Mangal Ooti Or Manipuri Dry Peas Curry

Mangal ooti or Manipuri dry peas curry from Manipur cuisine.
A very simple and easy yet delicious curry. You don’t need any powder spices to make it except turmeric.
My first blog post was also from this beautiful state Manipur Chakhao Kheer.
And our pride Mary Kom an Indian Olympic boxer is also from Manipur.

Surrounded by nine hills with an oval shaped valley at the center, a natural made Jewel and hence the name “A Jeweled land” or ‘Manipur’, it’s literal translation. Even the first prime minister of India famously said Manipur was the Jewel of India. Apart from being a nature’s gift to India, Manipur is also a melting pot of culture. It is the birthplace of Polo, the sport and the birthplace of Ras Lila, a classical dance form.
Source

This month in Shhhhh cooking secretly challenge
facebook group we are sharing different dishes from Manipur cuisine. In this group members are paired up every month. And the pairs give each other two secret ingredients.
This month my partner is Sharanya Palanisshami. Who blog at Sara’s Tasty Buds.

Sharanya gave me two easy to use ingredients cumin and green chilli. ingredients. Thanks Sharanya.
And I gave her bay leaf and cardamom. Check out her blog for the wonderful recipe she shared with these ingredients.

You may like one more dry peas recipe here.

Recipe is very simple and easy. This delicious and flavourful curry is perfect accompany with any bread or steamed rice.

Recipe

Dry peas – 1 cup

Cooking soda – a pinch

Water – 2 & 1/2 cup

Onion – 2, chopped

Green chilli – 2, chopped

Ginger – 1 inch piece, grated

Tomato – 2, chopped

Mustard oil – 2 tablespoon

Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon

Bay leaf – 2

Dry red chilli – 2

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon, optional

Salt to taste

Cilantro or coriander leaves to garnish

Method

1. Soak the dry peas overnight.

2. Next day drain the water and pressure cook with soda and 2 cup of water. After 1 whistle pressure cook on simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Let the pressure cooker cool down.

4. Heat 2 tablespoon mustard oil in a pan.

5. Add cumin seeds, bay leaf and dry red chilli.

6. When the cumin seeds start to splutter add chopped onions.

7. Fry the onions till light brown. I have taken out 1 teaspoon fried onion to garnish.

8. Add grated ginger, green chilli and chopped tomatoes. Saute till the tomatoes becomes mushy and oil leaves the sides.

9. Add turmeric powder and mix well.
Now add the boiled peas with it’s water and salt.

10. Add 1/2 cup water, mix and when its starts to boil reduce the heat. Cook on simmer for 6 – 8 minutes.

11. Cook on high heat for 1 minute. Give a good stir and remove from heat.

12. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves. Serve hot with jeera rice, pulao, steamed rice, roti or Indian flat bread, paratha, puri, pulao, naan or any bread.

Recipe note

One of my reader Munu said turmeric powder is not used in authentic Mangal ooti recipe. But I have added it to give some colour to the curry. You can skip it if you want. Thanks a lot Munu for the info.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Vegan Smoothie Bowl

Vegan smoothie bowl.
A dairy free and gluten free smoothie bowl for breakfast. And also sugar free. So diabetic and weight watchers both can enjoy it.
Easy to make, filling, healthy and delicious. A perfect breakfast option. With all the goodness and taste of banana, oats, almond, raisins, dates and coconut and the crunch of walnut and pomegranate.

I have used banana but you can use strawberry or any fruit of your choice. You don’t need any sweetener because raisins, banana and dates give enough sweetness to your smoothie bowl.
Sending this post to 180 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is #Lowcalorie food.

This week I have suggested the theme. Read my fellow blogger’s posts to get many more low calorie food recipes.

This smoothie is perfectly sweet and delicious but if you like less sweetness in your smoothie then you can reduce the amount raisins and dates. You can dry roast the oats if you want. I didn’t.

Recipe

Oats – 1/4 cup

Banana – 1

Coconut milk – 1/4 cup or as require

Fresh coconut – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Almond – 5

Date – 2, pitted and chopped

Raisins – 2 tablespoon

Walnut, raisins, pomegranate and banana pieces for topping

Method

1. Peel and chop the ripe banana.

2. Soak the almonds in hot water and peel when cool.

3. Soak the raisins in water.

4. Grind the oats. You can dry roast the oats before grinding if you like.

5. In a blender blend ground oats, chopped coconut, chopped dates, peeled almonds, soaked raisins, chopped banana and 1/4 cup coconut milk. Blend into a smooth mixture.

6. Pour the mixture into a bowl. You can add 1/4 cup more coconut milk if you want your smoothie consistency thin.

7. Top with banana slices, raisins, walnut and pomegranate arils.
Enjoy the delicious and healthy smoothie bowl. Stay healthy stay happy

Notes

1. You can use strawberry or any fruit of your choice instead of banana.
2. If you don’t like oats then dry roast the oats before grinding.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Potato With Green Peas

Potatoes with green peas.
A spicy, no onion garlic and delicious potato dish. Best accompany with puri, paratha, roti, dal chawal or make sandwich stuffing.
Little different from nimona or green peas curry.
I have used cilantro or coriander leaves with green peas for flavour but if you don’t like cilantro then you can omit it. Potatoes will be lip-smacking without it too.
In winter my vegetable vendor brings lots of colourful vegetables. And we buy green peas mostly every day. You can add these in any dish. Even green peas stuffed kachori or paratha are most favourite delicacies in this season.

You may also like Matar kofta or green peas dumplings.

 

 

And green peas are also healthy and nutritious. And high in many nutrients and antioxidants.

Green peas are a popular vegetable. They are also quite nutritious and contain a fair amount of fiber and antioxidants.

Additionally, research shows they may help protect against some chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer.

They have been part of the human diet for hundreds of years and are consumed all over the world.

Green peas have an impressive nutrition profile.
Their calorie content is fairly low, with only 62 calories per 1/2-cup (170-gram) serving.
About 70% of those calories come from carbs and the rest are provided by protein and a small amount of fat.
Furthermore, peas contain just about every vitamin and mineral you need, in addition to a significant amount of fiber.
Source

Recipe is very easy to make. Just grind the peas ginger, green chilli, tomatoes and cilantro and mix with boiled and fried potatoes and cook. I have used small potatoes but if you don’t have small potatoes then you can also make it with large or medium potatoes. If you are using large potatoes, make small pieces and follow the method.

Recipe

Small potatoes – 500 gram, boiled

Green peas – 1 cup

Cilantro or coriander leaves – 1/2 cup, chopped

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Green chilli – 2

Tomato – 2 medium, chopped

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Mustard oil – 2-3 tablespoon

Water – 3/4 cup

Method

1. Peel the potatoes. You can prick the potatoes with a fork.

2. Grind green chilli, cilantro or coriander leaves, ginger and tomatoes.

3. Add green peas in the grinder and grind altogether.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Add the potatoes and little salt. Fry till the potatoes becomes light golden brown. Remove from oil.

5. Add the ground paste in the oil. Saute and add cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder garam masala and salt.

6. Saute till the mixture dried up and raw smell goes away.

7. Add fried potatoes and mix well. Saute for 1 – 2 minutes.

8. Add water and mix. Cook on low medium heat till water evaporate and dried up. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking at the bottom. You can add little more water if require.

9. Potatoes are ready. You can add 1 teaspoon ghee or clarified butter at the end.

10. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves.
Serve hot with roti, paratha, puri naan or any bread. These potatoes also taste great with dal chawal. If you have some leftover potatoes mash and use as a sandwich stuffing.

Notes

1. You can garnish with ginger julienne.

2. You can grind garlic cloves with green chilli, cilantro, ginger and tomato if you like garlicky flavour.

3. If you don’t like cilantro or coriander leaves, then you can omit it.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Semolina Cake / Suji Cake / Rawa Cake

Suji/rawa or semolina cake.
A cake with all the ingredients we use on sankranti. Loaded with dry fruits, mawa, til or sesame seeds, coconut and flavoured with cardamom and caramel. In Bengal we use khoya/mawa or dried milk, sesame seeds, coconut and dry fruits to make sankranti delicacies. Usually we make a stuffing for our puli pithe with these ingredients. And we use khajur gur or date palm jaggery in this stuffing. I have very little date palm jaggery in my pantry this time so didn’t use jaggery in the cake but drizzled little jaggery syrup on the cake. And it enhanced the flavour and taste. But if you don’t have date palm jaggery then you can skip it.
I have made it with suji or semolina but you can use any flour of your choice.

In dry fruits I have used 2 heaped tablespoon each chopped cashew, raisins, almond, walnut, tutti fruity, candied cherry, you can use any dry fruits of your choice. Make small pieces and use 3/4 – 1 cup mixed dry fruits. I have used my blender to mix sugar with all the other ingredients. So normal granulated sugar is perfectly fine, no need of powdered sugar.

I have made it two times. First one in round cake pan. Used refined flour or maida with semolina. Sprinkle til/sesame seeds and tutti fruity over the cake. Look at the crumb. Cake taste amazing.

And second time used my bundt pan. Used whole wheat flour or atta instead of refined flour. Sprinkled sesame seeds and tutti fruity in the greased and flour dusted bundt pan and poured the batter over it. You can also make upside down cake in a round cake pan this way.

Last week in our bloghop group we were discussing about festival recipes. Priya Iyer who blog at The World Through My Eyes asked why not cake? So here is super yummy cake for festive season. Thanks Priya for the suggestion.

Sending this post to 179 #Foodiemonday bloghop #foodmagbest theme. This week Seema Doraiswamy Sriram who blog at Mildly Indian suggested the theme.

Do visit her blog for the amazing recipes she shared.

I have decided to skip this week because Seema suggested that post a recipe which we will love to see on food magazine cover. My all the pictures are clicked by phone. The pictures are simple and mostly unedited. And which is my best recipe? Let’s decide it my readers. But my fellow bloggers and bloghop members said don’t skip and don’t think about cover, just post your recipe. Thanks friends. So here is a delicious and festive cake recipe for my readers with the pictures without any editing. Pictures are simple but taste of this cake is awesome. I am sure you will love the taste.

Recipe

Suji or semolina – 1 cup

Flour – 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon

Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon

Khoya/mawa or dried milk – 1/2 cup

Milk – 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoon

Oil – 1/2 cup

Baking powder – 1 teaspoon

Baking soda – 1/2 teaspoon

Thick yogurt – 1/4 cup

Granulated sugar – 1 cup

Caramel essence – 1 teaspoon, optional

Desiccated coconut – 1/2 cup

Cashew nuts – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Raisin – 2 tablespoon

Walnut – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Almond – 2 tablespoon, sliced

Tutti fruity – 2 tablespoon

Candied cherry – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Or

Chopped mixed dry fruits – 3/4 – 1 cup

Sesame seeds and tutti fruity to sprinkle

For jaggery syrup

Khajur gur or date palm jaggery – 1/4 cup, grated

Water – 1 tablespoon

Method

1. Grease a cake pan with oil and dust with flour or line with parchment paper.

2. Preheat the oven at 180° for 10 minutes.

3. Chop the raisins into half and mix with all the chopped dry fruits and 1 tablespoon flour.

4. In a blender blend mawa or dried milk, yoghurt, sugar, suji or semolina, milk, cardamom powder, dessicated coconut and oil. You can use your hand blender to blend. I have used soft homemade mawa. Get the mawa or dried milk recipe here.

5. Blend everything well.

Take out the mixture in a large bowl. Add flour and mix well. Make a lump free batter and keep aside for 30 minutes.

6. Now add baking powder and soda. Mix well.
Fold in the dry fruits.

7. If you are using a round cake pan pour the mixture into the pan. Tap the pan gently to remove air bubbles.

8. Sprinkle some sesame seeds or til. But this step is optional, you can skip it if you like.
Sprinkle tutti fruity over it.

9. Or you can make upside down cake. And if you are using bundt pan sprinkle sesame seeds and tutti fruity in greased and flour dusted bundt pan.

10. Pour the batter over it. Tap the pan 3-4 times.

11. Bake in preheated oven at 180° for 35 – 40 minutes or till the toothpick comes out clean.
Let it cool down.

12. In a pan heat date palm jaggery and +1 tablespoon water. Boil till jaggery dissolve completely. Let it cool down.

13. Turn out the cake into a plate.

14. Drizzle with date palm jaggery syrup.
Slice and enjoy the heavenly taste.
Happy baking 😊

Notes

1. Jaggery syrup is optional. Cake also taste great without it.
2. You can use any flour of your choice with suji or semolina. Like whole wheat flour or atta, refined flour or maida or you can also use any gluten free flour.
3. Cake can be made with any flour instead of suji or semolina.
4. Sugar will be mixed with other ingredients in blender so normal granulated sugar can be used.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Beetroot Green With Peas And Corn

Beetroot green with green peas and corn.
Don’t discard the beet greens. You can make delicious and healthy side dish with it. Green peas and sweet corn made it attractive and super tempting. Even kids will love this healthy and yummy beetroot green. Serve it with steamed rice or any bread.

Have a look at the health benefits of beetroot green.
Besides supplying good amounts of protein, phosphorus, and zinc, beet greens are also a great source of fiber. Packed with antioxidants, they’re high in vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese, and low in fat and cholesterol. Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, daily values of beet greens contain: 220% of vitamin A, 60% of vitamin C, 16% of calcium, and 15% of iron.

As if that weren’t enough, studies have also shown that the vitamin K in beet greens contains blood clotting properties, helps ward off osteoporosis, works with calcium to boost bone strength, and may also play a role in fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Beet greens have a higher iron content than spinach, and a higher nutritional value than the beetroot itself.

The vitamin A content in beet greens helps strengthen the immune system and stimulates production of antibodies and white blood cells. The beta-carotene in vitamin A is a known antioxidant that can fight the effects of free radicals in the body along with cancer and heart disease.
Source

Recipe is very simple and easy. If you have the ingredients ready then you can make it in a jiffy. You need only green peas corn, garlic, ginger chilli and cumin with beetroot green to make this delicious side dish.

Recipe

Beetroot green – 2 cup, chopped

Green peas – 1/2 cup

Sweet corn – 1/2 cup boiled

Garlic cloves – 2 – 3, minced

Green chilli – 1, finely chopped

Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Ginger Julienne – 1 tablespoon

Cumin powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Sugar – a pinch

Salt to taste

Mustard oil – 1 tablespoon

Ginger julienne to garnish

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.

2. Add minced garlic, chopped green chilli and ginger Julienne.

3. Saute till the garlic becomes brown.
Now add beetroot green, corn, green peas, salt and cumin powder. You can also add some fried garlic cloves if you like.

4. Cook on low heat. Stir occasionally. Don’t increase the heat.

5. When beetroot green dried up completely remove from heat.

6. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Garnish with ginger Julienne.

7. Serve with steamed rice, roti or Indian flat bread or paratha.

Notes

1. Grated ginger can be used instead of ginger julienne.

2. You can add 1 sliced onion with garlic if you like. Fry the onion with garlic, ginger and chilli.

3. You can also add some fried garlic cloves if you like.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Komola Bhog Or Orange Flavoured Rasgulla

Komola bhog or orange flavoured rasgulla.
Komola bhog is a popular sweet of Bengal. Just like rasgulla but slightly larger in size and flavoured with orange. These rasgulla are stuffed with pistachio and orange segment. Stuffing and flavour made these rasgulla super yummy.

I have already shared two different flavoured rasgulla here.

Mango rasgulla

Watermelon rasgulla

You may like some more orange recipes here.

1. Kheer komola or orange kheer

2. Chocolate cake with orange crunch and glaze

3. Orange crinkle cookies or nankhatai

4. Eggless orange muffins with chocolate inside

5. Sugar free choco orange mousse with malai or milk topping

Sending this post to 178 #Foodiemonday bloghop harvest harmony theme. My contribution is orange flavoured delicious spongy rasgulla or komola bhog for this festive theme.

Recipe is same as white rasgulla but flavoured with orange and slightly larger in size. I have stuffed this rasgulla with pistachio and little orange segment and added saffron and orange juice in the sugar syrup.

Always use large pan to make rasgulla. Because rasgulla expand in the sugar syrup. If you use less sugar syrup or overcrowded in the pan rasgulla will become flat. Rasgulla need space to retain it’s shape. Here is a picture of flat komola bhog because of wrong size pan.

You can skip orange segment stuffing if you want. Stuff only pistachio or you can stuff the cottage cheese or paneer/chhena balls with small misri/rock candy or ilaichi dana/nakul dana. Or you can make it without stuffing too. I sometimes make it just like white rasgulla with orange flavour and colour.

Recipe

Milk – 1 litre

Lemon juice or vinegar -3 – 4 tablespoon or as require

Sugar – 1 & 1/2 cup

Water – 3 cup

Orange juice – 1 cup

Saffron – a pinch

Orange food colour – 1 – 2 drop, optional

Orange essence – 2 – 3 drop + 2 drops for syrup

Orange segment and chopped pistachio for stuffing

Method

Please read all the tips and tricks to make rasgulla here to make perfect orange flavoured rasgulla or komola bhog.

1. Place a cheesecloth on a strainer.

2. Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan. When it starts to rolling boil remove from heat. Add lemon juice or vinegar.
Add 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir and add 1 tablespoon more or as require to curdle the milk completely.

3. When greenish whey and cottage cheese separates immediately pour into the strainer. If you boil further after curdling your cottage cheese and rasgulla will be hard.

4. Wash the paneer under running water or dip the cheesecloth in a bowl filled with cold water. Wash the cottage cheese well to remove the smell of vinegar or lemon.

5. Squeeze the cloth well to drain all the water from cottage cheese.

6. Remove the cottage cheese on a large dry cloth. Wrap well and put a heavy weight on it for 2 hours.

7. Take out the cottage cheese or paneer on a large plate. Add food colour if using.

8. Mash with your finger tips and heel of your palm. Mash till your palm becomes greasy.

9. Make 5 – 6 small balls. These will become double. If you want large sized komola bhog make 5 balls.

10. Flatten the balls and place little orange segment and pistachio slivers in the middle.
You can omit orange segment if you want.

11. Close the edges and make smooth ball again.

12. There shouldn’t be any crack on the balls.
Press the balls between your fingers and palm tightly to make crack free balls.

13. Make round ball using your both palm. Make all the balls this way.

14. In a large and broad pan heat 1 cup sugar, 3 cup water, saffron and 1 cup orange juice. Pan should be large. In small pan balls may be disfigured.

15. When sugar dissolved and it starts to rolling boil add the cottage cheese balls one by one. Let it boil on full flame from 2 – 3 minutes.

16. Cover and cook on medium high heat for 20 minutes.

17. After 20 minutes switch off the heat. Keep it covered for 2 hours or until completely cool down.

18. You can keep these in refrigerator for 5 – 6 days.
Serve chilled or at room temperature. Try out this komola bhog and enjoy the heavenly taste.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Eggs In Poppy Seeds And Tomato Gravy Or Dim Posto

Egg in poppy seeds or khas khas and tomato gravy or dim posto.
A delicious and easy to make egg dish. Dim posto is a very common dish of Bengali household. You don’t need much spices to make it.
Make a paste of poppy seeds or khas khas, green chilli and tomato, you need only salt and turmeric to make this delicious curry. I have used little kashmiri red chilli powder to add some colour, you can omit it if you want. Or you can grind 1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh grated coconut with poppy seeds and tomato to make narkol posto dim or coconut poppy seeds eggs.

You may like some more egg recipes in this blog.

1. Egg dal tadka

2. Bengal gram and steamed egg khichdi

3. Soya egg shami kabab

4. Korean egg fried rice

5. Kerala egg roast with potato

6. Egg korma

7. Potato stuffed egg enchilada

8. Piperade with Indian spices

10. Eggs with mustard and poppy seeds

11. Egg corn cottage cheese casserole

Sending this post to A to Z challenge, a challenge initiated on Facebook Group, created by Jolly and Vidya.

Wherein a group of bloggers come together and we choose key ingredients alphabetically to cook and post a dish every alternate month. This month’s Alphabet is letter E.

Sharing an easy and quick yet delicious egg dish for letter E.

I didn’t use onion but you can add 1 thinly sliced onion. Fry the onion slices before adding ground paste. Or you can make it with only poppy seeds, green chilli, salt and turmeric powder if you want. 1/4 teaspoon onion seeds or kalonji can be added in oil as tempering or tadka. Sometimes I make it in this way.  And sometimes also add fresh coconut with poppy seeds  Try these ways for a change.

 

Recipe

Egg – 3 – 4, hard boiled

Poppy seeds or khas khas – 4 tablespoon

Hot water – 1/4 cup

Tomato – 1 large

Green chilli – 2

Mustard oil – 2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon

Dry red chilli – 1, optional

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon, optional

Salt to taste

Water – 1 cup

Method

1. Soak the poppy seeds or khas khas in 1/4 cup hot water for 1 hour.

2. Grind the soaked poppy seeds and green chilli. Add the tomato in the grinder and make a smooth paste of poppy seeds, green chilli and tomato.

3. Make some slits on hard boiled eggs with a knife and marinate with little salt and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.

4. Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a pan. Fry the eggs from all the sides till light brown and remove from oil.

5. In the same oil add dry red chilli and poppy seeds, green chilli and tomato paste.

6. Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, kashmiri red chilli powder and saute till the mixture dried up completely.

7. Now add water and salt. Mix well.

8. When it starts to rolling boil slide the eggs. You can add 2 – 3 slit green chilli if you like your curry hot.

9. Cover and reduce the heat. Cook on low heat for 7 – 8 minutes.

10. Remove the cover and cook on high heat for 2 minutes or till you get the desired consistency of the gravy.

11. Add 1 teaspoon mustard oil for extra zing and mix well.

12. Remove from heat. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves. You can also garnish with slit green chilli.
Serve with steamed rice.

Notes

1. Thinly sliced onion can be added. Fry the onion slices before adding ground paste in the oil.
2. Tomato is optional. You can omit tomatoes and red chilli if you want. But with or without both taste great.

3. 1/4 teaspoon onion seeds or kalonji can be used for tempering or tadka.

4. You can also grind 1/4 to 1/2 fresh grated coconut with poppy seeds, green chilli and tomato to make narkol posto dim or coconut poppy seed eggs.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Methi Paneer Kofta In Palak Gravy / Fenugreek And Cottage Cheese Balls In Spinach Gravy

Methi paneer kofta in palak gravy or fenugreek and cottage cheese balls in spinach gravy.
If you don’t like the bitterness of methi or fenugreek leaves then its perfect for you. Kofta or balls are delicious and mildly flavoured with methi. And the palak or spinach gravy is rich creamy and delicious. I didn’t add cream but if you like, you can add 1 – 2 Tablespoon cream at the end.

This week our 177 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is magic with fresh methi leaves.
I don’t like methi but don’t want to skip bloghop. So made it and this kofta curry is a super hit among my family.
This week Sasmita Sahoo Samanta who blog at First Timer Cook suggested the theme this week. Visit her blog for mouthwatering recipes. Thanks Sasmita for this wonderful suggestion.

I always avoid to deep fry the kofte. But this time I have fried them. You can use your appe pan to fry the kofta in very little oil or you can shallow fry. You can also use almond instead of cashew nuts if you want. Soak the almonds in hot water or microwave for 1 minute with water and peel when cool. Cornflour can be used instead of besan or chickpea flour.

Recipe

For kofta

Methi or fenugreek leaves – 1 cup, chopped

Paneer or cottage cheese – 1 cup, crumbled

Potatoes – 2 medium, boiled and peeled

Besan or chickpea flour – 3 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Black pepper powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Grated ginger – 1/2 teaspoon

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Chaat masala powder – 1 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Oil to fry

For gravy

Palak or spinach – 3 cup, roughly chopped

Green cardamom – 2

Cinnamon – 1/2 inch piece

Cloves – 3

Onion – 1, chopped

Garlic – 2 – 3 cloves, chopped

Ginger – 1/2 inch piece, chopped

Green chilli – 1 – 2 chopped

Tomato – 2 medium, chopped

Cashew nuts – 10 – 12

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Sugar – 1/4 teaspoon, optional

Oil – 2 tablespoon

Butter – 1 tablespoon

Water – 1 & 1/2 cup

Grated coconut to garnish

Method

1. Mash the boiled potatoes.

2. Chop the methi or fenugreek leaves finely in a food processor. Or blend with paneer or cottage cheese in a blender. Don’t add water. We don’t need paste, just make fine pieces of fenugreek leaves and combine with paneer.

3. Mix finely chopped fenugreek leaves with crumble paneer, boiled and mashed potatoes, salt, cumin powder, chaat masala powder, black pepper powder, garam masala powder and besan or chickpea flour. You can add minced garlic if you want.

4. Mix everything well. Make small balls. You can make 14 – 15 balls with this dough.

5. Heat oil in a pan or wok. Slid the balls in the oil, 3 – 4 at a time. Flip with a slatted spatula to fry all the sides.

6. When the ball becomes golden brown remove from oil and place on paper towel.

7. Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a pan. Add green cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, chopped onion, green chilli, garlic and chopped ginger. Stir and fry till the onion becomes light brown.

8. Now add the tomatoes, chopped spinach or palak and cashew nuts.

9. Saute till spinach and tomatoes cooked well and dried up.

10. Remove from heat and let it cool down.
When cool grind the mixture into a smooth paste.

11. Heat butter in a pan. You can use oil if you don’t want to use butter.

12. Add the ground paste. Add salt, sugar, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and turmeric powder,. Mix well.

13. Saute the mixture till dried up completely. Stir continuously to avoid sticking at the bottom of the pan.

14. Add water and when it starts to rolling boil reduce the heat. Simmer for 6 – 7 minutes.

15. Add the balls and boil for 1 – 2 minutes. Balls or kofte are soft, so don’t cook more than it to avoid breaking the balls.

16. Remove from heat and garnish with grated coconut. You can garnish with ginger julienne, sliced onions, lemon wedges or tomato slices.

Serve hot with roti, paratha, puri, naan or any bread.

Notes

1. You can use more garlic if you like

2. Add chilli according to your taste.

3. Almond can be used instead of cashew nuts.

4. You can use cornflour instead of besan or chickpea flour for binding.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
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Dundee Cake / Eggless Cake

Dundee cake.
My first cake of the year. No not gluten free or dairy free its only egg free.
Mixed taste of almond, lemon, orange, blackberry preserve, cardamom and cinnamon made this cake super yummy and aromatic.

The cake is often made with currants, sultanas and almonds; sometimes, fruit peel may be added to it. The cake originated in nineteenth-century Scotland, and was originally made as a mass-produced cake by the marmalade company called Keiller’s. Keiller’s marmalade company first mass-produced the cake commercially and have been claimed to be the originators of the term “Dundee cake”. However, similar fruit cakes were produced across Scotland. A popular story is that Mary Queen of Scots did not like glace cherries in her cakes, so the cake was first made for her, as a fruit cake that used blanched almonds and not cherries. The top of the cake is typically decorated with concentric circles of almonds. Today, the cakes are often sold in supermarkets throughout the United Kingdom.
The cake was also made and marketed in British India, and in independent India after 1947, by Britannia Industries and its successor firms. However, after 1980 the cake was withdrawn from the market though it continued to be supplied privately as a corporate Christmas gift by the maker. Queen Elizabeth is reported to favour Dundee cake at tea-time.
Source – Wikipedia

I have made it with refined flour or maida but you can use whole wheat flour or atta or any flour of your choice. Or use gluten free flour if you want. If you want to make it vegan then you can use almond milk or coconut milk.
I have used candied cherries, almond and raisins. If you have sultana you can also use it.
Usually we add orange marmalade or apricot jam in this cake. But this time I have got a bottle of English blackberry preserve from Bhuira jam as a gift hamper. So I used it and loved the taste. You can use orange marmalade or apricot jam if you want.

Recipe

Refined flour or maida – 1 & 1/2 cup + 2 teaspoon

Powdered sugar – 3/4 cup

Butter – 2 tablespoon

Oil – 1/2 cup

Almond – 1/4 cup

Candied cherry – 1/4 cup, chopped

Raisins – 1/4 cup

Blackberry jam or preserve – 3 tablespoon

Baking powder – 1 teaspoon

Baking soda – 1/2 teaspoon

Cinnamon powder – 1 teaspoon

Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon

Milk – 1/2 cup

Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Orange zest – 1 teaspoon

Lemon zest – 1/4 teaspoon

Vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon

Almond – 25, blanched

Method

1. Preheat the oven at 180° for 10 minutes.

2. Grease a round cake pan with oil or butter and dust with little flour.

3. Grind the almonds and keep aside.

4. Mix lemon juice in lukewarm or room temperature milk. It will start to curdle.

5. Mix 2 teaspoon refined flour with chopped candied cherries and raisins to avoid sinking at the bottom. You can also add 1/4 cup sultana if you have.

6. Sieve refined flour or maida, baking powder, soda, cardamom powder and cinnamon powder. Add ground almond in the flour mixture.

7. In a large bowl mix butter, oil and powdered sugar. Whisk well.

8. Add lemon juice mixed milk and whisk again.

9. Add jam or preserve, orange zest, lemon zest and vanilla essence. Mix well.

10. Now add all the dry ingredients gradually. First add half of the flour mixture, mix well and then add remaining flour mixture.

11. Make a lump free batter. Don’t over beat.

12. Fold in raisins and chopped candied cherries.

13. Pour the batter into the greased and flour dusted cake pan. Level the top with a spoon.

14. Tap the cake pan 3 – 4 times to remove air bubbles.

15. Peel the blanched almonds and decorate over the cake.

16. Bake at 170° for 30 – 40 minutes or till the toothpick comes out clean. Check after 30 – 35 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the middle it should comes out clean.
Every oven takes different time. Mine takes 45 minutes. Keep an eye after 30 minutes. Don’t over bake.

17. Let the cake completely cool down before slicing.
Happy baking 😊

Notes

1. You can use gluten free flour if you want.
2. For dairy free version use almond milk or coconut milk.
3. You can add sultana or any dry fruits of your choice.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update
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