Pani Poori

One can even claim pani poori to be the king of chaats as they are both, the mostly preferred chaat and the most people's prefered chaat. It is known by various names across India such as gol gappas or gupchup or puchka. I don't think there are people in India who are non-addictive to gol gappas. One of my friends used to say that she wishes to get married to a panipuriwala so that she gets panipuri fed anytime she wants to. Most of the hygiene observers and calories calculators consider panipuri an exception for its exceptional experience. Kids to old age people cheer up on the explosion of spices inside the mouth after gulping those small crisp, spice filled puris.

Ingredients:

1.       Small puris – 1 pack

2.       Fine sev for garnishing

For pani:

a.       Water – 1 litre

b.      Black salt – 1 tsp

c.       Chat masala – 1 tsp

d.      Pani poori masala – 2 tbsp

e.      Dry mango powder – 1 tsp

f.        Corriander – 1 fistful

g.       Mint leaves – few

h.      Green chilies – 3

i.         Lemon - 1

For masala:

1.       Boiled potatoes – 3

2.       Sprouted moong dal, blanched – 1 cup

3.       Onion - 2 chopped

4.       Coriander leaves – 1 tbsp chopped

5.       Red chili powder – ½ tsp

6.       Chaat masala – 1tsp

Method:

Step 1: For pani, grind the greenchilies, mint leaves, coriander leaves and juice of a lemon in a mixer and dissolve it in 1 lt of water along with other dry ingredients. Either chill this or add ice cubes.

Step 2: For masala, mash the potatoes, add onion, moong sprouts, coriander leaves, chaat masala, and chili powder and mix them well.

Step 3: Now for dressing the little puris, break open the softer side of the puri, stuff a little masala in it and garnish with fine sev. Repeat for all the puris.

Step 4: While serving, dip the dressed puris inside the pani and eat whole. Believe me, nothing on earth is so heavenly.

Stir Fried Pasta

My husband wanted to have pizza yesterday for dinner but for some reasons we couldn't go out... we had to eat food that I prepared. So pitying him I made this stir fried pasta. It turned out decently good J And he has no other option anyway…

Ingredients:

                  1.      Pasta – 2 cups (I used penne)

2.      Capsicum – 3 (medium)

3.      Onion – 2 (medium)

4.      Garlic – 5 cloves

5.      Red chili flakes – 1 tsp

6.      Olives -10

7.      Cheese – 2 cubes

8.      Italian spice – 2 tsp (if you have)

9.      Crushed pepper – ½ tsp

10.  Salt to taste

11. Olive oil – 2 tbsp

Method:

Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the instruction on the pack with slightly more salt than usual because we are not going to coat them with any sauce as such. Then drain the pasta completely and toss by drizzling some oil to avoid sticking of pasta to each other. Keep this aside.

Step 2: Chop capsicum and onion in to thick slices to match the length of penne, cut the garlic finely and make wedges of olives.

Step 3: Take olive oil in a pan and add garlic, chili flakes and crushed Italian seasoning when the oil is still cool. Let the oil and spices get heated up together , this flavors the oil and also does not brown the spices.

Step 4: Now add onions and toss in high flame, add in capsicum, olives, crushed pepper and toss for 1 minute.

Step 5: Put the cooked pasta in and grate cheese cubes over it. With soft hand, mix with a wooden ladle to combine all ingredients without breaking pasta. Switch of the stove within 30 seconds to retain crunch in the veggies.

Step 6: Serve it hot or warm with few garlic breads.

                                

Banana Marble Cake

I wanted to try this banana marble cake that I hit on some blog and I liked it mainly because I don't have to do anything above it to make it look good. I was drawn by the marble design on its surface and the simplicity of the recipe itself. My neighbor complemented me for the cake and is looking forward to the blog :)

Ingredients: 

1. Maida - 1 cup Powdered Sugar - 1/2 cup
2. Baking powder - 1 tsp
3. Salt - 1 pinch
4. Coco powder - 1 tbsp
5. Butter/ oil - 1/4 cup
6. Banana pulp - 1 cup

                                

Method:

     Step 1: Sift maida and baking powder; add banana pulp, sugar, salt, oil and mix well

     Step 2: Take half the batter in a separate cup and mix coco powder

     Step 3: Preheat the oven; grease and dust the cake pan

    

                            

                               

Step 4: Now pour both the batters alternately and finally with a skewer or knife circle in the batter to get the marble design pattern
Step 5: Bake it in oven or pressure cooker for 20 minutes. Check with a toothpick before turning off heat.
Step 6: Cool it a bit before cutting and serving.