Thursday, June 28, 2012

CHOCOLATE MUFFINS RECIPE | NO EGG | NO BUTTER | VEGAN VERSION

I have bookmarked this recipe of chocolate muffins from Here a long time back. It is a very easy and simple recipe and I was waiting for an occasion to make this and yesterday i finally made this chocolate muffins for my daughter Varsha’s birthday and the muffins turned out very soft and moist and the addition of Orange juice adds up an exotic flavor to the muffins.
Also check out my

chocolate muffins
INGREDIENTS:( yields 16 muffins)
ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 1 AND 1/2 CUP
UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER 1/3 CUP
BAKING SODA 1 TSP
SUGAR 1 CUP
OIL 1/2 CUP
ORANGE JUICE 1/2 CUP
COLD WATER|SOY MILK 1/2 CUP
VANILLA ESSENCE 2 TSP
LEMON JUICE | VINEGAR 2 TSP
CHOCO CHIPS 2 TBLSP(OPTIONAL)
MUFFINS

METHOD:
  • Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda for even mixing.
  • Keep it in a wide bowl after sifting.
flour
  • In another bowl, add the oil, cold water, orange juice,vanilla essence, lemon juice and add the sugar and mix gently till the sugar dissolves.
wet ingredients
  • When done, slowly transfer the wet mixture to the sifted flour and mix gently without any lumps.
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  • If adding chocolate chips add at this stage.
  • Preheat the oven to 180 degree C and arrange the muffin tray with muffin liners.
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  • Spoon the batter and bake for 12- 15 minutes.
  • Mine got done in 12 minutes.
  • Check with a clean tooth pick by inserting it in the middle of the muffin whether it is done or not. If it comes out clean then take out and cool it in a wire rack and  if not just bake for a minute or two .
chocolate muffins
Note:
  • The original recipe if for a cake recipe so you can try a cake also.
  • Do not replace baking soda with baking powder, both are not same and the result will not be the same.
  • I used Hersheys cocoa powder

Monday, June 25, 2012

PAPDI CHAAT RECIPE | CHAAT RECIPES

Papdi chaat is the usual starter in most of our potluck parties and one of my friend makes this so well, but we always use store bought papdis. This time when i wanted to try out papdi chaat at home i clarified my doubts with my friend and we all enjoyed the papdi chaat and sharing the recipe of papdi chaat.
Though  we add little yogurt | dahi to this recipe, this is not dahi papdi chaat. Will post that recipe in future .
Also check my

papdi chat
INGREDIENTS: Serves 1-2
PAPDIS
SWEET CHUTNEY 2-3 TSP
GREEN CHUTNEY 2 TSP
BOILED POTATO
ONION
NYLON SEV 3-4 TBLSP
YOGURT 2 TBLSP
CHAAT MASALA 2-3 PINCHES
CUMIN POWDER FEW PINCHES
CORIANDER LEAVES FEW
TOMATO 1 (OPTIONAL)

papdi chat

METHOD:
  • Chop the onions and coriander leaves finely.
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  • Peel the skin of the boiled potatoes cut them into cubes . Sprinkle some chaat masala and cumin powder. Mix well.
  • Dilute the chutneys before using.
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  • Arrange the papdis on a plate.
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  • Add the cubes potatoes (4-5 cubes) in each plate.
IMG_3752
  • Add a little of green chutney to this .
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  • Add a little sweet chutney on the top.
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  • Add the chopped onions (roughly 1/4 tsp )to each papdi.
  • If adding tomatoes, deseed them and add finely chop it and add at this stage.
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  • Add little yogurt on the top .
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  • Add the green chutney and the sweet chutney on the top.
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  • Add nylon sev and garnish with coriander leaves.
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  • Enjoy the papdi chaat immediately before it becomes soggy.
papdi chat
Note:
  1. Always make the papdi just before serving.
  2. Adding yogurt is optional.
  3. Keep all the ingredients chilled ( onions, tomatoes, potatoes), this will retain the crunchiness.
  4. In the last you can sprinkle some chaat masala and cumin seed powder to make it more flavorful.

SWEET CHUTNEY RECIPE | SWEET CHUTNEY FOR CHAAT

Recipe of sweet chutney with video  

 For making most of the chaat recipes we need the sweet chutney|dates tamarind chutney. I am posting the recipe of the sweet chutney which i learnt from one of my friends. Check out my collection of Indian Chaat recipes.  
sweet -chutney

Sweet chutney recipe

  Preparation Time : 5 mins + soaking time 30 mins | Cooking Time : 5 Mins |Yields: 1 cup

    Dates  10
    Tamarind  a small gooseberry sized
    Raisins  8
    Chaat masala  1/2 tsp
    Cumin powder  1/2 tsp
    Red chili powder  1/2 tsp
    Salt as needed
                                             Video of how to make Sweet chutney
                   
     


Method: 
  • Soak dates and tamarind in 1/2 cup hot water for 30 minutes. 





  • Alternatively you can pressure cook this till 3 whistles.

    • Drain the water and keep the water aside.
    • Grind this into a smooth paste adding little water.
    • Heat a pan and add the ground paste and add the water which we kept aside. 
    • Add the chaat masala, cumin powder, red chili powder and salt.
    • Mix well and let this boil for 3 minutes in a medium flame.

    • Switch off the flame and allow this to cool.
    •  Store this in a airtight bottle in the refrigerator and use whenever you make any chaat recipes.
    ..
    • If it is slightly watery, just boil for some more minutes.
    • This can be stored for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. 
    • Always use a dry spoon to take this.  
    sweet -chutney

    PAPDI RECIPE | HOW TO MAKE PAPDIS FOR CHAAT RECIPES

    We all are a huge fan for Chaats but i have never tried anything at home. Whenever we go to restaurants we eat chats and  during our recent short trip to India, we ate a lot and after coming back we all were craving for chaats, especially my daughter Varsha a huge fan of chaats wanted me to make any chaat at home. So i wanted to try out the papdi chaat at home and for that I made the papdi and sweet chutney at home. I have the Green chutney recipe posted in my space along with the Khaman Dhokla Recipe. 

    papdi

    Recipe for Papdi:(yields 40 – 50 papdis)

    MAIDA | ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 1 CUP
    AJWAIN SEEDS | OMAM 1/2 TSP
    WATER TO KNEAD ( 1/2 CUP MINUS 2 TBLSP approx)
    OIL 1 TBLSP( TO ADD IN THE DOUGH)
    OIL FOR DEEP FRYING
    SALT TO TASTE
    • In a wide bowl mix all the ingredients , except the oil for deep frying.
    • Knead the flour into a soft and stiff dough.
    IMG_3736 IMG_3737
    • Cover and keep this aside for 15 minutes.
    • Take a big lemon sized dough and roll into a big roti.
    • Cut them into small circles with the help of a cookie cutter or any round shaped id.
    IMG_3738 IMG_3740
    • Prick the small rounds with the fork , so that they should not puff while frying in the oil.
      IMG_3741 IMG_3742

    • Deep fry this in oil. Ensure that the oil is hot.
    • Once it i done take out from oil and drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel.
    IMG_3743 IMG_3744
    • When it is cool store them in airtight box and use it when needed.

    papdi

    Note:

    • While rolling the dough make it thin, if it is thick the papdis will become soggy and chewy.
    • This can be consumed as it is and it is very addictive too.

    Friday, June 22, 2012

    GUAVA AND STRAWBERRY JUICE RECIPE | SUMMER DRINKS RECIPES

    During our recent holiday trip to Srilanka , everyday we have a wide spread of food for morning breakfast which includes many varieties of juices and one among them which we relished everyday is the combo of guava and strawberry juice. My kids wanted this juice to be made at home and finally today i made at home and enjoyed a lot.

    As kids are home and the little one is not well for the past 4 days i couldn’t catch up with any of my fellow bloggers yummy posts and i am sure things will come to normal in a few days and will soon be back to routine .

    guava and strawberry jiuce

    INGREDIENTS:( FOR 5-6 SERVINGS OF JUICE)

    GUAVA(BIG) 1 NO
    STRAWBERRY 7-8 NO
    SUGAR 3-4 TBLSP
    WATER 2 CUPS
    ICE CUBES FEW(OPTIONAL)

    JUICE

    • Wash both the fruits and hull the strawberries .
    IMG_3816 IMG_3822

    • Roughly chop the guava and put the strawberries and sugar in a blender and blend smoothly.

    IMG_3823

    • Strain the juice to get rid of the seeds and add 2 cups of water.
    IMG_3825 IMG_3826

    • Serve chilled or ad ice cubes and serve immediately.

    guava juice

    • The juice was little thick because of the texture of the guava.
    • Adjust sugar depending upon the sweetness of the strawberry.

    juice

    Wednesday, June 20, 2012

    ONION UTTAPAM RECIPE, SMALL ONION UTTAPAM, MURUGAN IDLI KADAI STYLE

    I rarely make this uttapams at home as kids prefer crispy dosas , but me and my hubby like uttapma especially with the addition of onions in that. Whenever we go to murugan idli kadai ( A restaurant originally from Madurai famous for idlis) we order this small onion uttapams and long time i wanted to try this at home. Whenever i have dosa batter in hand i run out of shallots and the vice versa. This time i had every thing in hand and can’t wait to try this out.
    I had a few small doubts regarding this recipe which i got clarified with one of the chef during my recent visit to the restaurant.
    Also check out my


    ONION UTTAPAM
    INGREDIENTS:
    DOSA BATTER 1/2 CUP
    SHALLOTS | SMALL ONION| CHINNA VENGAYAM 15 – 20 NO
    OIL 2-3 TBLSP
    SALT A PINCH
    BUTTER 1 TSP(OPTIONAL)
    ONION UTTAPAM

    METHOD:
    • Peel the skin of the onions and thinly slice the onions. Do not chop then finely.
    • Add a pinch of salt to the sliced onions and keep it aside. This yielded roughly 3/4 cup of onions.
    IMG_3610 IMG_3611
    • Heat a dosa griddle and when it becomes hot, keep the flame to medium and pour a laddle full of batter to make a small circle.
    IMG_3618
    • Smear a handful of sliced onions which should cover the entire circle.
    • Add a tblsp of oil .
    IMG_3620
    • When it partially cooked , just flip the uttapam carefully .
    IMG_3615 IMG_3616
    • Gently pat the uttapam with a the stick which we use to flip the dosa (dosa tiruppi).
    • This will help the onions to get infused into the dosa and no onions will come out.
    IMG_3617
    • Keep this in a medium flame for a minute and smear oil .
    • If adding butter add at this stage.
    • Serve hot with your favourite side dish.
    onion uttapam
    Note:
    1. The batter which i used here is the same one which i used for kuzhi paniyaram.
    2. No need to saute the onions but if you want you can do so.
    3. Do not add onion in the batter also , as this will not give a perfect shape or taste to the uttapams.
    4. Always serve this hot and ensure that the onins should cover the entire dosa.
    5. Do not make this too thick , as there are chances of getting uncooked in the center part.
    6. You can also  smear a tsp of idli milagai podi after adding onions to the small onion uthapam.