Fried Paneer Wontons

          Fried Wontons are crispy appetizers, very popular in Chinese restaurants. They are usually stuffed with chicken mince or shrimp paste and served with a lip smacking sweet chili garlic sauce. 

          So come lets learn a vegetarian version with some paneer filling. These visually appealing small bites are in fact very easy to prepare. So give it a try by checking for a step by step pictorial recipe to prepare them right in your own kitchen and enjoy with your loved ones. 

Dough - 

• 1 cup plain flour 
• Pinch of salt
• water to knead

Stuffing - 

• 100 gms. paneer, grated
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves + stems
• 1 tbsp. fried onion
• 1 tbsp. tomato ketchup

Sweet Chili Garlic Sauce - 

• 1/2 cup sugar syrup
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 2 tbsp. red chili flakes
• 1 tsp. garlic, grated
• pinch pf salt

Other Ingredients - 

• Oil to deep fry
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Sweet Chili Garlic Sauce - In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the sauce and keep aside.

          Dough - Make a dough with plain flour, salt and water. Cover with a muslin clothe and keep aside. 

          Stuffing - In a bowl, mix all the ingredients and keep aside. 

          To make wontons - Divide the dough into equal portions. Roll out into a large thin circle. Cut small roundels with the help of a cookie cutter.

          Take one roundel and place 1 tsp. of the paneer filling in the centre. Add some water around half of the edge and fold in a half moon shape. 

          Pinch the edges to seal tight and pull the two corners of the triangle and seal them with some water. Make similar wontons with the rest of the dough and stuffing.

          Heat oil in a pan and deep fry till they turn light golden in colour. Drain on a kitchen towel and enjoy with the sweet chili garlic sauce. 
      

          

                       To make wontons - Divide dough into equal portions. Roll into a large 
                       thin circle. Cut small roundels with help of a cookie cutter. Take one
                       roundel and place 1/2 tsp. of the paneer filling in the center. 

                      Add some water around half of the edge & fold in a half moon shape.

                      Pinch the edges to seal tight.

                       Pull the two corners of the triangle and seal them with some water. 

                       Make similar wontons with the rest of the dough and stuffing.

                      Heat oil & deep fry till light golden in colour. Drain on a kitchen towel.

                                 Enjoy with the sweet chili garlic sauce. 
      

Garlic Bread

          Yummy and very easy to make, these garlic bread is a must try. So now prepare these pizza hut special garlic bread at home with few basic ingredients available in your kitchen and surprise your loved ones. They are ideal as tea-time snacks or appetizers with hummus. Choice is yours. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 1 French Bread, cut into thick slices
• 80 gms. butter (room temperature)
• 2 tbsp. olive oil 
• 2-3 garlic cloves, grated
• 1/4 tsp. dried herbs
• 1-2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped 
• 1/4 tsp. red chili flakes
• pinch of pepper powder

         Mix together all the ingredients (except bread) into a smooth paste. Spread the butter mix onto the sliced bread.

          Grill for 5-10 minutes or till it is evenly browned. Enjoy as a tea-time snack or as appetizers with tomato ketchup.
          

                      Mix together all the ingredients (except bread) into a smooth paste. 

Spread the butter mix onto the sliced bread.

                 Grill for 5-10 minutes till it is evenly browned.

     

                            Enjoy as a tea-time snack or as appetizers with tomato ketchup.

Tofu Salami Bites

            These delicate small bites are so simple and easy to prepare. Great for a kids party or kids lunch box, they can also be served as appetizers, after-school snacks, tea-time snacks, etc. It can be dished out in a jiffy and satisfies your hunger pangs. You can go ahead and make use of any flavored cheese spread, mayo or grated cheese instead. So check for an easy step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 6 thick slices of Tofu
• 3 slices of chicken salami
• 2-3 tbsp. cream cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped veggies (cucumber, onion & tomato)
• 1 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves
• 1/4 tsp. red chili flakes
• 1-2 tbsp. oil

          Heat oil in a pan and toast the sliced tofu and salami separately. Drain and keep aside. Slice the salami into two pieces.

          To assemble - Spread a layer of the cream cheese over the toasted tofu. Place the sliced salami over it, followed by the chopped veggies, coriander leaves and chili flakes.

           Serve these delicate small bites as appetizers, snacks or as a tea-time snacks. 

                                               Heat oil in a pan and toast the sliced tofu.... 

                                          ...and salami separately. Drain and keep aside. 

                                  Spread a layer of the cream cheese over the toasted tofu. 

                                 Place sliced salami over it, followed by the chopped veggies, 
                                 coriander leaves and chili flakes.

                           Serve these small bites as appetizers, snacks or as tea-time snacks. 

Grilled Podi (Gunpowder) Chicken

          Made these yummy grilled chicken with a difference. I marinated with some Andhra special spices (Nalla Karam Podi & Kura Karam Podi). You can substitute it with kashmiri red chili powder and any idli podi (gunpowder). 

           These can be served as great party appetizers and relished with some tongue tingling green chutney / garlic chutney and a drizzle of some lemon juice for that extra tang. 

           You may have these small bites as a light meal along with some salad / soup or as a wrap for your evening snack. Pack them for a lunch box meal if you wish. Options are aplenty. Choice is yours. 

• 500 gms. boneless chicken
• salt to taste
• pinch of turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. Andhra special Kura Karam Podi (use Kashmiri red chili powder instead)
• 1 tbsp. Andhra special Nalla karam Podi (use idli podi instead)
• 1 tsp. garlic paste
• 1 sprig curry leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• extra podi to garnish
• extra oil to baste while grilling 

          Marinate the chicken with all the mentioned ingredients overnight. 

          Grill on both sides for 25-30 minutes. Baste with some oil midway. 

         Transfer to a serving plate and serve with onion rings, green chilies, lemon wedges and a sprinkle of some idli podi.

Egg Paniyaram - South Indian Fusion Style

          Egg lovers - Try out this new way of serving and relishing eggs - the Paniyaram way. Fry them in the Paniyaram Chatti and they turn out simply cute and yummy. Kids will love them for sure. 

          Any veggies of your choice can be added to it to make them more wholesome. You can have them as an appetizer with any homemade chutney / tomato sauce or as an evening tea-time snack. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare these goodies.

• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 onion chopped
• 1" ginger, grated
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• salt to taste
• pinch of pepper powder
• oil as required

          In a bowl, mix together all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil). Grease a paniyaram / appam chatti with little oil.

          Drop spoonful of the mix in all the cavities. Cover with a lid and cook on a low flame till one side is done. 

          Then gently flip it over with a fork / spoon and cook the other side too. Drain on a kitchen towel and serve with any chutney or tomato sauce.

                               Mix all ingredients (except oil). 

                 Drop spoonfuls of the mix into the greased cavities of the chatti. Cover 
                 with a lid & cook on a low flame till one side is done.

                            Gently flip it over with a fork / spoon & cook the other side too. 

                        Drain on a kitchen towel & serve with any chutney or tomato sauce.