Vegetarian Hot dog with vegetarian sausages

Ingredients:-
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potatoes                                   - 2  medium sized                 
 
Carrots                                    - 1 large

Beetroot                                 -  1 medium size

hotdog buns                            -  4-5

Day old bread / only crust       -  heaped 1 cup [ 4-5 sclices]

Bell peppers                          - 1 small

Onions                                  -  1/2 cup chopped

Garlic                                    - 3-4 cloves

red chilles                            - 2-3

Garam masala                        -   1tsp

Chilly powder                         -    1 tsp

Turmeric                                -    1/2 tsp

Salt                                       - as per taste

Jeera                                     -  1 tsp

Coriander seeds                     -  1tsp

Soya flour                              -  1/2 cup

Wheat flour                           -  1 cups

Oil                                         -  2tbsp

Method:-
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1. Wash and peal potatoes,carrots and beets . Slice then to thin stripes and steam cook ,keep aside for cooling.

2. In a pan  take about a tsp of oil,then when it becomes hot add jeera . When the jeera starts to splutter add onions ,ginger, garlic,coriander seeds keep mixing  for about 2 mins till the raw smell goes off.

3. Now  using a blender or food processor   blend the vegetables, with the small chunks of bread and the above onion mixture to a chunky paste. 

4. To the above paste add the 2 flours , enough salt, dry masala and make a soft dough without adding water.

5. Grease  the vessel in which you want to steam these dougs properly. Take a big lime sized ball of the dough and shape them in sausage shapes and place slowly in the greases vessel and steam cook till done.it will take about 8-10 minutes to get cooked properly. It will change in color and when you stick in a knife it should come out clear.

6. Allow it to cool and then in a non stick pan add a few drops of oil and saute these sausage about 3 at a time till the outer surface becomes a bit charred and crusty.

7. Take a hot dog  bun and smear with butter totally optional . Then place the sausage . It can be topped with onions and bell peppers or picked cucumbers or just tomato sauce and mustard and enjoyed when its hot.....


8.You can make this sausage ahead of time and freeze it. It can also be used in many more dishes or yummy recipes like fried rice singapore style or in north indian curries  which will be my future post. so do not forget to make in large quantity as it will be a time saver  for your next dishes

Note:-[ tips]
1. If you don't have fresh bread you can use old bread kept in freezer. i save the bread crust in freezer and use them as bread crumps or as a binding agent in cutlet, hara bara kabaab etc.even here i have used just the bread edges and end slices.. one more use for the wasted edges in bread sandwiches so dont forget to save them.

2. If you dont have soya flour you can use only wheat or maida. You can even use only soya flour . In all the ways it will taste great. But just adjust the flour to form a shape able mass.

Savory fingers

Ingredients:-

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Rice flour              - 1 cup

Gram flour             - 1 /2 cup

Wheat flour            - 1/4 cup

Sesame seed s     -   1.5 tbsp

Salt                       - as per taste

Cumin seeds         - 1 tbsp

Green chillies         - 2  / as per taste

Onion                   - 1 medium finely chopped

Curry leaves         - 12 large finely chopped

Turmeric powder  - 1/2 tsp

Red chilly powder  - 1/2 tsp

Hing                      - 1/4 tsp

water                     -  to form a soft dough

Oil                         - for frying

Method:-

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1. Take a large bowl . Add all the dry ingredients .to this add chilly powder,turmeric,jeera,hing,i salt and mix properly with the hands.

2. Now finely chop onion green chillies and curry leaves and add it to the above dry ingredients.

3 . Now to the mixture add water little by little and form a firm non sticky dough  .

4. Make small balls and roll it into stick form by rolling in between your greased palm.

5. In a plate sprinkle some sesame seeds and roll over it the finger shaped sticks what we have prepared.

Then once again roll between your palms to secure the seeds into the dough. continue this process with the remaining dough and keep ready.

6. Now heat the oil for frying. slowly fry 10-12 finger sticks at a time till they turn golden in color.

7. Remove the fried stick to a tray lined with paper napkin. This will absorb the excess oil.

8. Once cooled store in an air tight  container.

 Enjoy with a hot cup of tea or coffee on a rainy day.....

palak aloo ke laccha paranta

This is a kid friendly meal and a healthy delicious complete meal in itself. I often try to  make something which looks good full of nutrients in it. My lil one has become a picky eater.These lil ones have no time to sit in a place and have food too. This will be a good idea for the lunch box too. Spinach is rich source of vitamin and iron. Its full of fibers . Potato is believed to be rich in iron and other minerals too.Its best among the root vegetables.

Ingredients:-

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Whole wheat flour  - 2.5 cups

Spinach                  - 1/2 bunch

Potato                     - 2 large

Salt                         -   as per taste

Jeera                      -  2 tsp

Water [warm]

Ghee  / butter

Optional:-[adults version]

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Green chilles          -  2

Coriander powder  - 1/2 tsp

Jeera powder           - 1/2 tsp

Dill seeds                 -  1/4 tsp

Method:-

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1. Wash the potatoes and then peal them . Chop them into small cubes add a little water and cook in the microwave until tender.

2. Mash then properly and keep aside.

3. Wash the spinach leaves properly and with the stems chop them small and grind them to a fine paste.

4. Now add the mashed potatoes, spinach paste ,salt and jeera with salt as per taste to a large bowl.

5. Add atta [ wheat flour] and mix properly adding water little by little.

6. Kneed the dough to form a soft unsticky mass . Then keep aside covered with lid for about 10 mins.

7. Now make small round lemon size balls out of the dough .

8. Roll it a thin chapathi and then fold it like pleating a sari.

9. Roll inwards to form a coir as shown below. IT looks like a flower. Now press it down to form a flat layered patty

10. Now roll it just like a simple chapathi.

11. Heat the pan in medium heat. grease the pan ,then place the paranta. cook on both sides by greasing it with ghee ,butter or olive oil.

12. Enjoy with dal , chole or with thick yogurt and pickles on the side when its warm. enjoy......

Papaya Halwa

Papaya is a fruit which is rich in Vit-A. Its a good source of fiber and is really good for your eyes and even intestine. Its believed to reduce digestive problem and even increase the appitite. It helps in weight reduction. All in totally is a very healthy yet a yummy option. Papaya is a fruit which is edible even when its raw.

Ingredients:-
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Semi- ripe papaya- 2-2.5 cups[ app 1large papaya]
Sugar - 1.5 cups
Saffron - 2 pinches
Cardamom - 2-3 pods[freshly powdered]
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Water - 2 tbsp

Method:-
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1. Grate the papaya and keep aside. I have used semi ripe papaya.
2. In a non-stick pan add the sugar and water and put on the heat. Just wait until the sugar melts.



3. Now add the grated papaya and mix properly.




4. Keep stirring until most of the liquid content evaporates and all the content form a single mass and leaves the bottom from the edges.




5. Add the saffron in about a tbsp of warm water and stir and keep aside for about 2 mins.
6. Now add the saffron with the water to the halwa mixture and stir properly.






7. Add the ghee to the mixture.
8. Now add freshly powdered cardamom to the mixture and stir and put off the heat. Enjoy hot or at room temperature.

Kesar badammilk drink/safron almound drink mix

Almond is a nut which is very beneficial for growing kids.It helps in brain development in both young kids and adults.It is a nut which is a rich source of fibers . We people in India try to use this nuts in many sweet dishes ,drink powder or even add it to the cereal powder used in small infants.Its believed that if a pregnant womem consumes these almonds through out her pregnancy right from 4th month to 9th month then her child will be born very healthy and will be very intelligent. Her baby will also have thick hair all over the scalp and the baby will be of fair complextion.This has proven to be a healthy drink for nursing moms and even tired adults.



Ingredients:-
-------------
Raw Almonds - 2 cups
sugar - 1 cup[as desired]
kesar - 1/2 tsp
cardamom - 1/4 tsp

Method :-
-------
1.Take almonds, sugar, saffron ,cardamom in a blender and make a dry fine powder .
2.Store it in an air tight box.This will last for months together.



To prepare badam milk:-
-----------------------
Add about a spoon full of the above powder,add very hot milk and pour it to another cup and keep mixing by pouring it to the same cup back and forth. Enjoy......

Gulli Appam[urad daal savory appam]

Ingredients:-
-------------
ural daal - 1 cup
idli rava - 2 cups
yeast - 1 tsp
onion - 1 medium size
grated carrots - 1 large
coriander leaves- 2 tbsp
green chillies - 2-3 [optional]
salt - as per taste
bell peppers - 3 tbsp

Method:-
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1.Soak up the urad daal over night or in hot water for 2-3 hrs.

2. Grind the urad daal to form a fine smooth batter.Add idli rava to the batter and keep adding water little by little so as to form a batterlike idle batter.

3. Then add the yeast[mix yeast with luke warm water and keep aside for 2-3 mins once it becomes pasty its ready to be added to the batter].

NOTE:-
-----
YOU CAN ENTIRELY SKIP THIS STEP BY USING A STORE BOUGHT IDLI OR DOSA BATTER.

4.Chop up the vegetables very fine,grate the carrots and keep ready.

5.Salt the batter as per taste . Add all the veggies to the batter.

6.Now take the appam tava and grease it with a tiny drop of oil in all the chambers.



7.Fill all the chambers up to 3/4 full with the batter. Cover and cook for 1 min in medium flame.

8.Now slowly release the edges and flip it up side down. Do not cover ,cook for another min or until done.

9 Serve warm or room temperature with desired chutney or can be had as it is.

Vada pav -for weight watches and healthy eaters/healthier version

I have always dreampt of tasting the vada pav in its original form at the place where it actually originated, thats amchi Mumbai..... Well not yet i have got a chance of visiting Mumbai and having this poor man's burger as its described. Well have tasted it many places in south and here in California too.So thought of sharing my version of vada pav with you here. Here i am showing less fat ,guilt free method. I promise there is no compromise in taste as well as health.

Ingredients:-
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For the stuffing-
------------------
potatoes - 4 large [boiled]
onion - 1/2 cup
peas - 1/2 cup
salt - as per taste
cumin - 1 tsp
hing - 2 pinches
chat powder - 1/2 tsp
chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
coriander powder-1/2 tsp
coriander leaves- 1 tbsp

For coating of vada-
--------------------
besan powder - 1/2 cup
hing - 2 pinches
chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
water

oil -1.5 tbsp

garlic chutney ingredients:-
-----------------------------
garlic - 9-10 cloves
coconut - 2 tsp
dry red chillies- 4-5
tamarind - size of rasberryor 1/4 tsp
water - 2tsp
salt - as per taste



pav/ bread:-
-----------
I have used hamburger bun- 4-5

Method:-
-------
1.In a big bowl add the cooked , pealed large potatoes and break it up into small chunks.
2. Microwave the frozen peas for 2 mins.
3. In a nonstick pan add 1 tsp of oil ,wait for 1 min .Then add cumin seeds now add onions and saute till it turns slightly brown.
4.Now add peas and saute for 1 min.Then add potatoes. add coriander powder,chilly powder , chat powder and salt.Mix properly.Add coriander leaves and keep aside for cooling.




5. Now mix besan powder and all the other dry ingredients in a bowl and slowly add water little by little until it forms a thick batter just like idly batter.



6. Now prepare small balls out of the potato mixture appoximatly the size of golf balls and keep ready.

7.Heat up the appam tawa and little bit as 1/4 tsp of oil to all the chambers and slightly lower the heat and keep ready.
8.Now slowly dip the balls in batter so as to form a uniform coating all around it and place them slowly in the appam chamber and cover the lid.



9. After 2 mins or when the vada color has changed to golden brown roll on the other side to bottom. check if the oil at the bottom of the appam chambers is sufficient.if not add tiny drops to the required chamber.



10.Now keep moving the appam in all directions to cook uniformly and do not cover it at this point.as we need it to be crunchy and cooked.





Garlic chutney method:-
---------------------
1. Roast all the sliced garlic in about1/2 tsp of oil till it turns slightly brown at the edges.Now add dry red chillies and keep roasting for another minute
2. Now add coconut grates[fresh],tamarind,water,salt and blend into not too fine paste.

This chutney can be taken with rice,chapathi or even dosa.So prepare more and it store well in fridge for about 2 weeks in a air tight container.

Assembling the vada pav[star dish]:-
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1. Grease the pav bread on the inner side with butter or olive oil and slightly toast it on the stove top.[optional] well i have omitted it out.

2.Now open the pav and grease it with the garlic chutney as much as you wish.

3. Place the batata vada in between the bun, add a tiny bit of tomato ketchup and press the top.

4.Do not wait any longer just have it immediately yummm...........enjoy.....