Monday, June 29, 2015

Tomato - Capsicum Cheese Noodles

Ready to Serve Tomato Capsicum Noodles
Noodles have become very famous these days. Not only kids, all age group people love to eat. I do not like, eating noodles in hotels or parties. Actually I am scared that they must have used some sauce which contain animal fats. So I do prepare noodles very often using vegetables, tomatoes, spring onions. Preparing them with Indian spices and giving Indian touch, makes my people more happy. So here is one such recipe of noodles with tomatoes, capsicum, a little spread of Amul cheese and of course loaded with Potato french fries. (Used fresh Potatoes for french fries).
You get different  types and shapes of noodles. Some are made with maida and some are made with wheat. I have used bambino noodles which are prepared using Durum wheat. It is well known that Durum wheat is the best wheat. I have used the long noodles. Noodles are nice when it is mixed with tomatoes.
There is no garlic or onion in this recipe. 
Lets see the recipe now.

 Ingredients :

To Cook 
 Noodles : Any brand : 500 GM ( I used Bambino Noodles).

To fry :
Tomatoes : 3 to 4
Capsicum : 2 to 3
Potatoes :  3 (Medium size)
Ginger : 1 Teaspoon
Oil : 1 Cup

Spices to use:
Jeera / Cumin Seeds : 1 Tea spoon
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Tea spoon
Red chilly powder : 1/2 Tea spoon
Coriander powder or (Rasam powder) : 1 Tea spoon 
Turmeric powder : a pinch.
Pepper pods : 4 to 6 
Salt : Required salt

To top up 
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons (optional)
Cheese : 5o grams
Fried potatoes. : 1 Bowl.
Method :
1. Keep a big bowl of water to boil. Once the water is boiled add noodles and a teaspoon of oil. . Just break them it into small pieces in hand. (Not very  small). Once it is cooked drain the water from noodles and keep the noodles aside.     
2. Wash and cut tomatoes and capsicum (remove the seeds before cutting  into small), and grate ginger and keep it aside.Crush pepper pods.
3. Grate cheese and keep it aside. Wash and cut potatoes in to thin finger size (long) wash it and put in a bowl of water.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put one tablespoon of  oil and heat. Add jeera and let it fry for 10 seconds.
5. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely for 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and fry till they turn soft.
6. Add garam masala powder, daniya powder, jeera powder, red chilly powder, crushed pepper pods and grated ginger.  
7..Add turmeric powder and mix it well. Add salt. Stir for another 1 minute.
8. Add cooked noodles and mix it well.
9. Add grated cheese and cover it and cook noodles on low flame. (It helps the cheese to melt and adds to the taste). (2 minutes will do. Put off the fire or remove the noodles pan from the fire).
10. Keep a frying pan on the fire and heat. Add one cup of oil
11. Now deep fry those cut potatoes in hot oil. Fry them on high and medium flame.
12. Fry on both sides and remove from the frying pan and put it on a kitchen tissue. ( It absorbs the extra oil).
13. Repeat the same and fry all the potatoes.
14. Sprinkle salt on fried potato fries and add it on the noodles. Mix cheese and potato fries nicely and serve with ketch up.

Note :
Noodles should be cooked well but not too soft. Adding more vegetables is a good option. You can use oregano spice ( a kind of spice used in noodles). You can use pepper crush and add it to the noodles. You can add more cheese. It adds to the taste. Adding onions and garlic is optional. You can also use grated paneer instead of cheese. Adding more spice is optional. You can use tomato sauce instead of fresh tomatoes. It is always better to use fresh tomatoes.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 4 to 5.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Mango Kesari Baat.

Kesari baat or sheera is a sweet dish and normally prepared with Rava (Semolina) or wheat flour. Kesari baat and Uppittu (Upma) goes well like hand in hand called as chow chow baat. We can add banana, pine apple, apple, orange, chikoo (sapota) and mango fruits and prepare kesari baat.

This is a mango season, and varieties of mangoes are filled in the market. So thought of preparing Mango Kesari baat. I have used ripe mango, medium size rava, sugar, ghee, nuts and cardamom. It is an easy recipe and any one can give a try. I mean the person new to cooking also can do that.

Lets see some benefits of eating Mango Fruits.
Mango fruits are known as the king of fruits. It is one of the nutritionally rich fruit. It has unique flavour and taste. They are filled with good qualities. They are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds.They are excellent source of Vitamin A. which is essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy skin. Fresh mango is a good source of potassium. Potassium helps to control heart rate and blood pressure. Mango fruit contain good source of vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. It has some amount of copper.
Lets see the recipe. As I said before it is very easy to prepare and yummy to have.

Things Needed:

Rava : Semolina (medium size) : 1 1/2 cup
Surgar : 1 1/2 cup
Cashews and raisins : 2 Tablespoons (cut cashews)
Ghee : 3/4 cup
Cardamom  : 4 to 5
Saffron/Kesari : 1 to 2 rakes.
Ripe Mango : 1
Water : 3 Cups.

Method : 

1. Remove the pods from cardamom and powder it. Keep it aside. Keep water for boiling.
2. Remove the outer skin of mango fruit and cut them into small pieces.
3. Keep a pan on the fire and add 2 tablespoon of ghee. Fry cashews and raisins.
4. Add rava/sooji and fry till the raw smell disappear.

5. Add boiling water to the fried rava and mix it. Stir nicely.

6. It starts thickening. Stir little more and add sugar. Mix it well. Add little ghee inbetween.


7. Keep stirring till it gets thick. Add kesar flakes and mix it well.

8. Add cut mangoes to the rava sugar mix. Mix it well till it gets the sides.

9. Add powdered cardamom and remaining ghee. Stir the kesaribaat.

10. Take out from the pan and put it on a tray or a bowl.


11. I spread it nicely so that you can cut them nicely.
12. Serve Mango Kesari baat with some chips or spicy fried things.

  Note :

Adding boiling water is a must. You can add rava to the boiling water instead adding water to the rava.It is easy to do. Adding more sugar and ghee is optional. Adding colour instead of saffron is optional. You can add turmeric instead of orange colour.(Food colour).
Adding more mangoes is also optional. I have used Bagana palli or Bangana palli Mango. One must fry rava nicely at least for 4 to 5 minutes to get rid of raw smell and to get good taste of Kesari Baat. Do not add savoury quality of mango. Kesari baat turn with savoury taste and you might not like it.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 5 to 6.

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About

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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