Nan Khatai Biscuit

Nan Khatai are eggless biscuit easy to make and very delicious to eat.They go great with tea.This recipe will make about 25 biscuits.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup besan(gram flour)
1/3 cup suji
1/3 cup Maida(All purpose flour)
Pinch of Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup sugar(fine)
1 tbsp sliced almonds
1 tbsp sliced pistachios.

Procedure:
1.Mix Maida,suji,besan,baking powder and cardomom powder in a bowl.
2.Now take butter and whip it in bowl with electric hand blender or spoon in circular motion for 5 min.The butter used here should be soft at room temperature.
3.Now butter will become light and fluffy.Now add sugar and whip it again for 3-4 min.
4.Add flour mixture prepared in step 1 into this butter mixture and make a smooth dough.
5.Pre heat the oven at 375 degree fahrenheit.
6.Divide the mixture into 25 small smooth balls.
7.Take each ball and make tic tac toe or criss cross and press some almonds and pistachios on its surface.
8.Repeat the same for rest of the balls.
9.Grease the baking sheet and place these balls at 1 1/2 inch apart.
10.Bake it for 10-12 min.
11.Now take the baking sheet out and let the biscuits cool for 5 min.
12.Remove the biscuits from baking sheet and serve with hot cup of tea.
13.Enjoy the yummy nan khatai biscuits.

Murmura Tehri

Murmura tehri is excellent evening snack goes great with cup of masala tea.It is prepared using Murmura also called laiya in some regions of North India.It just takes 10 min to prepare and is delicious to taste.So enjoy this evening snack.

Ingredients:
One boiled medium sized potato chopped in cubes
1/2 cup boiled green peas.
1 tomato finely chopped
1 green chilly finely chopped
3 tsp of vegetable oil
1/4 tsp of cumin seeds
Pinch of asefoetida
1/4 tsp of Haldi(turmeric) powder
Salt to taste.
1/4 tsp chill powder.
1 tsp lime juice.
Three cups of murmura
Coriander leaves finely chopped for garnishing.

Procedure:
1.Heat oil in Pan.
2.Put cumin seeds in oil and wait till it splutters.Now add asefoetida,and haldi and fry them for 1 sec.
3.Now add chopped tomatoes and wait till they become soft.
4.Now add potatoes,green chillies and green peas and fry them for 5 min.
5.In the mean time put the murmura in 5 cups of warm water and wait till they become soft.When they become soft drain water from them properly.
6.Now add these wet murmuras in pan with tomatoes,peas and potatoes mixture.Mix them well.
7.Now add salt and chilly powder in this and cook for 2 min,keep stirring in between.
8.Add lime juice and mix well.
9.Garnish it with chopped coriander and serve with a cup of tea or coffee.

Vegetable Pakoras

Vegetable pakoras are delicious snack and taste even better in rainy season.They go best with tea.
Ingredients:
1 cup gram flour(besan)
1/4 cup rice flour
1 Potato medium thin slices
1 small Cauliflower sliced thin

1/4 bunch spinach finely chopped.

1 onion finely chopped
2 Green Chillies finely chopped
1 tea spoon cumin seeds
1 tea spoon corriander powder
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1/2 cup water
2 cup oil for frying
Salt to taste

Procedure:
1.Take bowl and add besan,rice flour,salt,spices,green chillies and chopped coriander leaves.

2.Now add all vegetables in it and mix well.
3.Heat oil in pan.
4.Put small portion of batter with spoon in the oil
5.Fry them till golden brown.
6.Drain pakoda on paper towels to extract extra oil and serve hot with mint chutney or ketchup.

Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji is a famous and a typical Maharashtrian dish.It is not only ideal for breakfast and snacks but can also be taken in dinner and lunch.The best part about it is that different vegetables are used, so one doesn't have to worry about the veggie intake; especially good for kids who are fussy in eating vegetables.

Ingredients:

6 pavs (soft buns)

For preparing Bhaji:

2 tbsp.Butter to shallow fry

4 boiled potatoes

1 capsicum,

2 onions chopped finely

1 tsp.ginger and garlic paste

4 tomatoes chopped finely

1/2 cup peas

1/2 cup cauliflower

2 tsp. pavbhaji masala

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. turmeric powder

Salt according to taste

1 cup water (in which vegetables were boiled)

For garnishing:

1 tbsp. Coriander chopped

1 small onion chopped

Small pieces of lemon

Procedure:

1.Pressure cook cauliflower,capsicum and peas till well done.

2.Mash them coarsely after draining along with boiled potatoes.

3.Heat butter in a pan.

4.Add ginger-garlic paste and saute it till light brown .

5. Add finely chopped onions and saute till they are golden brown.

6. Add chopped tomatoes and saute till the whole mixture starts leaving butter on sides.(an indication that its done).

7. Add pavbhaji masala, chili powder, turmeric, salt, and cook again.

8.Add all the mashed vegetables and cook for 5 more minutes till its mixed well.

9.Add the water used for boiling vegetables and bring it to boil.

10.Simmer till it becomes thick.

11.Garnish with chopped coriander and a small block of butter.

12.Serve with buttered pavs, chopped onions and slices of lemon.

13.For the Pavs ,cut them horizontally.

14.Apply butter and roast open on a tava or non-stick frypan till hot and soft.

15.Serve hot and enjoy.

Hing Pakori(Aaloo Pakori)

Pakori is a famous evening snack.In South India it is called bhajia,In Maharashtra it is called bhaji,In North India it is called Pakori,in Bengal it is known by "bhaja" name.These can be of different types but my mom use to prepare a special type of Pakori which she called as"hing Pakori".I will like to share it with you...Below recipe will prepare pakories for 2 people.

Ingredients:

2 Potatoes-chopped into very small cubes

1 1/2 cup gram flour.

1/2 tsp chilly powder.

1/4 tsp asefoetida(hing)

1 green chilly finely chopped.

Salt to taste.

2 cups oil for frying pakories

Procedure:

1.Mix potatoes,gram flour,salt,chilly powder and hing together.

2.Let the mix stand for 5 min.

3.If still the mix is dry the add 4 tsp of water(or less),as more water will lead the mixture to be thin .The consistency of mix should be such that pakories can be made.

4.Heat oil in skillet.

5.Put the mix with spoon and let them fry(deep fry)until they become golden brown.

6.Now turn the pakories the other side and fry them untill they become golden brown.

7.Serve hot with tea.

Dal Tikki

Dal tikki is very nutritious and delicious evening snack.This is prepared using masoor dal.It goes great with a cup of tea.The below recipe will prepare 5 medium sized tikkies.

Ingredients:
3 cups of cooked whole masoor dal
1 tomato finely chopped
1 inch ginger finely chopped.
2 green chillies finely chopped.
1/4 tsp chilly powder
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
Pinch of hing(asafoetida)
salt to taste
3 tsp oil.

Procedure:
1.Heat oil in a skillet.Put cumin seeds and wait untill they splutter.
2.Add hing in this and then put tomatoes,chillies and ginger in this and cook untill tomatoes become soft and pulpy.
3.Now add cooked masoor dal in this and keep stirring in between so that it doesn't gets burnt from bottom and sides.Cook it for 15 minutes.
4.You will now notice that the water of the dal has gone and the dal is turning dry.
5.Cook untill the whole mixture is completely dry.
7.Fry it for 5 min more after the mixture is dried so that the mixture will become roasted and crispy.
8.Cut it in round

9.Serve hot with a cup of tea.

Samosa

Samosa is the most favourite indian snack that is loved by every indian.It goes well with coriander chutney

Ingredients:
For Stuffing:
3-4 Potatoes (boiled, peeled & finely chopped into small cubes)
1/2 cup Green Peas (boiled)
1-2 Green Chilies (finely chopped)
1/2tsp Ginger (crushed)
1tbsp coriander finely chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seeds.
pinch of asoefitida(hing)
Few chopped Cashews (optional)
Few Raisins (optional)
1/2tsp Garam masala
Salt to taste
Red chili powder to taste
1/2 tsp. Dry Mango powder( Amchur) (optional)


For Samosa cover:
1 cup all purpose flour (Maida)
Water to Knead dough
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4th tsp. Ajwain (optional)


Procedure:
For Cover:
1.Mix all the ingredients (salt, oil, ajwain) except water.
2.Add a little water at a time.
3.Pat and knead well for several times into a soft pliable dough.
4.Cover it with moist Muslin cloth and keep aside for 15 minutes.

For Stuffing :
1.Heat oil in pan.Add cumin seeds and wait till they splutter.Now add hing in this
2.Add all rest of dry masala in 1/2 cup water and mix it.Add this mixture into oil and mix them 3.and let them fry for 1 min.
4.Add chopped potatoes and mix well.
5.Add green peas, cashews and raisins and mix well.
6.Add coriander and keep aside.

To Proceed :
1.Make small rolls of dough and roll it into a 4"-5" diameter circle.
2.Cut it into two parts like semi-circle.
3.Now take one semi circle and fold it like a cone. Use water while doing so.
4.Place a spoon of filling in the cone and seal the third side using a drop of water.
5.Heat oil in a kadhai and deep fry till golden brown (fry on a medium flame).
6.Serve samosa hot with coriander chutney.

Finger Chips

Finger chips is one of the most delicious appetizer that is enjoyed as evening snack with tea.

Ingredients:
- 5-6 potatoes
- ¼ tea spoon Red chilly powder
- ½ tea spoon mango (aamchur) powder

-2 1/2 Cup oil for frying.
- Salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Peel the skin of the potatoes and cut it into long and thin strips.
2. Heat oil in a pan.
3. Fry the cut potatoes in oil.
4. When the potatoes become little pinkish in color and crisp remove it on a tissue paper to soak the excess oil from the potatoes.
5. Now add red chilly powder and mango powder and salt and mix well.
6.Enjoy it with hot tea.

Aaloo Tikki

Aaloo Tikki is one of the most common snack enjoyed in almost all parts of India.This delicious recipe is quick to prepare and lovely to eat.This is a unique snack that is loved by kids as well as adults.

Ingredients:
4 medium size boiled and mashed Potatoes(Russet).
1 1/2 inch of finely chopped ginger.
1 chopped green chilly.(optional)
1/2 tsp of red chilly powder.
1/2 tsp of coriander powder.
1/2 cup oil for frying.
4 tsp of lemon juice.
Some chopped coriander.
Salt to taste.

Preparation
1.Take mashed potatoes and add salt,chilly powder,coriander powder in it and mix well.
2.Once the mixture is well mixed make round disc of 2 inch diameter and 1 cm thickness.
3.Now heat pan and coat it with oil.
4.Put the tikkis in pan and let it fry on medium flame till they are golden brown and have a crispy crust.
5.Invert the tikkis and put some oil on the margins and fry it in same way as in point no.4.
6.Now take the fried tikkis in plate and put pinch of salt in it.
7.Add lemon juice in it.
8.Garnish it with ginger and chopped coriander.
9.The delicious tikkis are ready to serve.
Enjoy this great evening snack with a cup of tea!!!

This recipe I am sending for contest April 1st - CFK : Potato organised by Sharmi's blog.