Alu Paratha

Its has been few days that I posted something :) and thought this would be a nice recipe to start with. Alu Paratha, I guess needs no introduction. Potatoes itself are loved and liked by many inspite of them being not so healthy. We can indulge in them once in while right :D. So, for new comers out there dont think its very tough to make rotis leave alone Alu Parathas which are stuffed version of rotis with Alu/Potatoes. The recipe here is not the only way Alu Parathas are made. One can mix and match with whatever spices you like.

Always remember, try and try. Practise will make you better and someday definetly perfect. When I started learning how to make rotis they were like many country maps :) instead of being a circle. So, I never let it ruin my passion for cooking and kept on doing them until I am here today. Let me not give a lecture before you run away and get started with the recipe :).

Serves - 2-4
Cooking and Preparation Time - 30 mins approx

Ingredients :

 

Chapati Dough/Wheat Flour - 1.5 cup kneaded with enough water, salt, 1 tbsp and kept aside covered with a cloth
Potatoes - 2 very large or 3 medium boiled with skin on and drain the water and mash the potatoes with no water in it
Coriander - 1/2 cup finely chopped
Green Chillies - 1-2 finely chopped (optional)
Chilli powder - 1/4 tbsp
Chat Masala - 1/4-1/2 tbsp
Cumin and Coriander powder - 1/2 tbsp together or Garam masala any combination
Oil
Lime juice - 2 tbsp optional but I added
Salt to taste

Method :

1. In a bowl place the mashed potatoes, add all the  ingredients below Potatoes except oil.
2. Mix together the potatoes so that all the spices are blended into it nicely.
3. Make small golf sized balls out of the mixture and place them a plate.
4. Now using the dough we made out of wheat flour and roll a roti of small size and place the potato mixture or stuffing ball in the centre of it.
5. Close all the ends and seal it. If necessary remove the excess dough.
6. Put some flour onto it and start rolling it slowly into a thin stuffed roti.
7. Heat tava/non stick pan, put the rolled out roti on it and when you notice that its getting puffed up change the direction and add oil on it. Repeat the same for the other side until you fry it to get a nice roti.
8. Serve hot for breakfast, lunch or even dinner along with any pickle or even raita or plain yogurt.

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Puri with Alu/Potato Curry and Bhurji/Egg Curry- Today's Lunch

 

 

Puri or Poori a South Asian fried flat bread is prepared from dough of atta(wheat flour or sometimes maida/all purpose flour) and salt, by spreading it out in a circle the size of one's palm and deep frying in ghee or vegetable oil. While frying, the bread puffs up. After they become golden-brown in color, they are removed and served hot along with some accompaniment like potato curry, egg curry, sheera/halwa and the most famous one including bature or choley.

It is mostly served in ceremonies or rituals and is also offered as prasadam or neivedyam to God. Since it is deep fried in oil remember to put them on tissue to remove the excess oil . I made these for our lunch today along with potato and egg curries. These two curries are S's favorite :) and I guess we both have excercise more this weekend for indulging in this kind of food ;).

Serves - 2 people
Cooking and Preparation Time - 30 -40 mins approx

Ingredients :

Wheat Flour - 2 cups
Salt - a pinch
Warm water, small quantity of milk and a tbsp of oil to knead the dough

Method :

1. Divide the dough into small golf ball-sized portions and roll these portions into balls between your hands till they are smooth.
2. Flour a rolling board lightly and roll each ball into a small palm sized circle.
3. Heat the oil/ghee in a thick bottomed pan and deep fry the pooris one at a time.
4. Press gently on each side of the poori with a slotted spoon which will help them to puff up.
5. Fry each side till golden and drain.

Egg Bhurji or Simple Egg Curry :

Serves - 2 people
Cooking and Preparation Time - 15 mins approx

Ingredients :

Eggs - 2-3
Onions - 1 medium thinly sliced
Few Curry leaves
Coriander- 1/2 cup chopped
Green Chillies - 2 vertically slit
Cumin seeds- 1/4 tbsp
Turemeric powder - 1/4 tbsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tbsp or less
Ginger Gralic paste - 1/4 tbsp
Oil- 2-3 tbsp

Method :

1. Heat oil in a non stick pan add jeera/cumin seeds, sliced onions, curry leaves, turmeric powder, green chillies, ginger garlic paste and saute.
2. Then add chopped coriander, chilli powder, salt and saute.
3. Now add the beaten eggs to the mixture and cook on medium flame, tossing and slicing the mixture with the spatula into discrete lumps.
4. Serve hot with puris or roti or any bread of your choice.

Alu/ Potato Curry :

Serves - 2 people
Cooking and Preparation Time - 20 mins approx

Ingredients :

Potatoes - 2-3 medium boiled, skin peeled and mashed
Onion - 1 medium thinly sliced
Green chillies - 2 vertically slit
Few curry leaves
Corinader - 1/2 cup chopped
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tbsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2-3 tbsp

For Tadka or Tempering :

Cumin or Jeera seeds - 1/4 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tbsp
Urad Dal or Chana Dal - 1/4 tbsp

Method :

1. Heat oil in a non stick pan add cumin, mustard seeds, urad dal and fry till they start to splutter.
2. Add sliced onions, curry leaves, turmeric powder, green chillies and saute till onions get translucent.
3. Then add choopec coriander, chilli powder, salt and saute.
4. Now add mashed potatoes and mix well.
5. Cook for 5-10 mins and the curry is ready.
6. Serve hot with puris, rotis or any bread of your choice.

Vishu's Tip :

• Try to prepare the dough 15-20 mins before making puris to avoid excess absorption of oil by them.
• The secret for soft puris is kneading. The more you knead the dough the softer the puris will be.
• Try to roll some dough balls and place them on a paper before frying them in batches to be easy.

Okay then have a nice weekend everyone :).

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Gobi Paratha with Raita

Gobi is one of the most liked vegetables in India and one of the favored recipes are Alu Gobhi, Gobi Paratha and many more. After much thinking about what to prepare for dinner I finally made Gobi Parathas and Raita. Instead of watching T.V and eating dinner as we do everyday, our center of attraction were parathas and we had them peacefully talking to each other :) about the things we did the whole day.
 
I am sending this entry to Eat healthy during pregnancy event hosted by Sangeeth Raghunathan.

Serves 2-3
Cooking and Preparation Time 45-60 mins aprrox

Ingredients:

Cauliflower florets - 2 cups ( u can also grate/chop them finely)
Onion small - 1
Green Peas - 1/4 cup, boiled and smashed
Flour (All Purpose/Wheat) - 3 cups
Oil - 1-2 tbsp for use while making the dough
Oil - 2-3 tbsp for making the stuffing
Corinader leaves chopped - 1 cup
Green Chillies - 2 minced (optional)
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tbsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tbsp
Garam Masala powder - 1/4 tbsp
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tbsp

Method :

1. Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl and add enough water to make a stiff dough. Add the 2 tbsp oil while making the dough.
2. Make lemon- sized balls from the dough and keep them aside to start preparing the stuffing.
3. Take a non stick pan, heat oil add chopped onions, turmeric powder, salt and mix together till the onions lose transperancy.
4. Then add ginger garlic paste, chopped coriander, chilli powder, garam masala and mix well.
5. Now add, smashed peas and cauliflower grated/chopped to it and mix well.
6. Cook it covered for 10-12 mins till the stuffing becomes dry with no water in it.
7. Then take the each lemon sized ball of the dough we made, roll into a very small thick chapati or circle and place the required amount of stuffing in the center. Now seal the all sides like a potli and then roll it into a proper size paratha slowly, by adding little flour on sides if necessary.
8. Heat a frying pan, place the rolled paratha in it and fry both sides by adding oil and turning it till it is well fried.
9. Serve hot with raita or chutney.

Raita :

Serves - 2 people
Preparation Time - 5-10 mins

Ingredients :

Yogurt 1-2 cups
Onion - 1/2 very finely chopped
Tomato - 1 small chopped
Cucumber - 1/4 cup chopped finely(optional)
Salt to taste
Sugar 1/4 tbsp

Method :

1. Add the yogurt into a small bowl along with other ingredients and mix well.
2. Raita is ready and can be served with any type of rice or roti.

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