Cook Without Book

Jamun Shahi Tukda Jamun jam adds a new dimension to the much liked shahitukda. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg   Ingredients • Kalajamun jam 6-8 tablespoons • Bread slices,cut into roundels 12 • Sugar 1/2 cup • Saffron (kesar) a few strands • Oil to deep fry • Rose water 2 tablespoons • Rabdi 4 tablespoons • Pistachios,slivered a few for garnishing • Jamun wedges a few for garnishing Method Cook sugar with 1 cup water in a non stick pan to make syrup. Add saffron strands and mix. Heat oil in a in a kadai. Deep-fry bread roundels till golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.Dip the bread slices in the saffron flavored sugar syrup till they soften. Add rose water to the bread slices in the pan. Spread the jamun jam in the centre of a serving plate.Place 2 slices of bread and spread jam over it. Repeat it with one more slice. Spread ra...

Sharbati Shahi Tukda Rooh afza adds a variety to shahi tukda. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Bread slices 8 • Oil to deep fry • Sugar syrup with saffron as required • Cashewnuts,roughly chopped 1 tablespoon • Pistachios,roughly chopped 1 tablespoon + to garnish • Charoli/chironji 1 tablespoon • Pear 1 • Apple 1 • Banana(elaichi) 2 • Rooh Afza 2 tablespoons • Green cardamom powder a pinch • Blueberry jam 4 tablespoons • Fresh cream 3 tablespoons Method Heat sufficient oil in a non stick kadai. Cut the bread slices into rounds, slide them into hot oil and deep fry till golden and crisp. Drain on absorbent paper. Heat saffron sugar syrup on low heat and dip the bread slices in it for 1 minute. Take them out of the syrup and arrange them on a serving plate and keep aside. In the remaining saffron...

Potato Balls  with  Beans Curry Unfussy cooking with just tomatoes and onions helps highlight the nutty flavour of beans. Here, the addition of potato balls transforms a simple mixed beans curry into a more elaborate delicacy, without losing its basic nature. The addition of cashews or peanuts provides a much needed crunch in the midst of the potato mash, making the mixed beans curry with potato balls an all-rounder. Soaking time:  Overnight Preparation Time:  25 mins Cooking Time:  35 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients For The Beans Curry 1/4 cup  rangoon na  vaal (field beans/ butter beans) 1/2 cup   rajma (kidney beans) 3 1/2 cups  roughly  chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp   ghee 1/2 cup  finely  chopped onions 2   green chillies  ,  slit green chillies 1 tsp   chilli powder 2 tsp   sugar salt  to taste For The Potato Balls 1 cup  boiled , peeled and  mashed potatoes 1 ...

Bread Kofta Curry The bread koftas melt in your mouth while the flavour of the bottle gourd curry lingers in your taste-buds, making you yearn for more…and more! this novel preparation is indeed a foolproof way to garner accolades from your friends and family. Serve immediately after adding the koftas. Preparation Time:  25 mins Cooking Time:  30 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients for the  bread  koftas 6  fresh  bread  slices 5 tbsp  fresh  curds (dahi) 2 tbsp   plain flour (maida) 2 tbsp   besan (bengal gram flour) 2 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) 2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies a pinch of  soda bi-carb salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying Other Ingredients 1 cup   bottle gourd (doodhi / lauki) cubes 3 tbsp   oil 1/2 cup  boiled and peeled  baby potatoes  , cut into halves vertically 1/2 cup   grated onions 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder ...

Quick Bread Snack This quick bread snack is an upma like recipe made with crumbled bread. While the onions, ginger and green chillies add a bit of spice to the bread, the tomatoes, tomato ketchup and lemon juice impart an energising tanginess. Preparation Time:  10 mins CookingTime :   5 minutes. Cooking Time:  5 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 12   bread  slices 2 tbsp   oil 2 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1 tbsp  finely  chopped green chillies 1 tsp  finely  chopped ginger (adrak) 1 cup  finely  chopped onions 1/2 cup  finely  chopped tomatoes 1/4 cup   tomato ketchup 1/2 tbsp   lemon juice salt  to taste 2 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) Method Immerse the bread slices in enough water and remove immediately. Squeeze out all the water from the bread slices and crumble thoroughly. Keep aside. Heat the oil in a kadhai and add the mustard seeds....

Alfa Sprouts, Tomatoes and Basil Sandwich              Alfa alfa is a very healthy herb often used in home remedies for digestive disorders, cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Here is an interesting way to prepare a sandwich out of this healthy herb, combined with tomatoes and basil. Remember to use tender alfa alfa sprouts for the alfa sprouts, tomatoes and basil sandwich, as more mature ones are coarse and not so tasty. Preparation Time:  10 mins Makes 4 sandwiches Ingredients For The Stuffing 1/2 cup   mayonnaise 4 tbsp  finely  chopped basil 4 tbsp  finely  chopped tomatoes 4 tbsp   alfa-alfa sprout  sprouts salt  and  freshly ground black pepper (kalimirch) powder  to taste Other Ingredients 8   whole wheat bread  slices 2 tbsp   butter  mixed with 2 tsp  mustard (rai / sarson) paste 4   iceberg lettuce  leaves Method   For...

Besan Omlette Toast A tasty tiffin as well as breakfast recipe. Really easy and fast to make. Consumes very less amount of time and yes kids will love it. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  10 mins Makes 2 to 3 servings Ingredients 6   bread  slices 3 tsp   besan (bengal gram flour) 1/4 cup   chopped tomatoes 1/4 cup   chopped capsicum 1/2 cup   chopped onions 1 tsp   chopped green chillies 1/2 tsp   chilli powder 1/2 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) salt  to taste 1/2 tsp   freshly ground black pepper (kalimirch) powder 1 tsp   oil 1 tbsp   tomato ketchup butter  or  grated processed cheese  as required Method Combine the besan, chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and water in a bowl and mix nicely using a whisk to ensure there are no lumps. Once the batter is ready, add the tomatoes, capsicum and green chillies and mix well. In a flat non stick pan heat the oil. ...

Black Olive Pesto Sandwich Pesto is a traditional italian sauce prepared with olives, crushed pepper, basil leaves and olive oil. It combines very well with tomatoes and cheese, giving the black olive pesto sandwich a gourmet touch. Preparation Time:  10 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 8   whole wheat bread  slices , lightly buttered 8   cheese slices a few  tomato  slices 1 tbsp   butter salt  to taste For The Black Olive Pesto 12   chopped black olives 1/4 cup   broken cashewnuts (kaju) 1/2 tsp  freshly crushed  freshly ground black pepper (kalimirch) powder 1/4 cup   olive oil 1/2 cup  fresh  basil  leaves salt  to taste Method   For the black olive pesto Grind together all the ingredients other than the black olives, to a smooth paste in a blender. Add the black olives and mix well. Divide the olive pesto into 4 equal portions and keep aside. How to ...

Delicious Sandwiches Apples and carrots make a delicious sandwich combination. Preparation Time : :   5 mins. Cooking Time : : No cooking. Makes 3 sandwiches.  Ingredients 9   bread slices To be mixed for the Apple spread 1   apple, grated 1 tbsp   cheese spread salt  and  black pepper (kalimirch) powder  to taste To be mixed for the Carrot spread 3/4 cup   grated carrot 2 tbsp   cheese spread salt  and  black pepper (kalimirch) powder  to taste Method Apply the apple spread on one bread slice. sandwich with another slice of bread. Spread a layer of the carrot spread and sandwich with a third slice of bread Repeat to make 2 more sandwiches. Remove the crusts and cut into 4 triangles. Tips These are great for lunch box meals.

Pesto Toast Ingredients: Flavorful pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese make these toasts super tasty. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg • Basil leaves 2 cups • Pine nuts(chilgoza) 1 teaspoon • Parmesan cheese powder 1 tablespoon • Garlic 7-8 cloves • Olive oil 1/2 cup • Salt to taste • Edible camphor 1/2 teaspoon • Bread slices 8 • Mozzarella cheese,grated 3/4 cup Method Preheat the oven to 180°C. To prepare pesto sauce, grind parmesan cheese and pine nuts to a coarse powder. Add garlic cloves and continue to grind for a few seconds. Add basil leaves, olive oil, salt and peppercorns and grind into a coarse paste. Cut bread slices into roundels with a round cookie cutter and arrange them on a baking tray. Toast them lightly in the preheated oven. Apply the pesto sauce on the bread roundels and sprinkle mozzarella cheese...

Bread with potato filling makes a mouthwatering snack. This is a perfect snack with afternoon tea or served as an appetizer. Bread Potato Rolls are crunchy on the outside, and soft and spicy on the inside. They are also easy to prepare. Try them today. Recipe will make 8 Bread Rolls. Ingredients: 4 bread slices, bread should be firm 2 medium size potatoes boiled peeled and mashed this will make about 1-1/4 cup mashed potatoes 1/4 cup green peas boiled 1 teaspoon oil 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon red chili powder 1/2 teaspoon mango powder (amchoor) 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro (hara dhania) 1 green chili (hari mirch) minced; adjust to taste 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger Oil to fry Method Heat the oil in a frying pan and add cumin seed. As cumin seed starts cracking add green peas, green chili and ginger, stir for a few seconds. Add potatoes and all the spices, chili powder, mango powder, salt, cilantro, stir ...

Ingredients Bread slices - 6, large (remove crust and cut each slice into triangles) Sugar - 1/2 cup Milk - 1 1/2 liter Water - 1 1/4 cup Cashew nuts - fistful, break into small pieces Kismis - fistful Pistachios - fistful, lightly crushed Almonds - fistful, finely sliced Saffron - 4-5 strands (kumkum puvvu/kesar), soaked in 2 tbsps of milk Ghee - 2 tbsps Method Place milk in a thick bottomed stainless steel vessel and bring to a boil. Reduce flame and allow it to reduce to half its original quantity. Add saffron milk and mix. Turn off heat and bring to room temperature. Add 4 tbsps of the prepared sugar syrup (process to prepare sugar syrup in Step 2) and mix. Chill till serving time. In another bowl, place sugar and water. On low to medium flame, let the sugar dissolve completely. Once it dissolves completely, allow to cook for 4 minutes. Turn off heat. Keep aside. Heat a non-stick pan and drizzle a tsp of ghee over it. Add dried fruits and nuts and toast for...