Making Paneer [Cottage Cheese]

Hi ,
The reason why I thought of sharing this simple way of making paneer is because many of us find it easier to pick it off the shelf. I did too... But now 8 out of 10 times I use home made paneer  primarily because its healthier, more hygienic. And we eat quite a bit of paneer in our meals so thats important for me. Also it is a great source of protein [for the health conscious]. Believe me , its really ez and once you've tried it a couple of times its a breeze!
One thing you need is a small muslin bag so that the process becomes really ez and non-messy. If you dont then a muslin/ thin cotton cloth will suffice.
Here goes...

•  2 1/2 litres of milk
• 1 tsp of citric acid or juice of two lemons

Bring the milk to a boil. Turn the burner knob to sim. Stir in either the powdered citric acid or the lemon juice. As soon as the milk curdles, turn off the gas. Transfer this into the bag and pour some cold[room temprature] water on it. Tighten the bag and keep it on a flat surface. Now place a weighty object for eg. your tava[griddle] or chakla on it for about 1 hr to press out the remaining water and get a neat slab of paneer.

Adding a Cocktail twist- To the curdled milk add some chopped onion, chopped tomato. red chilli or black pepper powder.  Then follow the same procedure. Once the paneer is set, cut it into cubes. You can dot each peice with coriander/mint chutney/ketchup and serve it for breakfast or with the evening drinks. Enjoy it.

Yoghurt Discs

Hey All,
Staying true to my URL 'ezcooking' here's one more of a real quick 'n ez recipe. Use it for brekka or tea-time or any time you need a filler.Its also great for kids.
For the Yoghurt Discs you need:

• 
  
  1/2cup         Hung youghurt*
• 
  
  1/2           Capsicum finely chopped
• 
  
  1              Onion finely chopped
• 
  
  1 tb sp     Fresh cream [malai]
• 
  
  1 1/2 tsp  Roasted semolina [suji]
• 
  
  1/2 tsp     Black Pepper
• 
  
  to taste    Salt
• 
  
  1/4cup     Paneer [optional]
• 
  
  8 slices    Bread
• 
  
  a few      Curry leaves chopped
• 
  
  1tsp        Mustard seeds[rai] for sprinkling

1. Mix all the ingrediants from curd to paneer.
2. Take each bread slice and cut out neat roundels/discs using a sharp edged steel tumbler or a small bowl. Put the slice on a chopping board or any flat surface, then holding the glass upside down press into the bread slice. 
3. Spread out the yoghurt mix on one side of each bread disc.
4. Garnish with slivers of curry leaves and mustard seeds. 
5. Heat a griddle [tava] and spread a little bit of ghee or butter.
6. Put each slice on the tava , first with the spread side down . Cook both sides tll crisp and brown.
7. Serve with coriander chutney.

*For hung yoghurt : Put the curd in a muslin cloth and let hang till all the water content is separated.

Potato n Cheese Bites

Hallo again!
This is another very easy recipe for a cocktail or tea snack. You can prepare the bite-sized cutlets in advance and keep them refrigerated for even upto a day.
Ingredients:

• 3big           boiled potatoes
• 3cubes       processed cheddar cheese grated
• 1/2 small    capsicum chopped finely 
• 1 tsp          cornflour
• 4 tbsp        bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp       black pepper powder
• 1-1 1/2tsp  salt
•                   oil for deep frying

1.Grate the potatoes.
2. Add the cornflour,2 tbsp. of bread crumbs, the seasoning and mix well.
3.Divide the mix into about 20 equal portions.
4.Take each portion in your palm and flatten into small disc.
5.Place some grated cheese and a bit of the chopped capsicum in the centre and close it. Now pat it into a neat cutlet [of any shape you like] and roll it in the remaining bread crumbs.
Its ready for deep frying.
If you wish to use it later then grease a container, place the cutlets in it and refrigerate.

Gift for a newborn

Hi,
My neighbours were blessed with a baby boy last month. I was looking for an appropriate gift so I went to 'Vividha' bangalore. Its a great store for little kids-they have some lovely really colourful stuff .... baby sheets, bags for toys, stationary items etc. I picked up a baby wrap with a matching diaper stacker[I just made up that word , dont know whats it actually called].The store is now my first stop everytime I need something for a little one.
P.S. This is NOT a promotional article, only my personal view.

Mixed Veg Paranthas[ witout using oil for frying]

Hallo everybody,
Today I am going to share a super healthy AND yummy parantha recipe. My sister in law came up with this for her kids.  I am listing the ingredients quantity according to how much I use- feel free to add or reduce, to suit your own taste.

• 1 medium      onion
• 1medium       carrot
• 2 florets        cauliflower
• 1 bunch         fresh methi [fenugreek leaves]
• 1 big piece    ginger [about 1 1/2 inch]
• 1                   green chilli
• 1/2 tsp          black pepper powder
• 1 tsp/to taste salt
• 2 cups          flour[wholegrain]

1. Use a chopper to coarsely grind the veggies. Put them in the mixing bowl or the bowl you use for kneading dough. 
2. Mix in  the salt and pepper and let it rest for 5 minutes 
3. Add the flour and make soft dough for your paranthas. 

If you have a food processor then you can put all the ingredients except flour in the processor bowl and after mincing the vegetables gradually keep adding the flour till the dough is of the right consistency.

The USP of this recipe is that it uses no water for making dough, only veggies!

Variations:a) Methi can be substituted with palak leaves[spinach].
                b)Roughly mashed cottage paneer , boiled potatoes can also be added.

As for paranthas without oil- try this the next time you soooo want to eat aloo or gobhi or mixed veg. or any parantha but the thought of all the oil and calories stops you - DO NOT FRY IT which is how it is usually done.  Instead let it cook on medium heat till nicely crisp and brown. Go on and take that pat of butter with your non-fried parantha!

Ez and best-- Paneer babycorn sabzi (vegetable)

This is my First BLOG post so I'll start with my favourite because this recepie can be used for a formal dinner or when you are in a hurry and also when you are in no mood for cooking!  Eat it with roti [indian bread],  bread or just as a snack.
                             
What you need is

1. 150gm.       paneer [cottage cheese]   cubed
2. 150gm.       fresh baycorn sliced diagonally
3. 1big            onion diced
4. 1                capsicum  diced
5. 1tbsp          red chilli sauce
6. 2tbsp          tomato ketchup
7. 2tsp            soy sauce[optional, I use it according to the colour I want on that day]
8. 1tsp            slightly heaped coriander powder
9. 1/2tsp            red chilli flakes / red chilli powder / black pepper powder[use whichever is u'r [ favourite]
10.                   salt  
11. 1 1/2tbsp    refined oil /ghee / olive oil     

Heat oil in pan , add onions. After a quick stir add capsicum and babycorn.  Keep the flame on medium [ not too slow basically ] .  Let it cook till babycorn  is slightly crunchy. Then stir in the spices and the sauces and paneer at the last.  Guess what , cooking over, your meal is ready!

Variations:  a)   for adding even more colour you can use red, yellow capsicum.
                    b)   paneer can be separately sauted and then added.
This recipe is for two people.

Hope you enjoy it.
New blogger.
Meera