Bharwa Shimla Mirch ( Stuffed Capsicum )

Cooking Time Required: 25-30 mins
Cost of Preparation: 35-40 mins

Ingredients: Capsicum ( medium sized, 2 nos ), fresh green peas ( 1/2 cup ), potato ( 1 no., large ), onion ( 1 no., small ), paneer cubes ( 1/2 cup ), ginger garlic paste ( 1 tsp ), chilli powder (1/3 tsp ), cumin powder ( 1/5 tsp ), coriander powder ( 1/5 tsp ), garam masala ( a pinch ), fennel seeds ( 1/4 tsp ), turmeric ( 1/5 tsp ), salt, oil for cooking.

Cooking: Boil the potato and keep aside to cool down.

Cut the onions into small pieces . Crumble the paneer cubes.

Cut off the top of the capsicum. Remove the seeds and the inner pith.

Heat oil in a wok. Add fennel seeds . Follow with the onion pieces. Fry till translucent. Add ginger garlic paste. Fry till the raw smell goes off.

Add the green peas, crumbled paneer, corinader powder, cumin powder , turmeric, chilli powder and salt.

Cook till the stuffing starts leaving the sides of the wok. Sprinkle garam masala and mix well. Keep aside to cool down a bit.

Stuff the capsicum to the maximum capacity.
















Slice into two.
















Heat 3-4 tsp oil in a wok. Place the sliced capsicum and fry on both sides. Cover with a lid for faster cooking with lesser oil.

Serve as a snack or a starter.

Note: Do not go overboard with any of the aromatic spices ( coriander/cumin/garam masala ) if you want to retain the distinctive taste of capsicum.

For preparing Bharwa Shimla Mirch without onion and garlic:

Replace the ginger-garlic paste with grated ginger and the onion can be replaced with finely shredded cabbage. To retain the richness of the dish, one can add fried cashews and raisins to the stuffing.

Shimla mirch

Banana & sesame crepes with flavoured honey

Cooking Time Required: 15-20 mins
Cost of Preparation: 40-45 Rupees

Ingredients: Whole wheat flour ( 1/2 cup ), egg ( 1 no. ), milk ( 3/4 th cup ), cooking butter ( 3 tsp ), sugar ( 2 tsp ), salt ( a pinch ), baking powder ( 1/5 tsp ), sesame seeds ( 3 tsp ), ripe banana ( 1-2 nos ), honey ( 4-5 tbs ), star anise ( 2 nos ).

Cooking: Lighty roast the sesame seeds and keep aside.

Heat the honey in a thick bottomed saucepan along with the star anise . One can also add
a pinch of powdered star anise to the honey. Boil it for 5 mins . Keep aside to cool for 10-15 mins.

Break the egg in a bowl. Beat well. Add the milk, sugar and salt. Beat for 2 mins.
Sift the flour with the baking powder. Add to the beaten egg and milk. Melt 2 tsp of butter and add to it. Beat for 4-5 mins.

Heat a small frying pan to a low temperature. Add a few drops of oil/butter. Rub with a cloth to spread uniformly without leaving excess greasiness. Take 2 tbs of the batter and tilt the pan to spread uniformly.

Cut the banana into thin slices. Spread over the crepe. Sprinkle sesame seeds.
















Fold the crepe into half . As the crepes are very thin, there is no need to cook on the inner side. Remove from pan and put on a serving plate.

Drizzle with the flavoured honey. And enjoy a delectable French breakfast.

Sesame Seed

Oriya Rasgulla

Its the Oriya cousin of the famed Bengali Rosogulla....some even call it the predecessor of the latter ( the rasgulla origins remain debatable )!! And i do not happen to be in the mood to tread such treacherous waters ( After having 3 of these rasgulla i feel like i have died and gone to heaven !!!!). Most popular among all the chenna mithas from Orissa, it is close to every Oriya's heart. Unfortunately it is not known by many people outside the state.

The oriya rasgulla can be further differentiated into the Salepur and the Pahala varieties. The former is more chewy and sweeter while the latter is very soft and aromatic.

So when one of my friends returned from Bhubneshwar last week, i could not resist asking her to get some for me. I had asked for the canned variety ( these are the Salepur variety ) and not the ones sold at Pahala as the latter gets spoiled very easily.

I know some ppl would have visited my blog looking for the recipe!! Sorry folks..but its a well-guarded secret handed down over generations . I do know some people who have tried to replicate its awesome taste but with disasterous to somewhat ok results. That is enough to keep me from trying out the same.

Some would argue that its available at other places in orissa. I know it is...but i
strongly recommend that one visits this nondescript village ( Pahala ) situated near
Bhubneshwar and favours it fresh!! You can finds lots of small shops selling them. One can make a short halt at one of these shops and taste this delectable sweet. Like most people you would be willing to turn a blind eye to your diet charts and gobble half a dozen of these ( believe me...I did).

Unlike the spongy bengali rosogulla, this one has a grainy texture( not sure how to
describe it....i would say definitely less chewy and more of 'melting in the mouth' kinda feel ) and a very mild sweet-sour taste . Quite a few ppl would have missed that....just try keeping a savouring a bit of it in your mouth for a few seconds ( just like one would savour a great wine ). Sad part is that it turns very sour even when kept refrigerated.

Will post a tried & tested recipe as soon as i can get my hands on one !!!!

Phula Kobi Jholo/Rasa ( Cauliflower curry )

Cooking Time Required: 30-35 mins
Cost Of Preparation: 50-60 Rupees

Ingredients: cauliflower ( 250 gm), onion ( 1 large ), potato ( 1 small), red chillis ( 3-4 nos), ginger garlic paste ( 2-3 tsp ), tomatao ( 1 large ), coriander stems ( 1-2 tsp ), green peas ( 1 cup ), cumin seeds ( 1/3 tsp ), cumin powder ( 1/2 tsp ), coriander powder ( 1 tsp ), kasuri methi ( 2 tsp ), cardamon ( 1-2 nos ), cinnamon ( 1 inch long ), cloves ( 1-2 ), bay leaf ( 1 no. ), salt, turmeric, oil ( 6-7 tsp ).

Preparation: Cut the cauliflower into medium sized florets. Potato should be cut into cubes.

Cut the onion into small chunks.

Boil the tomato for 5 mins.

Cooking: Heat 3 tsp oil in a frying pan. Add turmeric followed by the cauliflower florets and stir fry for 7-8 mins. Add the potato cubes and fry for 3-4 mins more. Remove from pan and keep aside.

Heat 2 tsp of oil in the same pan. Add coriander stems, cardamon, cinnamon, bay leaf and cloves. Fry for a minute.

Add the onions and fry till translucent. Peel the tomato and add to the pan. Cook for 2
mins.

Transfer to a mixer-grinder and grind into a smooth paste while it is still hot.

Heat the remaining oil in a wok. Add the red chillis and cumin seeds.

Add the onion and tomato paste along with the ginger-garlic paste and a little bit of salt. Fry for 4-5 mins till the raw smell goes off.

Add the cumin and coriander powder. Fry for 1-2 mins.

Add the fried florets and potatoes along with the green peas, kasuri methi, salt and 2-3 cups of water.

Boil for 8-10 mins or till the gravy thickens to ones' preference.

Serve hot with rotis/paratha/rice.

Cauliflower

Chinguri Sukhua Tarkari ( Dried Shrimp Curry )

Cooking Time Required: 15-20 mins
Cost of preparation: 25-30 Rupees

Ingredients: Chingudi sukhua/dried shrimps ( one can use any other fish as well, 100-150 gm ), potato ( 1 large ), onion ( 1 large ), green chillis ( 2-3 nos )besara ( mustard-garlic paste , 1-2 tsp ), pancha-phutana ( 1/3 tsp ), salt, turmeric, mustard oil .

Preparation: Wash and drain the sukhua.

Cut the onions into thin strips. The potato should be diced into small cubes.

Cooking: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a wok. Add the washed sukhua and stir fry for 4-5 mins. Do not fry it till crispy.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the green chilli and pancha-phutana.

Once the seeds start crackling, add the onions. Fry the onions till they turn translucent.

Add the potatoes and fry for 4-5 mins.

Add the sukhua, besara and turmeric along with 1 cup water. Cook for 7-8 mins till the potato is well cooked and most of the water disappears. Add the salt and cook for another minute ot two.

Serve with rice and yellow dal/ pakhala bhata.


Note: While preparing any sukhua/dried fish/shrimp one needs to be careful with the salt. Most of the sukhua/dried fish is steeped in salt. One should add the salt towards the end to avoid making the curry very salty.

Alu Dum ( Oriya style preparation )

Cooking Time required: 25-30 mins
Cost of preparation: 40-45 Rupees


Ingredients: Baby potatoes ( 200 gm ), onion ( 1 no., medium sized ), tomato ( 1 no. medium ), coriander leaves ( 1 bunch ), ginger ( grated, 1/3 tsp ), garlic flakes ( 5-6 nos), thick yogurt ( 1 tbs ), garam masala ( 1/4 tsp ), cumin powder ( 1/3 tsp ), coriander powder ( 1/4 tsp ), red chilli powder( 1/3 tsp ), green chilli ( 1 no. ), salt, turmeric, oil for deep frying.

Preparation: Cut the coriander stems and keep aside.

Cooking: Boil the potatoes for 10 mins . Keep aside to cool. Peel the potatoes and prick all over with a fork.

Heat oil in a wok. Fry the baby potatoes till they turn golden brown. Remove from wok and keep aside.















Cut the onion and tomato into large chunks.

Heat 1-2 tsp oil in a wok. Add the onion and garlic flakes. Fy till translucent. Add the tomatoes and fry for 3-4 mins. Transfer to a grinder along with the green chillis and grind into a smooth paste.















Heat 2-3 of oil in the wok. Add grated ginger and coriander stems. Fry lightly. Add the turmeric, cumin powder , coriander powder and red chilli powder. Follow with the ground paste and salt, and fry for a few mins.

Add 1/2 cup water along with garam masala, yogurt and fried potatoes. Allow to boil for a few min or till most of the water evaporates.

Serve with rice/rotis/puris.

Alu dum is a popular street food in Orissa. It is garnished with sev, chopped onion, green chillis and coriander leaves and served on a leaf bowl by street vendors.

Baigani ( Eggplant fritters )

Cooking Time Required: 10-15 mins
Cost of Preparation: 20-25 Rupees

Ingredients: Baingan/Eggplant/Brinjal ( 1 no., large ), gram flour ( 3 tbs ), cornflour ( 1 tbs ), kasuri methi ( 1/2 tsp ), roasted coriander-cumin powder ( 1/ tsp ), red chilli powder ( 1/3 tsp ), baking powder ( a pinch ), salt, turmeric, oil for deep frying, green chilli ( optional ), coriander leaves .

Preparation: Slice the eggplant into circles ( 4-5 mm thick ). Add salt, turmeric and red chilli powder. Rub it all over the eggplant slices.

Keep aside for 15 mins.
















Mix the gram flour and cornflour with all the remaining spices and a little bit of salt.Add water to prepare a paste of thin consistency. ( One can also add finely cut green chilli and corinader leaves to this paste )

Cooking: Heat the oil in a wok.

Dip each eggplant piece into the gramflour-cornflour paste. Shake off any excess and dip into the hot oil. Fry on both sides till golden brown.

Remove from the wok and put on blotting paper ( or one can use a newspaper which works equally good ).

Garnish with finely chopped coriander and green chillis.

This can be served either as a snack or a side dish with Mutton Jholo/Kasa and Basmati Rice/Puri.

Eggplant

Kadali Bhaja ( Raw banana fry )

Cooking Time Required: 10-15 mins

Ingredients:

• 1-2 Raw bananas
• 2 red chillis 
• 1/5 tsp pancha-phutana 
• 1/5 tsp turmeric
• 2-3 tsp oil 
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp jeera-lanka powder

Preparation: Peel and cut the banana into long strips about 5-6 mm thick. Add salt and turmeric and mix well. Keep aside for 10 mins.



















Cooking: Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan. Add the pancha phutana and red chillis ( broken into pieces ). Add the banana pieces and stir fry for 1-2 mins.

Add half cup of water And cover with a lid. Allow to cook till 10 min or till the banana is done.



















Uncover and add the remaining oil on the sides of the pan . Stir lightly.

Allow the bananas to turn slightly reddish/brown .
Remove from pan,  sprinkle the jeera lanka powder all over the bananas and serve hot.

Kakharu Chana Dali Tarkari ( Pumpkin-Chana dal )

Cooking Time Required: 20-25 mins
Cost of Preparation: 50-60 Rupees


Ingredients: Pumpkin ( 1 cup, cut into small cubes ), potato ( 1 cup, cut into small cubes ), chana dal ( 1 cup ), paneer ( 100 gm ), onion ( 1 no, medium sized ), cumin seeds ( 1/3 tsp ), coriander seeds ( 1/2 tsp ), cinnamon stick ( 1/4 inch ), bay leaf( 1 no. ), cardamon ( 1 no ), red chillis ( 3 nos ), salt , turmeric, oil ( 3 tsp ), pancha-phutana ( 1/3 tsp), ghee ( 1 tsp ), garam masala ( 1 pinch ).

Preparation: Grind one half of the onion along with all other spices except for the red chillis, bay leaf and turmeric. Cut the other half into small pieces.

Soak the chana dal for 5-6 hours before cooking.

Cooking: Fry the paneer pieces for 3-4 mins in a pan.

Boil water with salt and turmeric in a vessel. Add the fried paneer pieces to the boiling turmeric water. Boil for 5-6 mins.

Wash the chana dal and boil in a pressure cooker for 1-2 whistles.
Keep aside.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the pancha-phutana, red chillis and bay leaf. Follow with the finely cut onion pieces.

Fry till the onions turn translucent. Add the masala paste along with a little salt and cook for 5-6 mins till the paste starts to leave the sides of the wok.

Add the potatoes and pumpkin pieces. Fry till it is half cooked. Add the chana dal and cook for a few mins.

Add the paneer pieces along with 1 cup of water. Cover with a lid.

Boil for 4-5 mins till the excess water is absorbed . Drizzle with 1 tsp ghee and a pinch of garam masala. Remove from the stove and keep coveed for 5 mins.

Serve hot with rotis.


Note - Skip the onions during the fasting days.

Lau chopa bara / pakoda

Cooking Time Required: 10-15 mins
Cost of Preparation: 15-20 Rupees


Ingredients: Lau chopa ( bottle gourd peels, 1 cup ), besan ( gram flour , 1 cup ), onion ( 1 small ), jeera-lanka powder ( 1/3 tsp ), curry powder ( 1/5 tsp ), green chillis ( 1-2 nos ), finely cut coriander leaves ( 2 tsp ), oil for deep frying, salt, baking powder ( 1 pinch ).

Preparatiion: Wash the peels and cut into thin strips.

Take the besan, curry powder, jeera-lanka powder , baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl along with a little amount of water. The paste should be of a thick consistency.

Add the finely cut lau peels, green chilli, coriander leaves and onions to the paste and mix well.


























Cooking: Heat the oil in a wok.

Shape the paste into small balls and add to the wok in batches . Fry till the balls turn a uniform golden brown on all sides .

Remove from the wok and keep on a blotting paper.

Serve hot as a snack with tomato sauce.

Bottle Gourd

Moist Lemon Cake

Cooking Time Required: 1 hr
Cost of Preparation: 55-65 Rupees


Ingredients:
For the cake: Maida ( flour, 2 cups ), eggs ( 4 nos), cooking butter ( 1 1/4 cup ), castor sugar ( 1 cup ), baking powder ( 2 tsp ), lemon juice ( 2 tsp ), milk ( 1/2 cup), rind of 1 green lemon ( grated )/lemon essence ( 4-5 drops ).


For the syrup: Sugar( 3 tbs ), lemon juice ( 1/2 cup).


Preparation: Beat the sugar and cooking butter for 5 mins .

Break all the eggs into one bowl and beat well. Add to the sugar and butter mixture and beat for 2 mins.

Fold in the flour and baking powder in batches along with the milk till no lumps remain.

Add the lemon juice and grated rind/lemon essence at the end. Beat for 5-6 mins.


Cooking: Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.

Grease the baking tray with butter. Sprinkle some flour to prevent the cake from sticking to the sides.

Pour in the batter and place inside the oven for 30 mins.

Remove the cake from the oven when it is still hot and cut it into pieces of desired size without removing it from the baking tray.

Boil the lemon juice and sugar in a thick bottomed saucepan till the sugar dissolves.

Pour the lemon syrup into the cuts or gaps between the pieces using a spoon. Cover the baking tray with a thick plate and allow to stand for 5 mins.

Uncover and allow to cool down.