Avocado Basil pesto dosa

Last before week I was loaded with work and did not have time to cook and took lot of shortcuts  with cooking :-). And one such invention is avocado basil pesto dosa. I was pretty bored with same old dosa and had store bought avocado paste and basil pesto sauce. I could  not resist temptation to experiment ,so I mixed 1 tsp of avocado with basil pesto sauce and applied paste to almost done dosa. Concept is same as malsa dosa, but instead of red podi I had put my own paste. Dhanvi initially was scared looking at the green color of dosa, but dosa passed his test with distinction when he tasted it.  Here is the procedure for it

Note: Do not apply any oil after spreading dosa batter as basil pesto already has sufficient oil in it.

Avocado basil pesto paste
-1 tsp avocado paste. You can use store bought one or make it fresh at home.Remember to add lemon juice to stop oxidation of avocado.
-1 tsp basil pesto 
-1 small green chili
-Little salt( is optional)


Procedure

1. Heat a frying pan/ tava. On low flame spread dosa batter in circular motion and put it on high. Note: Do not apply any oil after spreading dosa batter as basil pesto already has sufficient oil in it.

2. Immediately spread the paste and let it sit for 30-45 seconds.

4. Fold the dosa.

5. Serve dosa with chutney and sambar.

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Spinach Mania

Overconfidence is often recipe for disaster. I made lot of chutnies with different veggies and became overconfident and hardly paid any attention while making spinach chutney and it turned out bad.

Couple days passed and its was still sitting in fridge. One day I decided to make vermicelli upma and was thinking what veggies to put, then I remembered spinach chutney.  My husband would not like mixing chutney into upma ,but I could not resist and experimented. I had put the usual upma tadka with some  finely chopped onion, chili,salt and then added the leftover spinach chutney. All of a sudden all ingredients together in pan looked so yummy that I was about to drop plan of making vermicelli upma and instead was tempted to eat the modified  chutney with rice. 

But then sticked to original  plan. I kept aside half or chuntey and used rest half to make vermicelli, tapioca upma

Last but not least wanted to mix yogurt and see how it will be and it turned out excellent. 

                    

Moral of story-  Don't throw chutney in bin if it turns out bad ,instead throw a little everytime in curry :)

Easy dessert

I tend to reuse most of stuff and usually don't feel like throwing away food. This recipe is a by product of left over orange marmalade cake. I was tempted to call it mango mamba mamba,like artipandu lamba lamba, but did not mean to scare people away.  Who ever had watched Jhandyala telugu movie can easily connect to it.

Jokes apart here is the recipe for it. It is very simple and easy to make when guests are around. You can substitute it with apple strudel instead of cake  and on top of fruits you can put some granola/nuts to make it little healthy

1.  Small piece of orange marmalade cake 

2. 1/4 cup of diced mango 

3. Few diced apples 

4. 1/2 cup of home made jello

I had cut cake into small pieces and layered it at the bottom of cocktail glass and then added jello and fruits on top of it. You can also try by adding one more layer of fruits on top of cake and serve it by adding some nuts.

If you tired recipe, I would love to hear from you how it came out.

Achari Paneer Extension

Just like application extension,this is extension of left over Acahri paneer (Check my previous blog for achari paneer recipe). I had tikka masala gravy which I bought from costco, so had put 4-5 tbsp of it in left over curry in pan and let it cook for 5 mins. It was yummy.  Wanted to share it as it can be a great entree for gatherings. 

Acahri paneer with achar/pickle

Last year we went to restaurant and saw Achari sabji on their menu. I expected it to be spicy and tangy, but it was not hot and tangy.  When I checked up online for a recipe, to my surprise I could not find any recipe where they used actual achar. This gave me an idea of trying out same dish using achar as I had tons of pickle.  I wanted to make my own version of achari sabji, but realized that , I did not have any vegetables and just had paneer. Instead of achari sabji I made achari paneer and it turned out really good. This recipe had been tried and tested and had proven to be a hit at various events. It can be made as appetizer too.

Here is recipe for it

• 1 packet Nanak paneer- cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 big onion - slice them into big square peices
• 2-4 big sized chili- big slices
• 1 tsp pandu-mirapakaya karam (red chili and onion) pickle, if you do not have that use  red hot chili sauce - 
• 1 tsp of amla achar
• 2 tsp of yogurt
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1tsp kasuri methi

Note:- I did not add salt as amla pickle has enough salt.

Procedure
In bowl mix paneer, amla achar, yogurt , kasuri methi and keep it aside.

In pan put oil , let it get hot and then add onion and chili. 

 Once onions turn little transparent and add pandumirapakaya pickle and cook for 1 min. Add paneer mixture and let it cook for 10 mins and serve hot.

Akki Roti

This recipe is introduced to me by my aunt and I did not name it as Akki roti :-) .  This recipe is simple ,healthy and easy to make.  All  ingredients can be added to your taste. There is no order to mix the ingredients.  Except for cucumber everything else can be finely chopped. By grating cucumber it oozes lot of water and there is no need to add water. Make sure the dough consistency is thin enough to mold roti with hand in round shape.

Cucumber grated
Carrot grated/finely chopped
Radish grated/finely chopped
Spinach finely chopped
Cabbage finely chopped
Onion finely chopped
Cilantro finely chopped
Chili finely chopped
Cumin/Jeera powder to taste
Vamu/Ajwain 2-tsp
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Ragi flour- 1/2 cup
Jawar flour- 1/2 cup
Salt to taste


Take parched baking paper and put a scoop of dough on it and tap on it to make roti. Use water to tap when making roti so that it does not stick. It is similar to jawari style roti making.

 Sprout Paste

Do not use wax paper,as it catches fire , if the pan is too hot

Use water to tap roti 

I had left over spinach chutney and put that in this mix and rotis  turned out really tasty . So if you have left over chutneys (technically any chutney) mix it in dough.

Dinner roll Dow Dow

Dinner roll Dow Dow,what kind of name is it,most of people would be wondering. Some might think its a Chinese dish,but its not. Its pure Indian spicy chatpata appetizer.  Story begins on Superbowl day. 

Ganesha, me n Superbowl

Me:-I never followed super bowl in my life. It was during my trip to philadelphia, where we stayed at my friends place and saw first football match. For a change I sat through till end and enjoyed it very much. I felt like jumping into that game and doing touch down.
Ganesha:- Man you truly are a real imaginative person...I  laughing my ass out imagining  "tingu girl" running among giant football players.

Me:- Today is superbowl game day and I was quite not myself. I wouldn't care about a match , but today I was looking forward to 3:30 pm for match.
Ganesha:- Look at her she is all excited, never seen her like that before..
Me:- It was at my friend Pratimas place on big screen . As usual we had Costco run and picked a bunch of dinner rolls, was planning to make pav bhaji sometime this week. On our way back home suddenly an idea popped out of my brain , that reminds me of "despicable me" movie dilouge.
Ganesha:- Not again, chalo this time at least its a english movie dilouge, not CHITRAM BALARE VICHITRAM.
Me:- How about making some snack for the game today. It was already 1:30pm PST and have just an hr left for the game. I wasn't sure whether it would turn out well, so just made 4 appetizers initially and eagerly waiting for them to come out from oven..I took them from 375°F temp and eat it..off course it burnt my mouth..Then gave one piece to Dhanvi and was looking at his expression and he said " Wow this is awesome" . I felt like I invented something new for which I deserved Noble prize..
Ganesha :- Seriously!! noble prize..You are crazy.
Me:- Ok we have just 1/2 hr left and called out dhanvi for help and engaged Kaundinya by putting some ambulance sirens :). Within no time made lot of them and then thought what should in name it..How abt naming it Dinner roll Dow Dow, just like Bangala bow bow
Ganesha:- Are you sure you want to call it that..cause it will scare people away.
Me:- Hmm I like it..want to keep it funny :-D
Ganesha:- Enough of talking now, tell people what goes into it

Me:- simple chickpeas salad +  1/3 cut piece  dinner roll + little mozzarella cheese
Chickpeas salad = 

chick peas -1 tin

cucumber -1 cucumber medium

tomato- 3 medimum (or according to your taste)

onion - 1 medium

cilantro- 1/4 bunch

salt( to your taste)

chat masala(optional)

chilli powder( to your taste). 

lime juice - 1 tsp

Mix them all together in a large bowl. Get creative and add any any stuff which you might think can make it interesting.
Shallow the 1/3 cut dinner roll and put chickpeas  and mozzarella cheese on top and bake it at 375 for 10 mins.