Skinned Black Gram Stuffed Indian Bread ( Urad Dal Ki Kachori)

SKINNED BLACK GRAM STUFFED INDIAN BREAD ( URAD DAL KI KACHORI)

Kachoris basically originated in Rajasthan and forms a central part of the authentic Rajasthani cuisine. Though various versions of these kachoris have evolved over time like moong dal ki kachori, pyaaz ki kachori and never the less urad dal ki kachori. This particular post is about urad dal ki kachori which can be served with green chutney , pickles or some white chickpeas curry.

INGREDIENTS

For Stuffing	Amount
Skinned Black Gram (Urad Dhuli)	1 cup
Asafetida (Hing)	A pinch
Red Chili Powder	1 tsp
Coriander Powder	1 tsp
Salt	To taste
oil	1 tbsp

For the outer covering	Amount
Refined flour	3 cups
Salt	To taste
Refined oil	2 tbsp
Water	Enough to knead a dough
Oil	To fry kachoris

METHOD TO PREPARE:

Urad dal filling

               For the filling

1.      Start with soaking the lentils for 3 to 4 hours.

2.      Drain the water and grind the lentils to a consistent paste.

3.      Now heat oil in a pan and add the asafetida followed by the mashed lentils and mix with a ladle.

4.      Now add the rest of the spices and salt and sauté it on low flame for 3 to 4 minutes.

5.      Remove from fire and let it cool down.

6.      Your mixture for stuffing is ready.

               

             
             For the outer covering

Dough prepared for kachoris

1.      Take the refined flour in a vessel and add the oil and salt to it .

2.      Now knead the flour with some water to make a smooth dough.

  

 For making the Kachoris

1.      When the dough is ready divide it in equal proportions.

Stuffed urad dal balls

2.      Flatten each dough with your hands and fill in the filling mixture in the middle and lift the sides of the flatten dough to the center and make a ball out of it.

3.      Now roll out each ball into round discs.

4.      Heat oil and fry these discs in it till they are golden brown.

5.      Serve hot.

Bengal Gram Pudding

BENGAL GRAM PUDDING (CHANNE KI DAL KA HALWA)

This pudding is used as an offering to  deity's during the festival season.

The sacredness of this preparation is its simplicity and  good taste which will leave a marked impression of divines and purity rather than just richness.Tried and made this pudding as an offering to Lord Ganesha myself on the occasion of Ganesh Chathurthi

INGREDIENTS
Overnight soaked Bengal Gram ( Channe ki dal)- 1 cup
Milk- 2 cups
Sugar- 1 cup
Cardamoms( Elaichi)- 2 nos
Dry grated coconut- 1/2 cup
Clarified Butter ( Ghee)- 2 tbsp
METHOD:

1. Put the required amount of milk in a pressure pan along with the crushed cardamoms and reduce it to half its content on medium flame.
2. Now add the over  night soaked bengal gram to the reduced milk.
3. Now add some water so that the water and milk level is just above the bengal gram.
4. Pressure cook the lentils for 10 to 15 minutes on low flame.
5. Let the stem release on its own pace.
6. Open the cooker and see that the lentils are soft and get mashed easily.
7. If excess of water is present heat the lentils till the water gets vanished.
8. Now add the sugar to it and heat it. The sugar will also release water so continue heating till water evaporates.
9. Now add the dry grated coconut and mix well followed by adding clarified butter to it.
10. Can be served as pudding or can be converted to small balls (ladoos) for offerings.

Fish Kaliya with meat masala

 FISH KALIYA WITH MEAT MASALA


No meal is complete without a fish dish in a Bengali Cuisine. Even being a Bengali I didn't use to enjoy fish and would prefer Chicken or mutton over it.But my taste for fish developed after my marriage. Here i have tried to twist a simple fish kalia dish with the meat masala  and red chillies available in the market. The alteration was significant and the taste of the delicacy is enhanced. Would really like to recommend its preparation if you love spicy north Indian foods. Basically the taste of this cuisine is a blend of West Bengal and North Indian states and the look is richer and it tastes more spicy.

INGREDIENTS:
Rohu Fish- 1 kg
Mustard Oil - for frying
Turmeric-1 tsp
Salt to taste
Onion paste- made from 2 medium sized onion
Garlic paste- 2 tsp
Ginger paste- 1 tsp
Red chilli Whole cut into small pieces- 2 nos
Bay leaves- 2 nos
Cloves- 2 nos
Cardamom- 2 nos
Nutmeg Powder- a pinch
Meat masala- 3tbsp

METHOD:

1. Wash the fish pieces properly and put it in a big colander to draw off all the excess water from the pieces
2. Now marinade the fish with turmeric and salt and leave aside for 30 minutes.
3. Take mustard oil in a kadai and heat it till smoke starts to appear.
4. Now deep fry these fish pieces on medium flame in batches.
5. When you are done, take out the fish and remove the excess oil from the fishes.
6. To make the gravy you can use the left over oil in the kadai. 
7. Heat the oil and add the red chilli pieces and cloves, cardamom, bay leaves along with a pinch of nutmeg powder.
8. Now add the onion paste and garlic paste and saute it till this onon garlic paste turns brownish.This will take about 10 minutes on medium flame.
9. Add meat masala to this and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
10. Add the fish pieces and mix along with the prepared mix gently without breaking the fish pieces.
11. Add water and required amount of salt according to your taste and bring it to boil. Now cover it with a lid and cook for 5 minutes.
12. Your spicy fish kalia with meat masala is ready.

Cold Coffee with Ice Cream

During summers we all loose our appetite and do not want to indulge in spicy or oily foods. It is also the time when our kids stay at home and there everlasting demands never ends. So great your child along with his friends with a glass of cold coffee. Its healthy, tasty and yummy.

INGREDIENTS:
Milk- 2 to 3 cups
Sugar-6 tbsp
Coffee-4 tsp
Crushed Ice cubes-2
Vanilla ice cream- 2 scoops
Sliced almonds-6 nos
Melted Chocolate-3 tbsp
Bend in pipes

Method:

1. Blend milk along with the sugar, coffee and crushed ice cubes to make cold coffee.
2. Now take a glass of your choice and keep it in a refrigerator to chill and then add some chocolate syrup to the sides of the glass.
3. Put the glass back in a freezer for the chocolate syrup to settle. Otherwise it will be fluid. 
4. Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it and and pour the cold coffee along with the slices of almonds.
5. When the glass is filled up add another scoop of ice cream along with some melted chocolate  and some almonds.
6. Place a bend in straw and serve chilled.
7. A wonderful way to refresh yourself with cold coffee.