Kushari

Kushari is an egyptian rice, pasta and lentil with tomoto sauce.

Ingredients: ( Serves 2)
1 cup of rice
1 cup of macroni
1 cup of lentil ( whole masoor dal)
1 medium size onion finely chopped
1 big onion finely sliced
2 garlic cloves
1 big tomoto puree
salt and pepper
2 tbsp of red chilli flakes
2 tbsp of olive oil

Procedure:
Cook rice, pasta and lentils all seperately with salt
Heat olive oil on medium flame and saute chopped onions and garlic till it becomes pink, add tomato puree . stir for 5-6 mins.
add salt, black pepper and red chilli flakes.
reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10- 15 mins.
fry sliced onions till it becomes crispy golden colour.
place rice and lentil in equal quantity in a bowl and gently mix it well with a fork.spoon some tomoto sauce and top it with crispy fried onions and serve it hot.

AAMTI

Aamti is a typical maharashtrian dal which can be eaten as a soup, or with rice and chapati.

Ingredients( Serves 2 )
1 cup of masoor dal( without chilka) or chanadal and masoor dal mix
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tpsp of green chilli paste
1/2 cup of grated coconut
1 medium sized onion finely sliced
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp of rai
1 tsp of zeera
pinch of hing
salt
corriander leaves

Procedure:
Boil the dal with ginger garlic and green chilli paste, do not pressure cook it.
Dry roast grated coconut and onions one by one.
Grind it into fine paste by adding little water.
add it to cooked dal.
add garam masala and salt.
cook for 5-8 mins.
give a tadka of rai, zeera, and hing.
garnish with corriander leaves.

Potato and Cheese Rostetti

One more recipe Potato and Cheese Rostetti which is instant hit with kids, try it with their tiffin box or snack time.

Potato and Cheese Rostetti (serves 2)

Ingredients:
6 medium size potatoes semi boiled
salt
pepper
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp butter /ghee
1/2 tsp ajwain seeds
1/2 tbsp parsley
grated chesse
Procedure:

coarsely grate the potatoes,
mix salt, pepper, ajwain, cheese and parsley,
give a biscuit like shape about 1 cn thick and shallow fry on medium heat in mixture of olive oil and butter.
cook it till it turns brown.

Rice Cutlets

Tired feeding Celmira...she had practically given up food. I did not want her to get her tiffin halfeaten back from school..so finally...I have tried these simple recipes which do not take take my much time in kitchen especially in busy mornings...ofcourse Celmira is happy to see new new yummy nammi things in her tiffin box.

Rice Cutlet ( serves 2)
Ingredients:
1 cup boiled rice
2 slices of bread
grated cheese
1 small onion minced
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp ginger paste
1 egg beaten
1 tbsp maida
salt
pepper
butter or ghee

Procedure:
Dip the bread in water and squeeze out excess water
Mix it well with rice an other ingredients
shape into small cutlets of any shape
shallow fry
serve it with mayonise, chutney or ketchup

Hari mirchi ka Techa ( Chutney)

Thecha is a chutney from rural maharashtra..it is very spicy so has to be eaten with care...

Ingredients:
6 big green chillies
8-9 cloves of Garlic
1 big tomoto
oil
salt

Procedue:
Put 2 tbsp of oil in pan, fry chillies and garlic cloves till it leaves a flavour in oil
grind this chillies and garlic with tomoto in grinder or in kutni
fry this mixture on high flame for about 5 minutes
add salt.
this can be eaten with bhakris or chapatis.

Khatti daal

This is an orignal recipe of my family generations passed on...my sis, my bro and all we just love this one..

Ingredients: ( Serves 2 )

2 cups of Tur Dal
2 medium tomotoes
Big ball of Imli
1 tsp of Haldi
4 tbsp of red chilli powder
1/2 tsp of garam masala
kadipatta
1 tsp of rai
1 tsp of zeera
6-7 cloves of garlic
salt

Procedure:

Cook the dal in cooker with finely chopped tomotoes, red chilli powder, haldi
mash the dal well, add salt and imli pani.
Now make a tadka of rai zeera , kadi patta and finely chopped garlic.
Put the tadka in dal and do not cook the dal after you put tadka.
serve it with soft cooked rice, pour the dal generously and enjoy!

Stuffed Buns

I was very scared of baking buns until I tried this recipe. I have made some changes with this one to suit my taste...it was a real challenge!.. but it came out really well.

Ingredients:
1 medium potato
1 cup water
1/2 tsp dry yeast
3 cups Maida
1/4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup wheat flour
2 tbsp seaseme seeds ( til)
salt

Procedure:
Boil the chopped potatoes with salt till it becomes tender.
Mash the potatoes. use the salty drained water. If it is less than 3/4 cup, add extra water to get a total of 3/4 cup.
Take the mashed potatoes and water in a big bowl. When the mixture is cooled to about room temp, add the yeast, maida and mix and leave for 5mins Add remaining salt, softened butter and wheat flour and mix well.
Knead the dough well till it is soft, Leave the dough in a warm place for about 2hrs.
Preheat the oven at 400F for 10mins.
Divide the dough in 8 equal parts. make big balls.
Take one ball of dough and keep one part of stuffing on it. now here the stuffing can be anything like mixed vegetables, chicken kheema, anda bhurji, cheese,wutever u want.
Cover with second half of dough and Cover properly from all sides. Make sure all the edges are sealed properly, otherwise the buns open up while baking. Slightly flatten with hand.
Drizzle some olive oil or butter on top of the bun. Spread some seasame seeds (optional) on top . Repeat same for remaining dough and stuffing to get 4 buns.
Bake in the oven for about 10-12 mins (or the top becomes brown).
Serve it hot.