Aloo Matar Kheema Masala- Malvani Style#SundayFunday

Aloo Matar Kheema Masala is a wonderfully simple, yet comforting Maharastrian cuisine recipe made with mince meat, potatoes and peas, that you can definitely try out. The spice mix is spicy, so adjust the spice level according to your taste.

Ingredients
300 Grams Kheema / Mince- Mutton/ Lamb/ Beef
2 Medium Onion- finely chopped
1 Tablespoons Ginger Garlic paste
2 Medium Tomato - finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Whisked Yogurt
1½ Teaspoon Heaped Malvani Masala
3 Tablespoons Groundnut Oil
1 Teaspoon Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander leaves
1 Green Chilly - Chopped
3 Baby Potatoes - cut into 2 pieces
½ Cup Matar/ Green Peas - I used frozen

Method

Heat oil in a pan add the onion fry on low flame till light golden, add tomato and ginger garlic paste and sauté till oil separates add the masala and ½ cup water cover and cook till oil surfaces, add the potatoes, matar and kheema sauté for 3 minutes. 

Again add  ½ cup water cover and cook till the potatoes and kheema is done. Add green chilly and coriander leaves cover and cook for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame add vinegar mix well.

Enjoy it's super delicious and spicy, you'll love it!! A perfect main course dish. 

Labels: Aloo, Green Peas, Mince, Sunday Funday, Main course, Maharastrian Cuisine   

• Chocolate Bunny Hot Cocoa Bombs from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Bunny Mary from Culinary Cam
• Aloo Matar Kheema Masala- Malvani Style from Sneha's Recipe
• Carrot and Raisin Salad from Palatable Pastime
• Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Goan Baath Cake (Semolina Coconut Cake) from Cook with Renu

Baby Potatoes In Green Gravy With A Twist#SundayFunday

Palak Paneer or Aloo Palak is mostly prepared in every Indian homes. But this recipe is with a twist and it taste so delicious with some unique ingredients in the gravy. Do try, it's luscious green and so finger licking.

Ingredients
8 - 10 Baby potatoes - boiled and peeled
1 Cup Blanched Palak / Spinach
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Medium Onion - roughly chopped
1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
3 Green Chillies
1 Tablespoon Cashew nut pieces
8 Tender Stems of the Palak / Spinach
1 Teaspoon Oil
1 Veg Seasoning Cube
3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon Fresh cream
Oil as required

Method

In a teaspoon of oil fry the stems and cashew nut till the stems have changed color.

Microwave the palak for 2 minutes. Immediately add a tablespoon of oil and half teaspoon sugar to it and mix it. This helps to retain the luscious green color. 

When cooled grind this to a paste along with onion, ginger garlic and green chillies with 2 tablespoons milk.

Make a fine paste.In the pan add sufficient oil to deep fry the potatoes till light golden keep aside. 

In the same pan that the potatoes were fried remove the excess oil and keep 2 tablespoons oil fry the ground onion paste with half cup of water covered with a lid stirring in between till oil leaves the sides. Add potatoes and cover and cook for 5 minutes, add water and seasoning cube. Open the lid add palak and give it a good stir cover and cook for 5 minutes. Taste for salt, add if necessary, now add mayonnaise and switch of the gas. Garnish with cream. 

This Aloo Palak sabzi is delicious on its own. 

Have it with roti , naan , paratha or serve with Yellow Rice which we enjoyed goes well with this.

Labels: Aloo, Baby Potatoes, Palak Leaves, Spinach, Mayonnaise, Main course, Sunday Funday

For our event called Sunday Funday, wherein we share recipes our families will love to enjoy on a Sunday. Our theme for Sunday Funday: " Fresh Garden Harvest".   

• Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Blender Salsa from Palatable Pastime
• Sweet and Spicy Rhubarb Chutney from Cook with Renu
• Caprese Skewers from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Fruit Salad with Rhubarb Syrup, Mint and Basil from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Baby Potatoes In Green Gravy With A Twist from Sneha’s Recipe
• Tomato, Garlic, and Basil Bruschetta from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Summer Squash Gratin from Food Lust People Love

How To Make Homemade Sun Dried Potato Chips#Foodieextravaganza

As summer starts  to set in, there begins making sun dried items and pickles. I, have many fond memories of my childhood summer  spent helping my mother  in making different types of  papad, pickles, washing and  drying of sacks of un- polished rice  and  grains / millets and other items.  We sister's use to take turn  to guard from birds coming and eating or spoiling them.  We use to turn and mix all the items in late afternoons.  These were made in preparation for the coming monsoons.  

Our playground use to be covered with colorful 9 yards saris and bed sheets.  The ground use to look like a bride in colorful attire. 

But sad now days we rarely get to see all these things being done at home since all items are available in stores through out the year.  The fun of getting together and doing things are all lost, miss those days.

Going back to Sun dried Potato chips - these are made in two patterns ,one is plain sliced and other is with the crisscross pattern . 

For making the crisscross pattern you need a potato slicer with a serrated blade.

 Can make the plain one with any potato slicer, mandolin, V slicer, with a food processor or even with a sharp knife.

After slicing, the chips should be placed in alum water for at least an hours then washed three to four times in fresh water to remove the starch completely and then blanched in hot water. 

It is preferred to dry them in direct sunlight but you can also dry them inside a room like I did. It only takes 2 to 3 days extra to dry.   Try to choose good quality, fresh, white and starchy potatoes – as the quality of potatoes also effects the quality and color of the potato chips.

Do try to make these potato chips from scratch, it gives you great joy to enjoy these homemade  chips and they  absolutely crisp and addictive!

Made these for our Foodie event wherein our host Karen H Kerr choose the theme Potato Chips, since March 14 is National Potato Chip Day. Thank you Karen for choosing this theme and reviving all my young age memories.

Ingredients

Medium Potato as many as you would like
Salt to taste
¼ Teaspoon + ¼ Teaspoon Alum powder /Phitkari
Red Chili powder  or Black Pepper powder– to sprinkle
Serrated Potato slicer /mandolin / V slicer
Water
Muslin cloth or plastic sheet
Oil to deep fry

Method

Wash and peel the potato  (peeling is optional and a personal choice).

Fill enough water in a large pot and add alum powder in it and mix well.

With the the help of potato chips slicer start making chips.

For the crisscross pattern you have to use the serrated potato slicer.  My these chips did not come out nicely, the serrated slicer was not sharp enough.

To make crisscross pattern first you have to put peeled potato on the slicer and then slice a chip by applying slight pressure on it. Then for the next chips slightly twist the potato and make the next slice .  So keep twisting the direction of potato after every chips.

If you want to make plain chips then you can use any normal potato slicer or a sharp knife.

Keep soaking all the potato chips in the water filled bowl in which you have mixed ¼ teaspoon of alum for  an hour.  Alum is added so that the potato slices do not discolor, so it is necessary to add it.

After an hour then drain the water and wash the chips three to four  times in fresh water so that all excess starch is removed and on your last rinse you will see the water will be clear unlike the prior washes where the water will have milky traces of starch.

Boil enough water in a big pan / pot and add salt (enough to make the water taste a little salty) and ¼ teaspoon  of alum powder.

When water starts to boil add the drained potatoes in it. Keep stirring gently till the water starts boiling again (for just 5 minutes).  Drain the blanched potato chips in a colander to drain all the water.

Spread hot chips on a muslin cloth in a single layer,avoid overlapping.

They will dry in about 3 to 4 days time or depending on the heat in the climate.  Since I get only an hour or two of light sun in gallery, these took 4 days to completely dry.

When they become dry and crisp store in a air tight jar and use till they last a year.

How to serve / enjoy these homemade  chip 

Heat enough oil in a deep frying pan.

When the oil is hot add few sun dried chips and fry .  They will expand, so do not add to many at a time.

Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

Sprinkle a dash of chili powder or black pepper powder  and serve

My Notes :

Alum  /Phitkari  is  crystal white in rock form and you need to powder it.
Try to choose big, round,white and even size potatoes to make chips.

Alum is added to make chips white in colour as some times potato chips turn slightly black after drying.But don’t add too much else the chip may become red while frying.

You can add any spice of your choice on the fried chips, like dry mint powder, mango / amchur powder, black rock salt powder, roasted cumin powder, tomato powder, chat masala on fried chips to enhance the flavor.

Sliced potatoes should be completely submerged in water to avoid discoloration.

Adding salt in the water is optional ,you can also sprinkle salt after deep frying,but I prefer to add it while boiling.

Labels: Potato, Homemade, Sun Dried. Potato Chips, Foodie Extravaganza Party, Deep Fried, Indian, Snacks, Wafers, Kids delight, Aloo, Vegan, Gluten free 
Take a look at the other Potato Chips recipes.

A College Throwback + Potato Chip-Crusted Chocolate Tart from Culinary Adventures from Camilla
Baked BBQ Potato Chip Crusted Pork Chops from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
How to Make Homemade Sun Dried Potato Chips from Sneha's Recipe
Potato Chip and Roasted Cashew Cookies from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Potato Chip Crusted Salt and Vinegar Baked Cod from Palatable Pastime
Potato Chip Crust Savory Cheesecake from Food Lust People Love
Pretzel and Potato Chip Cookies with Butterscotch Frosting from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Salty-Sweet Potato Chip Cookies from Hardly a Goddess
The Potato Chip Sandwich from Our Good Life

Foodie Extravaganza celebrates obscure food holidays, and we all post recipes using the same ingredient. Posting day is always the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you!

Aloo Tamatar Jhol - No Onion No Garlic

Aloo jhol is a dish from the North Indian cuisine of Uttar Pradesh, this is a no onion no garlic gravy dish which can be had with puris, luchis or chapatis and also goes well with steamed rice.

Jhol means a thin gravy, wherein  the potatoes are first boiled  and then add them to the gravy.  This gravy does thicken when it cools a little.    This is another vrat recipe.

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
1 Inch Piece Ginger -  finely chopped
1 Green Chilly -  finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Tomato paste
5 Medium Potatoes - boiled
A Pinch of Asafoetida
1 Teaspoon Heaped Coriander powder

1 Teaspoon Heaped Red chilly powder

½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder

½ Teaspoon Sugar 

Salt to taste

Water as required
1 Tablespoon  Coriander leaves - finely chopped

Method

Chop the potatoes into thin triangle slices.

Grind the green chilly and ginger to  make a fine paste. keep aside.

Heat  oil in a kadai, add  cumin seeds and  mustard seeds,  when they crackle them add the ground paste and tomato paste, fry till oil surface, then add the turmeric, chilly and coriander powders, with a little water and saute  till oil surfaces. 

Add the  potatoes and continue to fry for a minute, add salt, sugar, two cups of water  or more and bring it to a rolling boil.  When it comes to boil, cover and let it simmer on low flame for 10 to 15 minutes till oil surfaces.  Keep stirring off and on and mash the potatoes lightly.   Adjust the gravy consistency is accordingly by adding more water.

When done then garnish it with coriander leaves and serve with puris, luchi or chapatis or steamed rice.

My Notes

Can use 2 medium tomatoes blended instead tomato paste . Blend the tomatoes with the ginger and green chilly.

Labels: Aloo, Tomato, No Onion No Garlic, Vrat, Uttar Pradesh

Stuffed Aloo Parathas #BreadBakers

When I, visited Himachal for holidays  recently with my friends, these luscious Aloo Parathas were an integral part of our meal whether breakfast  or lunch.   

These parathas are stuffed with a succulent mixture of mashed potatoes, green chillies and onions ..,  stilll remember the taste and how we  relished these parathas , which is an indispensable part of North Indian cuisine.   

When  November's theme - root vegetables was shared by our Host  Karen , the first thing that came to my mind was these luscious Aloo Parathas.  
Ingredients
For The Dough
2 Cups  Whole Wheat Flour
1 Tablespoons  Ghee - melted
1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt

For The Stuffing
5 Medium Potatoes -  boiled , peeled and mashed
1 Medium Onion -  finely chopped 2 - 3 Green Chillies - finely chopped 
1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/4 Teaspoon Sendav Namak
1/2 Teaspoon Heaped Chat Masala powder
2 Tablespoons Coriander  leaves - finely chopped 

Other Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - for rolling
Desi Ghee as required
Method 
For the dough

Combine the whole wheat flour, ghee and salt in a bowl and mix well.
Add enough water and knead into a lightly soft dough. Keep aside covered for at least half an hour.

For the stuffing

In a bowl add the  potatoes, turmeric powder,  green chillies, salt, coriander leaves,  chat masala powder, mix well and form  a ball
Divide the stuffing into equal portions and keep aside.

To make the parathas

Divide the dough into equal portions according to the stuffing.

Roll a portion of the dough into a small circle.

Place a little stuffing in the center of the circle.

Bring together all the sides in the center

Close it  tightly

Remove the excess dough from the top and roll it lightly to make a ball .

Roll again into a  slightly thick circle / paratha,  dusting the work surface with a little flour.  

Keep them a side on a paper towel, cover and keep.  In the meantime place the tava / griddle  to heat on low flame.  Like wise prepare the  remaining parathas.  

When the  tava / griddle is heated, place a paratha  and let it cook on low flame till one side is done.  

Then flip and cook this sided too.  

When both side are done then spread  a little ghee of top and the sides and let it cook  until golden brown spots appear on both the sides.

Serve immediately.  Enjoy it fresh with curds and pickle.

Labels : Rotis, Aloo,  Parathas, Bread Bakers, Stuffed Bread 


Check out our other Breads from the Bread Bakers

Beetroot Bread from Sara's Tasty Buds
Caramelized Onion Cheddar Bread from Hezzi-D's Cooks and Books
Caramelized Onion Gouda Casatiello from Hostess at Heart
Carrot Spiced and Teff Bread from kidsandchic
Colocasia Root (Taro Root) Flatbread from Mayuri's Jikoni
Garlic and Herb Wreath Bread from Herbivore Cucina
Garlic Cheese Bombs from Sizzling Tastebuds
Ginger Sweet Rolls from Passion Kneaded
Honey Beet Bread from Ambrosia Soulful Kitcnen
Korean Onion Bread from Gayathri's Cook Spot
Potato Dinner Rolls from Cook's Hideout
Pull Apart Onion Bread from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Rustic Parsnip Bread from Food Lust People Love
Sourdough Onion Pockets from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Stuffed Aloo Parathas from Sneha's Recipes
Sweet Potato Bread from Cindy's Recipes and Writings #BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.