I haven't blogged for a while, because I haven't really cooked anything new for a long while that really, really stood out. Also for the last six months, I have been successively , slightly depressed, too lazy to buy good groceries, away on a wonderful work trip, sick and busy and wasting my time by umm.. watching cookery shows online.
I have however discovered lots of little short cut comfort foods that make life easier for me. I get back really late, too late for a proper meal or ordering in. I try to eat at work, but fixing myself a nice comfort snack is relaxing and sustaining.
These are some of the things I have been relying on:
Jhaal muri- thanks to my aunt who makes this AMAZING masala mix. I just mix some muri with mustard oil and this masala and snack on this at night. The best versions have cucumber, tomato onion and are dressed in tamarind or lemon juice.
Besan pancake type things : I have mixed besan with water to varying levels of consistency and tried frying the result in shallow pans kadais etc. With mixed results, but you can't really go wrong with fried besan :P
Then again you can, if the pan is too small and the besan remains thick and uncooked in the middle.
Unsuccessful pakode: I tried doing onion and brinjal ones- the brinjal ones did not get coated properly. The onion ones came out like pancakes. I am probably mixing my batter too thin.
Dahi ke kebabs : Ahh....these were lovely. Hang some curd - either put some curd in a muslin cloth or fine sieve and suspend it over a saucepan overnight, or just open some nice thick dairy curd (Nestle is good) carton, eat a spoonful and leave it open a few days (in the fridge of course). The water floats to the top and you get a hung -curd like consistency.
Mix the curd with some amount of besan and whatever masalas you like- I like chat masala, green chillies, ginger, that kind of thing. Chat masala or black salt with curd is a winner. Now take small handfuls of the mix and fry them.
Eggs : I have started making these thick omelettes- using two eggs in a small frying pan. with chillies and cheese. They get a thick baked egg like consistency. Nice and filling
Mushrooms : Very easy to turn into killer dishes. Stir fry mushrooms with sme nicely browned onions, garlic salt and pepper, and then throw some sour cream in once nearly done. Adding herbs work well too. Mushrooms cook fast in their own juice and like all good proteins are v easy to cook and keep tasty with little attention. My father thought this was a gourmet dish. I served this with some neer dosas bought from my mallu butcher and panfried fish.
Sprouts : Mixed with lemon juice, my muri masala, green chillies. Have always been very fond of sprouts
Pasta : Made my own sauce by just sauteing a load of tomatoes and some garlic and spices, and blending it coarse. Tasted nice. Added some brinjal to the mix once too.
Saboodana Khichdi: Much easier and tastier than Maggi.
I also discovered this life saver thing called masala oats. I normally don't like cereal as they are always too bland or sweet. These are however catered to Indian tastes and are savoury/ spicy.
I also like keeping ready to fry dosa mixes in the house.
I have however discovered lots of little short cut comfort foods that make life easier for me. I get back really late, too late for a proper meal or ordering in. I try to eat at work, but fixing myself a nice comfort snack is relaxing and sustaining.
These are some of the things I have been relying on:
Jhaal muri- thanks to my aunt who makes this AMAZING masala mix. I just mix some muri with mustard oil and this masala and snack on this at night. The best versions have cucumber, tomato onion and are dressed in tamarind or lemon juice.
Besan pancake type things : I have mixed besan with water to varying levels of consistency and tried frying the result in shallow pans kadais etc. With mixed results, but you can't really go wrong with fried besan :P
Then again you can, if the pan is too small and the besan remains thick and uncooked in the middle.
Unsuccessful pakode: I tried doing onion and brinjal ones- the brinjal ones did not get coated properly. The onion ones came out like pancakes. I am probably mixing my batter too thin.
Dahi ke kebabs : Ahh....these were lovely. Hang some curd - either put some curd in a muslin cloth or fine sieve and suspend it over a saucepan overnight, or just open some nice thick dairy curd (Nestle is good) carton, eat a spoonful and leave it open a few days (in the fridge of course). The water floats to the top and you get a hung -curd like consistency.
Mix the curd with some amount of besan and whatever masalas you like- I like chat masala, green chillies, ginger, that kind of thing. Chat masala or black salt with curd is a winner. Now take small handfuls of the mix and fry them.
Eggs : I have started making these thick omelettes- using two eggs in a small frying pan. with chillies and cheese. They get a thick baked egg like consistency. Nice and filling
Mushrooms : Very easy to turn into killer dishes. Stir fry mushrooms with sme nicely browned onions, garlic salt and pepper, and then throw some sour cream in once nearly done. Adding herbs work well too. Mushrooms cook fast in their own juice and like all good proteins are v easy to cook and keep tasty with little attention. My father thought this was a gourmet dish. I served this with some neer dosas bought from my mallu butcher and panfried fish.
Sprouts : Mixed with lemon juice, my muri masala, green chillies. Have always been very fond of sprouts
Pasta : Made my own sauce by just sauteing a load of tomatoes and some garlic and spices, and blending it coarse. Tasted nice. Added some brinjal to the mix once too.
Saboodana Khichdi: Much easier and tastier than Maggi.
I also discovered this life saver thing called masala oats. I normally don't like cereal as they are always too bland or sweet. These are however catered to Indian tastes and are savoury/ spicy.
I also like keeping ready to fry dosa mixes in the house.
