HEALTHY AND LIGHT POHA IDLI

Hello everyone

I always found South Indian foods a real comforting food. Everyone likes idlis, doses, uttapams, sambhar etc  and I too a big fan of these soothing and light comforting food. As I always try to make little healthy changes in my regular cooking, in my previous idli recipe I used Dalia and then used oats but this time going to introduce you with poha idlis but made in traditional way as soaking and fermentation is included in whole process. These idlis are even more softer and moist than regular ones and I bet you are definitely going to love this recipe.So why not give it a try, recipe is given below.

Idea borrowed from Chef Sanjeev Kapoor .

HEALTHY AND LIGHT POHA IDLI

Serves: 4-5

Time: 2 hrs( excluding soaking and fermentation time)

Ingredients 

1/2 cup split urad dal

1/2 cup poha ( flattened rice)

2 cup idli rava or idli rice  

1 tsp fenugreek seeds( methi)

1/2 tsp salt

Method:

Soak poha, rice or rava+fenugreek seeds and dal separately for 3-4 hrs. Then grind dal using little water till light and tiny bubbles are visible in it. It will take nearly 15-20 mins for grinding each batch of dal, so have patience, as it's needed for good soft and spongy idlis. Now grind poha and rice or rava + methi to a smooth paste. Now mix all together well. Give it a good stir and let it ferment overnight at warm place ,in a quit big vessel to avoid overflow of batter.

Always use little water at a time for grinding other wise you may end with runny batter. Idli batter should be as thick to be fall as a blob.

When it get nicely fermented it will become frothy, now add salt in it and mix well. Ready your steamer or cooker with rolling boil water .Now grease idli molds and fill 2 tbsp batter in each of them and steam for 8-10 mins. Let it rest for 2 mins after done ,then scoop out warm idlis with wet spoon. Serve with your choice of chutneys and sambhar.

If you find your batter is not much fermented as needed then don't be disappointed just stir 1 tsp of fruit salt or eno in every batch of batter you are going to steam at a time. And you will get nice soft and fluffy idlis every time. But remember after adding fruit salt just give a quick stir, don't over mix and immediately pour in idly stand and steam.

This idli comes out so soft and moist that you will fall in love with these beauties. Hope you will enjoy this super soft and yummy idli . Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here ,they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR PANEER ROLLS

Hello everyone

Why kids don't like any thing we used to prepare in our daily routine is really a big question for every mother. But if the same thing is served in some different and interesting way then not only kids but elders too gobble even more. So today I am having a very simple yet healthy and tempting snacks made of whole wheat flour and paneer, which is a kids friendly ingredient and healthy too. You can prepare these a day before to give in kids tiffin or pack for traveling time as it will remain fresh for minimum two days on room temperature. Recipe is given below, hope you all will like it.

whole wheat flour paneer rolls

Serves: 4-5

Time: 1:30 hrs ( leaving proofing and resting time)

Ingredients

2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp active yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp milk powder
1/2 tsp thyme leaves(optional)
1/2 tsp rosemary leaves ( optional)
2-3 tsp oil 
Water to knead

For filling
1 cup crumbled cottage cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1 green chilli, finely chopped
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
1/2 tsp chat masala
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp chilli flakes
1/4 cup finely chopped capsicum
2 spring onions, finely chopped
1 tbsp chopped green coriander
Salt to taste

Method: 

Add sugar in warm water and then mix yeast in it and let it rest for 10-15 mins or till it become frothy.

Add salt, milk powder, thyme , rosemary leaves and oil in flour and knead with yeast , milk and warm water till it become soft, shiny and nonsticky dough. It will take 8 to 10 mins. apply some oil on it and cover with damp cloth, let it rest for 2 hrs in a warm place like in closed microwave/oven or till it doubles it volume. 

Till then mix all the filling ingredients together .

Now punch the dough and cut in two halves. Make a thick roti (1/2 cm) of it and spread the filling on it and roll it in a  log. then cut in desired thickness rolls ( mine is 1 1/2 inch thick) and sprinkle some sesame seeds on it, press a little to stick seeds firmly ). Arrange in a baking tray lined with butter paper . Keep some distance between two rolls as it will increase in size while second proof and while baking too. Now let it rest for another 30 mins on warm place then bake in a preheated oven at 190°C for 20 mins and if you don't get desired colour then increase the oven temperature to 230°C and bake for another 4-5 mins or till it become golden brown. 

Similarly do the other half of dough. 

Now enjoy these super yum golden beauties with any sauce or chutney or as it is, in every form it will leave you drooling for another piece.

Hope you all will like these yummy cum healthy snacks and give it a try. Please pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot

    Happy cooking....

SUPER CRISP INSTANT MOONG DAL DOSA

Hello everyone

Who don't like dosa? I love all South Indian delicacies including crisp dosa. But sometime we instantly have craving for it but couldn't have it due to long process of soaking, grinding , fermenting and then we can have it after a long wait of whole one day. So generally we head towards restaurant to satisfy our instant cravings. So I thought why not to try some healthy , quick yet equally yummy substitute of this traditional delicacy. As a result here is this super crisp, yummy , healthy and quickest dosa for you to relish . It took maximum half an hour from soaking to serving. Even kids too love this quick version. Those who love dosa but can't handle urad dal heaviness can also enjoy these lite and healthy dosas. Now no more waiting for fermentation to enjoy your favorite meal.

Stepwise recipe is given below, hope you all will definitely give it a try and I bet , you will fall in love with this quick version.

SUPER CRISP INSTANT MOONG DAL DOSA

Serves: 3-4

Time: 30 mins ( max)

Ingredients

2 cup split moong dal

1/2 cup rice powder

2-3 green chilies

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

Salt to taste

Method:

Soak moong dal in hot water for 10-15 mins. Then add all ingredients together in a grinder and make a smooth paste using required water . Grind at least for 4-5 mins so that you can see small bubbles in batter. 

Batter should be of pouring consistency but not runny. It should be of consistency like regular dosa batter. Now your batter is ready to make dosa.

Take a non stick dosa tawa, heat it on medium flame. Grease it lightly and wipe with tissue or you can make dosa on it without greasing too. Pour  ladle full of batter in center and spread it in circular motion outwards. Its crispness depends on how thin you spread it. Let it cook till brown patches are visible. 

Then fold it as you like and serve hot with any chutney or sauce of your choice. Your super quick crisp dosa is ready.

If you have enough time in hand then can also soak moong dal in normal water for 1/2 hr then grind.

You can also make stuffed dosa by adding stuffing of your choice in it.

If you are making it on normal iron tawa then try to make 1-2 parathas on it before making dosa. After making each dosa wipe tawa with a piece of onion. It will act as non stick coating on iron tawa😁 and you will get nice clean and crisp dosas every time. 

Always keep heat medium, as at lower heat your dosa can't be spread nicely and on too hot tawa you will get burnt dosa. So to get nice crisp and golden dosa , keep medium heat. If it become too hot , sprinkle some water to lower its temp.

This is easiest and quickest dosa I ever made. Hope you all will love it too and please pour your valuable comments and suggestions , they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

SPICED SEMOLINA SAVOURY BREAD

Hello everyone

Bread is a thing which connects us to everyone in this world. Wherever you go, you can find bread in different shapes, sizes, flavours, textures etc but the main thing is it's bread. Today I too have a simple bread recipe to share. It's too simple too prepare but with a distinct amazing flavour, a zing of spices with mildness of onions and herbs. It's a perfect snacks for tea time or for kids tiffin. So give it a try at least once, you will definitely love it.

Stepwise recipe is given below , hope you all will must try this..

SPICED SEMOLINA SAVOURY BREAD

Serves: 4-5

Time: 3:30 hrs 

Ingredients

1/2 kg fine semolina ( sooji)

1 tsp + 2 tbsp oil

3/4 tsp dry active yeast

1/2 cup Luke warm water

3/4 cup warm milk

1 tsp + 1 tbsp sugar 

1 1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp oregano 

1/2 tsp chaat masala

2 onions , finely chopped

2-3 green chilies , finely chopped

2 tbsp mint leaves, finely chopped

2 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Method:

First of all add yeast in 1/2 cup Luke warm water and 1 tsp sugar, mix them lightly and leave for 5-10 min or till it become nice frothy.

Now in a wok, heat 1 tsp oil add cumin seeds and let it splutter, then add onions, green chilies, mint and coriander leaves , ginger garlic paste and turmeric powder. Sauté till extra moisture evaporates, let it cool. Now take semolina in a big bowl, add salt, 1 tbsp sugar, chaat masala, oregano and prepared onion mixture. Mix well, then add yeast mixture and milk to it. 

Combine everything together and let it rest for 5 mins. Then add 1 tbsp oil in it and knead for 5 mins again let it ready for 7-8 mins. Again add 1 tbsp oil and knead for another 5-6 mins to get nice soft dough. This resting and kneading process is important to produce gluten in dough , so don't skip it. Grease the dough with oil and keep it covered at warm place to rise, at least 1- 2 hr, depend on weather. 

When it become double in volume then punch the dough and flatten it on a plain surface and by rolling give it shape of a loaf and seal its edges by pinching. Now place it in a greased and dusted loaf pan. 

Again keep it covered at a warm place for second rise, for at least 45 mins to 1 hr. Now brush its top with milk.

Now bake it in a preheated oven at 230 degree C for 30 mins or till its top become nice brown and on tapping you can hear hollow sound. Now brush it with some butter and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing, to get nice clean slices.

Your bread is ready to be served with a cup of tea, enjoy these easy yet delicious bread slices. You can also give it in your kids tiffin or make sandwiches. In every way these will win your heart.

You can use any other herbs too and also any other loaf pan to get your desirable shape and flavour. But then baking time may change so after 25 mins keep an eye on it. Mine took exactly 30 mins😊.

If you find your dough dry while kneading (as quality of semolina affects dough) then can sprinkle some water but the quantity given will be sufficient for a soft dough.

So enjoy these savoury delicacies and pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....

MEETHI POORI WITH HEALTHY TWIST

Hello everyone 

As kids tiffin is a daily tension for fussy eaters moms, I am here with one more easy healthy tiffin snacks for kids. Even we can also keep it with us while traveling as it lasts long on room temperature and a filling snacks too. You can also make it in large batch and give to kids for two three days in tiffin or evening snacks. It tastes best with some spicy tangy pickle but you can have it as per your taste and preference. 

Meethi poori , it is also known as thekua or thokwa in UP and Bihar . It is very well known dish to North Indians and I only added a little healthy twist and eye catching shapes for kids in it. Hope you all will like it and must try it at least once.

Recipe is given below.

MEETHI POORI WITH HEALTHY TWIST

Serves: 3-4

Time: 30mins

Ingredients 

1 cup whole wheat flour 

1/4 cup gram flour(besan)

1/4 cup Complan or any health drink

1 tbsp mix dry fruits, grinded or chopped finely 

1 1/2 tbsp ghee

1/3 cup sugar

Oil to deep fry

Water to knead

Method:

Mix all ingredients together well except water and frying oil. Now using sufficient water knead a soft dough of it little softer than chapati dough. Keep it covered at any warm place overnight.

Now your dough is ready to make pooris. Heat sufficient oil in a deep wok and turn flame to medium high. Take lemon size ball of dough and roll 1/2 cm thick poori and deep fry on medium flame till golden brown on both sides. 

For different shapes, roll a big poori of 1/2 cm thickness then cut designer pooris using cookie cutter and fry as told above. 

Dough may be little sticky, so use dry flour to easily roll. Make sure to roll  pooris little thick to get nicely puffed and soft ones.

You can add any health drink and dry fruits of your choice. You can skip them also if not making for kids.

Keeping it for overnight is a must step if getting it long then can also keep it resting at least for 4-5 hrs. It will result in more soft and fluffy pooris. Don't afraid of getting smelling or spoiled dough as sugar added in it prevent it from getting sour.

Your easy meethi  poori is ready to go in tiffins or accompany you in your journey. Enjoy it hot or cool , tastes good both ways. A dollop of spicy pickle enhances its taste to another level.

It's so easy and generally loved by kids, even my fussy eater loves it. So try it and let me know your suggestions and comments, they meant a lot to me.

Happy cooking....

SOFT AND FLUFFY DALIA IDLIS

Hello everyone

In my family everyone like idli and doses. I make them very often, but this time thought to give some more healthy touch to it. So tried adding Dalia which generally people don't like to have. As dalia is full of fibers , so to increase nutritional value of regular idlis I added them too. And too my surprise it turned out so soft and fluffy that no one can distinguish between regular and these ones. I used to make its dosa too and it too came out perfect. Hope you all will enjoy these two South Indian delicacies with a twist. Recipe is inspired from Ruchi airen's blog so want to thank her too. Recipe is given below.

SOFT AND FLUFFY DALIA IDLI

Ingredients 

2 cups Dalia

1 cup rice

1 cup urad dal

1 tsp fenugreek seeds( methi seeds)

1 fistful of cooked rice or soaked flattened rice

1 tsp salt

Method:

Soak all above ingredients separately except cooked rice for at least 4-5 hrs.

Then grind it separately using little water to smooth paste then mix together well to form batter of idli consistency and add salt in it.

Now take half of the batter and add water in it to make dosa batter consistency ,it's  ready for dosa prepration. 

Let other half batter to sit overnight to ferment.

Make dosas of the former batter on a non stick dosa tawa , believe me its much more easiar to spread it on tawa than regular batter and taste n crunch  is almost same of regular ones... I made paneer stuffed and plain dosas,you can also make stuffed ones with filling of your choice.Now enjoy it  with sambhar , red chutney and coconut chutney.

For idli , after fermentation pour 2tbsp batter in each greased idli mold and steam for 10-12 mins or microwave it for 4-5 mins ,as we do with normal idli batter and enjoy steaming hot with sambhar and chutney.

While grinding urad dal make sure to get light and fluffy batter. More light the urad batter will give more lighter and fluffy idlis.

This way you can enjoy two delicacies to two consecutive days as I do😊😊...hope you will like this little healthy twist in regular dish. So please let me know your likes , dislikes, comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot to me.

Happy cooking....

BESAN VEGGIE CHILA ( SAVORY PANCAKE)

Hello everyone

What to prepare for tiffin which will be healthy and filling , and most importantly loved by all ,is really big question everyday. So today I am having answer to the same question which I also face every morning.

To prepare healthy and yummy tiffin snacks in morning rush is a real challenge. My today's recipe is really quick , easy , healthy and of course yummy that was loved by everyone. My fussy eater too finished his tiffin. Everyone is familiar to besan chila, but I only added some veggies to it and served in bite size pieces to make it more easier and comfortable to eat. Which made it protein rich, fibre rich as well as presentable snacks. Recipe is given below, hope you will like it.

BESAN VEGGIE CHILA( SAVORY PANCAKE)

Ingredients 

1 cup chickpea flour( besan)

1/3 cup mix veg finely chopped ( spring onion,grated carrots,capsicum,cabbage)

1 tbsp finely chopped green coriander leaves 

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/4 tsp chaat masala

1/4 tsp turmeric powder 

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/4 tsp red chilli powder or 1 green chilli finely chopped 

1/4 tsp lime juice

Salt to taste

Method:

Mix all ingredients together using sufficient water to make a lump less smooth batter of pouring consistency. 

Now heat a nonstick pan and drizzle some oil on it. Pour one laddle full of batter on it and spread in thick round shape chila.

Let it cook till upper side starts to look completely dry. Flip it to other side.

 Apply some oil on it like we do for paratha( completely optional). Cook till both sides get nicely golden.

Now roll it and cut in diamond shapes. 

Your so quick , easy and healthy snacks is ready to be served with any sauce or chutney.

You can also use multigrain atta instead of besan to make missi chila.

It can be made stuffed too. I usually stuff samosa filling in it. You can also stuff paneer filling or mix veg filling too. 

It comes out really so delicious that you will replace unhealthy samosas with it. It is a perfect starter too with no more hassles and healthy too.

Hope you all will like this easy peasy kids friendly healthy snacks. Please let me know your likes, dislikes, suggestions and comments regarding this, they meant a lot to me.

Happy cooking....

NO BAKE PARLE G DRY FRUITS SWISS ROLL

Hello everyone 

Why kids don't like dry fruits is a big question for every fussy eaters mom. Me too have the same challenge that how to feed my kiddos ,specially younger one, some dry fruits. As he loves chocolate flavour so thought of trying something easy healthy and presentable for him, using chocolate with hidden nutrition. This choco parle G dry fruits Swiss roll is full of goodness of dry fruits with kids favorite chocolate flavour, that no one can deny it. Even my kids want more and more every time. Step wise recipe is given below, hope will come upto your expectations..

NO BAKE PARLE G DRY FRUITS SWISS ROLL

No bake parle G swiss roll with dry fruits filling
Ingredients
3 small packs of parle g( Approx 30-35 biscuits)
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup cashews
1/4 cup dry descicated coconut
1/4 cup sugar

4-5 green cardamom, powdered
Hershey's chocolate syrup

Method
Grind biscuits in grinder and knead its  dough using Hershey's chocolate syrup that can be rolled easily, neither very soft nor too hard to get cracked while rolling.

Grind almonds , cashews and sugar to little oily  powder ( grind for few more pulses after getting powder, but don't over do otherwise you will end up with dry fruits paste) . Add coconut and cardamom powder to it and mix well, the filling is ready.

Now grease an aluminum foil and roll the chocolate dough in thin rectangular shape. Spread the filling on it evenly and press firmly then roll it in tight log shape . Wrap it with aluminum foil and keep it in fridge for 4-5hrs .

Then cut it in 1/2 inch thick slices and enjoy.

You can use any dry fruit or biscuit of your choice. Instead of Hershey's syrup you can use cocoa powder, sugar powder and milk to make dough.

Kids always love chocolate flavor snacks so give your munchkins these healthy and yummy rolls and see them enjoying this easy peasy healthy snack.
Hope you will like this easy and no fuss healthy recipe and so please give your feedback and suggestions here.

Happy cooking....

FIG DRY FRUITS ROLLS

Hello everyone
 This is my first post here so thought why not start with something sweet yet healthy.
Sweets are so delectable that no one can resist them but at the same time sweets give a big tension to health conscious people. So why not try something which is tempting as well as healthy and easy too.
So presenting my first sweet dish...

FIG DRY FRUIT ROLLS

Ingredients

10-12 dried figs(soaked in water overnight)

1-1/2 cup chopped dates

2-1/2 cup roughly chopped dry fruits of your choice( I used cashews, almonds, pistachio and raisins)

1 tsp ghee

1 tsp orange zest

Method

Dry roast all dry fruits for 2-3 mins only to make them Little crunchy.
Make paste of figs using little water. Now heat ghee in a non stick wok and add chopped dates in it . when it become little goeny add fig paste and stir it till it starts leaving edges of wok. Now add dry fruits and orange zest in it. Mix well And make long cylindrical logs and wrap in aluminium foil. Keep it in freezer for nearly 3-4 hrs or till it become really hard to cut into clean slices. After 3-4 hrs cut desired thickness rolls and serve chill. You can also spread mixture in a greased plate. After cooling cut in desired shape and enjoy this easy peasy super healthy sweet dish.

Hope you all will like my initiative towards healthy cooking.

Please stop by and pour your precious comments and valuable suggestions for further improvement in my new journey with you.

Thanks in advance.....

Happy cooking.....