Crispy Parathas

Hi everyone,its been long time,i dint post any recipes.Sorry about that.I went to india for a long vacation and was real busy all these months.but i really missed my blog,so i thought today i must share the pictures of my food  i had been taking all these days.
   
      So here is  my husband's favourite crispy paratha which we enjoy specially with chicken curry or any simple veg curry.On regular basis i make chapati for dinner,but when the curry is something special i prefer making parathas to enhance the taste of my curry.It can be made with so many variations.For a crsipy paratha you should take care of these points:

1. A nice soft dough with little oil and water.
2. Folding it the right way.
3. Frying it properly for the right amount of time.not too long,not too short amount of time.

I would be sharing all the diff styles i make and its very easy.


Ingredients:

1. Wheat flour : depends on how many you are making,i take 1 handful  per paratha

2. Oil

3. Water

4. Salt : pinch

Method :

Take the flour in a large mixing bowl.

Add a pinch of salt and a tsp of oil.

Mix it and add water little by little and binding the flour together with light hands.dont apply pressure from the start.

When the flour is all together in crumbles you get an idea if it needs more water or not.then combine the crumbled flour and knead it applying pressure for 1 min.if it sticks to ur hand add little flour and knead into a soft dough.

Allow it to stay for 10mins.

Take a small portion of dough and roll it between   palms to make a ball,flaten it like a patty and drop it in dry flour on both sides so that it doesnt stick to the board or the rolling pin.

With the help of rolling pin spread it .

Apply a tsp of oil all over it and fold it with desired shape.

For Square shape paratha :

                                        

Apply flour on both sides of the shape.

Spread the shape with the help of rolling pin and make a paratha.

Heat the pan and put the paratha on it.Let it sit for 30 secs

Flip it and  pour a tsp of oil all over the paratha,flip again and apply oil.The idea is pour oil when the paratha is dry on both sides.
                                  

With the spatula apply little pressure on edges so that they cook evenly.Paratha takes just 2-3 mins to cook.

Enjoy with your fav curry.

These are other shapes which you can make.various shapes help a lot in feeding kids.I ask my kids who wants square and who wants triangle and circle.

For Triangle paratha :

Apply flour and spread with rolling pin .

Fry in the pan applying oil.

 

For circle paratha :

                                                   

Roll it in with the rolling pin and cook it on the pan with some oil or Ghee (i prefer it for kids) on both sides.

Enjoy hot parathas ...!!!

Pakodas/fritters

Pakodas.hmm...everybody knows how to make em,but are you the one who try it with various style and veggies and  if by chance you get good results,you  start making it  quite often.If so please share it with us here.I love fried snacks.hahaha..i knw..i knw...its not good.but wat do?baking doesnt give the same result as frying. I  tried hard to resist frying ...but failed...afterall  i  have indian  taste buds..   :)

neways try this pakodas,they are really hard to resist.

Ingredients :

Besan/chickpea flour - 3/4 th cup

Onions - 1 medium sliced

Carrot - 1 grated

Potato - 1 grated

Pudina/mint leaves - 1-2 sprigs chopped finely

Green chillies- 2-3 chopped finely

Ajwain - pinch

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Salt

Red chilli powder- 1/2 tsp

Oil

Method :

Cut  the veggies and keep aside.

Put in a bowl,add besan,ajwain seeds,cumin seeds,red chilli powder and mix well.(water from onions are enough,or else just wet your hand and mix the batter for that extra water).now add salt as per the quantity and mix well.

Heat oil in a deep pan/kadai.

Take little portions and drop slowly and carefully in the hot oil.

Put as many portions just to cover in the oil,dont overcrowd else pakodas will turn out soggy and soak more oil.

Turn the pakodas with a slotted spatula and cook till golden brown.

Take out on a paper towel and allow to drain excess oil.

Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

                                                 Happy Eating..!!!

Beautifull butterflies

Ofcoz we dont eat butterflies... :).

This is  my daughter Nuhaa's fav. shaped pasta.she is 22 month old and say 'buttafyy' when she see this pasta in her plate. Thought of sharing with all of you a easy and yet tasty recipe of pasta.you can use any shaped pasta you have.

Ingredients :

Bow tie pasta - 2 cups

Salt

Butter-2 tbsp

Oil- 1tsp

Water

Onions - 1 medium chopped

Garlic - 4 chopped

Green onions - 2 sprigs chopped

Mix veggies - 1 cup

Eggs-3

Green chillies- 4 chopped

Black Pepper powder & Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp each  (avoid if making for kids)

Pasta sauce- 1 cup (if you dont have ,substiute with  tomatoes added right after onions are done)

Cheese - 1 1/2 cup i use mix of jack,cheddar and parmesan.

(if you are not satisfied you can add more cheese,my dh is so cheese conscious that i have to hold my hand back while sprinkling cheese...  :).

Method :

Cook pasta in hot water with salt and 1 tsp of oil.keep aside.

Meanwhile heat butter in a pan and add onions,saute till translucent.

Add garlic,green chillies,half of green onions,and saute for few secs.dont burn the garlic.

Add the mix veggies,salt, black pepper,red chilli powder and cover it to cook on slow flame.

Meanwhile heat 2 tsp of oil in another pan and make scrambled eggs.(beat eggs with salt in a bowl and pour in the pan,keep stirring and breaking it for 2 mins.keep aside.

When the veggies are done,add in the cooked pasta and the pasta sauce,mix well.

Spread the scambled eggs on top of pasta.

Spread the Cheese on top.

Pour in 3/4th cup of milk from the corners and cover it .

Simmer it for a minute .

Serve hot...

Happy Eating..!!!

Shrimp-Turai/snakegourd curry

Shrimp and turai /snakegourd combination makes an excellent curry for chapatis.Try this if you are bored of the regular plain turai curry.

Ingredients :

Turai - medium

Potato - 1 small diced into medium pieces

Shrimps  frozen or fresh - 1/2 kg

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Onions-1 small chopped into big chunks

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Salt

Oil -1 tbsp

Red chilli powder-1 tsp

Curry powder - 1tsp

Crushed garlic-2

Garam Masala-1/2 tsp

Method :

Peel the Turai and cut into small pieces.

Heat oil in a pan,add cumin seeds,onions and curry leaves.

Add diced potatoes and saute well ,add in the turai pieces and saute well for a while

Add the salt,turmeric and mix well.

Add in the shrimps and the curry powder.

Cook cover for 5 mins,add crushed garlic,red chilli powder,garam masala .

Serve hot with chapati/paratha.

Happy Eating..!!!

Khatti Daal/lentil soup

Khatti daal  is an all time favourite of every hyderabadi.You can call it sambar if you add the sambar powder to it ,a well known andhra dish.This palate of khatti daal,plain rice and bhuna gosht ( lamb) is a great combination for weekends or for friends coming over..

Ingredients : 

Toor Daal - 1 cup

Turmeric - 1 tsp

Red chilli powder - 2 tsp

Tamarind juice - 1/2 cup

Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Red chillies - 2 broken into halves

Onions - 1 medium thinely sliced

Tomato-1 medium chopped

Curry Leaves - 3 sprigs

Green chillies- 4-6

Drumsticks - fresh or frozen -10 cut pieces

Bottle Gourd-1 cup cubed into big chunks

Okra-5-6 whole with tip ends cut

Carrot-1 small cut into pieces

Raddish-1 small cut into pieces

Salt

Oil - 2 tbsp

Water

Note: You can skip any veggie if you dont have it.But basically khatti daal gets it taste from the drumsticks,bottle gourd and curry leaves.

Method :

Wash the daal and cook in pressure cooker until very soft.

Mash it with adding 1-2 cups water and keep aside.

Heat oil in a deep pan and put mustard seeds,cumin seeds,red chillies,curry leaves.

Add onions,saute for while.

Add tomatoes,saute till it wilts.

Add all the veggies one by one mixing  in between.

Put turmeric powder,salt,red chilli powder and fry for a while.

Pour in the tamarind juice with desired quantity of water(3-4 cups) and let it boil for 20 mins.

 Pour in the Daal and  put the lid and simmer it for another 15 mins.Be carefull that it doesnt boil and spill over.

Serve it with plain rice and a stir fry veggie or my fav. boneless lamb fry.

Happy Eating..!!!