Enchilladas made easy!

Yesterday night I made enchiladas in a different way than my traditional recipe. It was soo quick and tasty I'm amazed . I think for a small crowd 4-6 people I will now onwards make it this way. My earlier recipe for enchiladas is good for a bigger crowd.

Ingredients
1 can small enchilada sauce (green or red your preference)
1 can beans (I prefer black beans)
1 packet (2 cups Mexican blend cheese)
10-12 corn tortillas
1-2 tomatoes
1-2 onions
1 cup corn optional
green onions optional
few jalapeños sliced as per taste


chop all the veggies and mix them together add salt as per taste.

Take each corn tortilla and with a little oil warm it in a pan. Take it in a plate that you plan to serve it in. Spread the enchilada sauce on the inside put all your ingredients beans, veggies, cheese and roll it up in three folds top it with some cheese. I did two at a time in a plate and then put it in the microwave for 2 minutes. That's it delicious enchiladas are ready. Top it with green onions for garnishing. Serve with sour cream and guacamole.
*Remember you have to fill the tortillas when they are warm otherwise they will break. So if you're alone warm two tortillas at a time and fill it in.

In ONLY 15 minutes our dinner for 4 was ready and we all enjoyed delicious enchiladas.

Pau Bhaji

One of my most favorite dishes and a great party dish.

3-4 potatos
3-4 onions
3 tomatoes
1 small can of tomato puree
1/2 bunch of cauliflower
2 green peppers
1 lb of frozen green peas
3-4 teaspoon garlic paste
4-5 tablespoons of butter/oil (If you go to the indian store and can get Amul butter get that it makes a difference in the taste).
2 packets of breads (preferred bread from Hotbreads - Pau) Optional any hamburger buns work as well.
4-5 tablespoon of Paubhaji Masala
1 teaspoon of garam masala
1-2 tablespoon of red chili powder as per taste.
2 tablespoon of lemon juice
Salt per taste

Steam/Boil the potatoes, cauliflower and green pepper, green peas and and mash all of it. (skin the potatoes) ( i generally put everything in a pressure cooker and let 2 whistles blow)
Chop onions, tomatoes (in food processor or by hand). Save the water thats remaining.

Now take a big pan put the butter or oil whatever you're using and add the onions and garlic saute for a few minutes then add the tomatoes and tomato puree
Now add all the mashed vegetables. You can add about 1 cup of water or more and let it cook for 10 minutes on medium-high and then for another 10-15 minutes on a low flame.

Garnish with coriander.
Serve with lemon, onions and tomatoes and garlic chutney (you can get it at an indian store)

Toast the bread with butter on a pan and serve hot.

IT IS SIMPLY DELECIOUS!
Posted by Bina at 8:44 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: bhaji, bread, cauliflower, delicious, dinner, green pepper, pau, pau bhaji, vegetable
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Focaccia Pesto Sandwiches

This recipe is from my sister in law! It is simply one of the best and favorite sandwiches for me and my friends and family. They enjoy it very much.
Very simple to make.

Makes 2-3 sandwiches depending on focaccia bread
Ingredients
4 tablespoons of Basil Pesto
3-4 Roasted Red peppers (small pieces)
6-7 Basil leaves chopped
2-3 teaspoon capers
Fresh mozzarella
fresh ground black pepper
Vinaigrette
1 Tomato

focaccia bread(if you have trader joes near you try the focacini bread they have)
optional
jalapeños or banana peppers to add a little spice to it
Romaine lettuce
onions
Sun dried tomatoes

So ingredients must have are pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil others are optional to your taste.

Take the bread spread the pesto on both sides and then add all ingredients. Eat it cold or grilled or toasted on a pan.
Serve with chips or soup (in the winter).

Roasted red pepper soup from Trader joes goes really well, but any other soup will also go.

Enjoy a delicious sandwich.
Posted by Bina at 8:05 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Bharela Ringan Tuvar Sabzi (Eggplant and Tuvar Sabzi)

Bharela Ringan and Tuvar Shaak (Sabzi) is one of my mom's specialities. Not everyone in Gujarat is aware of this delicious dish. Simply mouth watering.









Cooking Time:

Serves 4-6
Ingredients
Indian Eggplant 7-8 (as shown above)
1 pack frozen toovar*(pigeon peas)(don't get the one in the transparent bags
from the indian store)
1/2-3/4 cup of peanuts(grinded)
2 table spoon besan (gram flour)
4-5 tablespoon dhana jeeru
3-4 teaspoon red chili powder
2 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoon garlic masala
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon jeera
pinch of asafoetida
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Now to start cooking your delicious bharela eggplant
Make the masala
mix gram flour, 2 tablespoon dhana/jeeru, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 2 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon oil, salt to taste(about 1 teaspoon), 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Now mix this well. Keep aside

Take the eggplant remove the top green part and then slice it 4 ways but not completely so it opens but doesn't fall apart. Now slowly stuff the masala that you made in the gap. Get all the eggplant ready repeating the same steps.

Now take a pressure cooker add 2 teaspoon oil, let the oil heat and then add jeera once the jeera is heated and light brown add the asafoetida,turmeric powder, chili powder and immediately add the toovar. Then add garlic, dhana jeera, garam masala, and a little more than 1/2 cup of water and put the eggplant in the cooker.
Put the remaining masala (left from the eggplant stuffing) in it as well. Add salt to taste.

Let it cook for two whistles or until the eggplant is tender and cooked.
Let the pressure cooker cool.
After opening you can cook it for a couple of minutes. garnish with coriander!
Serve with rice or roti/parathas. It is delicious.

It will look similar to this but will have the toovar (pigeon peas too) and not as read. Next time I make it, I'll definitely put an image of my version.

Okra Sabzi (Bhindi)

My husband's favorite vegetable dish!

Cooking time about 30 minutes
Serves: 4 (who are okra lovers)

2-3 lbs of cut okra (fresh or frozen)
1-2 table spoon oil
2-3 onions medium size chopped
pinch asafoetida
4 table spoon of dhana-jeeru (cumin/coriander) powder
3-4 tea spoon red chili powder
Salt to taste (about 2-3 teaspoon)
1 tea spoon turmeric powder


Take oil in a non stick pan after it is hot add the asafoetida, 1/2 tea spoon turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder. Now add the onions fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the chopped okra. Let it cook for atleast 15 minutes. Now add salt and all the other spices. Let it cook for another 15 minutes or until the tenderness of the okra is to your taste. (My thoughts are the more it cooks the better it tastes ofcourse not burnt!) Stir every 5 minutes. But don't stir too much otherwise it will become sticky/slimy.

Note: Never add water to okra sabzi

Serve with Wheat Rotlis or Chapatis or Parathas.

Yogurt on the side tastes great with this dish.

You could use the leftovers for making bhindi-curry
Make some kadhi and mix it with the bhindi you can skip the curry leaves in that.

Enjoy!

Stir Fry Veggies with my own sauce!

If you're craving for something healthy, spicy, delicious then try this!

Cooking time: 20 -30 minutes
Serves about 6-8
Ingredients
2-3 tablespoon Oil
2-3 table spoon Red chili sauce (per taste)
2 table spoon Ginger
2 table spoon Garlic
1 teaspoon Sugar
2 table spoon Tomato puree
1 tablespoon Corn flour
2-3 tablespoon of roasted peanutes
3 table spn Soy Sauce

Veggies you can use of your choice.
About 6 cups of veggies
I used Onions, Green Pepper, Carrots, Red Pepper, Mushrooms, Snap Peas, Chestnut, Baby Corn (Some of it fresh and some I got the frozen stir fry vegetable medley)

Extra firm Tofu

Take oil in a wok or a deep nonstick pan after the oil heats add Ginger, Garlic let it cook for about 2-3 minutes then add onions, let that cook for a 2 minutes then add the tomato puree and all the other veggies and the chilli sauce. Let it cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Add soy sauce. Right before serving mix the cornflour with 3 tablespoon or more water depending on how much grave you want.Same time add the peanuts

On the side take a pan and pan fry the tofu. Add the tofu to the vegetable mix.

Serve it with brown rice. It is absolutely delicious

Surprising Tamarind Chutney

So most all people would think tamarind chutney is made from tamarind. But, there is a recipe that makes something exactly similar to tamarind chutney without tamarind or very little. Tamarind is not supposed to be good for health.

Here's the recipe
1 bottle of apple butter(brown in color)
2-3 teaspoon of red chilli powder
3-4 teaspoon of dhana/jeeru (coriander/cumin) powder
3-4 teaspoons of lemon juice
salt to tate


Mix well and your tamarind chutney is ready! Don't tell your guests until they are done eating! that it wasn't really tamarind.

Dhania Chutney (Coriander Chutney)

This is a great side with several appetizers, chats and tastes amazing as a sandwich spread. I'll post a chutney sandwich recipe some time later.
Very easy to make.

1 bunch of coriander (washed and cleaned)
5-6 small green chillies
1/2 teaspoon of jeera (cumin) powder
1-1/2 teaspoon of lemon
salt to taste

add a few fresh garlic cloves if you are a garlic lover.

Take all the ingredients in a blender and let it blend. Add very little water to make it into a fine paste.

Delicious dark green chutney is ready! Serve it as a side with pretty much anything.

Preserving notes:
Store in the fridge. If you think you won't be able to use all of it within a week. My mom puts it in an ice tray in the freezer and then puts the cubes in a zip lock bag once frozen. So, you can easily take out as much as you need. The fresh one does taste better but the frozen one is really good too.

Enjoy!

Gobi Sabzi (Cauliflower Curry)

This is a very simple dish but very yummy. One of my brother's favorite sabzi So here are steps to find out if it's your favorite :)

Serves 3-4 people

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
1 cauliflower bunch cut into small-medium size pieces
2-3 tomatoes chopped small-medium
1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds
pinch of asafoetida
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
1-1/2 tablespoon of coriander/cumin powder (dhana/jeeru)
2-3 teaspoons of red chili powder
1/2-1 tbl spn oil
salt to taste
optional: 1/2 tbl spn of coriander
for a Gujarati taste add 1-2 teaspoons of Sugar :)
for a non Gujarati taste skip the Sugar and add 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala.

Instructions:
Tadka:
1. Take a pan add some oil to it,
2. Then add the mustard seeds, once the seeds start to pop/crackle add a asafoetida, 1/2 of the turmeric powder 1/2 of the chili powder

3. Quickly add the chopped tomatoes
4. After 1 minute add the cauliflower
5. Add all the spices, mix well.
6. Let it cook for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally and its ready.
7. Add some coriander if to garnish if you have.


Best served with Rotis or Parathas. Will taste good with Naan/Kulcha as well.

Serve with a side of pickles and a salad(onions,lemon, green chilies)

Aloo Matar Sabzi

(Potato and peas curry)
A very simple but yummy entree. This is for a (Gora) colleague at work who likes to be adventurous in his kitchen. So he's making an entire Indian meal for his friends. He calls himself Asian! This will be spicy as per my colleague's taste! Skip the green chilies or add less red chillies to make it mild-medium.

Serves 4

Ingredients
3-4 potatoes
2-3 tomatoes
1-2 onions
2 teaspoon garlic paste
2-3 green chilies
1/2-1 pack of frozen green peas small bag

oil
1 tablespoon cumin(jeera) powder
1 tablespoon coriander(dhania) powder
1/2 - 1 tablespoon red chili powder (or per taste)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2-1 teaspoon garam masala
pinch of asafoetida
1/2 teaspoon of jeera(cumin seeds)


Take oil in a pan add some cumin seeds then add the ingh (asafoetida) and add onions, and garlic. Saute onions till golden brown.
Add tomatoes and all the dry spices

Fast and easy option is boil them in the microwave and then peel and cut into cubes add them to the gravy
OR
Peel and cut into pieces and then cook them in the pan with the gravy.

Add half cup of water , let it cook for some time then add the green peas. Let it cook for 5-10 minutes. Add more water if needed to make the gravy lose. Add salt to taste.

Garnish with coriander
Serve with Naan, Parathas or Rice.

Easy Sloppy Joe Burgers

So this has become one of my favorite easy recipes invented by my best friend and brother. Its very very easy and very very delicious so a good combination for quick lunch, dinner or snack.

Serves 3-4
4 Masala Veggie burger patties
(Trader joes are the 'Best' Indian stores sell them too and the american stores sell Veggie patties that turns out good too, I've tried all three)
1 onion (medium)
1 tomato
1 tsp red chilli powder
1-2 tablespoon ketchup or hot ketchup(indian one)
salt to taste
1/2 tsp of garam masala
2-3 green chilles
1 tea spn garlic paste
1 tea spn oil (i use olive oil)

Easy steps to a delicious meal
Take a pan add the oil, first add the green chillies followed by the onions and garlic. Saute till golden brown then add the tomatoes. You can keep the patties in the pan while its getting cooked to warm them or microwave for a minute. Now Crush the patties in the pan just with the spatula or whatever you're using to stir. Add the remaining spices.


Serve it with buns/bread.

It is delicious. Ooo.. my mouth is watering i want it now :)

Chana Masala / Chole Bhatura

I recently made this for a party and it seems like a very* easy dish to make and it was a big hit, the guests really enjoyed it. A great combination for both. This will definitely stay on my list of things to make when I have a huge crowd.

Serves 10-14 people

5-6 cans of Chickpeas
4 tomatoes
4 onions (I use red onions)
2 teaspoon red chilli powder
3 tablespoons corainder/cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
4-5 tablespoon of Chana/Chole Masala (I used MTR brand)
1 teaspoon of garam masala
1 tablespoon garlic paste
2-3 tablespoons of oil
2 tablespoon of tomato puree(optional)
Salt to taste



Chop the onions and tomatos (keep them seperate)(you can do it in the food processor both of them)
Take oil and put it in a big frying pan. Add the onions and garlic, saute until the onions are golden brown. Now add the tomatoes and tomato puree. Also add rest of the masala(dried spices). Let it cook for a few minutes. Now wash and add the chick peas. Add some water to make it a little loose and let it cook for 15-20 minutes.
Decorate with coriander.

Goes very well with Bhatura(I use frozen Deep brand). You can also serve with Naan, Parathas or Rice.
I generally serve onions, green chillis and lemon on the side; it goes very well.

Enjoy! And let your guests enjoy :)

Focaccia Pesto Panini Sandwiches

This recipe is from my sister in law! It is simply one of the best and favorite sandwiches for me and my friends and family. They enjoy it very much.
Very simple to make.

Makes 2-3 sandwiches depending on focaccia bread
Ingredients
4 tablespoons of Basil Pesto
3-4 Roasted Red peppers (small pieces)
6-7 Basil leaves chopped
2-3 teaspoon capers
Fresh mozzarella
fresh ground black pepper
Vinaigrette
1 Tomato

focaccia bread(if you have trader joes near you try the focacini bread they have)
optional
jalapeños or banana peppers to add a little spice to it
Romaine lettuce
onions
Sun dried tomatoes

So ingredients must have are pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil others are optional to your taste.

Take the bread spread the pesto on both sides and then add all ingredients. Eat it cold or grilled or toasted on a pan.
Serve with chips or soup (in the winter).

Roasted red pepper soup from Trader joes goes really well, but any other soup will also go.

Enjoy a delicious sandwich.

Simply the Best meal - Khichdi Kadhi

After a long week or a hard day or if you are just craving for something very satisfying. There is nothing else I can think of other than Khichdi Kadhi that satisfies me. Even when you are not feeling good and don't feel like eating! Khichdi tastes good.
Its very simple food but the best.

Serves 4

For the Khichdi
1 cup rice
1 cup moong dal
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1/2 spoon ginger paste (optional)
1/2 spoon garlic paste (optional)
1/2 spoon chopped green chillies (optional)
1 tablespoon ghee
2-3 cloves (optional)
2-3 cinnamon sticks (optional)
salt to taste (about 2 teaspoons)

Kadhi
2 cups yogurt
2 tablespoon besan(gram flour)
1-2 tablespoons of sugar(for the gujaratis)
1/2-1 teaspoon green chillies (depending on how hot they are)
1 teaspoon ginger paste
1/2 spoon of dhana/jeera cumin/coriander powder(optional)
some chopped coriander

Tadka /Vaghar
1 tablespoon ghee
1teapsoon jeera(Cumin seeds)
1-2 cloves
1-2 cinnamon sticks
1-2 dried red chillies
pinch of ingh asofeida
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder
few curry leaves
Directions for making Khichdi
wash the rice and dal
add 4 cups of water(double the measure of rice and dal)
add all other ingredients
put it in a automatic rice cooker or you can put in a pressure cooker and let it cook for (2-3 whistles)


Directions for Kadhi
(Keep stirring is the key to good Kadhi)
On a low flame heat the yogurt after a couple of minutes add the besan. Use a hand mixer to make sure there are no chunks.
Add the ginger, salt, sugar, green chillies.
Now keep stirring and then once its pretty hot.
Put it on the side.

Tadka
Add some ghee to the smallest pan you have or a vaghariyu!
Add jeera, cloves, cumin
Now once the jeera starts becoming golden/brown and popping a bit
add all the other things with the curry leaves being at the end.
Add the tadka to the Kadhi and then let the Kadhi come to a boil.
Add the chopped coriander at the end

and your delicious ultimately satisfying dinner is ready.

You can have some chopped onions, mango pickle on the side. They taste great.
If you have more time you can make the potato/tomato (shaak) curry! or any of your favorite curry to go with it.
But even without anything else it tastes simply the best!

Now place the Kadhi on the stove

Enchiladas for the Mexican lovers

I'm going to share a recipe that I inherited from my Mom. Thanks, Mom. I made them today and they turned out great! As usual. Not necessarily the quickest, but its worth every minute of hard work.

Takes me 45min - 60min

Serves 4-6
Ingredients
1 can of old el peso enchilada sauce
1 can of canned black beans i use refried or the seasoned w/ cumin and green chillies (or any beans you prefer)
12 corn tortilla
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 cups of Mexican blend cheese( I use low fat)
2 table spoons all purpose flour
salsa
1/2 spoon or to taste Jalapeños/green chillies
1 tablespoon Mexican seasoning(small packets are available in stores)/optional
tomato ketchup optional
oil

Getting ready
chop all ingredients
Mix corn, tomatos,onions, green onions(leave some for garnish), mexican seasoning(optional),salt in a bowl.

now warm the beans, I generally add some salsa, Mexican seasoning, 1 spoon of tomato ketchup, salt if necessary (only in some beans).

Making the enchilada sauce
Take a pan add some oil. Once the oil heats add 2 tablespoon of all purpose flour, let it mix well for a couple of minutes. Now slowly add the enchilada sauce. Try to make sure there are no whole pieces formed( i have still not mastered this). Once you add the enchilada sauce add the same amount of water. Now add 2-3 tablespoons of salsa, two tablespoons of sugar, 2-3 spoons of cheese. let it boil for some time and then place on simmer.
Your sauce is ready.

Now that all your ingredients are ready. You need to just assemble it.
Take a big baking pan add some sauce at the bottom.
Take a plate where the assembly will happen.
Put some sauce at the bottom, then some on top.
In the middle of the tortilla place spoon of beans, a spoon of the mixture, 1/2 spoon of salsa, about 1 spoon of cheese. Now start folding from one end and turn it so the closing is at the bottom. Your enchilada is ready to be baked. Place it in the baking pan. Repeat this process.
If the corn tortilla breaks place a few corn tortillas in the enchillada sauce to get soft. But be careful it does not break.
Once all enchiladas are wrapped add some more sauce on the top. Top it with some cheese. You can.

Bake it in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Delicious enchiladas ready. It seems tedious, but totally worth it. I'm generally looking for easy cooking. But this one i keep making because of its tastes.

Serve with side of guacamole, sour cream, mexican rice(old el paso).
Watch everyone enjoy every bite.

Coconut Halva (Kopra paak)

For anyone with a sweet tooth.

Time: 10-15 minutes
Serving Size: 4-6

Kopra paak is an indian sweet dish (desert). It is a delicious sweet, actually as a kid it used to be my favorite desert! My mom used to make it for me quite frequently! I wanted to make a sweet dish to send to my dear brothers! So I tried making kopra paak. It turned out great and it was very simple.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup (dry coconut)

1/2 cup (ricotta cheese) I used part-skim!

1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Milk-Mava powder or carnation milk powder

2 spoons of ghee

few strands of saffron for color (if you heat for a few seconds in the microwave and then crush its better not necessary)

almond/pistachios/cashews for garnishing

Now the cooking process is also very simple

1. Take a microwave safe bowl with a lid mix all the ingredients (only 1 tea spoon ghee) (also not the garnishing ingredients )
2. Microwave for 2-3 minutes.
3. Stir add one more teaspoon of ghee/butter and microwave for 2-3 minutes.
4. If small circles can be formed from the mixture. It is done (make sure you don't overcook it).
5. Repeat heating if balls cannot be formed until necessary. Be careful though
6. Now take a baking dish or something similar grease the bottom with ghee and spread the mixture flat you can use a bowl greased at the bottom to press it and make it even.
   
7. Sprinkle almonds, pistachios, cardamom powder as desired.
8. Press on it again to make sure it sticks.
   
9. Leave aside for a little while and you can cut with a knife to make small squares.

And your sweet dish is ready!

Finally I have made it!

Hi Everyone,

For most of you who know me, are aware that I love cooking! I had been wanting to share my ideas, recipes, tricks with my friends, family and anyone out there looking for some easy, innovative sometimes complicated but delicious veg recipes. I plan to blog about a variety of cuisines Indian, Italian, Mexican and may be more.

I definitely try to keep cooking a quick thing as I work full time and once I get home. I hardly have time. But there are days when I come up with CRAZY ideas and spend more time. I shall warn you on those.

I wanted to thank my Baa and mom from whom i've been learning and some to the internet ;)

Drop a note if you have comments/suggestions about anything.

Thanks,
Bina