Sandwich with basil pesto

 Most people I know are not into sandwiches..it sounds too simple! Its not French/Italian or ethnic Indian.
 Yet ...Here I am with another recipe of Sandwich. I can't help but experiment with the fillings.
Here I have tried a vegan basil pesto (Recipe by Soma) with whole wheat bread and results are pretty good.

Ingredients (for 2 sandwiches)
1. Brown bread/ wheat bread/ multigrain bread- 4 slices
2. Cucumber- 1, thinly sliced
3. Tomato- 1 big, thinly sliced
4. Capsicum/green pepper- 1 small, thinly sliced
5. Red Onion-1, thinly sliced
6. Mushrooms- 3-4 small, thinly sliced and sautéed in oil/butter
7. Salt-to taste (remember the pesto has salt)
8. Freshly ground black Pepper-to taste
9. Homemade basil pesto- 2-3 spoons (u can increase as per your taste)
10.  Italian seasoning to sprinkle (optional)
11. Mustard sauce and ketchup (optional)- to serve
12. Cheese slices (we used 'Emborg' -edam cheese)- 2

Method

• Toast the bread slices. You can also prepare the sandwich and then grill it.
• Spread the pesto on the bread and layer all the veggies onion, cucumber,capsicum, tomatoes and mushrooms respectively.
• Sprinkle salt, black pepper and the seasoning mix . Cover with cheese slice.
• Cover with toasted bread.
• Use a sharp knife and cut it into a triangle.
• Enjoy with your coffee/tea.

If you want melted cheese then you can re-heat the sandwich on a skillet . Remember to keep it the cheese- y side down. I tried it with one, as it had went somewhat cold.

Hope you like it. Do tell me about your experience.

D

Coconut Cookies (eggless) / Nariyal ke biscuit

Sometimes you want nothing chocolate-y, sometimes you just want wholesome goodness, sometimes you need to have coconut cookies...
So I baked a batch of whole wheat coconut cookies, which turned out pretty neat.

The recipe is very simple and can be found at more places than one...I really cant remember where I jotted it from.

Ingredients

1. Whole Wheat flour- 1 cup
2. Softened butter - 100gm (1/2cup)
3. Grated coconut- 1 cup + 1Tbsp for topping
4. Icing sugar- 3/4 cup
5. Baking powder-1tsp
6. Coconut Extract- 1/2 tsp (optional)
7. Milk- 1-2 Tbsp

 Method

• Pre-heat the oven at 180 degrees centigrade.
• Cream the sugar and butter. Add the extract.
• Mix the baking powder with the flour thoroughly. 
• Add the flour to the creamed sugar and butter. Mix well.
• Add grated coconut and make soft dough. Add milk if the dough seems to be too dry.
• Prepare the baking sheet by brushing it with a little butter.
• Take extra grated coconut in a flat bowl.
• Make small rounded balls, press them on the coconut flakes/grated coconut so some if them stick to it.
• Place on the sheet leaving room for the cookies to expand.
• Put the tray in the oven for 12-15 min. Keep your eyes on it. they should not burn.
• When slightly browned at the edges and just about to set, take them out let it cool in the tray for a minute or so.
• Remove and store in an air-tight container.
• Bake the rest in a similar manner.

Enjoy!!

Pattaghobhi/ Bandhgobhi - matar ki sabzi (cabbage-peas veg)

This is an easy and quick recipe. Pretty much a staple in our household.

Serves 2
Ingredients:

1. Cabbage - Chopped, 1 and 1/2 cup
2. Peas- 1/2 cup (I used baby peas)
3. Green chilies- 2, chopped finely
4. Tomato- chopped, 1 medium sized.
5. Turmeric Powder (Haldi) -1/4 tsp
6. Mustard seeds (rai)- 1/2 tsp
7. Oil- 1 tbsp
8. Dhaniya powder (powdered coriander seeds)-1/2tsp
9. Salt to taste
10. Garam masala (optional)- 1/4 tsp
11. Amchoor (dried mango powder)-1/4 tsp

Method:

• Heat water in a pan. Blanch the chopped cabbage in the water. Drain and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a wok (Kadhai).
• Add mustard seeds. When they start to splutter, add green chilies and turmeric powder.
• Follow by adding dhaniya powder.
• Add the cabbage and turn to coat well with the spices. Add salt. Cook for a minute or so.
• Add tomatoes and peas. Mix well, cover and let it cook on a slow flame for a few minutes.
• Add garam masala , mix, cover and cook again for a few min.
• Turn off the flame and sprinkle amchoor . Mix and cover for a few minutes. 
• Garnish with Coriander leaves if you wish.
• Serve hot or cold as a side.

Since I used baby peas, it took less time to cook. If you are using fresh peas, then boil them in salted water for a while before adding them to the vegetable. 

Enjoy!

Weekend dinner and Rice pulao

I don't really like the weekends to end. Who does?
Sunday nights are like those nights when you leave your laziness and steel yourself to face another week of organized mayhem instead of lazing around in PJs and reading books/watching TV and let the baby eat loads of popcorn.
Sunday dinners are special cos we rarely have them....we finish our meal as an early supper.
Here is the comforting recipe which was passed to me by MIL.

You need:
Rice- 1 cup
Onions- 1 medium, chopped finely
Garlic- 2-3 cloves, chopped finely
Green chillies- 2
Ginger-1" piece
Tomatoes- 2
Potatoes- 2, cut in wedges
Peas- 1/2 cup
Oil- 1tbsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Dhaniya powder-1 tsp
red chilly powder- 1 pinch
Garam Masala-1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste

How  to make:
1. Wash rice thoroughly. Soak in drinking water for 15-20 min.
2. Grind tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chillies together into a coarse paste.
3. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Saute onions in it till they turn golden brown.
4. Add the tomato paste and mix well. Now add the spices , mix and let it cook till the oil leaves side. Add water if the gravy is sticking to the sides.
5. Add Potatoes and cook for a minute or so. Then add peas and rice.
6. Add more water if required. Cover the cooker and put the whistle.
7. After two whistles, reduce the flame and let it cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat and wait for the cooker to cool.
8. Enjoy your pulao with curd or raita.

Vegetable pulao/rice (open pan cooked)

I like pulao/pilaf.

They are easy to make and yummy (unless you under-cook the rice). They can be made into a simple wholesome meal.

Also you can hardly go wrong with it. My picky 1 year old has never refused any rice preparation..:)


You need:
Ghee/Clarified butter- 1 tbsp
Rice- 3/4 cup
Baby Peas- 1/4 cup ( you can use normal peas too)
Carrot- 1 medium , chopped into small pieces
Onion- 1 medium, chopped finely
Tomatoes- 1 , chopped
Cloves-2-3
Bay leaf- 1
Cinnamon- 1" piece
Salt - to taste
Water to cook rice ( It'll more or less depend on the kind of rice you use, the regular everyday rice takes about 2 cups)
Lemon- 1/2 (optional)
 ( You can add any kind of vegetables that you have at hand in this recipe)

How to make:
1. Wash the rice thoroughly and soak for about 20-30 min.
2. Heat ghee in a Kadhai (wok). Add cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf.
3. Add onions and cook until translucent. (If you want a spicy version, please add whole red chillies before adding onion). Now add carrots and cook for a few minutes.
4. Drain water of rice and add to the kadhai. Turn the rice gently otherwise the grains will break.
5. When the rice starts drying out add peas and salt. Cook for some time.Add water and tomatoes. Let it come to slight boil at a medium high flame. Lower the flame and cook till the rice are done.
6. Squeeze half lemon on it and fluff it with fork. Enjoy with raita or plain curd. I could eat it just like that, no sides required.

PS: I've posted a similar recipe previously. You can make your version too!!

Potato and onion curry (aloo-pyaz ki sabzi)

This dish transforms the everyday veggies like potatoes and onions into a delicacy. The spices are intense and completely blended. It has rich aroma which fills the house with warmth. This is an occasional indulgence as it is rather heavy. 

I don't know the origin of the recipe, but we used to eat this in winter weddings in our hometown. It was so tasty that we skipped the whole bouquet just to hog on this one.

I've made a few changes and reduced the use of oil. 
Serves 2 very hungry mortals :)
Recipe adapted from Supriya's blog
You will need: 

1. Potatoes - 1 large
2. Onions - 4 small onions+2 medium sized onions (since i did not have baby onions, i just removed the outer layers of normal sized potatoes and used them to blend for the gravy)
3. Tomatoes - 3
4. Garlic - 7 cloves (you can use less if you want less garlicky flavor)
5. Ginger - 1" piece
6. Green chillies - 1
7. Curd - 3/4 cup (preferably sour)
8. Black Cardamom (badi ilaichi) - 1
9. Cinnamon (Dalchini) - 1 stick
10. Peppercorns (kali mirch) - 2-3 corns
11. Cloves (laung) - 2
12. Salt - to taste
13. Red chilli powder - 1  tsp
14. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
15. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
16. Garam masala - 1 tsp
17. cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
18. Asafoetida (hing) - 1 pinch
19. Oil to fry
20. Fresh coriander to garnish

How to:

1. Remove the peel of small onions and make a slit lengthwise
2. Boil the potatoes. Peel and cut them into big pieces.
3. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the small onions. Keep aside. 
4. Make fine paste of the medium onions, tomatoes, green chillies, garlic, and ginger in a mixer.
5. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan. Add asafoetida and cumin seeds and temper
6. Add the tomato-onion paste. Cover and cook well for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and add water if needed
7. Tie the cardamom, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns and cloves in a muslin cloth and add to the pan
8. Mix the remaining spices in the curd. Add this to the pan and mix well.
9. Cover and cook for another 30 minutes till the oil leaves sides. Stir occasionally and add water when needed.
10. Remove the muslin cloth of spices.
11. Add the boiled potatoes and onions and cook for another 15-20 minutes.
12. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot with rotis or laccha parantha.