Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Channa Masala Stuffed Bun

I like to have the kara bun(savory bun) which is available in a local bakery in my hometown.I always experiment with different stuffing,one such hit is a channa masala stuffing.This can be made with the leftover channa masala also and it is a good option for tea time snack, brunch or even on the go.Here is the recipe for delicious bun....

Ingredients

For the bun
IngredientQuantity
All purpose flour21/2cups
Dry yeast2tsp
Butter2tbs
Milk1/2cup
Water1/2cup
Salt1tsp
Sugar2tsp
Oil1tsp
Butter or milkfor brushing
For the stuffing
IngredientQuantity
Channa(soaked,cooked)11/4cups
Onion1no.(medium size)
Tomato2nos.(medium size)
Ginger&garlic paste1tsp
Chilly powder1/2tsp
Coraiander powder1tsp
Garam masala powdera generous pinch
Amchur powder(optional)1/4tsp
Fennel seeds(sombhu)1/2tsp
Coriander leaves(chopped)as needed
Saltto taste
Oil1tbs


Method

                 Activate the yeast by adding in a luke warm water with the sugar,keep it for 5 minutes,till the mixture gets frothy.Meanwhile mix the flour with butter,salt and add the yeast.Mix it with milk and water little by little to form a dough.Grease the palms with oil and knead the dough for atleast 10 minutes.It should be soft and piable,cover it with a plastic wrap and keep it in a warm place to raise(turned on the oven light and kept inside).
Meanwhile prepare the stuffing,heat oil in pan,crackle the fennel seeds and saute the onions till translucent.Add the ginger & garlic paste,fry it for a minute.Then add the tomatoes and saute it until mushy.
Now add in the powders,salt,stir it for a minute and add 1/4 cup of water.Let it boil for a minute,add the cooked channa and mix it well.Cook it until the mixture gets dry.Finally add the coriander leaves and turn of the stove.
After an hour take out the dough and it would have doubled in size,punch down the air and knead it for a while.Divide the dough into equal portions and take one ball and press it gently.Keep 2 tsp of the prepared stuffing and cover it by pulling the edges to the center and roll it gently in between the palms to get a nice and smooth buns.
Keep it on a greased baking tray,continue the same for the rest of the dough.Cover the baking tray with a wrap and let it sit for 30 minutes.After 30 minutes brush the top with milk or butter.Preheat the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit and bake it for 20-25 minutes(mine took 20 minutes) till it becomes golden color.Once it is done take it from the oven and transfer the buns to a cooling rack and apply some butter.
Serve it with coffee or tea for a snack or a brunch.
Enjoy................

  • Egg wash can be done instead of milk or butter.
  • Kneading the dough is very important to get soft buns.
  • Channa can be substituted with green peas. 
  • For the given measurement got 8 buns.
Linking this to Vardhini's Bake Feast Series,Kirthi's Serve it Series-Savory Baked,Kushi'sBake it with Heart,Radhika's Winter Carnival.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Kuzhi Paniyaram

Kuzhi paniyaram is simple breakfast or snack item which is popular in Tamilnadu especially Chettinadu,both sweet and savory versions can be made.This recipe I got it from my husband's grand mother who is an expert in cooking authentic dishes even at the age of 83.Whenever we visit her she makes both paniyaram for us  and accompanies with a spicy milagai chutney and coconut chutney.Yesterday I made the savory version which is called as masala paniyaram or kara paniyaram for evening snack....

Ingredients

IngredientQuantity
Raw rice1cup
Boiled rice/Idly rice1cup
Urad Dhal1/4cup
Fenugreek seeds(vendhayam)1tsp
Onion2nos.(medium size)
Green chilly5-6nos.
Coconut(finely chopped)2tbs
Mustard seeds1tsp
Urad dhal2tsp
Channa dhal1tbs
Asafoetidaa pinch
Curry leaves2 sprigs
Coriander leaves(chopped)as needed
Saltto taste
Oilas needed

Method
                  Soak the rice,dhal and fenugreek seeds for atleast 3-4 hours and grind it to a smooth batter with salt.Ferment the batter for 8-10 hours or overnight.
Keep the pan with a tsp of oil,once it is heated crackle the mustard seeds,urad dhal,channadhal.Add the curry leaves,asafoetida,and saute the onions till transparent.Finally add the salt,coconut pieces and coriander leaves and turn off the stove.Add this to the fermented batter and mix it well.
Heat the Paniyarm pan,add 1/2 tsp of oil in each mould,when the oil gets heated pour the batter 3/4 th of the mould.Once its cooked flip the paniyaram with the help or spoon or a knife and let it cook for a minute in a medium flame and drizzle little oil.
Paniyaram is ready.
Serve it with spicy milagai chutney or chutney of your choice
  • This paniyaram can be made with fermented idly batter.
  • Instead of adding channa dhal in the seasoning it can be soaked and add it to the batter.
  • If the batter is not fermented properly the paniyaram won't turn brown and doesn't taste good.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Friday, November 18, 2011

Paneer Sandwich

This is a simple and healthy sandwich in which a tangy paneer stuffing between the bread slice makes the evening snack or morning breakfast perfect.Yesterday myself and my son was craving for something to eat in the evening,the weather was so cloudy and rainy.Wanted to eat a healthy and filling snack and not feeling to munch any fried item.When I looked at the pantry and refrigerator a pack of bread ,some left over mint chutney and paneer were there and suddenly got an idea of making sandwich as my son loves to eat paneer in any form.

Ingredients

IngredientQuantity
Bread12 slices
Paneer(grated)200gms
Onion1no.(medium size)
Green chilly2no.
Ginger(grated)1/2tsp
Chilly powder1/2tsp
Coriander powder1/2tsp
Garam masala powdera dash
Turmeric powder(optional)1/4tsp
Kasoori methi1tsp
Amchur powder3/4tsp
Coriander leavesto garnish
Mint chutney(optional)3tbs or as needed
Butter(optional)2tbs
Oil2tsp
Saltto taste

Method
                         Heat a frying pan or wok in a medium heat. Add oil,once it gets heated up, put in the finely chopped green chillies,grated ginger and fry for few min. Add the onion and saute till it becomes transparent.Add the grated paneer,powders,salt and stir it for a while till everything gets blend.
Now add in the amchur powder and kasoori methi and mix it well.Finally add the chopped coriander leaves and turn off the stove.Yummy and tangy stuffing is ready.
Take a slice of bread,spread the mint chutney and keep a generous amount of stuffing.Cover it with another slice of bread and apply butter on the top.
Toast in a sandwich maker/toaster or on a griddle.
Simple and healthy paneer sandwich is ready.


Enjoy it with ketchup or sweet & hot sauce and a cup of tea.


  • Cooking the paneer in the medium flame is very important otherwise the paneer turns out hard.
  • A tsp of ginger of ginger&garlic paste can be added,instead of grated ginger.
  • Using mint chutney is purely optional,it gives an additional flavor(used the leftover chutney).
  • Toasting it with butter gives an extra taste to the sandwich,again its optional but while toasting in griddle butter is needed.

Sending this to Winter Carnival Event.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Idly Milagai Podi(Spice Powder)


Idly milagai podi is a flavorful spicy powder made of lentils and red chillies which is an accompaniment for idly and dosa.It can be mixed with generous amount of sesame oil or ghee.My son likes to eat idly with milagai podi,so its a must in my pantry.I make it often and store it and lots of variations can be made.Here is the simple version of milagai podi.

Ingredients

IngredientQuantity
Red chilly15-20nos.
Channa dhal(kadalai paruppu)1cup
Urad dhal(ullutham paruppu)1cup
Curry leaves2sprigs
Asafoetida1/2tsp
Saltto taste

Method  

                  Roast the red chillies till it becomes crisp and remove it.Then roast the channa dhal,urad dhal in a medium flame to a golden brown color.Now add in the curry leaves and asafoetida and fry it for a while.Let it cool down completely.
Put the red chillies and dhal together and grind it to a coarse powder with salt.
Store it in an air tight container.

Enjoy it with idly....

  • Sesame seeds(a tsp) and garlic(3 cloves) can be added for extra flavor and taste.
  • Black pepper and cumins seeds can also be added for extra taste.

Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Liebster Blog Award

I received the award from my blogger friend Prathiba of Cook Ezee and so happy to receive the award.Thanks a lot Prathiba to choose me for this wonderful award.


Liebster means favorite or dearest in German.This award is to honour the blogger friends and here are the rules for this wonderful award.

  • Thank the person that gave the award and link back to their blog
  • Copy and paste the award to your blog.
  • Reveal the 5 blogs you have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog.
  • Hope they pass it forward by accepting and awarding it to blogger they would like to honor.
  • Thank all those you read your blog and follow you.

I would like to pass the award to the following  bloggers who encourages and supports me.

Dear friends,please accept this awards and pass it over to your dearest.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Moong Dhal Puttu/Pittu

Puttu/pittu is a traditional South Indian delicacy served as a breakfast item for special occasions in our households. Moon dhal puttu is a healthy and delicious sweet puttu which I had it first time in one of my athai's(father's sister) place.My athai's MIL who is an excellent cook made this one for us when we went to their house after our wedding,liked the puttu and got the recipe from her.I made this on Friday, for prasadham to god and used the split moong dhal,originally it is made with whole moong.



Ingredients

IngredientQuantity
Moong dhal(Paasi paruppu,split)1/2cup
Channa dhal(kadalai paruppu)2tbs
Raw rice1tbs
Sugar1cup(approximately)
Cashews2tbs
Coconut(grated)1/4cup
Cardamom Powder1/4tsp
Ghee2tbs
Salta pinch

Method

                     Soak the dhals and rice together for 3-4 hours and grind it coarsely in a blender with little water and a pinch of salt.
Grease the idly plate and pour the ground mixture in each mould and steam it in the pressure cooker or idly steamer till it gets cooked.Take out the cooked dhals from the idly mould and crumble it with sprinkling little water,once it becomes warm(food processor works good)
Now measure the the crumbled dhal mixture in a cup(tightly packed) and take little less than half a cup of sugar for each cup of crumbled dhal.Make sugar syrup by adding water to single string consistency.
Add in the crumbled dhal,stir it followed by grated coconut,cardamom powder,fried cashews and ghee.Mix it well and keep it in the low flame for a minute.
Puttu is ready.
Enjoy......
  • Instead of sugar jaggery or brown sugar can be used.
  • This puttu will be sticky when it is hot,becomes crumbly after cool down.
  • Do not keep in the flame not more than a minute after adding everything in the sugar syrup otherwise it will turn hard and rubbery.
  • Equal quantity of dhals (moong dhal+channa dhal)can also be used.
  • Grinding the dhals in the food processor gives a perfect coarse batter.
Linking this to Cooking With Seeds - Mung beans event happening in Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes.
Sumber http://www.naliniscooking.com