srivalli's Kid's Delight event, host of the month Sandhya - theme Snacking all the way week 4 day 2.


Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#52.


Linking this post "Come, join us for Breakfast" event .

Labels: Breakfast, Kids delight, Semolina, Healthy snacks, Blogging Marathon