Tuesday, October 27, 2015

SAAO MASHALO / GREEN MASALA / CORIANDER MINT GRAVY PASTE



Making masala pastes ahead of time helps a lot when you have unexpected guests.This is such a flavourful masala paste with the freshness of the mint and coriander leaves combined with garlic, ginger, onion, tomato and green chillies. Tomato is optional.. some don't add it and use other ingredients like amchoor or tamarind for the tanginess. 

Ingredients:
Coriander Leaves.....1 cup
Mint leaves ........... 1/2 cup
Green Chillies........2-3
Onions................1 chopped
Tomatoes...........1 chopped
Garlic.................7 to 8 cloves
Ginger ...............1 inch piece


Method:
Grind the above ingredients to make the green masala.
You can even store it in the freezer for later use. 

Divide them into portions and store in plastic containers or zip lock bags.
 You can use this masala in many curries. Some of them are here. 
Click on them to see the recipe.

Seyala Bhindyoon ein Patata 


Seyala Maani 




Sunday, October 25, 2015

THOOMA WARI MUNGAN JI DAL / MOONG DAL WITH GARLIC TADKA / SINDHI STYLE MOONG DAL



Moong dal with garlic flavour tastes so delicious.,Specially in winters we get fresh green garlic and we add the leaves too. They make it more tastier.

Ingredients:
Moong dal / yellow dal .... 1 cup
Green chillies .... 1-2
Coriander leaves .. handful
Garlic ..... 3-4 pieces crushed & 3-4 pieces chopped finely.
(If using fresh green garlic use along with the leaves and reduce the quantity of coriander leaves)
Turmeric powder .. 1/4 tsp
Salt .... to taste
Oil ... 2-3 tbsps



Method:
1. Wash and soak dal for one hour.
2. In a pan boil it adding salt and turmeric powder.
3. When it is half done add the finely chopped green chillies, coriander and a little crushed garlic.If you have fresh garlic add the chopped leaves at this stage.
4. Mash it well when it is done. Add water as per your preference. I like a thicker consistency.
5. Heat oil in a small pan and fry the finely chopped garlic to a light brown colour. Add the tempering to dal.
Serve with Sindhi Khichni and fried papads and kachris.



Friday, October 23, 2015

CHOLA DHABALA / CHANA BREAD CHAAT / SINDHI STREET FOOD


Chola Dhabala is a very popular Sindhi street food. Tangy chickpea curry is served on bread slices topped with onion kachumbar, mint coriander chutney and thin sev. This can be relished during any time of the day. It is quite filling and I prefer it for brunch or dinner. These days various ready masalas like chana masala and chaat masalas are available easily but our mothers and grand mothers used only home ground basic spices. The curry is made with lot of gravy which is nice and tangy. The bread slices are well soaked in the gravy and the chickpeas are spooned over the soaked slices followed by other garnishings.


Ingredients:
Chana / chickpeas .... 1 cup (soaked overnight)
Onion ................... 1 cup (sliced)
Tomato ............. 1 medium
Green chillies ... 1-2
Ginger ............ 1 tsp (grated)
Garlic ............ 1 tsp (crushed)
Tamarind juice ... 2-3 tbsps
Coriander powder .. 1 tsp
Cumin powder ...... 1 tsp
Garam masala ......... 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder .... 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder ... 1/4 tsp
Salt ................... to taste
Sliced bread or Pav bread .. as needed
Sev ............ for garnishing.
Mint coriander chutney ........... as needed for topping
Onion kachumbar ........... for garnishing. (soak the sliced onion in water and salt.. squeeze out and add lime juice or vinegar)
oil... 2-3 tbsps

Method:
1. Heat oil in a pan and fry the sliced onions until golden brown.
2. Add the tomato, green chillies, ginger and garlic. Saute until the tomato gets cooked.
3. Add some water and simmer. Allow it to cool and blend it using hand blender.
4. Boil the chana in a pressure cooker adding a little salt.
5. Add the boiled chana to the onion gravy. Add the mentioned spice powders, salt and tamarind.
6. Add about 3 cups water and chopped coriander leaves. Simmer for a minute or two until done.


To Serve:
Place a sliced bread or pav bread in a plate. Pour the chana and gravy over it.
Spoon some mint chutney and onion kachumbar.
Sprinkle sev, bhuna jeera powder on top. If you like it spicy you can also sprinkle a little red chilli powder. Finally garnish with some chopped coriander leaves.
Some people also like to add boiled potatoes in the curry. 

Thursday, October 22, 2015

GARAM MASHALO / SURAHO MASHALO / GARAM MASALA


These days all the masalas are easily available in the stores but home made ones are always best. I prefer making them fresh in small quantities.

Ingredients:
Green Cardamoms.... 20 gms.
pepper corns ............. 20 gms.
Cloves ........................ 10 gms.
Black Cardamoms....10 gms.
Caraway seeds ........... 5 gms.
Cumin seeds ............... 5 gms.
Cinnamon .................... 20 gms.
Aniseeds ...................... 5 gms.
Bay leaves ................... 4-5
Star Anise .... few
Nutmeg .. 1/2 tsp
Dried rose petals .... handful  (you can skip if you don't find them )

Dry roast without oil and dry grind.
Store in an air tight container.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

SAAYI CHUTNEY / PHOODNEY EIN KOTMIR JI CHUTNEY / MINT AND CORIANDER CHUTNEY


This is the most popular chutney liked by everyone.. goes well with any snack..
Ingredients:
Mint leaves ........... 2 cups
Coriander leaves ... 1 cup
Green chillies .......... 3-4
Onion ....................... 1 chopped
Roasted chana/dalia ... 1 tbsp (optional)
Garlic ............... 8-10 cloves
Ginger ............ small piece
Vinegar or lime juice .. 1 tbsp.
Salt to taste
Sugar .................... 1 tsp.(optional)

Method:
Grind all the above ingredients, adding a little water if required.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

GYARSI BHAJI / PATATE JI BHAJI / POTATO CURRY FOR FASTING



This sabzi is usually made during Ekadashi fasting. As we don't use any spices, this is flavoured with cardamoms sauteed in ghee and tempered with rock salt and crushed black pepper.


Ingredients:
Potatoes : 4-5
Cardamoms .. 2-3
Rock salt ....... to taste
Black pepper powder ... 1/4 tsp.
Ghee or oil

Method:
1. Boil the potatoes. Peel and cut into pieces.

2.In a pan heat a little ghee and add the crushed cardamoms.Now add the potato and salt. Stir well to blend and crush a few pieces of potato to make a thick gravy. Add a little water (depends on how much gravy you like) and simmer.

4. Sprinkle the crushed pepper and serve with puris or rotis made with the shingara flour or kuttu.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

DUDHA JA VARA / DAHI VADAS


Perfect dish for summer ! ..

Ingredients:
Urad dal .... 1 cup (soak for few hours )
Yogurt ...... 2 cups or more if needed
Raisins ..... handful
Baking powder ... 1/8 tsp
Salt ......... to taste
Sugar .... little to add in the yogurt.
Oil ..... to fry
Roasted and ground cumin powder and red chilli powder (for garnishing)
Sweet Date and tamarind chutney (for garnishing)

Method:
1. Wash and soak the urad dal for a few hours.
2. Grind to a thick batter adding very little water.
3. Mix the raisins, salt and baking powder to the batter just before frying.( the salt leaves water and it will make the batter watery)
4. Heat oil in a kadai / frying pan and fry the vadas.
5. Drop them into water for soaking.
6. Churn the yogurt adding salt to taste and sugar to balance it.
7. Squeeze out the water carefully with light hands and put them into yogurt and let them soak again.
8. When you are ready to serve add some more churned yogurt if needed. Garnish with cumin and chilli powders and sweet chutney.  



Friday, October 16, 2015

BOONDI JO RAITO / DAHI BOONDI / DUDHA MEIN BOONDI / BOONDI RAITA




This is a simple accompaniment with a meal.. love it.

Ingredients:
Boondi ..... 100 gms
Yogurt ..... 200 gms
Roasted and crushed cumin powder ... 1/4 tsp
Crushed black pepper ...... 1/8 tsp
Salt ..... to taste
Sugar ........ 1/2 tsp (optional)

Method:
1. Soak boondi in water for 10 minutes.
2. Churn the curd adding all the things mentioned above.
3. Drain the water from the boondi and stir it into the curd.


Friday, October 9, 2015

MACHI JOON TIKKYOON / FISH CUTLETS


Try out these easy to make fish cutlets. Select any fish with center bone. You can shape them any way you like ... round, oval, or even  like koftas or long rolls.


Ingredients:
Fish - 250 gms
Corn flour - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Onion finely cut - 2 tbsp
Green chillies finely cut - 1 tbsp
Coriander Leaves - 1 tbsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
Garam Masala - 2-3 tsp
Amchoor powder .. 1/2 tsp
Bread crumbs .... 2 tbsps
Oil ... to fry

Method:

1. Boil the fish in a little water with salt for about 10 minutes.







2. Remove from water and allow the slices to cool.







3. Remove all the bones from the fish and mash the flesh.







4. Add salt, flour, garam masala, red chilli pdr, coriander powder, onions, green chillies, coriander leaves, amchoor powder and knead well so that all the ingredients mix evenly.





5. Make small lemon sized balls and flatten them slightly.







6. Deep fry on medium flame until golden brown and serve hot with sauce / chutney of your choice.