EVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: RECIPES WITH UMAMI RECIPE: PATATAS BRAVAS Patatas Bravas is simply potatoes in a spicy sauce. In fact, it is a popular Spanish potato dish that is served as tapas. Actually an easy recipe, Patatas Bravas can be served as an appetizer or as a snack. Incidentally, the umami for this dish comes from the tomato paste and the fresh tomato puree. What is Umami? Umami or savoriness is the fifth taste sense. As a matter of fact the other four are sweet, bitter, sour and saltiness. Umami in Japanese means ‘essence of deliciousness’. Scientifically, umami refers to tastes of glutamate, inosinate, or guanylate. Glutamate or glutamic acid is a common amino acid in vegetable and animal proteins. Inosinate is mainly found…
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Continue ReadingRECIPE: BEETROOT VADA Beetroot Vada is a delicious, crunchy, spicy take on the traditional Sabudana Vada. Vada is fritters and in this case roasted or boiled beetroot is added to the traditional mashed potatoes, spices and soaked tapioca pearls mixture. Ideal snack option, for starters or as a part of a meal not only for fasting days but whenever you want to. While I’ve deep fried beetroot vada, you can by all means use an appe pan (aebliskiver pan) to make healthier versions or in an air fryer. The whole idea of adding beetroot to the traditional recipe came about when I had extra roasted beetroot in the fridge. I usually make sabudana vada on Ekadashi Fasting but wanted something different for a change. Serve…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: GARLIC LOVERS RECIPE: GARLIC PARMESAN HASSELBACK POTATOES Garlic Parmesan Hasselback Potatoes, so crispy from the outside, the middle is tender and soft like mashed potato. Coupled with the flavors of butter, garlic, olive oil, parmesan and chilli flakes these potatoes are to die for! What are Hasselback Potatoes? Hasselback Potatoes, Potato à la hasselbacken or Hasselbackspotatis are baked potatoes that are sliced till the middle and open up like a fan on baking. These were invented by a trainee chef Leif Ellison who worked at Hasselbacken Restaurant in Stockholm. Though pretty popular nowadays this side dish, starter was invented in 1953. They also go by name of Accordion Potatoes or Pillbug Potatoes. I know I’m pretty late in trying out this awesome addictive…
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Continue ReadingRECIPE: BRAZILIAN CARROT CAKE Brazilian Carrot Cake is not only beautifully bright but so soft, moist, fluffy and divine. Drizzled with melted dark chocolate, it makes a perfect dessert or enjoy some with coffee. I’d come across the recipe years ago and had jotted it down. Then, had forgotten all about it. Generally, if I’m not with family for my birthday, it does not occur to my hubby to order a cake! I’d actually been dropping hints that there are quite a few ladies in our apartment complex who bake and sell cakes, one is my neighbor. However, come 20th Feb there is no cake! So the hunt for an easy peasy cake began as I knew my other neighbor’s kid would be expecting a…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SUNDAY FUNDAY THEME: CELEBRATE DAIRY RECIPE: FRESH TURMERIC CHAAS What is Fresh Turmeric Chaas? Fresh Turmeric Chaas is a refreshing yogurt drink with grated fresh turmeric added to it. Healthy, immunity boosting and delicious, hubby and I try and have this drink at least five times a week if not more. Difference Between Lassi and Chaas Though often both are interchanged, they basically are not the same. The similarity ends at yogurt. Chaas is usually made with added water and has no sugar. Lassi on the other hand is thick like a smoothie, may have a little added milk and may have sugar, honey or any other sweetener added to it. Sometimes lassi can be of the savory kind too, with salt added but…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER T RECIPE: ROASTED TOMATO & RICOTTA TOAST Roasted Tomato & Ricotta Toast is warm toast slathered with ricotta cheese and topped with garlicky roasted tomatoes. Perfectly enjoyable as breakfast, or served with some soup as a light meal option. Roasted Tomato & Ricotta Toast This one one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh seasonal tomatoes. The first time I tasted roasted tomato & ricotta toast was as a brunch option in Montreal. On the side had poached eggs, some salad greens and roasted potato chunks. That brunch sat happily in my tummy till evening! I’ve tried this recipe with the normal big tomatoes roasted but it doesn’t taste the same. Got…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #279 SESAME SEEDS RECIPE: ITALIAN SESAME SEED COOKIES/BISCOTTI REGINA Italian Sesame Seed Cookies Italian Sesame Seed Cookies/ Biscotti Regina, a classic Italian treat, so crunchy and lemony. These authentic Italian cookies are so easy to make. Originally called Biscotti Regina these cookies from the Sicily region make a good snack option. They can be served as dessert or with coffee. Translated, the name Biscotti Regina means Queen’s Biscuits. Crunchy outer because of the sesame seeds and a slightly soft center, these cookies are best enjoyed dunked in coffee, milk or tea. Biscotti Regina Unlike the more famous biscotti we know which are twice baked, Biscotti Regina are baked only once. How they originated is debatable. In this case, it is believed…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #276 KIDS TREATS RECIPE: CARROT BLISS BALLS Carrot Bliss Balls Carrot Bliss Balls with flavors from ginger and cinnamon. Nuts, seeds, coconut, turmeric powder, oats, dates, carrots are added. These balls are not only nutritious but are healthy, full of fiber and free from processed sugar. The natural sweetness comes from the dates. What are Bliss Balls? Also known as energy balls or protein balls, these balls are made with ingredients that provide energy. Most ingredients like dates, nuts, other dried fruits are used. Sometimes other ingredients like seeds, oats, healthy flour, protein powder, healthy powders like maca, spirulina, baobab, ashwagandha, etc are added. It all depends on what one requires from the energy balls. They make ideal snack option, perfect for…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #274 WINTER VEGGIES RECIPE: PEAS & POTATO PATTIS – SURTI STYLE What is Peas & Potato Pattis – Surti Style Peas & Potato Pattis – Surti style, is fresh peas stuffed in mashed potato and fried, much like a croquette. The only difference is that the potato covering is not usually coated with breadcrumbs. Surti style as its believed that this snack originates from the city Surat in Gujarat. Undoubtedly, the spices used adds a typical Gujarati flavour. Peas & Potato Pattis can be served as a snack with green chutney or as a part of the main meal. Winter and Peas Winter in India means you get really fresh peas. That’s the time when one gets tempted to try and…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: SHHH COOKING SECRETLY THEME: FRESH WINTER VEGGIES RECIPE: TANDOORI GOBI/ ROASTED TANDOORI CAULIFLOWER What is Tandoori Gobi? Generally the word Tandoori is used for non vegetarian preparations like tandoori chicken, tandoori mutton, tandoori fish, etc. However, to cater for the vegetarians its common to find tandoori paneer, tandoori mushroom, tandoori gobi, etc on a menu. Tandoor is a clay oven. First the main ingredient be it vegetarian or non vegetarian is marinated in yogurt along with spices. Usually people have their specific recipe for tandoori spice mixture. The marinated food is then roasted or grilled in a tandoor. At home its not possible to have a tandoor, therefore an oven is used or its roasted in a pan. Winter Vegetables What type of vegetables…
