Dal Makhni (Punjabi style Lentil Curry)

 

          This is an absolutely guilt free healthy version of the most popular Punjabi cuisine - Dal Makhni. The one you get in restaurants are loaded with ghee, butter and cream. But my version has none of these. Instead I have used olive oil, beaten yoghurt and very little butter. Believe me it turned out very yummy and there was no change in the taste and flavor.

          So folks, indulge in this yummy and nutritious dal with naan, tandoori roti or plain phulka. You may also enjoy with steamed rice, jeera rice or plain biryani. This method is well worth the try for all those who are missing out on this delectable cuisine. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing mixed lentil recipe.

• 1/2 cup whole urad dal (Black lentils)
• 1/4 cup kidney beans (Rajma)
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tbsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/3 cup beaten yoghurt
• 1/2 tsp. kasuri methi, crushed
• 2 tsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Wash both the lentils nicely under running water. Soak overnight. Then pressure cook in 1 & 1/2 cups water for 10-15 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Mash it well with a potato masher and set aside.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add the ginger-garlic paste and red chili powder mixed with some water. Sauté till the oil separates. 

          Now add the tomato puree and tomato paste. Sauté till the gravy leaves the sides of the pan. 

          Then add the mashed dal and salt. Mix well and simmer on a low flame, stirring at intervals, till it becomes slightly thick.

          Add 3/4 cup water and continue to simmer till you get the desired consistency.

          Now 1 tsp. butter, yoghurt (reserve some for garnishing) and kasuri methi. Give it a stir and simmer for 1-2 minutes.

          Garnish with remaining butter, beaten yoghurt and coriander leaves. 

          Serve with naan, tandoori roti or plain phulka. You may also enjoy with plain biryani, steamed rice or jeera rice for a comforting meal. 

Wash both the lentils nicely under running water. Soak overnight. Then pressure cook in 1 & 1/2 cups water for 10-15 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Mash it well with a potato masher & set aside.

  Heat oil in a pan & temper with cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

Add the ginger-garlic paste & red chili powder mixed with some water. Sauté till the oil separates. 

Add the tomato puree & tomato paste. Sauté till the gravy leaves the sides of the pan. 

Then add the mashed dal & salt. Mix well & simmer on a low flame, stirring at intervals, till it becomes slightly thick.

 Add 3/4 cup water & continue to simmer till you get the desired consistency.

Add 1 tsp. butter, yoghurt & kasuri methi. Give it a stir & simmer for 1-2 minutes.

            Garnish with remaining butter, beaten yoghurt & coriander leaves. 

Serve with naan, tandoori roti or plain phulka. You may also enjoy with plain biryani, steamed rice or jeera rice for a comforting meal. 

Dahi Vada (Fried Lentil Dumplings In Spiced Yoghurt)

 

         'Dahi Vada' or 'Dahi Bhalla', a popular North Indian street food, is my personal favorite. There are many versions to it. It is served in South India with a different name - Curd Vadai or Thayir Vadai and minus the chutneys. This yummy melt in the mouth party recipe is light on the stomach and is mandatory during festivals and special occasions. 

         Dahi vadas are generally fried dumplings made of soaked & ground split black gram, dunked in whipped yogurt and topped with all the chutneys and seasonings. However, I gave a slight twist by adding some flaxseed to the batter. Secondly, instead of deep frying them, I used a Paniyaram Chatti to fry them for a healthy version. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare my version of this delicacy.

• 1 cup urad dal (split black gram), soaked overnight
• 1 tsp. ginger, chopped
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. asafoetida
• 1 tbsp. flaxseeds
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 2 cups yoghurt, beaten with some salt
• oil to shallow fry 

Green Chutney-

• 2 cups of coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 cup of mint leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. ginger, chopped
• 2 green chilies
• salt to taste

Tamarind Chutney-

• 1 tsp. tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. red chili powder or to taste
• 1/4 tsp. roasted cumin powder

Garnishing - 

• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp. chaat masala
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

         Green chutney - blend all the following ingredients with required quantity of water and keep aside.

          Tamarind chutney - mix together all the mentioned ingredients with some water and keep aside.

          Grind the soaked urad dal, ginger and green chilies into a smooth batter by adding very little water. Add salt, asafoetida, flaxseed and chopped coriander leaves. Mix the batter well.

          Heat a Paniyaram chatti and grease with some oil. Drop spoonful of the batter in it and cook, covered, on a low flame till one side is well browned. Flip it over and cook the other side too, till done. 

          Drop them in lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes to make them soft. Then squeeze them between your palms and keep aside. 

        To serve, place the vadas on a plate and pour the beaten yoghurt over it. Then add the coriander chutney, tamarind chutney, roasted cumin powder, red chili powder, pepper powder and chopped coriander leaves. Enjoy !!!!

                    Grind the soaked urad dal, ginger and green chilies into a smooth batter 

                    by adding very little water. 

                         Add salt, asafoetida, flaxseed & chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.

                    Heat a Paniyaram chatti & grease well with some oil. Drop spoonful of the 

                    batter in it & cook, covered, on a low flame till one side is well browned.

                                 Flip it over and cook the other side too, till done. 

                       Drop them in lukewarm water for 15-20 min. to make them soft. Then

                       squeeze them between your palms and keep aside. 

       To serve,  place the vadas on a plate & pour the beaten yoghurt over it. Then

       add the coriander chutney, tamarind chutney, roasted cumin powder, red chili

 powder, pepper powder and chopped coriander leaves. 

                       Enjoy !!!!

Dal Palak Paniyaram / Appe

 

            Check out my version of paniyaram made of mixed lentils, where I have added some chopped spinach, onion, green chilies and few dry spices. They are crisp from outside and soft from inside. Healthy and nutritious, they can be relished as a tea-time snack or as an appetizer with tomato ketchup or any homemade chutney. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

   

         Kuzhi Paniyaram is a traditional and a healthy South Indian breakfast, most popular in Tamil Nadu. 

          In simple words they are fried idli or dumplings made from leftover idli / dosa batter. They are prepared in a special mould called chatti. 

          They are actually a snack on the go which can be dished in a jiffy. They are quite filling and is a great kitty party / kids recipe too.

• 1 cup mixed dal (lentils), soaked overnight
• 2 cups loosely packed spinach, chopped finely
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tsp. red chili paste
• 1 onion, chopped 
• 1 green chili, chopped
• salt to taste 
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. coriander-cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. amchur powder
• pinch of baking soda 
• 2-3 tbsp. oil 

          Soak the lentils overnight or for 4-5 hours. Grind to a slightly coarse paste.

          Mix rest of the ingredients (except oil) into a batter, which should neither be too thick or too thin. 

         Heat a paniyaram chatti and grease well. Drop spoonful of the prepared batter and cook, covered, on a low flame till one side is well browned. 

          Flip it over and cook the other side too, till done. Prepare similar paniyaram with the remaining batter. Drain on a kitchen towel.

         Serve them hot as a tea time snack or as an appetizer with tomato sauce or green chutney.

Mix ground lentil along with rest of the ingredients (except oil) into a 

                        semi-thick batter.

                      Heat a paniyaram chatti and grease well. Drop spoonful of the prepared 

                      batter and cook, covered, on a low flame till one side is well browned. 

                    Flip it over & cook the other side too, till done. Prepare similar paniyaram 

                    with the remaining batter. 

                                  Drain on a kitchen towel.

Serve as a tea time snack / appetizer with tomato sauce or green chutney.

Achari Keema Matar

 

          Keema Matar is a very popular dish in most of the Indian restaurants and Dhabas. They are served with naan, tandoori roti, kulcha, paratha, phulka, jeera rice or veg. pulao for a nice comfort meal. 

          However, I gave a slight twist to this recipe by adding some lime pickle to enhance the flavour of the dish & for a lingering achari flavour. It took the dish to a next level and turned out very yummy with a slight tang. So check out a step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 400 gms. chicken keema / mince, washed well & drained
• 1/2 cup green peas (I used frozen ones)
• 3 tbsp. oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1" cinnamon 
• 2-3 green cardamoms
• 4-5 cloves
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste 
• 1 tsp. tomato paste
• 1-2 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. cumin powder-coriander powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• salt to taste 
• 1 tsp. kasuri methi, crushed
• 1-2 tsp. lime pickle
• 2 green chilies
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Heat oil and temper with cumin seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add 1 chopped onion and stir fry till light brown. Add the ginger-garlic paste, tomato paste and all the dry spices mixed with some water. Sauté till the oil separates.

          Now add the keema and combine well. Cook on a high flame for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 cup water, salt, green peas and green chilies. Cover and cook till it is semi dry.

          Add the kasuri methi, pickle, remaining chopped onion and garam masala. Give it a stir and cook further for 2 minutes. 

          When done, garnish with coriander leaves and serve with naan, tandoori roti or kulcha for a nice comfort meal. 

                      Heat oil & temper with cumin seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom 

                      and cloves. Sauté for a few seconds. 

                                 Add 1 chopped onion and stir fry till light brown. 

                     Add the ginger-garlic paste, tomato paste & all the dry spices mixed with 

                     some water. 

                                  Sauté till the oil separates.

                       Add the keema & combine well. Cook on a high flame for 2-3 minutes. 

                   Add 1 cup water, salt, green peas & green chilies. Cover & cook till almost dry.

                   Add kasuri methi, pickle, remaining chopped onion & garam masala. Give 

                   it a stir and cook further for 2 minutes. 

                                 When done, garnish with coriander leaves.

                             Serve with naan, tandoori roti or kulcha for a nice comfort meal.