Broccoli Parata

Made it for lunch today, turned out pretty good, so posting it here......
Recipe:
* Add broccoli (big chunks) to warm water and filter it after few minutes
* Let it stay for an hr and then just pulse it in food processor.
* Add oil to tava, add chopped onions and g.chilli
* Then add grated ginger, saute for few minutes and
   then add your fav masala powders and salt.
* Cook for few mins and then add broccoli and salt.
* Cook for 5mins and turn off when dry.
* Stuff in roti and cook well!!!!
* Serve hot with raita.
More pictures...Broccoli Parata

Veggie Lasagna

This was like a long time dream of mine to try. Turned out really good, except that it was little bland just like an Italian food. More pictures..Veggie Lasagna
Recipe:
* 1 pound pack Lasagna pasta (dry), Organic part skim Mozzarella cheese from Trader Joes, Ricotta cheese 15oz fat free, Tomato Basil pasta or marinara sauce 24oz or 26oz - 2, and diced veggies (Onion, color peppers, zucchini, mushrooms)
* In a big pot, boil lots of water.Cook the pasta sheets for 10 to 15mins with salt.
* Add few spoons olive oil to a tava, and saute onions and then add the veggies, saute few mins
* Add one bottle of tomato basil sauce. Cook for 10mins. Turn off. If you need spicy, add some chilli flakes and salt.
* Grease a baking tray and start to layer...sauted sauce, veggies, pasta, veggies, cheese, pasta...
* Finish with pasta, sauce and cheese on top.
* Preheat oven in bake - 375 F, then place the tray with aluminum foil covered and poked with fork. Cook for 30mins, then uncover and cook for 20mins. Turn off oven and let it stay for 10mins.
Note: Personally I wasnt handling the ricotta cheese well, may be that needs to go into the cooked veggies as the texture is not spreadable!

Veggie Pepper Rice

Recently I acquired the taste for black pepper and tried in few recipes.
Earlier I was used to pepper jeera powder, now I like this taste.
This one I made like a last minute box item, as I got up late!!!!!
And it turned out pretty good. More pictures...Veggie Pepper Rice
* Soak Basmati rice for 5minutes and cook in rice cooker with 2.75cups of water
   for one cup rice
* Steam broccoli with little salt for few minutes, I use steam basket,
   please retain green color.
* Chop red bell pepper, celery, spring onions
* Add oil to tava, roast peanuts and save it in a bowl
* Add oil to tava, roast 2 red chillies and add celery, cook for few minutes
* Then add corn, red bell pepper, cook for few minutes
* Add cooked broccoli, ground black pepper and salt.
* Add cooked rice, peanuts and roasted flax seeds.
* Turn off, serve hot. Very easy to make, enjoy!

Mutter Paneer

Supposed to be a rich recipe, but I havent used cream or cashews, it thickens on it own!!!
Making a paneer dish after months together. More pictures...Mutter Paneer
I hope it is a big hit recipe for the kids. Here is the recipe...
* Slice paneer and toast in tava with just one spoon oil, light toast is good enough.
* Add oil to tava, one chopped onion, little ginger, garlic. Saute well
* After few mins, add 2 g.chillies and tomato, cook well, turn off, let it cool
* Grind the above fry into a paste and cook well in tava with your fav masala powders.
* After few mins, add salt and g.peas.
* After few minutes, add the diced paneer.
* Cook for few mins, turn off and top with chopped Cilantro.
FYI, I am used to onion /tomato fry and then grind. If you are ok with raw grind and then fry, you can choose to do so. I use the similar gravy for Rajma too. Somehow I feel the raw smell goes off well if I saute and then grind the paste.

Okra Dry Veggie

A simple and tasty recipe, I just loved to eat it like a snack too and I had with rice and spinach koottu as well. More pictures..Okra Dry Veggie. Here is the recipe
* Wash and dry Okra (aka..lady's finger/Bindhi). Chop into small pieces.
* Add oil to tava, roast handful of peanuts and save it in a bowl.
* Add oil to tava, add seasoning if you like, otherwise add the okra directly
* Cook for few minutes, then add grated garlic - like 4 pieces
* Saute well and then add salt, ground pepper, cook for few minutes
* Once Okra is done, then add the peanuts and cook in high flame for just 2 minutes.
* Serve hot or room temperature, it is yummy!

Khandvi

A popular Gujarathi snack item, I was tempted to try for the rolling part! More interested in stuffed Khandvis, but dint have time that day to try that. Here is the simple recipe:

* One cup besan, one cup curd, one cup water - beat all well in a vessel
* Add ground ginger, g.chillie paste and salt to the above and mix well into a smooth, watery batter.
* Add more water to make it kind of watery
* Then pour it into a non-stick pan and start to cook.
* Keep stirring so as to avoid lumps.
* Cook well, till it forms a smooth cooked batter...try a small portion on a plate, apply like thin coat and let it cool for few mins, then try to roll, if it doesnt stick to the plate, then the batter/dough is ready!
* Place few plates or aluminum sheet and start to make thin layer of this batter...by just spreading with a flat spoon.
* Let it cool for 5mins and then cut into 1 or 2" width strips and start to roll like the above.
* And season it using mustard, asafoetida and coconut.
* You could try stuffed khandvi with green chutney or any other stuffing of your choice.
 More pictures...Khandvi