Whole Wheat Round Bread - Something Different

          Try this amazing way of baking a bread in a round cake tin for a change. It is a healthy version of whole wheat flour bread with some flaxseeds thrown in. I added cardamom powder and rose water to enhance the flavour. Relish this simple home baked bread with butter or jam or anyway you like it. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. flaxseeds
• 1 tsp. active yeast
• 1/3 cup lukewarm water
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. rose water
• melted butter to grease the pan
• 1 tsp. powdered sugar to garnish (opt)
• 1 tsp. jam to garnish (opt)

          In a bowl, mix together 1/3 cup lukewarm water, yeast, sugar and vinegar. Mix well and cover. Keep aside for 10-15 minutes. By then it will froth up.

          In a separate bowl, mix together whole wheat flour, salt, flaxseeds, oil and rose water, followed by the cardamom powder. Add the yeast water and knead into a soft dough. Cover and keep aside in a warm place for 2 hours.

          By now it will swell up. Punch the dough back by dusting some flour and transfer to a greased and flour dusted cake tin. Cover and keep aside again in a warm place to rise for another 2 hours.

          Bake in a preheated microwave oven at 180 degrees C for 25-30 minutes. Let it cool down a bit and then scrape away the sides.  

          Flip it over carefully and set aside to cool further on a wire rack. Garnish with jam and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Cut into slices and relish with a jam or butter spread or anyway you like it.

                   Mix 1/3 cup lukewarm water, yeast, sugar & vinegar. Cover & keep aside
                   for 10-15 minutes. By then it will froth up.

                                After 10 minutes.

                   In a separate bowl, mix whole wheat flour, salt, flax seeds, oil & rose water

                                .......followed by cardamom powder. 

                     Add yeast water & knead into a soft dough. Add yeast water & knead
                      into a soft dough. 

                               Cover & keep aside in a warm place for 2 hours.

                                After 2 hours.

                               Punch dough back by dusting some flour.
           

                        Transfer to a greased & flour dusted cake tin. Cover & keep aside 
                        again in a warm place to rise for another 2 hours.

                               After 2 hours.

                     Bake in a pre heated microwave oven at 180 degrees C for 25-30 min. 

                               Let it cool down a bit & then scrape away the sides. 

                               Flip it over carefully & set aside to cool further. 

                Garnish with jam and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Cut into slices & relish 
                with jam or butter spread or anyway you like it.

Garlic Naan with Nigella & Flax Seeds

          Here are some delicious garlic naan which are also topped with flax seeds, nigella seeds (kalonji), coriander-mint leaves and green chilies to enhance the flavour. Brushed with butter, they go very well with any side dish. They can very easily be made at home on a tawa / griddle. In this recipe I have combined maida (plain flour) and atta (whole wheat flour). Either of them can be used as per choice. So check out the step by step pictorial reicipe to prepare it.

• 1/2 cup atta (whole wheat flour)
• 1/2 cup maida (plain flour)
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp. yoghurt
• 1 tbsp. oil + 1 tsp. oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tbsp. active yeast
• 2 tbsp. garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. kalonji (nigella seeds)
• 1 tbsp. flax seeds
• 2 tbsp. coriander-mint leaves, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• butter or oil as required

           In a bowl, add 1/4 cup warm water, sugar and the yeast and leave aside for 10-15 minutes. By then it will swell up.

          Mix together atta, maida, salt to taste and yoghurt till it resembles bread crumbs. Add the yeast mix and 1 tbsp. oil. knead into a soft dough for around 10 minutes.

          Add a tsp. oil and continue to knead till it is well incorporated into the dough. Leave aside to rest for an hour. Knead again for 2-3 minutes and divide into four equal portions. 

          Roll each portion into an oblong shape and sprinkle some chopped garlic, coriander-mint leaves, flax seeds, nigella seeds & green chilies. Press gently with the rolling pin so that the ingredients sticks to the dough.

          Heat a tawa / griddle hot enough and place the rolled out dough, the garlic side on to the tawa. Reduce the flame and cook for a minute.

          Flip it over and cook the other side too for another minute. Brush the surface with some butter and flip over.

          Brush this side too with more butter and cook till well browned on both sides. Serve them hot with some side dish.

        

                                Soak yeast & sugar in warm water for 10 minutes.

                                  It will swell up.

                                 In a bowl take atta, maida, salt & yoghurt.

                                  Mix well.

                                 Add yeast & oil.

                                  Knead into a dough for 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp. oil and....

                                  ........Continue to knead. Cover & keep aside for an hour.

                                 The ingredients kneaded for the topping.

                       Roll out & spread some of the toppings. Press gently with a rolling pin.

                                  Fry on a tawa on both sides.

                                  Serve them hot with some side dish.

Chana & Moong Dal Fry with Flaxseed (Bengal Gram & Split Green Gram Lentil Curry)

          Dals or Lentils are a powerhouse of essential nutrients and proteins. They are recommended in our daily diet and is a great comfort food to many. Make them more healthy by adding a tbsp. of flaxseeds, which contains dietary fiber, omega 3 fatty acids and proteins among other health benefits. Enjoy this simple dal fry with either rice or chapatti and with a dash of lime.

• 1/2 cup chana dal, soaked for an hour
• 1/4 cup split moong dal. soaked for an hour
• 2 onion, chopped
• 1" ginger, chopped
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander-cumin powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 tbsp. flaxseed
• 1 tsp. ghee (opt)
• 1 tsp. lime
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves

          Pressure cook the soaked lentils along with 1 onion, ginger and green chilies in 1 & 1/2 cups water for 5-6 whistles. When cool, add salt and turmeric powder and give it a whisk.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with cumin seeds. After it stops spluttering, add the asafoetida, followed by the garlic and remaining onion.

          Sauté till light brown. Add the tomatoes and continue to fry till it is mashed. Now add all the remaining dry spices and fry till the oil separates.

          Add the boiled dal and the flaxseeds. Simmer on a low flame for 2-3 minutes. Wen done, add ghee and give it a mix. Serve, garnished with coriander leaves and a dash of lime.