Baked Mix Veggie Pakoda

Pakodas are the all time favorite snack in most of the families. To make them a tiny bit healthy I prefer to Bake them. I preferably bake the pakodas, for all my dishes needs pakodas, be it the Kadhi, Kofte, or Snack time pakodas.

In Rainy season, Pakodas and Masala Chai is the best evening snack. Everyone in my family knows if it rains, they are gonna get a lot many variety of pakodas for snack with their choice of Drinks. I, sometimes fry them and most of the times bake them.

This rainy day, the treat was mix veggie pakodas with coffee and masala tea. You can use your choice of mix veggies, spices and gramflour. mixed well and baked to perfection. Chai is ready, Balcony table is set with light music on Radio, life is a blessing. Try these baked veggie pakodas in your kitchen and set the environment like this. Family will adore it and you will too. This recipe will participate in Meat Free Monday link up at Tinned Tomatoes. Until Next Time......................... Happy Cooking Friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

Mix Veggie                    - 2 cups (Par boiled)
Gram Flour                    - 1 - 1/2 cups
Salt                                - To taste
Garam Masala               - 1/2 tspoon
Red Chili Powder          - 1/4 tspoon
Baking Soda                  - 1/4 tspoon
Lemon Juice                  - 2 tspoon
Green Chili                    - 2 finely chopped
Coriander                       - 1/4 cup finely chopped
Water                             - for adjusting the batter
Oil                                  - 1 tspoon (optional)


Method:

Par boil the mix veggies in microwave for 5-7 minutes, use the big bowl.
Preheat the oven to 200c and line a baking sheet with nonstick paper.
I used the frozen veggies, mix of Carrot, Peas, Beans, Corn, Onion and peppers.
In the same bowl add the gramflour, garam masala, red chili powder, green chili, coriander and salt. Mix well.

Add the oil if using at this stage.
If the veggies have less water add few spoons of water to adjust the batter consistency. The batter should be on thick side not runny.
If you feel the batter is runny add few tspoon of gramflour.
Now add the baking soda and lemon juice, mix very well.
At this point batter will start to bee fluffy.
Scoop the desired size on the baking tray.

Bake the pakodas on 200c for 12-15 minutes or until golden on top.

Serve these baked mix veggie pakodas with condiments and masala chai. I hope more and more viewers will love this recipe as this is going to part of Meat Free Monday at Tinned Tomatoes.

Leftover Vegetable Pulao and Cheese Patties

I quite "not throw" but use the leftover food most of the time, especially the dinner leftovers. Most of the dinner leftovers make very good Breakfast Dishes. I always look for the "leftover Rice and Chapati" to use in making something delicious for breakfast.

For instance, from one of the dinner recently, I was left with 1 and 1/2 cup of Vegetable Pulao. I was thinking it's not even a full portion for someone. So thats going to be converted into something else. Kept it carefully in the fridge and next morning i was up with a recipe in mind for a tasty breakfast.

I gathered all the ingredients, in my mind for this breakfast treat. Mixed it all up along with the leftover Pulao, shallow fry that and we have yummy, tasty, delicious Patties to go with Buns, Cookies and morning drinks for breakfast.

Here's presenting Leftover Vegetable Pulao and Cheese Patties. Kids simply loved eating them with out any fussy morning face, Hubby asked me to make them again whenever we have any leftover pulao and me so happy to see them having something they liked.

Try this quick, simple and easy recipe in your kitchen and see your family members face lighting with joy and mouth singing praises for you. Let me know your feedback in the comments below.................... Until Next Time, Happy Cooking Friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

Leftover Vegetable Pulao                     - 1 - 1/2 cup
Gram Flour                                           - 3 tblspoon
Grated Cheese                                      - 2 tblspoon
Desiccated Coconut                             - 1 tblspoon
Salt                                                       - to taste / optional
Red Chili Flakes                                  - to taste / optional
Lemon Juice                                        - 1 tblspoon
Oil                                                       - 2 tblspoon to shallow fry

Method:

In a heavy bottom pan, dry roast the gram flour for 3-4 minutes.
Tip over the roasted gramflour into the Pulao bowl.
Now add cheese, salt, chili flakes, lemon juice and coconut into the same bowl.
Mix well with your hand to give it a texture of loose dough. Refer the picture.

Divide the Pulao dough into 8-9 equal pieces with greased hands.
Heat a heavy bottom pan on medium heat.
Grease your hands again and shape the dough balls into patties.
Shallow Fry the Patties , 4-5 at a time, giving them space to cook properly.
Fry them until golden from both sides, flipping carefully in between.
Once all of them are done, Patties are ready to be served, as a starter, light lunch with salad, tea-time snack or breakfast as we did.
You can also sandwich them with buns, baps or Pav with Chutneys, Condiments or sauces.
Enjoy the light, crunchy and filling patties.

Notes:
You can also use Oats powder, but I was run out it so used gram flour.

You can replace Cheese with crumbled Paneer.

Coconut is totally optional.

Spices are also optional, if the Pulao is spiced and floured extremely hot.

Tofu,Veggie & Cheese Topped Bell Peppers

When it's the season for good vegetables and fruits, it makes me feel out of the world. I get many more different fruits and veggies for experiments in my Kitchen. I, even my family loves eating our veggies. I often make stuffed veggies and bake them.

My kids are also good with the veggies, it's just I need to make the veggies a bit attractive for them to enjoy. I enjoy feeding my kids home-made dishes, just to ease my heart and mind. Well, well, well, Who doesn't. Lets come to the Dish we are going to see in today's post.

Sometimes, in the season I buy Bells peppers in plenty, wash, deseed and cut them to freeze for making my job easy in the Kitchen. This time me and hubby both bought big packs of bell peppers and even after doing my regular freezing, there was a lot of them left.

If you guys remember, I made some tofu stuffed Buns few days back. I was left with half pack tofu in the fridge, which I needed to finish ASAP. So thats the oppertunity for me. I made "Tofu,Veggie & Cheese Topped Bell Peppers". My kids are a BIG BIG fan of dairy products and still don't know much difference between Indian Cottage Cheese (Paneer) and Tofu. They love eating both in same manner, they simply love both of these dairy products.

Very easy to assemble and healthy because of less oil and light cheese. Goodness of Tofu and Veggies, let your mind to peace as well. Try the recipe in your Kitchen, I'm sure your family will love them just as mine did.....................Until Next Time, happy cooking friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

Mix Bell Peppers         - 4 Wash, de-seeded and cut into half
Tofu                             - 1/2 cup crumbled
Mix Veggies                - 1/2 cup (par-boiled)
Grated Cheese             - 4 tblspaoon
Coriander                    - 2 tblspoon freshly chopped
Lemon Juice               - 1/2 tspoon
Red Chilli Powder      - 1/2 tspoon
Garlic Powder            - 1/4 tspoon
Salt                             - to taste
Oil/Butter                   - 1 tblspoon


Method:

Preheat the oven to 200c. Grease a roasting tray with cooking spray.
Wash, de-seed the bell peppers and Cut into half. I used 3 green peppers and 1 red pepper.
In a bowl, mix crumbled tofu, veggies, 2 tblspoon cheese, red chilli powder, garlic powder, salt, freshly chopped coriander and lemon juice. Mix well and keep aside.
Run a little butter in and out on each half of the peppers.
Spoon the filling into each greased bell peppers. I used 2 tblspoon of filling, because the bell peppers I used was relatively small in size.
Press the filling firmly into the bell peppers to avoid spilling it everywhere.
Place them all on the roasting tray.
Sprinkle rest of 3 tblspoon of grated cheese generously on each bell pepper.
Spray some cooking oil on to them. This step is totally optional.
Bake the peppers in preheated oven at 200c for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese on top starts to turn golden.

Once baked, Serve the bell peppers hot with Soup, Salad and Toasted bread.
My family loves to eat them this way, how does yours?????

Tofu and Veggie Stuffed Rosemary Buns

Mummy is nowadays feeling Lazy! Thats what my kids are thinking. To be honest, It's the weather, which is making me lazy. I just wanna sit down and read with a cold drink in my hands. I do not want to go in the Kitchen, which is just next to the HOT HOT HOT Sunroom.

Can you resist the temptation of baking new recipe, you just read in a magazine. Can you can you, I can not. So here goes Mum in the Kitchen. Mixing some flour, making stuffing and preheating oven. Finding maximum possible ingredients and checking the time.

Why I always start to do preparation, just before I need to go out and pick-up the kids from their schools? Why oh Why??? Just the thought my kid's happy face, when they step inside and smell the aroma of goodies baking in the oven, makes me do that.

"Rosemary Tofu and Veggies Stuffed Buns", The original recipe calls for Indian Samosa stuffing and sesame seeds on top of the buns. I've already tried that recipe, so decided this time it needs some changes. The original recipe calls for plain flour/All purpose flour but I used Chapati Flour/Wholewheat flour.

So here is the end result of all the hard work. very simple recipe, just like all the "made from scratch" bread recipes, it just need some time for the dough to proof. Stuffing gets ready in 10 minutes. assembling is done in few minutes and baked in just 17-20 minutes. Kids loved them for their after school snack. They saved few for their morning breakfast as well. I love my Fairy and Champ!!!

Have a go on this recipe in your Kitchen, alter the stuffing, herbs and flour according to your taste. Enjoy the product of your hard work. My family loved these little bunds. Fulfilling and yummy, easy to make and bake. Drop a comment below with your feedback............Until next time, Happy Cooking friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

For the dough:
Whole Wheat Flour         - 1 cup
Rosemary                         - 1 tspoon
Salt                                   - to taste or 1/2 tspoon
Yeast                                - 1 tspoon
Honey                               - 1 tspoon
Oil                                    - 1 tblspoon
Water                                - 1/4 - 1/2 cup lukewarm

For the stuffing:
Tofu                                - 1/2 cup crumbled
Mix Veggies                   - 1/2 cup (par-boiled)
Salt                                  - to taste
Italian Seasoning             - 1 tblspoon
Lemon Juice                    - 1/2 tspoon


Method:

Mix flour, rosemary, salt, yeast, honey and oil in mixing bowl.
With the help of water start to knead the dough. Make it a bit wet and sticky dough. I used 1/2 cup water for that.
On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for few minutes until smooth.
Grease a deep bowl and place the dough in it, cover with a cling film and leave it to rise.
It takes 2 hours to double up in warm weather and 4-5 hours in a cold weather.
Once risen punch it down and knead again, keep aside.
In another bowl, mix crumbled tofu, veggies, seasoning, salt and lemon juice. Mix well and keep aside.

Line a baking tray with parchment/baking mat/grease with butter.
Now divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll all of them of the size of coaster.
Put the stuffing in the center of rolled out dough coaster.
Pinch all the corners of the dough and seal it properly.
Place them on a baking tray pinched sides down.
Keep the baking tray aside for the second rise of the buns. It will take near to 30-35 minutes, depending on the temperature of Kitchen /weather.

Meanwhile preheat the oven to 190c.
Bake the stuffed buns for 20-30 minutes or until start to form golden crust. Keep an eye on the after 20 minutes.
Once baked brush them with butter and serve them with choice of other snack and condiments.
I'm sure this will be a hit in your family as well.

Veggie Bread Cutlets

One fine evening, my hubby called me and informed about going to a tea-party, that too with some snacks for the hosts. Kitchen was a mess cause it's half term break and I was so chilled out about it. Wake-up call for me.....I thought. So the search starts in my brain and also in the cupboards... Funny I know but I'm a mum and I've a busy mind :)

Here comes the bread loaf for my rescue. Quickly gathered Bread, Veggies, some random seeds, spices and ingredients of "Veggie Bread Cutlets" were in-front of me. Time to assemble everything and cook them up. So I did all the Hard Work (Ha ha ha Funny) :) and Cutlets were ready in a jiffy. Easiest to make quickest to finish :D

These cutlets are great as a tea-time snack or as a starter for any small party. We all enjoyed eating them in our Tea-Party, even kids loved them. Now I've one more recipe for my leftover bread slices just like others in the blog.

Try these easy and tasty cutlets in your Kitchen and you will be amazed about their taste. Something so easy to make and tastes awesome. Would love to hear from your kitchen experience. Don't forget to comment below. Until next time.......Happy Cooking Friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

Bread Slices                - 4 (Shredded/Ripped roughly by hand)
Boiled Potato              - 2 boiled and mashed
Mix Veggie                 - 1 cup (I took carrots,beans,peas,spinach and corn)
Green chili                  - 2 finely chopped
Fresh Coriander          - 2 tblspoon
Whipped Yogurt         - 2 tblspoon
Sesame seeds              - 2 tspoon
Poppy Seeds               - 1 tspoon
Salt                             - to taste
Amchoor                    - 1 tspoon
Garam Masala            - 1/2 tspoon
Oil                              - to deep fry

Method:

In a mixing bowl, tip the roughly ripped 4 slices of bread, add yogurt to it.

Mix the yogurt with bread and keep aside.

After 1 minute, add mashed potatoes and veggies in the bowl.

Now add Salt, Seeds,Amchoor and Garam Masala into it. Mix well.

Mix everything in the bowl to form a soft dough. Keep it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, pinch a small portion from the dough and roll that into a small cutlet/sausage/log shape.

Meanwhile keep the Karahi with oil on the flame to get warm enough to fry the cutlets. You can bake them as well. But this time I choose to fry, because it was for a friend's tea-party.
Do this with rest of the dough. I made 16 cutlets out of them, as I made a bit smaller size. Quantity will depend on the size you will make for the cutlet.
Once all the cutlets are formed, deep fry them on a medium flame until they turn golden brown from all sides. Flip them in between the frying.

Try not to over-crowd the Karahi, fry 2-4 cutlets at a time. Take them out on a paper towel to soak excess oil.

Serve the cutlets warm with choice of Chutney, Sauce and other Condiments.
These cutlets are great for Tea-Party, Evening snack and breakfast. You do not need occasion to have something delicious. Enjoy :)

Vegetable Rice Stuffed Tomatoes

When I was a little girl, my Mum use to make stuffed vegetables, to be honest I never liked them. Everyone use to eat them and sing praises for my mum but I always thought why mum has to burn these.

Now are the days when I understand why everyone sang those praise songs for my mum. I kissed her hands when I first tasted those stuffed vegetables. Since the day I first had those variety of stuffed vegetables made by mum and till now, I'm in love with the concept of stuffed vegetables.

I've in last 10 years, tried so many variety of stuffed vegetables like stuffed bell peppers, stuffed bitter gourd, stuffed zucchini, stuffed ivy gourd, stuffed apple gourd and many more. This time while planning to make stuffed vegetable, I thought of trying tomatoes.

Luckily, I've had few big size salad tomatoes, ripe but hard. Perfect, I thought, lets give it a go. Checked the fridge, had some leftover rice, some par-boiled veggies and boiled potatoes. Hurray, I yelled inside me and started preparing "Stuffed Tomatoes". Have had few bell peppers as well, so grabbed two of them and tomatoes have two friends now.

My family loved eating these stuffed tomatoes just like all other vegetables. I'm sure your family will love them as well. And for that you need to get into the kitchen and try making them. Don't forget to comment below and tell me your experience. Until next time.......Happy Cooking Friends, Saumya

Ingredients:

Tomatoes                   - 4 big size (preferably fresh and tight ones)
Cooked Rice              - 1 cup
Boiled Potato             - 2 small finely diced
Mix Veg                     - 1/2 cup par-boiled (Peas, corn, beans and carrots)
Tomato pulp               - 1/2 cup (extracted from 4 tomatoes)
Peanuts                       - 1/4 cup (optional)
Onion                         - 1 chopped
Garlic                         - 4 finely chopped
Ginger                        - 1 tspoon grated
Green Chilli               - 1 finely chopped
Turmeric Powder       - 1/2 tspoon
Coriander Powder      - 1 tspoon
Amchoor Powder       - 1/2 tspoon
Garam Masala            - 1/2 tspoon
Salt                             - to taste
Red Chili                    - to taste
Oil                               - 2 tblspoon


Extra:

Green Bell Pepper      - 2


Method:

Wash the tomatoes and core them. Extract all the pulp out from Tomatoes. Try not to cut/rip them. Handle the tomatoes gently. Do the same with Bell pepper as well if using.

Keep the extracted pulp in a bowl, we will use it later in the filling.

Heat 1 tblspoon oil in a Karahi, add onions, garlic, ginger and green chilli. Fry until golden.

Add peanuts and fry them until start popping.

Now add diced potatoes, fry for 1 minute.

Add par-boiled mix veggies and mix well.

Now add tomato pulp, we extracted from 4 tomatoes. Mix well.

Now add the dry spice powders, Turmeric powder, salt, Garam masala, Coriander powder, Amchoor and Red chili powder, mix very well.

Add the cooked rice and mix everything well.

Now fill-up the emptied tomatoes and bell peppers with the rice mixture.

Arrange them into a roasting/baking tray. Spray some oil spray/coat the 1 tblspoon of oil on the filled tomato and bell pepper.

I added some sliced onions, to get cooked in their juices and they go very well with these stuffed vegetables.
Bake these stuffed tomatoes and bell peppers in pre-heated oven on 200c for 30-35 minutes or until you see the skin getting brown and top getting crusty.
Once baked serve them with salad, dip and breads on side.
These stuffed tomatoes are the best dish as a whole, they have rice, veggies, and nuts in them.

I'm sending this recipe at Tinned Tomatoes for Meat Free Mondays. Have a look at another awesome vegetarian recipes on Meat Free Mondays