CURRIED CAULIFLOWER BAGUETTE SANDWICH (Oven Method)

I usually prefer a Baguette over Sliced Bread. Only Baguettes can handle a fully loaded sandwich and they stay absolutely perfect when packed for work / picnic/ shopping. A spicier filling to the sandwich makes it a yummier meal. Oven roasted some cauliflower florets in desi style and dumped inside the sandwich. This was one of the best sandwich i have ever made. Sooper filling and it tasted great with spicy flavors. 

What you need:
1 cup - Cauliflower Florets
1 tsp - Red chilli powder
1/2 tsp - Cumin powder
1/4 tsp - Turmeric powder
1/4 tsp - Garam Masala
2 tsp - Olive oil
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Mix all of the above in a bowl arrange on a lined baking tray and cook on preheated  oven for 15 mins or until browned @ 250C.

What you need for the Sandwich:
Baguette / Bread slices, cut into half
Lettuce, torn
Onion, sliced
Cherry Tomatoes, halved
Cucumber, sliced
Green Chutney
Eggless Olive Oil Mayonnaise
Salt n pepper as reqd

How to make:
Spread the green chutney on both the sides of the baguettes, top with lettuces, cucumbers, onion, tomatoes, curried cauliflower, drizzle mayonnaise n sprinkle fresh pepper n salt and close with another slice and serve!!

VIRGIN MOJITO - Summer Series

Virgin Mojito makes a great summer thirst quencher. This is a sure refreshing drink!! Chennai is getting humid as the days r going by.. A perfect drink is the much needed one once you get bk home..This is easy n quick to prepare drink which has always been my fav.. n continues to beee..

 What you need:
1/2 bunch - Mint leaves
2 - Lemons
1/2 litre - Sprite / Soda 
2 tbsp - Sugar
Ice cubes 

 How to make:
Chop mint leaves, slice the lemons into wedges and remove the seeds. 

In a mortar pestel add in mint leaves, lemon wedges, sugar and mash up until the juices are squeezed out.

Add this to the pitcher, pour over the sprite / soda mix well top with more ice and enjoy!!

Notes: If adding plain soda more sugar is to be added.

PAD THAI.. veg version!

Pad Thai a dish from Thailand which is made with loads of veggies, fish sauces, sea foods and topped generously with salted crushed peanuts. Made a cheaters veg version "Pad Thai" with ingredients available at home. Picked up few rare veggies like Bokchoy, bean sprouts, thai chillies, mushrooms from my recent trip back from Singapore.

What you need:

1 pkt - Pad Thai Noodles, cook as per instructions
2 nos - Bok choy, chopped
1/2 of - Green n Red bell pepper, sliced
10 nos - Mushroom, chopped
1/2 cup - Bean sprouts
1 no - Onion, sliced
3 pods - Garlic, chopped
1 tbsp - Ginger, chopped
3 nos - Thai red chillies, chopped
1/2 cup - Salted peanuts, crushed
2 tbsp - Soy sauce
1 tbsp - Lemon juice
2 tbsp - Brown Sugar
2 tbsp - Oil
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Heat a large pan / wok add oil, saute onions, garlic, ginger, chillies, bokchoy, mushrooms, sprouts, peppers, min salt and toss well.

Add rice noodles mix well, add soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar give a good toss add peanuts mix well and serve!!

CHICKPEA TIKKIS (PAN FRIED)

A nutritious tea time snack made guilt free.. Chickpea tikkis --- chickpeas are soaked overnite, cooked, mashed well and blended with spices and made into tikkis on a non stick pan with just a tsp of oil. In a city like Chennai it's really difficult to find eateries selling guilt free snacks/ munches.. Especially i hate the fact that they are dunked in oil and rested on newspapers (don't people know that chances of the inks / toners used to print those papers may be glued to food items). With World cup matches on snacking has become a important part.. while watching TV.

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins

What you need:
2 cups - Chickpeas(white kabuli channa), soaked, cooked and mashed well
1/2 cup - Fresh coriander n mint leaves, finely chopped
1 tsp - Green chilli paste
1/2 tsp - Ginger, grated
1/2 tsp - Cumin powder n garam masala
Salt as reqd
Oil as reqd

How to make:
In a bowl add mashed channa, coriander + mint, green chilli paste, ginger, cumin powder, garam masala, salt and mix well.

Divide them into equal portions and make them into tikkis (as you wish) 

Grease a non stick pan drizzle half tsp of oil place the tikkis cook on both the sides until crispy and serve hot!!

Served these with red chilli n mustard sauce with a cup of chai!!

Notes: Thes tikkis can be rolled in 2 tbsp corn flour + water mixture and rolled in bread crumbs and then can be made into tikkis. This will give more crunchier tikkis.

If you find tikkis are getting mixed with oil add 2 tbsp corn flour mix the batter again, roll and pan fry them up.

BATATA RASSA

Back from my holidays and now in action with a simple one pot gravy "Batata rassa" potato and tomato based gravy which goes well with any Indian Breakfasts and steamed rice too..  Chennai summer has already in action and quick dishes is what i prefer to cook.. 

Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Serves: 2

 

What you need:
2 nos- Potatoes, cubed
1 no - Onion, chopped
1 large no - Tomato, chopped
1 tsp - Red chilli powder
1 tsp - Coriander powder
1/4 tsp - Turmeric powder
1 tsp - Cumin seeds
1 sprig - Curry leaves
Asafoetida
Salt as reqd

How to make:
Heat oil in a pressure pan saute cumin seeds, curry leaves and fry onions. Add potatoes, tomatoes, chilli , coriander, turmeric powders, asafoetida, salt, 2 cups water and pressure cook for 5 hisses.

Once pressure is down remove the lid sprinkle fresh coriander and serve hot!!

JOWAR RAVA IDLI

Little grains / millets are now available easily in almost all markets.. Innovative cooking is what these grains need. Have tried making jowar rotis with jowar flour many at times and they turned out juss okkkk.. But decided to land up with usual dosa / adai with this grain but then went ahead and made them into idlies.. They turned out soft and filling.. Chennai markets has widened itself in stocking organic millets / grains / cereals.. The awareness towards LOW GI foods have increased.. My love towards trying out different variation and combinations using millets are welcomed by SH. He prefers healthy eats especially for his breakfasts..  

Jowar is diabetic friendly grain coz of its high dietary fibre content and its a filling grain.. You just cant eat more than 3 idlies (tats wat s te limit naa)

What you need:
For the batter:
Jowar grains - 2 cups
Brown / parboiled rice - 1 cup
Urad dhal - 1/2 cup
Methi seeds - 1/2 tsp

For the tadka:

Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Channa dhal - 1 tsp
Urad dhal - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Black pepper - 1/2 tsp, coarsely crushed
Carrot - 2 nos, grated
Green chilli - 1 no and Ginger - 1 tsp, finely grated
Curry leaves - 1 sprig 
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
Hing as reqd
Oil - 1 tbsp

Heat oil in pan crack mustard, add hing, curry leaves saute well and then add dhals, cumin, pepper, green chillies ginger, carrots saute for a min and add to the batter.

How to make:
Wash and soak jowar, rice and urad dhal separately for 4 hours.

Grind dhal until fluffy, grind jowar, rice and methi seperately. Mix all the 3 batters add salt and leave for 2 - 3 hrs.

Add the tadka to the batter mix well and pour into idli plates and stem cook for 10 - 12 mins.

Serve hot with chutney, podi and filter coffeeee!!