Dahi Papdi Chaat

Chatpata and crisp dahi papdi chaat with cooling yogurt
06/25/2016 3:56:44 PM vindhyadesai

Imagine a rainy evening with a plate of your favourite chaat. Dahi papdi chaat is one of my favourite chaats because of the cool yogurt. Crisp papdis arranged on a plate and adorned with chopped onions, tomatoes, sweet and green chutneys, little spoonfuls of sweet yogurt and some thin sev to finish on top. Sounds mouth-watering? Here’s the recipe, adjust according to taste. I have used homemade whole wheat baked papdis. ... “Dahi Papdi Chaat”

Spinach Avocado Caramelized Onion Quesadilla

Melty quesadillas with spinach, avocados and sweet caramelized onions
06/23/2016 10:34:34 PM vindhyadesai

Quesadilla (pronounced: ‘kesa-Deeya’) is a famous dish from Mexico. They are made by stuffing tortillas with different types of fillings on the open side with cheese and roasted till cheese melts. The filled tortillas are folded into a semi-circle or half moon shape and served. Sometimes they are cut into quarters or 6s or 8s and they make a great starter dish for a party. There are many ways of making a quesadilla. It is really all about the different types of fillings. Fresh homemade tortillas are the best to hold the quesadilla together. Tortillas are like thin rotis without any oil, made using whole wheat flour or corn flour or white flour. Here, I have used fresh homemade whole wheat tortillas. Slowly caramelized onions taste sweet along with with some sweet red chillis. Quesadillas need patience while assembling, an easy way is to put together all ingredients, making them will then be a breeze. ... “Spinach Avocado Caramelized Onion Quesadilla”

Lauki Halwa | Sorekayi Halwa | Sorekayi Dumrotu

A simple homemade halwa for the sweet tooth
06/21/2016 9:56:35 PM vindhyadesai

A simple homemade halwa is very satisfying. Flavours added just from aromatic elaichi/cardamom and smooth creaminess added from milk. Lauki or bottle gourd is like butter and this halwa has an almost melt in the mouth texture. A quick fix sweet when guests are coming over. The best part is, it can be served at room temperature or even a little warm. It is soothing to the gut especially if you have eaten spicy food or feeling acidic. I have not added khoya/khova to this halwa. Dumrotu(special halwa of Karnataka) is generally made using white ashgourd but both vegetables are very similar in texture and their halwa is similar. ... “Lauki Halwa | Sorekayi Halwa | Sorekayi Dumrotu”

How to roast a bell pepper | Roasted bell pepper or capsicum

Sweet roasted bell pepper
06/19/2016 7:22:17 PM vindhyadesai

It is often easy to buy sweet roasted bell peppers from a store. But homemade roasted bell pepper will be really fresh without any preservatives. Here’s how to roast a bell pepper at home. I have already mentioned how to roast a bell pepper for roasted bell pepper and avocado grilled cheese sandwich. Creating a separate DIY entry for it. ... “How to roast a bell pepper | Roasted bell pepper or capsicum”

Dal Fry

Lightly spiced and comforting dal fry served with phulkas or rice
06/18/2016 9:37:21 PM vindhyadesai

Homemade dal fry, sounds comforting? Whatever new type of food or dishes we crave for, we always go back to homemade food like saaru (rasam), dal tadka, dal fry, some steamed rice and chapathis/rotis and sabzi/palya. Dal fry is the first dish I always make when I cook North Indian food, served along side paneer(dry or gravy), phulkas and some hot steamed rice or jeera rice. I make a big pot of dal, serve it with phulkas for one meal and then with rice for another meal. My menu is sorted on a busy day. I always use toor dal/arhar dal/pigeon pea dal/togari bele to make dal fry.
Masoor dal/red lentils can also be used. Toor dal gives the creamiest texture and the right thickness to dal fry. Dal fry is made by cooking dal and adding sauteed tomato masala to it and I also add tadka on top for extra flavour. Dal tadka is made by cooking dal and masala together in a big pot or cooker and then tadka is added to it and is thinner in consistency compared to dal fry. ... “Dal Fry”

Beetroot Bhaat | Beetroot Rice

Deep red coloured bhaat made with beetroot, subtly spiced and coconut giving it flavour
06/15/2016 9:48:13 PM vindhyadesai

Beetroot is an under used vegetable. It can be boiled, roasted, made into a juice or smoothie, made into chips, preserved into pickles, used in cakes (yes cake!), made into a sambar, made into a dry subzi/sabji/palya, raitha, chutney, the list can go on and on. Beetroot can also be used to make a tasty and flavourful bhaat. It’s one more simple dish to make for your lunch box like Tomato Bhaat. ... “Beetroot Bhaat | Beetroot Rice”

Musk Melon Milkshake | Musk Melon Milkshake With Vanilla Icecream

Thick and cooling musk melon milkshake with vanilla icecream
06/13/2016 8:03:29 PM vindhyadesai

You have a nice and juicy musk melon (kharbooja/kharbooj) and do not know what to make with it? Try making a creamy milkshake and serve it chilled. It can also be made into a juice (panaka) generally made during Ram Navami festival. Musk melon is a species of melon with many varieties like cantaloupe, honey dew. These fruits are very flavourful and are very pulpy. They are a rich source of Vitamin A and very rich in natural juices because most of the melon is water. I had a Galia musk melon(scales like skin). In India, Cantaloupe variety is generally available (distinctive longitudinal lines). Both taste very similar ... “Musk Melon Milkshake | Musk Melon Milkshake With Vanilla Icecream”

Eggless Banana Bread | Eggless Banana Loaf

Rich and fruity banana loaf, tastes best toasted lightly
06/10/2016 7:33:02 PM vindhyadesai

Banana bread or banana loaf makes for a nice breakfast. It is fruity, lightly spiced with cinnamon and wal-nutty. You can make it ahead of time. It stores well for 2 days at room temperature or 3-4 days when refrigerated. It has a nice deep colour from the brown or muscavado sugar. I make it with wheat flour(atta) and tastes better if it is toasted with butter. The key to a good loaf of banana bread is to use ripe bananas which makes the bread moist. Do not over mix the batter especially because wheat flour makes a slightly denser and chewy crumb. ... “Eggless Banana Bread | Eggless Banana Loaf”

Coconut Chutney | Hotel style green coconut chutney | Kaayi Chutney

Super-easy, hotel style green coconut chutney
06/08/2016 5:08:58 PM vindhyadesai

Coconut chutney, a no-brainer side dish to accompany dosas and idlis. Making it hotel style at home is easy and simple, it’s just throwing together all ingredients in a mixer jar and grind till almost smooth. Just add the correct amount ingredients to suit your taste. In the no mixie or processor days, people used to grind chutneys in a big stone mortar by hand. I have eaten such chutneys and their taste is quite different probably because it is ground slowly which releases more flavours from the chillies and other herbs. ... “Coconut Chutney | Hotel style green coconut chutney | Kaayi Chutney”

Khaali Dosa | Khali Dosa

Light and fluffy dosas served with coconut chutney and a blob of butter
06/05/2016 1:05:57 PM vindhyadesai

Khaali Dosa, it always reminds me of Sunday mornings. A famous hotel from old Bengaluru/Bangalore, Hotel Dwarka serves the best khaali dosas. Khaali meaning ’empty’ in Kannada, khaali dosas do not have any filling in them like masala dosas. Light and fluffy dosas served with chutney and butter, simply one of the best breakfasts. Here’s the recipe for khaali dosa for you to make them and reminisce about good, old, traditional dishes from South Karnataka. ... “Khaali Dosa | Khali Dosa”