Crispy Cuts (Diamond Cuts - Shankar Pole)

Crispy cuts are made with maida (bread flour or all purpose flour). It is called as diamond cuts, because of the cuts or the shapes while it got cut. We also call it as shankar pole I have no idea why this dish is called Shankara Pole. May be these cuts are used to be prepared with sugar - Shakkar , and it might have got the name shakkar pole and later turned as Shankar pole. Pole must any fried dish. This is simply my thought. Anyways there is a change and different place has different name for the same dish.

This Shankar Pole is a namkeen (salty dish), It can be your one the preparation for Deepavali. It is easy to prepare, does not take much of your time, like other fried dish. It stays crunchy and crispy for a long time, at least for two weeks if it is not get over. (very tempting I can say). Perfect for kids party and kitty party, tea party and traveling. You can also pack it for kids snack box.
Once in while or festival mood or in a party mood you can enjoy this Diamond cuts.
I have used maida, millet flour (jolada hittu), little hot oil and some spices. Just tried adding millet flour to maida and tried it. It turned it very crispy and yummy. So the recipe is here. You can try this and enjoy Shankar Pole.

Things Needed :

Maida (All Purpose flour) 1 Cup
Millet flour (Jolada hittu): 1 /2 Cup
Hot oil :(to add) : 2 Tablespoon
Red chilly powder : 2 Teaspoons
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Ingh : a pinch
Salt : As required
Oil (Any brand) ; 1 Cup

Method :

1. Take a big bowl and add maida, millet flour, chilly powder, salt, and jeera. Mix it nicely.

2. Keep a pan and heat 2 tablespoons of oil (piping hot). Add this hot oil to the flour and leave it for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Now mix it nicely and add required water (little by little) and prepare the dough.

4. Divide the dough in to small portion.
5. Just turn the small portion of the dough as ball shape, and roll as chapati. (You can use flour or oil to roll, a drop of oil will do).

6,\Prick it on the rolled chapati with a knife edge or spoon edge. (It helps the cuts not to fluff up).
7. Cut them in to small bits giving a diamond shape. \
9. Keep a pan and put oil and heat. When the oil turns hot, leave the cut pieces of chapati slowly in to hot oil.
10. Fry them on both side.(Let the flame be low and medium).

11.When they turn golden brown remove from the pan and put them on a kitchen tissue. It helps to absorb extra oil.

12. Repeat the same and prepare remaining dough.
13. Let it cool Put them in a airtight box or bottle.

14. Serve it with cup of coffee or tea or any time you wish.

Note : 

Always Try with the small quantity. Adding hot oil helps to get the diamond cuts crispy. Do not add water immediately after pouring hot oil. Shankar pole may turn soft and it might take more oil. Adding more spice is optional. Do not put more energy while rolling as chapti. It may tare. Roll it softly and slowly. Adding more oil to fry is also optional. You may fry them fast. (more quantity). No Need to rest the dough or adding any cooking soda. (I have not added).
Time : 30 minutes. (Total)
Serves : As required . You can get a bowl full of Diamond cuts as shown in the pic.

Beetroot - Carrot and Whole Moong Salad

Beetroot, carrot and whole moong salad is a healthy salad and you can have them according to your taste and wish. Having salad is always a healthy option and we can have them just before food or in the evening as snack or even skip the dinner and have Salad. It a good way to not only shred your weight (lose weight) or get strength and healthy food.
I have tried with my own creation and thought and you can have a wild imagination and get it done in your own way. Preparing salad is always an easy job and good for body and mind too. I will put up what are my option here go with it and enjoy the salad as you like.
 I have used beetroot, carrots and whole moong as main ingredients. In an another try I have used some coconut also. I am a fresh coconut lover. ( You can skip if you do not like). I have just kept some onions on the top. Its for onion lovers. ( I am not a big fan of onions).

Lets see some benefits of having Salad in our diet.
Salads are always good. They are crunchy, cool and fun to eat. Eating salad can help low cholesterol leves and prevent constipation.
Eating more fiber can help you feel full, and ultimately lose weight. Eating nutrient rich plant food contributes to overall healthy. Eating Green Salad will help your good blood levels and its full of antioxidants. They contain vitamin C and E, folic acid and alph beta carotene. Antioxidants help to protect our body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. It helps to decrease the calories. They are full of fiber and ease your digestion. Salads can be prepared fast. By eating salad helps to intake more vegetables naturally. They help to ward off disease.
Now lets see the recipe. As I said I have used Beetroot, carrots and cooked whole moong.

Salad 1 (only vegetables chat )

Things Needed :
Cooked Beetroot : 1
Carrot : 1
Cooked Whole moong : 1 Cup
Chat Masala : a little
Olive oil : 1 Teaspoon

Method  
1. Wash and clean beetroot and pressure cook with little water for 8 to 10 minutes. Let it cool.

2. Wash and scrape out the outer layer of carrot and grate it. Keep it aside. Wash and cut coriander leaves into small pieces.
3. Wash and cook whole moong with required water.  (Pressure cook for 6 to 8 minutes).
4. Now remove the outer layer (it peels easily like boiled potato) and cut into thin slices in circle shape.

5. Arrange the beet slices in a plate. spread out grated carrots and cooked whole moong.
6. Sprinkle chat masala on the top of the spread vegetables and serve Beet chat .

Note : 
Pressure cooking beetroot helps to peel off the outer layer and softens the beetroot. Adding more vegetables is optional. You can add vegetables like cabbage, capsicum, onion and cooked french beans. Adding any cooking oil is also optional.
Preparation time : 10 minutes. 
Total time : 20 minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 

Salad : 2  

Things Needed :
Cooked Beetroot : 1
Carrot : 1
Cooked Whole Moong : 1 Cup:
Olive Oil 1 Teaspoon
Salt : a little
Chat Masala : a little
Coriander Leaves : Handful
Coconut : Grated  : 1/2 Cup (Optional).
Method :
1. Cook Beetroot in above said  way. (Salad : 1). Remove the outer layer and grate or cut it. Keep it aside.
2. Wash and grate carrot and keep it aside.
3. Now take a big bowl. Add grated carrots, beetroot and cooked whole moong.
4. Add salt, chat masala powder, olive oil and mix it well.
5. Serve just before the food or have the salad with food.

Note :
Do not add any seasoning (mustard/jeera ). Adding coconut is optional. Just add little salt since chat masala contain black salt it also adds to the salty taste.
Time : 10 minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 

Adding coconut is optional as I said earlier. Here is coconut added Salad which is ready to serve.

Papad filled Salad : 3 

Here is little creativity : I have roasted papad (I used plain urid dal papad from Udipi . You can use Ganesh papad or any other papad.
Things needed : 
Ready to serve salad : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Urid dal Papad or any papad: 2

Method :
1. Keep the salad ready.

2. Roast papad and immediately give a cone shape to it and fill the salad inside.
3. Papad Salad is ready to serve.

Note : 
You should immediately turn the roasted papad into cone shape or it may break.
You can also fill in a spoon of yogurt (dahi/curd) on the top of Salad filled Papad Cone.
You can also add a pinch of chat masala on the top of filled Papad Cone.
Time : 5 minutes
Serves : 2 

You can also serve beetroot and onion slices like this. Have your own creativity and have fun.