Tag Archives: starter

Recipe Index, Starters, Veg Recipes

Paneer Tawa Masala

Posted on by kavithapadmanaban
14
Jan

 Paneer tawa masala is a quick and easy recipe awesome with rotis, nan and chapatis. In this recipe, the paneer is marinated and then added to the masala. Marinating increases the flavour of the paneer.

Paneer is a good source of protein and calcium. Children would love it.

Ingredients

a) For Marination

400g paneer 

3 tsp of curds   

2 tsp chilly powder 

2 tsp garam masala 

4 tbsp of oil     

1/4 tsp salt

b) For Masala

4tbsp of oil 

1 big onion ( finely chopped) 

4 medium tomato (finely chopped)

4 green chillies (finely chopped) 

2 tsp of ginger and garlic paste 

1  tsp chilly powder 

1 tsp coriander powder 

1 tsp chat masala 

1/4  tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tbsp of coriander leaves (finely chopped) 

1/2 tsp of kasuri methi 

1/2 lime 

1/2 tsp salt 

Method

 In this recipe, there are three parts

 a) Marination

 b) Preparation of the masala

 c) Combining the marinated paneer and masala                                                  

a) Marination

Take the paneer in a mixing bowl. Add curd, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt as given. Leave it for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the masala.

b) Preparation of the masala

Heat the tawa and pour oil.Then add onions, green chillies and ginger garlic paste and saute.

Once the onions turn brown in colour, add the chopped tomatoes.

Put the powders- turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder, chat masala, cumin powder.

Finally, sprinkle salt. Sauté further.

Add little water and mix till the tomatoes blend with the masala.

c) Combining the marinated paneer and masala

 Add the marinated paneer to the prepared masala and sauté till the mixture blends for about 10 minutes.

For the finishing touches, squeeze a lemon and sprinkle some Kasuri methi (fenugreek leaves) and mix thoroughly.

And last but not the least garnish the masala with some coriander leaves. Your paneer tawa masala is now ready to taste, serve hot and let me know if you enjoyed it in the comments.

Recipe Index, Starters, Veg Recipes

Mushroom Pepper Fry

Posted on by kavithapadmanaban
14
Jan


Mushroom is very healthy and is the best source of Vitamin D.This method is less time consuming and one of the easiest way to prepare.The perfect blending of pepper with the mushrooms makes the dish very tasty. It is a treat for mushroom lovers and a boon for working mothers as it is easy to prepare.

 Ingredients

400 g mushrooms

1 onion big (finely chopped)

4-5 cloves garlic (finely chopped)

1/4 teaspoon fennel

1 sprig curry leaves

3 teaspoon oil

salt to taste 

Method

  •  Heat the pan and add oil. 
  •  Add fennel and stir so that it gives a good aroma to the oil. Do not do it for a long time, otherwise, the fennel will become brown. 

 

  • Add the onions and garlic and saute.

 

  •  Put the curry leaves and stir fry.

 

  •  Now add the chopped mushroom. 

 

  • Keep the flame high as water will be released. Keep stirring till the water content is reduced.

 

  • Reduce the flame to medium.
  • At this stage sprinkle the pepper and salt.

 

  • Stir till the pepper and salt mix thoroughly.

Mushroom pepper fry is ready to taste. Do let me know how it is in the comments:) 

Recipe Index, Starters, Veg Recipes

Broccoli Pepper Fry

Posted on by kavithapadmanaban
14
Jan

In this recipe, the florets of broccoli are blended well with the pepper. The addition of thyme, a herb, enhances the flavour of the dish. The sharp taste of pepper along with thyme, onions and garlic makes the broccoli very appetising. It tastes best when eaten hot.

In this recipe the dried form of thyme is used instead of the fresh ones. This form of thyme is easily available in the market. You need to crush the thyme before adding. Add thyme at the beginning itself and not at the end so that the flavour of thyme is released.

Broccoli pepper fry can be eaten as a starter. You can eat it with chapatis too.

Broccoli is healthy as it contains more Vitamin C compared to Green leafy vegetables or any other vegetable. This helps to fight various diseases including cancer.

Ingredients

200g broccoli (separated in florets) 

1 onion big (finely chopped)

1 pod garlic (finely chopped)

1/2 tsp black pepper powder 

a pinch of thyme(dried)

3 teaspoon  olive oil

One  and a half tsp salt or salt to taste 

Method

Boiling the Broccoli

Clean and wash the broccoli. Remove the broccoli from the water and place it in a bowl.

Take a vessel and add water twice the quantity of broccoli (about 400ml) so that the broccoli can be fully submerged in it.

Boil the water. Switch off the gas/induction stove. At this stage add 1 tsp salt.

Add the washed and cleaned broccoli into it and keep it in it for around 5 minutes.

Remove it from the water using a strainer and wash again with cold water to retain the greenness of the broccoli and to prevent it from overcooking.

Note: Do not allow the broccoli to be in the hot water for a long time as it will get cooked. 

How to make Broccoli Pepper Fry?

Take a kadai or a heavy thick bottomed pan or a cast-iron skillet and heat it. Add oil and allow the oil to get heated.

Add garlic and stir fry for around 2 minutes.

Add onions and saute till the onions become translucent. Take the thyme and crush it in your fingers and add. 

Then add the broccoli. The green broccoli is a real treat to the eye.

Sprinkle pepper. Stir further till the ingredients blend well. Finally, add salt and give a stir.

On adding salt the broccoli tends to release water. Keep heating till the water evaporates on a high medium flame.

Note: For crispier broccoli heat it for a longer time. Stir carefully as the florets tend to break.

Serve hot and enjoy your Broccoli Pepper Fry 🙂

Recipe Index, Starters, Veg Recipes

Babycorn Manchurian (Dry) without maida

Posted on by kavithapadmanaban
12
Jan

Babycorn Manchurian is an Indo – Chinese recipe. In this recipe, the babycorn is mixed with batter, fried and added to a mixture of sauces. The blending of the crunchy fried babycorn with the sauces makes the dish so mouthwatering, it makes you lick your fingers clean.
In this recipe I have not added maida.I have also not included ajinomotto (MSG or monosodium glutamate).This is a crispy vegan  dish .

It can be used as a starter or as a side dish for hakka noodles and fried rice. You can also add capsicum along with the onions if you want.

Babycorn is a low carb and rich in folates.Now lets go to the preparation of the crispy Babycorn manchurian.

Marination & frying of Babycorn

Ingredients for marination & frying of babycorn

Oil for deep frying

15 babycorns

2 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch)

1 tablespoon wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon chilli powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

a) Marination

Take the babycorns in a mixing bowl and add cornflour and wheat flour. 

Add chilli powder and salt. Mix well. 

Note: You can also add pepper instead of chilli powder.

Add a few drops of water and mix so that the batter is evenly distributed on the babycorns.

 

b) Frying

Take a kadai or a heavy thick bottomed pan or a cast-iron skillet and heat it. Add oil (around150ml) and heat it on high flame.

How to check whether oil is hot?

  • Add one small piece of marinated babycorn. The babycorn should rise up gradually. 
  • If the oil is not hot the babycorn will remain at the botttom.In such a case heat the oil further.If the oil is not heated then the babycorn will absorb more oil and your dish will be oily.
  • Do not overheat the oil. If the oil is overheated then the babycorns will be burnt as the outside portion would be cooked faster than the inside portion. When the oil gets overheated the babycorn rises up immediately.
  • Usually, oil gets heated within 5 minutes.

When the oil is hot enough, add the marinated babycorn one by one. Fry till it till the colour changes and it becomes crisp. Turn it and allow the other side to become crisp.At this stage take it out and place it on a tissue paper so that the excess oil is absorbed.

Preparation of Babycorn Manchurian

Ingredients

2 tablespoon  oil

1 tablespoon garlic(finely chopped)

1/2 teaspoon ginger(finely chopped)

1 teaspoon chilli flakes

1 big onion (diced)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 tablespoon tomato ketchup

1 teaspoon vinegar

1/2 tablespoon  cornflour (cornstarch)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

Take a kadai or a heavy thick bottomed pan or a cast-iron skillet and heat it. Add 2 tablespoon oil and allow it to get heated. Add garlic and saute for few minutes so that the garlic turns slightly brown. 

 

Then add ginger and saute again for a few minutes.

Now add chilli flakes and give a quick stir.

At this point, add the soya sauce, tomato sauce and vinegar. 

Add the onions and allow the mixture to blend with the onions. Now add the fried baby corn. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix well.

In a small cup, mix cornflour with little water(50 ml). 

Add this to the baby corn and give a stir. Heat it till you reach the desired consistency.

 

Ta-dah!! Your spicy and favourite babycorn manchurian is ready to be tasted ! Enjoy it and tell us your experience in the comments after trying the dish 🙂