Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Step by Step Homemade Tandoori Roti On Stove Top

  Step by Step Homemade Tandoori Roti On Stove Top

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Tandoori Roti speaks of dhaba food and is a healthy Indian bread made of whole wheat flour. Traditionally, it is cooked in a tandoor or clay oven, a very rustic and traditional Indian bread.

Today, we are making tandoori roti at home, yes!! when you have that craving for Punjabi dhaba food; you can make it right in your kitchen...how would you like that; homemade tandoori roti!!

Tandoori roti is a bit thicker than roti/Indian flat bread. I love to have with chicken tikka or butter chicken, though my son loves it buttered up, my daughter loves it plain. I have been making tandoori roti for sometime now, at least whenever kids have a restaurant craving; and boy! are they pleased!!

The bread is made of whole wheat flour, little flour, curd, salt, and water.....once the dough is made, it is best to allow it to rest for a while....and then knead again for a softer and smoother dough......

Since we do not have a traditional clay tandoor at home; I am making this on the stove top; and yes!! its easy and quick!! too....I hope you will love it and try it!!

Author: Nisa Homey
Serves: 3-4
Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour/atta: 1 1/4 cups
Plain flour: 1/4 cup.
Baking Soda: A big fat pinch.
Sugar: 1/2 tsp.
Oil: 1 1/2 tbsp.
Curd/yogurt: 1/4 cup.
Water: To bind and knead.
Water: To brush
Method:
Dunk all the ingredients into a bowl...

Or into a food processor and blitz, use the steel blade...(you can also knead with your hand)

With the mixer running, pour little water through the feeder, maybe 1/3 cup or so....until the dough is gathered.

Plop it in to another bowl and knead with preferably oil greased hands....until the dough is smooth and soft....then cover and leave it for about 20-30 min.

Divide the dough into equal parts....slightly bigger than ordinary flatbread or roti.

Put it into the same bowl with little wheat flour (this is just to coat and not to get sticky)

Meanwhile, heat a tawa or a pan....and simmer the fire...take some water in a small bowl and keep aside.
Take one ball and lightly flatten it into a circle with your fingers.....sprinkle flour if needed.

And then roll out with a rolling pin.

Note that, you should roll out according to the size of your tawa or pan, and it should be slightly thicker than than ordinary roti/chappati.

Brush water on one side of the flattened dough.

Put the watered side on the hot tawa or pan.....raise the heat to high.....and let it stay for a few seconds...not longer, because the heat will release the dough from the pan...we need the dough to be sticked to the pan....so a few seconds would be fine.

With flame on high, turn the tawa upside down....since the dough is sticked to the tawa it will not fall down and we can cook the other side over the flame....decrease and increase the flame as needed...tilting and moving the tawa...(do not use a nonstick pan)


Until the other side is cooked and charred a bit.

Put the tawa back on the flame, for another minute....decrease or increase flame as needed....so that the other side will get cooked....once done, remove from the tawa.

Do the same with the rest....and ta...da...super easy!! super quick!! tandoori roti....is ready for you!!


Brush butter/ghee on top and serve.


Courtesy:http://www.nisahomey.com/2013/11/tandoori-roti-on-stove-top.htm

Oil Free Dry Orange Pickle

Sundried Bitter Oranges (Narnga Batte/Kanchi Batte)

narnga batte
‘Narnga’ or ‘kanchi kaayi’ or ‘heraLe kaayi’ is a kind of bitter orange available in some(or all) parts of India. These are slightly bitter in taste, we have not seen anyone eating the ripened fruit. We always get the green ones which are used for sundried items or pickle. This is the season on Narnga here, so I prepared a big batch of narnga batte this year. Every year we get few of fresh narnga from our neighbors.
Narnga/Naranga batto/batti is one thing that almost all Konkanis like. These are usually given to the people who are suffering from fever and lost their taste. These are spicy, saltly and sour. They taste heavenly when consumed with rice congee(Pej/ganji). These are a must in most of the Konkani houses throughout the year. My kids and all the other kids who visited us loved these with congee.
We also make a tasty chutney with it. Thanks to Pelicano, we think it is called bitter oranges.
Ingredients:
5-6 narnga
Salt
1/2 cup chilli powder
1/2 tea spn asafoetida powder or a big piece of asafoetida stone
Method:
narnga batte1 narnga batte2
Cut narnga into thin pieces. Remove the white pit and seeds, discard them.
narnga batte3 narnga batte4
In a ceramic jar, put the pieces and salt enough to cover pieces. Close the lid tightly and leave it in a dry place for about 15 days to one month till the skin becomes slightly soft. Every day open the lid and mix the pieces to make sure salt gets to all pieces.
narnga batte5 narnga batte6
Take out the pieces. Add chilli powder, asafoetida to the pieces, mix very well.
narnga batte7
Sundry the pieces till they are completely dry.
narnga batte8
Store in dry air tight container. They get darker and darker in color as time passes, after almost a year, they get black but they still can be used.

Courtesy: http://www.aayisrecipes.com/konkani-recipes/sundried-bitter-oranges-narnga-battekanchi-batte/

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Litti Chokha- One of the most Authentic recipes I came across

City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar-I

City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
The great chef’s life in Delhi.
[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]
Meet the Julia Child of Mayur Vihar, Phase-I, a neighborhood near Akshardham Temple in east Delhi. A graduate in science from Bihar’s Ranchi Women’s College, Ms Child came to Delhi in 1982 following her marriage to Madhurendra Prasad Sinha, a journalist. For three years, the couple lived in a one-room apartment in Malviya Nagar, south Delhi. It was through her husband’s books that Ms Child was introduced to Russian authors such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Maxim Gorky. After the family increased and she moved across the Yamuna to a duplex apartment, her present house, Ms Child discovered children’s writer Enid Blyton – in the bookshelf of her daughters, Nimisha and Namya. “My daughters are caring,” she told The Delhi Walla. “One morning my younger one spotted an injured hariyal (yellow-footed green pigeon) on the pavement. She immediately carried it to the bird’s hospital in Chandni Chowk.” Mother-like to Romeo, the family’s three-year-old golden retriever, Ms Child is currently reading Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. And yes, she cooks. Here is the recipe of her ‘litti chokha’.
Living away from Bihar for so many years, I rarely speak in Magahi, my region’s dialect. The daughters grew up in Delhi and they talk in Hindi and English. But the family remains wedded to its traditions – on the dining table. I make litti chokha at least once a month in summer and every week in winter. If Bihar were a country, this two-dish combination would be its national food. Originating as a cheap meal for travellers, it can be rustled up quickly. Cooking it is an excuse to connect to Bihar.
Litti
½ kg atta flour
½ kg sattu (flour made of roasted chickpeas)
1tbsp carom seeds
1tbsp black salt
Salt to taste
Chopped green chillies (optional)
I ginger root, peeled and sliced into julienne pieces
2 whole garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp coriander leaves
250 gm ghee
½ tea cup water
Pour sattu flour in a bowl. Put in all ingredients – except atta – into the bowl and mix. Add enough water to make the mixture just sticky. Cover the bowl with a lid and keep it aside. Pour atta on a platter, add 1 tbsp ghee and knead a firm dough. Make thick round patties from the dough. Press each patty at its center to make a deep depression. Scoop in the sattu mixture and seal it by pressing in the dough. Cook the patties in the tandoor, or bake them in the oven (200 degree Celsius for 45 minutes) till golden brown. Heat ghee in karahi. Dip litti in ghee before serving. (Since it is very crumbly inside, you may break each itti in halves and add more ghee.)
Chokha
½ kg aubergines
250 gm tomatoes
250 gm potatoes
2 medium-sized onions, chopped
Chopped green chillies (optional)
Salt to taste
1tbsp mustard oil
4-5 garlic cloves
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Boil potatoes. Roast them straight on the flame, one at a time. Remove the potato from the burner when its skin starts to turn black and crackle. Repeat the process with aubergines and tomatoes, except you don’t have to boil them. Just one twist before you roast aubergines: use knife to make half a dozen slits into each aubergine, and stuff the slits with garlic cloves. Once the roasted vegetables have cooled, peel off the skin and mash their flesh together. Use your hand. Add the rest of the ingredients, including oil. Mix well. Serve with litti.
Julia’s empire
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – atta flour
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – sattu flour
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – adding the details
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – scooping in
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – ready to be baked
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti- waiting
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – baked
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – dipping in ghee
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making litti – cracking it open
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making chokha – roasting the vegetables
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making chokha – let the roasted vegetables cool
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Making chokha – peel, mix and mash
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar
Litti Chokha, a family tradition
City Food – Julia Child Cooks Litti Chokha in Mayur Vihar 

 Courtesy:http://www.thedelhiwalla.com/2011/02/27/city-food-%E2%80%93-julia-child-cooks-litti-chokha-in-mayur-vihar-i/

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Kulle ke Chaat

Kulle ke Chaat

BM # 32 Week 2
Theme: Street Food
Cooking with Alphabets " K ''

I was introduced to the Kulle Chaat about five years ago.My brother 's office is in the walled city of Delhi. During my stay in Delhi, he makes it a point to get a different chaat every evening.He knows my love for these . As a kid I have lived in the old city and have tasted and eaten at almost all food joints.I am familiar with all the street food available, but this Kuliya was new to me. Kulle or Kuliya as they are called are made by scooping out the different vegetables and fruits.You could call them vegetable and fruit cups.These are filled with zero sized chick peas and pomegranate pearls , spiced with black chaat masala and drizzled with lemon juice.

The best kuliyas are available at Hira Lal CHaat Waale, who is located in Chawri Bazar .Chawri Bazar has a huge paper market and is a busy area.It is practically impossible to go there during the day , so normally we get them home.

The most popular vegetables and fruits used to make these cups are potatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, banana, apple, pineapple, mango. one can use boiled potatoes, and sweet potatoes but I normally roast them in the tandoor. These impart a wonderful flavor on their own.



Choice of vegetables and fruits and their preparation
Potatoes
Choose big sized potatoes, boil or roast.
You could also choose potatoes of even small size.
Cut it into two halves.
Scoop the center,
Chop a little from the bottom so that the cup can stand.
Sprinkle salt.
Sweet Potato
Roast and peel the sweet potato.
Cut into 2 inch length pieces.
Scoop and sprinkle salt.
Cucumbers
Peel the cucumbers.
Cut into 2 inch pieces.
Scoop and sprinkle salt.

Tomatoes
Chop 1/4 from the top and just a wee bit from the bottom so the cup can stand.
Scoop out the pulp and sprinkle salt.
Banana
Peel the banana, cut into two.
Making V slits scoop out length wise.
Similarly one can use different fruits to make these cups.
Filling
Chick peas...these have to be the mini ones which are normally used by the Delhi chaat wallas.
Pomegranate pearls

Other Ingredients
Chaat masala
Lemon juice
Coriander leaves
I chilled these fruits and vegetables.I also chilled the filling.Once these both are chilled just fill the cups, drizzle masala and lemon juice.

This chaat is not spicy, yet the flavor imparted by the combination of fruit vegetable and lentil is amazing.I have served this as a biting with drinks and my guests have loved these simple yet attractive and delicious cups .
Courtesy:http://ribbonstopastas.blogspot.in/2013/09/kulle-ke-chaat.html

How to Make Any Caramel Corn in 5 Steps

How to Make Any Caramel Corn in 5 Steps

By • August 12, 2013 •
Here at Food52, we love recipes -- but do we always use them? Of course not. Because once you realize you don't always need a recipe, you'll make your favorite dishes a lot more often.
Today: Take back caramel corn from the state fair. With 5 simple steps and the perfect caramel ratio, you can make it better, and make it your own.
Caramel Corn from Food52
The whole summer revolves around fresh corn. First we anticipate, then we worship, and finally, we cook.
But even though we've covered the range of corn recipes -- from quesadillas to salad to ice cream -- there's been a serious oversight. The sweetest corn of all can't be found at any farmers market. And that's because the sweetest corn of all is caramel corn.
Caramel corn is too sweet, too crunchy, and too simple to belong to just one season. Instead, it's claimed by all. In the summer, it's eaten out of paper cones at state fairs. In the winter, it's scooped into plastic bags that are tied with ribbons for holiday gifts. All year long, it arrives in large tins alongside the understandably less popular buttered popcorn and cheddar corn. Caramel corn is always the first to go.
Thankfully, you don't have to make a trip to the state fair or wait for the holiday season to eat corn in its best possible form. Caramel corn isn't any more complicated than its name suggests.
Pop corn, make caramel, combine the two, and give it a brief time-out in the oven. There you have it.
How to Make Any Caramel Corn in 5 Steps
1. Pop your corn in whatever way is easiest for you. It's important that your popcorn be fresh and sturdy, which is why we recommend popping your own. Start with 1/2 cup of kernels to make 10 to 12 cups of popcorn. (We like to pop it in a little bit of neutral oil in a big, lidded Dutch oven on the stovetop, shaking the pot here and there.)
Dump the popcorn into a large bowl and, if you want to get creative, add nuts or dried fruit, too.


2. Start making the caramel. Melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter, then add a cup of brown sugar and a tablespoon or two of molasses. After the sugar's melted, crank up the heat and boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir constantly so that the caramel doesn't stick and burn.
(If you like a bit of bite to your caramel corn, it's helpful to know that the longer the caramel is on the stove, the crunchier your corn will be. Just don't leave the caramel on the stove so long that it starts to smoke.)


3. Add a teaspoon of vanilla, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt (1 teaspoon if you want a salted caramel corn), and the magic ingredient: 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Baking soda makes the caramel airy and foamy, giving it a softer texture and allowing it to better coat the corn. The air bubbles that form when baking soda is added will make the caramel lighter in color and texture.
Now's your chance to add other spices or flavorings to the caramel: cayenne, hot sauce, or curry powder for a savory, spicy popcorn; cinnamon, cloves, and other spices for a holiday-themed variety; or maybe some maple syrup if you're Canadian.


4. Working quickly, pour the caramel into the bowl of popcorn and stir until all of the corn glistens with the golden sauce.


5. Into the oven it goes! Spread your caramel corn into an even layer on a lined baking sheet and bake at 250° F for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how dry you like the corn. Stir every 15 minutes, breaking up any clumps (or leaving them intact, if you're a fan).

If you have self-control, let it cool completely. Otherwise, pop each piece into your mouth straight from the baking sheet. Corn really is wonderful, isn't it?
Caramel Corn from Food52