Feb 27, 2013

Pani Poori - Chat

Pani Pooi - A Indian food chat item popular for it's easy and fun element. People of India intend to mostly have which are sold on streets or food corners. It's also called as Golgappa - Gol means crisp sphere and Gappa means eaten one at a time.Also, called as Puchka in western and eastern parts of India. Bataasha in Uttar Pradesh, Gup-Chup in parts of Odisha and few parts of Jharkand.
It's rare that people make it at home. Making time is much less than assembling and putting them together. It's easy why not try it when procedures are put on!!!

Serves - 4 people and 30-35 Pooris
Making for the chat can be segregated into 4 different parts.
I.  Pooris
II. Theekhi Chutney or Pani
III.Meethi Chutney or Sweet Chutney
IV.Potato stuffing
I.  Pooris
  • 1/2 cup - Maida
  • 4 tbs  - Fine Sooji/Rawa/Semolina (or you can ask for Bombay Rawa)
  • 1 tbs - Ghee/Clarified Butter/Nei
  • Salt
  • 1 cup - Water (Approx)
  • Oil - For deep frying
Method:Vidhiee:
1. In a bowl mix in maida,rawa,ghee,salt with water and knead well.
2. Make the dough bit tight and rest it for half hour. Covering it with damp cloth.
3. After 30 mins make small balls of the dough which was kneaded.
4. Flatten them into a medium thick round shape. To get perfect round shape cut the flattened dough with a cookie cutter or a round small lid of a container.
5. Meanwhile, in a heavy bottom pan heat oil.
6. Remember, that oil must be hot if not the pooris would absorb the oil and become soggy.
7. Once, the oil is hot drop in the pooris about 5-7 at a time depending upon the size of your vessel.
8. Turn it on to other side for it cook well. Do not make them dark brown.
9. Drain excess oil and transfer onto a absorbent paper.
10. Once they cool store them into a sir tight container.

II. Theekhi Chutney or Pani
  • 1 - Bunch of Pudina leaves
  • 1/2 cup - Coriander leaves
  • 1 tbs - Lemon juice
  • 1/2" - Ginger
  • 2 - Green chillies
  • 1 tbs - Amchhoor powder/Dry mango powder/Mangai podi
  • 1/2 tbs - Black salt / Sanchal
  • 1 tbs - Jeera powder
  • 1/4 tbs - Black pepper powder/Kalimirch/Milagu podi
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 ltr water
Method/Vidhiee:
1. In a blender grind in the pudina, half of coriander leaves,ginger,green chillies,lemon juice.
2. Add it into the water and mix all dry powders to it.
3. Refrigerate the pani for 2-3 hrs before serving.

III.Meethi Chutney or Sweet Chutney
  • 1 1/2 cup - De-seeded Dates/Perincha pazam/Kajhur
  • 1/2 cup - De-seeded tamarind/Imli/Puli
  • 1/2 cup - Jaggery grated
  • 1/2 tbs - Red chilly powder
  • 1 tbs - Jeera powder
  • 500 ml- water to boil
  • 250 ml - Water to mix paste
  • Salt
Method/Vidhiee:
1. Boil or pressure cook the dates,jaggery and tamarind in water.
2. Once the dates and tamarind have turned soft cool them down and blend them in a blender.
3. Strain the mixture to get a fine smooth liquid.
4. Take as much you require and mix with water. Rest store it in fridge in an air tight container.
5. In water mix jeera powder,red chilly powder, salt and paste.
Your sweet chutney is ready.

IV.Potato stuffing
  • 2 - Medium sized potatoes
  • 1 - Green chilly
  • 1 - Big red onion
  • Salt to taste
  • Water to boil potato
  • Chat masala if preferred
Method/Vidhiee:
1. Boil the potatoes in water.
2. Peal the skin off and mash them well.
3. Finely chop onion,green chilly and coriander leaves
4. Add them to potato that were mashed.
5. Add required salt and mix well.


Final platting of the Pani Pooris
If, you are serving for many add in the potato stuffing inside the pooris and garnish them with Omma Podi/ Ajwain Sev on top and serve them in a plate. Accompanied by 1 cup of Thekha pani and 1 cup of Mithi Chutney.
You need to dip the puri's into the theka pani and then add on mithi chutney before it slides on into your mouth.

Tips:
  • You can add even sprouts to the stuffing without potatoes and have.
  • Some even add garlic powder to the thikhi chutney.
  • Make sure you store the pooris in an air tight container.
  • Always have the pani chill. For it you can add in ice cubes to thikhi chutney
  • Remember the Thikhi chutney must be very thin.

Feb 14, 2013

Baked Penne Cauliflower in Mozzarella Herbed White Sauce

It's been more than a month i dashed on to my dear blog page... It is really true that making food is directly proportional to your moods.. Well am not here for any philosophical write up. Let's move on to the new add on.

Serves 4

  • 200 gms    - Penne Pasta
  • 100 gms    - Cauliflower Florets or Broccoli Florets
  • 50   gms    - Mozzarella cheese
  • 10   gms    - Butter
  • 20   gms    - Maida
  • 500 ml       - Boiled milk
  • 50   gms    - Tomato hot chilly sauce
  • 3     tbs      - Mixed dried herbs
  • 500 ml       - Water
  • 1 1/2 tbs    - Salt
  • 2 tbs          - Olive oil

Method/Vidhiee:
1. In a heavy bottom pan add in the water, salt and bring it to boil.
2. Add in the penne pasta. olive oil and cauliflower or even broccoli once the water boils.
3. Boil till the pasta turns soft. Drain and keep aside.

To make White Sauce..
1. Add the butter in a pan. If, you are using salted butter reduce the salt to pasta while boiling.
2. Add in the maida and stir well. Keep the flame at low.
3. Slowly add the boiled milk with the help of scooped spoon.
4. Stir vigorously and try avoiding lumps.
5. Stir with a whisker. Add in the dried herbs and whisk well.
6. Make it a semi liquid form.

To make the baked dish...
1. Take in a baked dish which is deep.
2. Grease the dish with butter.
3. Add in the Penne pasta one layer. Upon it add the white sauce layer. Then hot chilly sauce.
4. Repeat this process until the pasta is filled up to the top of the dish.
5. Remember to end the layer with tomato hot chilly sauce.
6. Grate the mozzarella cheese as the final layer.
7. Bake the dish in microwave high for 8-9 mins (Mins and degree varies according to your Owen)












Enjoy the hot steamy baked pasta...


Tip to note:
Try making the white sauce side by side while boiling the pasta.
Avoid cooling of the pasta after draining.
You can use Parmesan cheese instead of mozzarella cheese.