Macaroni Upma

Macaroni Upma in Marathi

Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Makes: 2 to 3 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup Macaronis
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1-2 green chilies, slit lengthwise
1 tsp ghee or oil
1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 2 pinches hing, 4 to 5 curry leaves
Salt to taste
finely chopped Cilantro for garnishing

Method:
1) Boil 5 to 6 cups of water into a deep pan. Add a tsp of salt. Once water starts boiling, add macaronis and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or use the packet instructions. Drain the hot water and add cold water in the macaronis. Cold water will stop the cooking process.
2) Heat ghee into a pan. Add cumin seeds, hing, curry leaves and green chilies. Saute for few seconds. Add onion and saute until well done. Add tomatoes and cook till they become mushy.
3) Add drained macaronis. Mix well. Cook for about 2 minutes. Taste a macaroni and sprinkle little salt if required. Garnish with cilantro. Serve hot.

Oats and Brown Rice Idli

Oats idli in Marathi

22 to 25 medium idlis

Ingredients:
1/2 cup urad dal
1 cup brown rice
1 cup rolled oats
salt to taste

Method:
1) Soak urad dal and brown rice separately in the water for 6 to 7 hours.
2) After 6-7 hours, drain the water and grind them separately by adding as little water as required.
3) Soak rolled oats for 10 minutes in 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Grind it to fine paste.
4) Take a big steel or glass container. Add ground rice, ground urad dal and ground oats. Add a tsp of salt and mix well.
5) Cover and keep this container to some warm place to ferment. It will take 8 to 10 hours to ferment. (imp tip 1)
6) Once the batter is fermented well, taste a tiny bit of it. Add some salt if required.
7) Grease Idli molds with little oil. Fill them with the batter. Take the Idli cooker, add water (fill upto 2 inches) and heat it over high heat. If you are using normal pressure cooker, remove the weight before using, as we want to steam the idlis.
8) Once water starts boiling, place the Idli stand, cover with lid and steam cook for 12 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the cooker stand for 5 minutes. Scoop out by using knife of sharp edged spoon.
Serve idlis hot with Coconut chutney or spicy Sambar.


Tips:
1) In cold weather fermentation takes place very slowly. To pace up fermentation, heat oven on 200 F for 2 to 4 minutes, then turn off the oven. Put the batter covered in the oven. The warmth inside the oven helps the batter to ferment.
2) Make all the idlis and reheat in the microwave. So that all the family members can enjoy them together.
3) I have tried making idli using only oats. But they were very heavy and dint puff up. Hence using rice alongwith oats is important.

Broccoli Paratha

Broccoli Paratha in Marathi

Time: 30 minutes
Makes: 4-5 medium Parathas

Ingredients:
::::Stuffing::::
1 medium broccoli head
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
1 tsp chili paste
1/2 tsp amchoor powder
::::Dough::::
1 cup wheat flour
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oil
Other ingredients:
1/4 cup oil for roasting parathas
Some dry flour for dusting

Method:
1) First make dough. Take a mixing bowl. Add wheat flour, turmeric, cumin seeds, salt and oil. Add water and make semi soft dough.
2) Wash broccoli and cut into small florets. Grind coarsely. Add onion, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, chili paste, amchoor powder and salt to taste. Mix well.
3) Divide dough and stuffing into 5 equal portions. Heat a nonstick tawa.
Roll one dough ball into 3 inch circle. Put one portion of stuffing at the center. Gather the edges and seal. Dust with flour. Roll and make paratha. Spray some oil on one side. Place the paratha on tawa, oiled side down.
4) Roast one side, spray some oil and flip the paratha. Roast both sides well. Serve broccoli paratha with yogurt and butter.

Healthy Oats dosa

Oats dosa in Marathi

20 medium dosas
Time: 2 to 3 minutes/ dosa

Ingredients:
1 cup rice
1 cup urad dal
3 cups rolled oats (quick cooking oats)
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
salt to taste
Oil to roast dosa

Method:
1) Soak Rice and urad dal separately in sufficient water for 5 to 6 hours. Soak fenugreek seeds along-with urad dal.
2) Soak oats just 10 minutes before grinding rice and urad dal. Soak them in 2 cups water.
3) Drain the water from rice. Grind it in a grinder. Add water little at a time to get fine paste.
4) Drain water from urad dal and grind it to fine paste. Add soaked oats to the mixer and grind it along with urad dal.
5) Mix ground rice, urad dal and oats together. Add little water to adjust the consistency. Add salt to taste. Cover and keep it to dark warm place. It should ferment within 8 to 10 hours. (See important tip regarding fermentation)
6) Once batter is fermented, take about 2 cups of batter into a separate bowl. If the batter is thick, add some water. The consistency for dosa batter should be little thin than idli batter. Likewise, take required amount of in a separate bowl and adjust the consistency by adding little water.
7) Heat a nonstick tawa. Spray some oil and carefully wipe it with a paper towel. Flame should be on medium high. Pour a medium ladelful batter at the center. swirl the spoon clockwise, in circular motion. Make a thin crepe. After 30 seconds, drizzle little oil around the edges and over the dosa. When the dosa is well done at one side, flip it to the other side. Press gently with flat spatula. After flipping, there is no need to roast longer.
Serve oats dosa with sambar and coconut chutney.

Tips:
1) Use a bigger container to ferment the batter. There should be atleast 10 inch space above the level of the batter to rise.
2) In cold season, batter does not ferment well or doesn't ferment at all. If you have oven at home, preheat it at 200 F for 3 to 4 minutes. Then switch off the oven. Put the covered container inside and close the door. If you are going to put the container in the oven, use steel or glass container.
3) The batter will stay fresh for 5 days in refrigerator.

Besan Dhirde

Besan Chila in Marathi

5 medium Dhirdehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup besan
2 tbsp rava
1 tsp green chili paste, coarse
2-3 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
1 + 3/4 cups water
1 tsp garlic paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/8 tsp hing
2 pinches cumin seeds
salt to taste
some oil to cook the pancakeshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Method:
1) Take a mixing bowl. Add besan and rava. Add water little at a time and make a thin constancy batter.
2) Add in chili paste, cilantro, garlic paste, turmeric powder, hing, cumin seeds and salt to taste. mix well.
3) Heat a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. drizzle some oil. Add a ladelful batter and try to keep round shape.
4) Cover and cook over medium heat till one side gets done well. Drizzle some oil and flip the side. Cover and cook till another side is cooked nicely.
Serve hot with or Dry garlic chutney.

Rice and urad dal Appe

Appe in Marathi

Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 15 appe

Ingredients:
2 cups Idli Batter
1 tsp ginger paste
1.5 tsp green chili paste, coarse
3-4 curry leaves, finely chopped (optional)
2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
Salt to taste
2 to 3 tbsp oil for roasting appe

Method:
1) Add ginger paste, cilantro, curry leaves, green chili paste and little salt in batter. Mix well.
2) Heat Appe pan. Add two drops of oil in each mould. Fill moulds with batter. Cover and cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
3) Uncover and brush some oil on the surface. Flip the side, cover and cook for couple of minutes.
Serve hot with coconut chutney.

Bread Upma

Bread Upma in Marathi

Time: 10 minutes
Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients:
10 slices of white bread (Leftover)
2 tbsp oil
For tempering: 2 pinches mustard seeds, 1 pinch hing, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, few curry leaves
2 green chilies, slit lengthwise or 2 red dry chilies, broken
1/4 cup Onion, finely chopped
salt and sugar to taste
cilantro for garnishing
1 tsp lemon juice

Method:
1) chop the bread slices into small cubes or just mince with hands.
2) Heat oil into a pan. Add mustard seeds, hing, turmeric powder and curry leaves. Add green chiles and onion.
3) Sprinkle some salt and cook onion till translucent. Add chopped bread and mix well. Sprinkle 2 pinches sugar.
4) Cover and cook over medium-low heat for couple of minutes. Add lemon juice and mix.
Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Tips:
1) Bread can be crumbled in mixer instead of mincing.
2) Leftover bread makes nice upma than fresh bread.

Bottle gourd pancakes

Dudhi Thalipeeth in Marathi

Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 3 to 4 medium thalipith

Ingredients:
1 cup grated dudhi, peeled (bottle gourd)
1.5 to 2 cups Upavas Bhajani or as requiered
3 green chilies, crushed
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup roasted peanut powder
Salt to taste
Ghee or oil to roast thalipeeth

Method:
1) Peel the dudhi first. Grate. Add crushed green chilies, salt, peanuts powder, and cilantro. Mix and add bhajani flour and make a dough. Divide the dough into tennis ball sized rounds.
2) Grease tawa with oil or ghee. Spread 1 dough portion round evenly in the center of tawa.
3) Put the tawa over medium high heat. Cover the tawa for a minute. Drizzle some oil around thalipeeth. Let one side cook thoroughly.
4) Flip to the other side. Cover and cook both sides. well.
Serve hot with Yogurt or sweet lime pickle.

Raagi flour dosa

Nachani Dosa

serves: 12 to 15 medium dosa
time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup Nachani Flour (Raagi flour)
1/2 cup Rice Flour
1/2 cup Urad Dal
7-8 Methi seeds
Salt to taste
Oil to drizzle while roasting dosa

Method:
1) Soak Nachani Flour and Rice flour in water for 5 hours. The consistency should be thick. Also soak urad dal and methi seeds together in water for 5 hours.
2) Grind urad dal to fine paste. Add very little water while grinding. Now mix urad dal paste and soaked flours together. Add enough water to get usual dosa consistency. Add salt.
3) Heat a nonstick tawa. Pour a ladleful batter and spread with spoon in swirling motion.
Drizzle a teaspoon oil around the dosa. After one side is done, flip the dosa and roast the second side.
Serve hot with - Coconut chutney, sambar, garlic chutney.

Tips:
1) Consistency of batter should be just like usual dosa batter. Nicely spreadable batter will make thin and light dosas.
2) Its a very good breakfast option. To make dosa for breakfast soak flour and urad dal overnight. Then grind urad dal in the morning and make dosas as per above method.
3) Cook the both sides of dosa. Uncooked Nachani flour doesn’t taste good.
4) To variate the recipe, add chopped cilantro, onion, tomato or green chili to your preference.

Ukarpendi

Ukadpendi in Marathi

Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Wheat flour (coarse)
3 tbsp oil
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
4 to 5 curry leaves
For tempering:- pinch of mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp hing, 1/8 tsp turmeric, 2 dried red chilies
1/2 cup plain sour yogurt, well beaten
1/4 cup water (tip 1)
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Heat 2 tbsp oil into a pan. Roast wheat flour over medium heat. Roast till color changes to light pink (around 5 minutes). Transfer roasted flour to a bowl.
2) In that same pan, add 1 tbsp oil. Add mustard seeds, hing, turmeric powder, red chilies and curry leaves. Saute for few seconds and add onion. Mix well, add salt and cook onion till translucent.
3) Add roasted flour. Mix nicely for couple of minutes. Mix yogurt and water. Stir well and add to the pan. Stir vigorously as the mixture will become doughy. So, act quickly to avoid lumps. Cover the pan and steam cook over low heat for few minutes.
Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Tips:
1) Amount of water depends on what consistency you want the ukad to be. Above water quantity is good for doughy consistency. For little loose and soft consistency add some more water.
2) Usually ukad is kneaded with little oil and then served in a ball shape. To knead the ukad, transfer hot ukad into a big plate. Drizzle couple tbsp of oil and knead while ukad is hot (Use pastel or base of mortar to avoid burning hands). Serve immediately.
3) Instead of Red chilies, green chilies or red chili powder can be used.
4) Onion is optional. But, it tastes good in this dish. Garlic can be used instead of onion. Also, green peas, carrot pieces, soaked matki may be added according to your preference.
5) Rice flour, besan or jowar flour can be used instead of wheat flour. Follow the same method. Or mixture of different flours may also work.

Stuffed Paneer Paratha

Stuffed Paneer paratha in Marathi

Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 medium parathas

Ingredients:
Stuffing
2 cup grated paneer
3-4 green chilies, finely chopped
1/4 cup Cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp amchoor powder, 1/2 to 1 tsp grated ginger
Salt to taste
Cover
3/4 cup Maida
1 cup wheat flour
1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp red chili powder
1/4 cup yogurt
Water as needed
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
Other ingredients
Butter or oil to roast paratha
Dry flour for dusting

Method:
1) Take grated paneer into a bowl. Add green chili, cilantro, coriander-cumin powder, dry mango powder, ginger and salt and mix gently.
2) To make the dough, mix maida, wheat flour, cumin, turmeric, red chili powder, yogurt, oil and salt. Pour required amount of water and make a soft dough. Cover it and let it rest for 15 minutes.
3) Divide the dough into 6 to 8 equal portions. Divide the stuffing into same amount of equal portions.
4) Roll the dough ball into 2 to 3 inch diameter circle. Then put 1 portion of stuffing. Gather all the edges and seal. Roll it with a rolling pin by sprinkling little flour.
5) Heat a tawa. Place rolled paratha at the center. Drizzle little oil or melted butter. Roast both sides until brown spots appear.
Serve this paratha with green chutney or mint chutney.

Tips:
1) Add chopped mint leaves along with cilantro for more flavor.
2) Carom seeds can be replaced by cumin seeds.

Vari Tandul Pulao [Samo Rice Pulav]

Samo Rice Pulao in Marathi

Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Servings: 3 to 4

Ingredients:
1 cup Samo Rice
2 tsp Ghee
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
2 green chilies
1/2 cup Pumpkin cubes medium (Peel before making cubes)
1/2 cup Potato cubes (Peel the potato)
2 tbsp Coarsely ground peanuts
salt to taste
Approx 3 cups hot water

Method:
1) Heat a heavy bottom pan. Dry roast samo rice for couple of minutes. Transfer the roasted rice to a bowl
2) In that same pan, add ghee and wait till it melts. Add cumin seeds and slit green chilies. Saute for 10 seconds. Flame should be on medium. Add potato cubes. Cover the pan and cook till potato is almost done. At this point, add roasted samo rice.
3) Mix nicely. Pour hot water and add salt. After couple of minutes add pumpkin cubes and peanuts powder. Stir well, cover and cook till rice is done.
Garnish with Cilantro Serve hot with Peanuts curry.

Rava Idli

Rava Idli in Marathi

Yield: around 15 to 18 medium Idlis
Time: 35 to 40 minutes (Prep time - 15 mins + steaming time - 20 to 25 mins)

Ingredients:
1 cup Rava /Semolina (Coarse quality)
1 tsp Oil, pinch of mustard seeds, pinch of asafoetida (hing), 1/2 tsp urad dal, 1/2 to 1 tsp chana dal, 4 to 5 curry leaves
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1/2 cup sour plain yogurt, well beaten
1/2 cup water
salt to taste
1 tsp Eno fruit salt (Eno Soda) - original flavor (do not use flavors like cherry, lemon)

Method:
1) Heat oil in the pan. Add mustard seeds and hing. Immediately add chana dal. Let the chana dal turn pink. Then add urad dal and saute for few seconds. Add curry leaves and ginger. Now add Rava and roast for couple of minutes over medium heat.
2) Transfer roasted rava into a deep bowl. In other bowl mix beaten yogurt and water well. when rava becomes warm, add yogurt+water mixture to it and blend well (tip 2). Add salt and mix. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Consistency should be like usual Idli batter, not too thick or thin.
3) Pour about 2 to 2.5 cups of water into the Idli cooker. Put it on the stove over high heat. Light grease the Idli stand (molds) with little oil (tip 3). Add Eno salt to the batter and mix in one direction. Spoon the batter into Idli molds.
4) Once water starts boiling, put the Idli stand inside the cooker (important tip 4). Close cooker with the lid. Steam the idlis for 12 to 15 minutes. After 12-15 minutes, turn off the heat and wait for 7-8 minutes before opening the cooker.
Remove idlis with sharp edged spoon (Do not use knife, it will break the idlis)

Tips:
1) Some variations can be done in the above recipe. Vegetables like carrot, peas, cabbage can be added to the idli batter. Just put small quantity of grated carrot and 2-3 peas into idli molds and then spoon the batter over it. Another idea is you may add the vegetables to idli batter.Though, it changes the color of Idlis.
2) If you have roasted the rava a little longer, it will soak more water. So, you may need to add little more water to adjust the consistency.
3) If you have small Idli stand (8 to 12 medium molds), Do not add Eno soda into whole batter. Divide it into 2 equal portions. Add 1/2 tsp of soda into one portion. Make idlis as per above instructions. Now add remaining 1/2 tsp soda into second prortion of batter and make idlis with the same directions.
4) If using normal pressure cooker, remove the weight (Pressure whistle) and then before steaming idlis.

Dalia Idli

Daliya idli in Marathi

Time: Prep time-20 minutes (excludes soaking time)| Cooking time- 35 to 40 minutes
Serves: 13 to 15 medium idlis.

Ingredients:
1 cup Daliya
2 cups hot water
For Tempering: 1 tbsp Oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 2 pinches Hing,
2 green chilies and 4 to 5 curry leaves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp Urad dal, 1/2 tsp Chana dal
1 tsp Ginger, grated
1/2 cup plain Yogurt, (preferably sour tasted)
Salt to taste
1 tsp Eno fruit Salt
Idli stand
Idil Cooker or normal pressure cooker

Method:
1) Soak daliya in hot water for about 4 hours. After 4 hours, drain and save the excessive water (Tip 1). No need to squeeze out the water. Grind soaked dailya to a semi-fine paste.
2) Heat oil in a small pan. Add chana dal and urad dal. Saute until color changes to pink. Then add mustard seeds, hing, chopped green chilies and curry leaves. Pour this Tadka to ground daliya.
3) Add yogurt, ginger and salt to taste. Mix well. The consistency should be same like Rice Idli batter. If the batter is too thick, add little saved water to adjust the consistency.
4) Add water in cooker upto 2 and 1/2 inches from the bottom. Put the pressure cooker on high flame. Grease the Idli stand with little oil
5) Divide the batter into 2 equal portions (tip 6). Add 1/2 tsp Eno fruit salt in one portion. Mix with a spoon and start filling Idli molds with batter.
6) Once water in pressure cooker starts boiling, put the Idli stand inside. Close with the lid. Remove the weight, if using normal pressure cooker.
7) Steam cook for 12 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it rest for 7 to 8 minutes.
8) Then remove the Idlis with sharp edged spoon (Tip 2). Again add water in the pressure cooker and make second batch of Idli as per the above method.

Tips:
1) Use this water to make sambar. It does not affect the taste.
2) These idlis are made of daliya (unpolished cracked wheat). Hence, they don't become very spongy and light like normal rice idlis. Remove the Idli stand 10 minutes after turning the gas off. Let it sit outside for few minutes. Then remove idlis with a spoon.
3) These idlis are little grainy. Therefore, make some sambar alongwith chutney.
4) Its a good breakfast alternative for diabetes patients who want to avoid Rice in there diet.
5) Add some vegetables like carrot, peas to the idli batter to make it more tasty and healthy.
6) My Idli stand has only 9 compartments. Therefore, I had to divide the batter into 2 equal portions. If your Idli stand has 12 or 16 compartments, then you can make the idlis in one batch.

Daliya Sheera

Lapsi Shira in Marathi

Lapsi rava Shira is a healthy breakfast recipe. Specially, for new moms (nursing moms) and people who requires high calorie food.

Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3 to 4

Ingredients:
1 cup Lapsi Rava (cracked wheat/ Bulgur wheat/ Dalia)
3/4 cup grated Jaggery
2 tbsp Pure ghee
1/2 cup fresh grated coconut
3 cup Water
1/4 cup warm Milk
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
Pinch of salt
3 tbsp cashew, pistachio, almond slices
1 tbsp golden raisins



Method:
1) Heat 2 tbsp ghee into a pan. Roast rava nicely over medium heat. Also add cashew, pistachio and almond slices
2) While roasting rava, boil 3 cups of water on another stove-top. Add pinch of salt to the water.
3) When rava is roasted nicely, add hot water and warm milk. Mix nicely. Cover and cook for couple of minutes over medium heat. Add fresh coconut and mix.
4) When rava is almost cooked, add grated jaggery and stir with spatula, until jaggery melts. Add raisins.
5) Cover and cook for few more minutes over low heat. Add cardamom powder and mix well.
Serve hot.

Tips:
1) Lapsi Rava should be roasted nicely. Otherwise 'shira' won't come out well.
2) After adding water to the rava, Let it cook nicely. If you rush to add the jaggery, rava may remain little uncooked.
3) If you want it more sweet, add 1/4 cup of jaggery more.
4) When serving to new mothers (nursing mothers) add a teaspoon of ghee and sprinkle some fresh coconut to enhance the taste.

Microwave Rava Upma

Microwave Upma in marathi

Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 2 to 3

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Sooji (Rava, Semolina)
1 to 2 tbsp Ghee
For Tempering - 1 tbsp Ghee, pinch of mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp Urad Dal, pinch of Hing, 3 green chilies, 4-5 curry leaves, 1/4 tsp Ginger grated
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup Green Peas (Optional)
1/2 cup Tomato, finely chopped (Optional)
Salt and sugar to taste
1 tbsp Ghee (Optional)
Cilantro, Lemon, fresh coconut for garnishing
Microwave safe glass bowl with glass lid

Method:
1) Roasting Semolina (Roast it in a microwave safe plate)
3/4 cup Rava :- 1.30 min + 1.30 min + 1 min + 1 min = Total 5 minutes
2) Tempering (Use a big glass bowl which has lid)
Heat the ghee:- 1.30 min
Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal :- 1.30 to 2 mins - Stir once in between
Add asafoetida, green chilies, curry leaves, ginger - High Power :- 30 to 40 seconds
3) Cooking Onion, Tomato
Add finely chopped onion :- 1.30 min + 1.30 min + 1 min + 1 more min if needed = Total 4 to 5 mins - Stir once or twice in between
Add Tomato, green peas :- 1.30 min + 1.30 min - stir once in between
Add 1 and 1/4 cup water, salt and sugar to taste - Mix :- 1 min
4) Upma
Add roasted semolina, mix - Cover the container :- 2 mins + 2 min - Stir once in between and also add some ghee.
Keep the upma covered for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

Tips:
1) Every microwave's power differs a little bit. So the time given in the above recipe may vary by a minute.
2) Ghee can be substitute with oil. However, ghee makes the upma more delicious.
3) Add cashews according to the availability and choice.
4) Upma will be ready to eat within 20-22 minutes if the time utilized properly. Chop onion, tomato, chilies while microwaving sooji.
5) In first 3 steps keep the glass bowl uncovered. In 4th step cover the bowl with lid

Microwave Khandvi Surali Vadi

Microwave surali vadi in Marathi

Yield: 12 to 15 pieces
Time: Preparation time: 15 to 20 minutes | Microwave : 5 to 7 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup Besan (chickpea flour)
1 cup Sour Buttermilk (Thick)
1 and 1/2 cup water
1 tsp green chili paste
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 tsp Asafoetida Powder
For Tempering : 2 tbsp Oil, 1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds, 2 Pinches of Asafoetida powder
½ cup Fresh grated Coconut
1 tsp Red Chili Powder, to sprinkle over Surali Vadi
½ cup finely chopped Cilantro
Salt to taste
Kalatha (Indian Pancake turner made of steel) to spread the mixture
Thick Plastic Sheet greased slightly with oil

Method:
1) Whisk together Chickpea flour, Buttermilk and water. Remove all the lumps. Add chili paste to taste, Turmeric Powder, ½ tsp Asafoetida Powder and salt to taste. Mix well and make a smooth batter.
2) Before cooking the mixture, keep ready the plastic shee on a flat surface and also Kaltha to spread the batter.
3) Pour this batter into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 50 seconds. Take the bowl out and whisk nicely to remove the lumps. Make it smooth. Microwave for 30 seconds, remove the bowl out and beat again. Do it until mixture gets cooked. Consistency should be medium. whisk and remove lumps if any.
4) Immediately spread the mixture over plastic sheet and make a even thin layer. Let this layer cool down a bit.
5) Heat oil into a small pan (omlete pan). Add mustard seeds, asafoetida. Spread this tadka over surali wadi layer with the help of spoon.
6) Sprinkle coconut and cilantro evenly. Also sprinkle red chili powder to taste. Then Cut it into 5 inch big stripes. Then gently roll it and then divide into equal 3 to 4 pieces.
7) Garnish with cilantro and coconut while serving

Surali Vadi - Stove top Method

Tips:
1) Instead of plastic sheet, you can use backside of stainless steel thali (Plates) to make thin layer of mixture. But you will need 5-6 thalis for the whole batter, which would be little difficult to manage.
2) If you don’t want tadka inside the roll, don’t spread tadka on the layer, just spread takda with spoon over the roll after making roll.
3) It would be difficult to make rolls if we spread coconut and cilantro on the layer. In that case, spread only tadka on the layer, make rolls, and garnish them with coconut and cilantro.

Mokali Bhajani

Mokali Bhajani in Marathi

Preparation Time: 7 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 persons

Ingredients:
1 cup Thalipith Bhajani (click here for the recipe)
2 tbsp Oil
For Tempering: Pinch of Mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds, pinch of hing (asafoetida), 3 to 4 curry leaves
1 small onion, finely chopped
Other Ingredients: 1 tsp Red chili powder, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, Pinch of asafoetida
Salt to taste
1 tbsp Cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh coconut, scraped

Method:
1) In a mixing bowl, add thalipith bhajni, red chili powder, turmeric powder, pinch of asafoetida and salt to taste. Mix nicely and Add warm water and make a very soft dough. Taste a tiny portion of the dough and add salt if needed.
2) Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, curry leaves and chopped onion. Saute until onion becomes translucent.
3) Take the Bhajni dough in your hand, crumble and add it to the pan. Stir nicely and try to break the lumps with the spatula. Cover the pan and steam cook for 7 to 8 minutes over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally.
Garnish with cilantro and coconut. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt or some buttermilk.

Stir Fried Leftover Rice and Chapati

Manikmoti in Marathi

Serves: 2 persons
Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
4 Chapatis (preferably a day old)
1 cup cooked Rice (preferably a day old)
For tempering: 2 tbsp oil, 1/8 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp red chili powder, 3 to 4 curry leaves.
2 tbsp Peanuts
2 to 3 tbsp frozen green peas
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp lemon juice
salt to taste
1/2 tsp sugar
Chopped Cilantro and fresh coconut for garnishing

Method:
1) Crumble Chapatis coarsely with hands or in blender. Fluff the rice gently.
2) Heat oil in a medium pan. Add peanuts and saute until color changes to light brown. Then add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chili powder and curry leaves. Add chopped onion and saute well. After a minute, add peas and saute for couple more minutes over medium heat. Add salt to taste.
3) Once onion is cooked, add the rice and mix. Add crumbled Chapatis and mix. Add sugar and give a quick mix. Cover and cook over medium low heat for a minute. Add lemon juice. Transfer it to a serving plate. Garnish with Cilantro and coconut. Serve hot.

Sevai Upma Vermicelli Upma

Vermicelli (Sevai) upma in Marathi

Serves: 2 persons
Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cup Vermicelli (I used Bombino Sevai)
1 cup Water, hot water.
1 tbsp Ghee
For tempering: Pinch of Mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds, pinch of asafoetida,
2 to 3 green chilies, chopped
3 to 4 curry leaves
1/4 cup carrot, small cubes
1/4 cup Green peas, frozen
2 tbsp Fried peanuts/ roasted peanuts
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Sugar
Cilantro for garnishing

Method:
1) Heat ghee in a pan. Roast vermicelli over medium heat until golden in color.
2) Remove the roasted vermicelli from the pan. Prepare the tadka by using the leftover ghee after roasting vermicelli. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Then add cumin seeds, asafoetida, green chilies and curry leaves.
3) Add carrot cubes and green peas. Cover the pan and cook them for few minutes over medium heat.
4) Add fried peanuts and roasted vermicelli. Saute for a minute. Keep the flame over medium low heat.
5) Add half of the hot water. Mix, add salt and sugar to taste. Cover the pan, let the vermicelli cook and absorbs the water. Add more water and cook the vermicelli nicely.
Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.