POTATO FRITTERS

Potato is one such veggie which is loved and consumed all over world, by people of various age groups, can be made alone in many different ways or incorporated with other food groups.

The potato contains vitamins (vitamin C and vitamin B6) and trace amonuts of Thiamine, Riboflavin, folate, Zinc, Potassium, Calcium. The fiber content of a potato with skin (2 g) is equivalent to that of many whole grain breads, pastas and cereals. The potato is rich in Carbohydrates (essentially starch).

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS:

• Protect against colon cancer
• Improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity
• Lowers plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations
• Increases satiety
• Possibly even reduces fat storage
  

Starch in potatoes depends much on preparation methods. Cooking and then cooling potatoes significantly increased resistant starch. For example, cooked potato starch contains about 7% resistant starch, which increases to about 13% upon cooling.

I made these poato fritters (alu key pakoray) for iftar.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 CUP GRAM FLOUR (BESAN)

2 POTATOES

1 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1/2 TSP TURMERIC POWDER

1/2 CUMIN POWDER

1 TSP CORIANDER POWDER

1/2 TSP CHAAT MASALA

1/2 TSP GARAM MASALA POWDER

HANDFUL OF FINELY CHOPPED CORIANDER LEAVES

PINCH OF HEENG

OIL FOR DEEP FRYING

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.In a bowl put all the ingredients from gram flour to heeng and adding water to it slowly, mix with spoon till you get a lump free mixture.

2.Wash, peel and cut potato in to half. Then cut it into small wedges and put into gram flour mixture, coat evenly.

3.Heat oil for deep frying and drop each pakora in hot oil one by one and fry on medium low heat till turn golden brown.

4.Serve hot with chutney of your choice.

I am sending this to Lubna and yasmeen for their joint venture of Joy from fasting to feasting-season II !!!

MISSION MADE POSSIBLE: COOKING VEGETARIAN FOR GUESTS!!!

In a place, where both of us are living far far away from our loved ones, it is almost necessary to have some good friends to spend time with. As I am a stay-at-home mom so I got less opportunity to interact and meet with people, let alone being friendly. But, my husband has a very good social circle, some old friends from School, office colleagues etc and we love having them and their families at our place. We like having guests, they are blessings and have you ever heard this famous verse in urdu,

Shukr kar razzaq ka, buddil na ho mehmaan sey,
khata hay woh rizq apna , terey dastarkhwan sey!!!

Last month we invited one of his office colleague with his family, who were visiting from San Antonio over for a dinner. I usually make a rice dish, 2 meat dishes and a vegetable dish with some salad, chutney and raita, but our friends are vegetarian so I had to think of all vegetarian dishes, I started googling and blog hopping and finally decided the menu which was quite simple....

NOTE:

The credit of photography goes to my husband who took bird's eyeview kindaa shot..he forgot to take snaps of each dish separately but no problem picassa hai naaa!! I cropped out photos and here they are, ENJOY!!!

MENU

Main course

Zeera rice
Malai kofta

Side Dish

Channa Daal

Corn-potato Sabzi

Accompaniments

Raita

Salad

Green chutney

Dessert

ice-cream

and Tea

I am sending this spread to Rak's kitchen for her lovely event.

ZEERA RICE

INGREDIENTS

2 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

1/2 CUP ONION (FINELY CHOPPED)

2 CINNAMON STICKS

5-6 CLOVES

7-8 BLACK PEPPERCORNS

2 BAY LEAVES

4 CARDAMOM

2 CUPS RICE

SALT TO TASTE

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Heat oil in a pot, add all the whole spices, once they start to splutter, add onions and fry till golden brown.

2.Now add rice and salt, mix well and then add almost double the volume water and cook covered till all the water dries up.

3.Fluff the rice with a fork, place the pot on a griddle or tawa at low heat for 10 minutes.

4.Serve hot.

MALAI KOFTA

Inspired by Sia's malai kofta

INGREDIENTS

FOR KOFTAS:

1 CUPS PANEER (GRATED)

1/2 CUP GREEN BEANS

1 LARGE CARROT

2 POTATOES (BOILED AND MASHED)

1 MEDIUM ONION (FINELY CHOPPED)

2 GREEN CHILLI (MINCED)

1 TBSP CORIANDER LEAVES

3 GREEN CHILLI (MINCED)

4-5 TBSP CORN FLOUR

11/2 TSP GARAM MASALA

6-8 ALMONDS (CHOPPED)

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

Oil (TO DEEP FRY)

FOR GRAVY

2 ONIONS

1 INCH GINGER

3-4 GARLIC CLOVES

1 CINNAMON STICK

1 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

A PINCH OF ASAFOETIDA(HEENG)

3 CLOVES

3 GREEN CARDAMOMS

4-5 LARGE TOMATOES, PUREED

1 TBSP ALMOND

¼-1/2 CUP FREASH CREAM

1-2 TSP GARAM MASALA

1/2 TSP SUGAR

SALT TO TASTE

½ TSP TURMERIC

½-1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1 TBSP DRIED FENUGREEK LEAVES (KASURI METHI)

STEPS OF PREPARATION

FOR KOFTA

1.Mix grated paneer and mashed potatoes, onions, coriander leaves and chillies. The mixture should be free of limps.

2.Boil green beans and carrot and corn in water. Grate carrot and mash finely chop green beans.

3.Add it to potato-paneer mixture along with corn.

4.Now add salt, garam masala, red chilli powder, cashews and corn flour to the vegetable-paneer mixture and mix well with hands. The consistency of whole mixture should be similar to that of chapati dough and you should be able to make lemon sized balls without breaking them.

5.Heat oil for deep frying and on medium-low heat, deep fry them in batches of 3-4 balls at time. If the koftas start to break, add 1-2 tbsp of corn flour to the mixture, mix them well and make small lemon sized balls.

6.Fry them till they turn golden brown and crisp and place them in a bowl lined with kitchen towel to absorb excess oil.

FOR GRAVY

1.Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and heeng.

2.Make a paste of (onion,peeled and quartered, ginger, peeled, cloves, garlic, cinnamon stick, clovesand green cardamoms and cashews) and add it to the pan when cumin seeds start to splutter.

3.Stir it continuously for 10 minutes till the paste turns golden brown and the raw smell of onion disappears. The paste should be cooked through otherwise the end result would be bitter.

4.Add kasuri methi, salt and sugar, saute for a minute or two.

5.Now add tomato puree and stir well. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.

6.Then add garam masala, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt to taste and mix well. Bring this whole gravy to boil, about 5 minutes.

7.Mix in fresh cream and ½-1 cup of water (adjust the thickness of gravy and seasoning accordingly and let it cook for few more minutes.

8.Add coriander leaves and just before serving add koftas, and serve.

CHANNA DAL

INGREDIENTS

1 CUP CHANNA DAL

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1 TSP TURMERIC POWDER

5-6 BLACK PEPPERCORNS

1 BAY LEAF

3-4 CLOVES

2 CINNAMON STICKS

FOR TEMPERING

1 SMALL ONION (CHOPPED)

2 GREEN CHILLI

1/2 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

1 TSP GINGER/GARLIC PASTE

1 ROMA TOMATO (CHOPPED)

CORIANDER LEAVES

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Boil channa dal with all the spices and water. (I pressure-cooked till 3 whistles)

2.Now in a pan, add cumin seeds, splutter add onion and fry till golden brown.

3.Add whole green chilli, tomato, ginger/garlic paste, fry till oil separates. (if u want to add water, add it now to avoid burning.

4.Pour this tempering over dal, add coriander leaves, mix everything and cook till the tempering and dal looks well blended. (10 minutes atleast)

CORN-POTATO SABZI

INGREDIENTS

2 POTATOES (BOILED AND CUT IN TO SMALL CHUNKS)

1 CUP SWEET CORN KERNELS (MICROWAVED)

SALT TO TASTE

1/2 BUNCH MINT LEAVE1 TOMATO (CHOPPED)

1/2 TSP MUSTARD SEEDS

HANDFUL OF CHOPPED CORIANDER LEAVES

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1 TSP GARAM MASALA

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, allow to crackle.

2.Add corn, potatoes, saute, add tomato and all spices, mint leaves and mix it well, till all spices coat it properly.

3.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

RAITA

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 CUPS YOGURT

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

5-6 BLACK PEPPERCORNS

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Dry roast cumin seeds and black peppercorn on a tawa or pan.

2.Let it cool, grind it coarsely.(I grounded it with the help of mortar and pestle)

3.Whisk yogurt, add salt, grounded cumin and black peppercorn, mix well, add water (according to the required thickness) and serve chilled.

GREEN CHUTNEY

I blogged about it here.

GO HEALTHY: STIR-FRIED VEGETABLE

INGREDIENTS

1/2 CUP KIDNEY BEANS

1 CARROT (CUT IN SMALL STRIPS)

1 SMALL WHITE ONION (FINELY SLICED)

1/2 CUP SWEETCORN KERNELS

1/2 CUP GREEN BELL PEPPERS (CUT IN LONG STRIPS)

2 TBSP SOYA SAUCE

1 TBSP HOT CHILLI SAUCE

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1/2 TSP TURMERIC

1-2 TBSP OIL

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Wash and soak kidney beans overnight and then boil with salt the next day, drain water and keep aside.

2.Take oil in a wide mouth pot, or a big pan, when hot, add onion.

3.Add vegetable one by one and stir fry till start turning soft. Be careful do not overcook, they should be soft and crunchy at the same time.

4.Add kidney beans at the last as they are already cooked.

5.Now it is time to add spices and sauces, while adding salt be careful as soya sauce also contains salt.

6.Give everything a quick stir, flame should be medium-low.

7.Serve hot, make a wrap or enjoy with steaming hot rice.

NOTE:

Sending this over to Sia for her MLLA 15 event, started by Susan.

IS IT BLACK OR DARK BROWN: FRIED BLACK CHICKPEAS

I made black chickpeas for Iftar today, the colour of dish is more towards dark brown, but no worries as I am a capricorn and this dish is perfect entry for a monthly event FIC: Zodiac Signs by Ashwini of Ashwini's Spicy Cuisine an event started by sunshinemom of tongue ticklers, and also to Joy From Fasting To Feasting by Lubna of Yummy Food and Yasmeen of Health Nut.

How can I forget to send it over to Sia for her event MLLA 15th helping , originated from here.

INGREDIENTS

HALF CUP BLACK CHICKPEAS

1 SMALL ONION (COARSELY CHOPPED)

1 GREEN CHILLI (MINCED)

SALT TO TASTE

1/4 TSP BLACK PEPPER

1 TBSP OIL

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Wash and soak black chickpeas in enough water overnight.

2.Heat oil in a pan, add onion and green chilli.

3.Fry onion till golden brown, then add black chickpeas, salt and black pepper.

4.Cover and fry on low heat till fried, it took me 10-15 minutes.

A HIT COMBO :ALU CHANNA TARKARI

This is a quick breakfast dish, I usually boil potatoes and chick peas in advance to make this dish. Chickpeas goes well with potatoes and turn out quite yummy.

It is going to be a part of some ongoing food events in blog world,

1. I am sending this dish to MLLA fame girl Susan here.
2. The WYF:breakfast event here.
3. 'Side dish for chapathi' : brainchild of Viki here.
   

INGREDIENTS

2 MEDIUM POTATOES

1 CUP CHICKPEAS

1/4 TSP MUSTARD SEEDS

1/4 TSP CORIANDER SEEDS

1/2 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

1/4 TSP NIGELLA SEEDS

1/4 TSP FENNEL SEEDS

1/4 TSP FENUGREEK SEEDS

SALT TO TASTE

1/4 TSP BLACK PEPPER

1 TSP TURMERIC POWDER

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

2 GREEN CHILLI

HAND FUL GREEN CORIANDER LEAVES/ CILANTRO

2 TBSP OIL

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Boil chickpeas with salt till tender. (I usually pressure cook them)

2.Cut and wash potatoes into quarters and then boil in water till tender. do not over boil, otherwise it will become mushy.

3.Heat oil in a pan, add all the whole spices (cumin, nigella, fennel, mustard, coriander, fenugreek) and fry till start to sizzle.

4.Add chickpeas, potato, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, and half cup water and cook and stir at the same time, mashing potato with the back of spoon so that gravy becomes thick.

5.Once done add salt and black pepper, mix well.

6.Garnish with cilantro and green chilli and serve hot.

7.I usually serve them with puris/ kachoris, or roti.

ARHAR OR TOOR DAAL

"Will you make toor daal for me today?" asked my hubby one fine afternoon, when we were in a grocery store to get some basic pantry items.

"Sure,why not", I replied back ... but actually had no clue about toor daal.. ( even tried to recall the names of daals, I happened to eat so far ), but after having a glance at the packet he was carrying in his hand, I soon found out that the daal he was talking about was actually arhar daal ( name commonly used in Pakistani households)

I love having variety of daals, with roti or rice or just as it is.For making toor daal I usually follow my mom's simple recipe.

This recipe is my entry to the first ever event I am going to take part...Yes, you guessed it right, I am sending this to apu who is hosting :"MY LEGUME LOVE AFFAIR TWELFTH HELPING" originally started by Susan here.

INGREDIENTS

HALF CUP TOOR DAAL
SALT TO TASTE
1/4 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER
1/4 TSP TURMERIC POWDER
1 TSP GARLIC PASTE

FOR TEMPERING

2 TBSP OIL
HALF MEDIUM ONION ( CHOPPED COARSELY )
1TSP CUMIN SEEDS
2 GREEN CHILLI

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Wash daal thoroughly with water three times and then place it in a pressure cooker.

2.Add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garlic paste and enough water to cover the daal.

3.Place the lid of cooker and wait for three whistles, once done keep aside.

4.Heat oil in a pan, add all the ingredients for tempering and fry till onion turns light golden brown.

5.Immediately pour over daal, stir and serve hot.

I am also sending it to Shanthi who is hosting lovely winter recipes