Fish Pakoda~A Super Delectable Snack

Happy New Year to all my readers…lets start this year with something crispy, munchy and blissful. Very suitable as winter bites these crunchy fish pakodas are a delectable snack any time of the day. Moreover quite hassle free they do not need a dip in the egg or a roll in the bread crumbs, can be prepared with rohu/katla/seabass/prawns… the choice is yours. It’s a perfect dish to entertain your guests.

Fish Pakoda

Vegetable Croquettes/Chops

Vegetable Croquette or Bhegitabil chop as we Bongs lovingly call it is a recent request from a very dear friend. She wanted a very easy and simple recipe. So Reshmi the simplest way to make this delectable, all time favourite snack is here for you. Though I knew the main ingredients but always have this habit of calling up Maa to ensure them. I followed the process she told me over the phone. Beetroot, carrots and potatoes are the vegetables generally used for the stuffing, but you can add other veggies like beans, peas if you desire. These crispy, delish croquettes are a delightful nosh with a cup of tea in the winter evenings with the obvious accompaniment of Bong Adda….

Vegetable Croquettes

Jhaalmuri/Masalamuri ~ Street Food Of Kolkata

This is one nostalgic and very special write up for me as it’s about street food of Kolkata and is quintessentially Bengali. My love for the city I was born in has increased over the past decade considerably enough as I stay away and miss all the vibe, festivities, warmth, adda, Book Fair and of course the food that the city is about. My vehement desire for the incredible ‘biryani’, ‘champ’, chinese, ‘fuchka’, ‘jhalmuri’, rolls, ‘chop’(croquettes), cutlet, ‘kochuri’, ‘fulkopir singara’(cauliflower samosa), ‘sandesh’, ‘roshogolla’, and so much more…(the list is endless), finds an escape through my writing. That’s all I have, I pen down my love for the city whenever I get time and recreate the Kolkata delicacies in my kitchen which gives some solace whatsoever now and then.

Jhaalmuri

Stuffed Parantha #IndianBread

On a chilly winter evening is there anything more inviting than a plate of hot stuffed parantha with a dollop of butter melting on the top, a cup of steaming ginger tea to go with it, curled up inside the warmth of a quilt watching a good movie with your favorite person?

Stuffed Parantha

This is the season when you can indulge in a bit of oily stuff which you normally avoid in the summers. And with all those fresh winter veggies flooding the market you can stuff your parantha with those of your choice. I stuffed mine with potatoes, carrots, beans, green peas, onions, ginger, chopped green chillies and lots of chopped coriander leaves.

Stuffed Paranthas

Here’s the recipe of this delish Indian bread…..

Ingredients:

• 3 large potatoes peeled
• 3 carrots peeled
• 300 gms green peas peeled
• 12-14 beans
• 2 large onions finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon ginger finely chopped
• 2 tsp green chillies finely chopped
• Lots of coriander leaves finely chopped
• 2 tsp chat masala powder
• Wheat flour for the parantha dough
• Salt to taste
• A mix of white oil and ghee/clarified butter for frying the paranthas

Stuffed Paranthas

Procedure:

Step:1

Cut the potatoes in four dices, and boil/ steam them together with carrots and beans. In a separate bowl boil the peas with a pinch of salt. Keep on a plate to cool after straining the water. The veggies must not be overboiled.

Step 2:

Prepare the dough for the parantha. Knead it soft.

Step:3

Now prepare the stuffing. Mash all the boiled veggies and mix chopped onions, ginger, green chillies and coriander. If the stuffing becomes a bit soggy sprinkle some flour and mix. Add salt and chat masala powder. Check the seasoning before stuffing.

Step 4:

Now tear out small dough, flatten it with hands, fill in the stuffing and carefully fold it in all sides so as not to spill the filling. With the help of a rolling pin flatten it out into paranthas.

Stuffed Paranthas

Step 5:

On a tawa fry the paranthas well on both sides and serve hot with any chutney dip of your choice or malai. I just love them with a heap of butter. Yummmmmmm……

Chilli Pancakes With Veggies

These are extremely tasty Chilli Pancakes With Veggies. Very filling, can be an ideal breakfast, snacks or even a full meal because it takes care of your hunger pang perfectly. It’s so simple to dish out and requires minimum oil. Generally kids are fussy about vegetable on their plate. It takes care of this problem too. Will surely make your kid happy when he opens the tiffin box in school. Here’s the recipe…..

Chilli Pancakes With Veggies

Chilli Pancakes With Veggies

Chilli Pancakes With Veggies

Chilli Pancakes With Veggies

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 large cup all purpose flour/maida
• 1/3 cup semolina/sooji
• ½ cup grated carrots
• ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper/ capsicum
• 2 onions finely chopped
• ½ inch ginger grated
• ½ tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 2 tblspns finely chopped green chillies
• 2 tblspns chopped coriander leaves/ cilantro
• Salt n sugar to taste
• White oil as per requirement

Chilli Pancakes With Veggies

Procedure:

Mix maida and sooji with water gently so that no lumps are formed and the batter is smooth. Don’t make the consistency too thick or it will not spread out in the pan. Now add all the chopped veggies, chilli powder, salt and sugar, mix well. Heat a non stick frying pan and add ½ tsp oil. Add the batter to the pan, gently spread out in the pan, lower the heat and let one side get cooked before flipping to the other side. When both sides get cooked perfectly with a tinge of golden brown, remove onto the serving plate, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and tomato ketchup.

Chirer Pulao (Flattened Rice/Poha)

One of the most favorite Indian Breakfast is Poha/Flattened Rice or Chirer Pulao as we Bongs call it. It’s prepared in almost all the Indian states but is influenced by the cuisine of the particular region. Its delicious, healthy and filling…try out this super dish Bong Style in your kitchen…

Chirer Pulao

                                     

 

Chirer Pulao

Chirer Pulao

Recipe:

Ingredients:
 

• 300 gms Flattened rice/ Chire/ Poha
• 2 medium sized potatoes cut in small dices
• Cauliflower florets (1/2 of a big cauliflower)
• 250 gms peas peeled and boiled with a pinch of salt
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 4 slit green chillies
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• A fistful of salted peanuts
• 3 green cardamoms
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 3 cloves
• 9-10 curry leaves
• Salt and sugar to taste
• White oil as per requirement

 

Chirer Pulao

Procedure:

Heat oil in a skillet/nonstick karahi and throw in the whole garam masalas, curry leaves and the slit green chillies. Wait for the splutter, now add the onions and fry till translucent. Add the cauliflower florets and potatoes and fry well till the florets and potatoes take a golden brown hue. Now add salt sugar and turmeric…keep stirring. Add the boiled peas and peanuts. Wash the poha well in a perforated container, drain the water and add. Lower the heat and stir well for another 5 minutes and check the seasonings. Your delectable breakfast is ready…

Chilli French Toast

Chilli French Toast is a favorite Sunday Breakfast in my family. My son’s face radiates happiness on the very announcement of either the Sunday breakfast menu or what is being packed in his lunch box on school days. That day surely is one of the special days in school to feast on with his friends. I love to see his grin of appreciation and excitement, so make them often for his tiffin. Those moms facing problem with fussy kids can try this out. It’s immensely tasty, super easy and fast…..Here comes the recipe….

Chilli French Toast

Chilli French Toast

Chilli French Toast

Recipe:
 

Ingredients:

• 8 eggs
• 8 bread slices
• 1 large onion chopped
• 3-4 green chillies chopped
• 1/2 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• Salt to taste
• Grated cheese(optional) for garnishing
• White oil for frying as per requirement

Procedure:

In a bowl whip the eggs and toss onions, chopped chillies, powdered chilli, salt into it. Mix well. Now heat oil in a non stick frying pan, dip the bread slices in the egg mixture and fry both sides till golden brown. Serve garnished with grated cheese on top or just like that. They taste great anyways.

Spicy Tangy Bhujia Mix~Tasty, Crunchy, Munchy Anytime Snack

This is a super easy quickie snack which you can make anytime and serve as an accompaniment to any drink... no cooking required. Just mix all the ingredients together and a delectable, spicy, tangy dish is ready to chomp within minutes. Try this out for yourself....happy snacking!!

Bhujia Mix

Bhujia Mix

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber finely chopped
• 2 small onions finely chopped
• 2 red tomatoes finely chopped
• 2 green chillies chopped
• some chopped coriander leaves
• 1 tblspn lemon juice
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 pkt bhujia ( I used Haldiram's plain bhujia 200 gms)
• 1 pkt salted peanuts
• Salt to taste

Procedure:

Toss all the ingredients into a large bowl, give a good stir, sprinkle some lemon juice and chopped coriander on the top....have it with any drink of your choice.

Fried Flattened Rice (Chire Bhaja)

When its raining torrentially outside and your heart crying for a quick snack to accompany a steaming cup of tea in the evening nothing can be better than Chire bhaja or Fried flattened rice. Here's the recipe of this delicious super fast Bong snack....

Recipe:

Fried Flattened Rice/ Chire Bhaja

Fried Flattened Rice/ Chire Bhaja

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Flattened rice/ Poha/ Chire
• 2 onions chopped
• 3 green chillies chopped
• 2 tblspns oil
• Salted peanuts a handful
• Bhujia
• Salt to taste

Procedure:

Heat oil in a wok and fry onions and green chillies. When onions are golden add the dry flattened rice, salt, peanuts. Continue frying till the chire is crispy. Now sprinkle bhujia, mix well and serve.

Happy Snacking!!!