Seviyan or vermicelli kheer

Seviyan or vermicelli kheer, is a traditional popular dessert. Seviyans are thin long strings that looks very much like spaghetti however process if different. Seviyan is a delicious and an easy recipe to make. Basic seviyan is made with milk, seviyan and sugar, and then flavored with cardamom. Garnish with sliced almonds cashew  and raisins you have a delicious dish!

Serves: 6

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup seviyan roasted and broken (vermicelli) available Indian grocery stores
• 7 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder (ilaichi)
• 2 tablespoons sliced or crushed almonds
• 2 tablespoons sliced or crushed cashews
• 2 tablespoons  raisins
• 1 tablespoon ghee

Method

1. Use a nonstick or heavy bottom frying pan to make a seviyan kheer.
2. Add ghee and then add the seviyan and roast them for about 5 minutes on medium low heat.
3. Add the milk and increase the heat to medium high. After milk comes to boil reduce the heat to medium. Let the milk boil for about 30 minutes, until the milk is creamy and reduced to almost half. Stir often to ensure the milk does not burn in the bottom of the pan, and also keep scraping the sides of the frying pan.
4. Add the sugar,  cardamom, raisins, cashews and almonds. Let the seviyan kheer simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat.
6. As seviyan kheer cools it will become thicker in texture.
7. . Seviyan can be served chilled or warm.

Bottle Gourd \ Lauki recipe

Ingredients:

1. Bottle gourd
2.Curd one cup
3.1 Chopped Tomato
4.Ground nut half cup
5.Grated coconut 1/4 cup
6. Chopped coriander leaves 1/4 cup
7.Coriander powder 2 tsp
8.Cumin powder 2 tsp
9.Turmeric powder 2 tsp
10. Sabji masala 2 tsp
11. Pepper powder 2 tsp
12.Chopped one onion
13.Chopped green chilli
14.Chopped ginger 1 inch long piece
15.Chopped garlic 3-4 cloves
16.Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
17.1 or 2 bay leaves
18. Curry Leaves
19.2 red Chilli.
20.Mustard oil 3 tsp
21.Salt as required.

Method:

1. Wash and peel off the Lauki.
2. Cut the Lauki in to 3 to 4 pieces and scrub salt on its surface and leave it for five minutes.
3.Now boil the pieces for 6-7 minutes until it becomes little soft( it shouldn't be too boiled)

4.Once boiled, keep the pieces in a plate and let it cool.
5. Now roast pea nuts on low flame until it starts leaving its skin.
6.Take the roasted peanut, grated coconut, chopped coriander leaves, half of ( chopped ginger, garlic, onion,and green chilli, cumin powder, coriander powder, pepper powder, sabji masala, turmeric powder) and blend it in a blender or grinder.
7.Take one tsp oil in a pan and roast the boiled pieces of Lauki until its brown from all sides. Also sprinkle pinch of all masala powder mentioned under ingredients.

8. Once Lauki pieces are roasted , let it cool for some time.
9.Now Take 1 tsp of oil in a pan and fry the paste made in step 6 and salt as per taste.

10.Fill the stuff prepared in step 9 in to the roasted pieces of Lauki made in step 7.
11. Now cut the pieces in to smaller pieces with a help of knife ( make sure stuffing doesnt come out while cutting).

12. Now take tomato,and remaining half of chopped ginger, garlic, onion and blend it in to paste.
13.Take one tsp of oil in a pan to prepare gravy.Put 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds( Jeera), curry leaves , one or two bay leaves two red chilli. let it sputter  then pour the paste prepared in step 12. Fry it and cook on low flame for 10-15 minutes until it leaves oil from sides. Add water if it is too thick.
14. Add curd and mix it and again cover it and let it get cooked for 5 minutes.
15. Uncover it and add the stuffed Lauki pieces prepared in step 11.

Mix it and serve with hot Chapathis or parathas.

Litti Recipe:

Litti Chokha is a traditional dish eaten mainly in Bihar and Jharkhad. It can be had for lunch, dinner or you can make it on your holidays and you will surely love it. Litti is similar to Bati in appearance but there is a little difference. The Pitthi(stuffing) to be filled in it is made with Sattu and Litti is eaten with Mixed Veg Chokha. So let us start the preparation for Litti.

Ingredients for Litti

For dough :

1. Wheat flour - 400 grams (2 cup)
2. Ajwain(carom seeds) - 1/2 tsp
3. Ghee - 2 tbsp
4. Salt - 3/4 tsp

For stuffing

1. Sattu(Gram powder) - 200 grams (1 cup)
2. Ginger - 1 inch long piece
3. Green chilly - 2 to 4Green 
4. coriander(dhaniya) - 1/2 cup(finely chopped)
5. Jeera(cumin seeds) - 1 tsp
6. Ajwain(carom seeds) - 1 tsp
7. Mustard oil - 2tspPickle spices - 1 tbsp
8. Lemon - juice of 1 lemon (if you prefer)
9. Salt - add to taste ( 1/2 tsp)

Prepare dough for Litti

1.Filter the flour and keep it in a utensil, put Ghee,  Ajwain and salt in flour then mix well.

2. Cover the dough and keep aside for 30 minutes. Dough required to make Litti is ready.

How to make Stuffing for Litti

1.Wash, peel and finely chop ginger(you can also grate it). 
2.Break the stems of the green chillies, wash then finely chop them.
3. Clean green coriander, wash then finely chop the leaves.
4. Take out Sattu in a utensil put chopped ginger, green chillies, coriander, lemon juice, salt, Jeera, Ajwain, mustard oil and pickle spices in it. Mix all the ingredients properly, if the stuffing seems dry then add 1-2 spoons of water to it, Sattu stuffing is ready.

How to make Litti

1.Make medium sized pieces from the dough. 
2.With the help of your fingers expand the pieces 2-3 inches in diameter. 
3.Place 1- 1 1/2 tsp stuffing on it, wrap up the dough piece and close from all sides. Press this stuffed pieces to flatten it a bit.

4.Preheat the oven at 180"C and  when beep sound comes, put the Stuffed litti on lower rack and bake for 18 minutes at 180"C.5.Check the Litti for doneness it should be swelled up and little brown and would have got broken and if it is not, allow to bake for some more time. (Turn the litti upside down when one side is done).
6.Once done, switch off the oven and leave the litti inside the oven for another five minutes.
7.Take out the Litti and keep on high rack and grill for 6-8 minutes.Grilling adds crispiness.
8.Once grilled, apply ghee all over the Litti and serve with Chokha.
  Note: We can also make fried litti.Dip fry the litti made in step 3 in hot refined oil.

 Check the link for Chokha recipe.

Parle G Biscuit Cake Recipe

Prep time: 5 mins | Cooking time: 4-5 mins | Total time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 150 gms Parle G Biscuit packet
• 3 tbsp Cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Milk,approx
• 1 Eno fruit salt sachet, plain
• 2-3 tbsp chopped Dry fruits(almonds,cashew nuts etc) (Optional)
• Butter to grease the bowl

Method:

1. Chop dry fruits into small pieces and keep them aside.
2. Take a deep microwave bowl and grease it with butter nicely and keep it ready.
3. Break biscuits into fine pieces and add cocoa powder, sugar to it and run it in the mixer to a fine powder.
4. Take milk in a bowl and add the ground powder to it and mix well.The mixture should be smooth,neither very thin nor very thick.
5. Add sliced almonds and cashewnuts to it and mix well. 
6. Add eno to it and give a quick stir, you will see a foamy batter ready.
7. Pour this batter into the greased bowl and level it off evenly.Sprinkle few more sliced almonds on top.Microwave it on HIGH for 4-5 mins.Check it after 4 mins, as the power differs for each microwave it is always better to check it in between.Insert a tooth pick and see if it comes out clean it is ready if it is slightly battery then again microwave it for a minute or more.Repeat the tooth pick test if needed.
8. Leave it undisturbed for 5 mins.Run a knife around the corner of the cake and unmould it on to a plate.Let the cake cool completely.

Serve the cake as it is  or you can even dust it with cocoa powder or Icing sugar or pour chocolate ganache on top of it.Decorate it as per your wish with color sprinkles,gems etc.

Egg less Cake Recipe

Serves 8.

Ingredients:

2 Cups maida.
1 Tsp baking Powder.
1/2 Tsp soda.
1 Cup fresh cream.
1 Cup sugar powder.
1 Cup milk powder.
1 Cup Milk.
1 Tsp Ghee.
1 Pinch salt.
4-5 Drops Lemon juice.
1 Tsp tutti fruiti (optional).
2 Tsp coco powder.
4 tsp chocolate Powder.
1 Tsp bournvita.
Chocolate sauce for frosting

Preparation Method:

Preparation time: 15 minutes, Cook: 1 hour.

1. In a large bowl shift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda & mix well
2. In a separate bowl take all remaining ingredients and mix well or grind in grinder.
3. Now batter is prepared.Now Gradually add these maida mixture and tutti fruti and mix in one direction.
4.Preheat the oven at 350F/180C for 15 minutes.  lightly grease a microwave suitable bowl with ghee.
5.Pour the batter in the prepared pan and tap the bowl to even it out and break the air bubble..
6. Bake it for 25 to 27 minutes.Check it for doneness 5 minutes before the time set. Prick a knife and check . If something sticks on knife then allow to bake for 5 more minutes.
7. Once done remove the bowl from oven and keep it aside to cool for 15-20 minutes.

For Frosting: 

You can use your desired frosting methods, I have used chocolate sauce. Spread chocolate sauce all over the cake with the help of knife. I have decorated the cake using chocolates.

I made this cake on valentine's day!!

You can try and comment below.

Veg Cutlet    

Vegetable Cutlet, combination of mashed potato and green vegetables, is a crisp outside and soft inside Indian potato snack. This stomach filling, mild spicy and crispy Indian cutlet tastes irresistibly delicious when served with assortment of spicy, sweet and sour dips/chutneys like green mint chutney and tamarind chutney, etc.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Ingredients : Makes 10 - 12 pieces

• Beetroot - 2 Medium
• Potato - 2 Medium
• Onion - 1 Medium 
• Chilli - 2 ; finely chopped
• Coriander Leaves - a handful ; finely chopped
• Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
• Cumin Powder  - 1/2 tsp 
• Garam Masala powder - 1/2 tsp 
• Chat Masla Powder - 1/2 tsp 
• Aamchoor Powder - 3/4 tsp
• Cornflour - 1 tbsp ( to coating ) 
• Bread crumb  - 4-5 tbsp 
• Salt to taste
• Oil to deep fry

Method:

1. Boil potatoes , Peel off and mash .  Finely chop the onions ,chilli , ginger and grate beetroot . 
2. In a pan take a tsp of oil . Add onion and grated beetroot. Saute fo 3-4 mins . Such that onions become aromatic . Allow it to cool . 
3. After the onion - beet mix cools , add to it  mashed potato , green chilli , coriander leaves and all spice powder ( red chilli powder , jeera powder, garam masala powder , aamchoor , chat masala and salt ) .
4. Mix everything well. Taste test and add if anything required 
5. Divide the dough to small / medium equal size balls . Shapen them depending on your choice . You can do round flat disc /oval /  heart shape / use any cookie cutter to give special shape .
6. In a small bowl , mix  corn flour with 2 to 3 tbsp of water such that no lumps are formed . The batter should not be thick or too thin. In another plate spread breadcrumbs. 
7. Dip cutlet in cornflour mix to coat all sides and then coat it with bread crumbs well, Repeat same for rest of the cutlets .
8. Keep oil to deep fry in a kadai / deep pan . Once oil is hot, deep fry the cutlet until golden brown from all side.
9. Serve Beetroot Cutlets hot with ketchup.

Paneer Chilli Fry

Ingredients:

1. Paneer                          - 200 g
2. Onion                           - 2
3. Capsicum                     - 1
4. Green chilly                   - 2 or 3
5. Garlic                            - 4
6. Soya sauce                   - 2 tsp
7. Tomato sauce               - 1 tbsp
8. Chilli sauce                   - 1 tbsp
9. Lemon juice                  - ½ tbsp
10. Pepper                         - ½ tsp
11. Oil to fry
12. Salt to taste
13. Spring onion leaves.

Method:

• Chop the paneer into cubes.
• Dice onion, capsicum to cube shape.
• Slit green chillies lengthwise.
• Crush garlic to small pieces.
• Make a thick paste of corn flour, , salt and little water.
• Heat oil in a frying pan.
• Dip the paneer cubes in the above paste and fry till golden brown.
• Take it aside and drain the excess oil in kitchen paper.
• Heat a wide fry pan and add 2 tbsp of oil.
• Add onions and fry on high for half a minute.
• Add green chilly, garlic, capsicum  and saute further.
• Now add sauces, pepper and salt.
• Stir well.
• Add fried paneer cubes.
• Mix well , smothering the paneer cubes  with the sauce.
• Remove from flame, add lemon juice and combine.
• Garnish with freshly chopped spring onion leaves.
• Yummy Chilli Paneer is ready to taste..!