Khandvi / Gujarati Snack

Khandvi - Popular Gujarathi Snack made from Chickpea/gram flour.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup gram flour/Chickpea Flour (besan) 
• 1 cup thin buttermilk 
• 1 tsp ginger and chili paste(according to taste)
• Salt To Taste 
• 2-3 pinches turmeric powder 
• 1/4th tsp hing/Asafoetida
• 1 tbsp Oil

For seasoning:

• 2 tsp Oil 
• 1 tsp Sesame seeds 
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds 
• 1 tbsp Coconut grated
• 1 tbsp Fresh Coriander finely chopped 
• 2 pinches asafoetida /Hing
• 5-6 curry leaves

Time Required: 30 mins

Method:

1. Mix water, flour, salt, ginger and chili paste, hing and turmeric to form a batter. Heat oil in a heavy pan, add batter. 
2. Stir vigorously and evenly to avoid lump formation. Cook till the mixture does not taste raw, stir continuously. When done (about 8-10 minutes), pour a spoonful on back of a plate or use aluminum foil. Let it cool and see if it comes off easily. 
3. Spread as thin as possible with the back of a large flat spoon. Use circular movements if you are using a big round thali/plate. If you are using an aluminum foil then spread vertically in long stripes. 
4. When cooled down, cut into 2" wide strips. Carefully roll each strip. Place in a serving dish. For seasoning: Sprinkle grated coconut and coriander leaves all over khandvi rolls. 
5. Heat oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, hing and curry leaves. 
6. Spread over khandvi rolls. Serve khandvi with your favorite chutney.

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Masala Rava Idli

It is one of the popular south Indian breakfast dish. Made from semolina/ Rava.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Rava/Semolina/Coarse Wheat middling
• 2 cups Sour Curd 
• 1 Green Chili - grated
• 1 onion Chopped
• 1 Carrot grated
• Small piece ginger grated
• Few Coriander Leaves
• Few Curry Leaves
• Few Cashew Nuts
• Salt to taste

~For Seasoning:

• Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
• Urud Dal  / White Lentils – 2 tsp(grown in Indian subcontinent- Available in Indian Store)
• Oil

 

  

Time Required: 30 mins

Method:

1. In a bowl beat the sour curd and add the roasted rava and mix well without lumps with salt and soak it for 2 to 3 hrs. 
2. Pre heat the pan with oil for seasoning. Put the mustard seeds, urud dal allow them to splutter. Now add the ginger paste, onion, green chilies and fry for 2 mins. and then add the carrot grated and fry till the raw smell disappears. (you can skip the vegetables)
3. When you ready to cook the idli, mix the above mixture in the rava batter and taste it if you need any more salt & spicy.
4. Grease the idli molds and pour the mixture in idli stand. Steam the idli for ten minutes without whistles.
5. Cool slightly before removing the idli from molds.

Serving: Serve hot Masala Rava Idli with coconut chutney.

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Tomato Gojju/ Tomato Curry

Very very simple yet most satisfying dish and goes very well with hot rice, dosa and even with chapati's.

Ingredients:
• 2-3 Tomatoes
• 2 Green chilies
• 4-6 Curry leaves
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/4 tsp Asafetida/Hing
• 1 tbsp Red Chilli Powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/3 Cup Tamarind/ Imli/Puli juice
• Salt to taste
• Coriander for Garnishing

For Seasoning:
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp Udrud Dal /White Lentils ( (grown in Indian subcontinent- Available in Indian Store)

• 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds (optional)

Time Required: 15 mins

Method:
1. Wash and chop the tomatoes in to small pieces
2. Heat oil in a pan, add seeds, and allow them to splutter
3. Add curry leaves stir fry for 1 minute
4. Add chopped tomatoes, green chilies & cover,simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add salt, turmeric powder/ Haldi, red chili powder, Asafetida/Hing, tamarind juice and sugar mix nicely
6. Return to low flame stir gently every now and then and cook till everything is tender
7. Serve hot with rice

Note: You can use jaggery instead of sugar (Jaggery is a sweetener made from sugar cane juice - available in Indian Store)

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Bitter Gourd / Karela / Pavakka Sabji

Many people strike off this vegetable because of its natural bitterness in taste. To remove the bitterness we can soak the chopped bitter gourd pieces in a pinch of turmeric powder mix of water and rinse it thoroughly and cook with onion tomato gravy in a tangy curry method. But this dry sabji does not require any procedure, it’s very simple yet bitter free. Enjoy the crispy sabji with curd rice.

Check here for Pavakka Puli Kuzhambu.

 Ingredients:

• Bitter Gourd - 2 nos.
• Turmeric Powder  - 1 tsp.
• Red Chili Powder - 3 tsp.
• Hing/asafoetida - 1/4 tsp.
• Garam Masala or Rasam Powder - 1.5 tsp. (Mixture of many Indian Spices - available in Indian Store)
• Salt to taste
• Oil

For Seasoning:

• Mustard Seeds - 1tsp.
• Urud Dal / White lentils - 2 tsp.(grown in Indian subcontinent- Available in Indian Store)
• Cumin Seeds/ Jeera - 1 tsp. (optional)
• Curry leaves Few

 Method:

1. Wash and chop the bitter gourd like round pieces
2. Heat oil in a pan, add seeds, and allow to splutter
3. Add curry leaves stir fry for 1 minute
4. Add chopped bitter gourd & cover, simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add salt, turmeric powder/ Haldi, chili powder and garam masala ( I have used homemade rasam powder instead of garam masala it tastes awesome) mix nicely until all the pieces are coated with masala
6. Return to low flame stir gently every now and then and cook till everything is tender and crispy
7. Serve with curd rice

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Gajar ka Halwa / Carrot Halwa

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups grated Carrot
• 1½ cup milk
• 1½ cup sugar(apprx. Depending on the sweetness of carrots)
• 2 tsp Elaichi / Cardamom powder (optional)
• 1 tbsp Ghee (clarified butter)
• 1-2 tbsp Malai/ Fresh Cream (optional)
• Chopped Dry Fruits (Cashews, Raisins, Almonds, etc)

Time Required: 20 -25 mins

Method: 

1) Peel and grate carrots.
2) Heat ghee in heavy bottom pan. Fry chopped dry fruits and keep aside.
3) In the same pan add grated carrot. Let it cook on low heat for about 2-3 mins.
4) Then add sugar, malai and milk. Mix well and cook on low heat till the mixture thickens. Lastly add elaichi powder and stir it nicely

Serving:  Serve hot or cold, decorate /adorned with chopped dry fruits. Hot Gajar ka Halwa tastes finest with Vanilla Ice-cream.

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