Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Sweet Potato Kachoris

Kachoris are fried, stomach filling dish. It is famous Gujarathi snack. I still remember eating Raj Kachori from one of Gurjarathi restaurant in Dubai. It was too heavy and I could finish the whole think. Rajkachori was filled with whole moong and some grated carrots, curd etc etc etc.
Kachoris are very famous these days. It is yummy too.
Kachoris are many types these days. I have just tried these "Sweet Potato Kachori" using wheat flour, sweet potatoes (said to be better than potatoes (on healthy side also) and some simple spices.
Lets see some benefits of having Oma Kalu (Bishop Weed).
Oma is called in different names and some of them are , Oma/Omada Kalu/Bishop Weed/Ajvan(Hindi)/Omam (Malayalam)/Amam (Tamil)/Vamu (Telugu)/Ajamo (Gujarati)/Jabian (Panjabi) and Yavanika in Sanskrit.
Oma/Ajwan is good for digestion. It improves the taste and improve the digestive strength. It is good for abdominal colic pain. It also helps in removing the toxic content from our body, any infections in the body and even used for removing the poison content from the body. It is used for removal of worms in the stomach.
"Sweet Potato Kachori" do not contain any Onions or Garlic.  

Ingredients :

For dough:
Wheat flour : 2 Cups
jeera/Cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : a little
For stuffing :
Sweet Potatoes : 2 to 3 (Medium Size)
Coriander Leaves : One Handful
Jeera Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Oma/Ajwan : 1/2 Teaspoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Red Chilly Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
For frying :
Oil : 1 Cup (To fry)

Method :

1. Wash and cook sweet potatoes and remove the skin once it is cooled. Keep it aside.
2. Dry roast wheat flour nicely for 2 to 3 minutes on low flame. Let it cool.

3. Take a big bowl and smash cooked sweet potatoes. Add all the spices and salt. (Garam Masala, red chilly powder, oma , jeera powder/cumin, cut coriander leaves ).
4. Mix the ingredients nicely and let the sweet potatoes completely smash and mix it with spices.
5. Now take a big bowl. Put dry roasted wheat flour, a tablespoon of ghee and little salt. Add little jeera to the flour. Mix it nicely. Add required water (little by little) and prepare thick chapati dough.

6. Now kneed the dough nicely and divide them into small portion. Turn them as ball shape.
7. Roll these small size dough into small circle.

8. Place a Tablespoon or little more sweet potato mixture.
9. Bring all the sides of the chapti in the middle.
10. Just turn once and flatten them as small poori (You can use your palm or roller).

11. Now keep a pan on the fire. Heat and put oil. Let it become hot.
12. Put already prepared kachoris and fry on low and medium heat on both sides.

13. Remove them from oil and put it on a kitchen tissue. Let the extra oil absorb by kitchen tissue.

14. Serve hot kachoris with sweet and hot spicy chutney.
15. Repeat the same with remaining dough and the stuffing.

Note : 

Let the chapati dough be thick. Roll them in to thin, fry them on low flame first and then medium flame.
Adding spice is optional. Adding ghee or hot oil while preparing dough is optional.
Mix the flour only when it is completely cool or Kachori turns soft and saggy. Use of Maida instead of wheat flour is optional. (Wheat flour is a healthy option).  Use of more oil to fry Kachori is also optional.
Time : Total : 30 to 40 minutes
Serves : 10 to 15 Kachoris can be prepared. (According to the size).

Monday, March 28, 2016

Dry Fruits Cake (Without Egg)

Cake is desert and I prepared in this way of using Maida /All purpose flour, butter/ghee/oil.
It is nice to have a piece of cake when you have tea or coffee. Having a piece of cake has no particular time. This is an eggless cake.

I have used some dry fruits (very little amount) at the end just before baking. It adds to the taste and gives nice colour too. No egg in this cake. 
Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed 

All purpose flour/Maida : 2 Cups
Sugar : 1 Cup
Curd : 1/2 Cup
Cardamom : 3 to 4 pods
Oil : Little more than 3/4 cup
Baking Soda : a pinch
Baking powder : 1 Teaspoon
Dry Fruits : 2 Tablespoons .(Almonds, cashews, raisins, Fig and dates).

Method :

1. Sieve Maida, baking powder and baking soda and keep it aside.

2. Dry grind sugar and then add curd, oil and grind it till it gets fluffy.
3. Add cardamom and grind for 1 minute.
4. Remove from the liquidizer and put it in a bowl.
5. Cut dry fruits into small and keep it aside.

6. Now take a big pan and put ground oil, sugar and curd mixture. 
7. Add sieved maida and slowly mix all the ingredients well.
8. Greece the baking tray with oil.
9. Pour this mixture to the tray and add dry fruits on the top. 
10 . Bake this in the oven for 25 minutes ( 180 degree C). 
11. Just insert a knife edge to make sure cake is baked well. 

12 Serve fresh dry fruits cake with a cup of Tea/Coffee.

Note :

You should have an oven to bake the cake. or try in micro wave ...baking option. You can use ghee/butter instead of oil. (any cooking oil). Adding curd makes the cake soft and fluffy. Adding vanilla essence is optional. More dry nuts can be added.
Time : 
Total time 25 to 30 minutes to bake  + 10 minutes to preparation  
Serves : 25 small pieces can be made.

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author
My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, travelling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.
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