Di San Xian - Vegetarian

Di San Xian (or more accurately read as 'dee sun sen') is a delicious vegetarian dish from Dongbei (north east China). The name Di San Xian is translated as 'earth three fresh'.


When I, was looking to the dishes list in wiki list, found this name, looked through the recipe was happy to read through this easy Chinese dish.The only thing I added more was chilly flakes to make it lightly spicy otherwise made it exactly as given. Also did not add light soy sauce since its not available here. Instead I added 3 teaspoon dark soy sauce.

Recipe Source here

Ingredients
1 Large Aubergine / Brinjal
2 - 3 Medium potato
1 Large Green Capsicum
1 Cup Oil for frying
2 large Clove Garlic
4 Stalks of Spring onion (scallion), use only the white part
2 Teaspoon Light Soy sauce - I did not add
2 Teaspoon Dark Soy sauce
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1/2 Cup Water
1 Cube of Vegetarian Soup cube
1 Teaspoon Cornflour -mix with 2 tablespoons water

Method

Cut potatoes into thin wedges. 

Cut aubergine into thick wedges, remember it will shrink after cooking. Cut just before cooking to prevent browning or straight after frying the potatoes. Do not rinse or salt the aubergine.  

Cut capsicum  into thick wedges. 

Chop garlic and spring onion. 

Heat oil in work till hot then put in potatoes and fry till light golden brown and cooked through. Remove and drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
Fry the aubergine in the same oil at high heat. The aubergine will absorb a lot of the oil at first. When the pieces become golden brown, most of the absorbed oil is released. Fry till golden and soft. Remove and drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
Fry the capsicum briefly for about 1 - 2 minutes on high heat. Remove and drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
Remove all the oil,  reserve only a tablespoon  of oil in wok, add in the garlic and spring onion, fry at medium heat till light golden.
Add in  water and cubes when the cube dissolves, add the both soy sauces and, chilly flakes and sugar.
When the liquid is boiling, add in all the vegetables. Stir briefly then thicken with  cornflour paste on high heat and reduce the sauce to almost dry and vegetables are evenly coated with the sauce.  Take off flame and  serve.

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

Labels : Brinjal, Chinese, Asian Cuisine, Potato, Capsicum, Blogging Marathon, Vegetarian, Vegetables

Eggplant Rollatini with Spinach - Vegetarian

Rollatini is an Italian-style dish that is usually made with thin slices of eggplant, which are dusted in wheat flour or lightly breaded and covered with ricotta and often other cheeses and seasonings, then rolled up and baked ( taken from wiki).

This is a one dish meal and filling, we had this as our dinner with garlic bread.

Sending this to this month's BM week 3 - Do Eggplant Dishes.
The eggplant is sliced so thin (I used the V slicer for even thickness of slices)

Ingredients

2 Long Black Brinjals -  sliced lenthwise
1/2 Teaspoon  salt 

1/2 Teaspoons Fresh black pepper
1 1/2 cups  Marinara sauce - homemade
1/2 Cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 Cup  Cheeza Cheese - grated
1 Cup Blanched Spinach
1/2  Garlic  -  minced
1/3  Cup Mozzarella cheese - grated

1 Tablespoons Fresh Bread crumbs

1/2 Teaspoon each Oregano and Rosemary herb

Method
Cut the eggplants lengthwise, into 1/4-inch thick slices .  I used the V slicer on the thick sides to get even slices. 

Sprinkle little salt to remove excess moisture and bitterness from the eggplants. Set aside for about 10 minutes. Pat dry with a towel.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Season the eggplant with a little pepper, then grease a frying pan and arrange eggplant is just tender for a minute on each side only. Then place the eggplants on a a absorbent paper towel to remove any oil. I used this method.

OR in the oven - arrange the slices on a greased baking tray for about 4 minutes on each side.

Mix the ricotta cheese, pepper to taste, garlic and spinach together and keep aside.

Spread 1/4 cup marinara sauce on the bottom of a greased baking dish. 

Dividing the ricotta-spinach mixture according to the slices of eggplant  (about a tablespoon each). 

Spoon onto one end of each eggplant slice, spreading to cover. 

Starting at the end, roll up slices and arrange them each seam side down in the prepared dish. 

Top with remaining marinara sauce and  grated cheeza. 

 mozzarella cheese and  again spinkle bread crumbs on top with  oregano and rosemary , tightly cover with foil.

Bake until the eggplant is very tender, about 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving. Devour the yummy rollatini

My Notes :

You must have  noticed that I have not added salt in the mixture, cause spinach has enough salt and even the ricotta cheese has some quantity of salt.  If you wish add salt but taste it then add.



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

Labels : Brinjal, Continental Cuisine, Italy, Cheese, Baked, Vegetarian, Blogging Marathon, Marinara Sauce

Dahi Baigana - Odisha Cuisine

Dahi Baigana is an Oriya food prepared from curd and eggplant / brinjal especially during festivals. This dish can be prepared even without using garlic when they are not allowed in some auspicious festivals. 

This is a mouthwatering dish. We really enjoyed this dish. I took a plate for myself had soothing dish as my dinner.

Sending this to this month's BM week 3 - Do Eggplant Dishes.

Let's go to the recipe...
Ingredients

 1 Large eggplant - cut into roundels or halves
2 Cups Thick Curd

1 Green chilly  - finely chopped

Salt to taste

A pinch of Chat Masala

For the Tadka

2 Cloves  Garlic - chopped
3 Button Dried Red Chilies
1/4 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
1/4  Teaspoon Cumin seeds
4 -5 Grains  Fenugreek seeds
1/4 Teaspoon Fennel seeds
Oil for frying

Method

Cut the eggplant into roundles and  sprinkle little salt on the slices and keep aside.

Take curd in a bowl, add a little water,  salt to taste, chat masala and green chilly, mix well and then keep aside in the refrigerator to chill.

Heat a frying pan with little oil place the eggplant slices and fry  until they turn golden brown.  Remove the fried eggplants from the pan into a plate and keep it aside to cool it completely.

In a small pan add a tablespoon of oil and heat it.  Then add mustard seeds,  cumin seeds,  fenugreek seeds and fennel seeds. When they crackle, add red chilies and chopped garlic. Sauté for a few seconds and then take off flame.
Add half of this to  the curd and mix well.  Keep the remaining aside to pour on top.

In a serving dish arrange the eggplant and then pour the curd and  the remaning tadka on top, keep it in the refrigerator again to cool and also so that eggplant absorbs some of curd.

Here this delicious  Dahi Baigana  is  ready to dig into and relish. 

  

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

Labels : Brinjal, Curds, Odisha, Blogging Marathon, Healthy, Vegetables

MULTIGRAIN BREAD WITH SEEDS #BREADBAKERS

I made this Multigrain bread with seeds for this month's Bread Bakers event - Theme: Fall Flavors, Host: Wendy   http://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/. 

Thank you Wendy for hosting this event.

Since it's a multigrain bread without all purpose flour the bread is dense but has a awesome flavor, taste and is free of any preservatives.    I added one egg to make it soft and kept it in the fridge 48 hours for slow fermentation.  This gave the bread an awesome flavor.    See how I baked this bread..  

Ingredients

3 Cups Multigrain flour - I used Aashirvaad brand
1 Tablespoon Flax seed

1 Tablespoon Pumpkin seed

1 Tablespoon Sunflower seed

1 Tablespoon Onion seed
2+1/4 Teaspoon Rapid Rising yeast
1+1/2 Cup Lukewarm Water
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 Teaspoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Egg
Oil for greasing the dough and the pan

Method
Mix all the seeds and keep aside.

In a large bowl add flour, sugar, salt, oil, yeast and egg mix well. Add in the luke warm and knead everything until the dough turns soft and smooth.

Place the dough in a greased bowl, wrap the bowl with a cling film and place it for slow fermentation 48 hours in the refrigerator. Check after 24 hours the dough will rise, punch it and keep it again for another 24 hours.

Remove the bowl from the refrigerator at 3 hours before you bake to bring at room temperature, by that time the dough will rise , punch it down . Take it on to the work surface and flatten it with your palms and add 1/2 the quantity of mixed seeds and fold the dough . Make it into a log and place it in a oil bread box and cover it a damp cloth to rise . Then brush egg wash, sprinkle the seeds and bake in a preheat oven at 200 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes. 

When done cool it on a wire rack and slice it when completely cooled. Enjoy with jam or any filling of your choice.

Let's take a look at the other Fall Flavors being shared today Apple Crumb Quick Bread from Food Lust People Love
Apple Raisin Bread from A Shaggy Dough Story
Browned Butter Semolina Pumpkin Bread from Sizzling Tastebuds
Buttermilk Wheat Bread from Magnolia Days
Eggless Apple Sage Cheddar Scones from Spill the Spices
Fall Harvest Bread from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Fig Focaccia from My Catholic Kitchen
Harvest Grains Bread from Hostess At Heart
Mr. Potato Bread from What Smells So Good?
Multigrain Bread With Seeds from Sneha's Recipe
Pumpkin and Apple Cornmeal Griddle Cakes from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Pumpkin Bread from la cocina de Aisha
Pumpkin Breadfrom Sara's Tasty Buds
Pumpkin Bread Rolls from SpiceRoots
Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls from Recipes, Food and Cooking
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls with Cinnamon Butter from Bread Therapy
Pumpkin, Poppy & Papaya Seeded Breadsticks from G'Gina's Kitchenette
Pumpkin Raisin Bagels from Cook's Hideout
Pumpkin Saffron Yeast Biscuits from The Schizo Chef
Pumpkin Scones from A Baker's House
Pumpkin Sourdough Bread from Passion Kneaded
Schiacciata Con L'uva (Tuscan Style Grape, Olive and Goat Cheese Focaccia) from Ruchik Randhap
Sesame Seeded Semolina Bread from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Spicy Pumpkin Yeast Bread from Mayuri’s Jikoni

#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.

Labels: Breads, Bread Bakers, Flaxseed, Egg, Multigrain Flour, Melon seeds, Sunflower seeds, Onion seeds, Healthy

Coddled Eggs With Mashed Potato

An egg coddler is a porcelain or pottery cup with a lid that is used to prepare a dish called coddled eggs. The eggs are soft-cooked and similar to poached eggs, but the eggs are cooked more slowly than a boiled egg.  We love to eat these eggs, once a month for a change instead of frying eggs for dinner, I make this.  Let's go to the recipe.

Sending this to this month's BM week 2 - Mug treats

Ingredients

3 Large Potatoes - boiled and mashed
2 Tablespoons Red and Green Capsicum - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Butter
1/4 Teaspoon Rosemary  - powdered
1/4 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme
3 Eggs
3 Tablespoons Cheeza Cheese - grated
Salt & Pepper- to taste

Method
Mix together the mashed potatoes, capsicums, butter, rosemary, thyme and season with salt and pepper, mix well till you get a smooth consistency.

Butter 3 ramekins or small bowls ( I butter two bowls and one small cup cake mold).

Divide the potato mix equally in each bowl.

Crack an egg, carefully over the mashed potato in each bowl.

Sprinkle pepper to taste on the egg. 

Sprinkle a tablespoon of grated cheese in each bowl. Cover the bowl with an aluminum foil.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

Place the bowls in a baking tray. Fill the tray with enough hot water making sure they come half way up the bowl. 

Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or until the egg whites are set but the yolk is still soft.

Take it out of the oven and serve on its own or as a side to any meal.  

We have this for our dinner along with our sabzi - roti.

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

Labels :  Continental Cuisine, Egg, Cheese, Potato, Blogging Marathon, Mug Treats

Mug Dhokla - A 2 Minute Microwave Recipe

Made this 2 mins microwave mug dhokla for our evening tea. This mug dhokla has to be eaten immediately or else it becomes chewy. So have it when its warm. 

Sending this to this month's BM week 2 - Mug treats

Ingredients per mug

3 Tablespooons Chickpea flour / Besan
4 Tablespoon Water
1 Tablespoon Oil
A pinch of Soda - bi - carb
3/4 Teaspoon Fruit Salt
A pinch of Turmeric
A pinch of Chilly powder

For the tadka

1 Teaspoon Oil
1/4 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
A pinch of Salt and Sugar
A tablespoon Water
A few drops of Lemon Juice
A Green Chilly - cut into 2 pieces

Method
Mix all the ingredients expect the fruit salt till smooth and lump free. Then add the fruit salt and very quickly mix it, place it on a plate ( for it may spill over ) and microwave on high  for only 2 mins.

For the tadka

Heat oil in a laddle, add mustard seeds when it splutters, add the green chilly, then add water , salt , sugar and lemon juice. Let the water come to a boil, take off the flame, pour it over dhokla.  Serve warm and enjoy this quick spongy and yummy dhokla.  

You can easliy unmould this, just loosen the sides with a knife and lift it with a spoon.. ta .. da..aa.. here  it is .....

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

Labels : Dhokla, Chickpea flour, Microwave, Mug Treats, Blogging Marathon

Sweet Celebrations - A Quick Microwave Desserts

This is a quick microwave dessert - one minute. I made this dessert for us on a Sunday and its was yummy. When I made this dessert a day before was very busy with lots of work in the kitchen, doing too many things at a time. But in making desserts one needs to focus on that particular task which I didn't and this curdled. I just forgot to give it a steam bath. It tasted delicious but the silky creamy effect all gone. Promised my hubby that tomorrow will make it again, it tasted silky creamy and he enjoyed it.

Sending this to this month's BM week 2 - Mug treats

Ingredients

1/3 Cup Condensed Milk
1/3 Cup Yogurt
1/3 Cup Fresh Cream
8 - 10 Tinned Cherries - De - seeded
4 Small Bowls

Method

With a hand blender , blend all the condensed milk, yogurt and fresh cream for a minute, then add 6 cherries and just pulse it on or twice, taking care that the cherries do blend completely. The mixture should have a marble effect only. Pour them into small bowls and keep side.

Pour 1/3 cup water into a microwave proof plate and keep it on high for a minute. Then place the filled bowls on this plate and microwave on high first for 30 seconds. Check if its a little wobbly its done or keep it for another 30 seconds.

Microwave time will depend on the quantity and size of the bowl. Mine got done in a minute. Keep it in the fridge to cool for an hour and serve with a cherry on top. 

Enjoy this delicious dessert.

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

Labels : Sweets & Desserts, Yogurt, Condensed Milk, Fresh Cream, Blogging Marathon, Mug Treats, Microwave

Corn Salad with Cilantro & Caramelized Onions

For this week BM#57 my third recipe from this site Food 52 Weekly Contest. This recipe is also vegetarian. The original recipe is with ham, which I did not add.  We enjoyed this salad with our dinner.

Recipe source here

Serves 4
Ingredients

2 Ears of fresh Corn
1 Red Onion -  sliced
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 Teaspoon Balsamic vinegar
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1/4 Cup  Coriander - finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Method

Cook the corn on the cob  with a cup of water in a pressure cooker for a whistle. When cooker cools drain the water and set aside to cool completely.

In a skillet, add oil, onions, vinegar, sugar, and dash of salt to pan, and cook over medium-low heat. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently until onions are caramelized and most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove pan from heat and set aside.

Remove the kernels off of the cobs and place in a large bowl. Add onion mixture, coriander, sugar and balsamic vinegar, stir to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper . Add a tablespoon of olive oil and stir well.

Cover and put it in the fridge. Take salad out about 3o minutes before serving and let it come to room temperature.  Serve and enjoy.

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Labels : Salads, Corn, Vegetarian, Blogging Marathon

Mujaddara with Spiced Yogurt

My second recipe from this site Food 52 Weekly contest.  I, followed this recipe as given and turned out prefect and great.

Recipe source here
Serves 4

Ingredients 

3/4 Cup Puy lentils / Sabut Masoor
1/2 + 1/2  Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Basmati Rice
1.1/2 Cups Water

2 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
3 Onions  -  thinly sliced

For the Spiced Yogurt 

Ingredients1/2 Cup Hung Curds  
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin powder
1/2 Teaspoon coriander powder 
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika powder 
3 Tablespoons Mint - chopped 
Juice and zest of half a lemon
1/4 Teaspoon Salt 

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Put lentils, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water in a large pot/ vessel  and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer lentils until soft but not mushy, about 20 minutes. Drain lentils and set aside. Rinse  the pot / vessel.

In the same pot,  add rice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1. 1/2 cups water, set over medium heat, and bring to a boil. When water begins to boil, cover it, transfer to oven, and cook for 15 minutes, until perfectly cooked. Remove from oven, uncover, and fluff with a fork. Set aside.

While rice cooks, set a wide, deep saute pan over medium-low heat and add butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter has mostly melted, add onions and toss to incorporate with butter and oil.
After 5 minutes, onions will have softened slightly and started to release their liquid. Raise heat to medium and cook 10 to 12 minutes more, until onions are very soft and browned. Add water by the tablespoon if pan gets too dry or if onions start to stick. When onions are well browned, add last tablespoon of olive oil and raise heat to high. Cook another 3 to 4 minutes, until bottom layer of onions has charred and crisped; try not to stir too much, or onions won't crisp up.
Combine rice, lentils, and most of the onions in large serving bowl and let sit for at least 15 minutes, to blend the flavors together.  Taste, and add more onions if desired. 

Meanwhile, make the spiced yogurt: mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. 

If mujaddara has cooled significantly, reheat in a low oven or even in the microwave for a couple minutes. To serve, plate a big scoop of mujaddara and serve it with spiced yogurt.  Enjoy....

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Labels : Rice, Sabut Masoor, Lentils, Yogurt, Vegetarian, Continental Cuisine, Lebanese, Blogging Marathon

Summer Corn Chowder

For this week BM#57 we were given a choice to choose from this site Food 52 Weekly Contest.   This soup is yummy,  I, have made it vegetarian with some  minor changes,  it tasted yum and creamy.

Recipe Source here
Serves 2

Ingredients
2 Ears of Corn
1 Small Onion
1 Green chilly -  finely chopped
1 Jalapeno pepper - seeded and finely chopped
1 Small Celery stem -  finely chopped
1 Tomato - peeled, seeded and finely chopped
1 Large Potato  - peeled and cubed
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
A pinch all spice powder
A Pinch of sugar

1 Bay leaf
1 Tablespoon Cream - at room temperature
1/4 Cup Milk
Freshly ground black pepper
Chopped parsley, for garnish

1 Tablespoon Olive oil

Method

Remove the kernels from the corn.  Take the kernels of one corn, place it in the blender with 1/4 cup water and grind to paste.  Strain the paste and keep aside the  milk.

In a large saucepan,  add the oil when  slightly heated add the onion and cook over moderate heat until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the green chilly, jalapeno and celery and cook until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato, potato, salt, all spice, sugar, bay leaf,  the reserved corn kernels and the milk,  stir well. Cook over moderate heat until mixture begins to sizzle.

Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, 30  to 35 minutes. Stir in the cream and milk and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat and season with black pepper to taste. Ladle the chowder into bowls and garnish with parsley.  Serve hot and enjoy.

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Labels :  Soup, Corn, Blogging Marathon, Chowder, Gluten Free