Batata Vada / Potato Dumplings

Potato means 'batata' in Marathi. Batata Vada is one of the most popular Maharashtrian snacks.  When Batata Vada is sandwiched between butter fried and green chutney smeared pav, it becomes a Vada Pav, another one of Mumbai’s famous street food snack. Mumbaikar’s relish these yummy vada pav on almost daily basis. I’m a total vada pav lover myself and they are always on my first to eat list whenever I visit Mumbai. You can have them for breakfast, lunch, evening snacks or tea time too. I highly recommend these addictive vada’s to those who haven’t tried them.Do try them and I bet you will always crave for more.

Ingredients:-

• 4 potatoes (boiled)
• 2-3 green chillies (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp coriander leaves (finely chopped)
• salt to taste
• oil for deep frying 

For tempering :-

• 1 tbsp oil
• ¼ tsp mustard seeds
• 3-4 curry leaves
• pinch of turmeric pdr

For batter:-

• 1 cup gram flour
• 1 tsp red chillie pdr
• salt to taste

Method:-

• Mash potatoes well and add green chillies, coriander leaves and salt to it. Mix well.
• Heat oil in a saucepan. 
• Add mustard seeds, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Saute till mustard seeds start popping.
• Pour this tempering over the potatoes and mix well.
• Make small balls and keep aside.
• Make a thick batter with gram flour, red chillie pdr, salt and water.
• Dip the potato balls in this batter and deep fry in hot oil till golden brown.
• Serve with green chutney 

Notes:-

• You can butter pav and roast them slightly, apply green chutney and sandwich the batata vadas in them. 
• You can also sprinkle some garlic chutney on the vada pav.

Happy Cooking!!

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Paneer Bhurji Sandwich (Scrambled Cottage Cheese Sandwich)

I love sandwiches. It is surely a quick life-saver. Be it an early morning breakfast, kids tiffin box, tea time snacks, lunch boxes picnics or even party platters. I mean, who can say a no to sandwiches? I can't. And the best part about making a sandwich is that there are no limitations.You may create your own fillings, use leftover vegetables or add your favorite toppings. You can also grill, bake, toast or even eat it raw. I made these delicious paneer bhurji sandwiches for breakfast today. These sandwiches are quite simple to make and healthy too.

Ingredients for paneer bhurji:-

• 100 grams paneer / cottage cheese (crumbled)
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 1 capsicum (finely chopped)
• 2 green chillies(finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp oil
• ¼ tsp red chilli powder
• ¼ tsp cumin powder 
• ¼ tsp pepper powder
• a pinch of all spice powder
• few coriander leaves (finely chopped)
• salt to taste 

Method:-

• Add red chilli powder, cumin powder, pepper powder, all spice powder and salt to paneer.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add onions and saute till it is transparent.
• Add capsicum and green chillies. Saute well for a minute.
• Add crumbled paneer and mix continuously till the mixture has dried.
• Keep aside. 

Ingredients for chutney:-

• ½ cup coriander leaves
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ½ lemon juice  
• ¼ tsp aniseed powder 
• 5 mint leaves
• 4 green chillies

Method:-

• Grind all the ingredients together to a smooth paste.

Ingredients for assembling sandwich:-

• 12 slices of bread
• butter as per required

Method:-

• Grease the grill lightly.
• Spread butter on one side of each bread.
• Spread chutney on top.
• Place paneer bhurji between two bread slices.
• Grill and serve hot.

Notes:-

• You may use leftover bhurji to make this sandwich.
• You may add 1 small chopped tomato in bhurji for a slight tangy taste.
• You may use green peas too in the bhurji.

Happy  Cooking!!

Quick Rava Idli / Steamed Semolina Cakes

Idli is a common breakfast for all South Indians. Although idli's do take a preparation process of a day in advance, rava idlis are quick to prepare. Rava idli is a specialty of Karnataka and my favorite too. I usually always buy MTR rava idli mix and make as per the packet instructions. But this time, on my visit to Mysore, I learnt this recipe from my MIL. Loved these idlis and now I decided no more rava idli mix. From now onwards, I will prepare rava idli at home.The best part of making these rava idlis is that there is no soaking, grinding or fermenting process. In fact, you can just prepare these in a whim. They are quick and easy to prepare. These idlis are really a life-saver especially during the hustles of early morning breakfasts.

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup rava / semolina
• 1 cup yogurt / curds
• 1½ tsp oil
• 1 tsp chana dal / bengal gram (soaked in water)
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp eno fruit salt
• 10-12 curry leaves (chopped)
• 2 cashews (chopped) 
• 1 green chilli (finely chopped)
• few coriander leaves (finely chopped)
• salt to taste

Method:-

• Dry roast the rava on slow flame until a nice aroma comes.
• In a pan, heat oil, add chana dal. Saute and remove when color changes.
• In the same oil, add cashew and remove when slight golden.
• Then add curry leaves and remove 
• Lastly add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
• Add all this to the rava along with the remaining oil. 
• Add coriander leaves and green chillies.
• Add yogurt and mix well.
• Add salt and eno fruit salt and mix well. 
• Immediately pour the batter into greased idli moulds.
• Steam for 10-12 minutes.
• Serve hot along with coconut chutney.

Notes:-

• If you find the batter is too thick, add 1 or 2 tbsp of water.
• You may also add grated cabbage or carrots to the batter.

Happy Cooking!!

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