Paneer Manchurian

I have been intending on making Paneer Manchurian - My version, for a long time, but sheer laziness & i have been putting it off & landing in good old Mutter paneer,Palak panner & paneer parathas.. Finally the D-day dawned & guess sun rose from the west - that i decided to make the Paneer Manchurian...It came out well & my family enjoyed it, specially the kiddos who ate minus grumbling & had a clean plate at the end of meal, minus screams & warning of "Finish off the Veggis!!"

Ingredients:

Paneer - 1 pac

Onions - 2

Capcicum - 1

Cabbage - a small piece

Soy sauce - 2 tsps

Chillie sauce - acc to your spice level

Tomato sauce - 2 tsps

Thai Sweet Chillie sauce - 2 tsps

Salt - to taste

Oil

Method:

1. Cut the paneer into small cubes & shallow fry them.

2. In a pan, add oil & fry the onions for few mts. Then add the cabbage & capcicum & cook few mts, let the crunchiness of veggis remain. Now add the sauces & salt & mix well.

3. Add the paneer & mix all well together.

Your jhatpat Paneer manchurian is ready to be served either as an appetizer or with your main course!

Podale Cutlets (Snake Gourd Cutlets)

Podale is a Konkani term for Snake gourd, also know as Podalankai in Tamil. It comes either as a long gourd – just like a snake or even a small short one. We make upkari or vegetable out of it. Tamilians make a yum yum kootu too, which I like.

On my visit to my In-laws place my Mil said "Today, we’ll make Podale Cutlets". I said what cutlets??? I never knew Podale was used to make cutlets I said. So she said ok, I’ll teach u. With my camera in one hand & curiosity on the other I entered the kitchen ( which I rarely enter when I am at my in-laws!! ) I took step by step pictures too! She made cutlets out of Podale & they were super delicious!! With so many of us at home, it was over in a second :-)

Ingredients:

Podale – 1 ( small)
Green chillies – 4
Potato – 2
Hing – 1/4 tsp
Onion – 1 finely chopped
Fine Rava – little (for dipping)
Oil – for frying.
Salt- to taste

Method:

1.Pressure cook the potatos & mash them well.

2. Cut the podale into rounds (about ½” thick) & with a spoon on fingers take out the inside seeds & get it ready.

3.In a mixer or Ragado (traditional stone grinder) make a smooth paste of Green chillies & hing. Transfer to a bowl & add in the mashed potatoes & salt & mix well. Now add very finely chopped onions & mix & make into equal size balls.

4. Now take this potato balls & stuff inside the Podale & evenly press it so that it covers the entire circle of podale.

5. Now dip it in rave & place on a pan & shallow fry. Add oil as required. Cover & cook.

It takes a little while to cook, but worth the time & effort, as once these are ready they wont last long !! Serve it as it is or with ketchup.

Garlic Parmesan Flatbread With Homemade Salsa!

I was thinking of what to make for the Game night event hosted by Mansi of Fun & Food. For more details on the event check out at: http://funnfud.blogspot.com/2008/01/announcing-event-game-night-party.html

I was shopping at Traders Joe & came across the Garlic & Parmesan crusted flat bread. Sounded interesting & i thought of a very simple & delicious snackfor the event that will be ready in less than 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

Garlic & Parmesan Flat bread - 1 packet (Traders Joe)

Red onion - 1

Tomatoes - 2

Bell pepper - 1/2

Cilantro - 3 tsps (finely chopped)

Salt - to taste

Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

Lemon juice - 1/2 lemon

Habanero sauce - optional (to make it spicier!!)

Method:

1. Chop all the veggies into small cubes.

2. Mix it well with salt, pepper, lemon juice & cilantro. Add habanero sauce if desired to suit your spice level.

3. Preheat the oven / toaster-oven & cook the flat bread as instructed in the box.

4. Cut the flat bread into wedges & serve with the home made spicy salsa.

A perfect snack to munch on & ready very quick. You can make the salsa before hand itself & just cook the flat bread, once your guests start to arrive.. its will be reasy in minutes all hot & delicious!

Also use the salsa for chips too... add some melted cheese on top of your tortilla chips & you have one more game night food ready!