Oven Roasted Sun Dried Tomatoes - Homemade

This is my second attempt at dried tomatoes in the oven. The first time, I made it, was a year back before I was blogging and we had it with pasta. It taste's really yum. Oven dried tomatoes have a tangy flavour which I am sure that you too will love.
Method 
Slice the tomatoes into 4 large pieces. 

I placed  a big whole pod of garlic, sprinkled a pinch of mixed herbs, salt and olive oil before placing the tomatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet. 

Keep the oven at the lowest temperature i.e. at 100°CKeep the oven slightly open for about 3-4 minutes, every 15 minutes to let the steam out and fasten the drying process.

The end product should be leathery and non-sticky tomatoes which are all shriveled up. Then place them in a jar filled with olive oil. Store in the freezer for further use. 

Labels: International Cuisine, Vegan, Healthy, Homemade, Sun Dried Tomato, Masala

French baguette

This is the recipe that was chosen for this months Tame the yeast challenge. This is Pradnya's recipe who blogs at The Pumpkin Farm. When this was shared I was very thrilled because I love crusty breads. I am great fan of baguette and our Indian brun pav. Whereas my daughter and hubby do not like crusty breads. They say it hurts their pallet. 

When I was in Europe for a brief stay of 45 days what I enjoyed the most was this French baguette. Early morning I use to go to the boulangerie to buy this freshly made bread. I can eat crusty bread with anything, be it dal, soup or butter and jam. I love to dip these slices in hot cup of chai and enjoy eating it. 

Ingredients are sufficient for creating 2 loaves of this size each – about inch length thin bread or 6 inch thick sandwich loaf.

Ingredients

2 cups All purpose flour
3 Teaspoon Honey or 4 teaspoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 ¼ Teaspoon Instant yeast
¾ Cup warm water
1 Cup ice cubes (to be kept in refrigerator until the last step)
½ Teaspoon oil only to brush the top of the dough

Method

In a large bowl, mix the flour, yeast and salt well.
Add the honey to the flour mixture and mix using a spoon.
Now slowly add ½ cup of water and mix using hands until the flour gathers to form a crumbly dough.

Now gradually add a teaspoon of water at a time while kneading with one hand to smoothen the dough.
Now knead the dough at least 10 minutes till the dough is smooth, elastic and stretches easily. 

Now dip your 2 fingers in oil and lightly rub the top of the dough to cover the exposed surface from drying.

Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 45 minutes or until it doubles.

Now take the dough and punch it using your knuckles and flatten the dough. 

Roll out the dough using a rolling pin on a flat surface. Roughly in rectangular shape, first time about 4 inch in width and 6 inches in length.
Now fold the top lengthwise , until mid way, to look like an envelope

Now fold over the bottom half over the top. Seal the edges well and roll it out width wise and repeat the envelope folds again

Continue until you reach desired length, either 6 or 8 inch or maximum 12 to 14 inch in length

See below
Do not forget the seal the edges well at each step

Now just gently twist it using four fingers of both your hands, right hand moving upwards and left hand moving 

downwards, as if you are wriggling the dough. Do this gently and then set aside for 30 minuts more.

During this time, preheat your oven at 230 C for 10 minutes.

Now after the second rise – roughly 25 minutes, place the risen dough on greased baking tray.

Take ice cubes in a oven safe pan. Open the oven door, and slid the baking tray on the top rack and the ice cubes on the bottom rack.  Close the oven door , cover it with a kitchen towel to ensure the vapor steam does not shatter the glass door. It normally does not happen, but as a precaution, do this, alternatively you can put a barrier to the oven door, to ensure that it does not close fully.Bake it for 20 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Look out for the post as to how I served this bread.

This bread was crusty and yummy, but not so crusty like the ones available in Europe boulangeries, may be because of their baking technique and ovens.  But still we enjoyed this bread so did my hubby and daughter. 

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#46.


Labels: Breads, Continental Cuisine, Vegan, Blogging Marathon, France

For other recipes on bread check Recipe Index.  

Patichya Kandyachi Peeth Perun Bhaji (Spring Onions cooked with Chickpea flour)

This Spring Onion recipe is the easiest to make. This a regular sabzi cooked in a Maharashtrian home.The name can be a bit of a tongue twister for Non-Maharashtrians. Its easy to make with just 2 main ingredients and with other regular ingredients from your kitchen. H enjoys eating this  traditional sabzi. 

Ingredients
2 Cups chopped Spring Onions - (Greens and onions chopped separately)

1 Teaspoon Ginger-Garlic paste - (mix this paste in a tablespoon of water)

1 Tomato -   chopped finely

1 Tablespoon roasted Chickpea flour (Besan)
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Teaspoon mustard seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
1 Tablespoon Kacha masala
Salt to taste
Method

Lightly roast the besan on a tawa and keep aside.
In a kadai heat oil, add in mustard seeds when they start to splutter add asafoetida, ginger - garlic mix fry well till the water evaporates.  Then stir in the onions only (not greens)saute till onions are translucent, add the tomato and fry well then add the kacha masala, salt and the greens. Saute well cover and cook. Once the veggies have cooked, stir in the besan (chick pea flour) slowly a teaspoon at a time. Making sure you stop adding it when it reaches the consistency you like. If the dish becomes too dry again sprinkle a little water. On low heat cover and cook for 5 minutes or till cooked. Turn off the heat and keep covered for 5 minutes or till ready to serve. Serve hot with rotis or dal rice.

Labels:  Healthy, Main course, Vegan, Vegetarian, Spring Onions, Besan, Maharashtra, Maharastrian Cuisine, Gluten free

Punjabi Chole - No Onion No Garlic

This is a Jain recipe. The Jain's do not eat onion and garlic in their cooking. This is still a very tasty dish even though, no onion or garlic is used in the preparation. But the Jain use a little extra oil to balance the taste and texture of their dishes. So do not cut down the quantity of oil in the recipe. 

Making no onion no garlic recipes is a challenge. This theme is chosen for the Blogging Marathon, so you find in the previous two days all Jain recipes.

Though there is no onion no garlic in this chole it is still delicious and has an excellent taste. When I tasted this chole it reminded me of the chole samosa plate that is served at Bandra Linking road which I, relish. This taste exactly same as that. So here's the recipe.

Ingredients
2 Cups Chickpeas - boiled
3 Dry Red chillies
1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1 Bay Leaf
A pinch of Asafoetida
A spring Curry leaves
1 Tablespoon ginger - green chilly paste (see notes)
1/2 Cup Tomato - chopped
3 Medium size Tomatoes - blanched, skinned and pureed
1 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Red chilly powder
1/2 Teaspoon Amchur powder
2 Tablespoons Chole masala (click here for the recipe)
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoon Coriander - finely chopped
3 Tablespoon Oil
Salt to taste

Method

In a pan heat oil,  add cumin seeds, bay leaf, red chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves. Then add ginger chilly paste. And fry well, then add the tomatoes chopped, salt to taste, turmeric, red chilly powder, chole masala and fry well till oil separates. Then add tomato puree. Fry well add amchur powder and sugar and fry well till oil separates add boiled chole and water, and let it boil covered for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot.

We had this with Two Grains Roti and Mint Boondi Raita.

For the Mint Boondi Raita

Ingredients

1 Cup Thick Curds

1/2 Cup Salted Boondi

1 Tablespoon Mint leaves - chopped

1/2 Teaspoon Sumac / Red Chilly powder

Salt to taste

1/2 Teaspoon Sugar

Method

Mix the curds, boondi, salt  and sugar and mint together.  Remove it in a bowl and sprinkle sumac.  Serve chilled.

Notes:
For ginger – chilly paste: 50 grams ginger + 30 grams chillies wash clean and grind to paste, store in the refrigerator .

Labels:  Chickpea, Complete Meal, Healthy, Jain food, Main course, No Onion No Garlic, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten free,  Mint, Raita

Two Grains Roti

Ingredients
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Rice flour
1 Cup Wheat flour
Salt to taste
Ghee for brushing

Method
Heat the water till it comes to a boil, add salt and mix well, then add the rice flour and switch off the flame. Mix the flour well till well incorporated. Keep to cool for 5 minutes. When still hot add the wheat flour and knead to a soft smooth dough. If necessary you can add little more wheat flour it its sticky. Keep the flour covered for 15 minutes to rest.

After 15 minutes divide the dough into equal portions. Roll each portion into ball and then into a thin roti using wheat flour. 

Heat a tava on medium flame. Place this rolled roti on it. Keep it for 2minutes then flip it and roast it on high flame. When this is done again flip till the other side is done. Press the sides if necessary with a cloth for it puff. 

Remove and spread a little ghee on top.

Notes :

These remain soft even the next day. If you have extra dough, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge and use it within 2 days. These rotis will be even more softer and will puff very easily.

Labels: Rotis, Rice flour, Wheat flour, Healthy, Main course,Vegan