Thecha Cheese Sandwich

 

         Calling all Thecha lovers, you will simply love this Thecha Cheese sandwich, where the bread slices are stuffed with the very popular Maharashtrian chutney along with cheese and pan grilled to perfection. 

          So simple and at the same time very yummy too. They are quite wholesome and a quick snack on the go. However, adjust the spiciness if preparing for little ones. Serve with tomato sauce or green chutney. So do give it a try by following an easy step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

          Sandwich is typically a wholesome meal-on-the-go as it is super easy to prepare. You can mix and match with various ingredients that are easily available in your kitchen. 

          They can be enjoyed for breakfast, snacks, brunch or as a lunch box meal. In this recipe, I have made use of white bread. However, it can also be made with brown or multi grain bread as per your  preference. It is a great picnic or kitty party recipe too.

• 1 tsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 6-7 green chilies, roughly chopped
• 8-10 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup coriander leaves 
• 1/4 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 6 slices bread
• 3 cheese slice
• 2-3 pinches of pepper powder
• butter as required

          Thecha - Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds, garlic, green chilies and peanuts. Sauté till it turns slightly brown in color.

          Now add the coriander leaves and salt to taste. Give it a stir and switch off the flame. 

          Allow it to cool down. Then pound them in a mortar and pestle into a coarse consistency. Add lime juice and mix well. Keep aside. 

            Sandwich - Take two bread slices and spread a generous amount of butter on them. 

           Then spread some of the thecha on one slice and place a cheese slice over it. 

           Sprinkle some pepper powder and cover with another sliced bread. 

            Add some butter on a grilled pan and toast the stuffed bread on both sides, by pressing it lightly, till light golden in color. 

            Transfer to a serving plate and slice into half. Make similar sandwiches with the remaining bread slices and thecha mix. 

          Serve along with tomato sauce or green chutney for breakfast / tea-time snack.

Heat oil in a pan & add the cumin seeds, garlic, green chilies & peanuts. Sauté till it turns slightly brown in color.

Now add the coriander leaves & salt to taste. Give it a stir & switch off the flame. 

Allow it to cool down. Then pound them in a mortar & pestle into a coarse consistency. Add lime juice and mix well. Keep aside. 

           Take two bread slices & spread a generous amount of butter on them. 

Then spread some of the thecha on one slice.

                    Place a cheese slice & sprinkle some pepper powder. 

                     Cover with another sliced bread. 

                    Add some butter on a grill pan. 

                  Gently place the stuffed bread on the greased grill pan. 

Toast the stuffed bread on both sides by pressing it lightly till light golden in color. 

Transfer to a serving plate & slice into half. Serve along with tomato sauce or green chutney for breakfast / tea-time snack.

Soya Seaweed Tikki / Cutlet / Patty

 

           These yummy shallow fried tikkis, made of soya nuggets and seaweed is so easy and simple to prepare. They are irresistible as appetizers or party snacks. They can also be relished as an evening tea-time snack, inside a bun as a patty or rolled in a chapatti / paratha for a quick snack on the go. So choice is yours. Do try them and include them in the menu of any in-house party. I have added few basic ingredients and seasonings to dish out these small bites. So check out a step by step pictorial recipe to prepare these amazing tikkis. 

           

• 1 cup soya granules, soaked, drained & mashed
• 1-2 nori sheets / seaweeds, shredded
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• handful of coriander, chopped
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste 
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala 
• 1/2 tsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 2-3 tbsp. gram flour (besan)
• 2-3 tbsp. corn flour
• oil to shallow fry

          In a large bowl, mix together the mashed soya, onion, ginger, green chilies, coriander leaves and all the dry spices. Mix everything well.

           Then add the corn flour, gram flour and the shredded seaweed. Give it a mix.

           Wet your hands and make flat round tikkis. 

           Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry them in batches, till golden brown on both sides. 

          Drain on a kitchen towel and serve them hot with tomato sauce or green chutney.

In a large bowl, mix together the mashed soya, onion, ginger, green chilies, coriander leaves

                    and all the dry spices. Mix everything well.

                    Then add the corn flour, gram flour

                      and the shredded seaweed. Give it a mix.

                  Wet your hands & make flat round tikkis.

Heat oil in a pan & shallow fry them in batches, till golden brown on both sides. 

                     Drain on a kitchen towel.

                  Serve them hot with tomato sauce or green chutney.

Custard Kunafa Cups

 

          These rich, creamy and yummy Custard Kunafa Cups are just irresistible. Very easy and quick to dish out, they are a perfect Eid, Diwali or a party dessert that people will fall in love with. It is a twist to the traditional Middle Eastern dessert, prepared with custard of any flavor, vermicelli and crushed pistachios. These three main ingredients forms the basis of this amazing dessert. 

          As Kunafa dough was unavailable, I went in for roasted vermicelli. I also added some soaked chia seeds to the prepared custard. However, it is purely optional. So check out for a quick step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this fusion treat. 

• 1 cup roasted thin vermicelli, crushed
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 2 cups full cream milk
• 2 tbsp. custard powder (any flavor)
• 2-3 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. soaked chia seeds
• 2 tbsp. crushed pistachios
• few dry rose petals

          Heat butter in a pan and sauté the crushed vermicelli for a minute. 

          Add the sugar and cardamom powder and mix well. Sprinkle some water and cook, covered for 1-2 minutes till the vermicelli turns slightly soft. Keep aside to cool.

          In a small bowl, mix together the custard powder with some milk into a smooth paste.

          Meanwhile, bring the remaining milk and sugar to a boil. Add the custard paste and keep stirring continuously till it thickens. Keep aside to cool down. Then add the soaked chia seeds and mix well. 

          To assemble, add some of the cooked vermicelli at the bottom of a cup. Then spoon a generous amount of the custard, followed by more of the vermicelli.

          Garnish with the crushed pistachios and rose petals. Chill to serve. Enjoy as an after meal dessert or as as when desired.

          Heat butter in a pan & sauté the crushed vermicelli for a minute. 

                    Add the sugar and

cardamom powder & mix well. Sprinkle some water & cook, covered, for 1-2 minutes till the vermicelli turns slightly soft. Keep aside to cool.

In a small bowl, mix together the custard powder with some milk into a smooth paste. Meanwhile, bring the remaining milk & sugar to a boil. Add the custard paste & keep stirring continuously till it thickens. Keep aside to cool down. Then add the soaked chia seeds and mix well. 

       To assemble, add some of the cooked vermicelli at the bottom of a cup.

                    Then spoon a generous amount of the custard,

 

                    followed by more of the vermicelli.

                    Garnish with the crushed pistachios

                     and rose petals. Chill to serve. 

              Enjoy as an after meal dessert or as as when desired.

Thecha Millet Noodles / Chowmein

 

          Thecha is a traditional Maharashtrian green chili chutney that is usually served as an accompaniment with Indian flat bread. This spicy & tangy chutney is prepared with fresh green chilies, garlic, coriander leaves along with the stems and groundnuts, that is pounded in a mortar & pestle into a coarse consistency.

          So add this amazing Thecha to noodles and give them a new taste and flavor. You may add any veggies like sliced capsicum, carrot, cabbage, etc. to give it a healthy touch. You may add tomato ketchup and / or soya sauce according to your preference. This Thecha Noodles can be a great breakfast, lunch or dinner option. It can also be packed for a lunch box meal for young and old alike. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing fusion noodle recipe. 

Green Chili Thecha - 

• 1/2 cup green chilies, roughly chopped
• 8-10 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup coriander leaves with stems
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. lime juice 

Thecha Noodles - 

• 1 packet millet noodles, boiled al dente & drained
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3-4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 2-3 tbsp. Thecha chutney
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp. hot sauce
• 1-2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 1-2 tsp. lime juice

Green Chili Thecha - 

           Heat oil in a pan and sauté the garlic, green chilies and cumin seeds for 2-3 minutes.

          Add the coriander leaves along with the stems and salt to taste. Give it a stir and switch off the flame. 

          Add the roasted peanuts and allow it to cool down. Then pound them in a mortar and pestle into a coarse consistency. (You can also blend in a mixer jar coarsely without adding any water). Drizzle some lime juice and keep aside. 

Thecha Noodles - 

          Heat oil in a wok / pan and temper with mustard seeds. Sauté till it stops crackling. 

          Then add the onion, garlic and curry leaves. Sauté till it turns translucent. 

          Add 2-3 tbsp. of the Thecha chutney and give it a mix.

          Now add the cooked millet noodles, salt to taste and the hot sauce. Combine everything well and sauté for a minute. 

          When done, add the lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves. 

          Serve hot as it is or with some extra sauce of your choice. You may add few roasted peanuts for some crunch.

Heat oil in a pan & sauté the garlic, green chilies & cumin seeds for 2 minutes.

Add the coriander leaves along with the stems & salt to taste. Give it a stir & switch off the flame. 

Add the roasted peanuts & allow it to cool down. Then pound them in a mortar & pestle into a coarse consistency. (You can also blend in a mixer jar coarsely without adding any water). Drizzle some lime juice & keep aside. 

Heat oil in a wok / pan & temper with mustard seeds. Sauté till it stops crackling. 

  Add the onion, garlic & curry leaves. Sauté till it turns translucent. 

                    Add 2-3 tbsp. of the Thecha chutney & give it a mix.

Now add the cooked noodles, salt to taste & the hot sauce. Combine everything well and sauté for a minute. 

           When done, add the lime juice & garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot as it is or with some extra sauce of your choice. You may add few roasted peanuts for some crunch.