Potato Cheese Balls

Potato Cheese Balls

Quick and easy potato cheese balls,ready in less than 30 minutes.
Recipe source: Yummytummy,you can find the original recipe here.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 
Ingredients:

1. Potato,boiled and mashed- 3 large
2. Spring onion,chopped- 1 tbsp
3. Frozen green peas-1/4 to 1/2 cup( optional)
4. Tomato ketchup- 1 tbsp
5. Black pepper powder- to taste
6. Cornflour- 2 tbsp
7. Water- as required
8. Breadcrumbs- 1 cup
9. Mozzarella cheese,cut into small cubes- as required
10. Oil- for deep frying
11. Salt- to taste

Instructions:

Heat  1 tsp oil in a pan,add spring onion and frozen green peas( if using) and saute for a minute. 

Add tomato ketchup ,salt and black pepper powder to taste.Add mashed potatoes and mix well.Allow this to cool slightly and divide into equal portions( about 15 to 20).

Take one portion of the potato mixture and place a  cheese cube in the center and cover from all  sides.Repeat with the remaining mixture.

Dip the potato balls in cornflour batter and evenly coat it with breadcrumbs.

Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the potato balls until it turns golden  brown on all the sides.

Serve with tomato ketchup.

Kakka irachi Thoran | Kerala Clams Stir-fry with Coconut

Kakka irachi Thoran

Kerala style clams stir-fry with coconut.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 people
Ingredients:

1. Kakka irachi /clams (cleaned)- 1 cup
2. Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
3. Curry leaves-1 sprig
4. Fennel ,powdered-1/4 to 1/2 tsp
5. Salt-to taste
6. Water-as required
7. Oil-as required

For coconut paste:

1. Grated coconut- 1/2 cup
2. Ginger,chopped- 1/2 tsp
3. Garlic,chopped-1/4 tsp
4. Green chilies-1 or 2 nos( according to taste)
5. Shallots-2 to 3 nos
6. Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
7. Kashmiri chili powder-1/4 tsp
8. Black pepper powder-1/4 tsp
9. Salt-to taste

Instructions:

Grind together all the ingredients listed under ' for coconut paste ' to form a coarse mixture.

Heat a pan/ manchatti add kakka irachi/clams, crushed coconut mixture and curry leaves.Mix well.Add one or two tbsp of water ,cover and cook until done.

Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds,let it splutter.Now add more curry leaves , cooked clams and fennel powder.Saute for 2 to 3 minutes on medium flame.Add more salt if required.Serve with rice.

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Chettinad Chicken Curry

Chettinad Chicken Curry

Recipe Source :Sanjeevkapoor.com
Spicy Chettinad style chicken curry.
Prep Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 to 30 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5
Ingredients:

1. Chicken,cut into medium size pieces- 1 kg
2. Ginger,chopped-2" piece
3. Garlic - 10 to 12 small cloves
4. Onion,chopped- 1 large
5. Curry leaves- 2 sprigs
6. Tomato ,chopped- 2 to 3 medium
7. Red chili powder- 1 tsp
8. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
9. Lemon juice- 1.5 to 2 tsp
10. Coriander leaves,chopped- 2 tbsp
11. Black pepper powder- to taste( optional,see notes)
12. Salt- to taste
13. Oil- as required
14. Water- as required

To roast and grind:

1. Grated coconut- 1.5 cups
2. Dry red chilies-6 to 8 nos
3. Poppy seeds / Khus khus- 2 tsp
4. Coriander seeds- 1 tsp
5. Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
6. Cardamom - 3 nos
7. Cloves-2 nos
8. Cinnamon- 1" piece
9. Star anise- 1/2 of a small
10. Fennel seeds- 1 tsp

Instructions:

Heat oil in a pan and add all the ingredients listed under ' To roast and grind'.Roast until it turns golden brown,stirring continuously on a medium low flame.Allow this to cool slightly,add ginger and garlic to this and grind to form a smooth paste.

Heat oil in a pan,add onion and saute until it turns golden brown.

Add curry leaves and the  coconut masala paste. Saute for few minutes.

Now add tomato,chili powder,turmeric powder and salt to taste.Mix well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add chicken and mix well.Cook for 5 minutes.Now add 2 cups water and lemon juice.Mix well,cover and cook until chicken is done and gravy turns thick.Add black pepper powder to taste ( if using) ,mix well and switch off the stove.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice /roti.

NOTES

• As we wanted it to be spicy,I used about 8 Kashmiri red chilies, 2 tsp kashmiri chili powder and 1/2 tsp black pepper powder.Adjust the quantity according to your spice level.

Grilled Cheese Rolls | Quick Snack Recipe

Grilled Cheese Rolls

Quick and easy grilled cheese rolls ,ready in less than 10 minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 people
Ingredients:

1. Sandwich bread- 8 slices
2. Cheese slices- 8
3. Butter-2 tbsp

Instructions:

Using a rolling pin,roll out each slice of bread and make it as thin as possible.Remove the crusts ,if desired.

Place the cheese slice on the bread and roll up tightly,press it down firmly to seal the edge.

Heat butter in a pan,place the rolls seam-side down.Cook on all sides,until the bread is toasted and cheese is melted.Serve with ketchup.

Schezwan Fried Rice Recipe

Schezwan Fried Rice

Schezwan style fried rice
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 people
Ingredients:

1. Cooked rice- 3 cups
2. Garlic,finely chopped-1.5 tsp
3. Onion ,finely chopped-1 to 2 tbsp
4. Celery,finely chopped- 1/2 tbsp
5. Spring onion whites,chopped-1 tbsp
6. Vegetables, sliced/chopped-1 cup(use carrot ,cabbage and green beans)
7. Capsicum(red/yellow/green)- 1/2 to 3/4 cup
8. Schezwan sauce- 2 tbsp(I used homemade Schezwan sauce)
9. Soya sauce- 1/2 tsp
10. Vinegar- 1/2 tsp
11. Black pepper powder- to taste
12. Spring onion greens,chopped- 1 or 2 tbsp
13. Salt- to taste
14. Oil- as required

Instructions:

Heat oil in a pan,add garlic and saute for few seconds.Add onion,celery,spring onion whites and saute for a minute.

Add vegetables and cook on high flame for 2 to 3 minutes.Add capsicum and saute for one more minute.

Add schezwan sauce, soya sauce ,vinegar and  black pepper powder.Mix well and cook for few seconds.

Add cooked rice and mix gently until combined.Add salt if required.Garnish with spring onion greens.

NOTES

• Adjust the spice level according to your taste.

Schezwan Sauce Recipe

Schezwan Sauce Recipe

Homemade Schezwan sauce,can be had as a dip or used to make Schezwan style fried rice/ noodles,Schezwan Chicken and lot more!!
Recipe adapted from: The chef and her kitchen ,you can find the original recipe here.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Yields: 1.5 cups sauce
Ingredients:

1. Garlic cloves- 10 to 15 nos
2. Red chilies,-10 to 12 nos ( see notes)
3. Garlic ,finely chopped- 3 tbsp
4. Ginger,finely chopped- 1 tbsp
5. Celery,finely chopped-1 tbsp
6. Tomato,pureed-2 large
7. Tomato sauce- 1 tbsp
8. Soya sauce- 1 tsp
9. Vinegar- 1 tbsp
10. Sugar- 1/2 tsp
11. Black pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
12. Salt- to taste
13. Oil- as required

Instructions:

Remove the stems and soak the red chilies in warm water for 30 minutes.( Remove the seeds,if you like it less spicy).Grind together garlic pods and soaked red chilies  to form a smooth paste.Keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan,add chopped garlic and saute for a minute.Add  ginger and celery ,saute until raw smell leaves.

Add tomato puree ,mix well and simmer for few minutes.

Add red chilli-garlic paste and cook until oil starts to separate.

Now add tomato sauce,soya sauce,vinegar,sugar ,black pepper powder and salt to taste.Cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Cool and store in an air tight container in refrigerator for upto a week.

This sauce can be used to make Schezwan fried rice, Schezwan Noodles, Schezwan Chicken, Mumbai Street Food- Schezwan dosa etc.Recipes coming soon!!

NOTES

• I used Kashmiri red chilies ,as it gives a great red color to the sauce and is less spicy.If you are using regular red chilies,adjust the number according to your spice level and also remove the seeds.
• I halved the recipe and got approximately 3/4 cup sauce.
• Make sure you cook the tomato puree and red chili -garlic paste well,until the raw smell leaves.

Besan Laddu Recipe | Besan Ladoo

Besan Laddu

Recipe adapted from :Tarla Dalal,you can find the original recipe here.
Besan Laddu-Popular Indian Sweet
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 12 to 14 laddus
Ingredients:

1. Besan/chickpea flour- 3/4 cup(100 gms)
2. Powdered sugar-3/4 cup( 100 gms)
3. Ghee- 1/3 cup( 60 gms)
4. Cardamom powder- 1/4 tsp
5. Cashew nuts,fried in ghee- 1 or 2 tbsp( optional)

Instructions:

Heat ghee in a pan,add chickpea flour and cook over low flame,stirring continuously until it turns golden brown in color.This will take about 10 to 15 minutes.When it is done the mixture will start releasing ghee.(Make sure you cook the mixture well over low flame,or else the laddu will have a raw taste.)

Switch off the stove,allow it cool slightly.

Add powdered sugar and cardamom powder.(Add cashew nuts,if using).Mix well until combined.

Divide this into equal sized balls.(The balls will harden just a little bit,after few hours.)