SAMOSA CHAAT

Samosas are a very popular snack in India and even more popular are samosa chaat.I remember having it from the roadside stalls or carts in manipal during my college days.We went there whenever my friends and i wanted to have some.They are so delicious and very fulfilling with layers of masala gravy,yogurt ,onions, tomatoes,tamarind sauce,green chutney and sev.Its very easy to make at home ones you have the samosas.I use store bought ones to prepare the chaat.

This is my post on day 25 of RM 2.

INGREDIENTS

Samosas - Atleast 1

white chana/garbanzo beans - 1 can

turmeric pdr - 1/2 tsp

red chilli pdr - 1 tsp

cumin seeds - 1 tsp

asafoetida - a pinch

sugar - a pinch

cilantro - a bunch,chopped

yogurt/sour cream - 1/2 cup

onions - 1/2 cup,chopped

tomato - 1/2 cup , diced

chaat masala - few sprinkles

cumin pdr - few sprinkles,roasted

tamarind sauce 3-4 tbsp

green chutney - 2-3 tbsp(optional)

Thin sev - 1 cup

salt

METHOD

First prepare the masala gravy.heat some oil in a pan.Add cumin seeds,turmeric pdr,asafoetida and red chilli pdr.Now pour the canned garbanzo beans and some water.Add salt and a pinch of sugar.Let it simmer for soe time.Using a masher coarsely mash the beans.Garnish with cilantro.Keep aside.Whisk the yogurt smoothly and keep aside.

Heat a griddle/tawa.Place the samosa on it and gently flatten it.Let it crisp on one side and then turn it to crisp the other side too.Now keep rest of the ingredients nearby before assembling the chaat.

Break the samosa to 3-4 pieces and place it on a plate.Generously pour some of the masala gravy on top.Now add a layer of yogurt.On top of this sprinkle chaat masala ,roasted cumin pdr and red chilli pdr.Put some of the onions and tomatoes on top.Now pour some of the green chutney and tamarind sauce and then generously sprinkle the top with sev.Serve immediately.

Do check what my fellow marathoners have cooked up today!!!

1) DK 2) Srivalli 3) PJ 4) Curry Leaf 5) Medha 6) Priya 7) Bhawna 8) Raaji 9) Ruchii 10)Anu 11) Kamala 12) Roopa13) Divya Kudua 14) Rekha 15) Divya M 16) Lakshmi 17) Raaga 18)Lakshmi Venkatesh 19) Sripriya 20) Viji 21) Pavani 22) Kamalika 23) Karuna 24) Roochi

DABELI

Hi friends....I am back after a long break.In my absence i received some beautiful awards from my blogger friends and i really want to thank them for that.I really appreciate your kindness.I will display them on my sidebar soon.

My parents were visiting me.They were here for about 1 1/2 months.I had a lovely time with them.They went to new york,stayed with my bro for few days and then we all went to niagara falls.That was one memorable trip.While my mom was here as usual she prepared some yummy mouth watering dishes which i will be sharing with u all later this month.

I am very happy to announce that my friend DK has announced the second edition of Recipe Marathon and it starts from today till the month end.This couldnt have come at a better time than this.Perfect way to compensate my long break :).

On my recent trip to India ,while in Bombay i had the chance to eat Dabeli.All thanks to my cousin.As soon as i ate it i had made up my mind to recreate it in my kitchen for my hubby.As soon as i got back i browsed for the recipe and came across Tarla dalal's version of it.I loved it.It was soooooooo good and tasted exactly like the one i ate in bombay.My hubby loved it.

For those who are not familiar with it, Dabeli is a chaat similar to vada pav.It consists of a sweet potato filling that is put in between the pav or bun and topped with pomogranate,roasted peanuts,sev,tamarind sauce and garlic chutney.The peanuts give a nice crunch and the pomogranates give a lovely tang.The ones who dont like garlic can totally avoid it but it does accent the taste of it.This a must try dish for those who all havent eaten it.

This is my contribution for day 1 of Recipe marathon 2

INGREDIENTS
Pav or buns
butter or oil for toasting

For Dabeli Masala :-

Red chilli - 2
coriander (dhania) seeds - 1 tsp
stick cinnamon - 1/2"
cloves - 2
cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

For filling :-

Potato - 2 nos,boiled and mashed
cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
turmeric - 1/2 tsp
asafoetida - a pinch
dabeli masala - 2 teaspoons
khajur imli ki chutney - 2 tablespoons( I used store bought)
coriander leaves to garnish
oil
salt to taste

For garlic chutney :-

Garlic - 4 large cloves
Kashmiri chilli pdr - 1 tbsp (for color)
lemon juice - 1 1/2 tsp
salt

For topping :-

Onion - 1 , chopped
Peanuts - 1/2 cup , roasted
Nylon sev - 1/2 cup
Fresh pomogranate - 1/2 cup
Fresh garlic chutney - 2 tsp
Tamarind chutney - 1/4 cup

METHOD

Roast the ingredients required for dabeli masala and grind it to a fine pdr.

Heat some oil in a pan.Add cumin seeds.When it starts to crackle add asafoetida,turmeric,dabeli masala and mashed potato.Add tamarind chutney and mix it well until well combined.Add salt to taste.Sprinkle some water to make stirring easy.Top with coriander leaves.Leave it aside and let it cool.

Now slice the pav or buns into half.Apply some butter on the insides and toast it on a griddle or tawa.Put some potato filling on the bottom half of the bun.Top it with some peanuts,pomogranates,onion,tamarind chutney and sev.Spread some garlic chutney on the inside of the top half of the bun.Place this on top of the other and roast on tawa for a few secs pressing it.Serve immediately.



Also do not forget to chk my fellow runners curtain raiser recipes for RM 2:-

1) DK

2) Siri

3) Srivalli

4)PJ

5)Curry Leaf

6)Medha

7)Priya

8)Bhawna

9)Raaji

10)Ruchii

11)Anu

12)Kamala

13)Roopa

14)Divya Kudua

PAV BHAJI

Pav bhaji is a fast food dish native to Maharashtra and is popular in almost every state in india. In Marathi pav means bread and bhaji, which is a potato based curry with vegetables. It's garnished with coriander leaves and chopped onions.

INGREDIENTS

potatos - 2 nos , mashed

grated cauliflower - 1 cup

Grated carrot - 1 cup

onion - 1 medium size ,chopped fine + to garnish

green bell pepper - 1 medium size, diced small

frozen peas - 1/2 cup

tomato - 1 medium size,diced

gin- gar paste - 2 tsp

turmeric - 1 tsp

curry leaves - 1 sprig

green chillies - 3 nos,slit

red chilli pdr - 1 tsp

pav bhaji masala - 1 tbsp(i used mtr brand)

coriander leaves - to garnish

lemon juice - 2 tsp

salt to taste

pav/dinner rolls

Butter - 1 tbsp

METHOD

Heat butter in wide pan.Add green chillies,gin-gar paste,onion,green bell pepper.Saute until the vegetables become soft.Add turmeric and red chilli pdr.Add grated cauliflower and carrot.Add salt and stir until everything is combine.Sprinkle some water if needed.Now add the diced tomatoes and mashed potatoes.Add peas and pour water to bring it to desired consistency.Check salt.Cover and simmer for 10 mins or until it comes to a boil.Sprinkle the lemon juice on top.Garnish with coriander leaves and chopped onions.Serve hot with pav.

Now cut the pav in the middle, apply butter and lightly toast it on a griddle.Serve hot with bhaji.

Last week i received some very beautiful awards .

JZ ans suma bestowed me the friendship award.This one is very very special and will be very close to my heart.Thank u so much JZ and suma.I would like to pass this onto:-

Roopa,JZ,cham,madhuram,swathi,DK,siri,Anu,laks and lathamma,valli,raaga,bhags,Divya vikram,Divya,Suma,asha,happycook,uma,nanditha,meeso,madhavi.

Uma and JZ gave me the yum yum blog award.It feels so nice to know the word yum being associated with my blog :).I am really happy u gals thought of my blog among many others to pass this onto.Thank u so much uma and JZ.I am passing this to Roopa,Asha,Sia,Trupthi,Meera,suma

Meeso gave me the giant bear hug award.Thank u so much for that big hug meeso,I really needed one badly :).It feels so good.

JZ also passed me the blogging with purpose award.Thank u so much JZ for passing me so many awards:)..what would i do without u ;).

PAPDI CHAAT-fpckidz

Chaat , literally meaning "to lick or taste"in hindi, is a word used across India, Pakistan and the rest of South Asia to refer to small plates of savory snacks, typically served at the side of the road from stalls or carts. Most chaats originated in North India and Gujarat, but they are now eaten across the country.
In each major Indian city, there are popular chaathouses or dhabas. The chaat specialties also vary from city to city.Most chaats are based on fried dough, with various other ingredients. Popular types include the original Chaat which is a mixture of Potato pieces, crispy fried bread, gram bean and spices, Aloo Tikkis , bhel puri, dahi puri, panipuri, dahi vada, papdi chaat, and sev puri. Each is markedly different from the others in ingredients and form, but have several common elements including dahi, or yogurt; chopped onions and coriander; sev (small dried yellow noodles); and chaat masala. This is a masala, or spice mix, typically consisting of amchoor (dried mango powder), cumin, black salt, coriander, dried ginger, salt, black pepper, and red pepper. The ingredients are combined and served on a small plate or a banana leaf, dried and formed into a bowl.
(source - wikipedia)

Right from my childhood days i used to love chaat of any kind.I remember my college days when my friends and i used to relish it from the roadside stalls even when it was heavily raining.Having a spicy chaat on a rainy day is just perfect,couldnt ask for anthing better.This is my entry to Ben's Food for Plastic Challenge -kidz!!!

Ben's this month challenge mainly inspired by Tupperware celebrating April as Children’s month.They are donating from the sale of selected items to the Boys & Girls Clubs

Here i have prepared papdi chaat.As i said earlier its common to use yogurt in chaat i personally didnt use it in mine as i am not fond of it but i did add it in my hubby's plate.The photos you see here are from my plate. INGREDIENTS

Papdi- store bought
dried peas ,green or white-1 1/2 cups
cumin seeds-1 tsp
turmeric-1 tsp
red chili pdr - 1 tsp
asafoetida- a pinch
curd - whisked smooth adding little water
onions - chopped,small amount
tomato- chopped,small amount
chaat masala ( available in any indian grocery stores)
sev
sweet tamarind sauce
coriander leaves- a bunch, chopped fine

NOTE- I have not mentioned the measuremnts of the ingredients because one can add any amount according to one's taste.

METHOD

Soak the peas for 3-4 hrs and pressure cook it with some salt and water.In a pan pour some oil.When it gets slightly hot add cumin seeds,turmeric and red chilli pdr.Now add the cooked peas.When it starts to boil sprinkle some asafoetida and keep it aside.
Take a plate.First a layer of broken papdi.Then pour some peas curry over it.Then a layer of curd .Sprinkle some chaat masala.Then some chopped onions and tomato.Then a layer of sweet tamarind sauce and some sev.Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon piece.You can also add some broken papdi pieces on top.

Serve it immediately.