Aloo Jeera (Potatoes with Cumin Seeds)

Aloo Jeera is easy yet a delicious side dish. This can compliment any meal. A whole cumin seeds have a slightly nutty flavor. In this recipe cumin seeds are one of the main spices.

Recipe will serve 4.

Ingredients:

• 5 medium size potatoes boiled peeled and cut into bite size cubes, this will make about 4 cups of cubes potatoes 
  
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1/8 teaspoon asafetida (hing)
• 1 tablespoon ginger thinly sliced
• 2 green chilies seeded and sliced length wise
• 1-1/2 teaspoon crushed coriander (dhania)
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
• 1 teaspoon mango powder (amchoor)
• 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro (hara dhania) to garnish

Method

1.  Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Oil is the right temperature when cumin seeds crack immediately after being put in the pan.
2. Add cumin seeds and asafetida after seeds crack add ginger and green chilies and stir for few seconds.
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add all the remaining spices, coriander, turmeric, chili powder, mango powder, and salt. Stir for few seconds.
4. Add potatoes and mix well with Masala. Stir fry for 4-5 minutes. All the potatoes should be coated with spices.
5. Turn off the heat and add cilantro. Mix it well and serve it hot.

Notes

Left over potatoes can be served as sack or chat drizzling with whipped yogurt and tamarind chutney.

PANEER SANDWICH RECIPE

Ingredients of this recipe:

1 loaf Bread
1/2 cup grated Paneer (Cottage Cheese)
1 Tomatoes
1 Onions
2 Green chillies
1/4 tsp Red chilli powder
Salt to taste
Butter as needed

Method to make this recipe : paneer sandwich :

• Chop onions, chillies and tomatoes.
• Mix the grated paneer with chopped vegetables, salt, red chilli powder and keep aside.
• Take two bread slices and butter them, put some paneer mixture on one slice and cover it with other bread slice.
• Put this in sandwich toaster until the bread turns crispy and brown.
• Serve with ketchup.

SABUDANA (SAGO) KHICHIDI RECIPE

Ingredients of this recipe:

1 cup sabudana(sago)
1/2 tsp Sugar
2 Green Chillieschopped finely
1/2 cup crushed groundnuts(coarse)
1 boiled & peeled potato
2 tsp Oil
1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 Pinch Hing (asafoetida)
2 tbsp grated fresh Coconut
Salt to taste
Few Coriander leaves
Few Curry Leaves

Method to make this recipe : sabudana khichidi :

• Wash and soak sabudana in water just enough to loosen and light for minimum 2 hrs.
• Chop the potatoes into small cubes. Mix crushed groundnuts,sugar and salt and keep aside.
• Heat the oil/ghee in a pan and add mustard seeds. When the mustard seed crackle add cumin seeds, green chillies and curry leaves.
• Add potatoes and stir well. Mix sabudana mixture and mix gently.
• Mix the grated coconut and garnish with coriander leaves.
• Sprinkle some lemon juice over it and serve hot.

HARI MIRCH PAKORA RECIPE

Ingredients of this recipe:

8 - 10 Bharawan Mirch (Pickle Green Chillies)
Oil for frying
For the filling:
1 Boiled Potatoes
1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 tsp Ajwain
1 tsp finely chopped Mint Leaves
1/4 tsp Ginger paste
Salt to taste
For the covering
1 cup Besan (Bengal Gram Flour)
3 tblsp Rice Flour
1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 Pinch Turmeric Powder
1 Pinch Soda Bicarb
1/4 tsp Ajwain

Method to make this recipe : stuffed mirch pakora :

• Wash, wipe and slit the chillies along the length.
• Remove the seeds from the chillies.
• Mix all the ingredients for the stuffing and fill it inside the chillies.
• Mix all the ingredients for the covering and add enough water to prepare a thick batter.
• Dip the stuffed chillies in this batter and fry in hot oil till it is golden in color.
• Serve hot with tamarind chutney and hari chutney.

Samosa Recipe (with Step by Step Photos)

It is a crispy and spicy Indian snack which has an crisp outer layer made of maida and rich filling of mashed potato, peas and spices. Samosa prepared with this recipe also has a mild lingering taste of chilli, ginger, coriander and cumin seed which makes it simply irresistible. It can be prepared with one’s liking of perfect not too hot not too spicy, crispy taste and its a favorite snack for people of all ages and perfect party food.



Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 12 pieces

Ingredients For Outer Crisp Cover:

1½ cups Maida Flour
1 teaspoon Carom Seeds (ajwain)
3 tablespoons Ghee/Oil
Salt to taste
Ingredients For Stuffing:
3 medium Potatoes
1/2 cup Green Peas (mutter)
1/2 tea spoon Cumin Seeds (jeera)
1 tablespoon Green Chilli-Ginger Paste
1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder(lal mirch)
1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
1 teaspoon Dry Mango Powder (aamchur)/ Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Fennel Seeds Powder (saunf powder)
5-6 Chopped Mint Leaves, optional
2 tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons + for deep frying Oil

Directions:



Boil green peas and potatoes in salted water in a pressure cooker. Transfer them to a colander after boiling. Peel the potatoes and mash them or finely chop them.



While potatoes are cooking, let’s bind a dough for crispy outer layer. Take maida, carom seeds, 3 tablespoons oil (or ghee) and salt in a wide mouthed bowl.



Mix all the ingredients properly with hand. You will notice the mixture will turn crumbly after mixing. Now, add water in multiple small quantities and knead firm dough (harder than paratha dough). Cover it with wet muslin cloth/any cloth and let it set for 15-20 minutes.



When the dough is setting, let’s start to make stuffing for samosa. Heat 2 tablespoons cooking oil in kadai over medium flame. Add cumin seeds and green chilli-ginger paste. Stir and cook for a minute.



Add boiled green peas and stir-fry for a minute. Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, dry mango powder and fennel seeds powder.



Stir fry for a minute.



Add chopped/mashed potato and salt (add salt only if you have not added while boiling potatoes or taste the potato and then add according it).



Mix them properly and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add coriander leaves, mint leaves and mix well.



Turn off the flame and transfer stuffing mixture to a bowl. Let it cool for a while at room temperature.



After 15-20 minutes, remove the wet cloth and knead the dough again until smooth. Divide it into 6 small portions and make round shaped balls from it.



Take one dough ball and press it between your palms to flatten it a little. Put it over rolling board and roll it out into round shaped puri having approx 5-6 inch diameter. Cut it into two semi-circles.

Spread water with the wet finger or a brush on the cut side edge (straight side – as shown in photo) to moisten the surface.



Take one semi-circle and give it a shape of cone by folding it from both sides (overlapping one side over another) and pressing them to seal the sides.



Put one mutter (pea) at the bottom of the cone to keep its shape.



Put 2-3 tablespoons filling in the cone. Do not over fill the stuffing otherwise, you will not be able to seal the edges properly in next step.



Wet the edges with moist finger or a brush and press it tightly with your thumb and index finger to seal them.



Heat oil in a heavy based kadai (pan) over medium flame. When oil is medium hot, add 2-3 samosa (depending on the size of a pan) in it and reduce flame to low. Do not over crowd the oil to cook them evenly.

If you want to prepare them in advance for guest then remove the samosa when they start to turn light brown and deep fry them again at the time of serving. Skip this step if you do not want to double-fry (two times frying) the samosa.



Deep fry them on low to medium flame until they turn brown. Transfer fried samosas to a plate and serve with green chutney and tomato ketchup.

Tips and Variations:

Use samosa maker to give a proper triangle shape.
Do not deep fry the samosa over very high flame.
If you want to make the samosa in advance(3-4 hours ahead) for guests, then double fry them (two times deep frying) -1.deep fry them until light brown as shown in the step-18 and then remove from oil 2.deep fry them again at the time of serving.
To make the punjabi samosa, add chopped onion and paneer while making the stuffing.
To make the samosa chaat, serve samosa with ragda(or chhole), curd, green chutney, date-tamarind chutney, chopped onion and sev.

Taste: Crispy and spicy

Serving Ideas: Samosa can be served with tempting mint chutney or green chutney or tamarind chutney (khajoor (dates) chutney) or tomato ketchup. Garnish it with chopped onion, green chutney, khajoor chutney, sev and curd and serve as a samosa chaat.

Author: Foram