Five Spice Flavoured Cottage Cheese Balls Stuffed With Plums and Chinese Plum Sauce | Step Wise | Food Presentation Ideas-2

 

Hi all!!

I can’t believe at myself, I’m posting like I’m running a marathon. This is my fourth post in the last four days which  also happens to be my fourth consecutive post on plums and it is yet again a savoury preparation in which  I’ve used plums in two ways; stuffed and prepared a sauce. I’m trying hard to avoid the sugar but I might land up posting something sweet..temptations are bad!! As you must have guessed this post is again for Kitchen Aid Contest for IFBMeet, where I’m trying to win a Kitchen Aid Chopper.

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Sabudana vada in a new avatar- low oil and cheese stuffed version | कम तेल में बना,भरा हुआ साबुदाना वडा | Gluten Free | StepWise

 

 

Hi!

Being the foodie that I’m, I love collecting kitchen utensils, appliances and tools and one such utensil that I’m very fond of in my kitchen, is my non stick paniyaram pan. I love it to the core, as by using this I’m able to make low oil kofta, fritters and many snacks which are fried otherwise.

Recently I read a recipe using a paniyaram pan in a  food group on face book, that I follow religiously. The group is very inspiring as I learn something new everyday. The members there are so creative and encouraging. They love to share their food creations and are ready to teach and learn from each other. This recipe that I’ve created is inspired by a recipe posted in the food group.

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Grilled Chilli Paneer Cubes | Easy Starter Recipe | Bachelor’s Cooking | Gluten Free | Finger Food | Step Wise

Hi All!

As I have mentioned in my Mango & Dark Chocolate Trifle Post, that the kid is 14yrs old now and what I didn’t mention was that he is in the 9th grade and due to which the study pressures are very high. His school hours have got extended by an hour now and post school he rushes for his coaching class, so he is invariably out for 11-1/2hrs and by the time he comes home, he is very tired and hungry. Though, I ensure that he carries two lunch boxes but at a growing age, the children are always hungry and they need to eat food at short intervals.

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Pesto-Cottage Cheese Sandwich | Quick Bite

 

Hi All!!!

I’m here with yet another easy to make, quick fix sandwich which I personally love a lot. There’s a tea bar named kettle close to my home, apart from the various flavours of tea they also serve sandwiches, muffins and a few desserts. I love this place and whenever possible, me and the kid hang out there.

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Shahi Dosa, Step By Step Filling & The Winner of March Month’s ‘Only’ Event

 

Hello Friends!!

Firstly apologies for disappearing suddenly, I was just held up with too many things..

Today I’m posting a Dosa recipe very close to my heart. This brings in many childhood memories..Almost once in a month after the Sunday meditation, I and my brother would accompany my parents and visit a vegetarian restaurant called Naivedyam, where I and my dad would religiously order the Shahi dosa and  savor that. While my brother ordered spring rolls and my Mom would order a paav bhaaji or chhole bhature. This happened for several years till the restaurant shut down. My dad also loved their Kashmiri pulao and after the restaurant shut down I tried the preparation

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SOS Pancakes, Stuffed Paneer N Spinach Paratha for The Review Of Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil

 
Hi All!

Last few days have been chaotic and messy, too many things happening and loads to finish with deadlines, the biggest of all the deadlines was finishing revision for the Final exams. The kid appears for his grade 7 exam and had a humongous syllabi to finish and every now and then was seeking my help. I’m taken for granted to clear his doubts and be around when he is studying as he hates being alone.

Besides this I had a carpenter and a plumber along with a mason working fulltime in my house past 4 days. My ears were deafened with all the knock knock and I was tired cleaning the house every now and then. And since all this was not enough my laptop started troubling and I was some how managing with the internet on my cell phone. I’ve a tough time when I’ve to do elaborate things using the cell phone.. Amongst all this mess the good thing that happened was that I received a 2litre can of Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil from BlogAdda with a smiley card along with it, that made my day. I am reviewing healthy heart oil as a part of the BlogAdda's Product Review Program for Indian Bloggers.

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Hariyali Masala Cottage Cheese/Paneer..step by step, & New winner of Only Snacks & Starters

Hi all!

Sorry for disappearing suddenly, was not keeping well for a while..

I'm trying to complete my entry for the Magic Mingle #5 hosted by Kalyani, using Cottage Cheese and Mint as the main ingredients.

Ever since Kalyani had announced the theme I had wanted to make the Masala paneer as my kid loves it. While living in Delhi, I would make it a point to buy masala paneer from Gopala. His paneer was extremely soft, flavorful and I used to use it for making sandwiches and tikkas.

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Baked Couscous and Cottage Cheese Rolls

 

Wishing all my readers and friends a Very Happy New Year. I pray the God almighty to help all fulfil their dreams and wishes. I also hope and pray that the year brings in more peace and harmony through out the world.

I’ve just returned back after visiting my parents and the temperature and weather change is trying to show it’s effect on my body and I’m trying hard to push it. I know I’ve not been able to acknowledge a few entries sent for ‘Only’ Cakes and Cookies, have patience, I’ll make it to your blogs in a day or two. I could not do it as my dad’s computer was not functioning properly.

I am overwhelmed by the response my first cookbook review received. Do understand the word ‘response’ should not be identified with the number of comments, in those terms my blog is amongst the back benchers, LOL,… ‘response’ clearly means the page views the post received and the many mails I received congratulating me on my effort. I’m motivated to make more attempts in this field. I also want to thank all my blogger friends and others who stopped by to leave a note for me for the review post, I’m touched and your encouragement means a lot to me.

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Smoked–Cottage Cheese Stuffed Okra

Hi Friends!
How are you all doing?

Days here are becoming hot and dull. Kitchen is steaming and working in the kitchen at times is a nightmare with temperature hitting 43C. I did envy Sanjeev Kapoor while watching Khana Khazana when he mentioned that his kitchen is air conditioned and I so desperately want to have an AC in my kitchen. I must confess my all rooms are air conditioned which I feel is not a luxury and more a necessity,  but to have an AC in the kitchen is still a luxury for me and hopefully I will have that too sometime….

Workload is gradually becoming less and hopefully in a few days I will be chirping in all the blogs leaving my comments making everyone feel that I’m alive again till then bear with me…

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Colourful Bell Pepper and Cottage Cheese Cubes

Hi!

Cottage Cheese is the only cheese which is readily available in the Indian market and we enjoy it in all the forms. Lot of people also make masala paneer, mint paneer to add in more flavour to the cottage cheese. I make all these versions as well as the plain one at home and let me tell you the home made cottage cheese  is any day better than the store bought. It’s creamier and softer.

While I was making the cottage cheese in red pepper gravy, suddenly the thought propped in my mind that if only I can add veggies to the cottage cheese, how colourful and nutritious it would be. The thought kept lingering in my mind all these days and after I announced my event there was no looking back, I had to make the cottage cheese with the veggies. I tried this preparation as an experiment using a litre of milk and coloured bell peppers, to add more flavour to it I made it a little spicy too. The end result was a colourful looking cottage cheese which not only looked attractive but was very tasty.

This version of cottage cheese can find a good deal of use in trying out many more recipes. One can eat the cheese as it is or use it in sandwiches or marinate it and roast them as tikkas or simple roast lightly in oil and eat with some chaat masala. I did the last version and I must say we enjoyed eating it, the cubes simply vanished fast from the plate.

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Stuffed Broccoli Tikkis

Hi All!

First of all a hearty thanks for writing such elaborate and open hearted comments here in my previous post. I have always loved an open and healthy discussion happening here and somehow I was missing it the past few months but the last two days I was overjoyed. I hope we will continue doing that.

I am here to share yet again another snack item which I had made as an evening snack for my kids. Yes, moms have a never ending challenge of providing a new, interesting, healthy and tasty snack everyday. To satisfy their burgeoning demands can become  burdening at times. I do try that I am able to provide them the best, but at times I do fail when health or time does not permit.

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Cottage Cheese In A Red Capsicum Gravy….From 660 Curries

Hi!

There are some recipes that you want to try  the minute you read them.This curry has been in my mind for quite some time, ever since I had read it in Mirch Masala, who had adapted it from the book 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer.  

I have read rave reviews about the book and I want to buy this book at some point of time. I do not mind S or any of my friends gifting this to me either😜. I was keen to try the curry the minute I had bookmarked it,  but the unavailability of the red bell pepper in the market did not help.

Now that the red bell peppers are readily available I was keen to try. I told S that I am going to make a gravy using bell pepper. He was quite surprised and sounded a little sceptical too but I was super excited to try the red pepper in a gravy, somehow I found the concept too inviting and innovative  too.

When I had read the recipe, I realised there was no use of oil and there was absolutely no mention of roasting the masala unlike all the curries that I make. This curry was surely inviting me to give it a try. My regular readers would know how much I stress on ‘bhuno’ the masala to get the flavours out.

To my surprise the curry turned out awesome and I did not miss out roasting the spices. The curry is smooth with delicate flavours and a perfect delight for cottage cheese lovers. It is a perfect curry for a hurried dinner or even when you have unexpected guests,  as it can be cooked in very less time. 

After I cooked this, I called  S, to share my experience. He liked it when he tried it but it became my younger son’s instant favourite!

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Cottage Cheese and Sesame Coins

 

 

Hi Again!

I must tell my friends that I am a winter girl and the onset of winter here is keeping me chirpy. My energy level and spirits are high, surely this makes me indulge more in the kitchen. That gentle nip in the air which is so comforting and soothing after the scary monsoon. I love to go out and shop, explore the new and I also love to stand in the balcony to feel the gentle breeze which sometimes sends a wave through my spine. This climate also gives me a good opportunity to sit close to DH with the excuse that I am feeling cold. LOL. I would surely like to know how many of my friends enjoy winter?

I have been cooking and experimenting a lot and this month will surely see some of the most exciting and interesting recipes here as I host two events through the month ‘Only’- Chaat and Flavours Of Punjab, so you also rush in your entries.

I had some cottage cheese to finish and I normally keep some boiled potatoes ready in the fridge which I could use for lunch boxes or in emergency. One of these chirpy days I wanted to have a quick snack but made differently, something I had not attempted earlier. I keep making cottage cheese cutlets quite frequently in one form or another. This time I did not want to have  any overpowering spices into it and also wanted a  crunchy bite to it, so thought of using sesame. Initial few pieces I applied sesame on both the sides but realized that it’s flavor is overpowering so made the latter only with one side of sesame. The result was very satisfying and I gobbled up quite a few while making them. These coins have the bite of sesame but otherwise they just melt in the mouth.

I thought they can make perfect party starter, an evening snack or are good for school Tiffin box too. The procedure is quite simple, the only precaution one needs to take is while flipping the coins as they are extremely delicate and soft.

Ingredients

2 cups crumbled cottage cheese/Paneer

2 large potatoes boiled, peeled and grated

an onion finely chopped

5 green chilies

4 garlic pods

2-3 bread slices

an inch ginger piece

a handful of coriander

1 tsp white pepper pwd

3-4 tbsp cornstarch

6-7 tbsp white sesame

salt to taste

oil for low oil roasting

Method

In  a shallow pan heat a tsp oil and saute the onions. Cool.

Grind together the ginger, garlic, green chilies and coriander.

Mix the Cottage Cheese, Potato, onion and the ginger-garlic paste.

Soak the bread slices in water, sqeeze and mix in the cottage cheese mix.

Add salt to taste and combine all ingredients properly.

Mix cornstarch and water to form a thin paste.

Take small portion of the mix and make flat coins, dip them in cornstarch paste and then shallow fry using very less oil. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.

Roast on a medium flame on either side and serve hot with tomato ketch up or green chutney.

Paneer Makhanwala

Hi!

Cottage Cheese/Paneer is an all time favorite with my kids especially my younger one. I keep trying various preparations with it so that it can be enjoyed every time we eat. One can surely read many recipes with this versatile product here in my space.

When I say it is versatile it means that it can be used to make curry, starters, desserts etc. Since it has quite a plain taste, as a foodie we can play with many flavors and spices with it. I personally like my curry a little spicy. This particular preparation is quite simple to prepare and does not need any special ingredient and surely tastes good. S, who is on a diet could not stop asking for more of this. As for my younger one he could not resist it and had an early dinner and loved eating it.

For the simplest of the curry to get the right flavor I insist that the masala be roasted properly, that surely is the key to any curry and I am quite patient about it, I surely do not compromise on that. I might use low oil while roasting/bhuno the masala but I ensure that it’s well cooked and the aroma spread out. When I was roasting the masala for this curry, my elder one had just come back from school and the first question he asked is “What are you making?” I could smell the masala at the main gate. Now the main gate is about 40m from my place but as the masala was well roasted the aroma had spread out. Check out this simple but amazingly tasty curry and yes, well roasted too!!!

Ingredients

250gms Cottage Cheese/Paneer cut into cubes

3 onions roughly chopped

1/2 tsp cumin

4-5 garlic pods

1/2” piece ginger

2-1/2  tbsp Tomato Paste

2 tbsp Kasoori Methi

1 tsp degi mirch

1 tsp red chili pwd

1 tbsp coriander pwd

2 tbsp fresh cream

1/2 tsp garam masala (mine is verry strong)

1/4 tsp of turmeric pwd

salt to taste

oil for cooking

Method

Grind together onion, ginger, garlic and cumin together.

Heat about 2 tbsp oil and add the onion paste and saute on low flame till it’s cooked.

 

Meanwhile in a shallow pan in few tsp oil roast the cottage cheese cubes on either side till golden brown.

To the onion paste add the tomato paste and mix thoroughly.

Add salt to taste, both the chili pwds, turmeric and garam masala and cook till oil separates.

 

Add about 1-1/2 cups water and bring the curry to a boil.

 

Add the cream, simmer and cook.

Finally add the Paneer and kasoori methi and cook for about 5 mins.

Garnish with some cream and grated paneer and serve hot with roti/ naan or jeera rice.

Sending this to Flavours Of Punjab hosted by me, an event started by Nayna of Simply.food

Also reposting Flambeed Capsicum in Red Gravy without any Liquor

Paneer- Kaju Pasanda and Garlic Naan

Paneer Dilkhush

Dhaba Style Palak Paneer

Kadhai Paneer

Cheese and Cheese Croquettes

Hi friends!

Today’s post is my last entry to my event ‘Only’- Kids delight hosted by me which ends today at 11:59 PM IST, so you also rush your entries and be a runner for a giveaway by www.tarladalal.com. Since Kids love finger foods so this time I have really over boded myself on my limits to fried foods so that I could provide a second entry on fried foods as all my two entries of snacks were baked.  I have observed kids love fried foods  and this preparation is simply adored by any kid or as a matter of fact by every one.

Croquettes pronounced as ‘kroke’ is derived from a French word ‘croquer’ which means to crunch. These are normally made either in cylindrical or disc shape and can be made with many ingredients like potato, cottage cheese, meat etc. They might be made with or without filling, are rolled in bread crumbs and deep fried. These are extremely crunchy externally and soft inside. They have gained a huge popularity throughout world as a fast food and also as a delicacy.

This time I used cottage cheese and a combination of Cheddar- Mozzarella to make these croquettes. I did not add many flavorings and kept the spice level suitable to my kids and I can assure you that they are lip smacking tasty. The only precaution one needs to take in  making this croquette is that it can be  challenging for beginners and they need to be handled gently as both the cheeses are not so firm and get de-shaped  easily. If you find making cylindrical shape difficult just make disc shaped croquettes as taste wise there’s no change.

Both the cheese provide high protein content and mozzarella is a good source of carbohydrates and fats. These are perfect for growing kids especially the fussy ones as no one can say ‘NO’ to these…

Ingredients

200 gm Cottage Cheese/ Paneer

100 gm Cheese (cheddar-mozzarella)

3 green chilies finely chopped

2 tbsp cilantro finely chopped

1/2 tsp white pepper pwd

1/2 tsp oregano

3 tbsp corn starch

bread crumbs

salt to taste

oil for deep frying

corn starch and water slurry

Method

Grate both the cheeses and mix all the ingredients except the oil and bread crumbs.

Mix properly and take small portions and shape them cylindrically.

Deep fry on a medium flame immediately. Take precaution during frying as these get burnt easily.

Serve hot with tomato sauce.

Sending it to

Let's Relish: Paneer

 

to Neha’s Kids Menu Event

Bohri Paneer and Stuffed Onion Kulcha

Hi again!

Continuing to post the recipes of my Rakhi preparations I share today two extremely tasty recipes. Bohri Paneer and Stuffed Onion Kulcha. The two together make an excellent combo. My kids loved the mild cottage cheese gravy with the amazingly soft kulchas.

I had seen the  Bohri ( a Muslim community from Gujarat) preparation in a cookery show and it originally is a non-veg preparation so non vegetarians can try their version. I personally liked the ingredients going into it and thought that the mix will surely taste good and hence attempted  trying it with cottage cheese (paneer) and I must say it’s worth trying and tastes good. The preparation is surely rich and creamy and high on calories but perfect for festive occasion or a celebratory lunch/dinner. The recipe does not need many ingredients and has a subtle taste, I am sure all kids would love it,  just like my kids did.

During our stay in Goa we used to visit Fidalgo on 18th June road in Panjim and I used to love their onion kulcha. My love for kulchas surely had begun there. I would prefer a kulcha over the Naan any day. I just love this soft Indian bread, it’s truly amazing!!! Ever since then I had been wanting to try it and I do not know why I never tried it till now. Glad I did as we fell in love with it. I tried making it on the griddle as well as baking it and either way it was successful and tasted superb. The Kulcha by itself can also be eaten as it is soft, stuffed and is quite flavorful.

Ingredients for Bohri Paneer

400 gms cottage cheese cubed

2 onions chopped

5-6 garlic pods

3-4 green chilies

1/4 tsp white pepper (optional)

an inch of ginger chopped

about 1/2 cup curds

15 almonds blanched

5-6 tbsp coriander

a small handful of mint leaves

1/2 tsp garam masala

salt to taste

and ghee/clarified butter for cooking

Method for Cooking Bohri Paneer

Heat a tsp of oil and saute the onions followed by the ginger and garlic. Cool it.

 

Grind together the blanched almonds, green chilies, coriander, mint, curds and the cooled onion mix.

Marinate the cubed paneer in the ground paste with some salt for half an hour.

Heat some ghee in a pan and add the paneer (cottage cheese) and cook well till the paste coats the paneer nicely then add some garam masala to it.

Now add the milk followed by the cream. Bring it to a boil and switch off the flame else the cream curdles.

Ingredients For the Kulcha Dough

3 cups APF

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1-1/4 tsp sugar

1/2 cup milk

about 1/4 cup curds

salt to taste

3 tbsp oil

ghee or butter for application

some APF for rolling

For the onion stuffing

onions finely chopped

some cilantro chopped

2 chilies finely chopped

a tsp of caraway seeds (shahjeera)

a little salt

Method for the Kulcha dough

Mix all the ingredients of the dough except the oil and ghee and knead a firm but soft dough and cover it with a damp cloth for 10 mins.

After 10 mins knead the dough again with the oil and let it to rest for an hour.

Take a small dumpling of the dough and using some APF roll it. Put the stuffing in it, spread, press it and spread a little flour over it. I realised  after making a few kulchas that pressing the onions helps as they do not come out while rolling.

 

Fold it from the edges again and make a ball then roll it into a 6”-7” disc using APF.

 

Now either you bake it at 250C or cook on the griddle, either way they turned out well, and you get soft and fluffy kulchas. Finally smear it with some butter or ghee and serve hot.

   

 

The combo together.

A quick reminder that the ‘Only’- Kids Delight gets over by month end so  rush in your entries and get a chance to win a cookbook by Tarla Dalal. Also US/UK/Canada residents can participate in the CSN Giveaway.

Sending it to

Let's Relish: Paneer and Show Me Your Curries events.

to Neha’s Kids Menu Event

also reposting Cottage Cheese – Sago Corn Cobs for Let’s Relish.