Falafal

Falafel is a fried ball or patty made from spiced fava beans and/or chickpeas. It is a popular form of fast food in the Arab World.Falafel is usually served in pita bread, either inside the pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flat pita. In many countries falafel is a popular street food or fast food.

I had eaten Falafel in Netherlands and felt in love with it. The balls are filled with herbs and chickpeas and gives a unique flavor to the fried balls. This recipe is very healthy as I have baked the falafel balls and served them with whole wheat pita bread and the sauce is made of non fat yogurt mixed with mint and coriander chutney.

Ingredients:

To make Falafel balls

1 1/2 cup chick peas (soaked in water overnight or a min of 4 hrs)
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
1 medium sized onion chopped
4-6 cloves of garlic finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp wole wheat flour
1 tsp green chili paste (adjust according to taste)
Olive oil to brush the falalfel balls

To serve:
4 Whole wheat Pita bread
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 cup lettuce leaves chopped
1 cup non fat yogurt mixed with 2 spoons of mint and coriander chutney
1 cup mint and coriander chutney

Method:
In a mixer or food processor add all the ingredients to make the falafel balls. Pulse or grind the mixture well so that the chick peas are minced into a crumbly paste and all the ingredients are mixed well with each other. Transfer the mixture to a clean bowl and make small golf size balls of the chick pea mixture and line them on a pre greased baking sheet. Make the remaining balls and place on the baking sheet. Once done, brush the balls with olive oil and bake them for 20 mins in a 375 degree F oven till they are golden brown in color.

To serve warm the pita bread and cut open the top of the pita bread and place 4-5 baked falafel ball in the pita bread. Place the yogurt dip, chuntey, onions and lettuce on a serving tray along side the falafel and serve. Each individual can make their own dressing by adding the serving ingredients as necessary.

Cheese Rolls

Diwali is just 4 days away and with the amount of guests that come home during this time; I am always looking for more and more snack recipe so that you are not spending too much time in the kitchen preparing the goodies to be served and at the same time the snacks are not repetitive.

Cheese Rolls is a quick and easy recipe which can be prepared ahead of time and need to be baked 20 mins before your guestes arrive.

Cheese Rolls is a healthy dish which can served as party or finger food as well.

Ingredients:

4 phyllo dough sheets
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese diced
1 cup corn
2-3 spring onions chopped
2 green chilies finely chopped
2 tsp soya sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Method:

In a pan, heat oil and add the chopped garlic, green chilies and spring onions to the pan. Add corn to the pan and mix well. Add soya sauce, salt and pepper along with the coriander to the pan and let it cook for 5 mins. Remove the pan from the burner and add the diced mozarella cheese to the pan and mix well.

Line the 4 phyllo sheets one on the other on a flat surface and cut the sheets with the help of a knife to a about 5-7 inch size pieces. Add the filling to each sheet and roll them over in the form of spring rolls. Seal the edges with the help of water and transfer to a baking sheet (greased with olive oil). At this step you can either keep it refrigerated or bake it in the oven for 15 - 20 mins till the phyllo gets a golden brown color.

Serve hot with coriander and mint chutney.

Tastes divine and heavenly!!!!!!

Veggie Wontons

A wonton (also spelled wantan, wanton, or wuntun in transcription from Cantonese; the Mandarin pronunciation is hundun) is a type of dumpling commonly found in a number of Chinese cuisines.

The most versatile shape is a simple right triangle, made by bringing two opposite corners together to fold the square in half. Its flat profile allows it to be pan-fried like a potsticker, as well as boiled or deep-fried.

I have always loved the fried wontons that we get at the various restaurants and was surfing the grocery store the other day and found these wonton wrappers and thought of giving myself a treat by making Veggie Wontons. I fried the Wontons but I am sure they would taste equally good when baked as well.

To make a wonton, spread a single wrapper square across the palm of one hand, place a small clump of filling in the center, and seal the wonton into the desired shape by compressing the wrapper's edges together with the fingers. Adhesion may be improved by moistening the wrapper's inner edges, typically by dipping one's fingertip into plain water and running it across the dry dough to dissolve the extra flour. As part of the sealing process, air should be "burped" out of the interior to avoid rupturing the wonton from internal pressure when cooked.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

12- 15 wonton wrappers
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
2 table spoons shredded carrot
2-3 spring onions chopped along with the greens
1 table spoon soy sauce
1 table spoon chili sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 table spoon olive oil
Oil for frying
Chili Sauce to Serve

To make the filling:

Heat oil in a pan; add the spring onions, cabbage and carrot to the pan and let it cook for for 5 minutes till the veggies are tender. Now add soy sauce, chili sauce , salt and pepper to the pan and toss all the ingredients well. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes. Turn off the gas and let the mix cool.

Take one wonton wrapper, add 1/2 spoon of the cooled veggie mixture in the middle of the wonton wrapper, apply water to all the 4 sides of the wrapper and fold the wrapper in the traingle shape first and then bring the two ends of the folded wrapper together. Repeat the steps to make the remaining wonton wrappers.

Heat oil in a large pot and fry the wontons till golden brown.

Serve hot with chili sauce!!!!!!!!! Yum!!!!!!!!




I am sending this recipe to Hima for her event Sunday Snacks with the theme bake it.



I am also sending this recipe to Easy Crafts for her event WYF - Party Food

Ragda Pattice

Ragda Pattice brings to mouth the fond memories of street food mumbai style. Ragda or vatana as it's usually known are dehaydrates green peas are a good source of protien and can be eaten in the sprouted form as well. Back in Mumbai, ragda pattice is a very famous street food and is loved by one and all. The pattice is usually shallow fried and is served with ragda along with the mix of sweet and tangy tamarind chutney and hot coriander chutney.

This recipe is very figure friendly and healthy as well as the pattice is baked; so lets keep the guilt aside and start cooking.

Ingredients:

To make Ragda:

1 cup vatana
2 tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 table spoon besan
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 bay leaf
1 clove
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp jeera
2 tsp ginger (grated)
2-3 green chilies (slit from middle)
salt to taste
1 tsp red chilly powder
1 table spoon lemon juice
1 table chopped coriander leaves
water as required
1 tsp olive oil

Method:

Soak the vatana for atleast 4 hrs. Drain the water and pressure cook the vatana with 3 cups of water for 10 -15 mins. Make sure that the vatana is not completely mushed. It must have a crunch to it. Heat oil in a separate pan and add jeera to it. Add clove, cinnamon, ginger and slit green chilies to the pan as well. Now add chopped tomatoes to the pan and saute till the tomatoes are nice and mushy. Add the vatana to the pan alongwith the water in which the vatana was cooked and mix all the ingredients well. Add besan and red chilly powder to the pan and mix well. Add 1 cup of water and let it simmer till the besan is completly cooked. Add lemon juice to the pan along with chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Keep aside.

To make pattice:

4-5 medium sized boiled potatoes
2-3 green chilies (finely chopped)
1 table spoon grated ginger
1 table spoon chopped coriander leaves
salt to taste
1 table spoon milk
1 cup bread crumbs
Olive oil to brush the pattice

Method:

Mash the boiled potatoes in a bowl and add the green chilies, chopped coriander, grated ginger and salt and mix well. Make small patties out of the potato mixture and dip it in milk and then coat it completely in the bread crumbs and line them on a greased baking sheet. Use the above method to make similar pattice and line them all in the baking sheet. Refrigerate the pattice in the fridge for min 30 mins. Preheat the oven at 350 degree F. Remove the baking sheet from the fridge, brush the pattice with olive oil and bake the pattice for 25 - 30 mins till the pattice has a golden brown color.

To Serve:

1 medium sized onion ( finely chopped)
green coriander chutney
tamarind chutney
chopped coriander leaves

In a bowl put 1-2 pattice and add hot ragda over the pattice, add the coriander and tamaring chutney, add chopped onion and coriander and serve!!!!!

Italian Panini with Indian Twist

Panini in italian means sandwich which is normally made from Cibatta bread which is cut horizontally , filled with the filling of ones choice and is sometimes served hot.

Panini can be made using typically any kind of bread and is a great last minute option for suppers and can be eaten in thye form of snack as well.

This sandwich or panini is made with the Italian flavors but is finished with the Indian touch.

Ingredients:

1 Cibatta bread
2-3 basil leaves
Mozarella Cheese 2 slices
1 tomato sliced
1 medium sozed onion sliced horizontally
2 table spoon green chutney
2 table spoon tomato ketchup
1 table spoon butter ( for grilling the panini)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

Slit open the cibatta bread. Place sliced tomato, onion and mozarella cheese on one side of the bread. Apply green chutney and tomato ketchup on the other side of the bread. Place the basil leaves over the sliced mozarella cheese and sprinkle salt and pepper over the cheese. Place the other slice of the bread over the one holding the tomato, onions and mozarella cheese. Butter the cibatta bread from outside on both the sides of the bread. Heat the griller and place the panini on the griller and grill the panini till you have the grilled marks on both the sides of the sandwich.

Alternatively,if you dont have the griller, heat the tava or a gridle and place the buttered sandwich on the tava and place a heavy bottom pan over the panini, so that the weight of the pan presses the panini to the hot tava and we have a toasted panini sandwich with the Indian Twist ready to be served hot with some more green chutney and tomato ketchup. The Italian flavors of tomato, mozarella and basil blends pretty well with green chutney and tomato ketchup which adds the Indian twist to the sandwich.

Pizza Margarita

Pizza Margarita is a very famous Italian recipe which has very simple ingredients which includes mozzarella cheese, basil leaves and tomato sauce. We have a very famous café in Maryland called Cosi and that is where I ate this pizza for the first time and loved it so much that I had to give it a try. I did add red capsicum to the pizza as it adds bite to the dish.

Try this recipe and I am sure you will love every bite of this simple Italian pizza.

Ingredients: Serves 4

Ready to bake Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough – 1 can
1 cup tomato sauce
10 -12 basil leaves
1 cup sliced mozzarella cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Oil for greasing the baking sheet
½ cup sliced red capsicum

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degree F for 10 mins. Grease the baking sheet with olive oil
• Take the thin crust pizza dough and spread it on to the baking sheet.
• Add the tomato sauce all over the pizza dough and spread it evenly.
• Now add the red capsicum, basil leaves and sliced mozzarella cheese. Keep aside some basil leaves for garnish
• Sprinkle salt and pepper to the pizza and bake it in the oven for 10 mins or till the cheese melts and the crust is golden brown.
• Garnish with basil leaves and serve hot.

Corn Canapés with a Twist

Canapé is an appetizer consisting of crisp crackers topped with seasoned spread of fish, meat, cheese or salad combinations. Corn Canapés are also known a American Sevpuri and Canapés with a Twist is an interesting starter as the Canapés are home made and the corn filling with chilly and Soya sauce adds a unique flavor to these Canapés and makes you want more and more and more!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients:

4 sheets of Phyllo Dough
1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1 green chilly finely chopped
1 tsp red capsicum (finely chopped)
2 spring onions (finely chopped)
Reserve the spring onion greens for garnish
2 tsp Soya Sauce
1 tsp chilly sauce
1 tsp tomato ketchup
Garlic Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp Olive Oil.
Cooking oil to grease the Phyllo Sheets



Method:

• Take the 4 Phyllo Dough sheets and line them one above the other on a cutting board.
• Cut the Phyllo dough sheets into square pieces and keep aside. Place the cut phyllo sheets in each of the muffin mould and grease the sheets with the cooking oil.
• Preheat the oven at 350 degree F for 10 mins and place the muffin molder with the phyllo sheets and bake it for 8 – 10 mins or till the sheets get a golden brown color.
• To prepare the filling, add oil to the pan and add the chopped green chilies, spring onions, red capsicum and corn kernels and mix well.
• Now add the Soya sauce, chilly sauce, tomato ketchup, garlic salt and pepper and sauté for another 5 mins.
• Remove the muffin mould from the oven and let it cool for 2 mins. Remove the phyllo cups from the muffin molder and place in on a serving plate.
• Add the corn filling in the phyllo cups. Garnish with Spring onion greens and serve with tomato ketchup and chilly sauce.


I would like to send this to Hima of SnackORama for her event called Sunday Snacks with the theme Bake it.

I would also like to send this to Divya of Dil Se for her event Diet Foods.

Toasties

Toasties is a quick, easy and a healthy snack with veggies, which is baked and has a loads of crunch to it in every bite you take. It is also a form if finger food that could be served as a snack in your parties and get together and will earn you compliments for its unique taste I am sure!

Ingredients:

2 table spoons butter
2 table spoons spring onions finely chopped
1 table spoon red capsicum finely chopped
1 clove of minced garlic.
2 table spoons chopped coriander leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
4-5 bread pieces cut into vertical strips.
1 table spoon parmesan cheese (to sprinkle over the bread pieces)

To serve:

Tomato Ketchup
Chilly Sauce
Spring Onion greens for garnish



Method:

• Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl and add spring onions along with the greens (save some greens for garnish), red capsicum, minced garlic, chopped coriander leaves, salt and pepper to taste. Mix all the ingredients well.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Apply a coat of oil to the baking sheet.
• Take the bread strips and apply the prepared mixture over the strip and line them on a baking sheet. Repeat the process for all the bread strips.
• Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the bread strips and bake it in the oven for 10 mins or till the cheese has melted.
• You can use any cheese you like; I had parmesan at home so went ahead with it.
• Remove the bread strips from the oven and garnish with the remaining spring onion greens. Serve hot with tomato and chilly sauce.

I am sending this recipe to Easy Craft from Simple Indian Food for her food event WYF Salad,Starter and Soup

Manchurian Rolls

I really miss the Chinese take out food that I get back home in India and fried rice and Manchurian is my favorite. Manchurian rolls fit the bill perfectly and satisfy my cravings for the Chinese that I get back home and it’s different from what I regularly make. In fact it’s perfect for lunch, brunch or dinner.



Ingredients:

To make Manchurian balls:
Shredded cabbage – 1 cup.
Grated carrot – ½ cup.
Grated Cauliflower – ½ cup.
2 spoons all purpose flour or corn starch
2 tsp dark soya sauce
Salt to taste
A pinch of black pepper
Oil for frying the balls.

To make the gravy:
½ cup spring onion finely chopped along with the greens
2 tsp ginger paste
2 tsp garlic paste
2 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp vinegar
Salt to taste
4-5 chopped green chilies (you can add less if you don’t want the Manchurian to me spicy)
Quarter cup water to be added to the pan
1 tsp corn starch dissolved in quarter cup of water.
2 tsp olive oil or any cooking oil.



To make the Rolls:
4 bread rolls to add the Manchurian filling. (Slit from between to add the filling)



Method:
• To make the Manchurian balls , mix cabbage, carrot and cauliflower along with soy sauce, corn starch ( all purpose flower), salt and pepper, make small bite size balls and keep aside. Heat oil in a pan and fry the balls till you get a golden brown color and keep aside.
• Take another pan and add olive oil to it. Then add green chilies, ginger paste, and garlic paste along with the spring onions. Keep the greens aside for garnish.
• Now add the quarter cup of water to the pan. Add soy sauce, salt and vinegar as well. Add the Manchurian balls to the pan and mix well. Dissolve corn starch in water and slowly add to the pan. The sauce will start to thicken. Mix all the ingredients well.
• Add the spring onion green for garnish. Slit the bread roll with the help of a knife and add the hot Manchurian filling to the bread and serve hot.


Tip: Vegetable Manchurian can be served with vegetable fried rice or make the manchurian with gravy and can be served with veg noodles as well. Another great idea would be to make finger food and serve the manchurian on sqaure shaped toasted bread slices.