Cook Without Book

Besan Sheera Since gram flour is generally known for its thickening properties, besan sheera is very easy and quick to make. You can easily prepare it for functions, party or for sudden but special guests. Just ensure you roast the gram flour well to avoid a raw smell. Also, take care to serve hot. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 3/4 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) 3/4 cup   milk 5 tbsp  melted  ghee 3/4 cup   sugar For The Garnish 1/4 tsp   cardamom (elaichi) powder 3 tbsp   blanched and sliced almonds  (badam) Method Combine the besan, 2 tbsp of milk and 1 tbsp of ghee in a bowl and rub thoroughly and knead like a dough and keep aside for 10 minutes. Using a grater, grate it very thinly and keep aside. Heat the remaining ghee in a broad vessel, add the grated dough mixture and cook on a slow flame for approx. 8 to 10 minutes, while stirring continuously. Keep as...

Sweet Boondi Sweet boondi, a very easy and quick way to make these delicious boondi. . Serve them hot to your guest and they will surely relish it ! Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  25 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Sugar Syrup 1 cup   sugar 2  pinches  saffron (kesar) strands  dissolved in tsp  water Other Ingredients 1 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) ghee  for deep-frying For The Garnish 1/2 tsp   cardamom (elaichi) powder 1 tsp   pistachio slivers 1 tsp   almond (badam) slivers Method   For the sugar syrup Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a broad non-stick pan, mix well and cook on a high flame for 5 to 7 minutes or till the sugar syrup is of 1 thread consistency. Add the saffron-water mixture, mix well and keep aside. How to proceed Combine the besan and ½ cup of water in a bowl and mix well till no lumps remain. Keep aside. Heat the ghee in a kadhai and pour 3 to...

                               Skewer Now, this is what one would call a colourful and flavourful dish! the marinade is what makes this recipe unique. Use any vegetable of your choice, serve to your guests and win abundant praises. As this is cooked without oil, it is both nutritious and low in calories. In case skewers are not available, use toothpicks… it turns out as good as with skewers, believe me! Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  10 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients 1/2 cup   blanched baby corn  , cut into 13 mm ( 1/2”) pieces 1/2 cup   capsicum cubes 1/2 cup  deseeded and cubed  tomatoes 1/2 cup   low fat paneer (cottage cheese) cubes 1/2 cup   onion cubes To Be Mixed Into Marinade 3/4 cup   low fat curds  (dahi) , whisked 1 tsp   chilli powder 1/4   turmeric powder (haldi) 1/2 tsp   ginger (adrak) paste 1 t...

Spicy Kofta Kadhi Kadhi without curds? if you are surprised, go ahead and try this recipe. This unusual recipe is created with a blend of tamarind water and besan spiced with a freshly-made paste. The koftas are also distinctive as they use a different combination of vegetables such as brinjals and cabbage. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients To Be Ground Into A Smooth Paste (using A Little Water) 1 cup  roughly  chopped tomatoes 7   green chillies  , roughly chopped 12   garlic (lehsun) cloves 2 tbsp  freshly  grated coconut 4 tbsp   cashewnuts (kaju) 4 tbsp   poppy seeds (khus-khus) For The Koftas 3/4 cup  finely chopped  brinjal (baingan / eggplant) 1 cup  finely  chopped cabbage 1 cup  finely  chopped onions 1/2 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) salt  to taste 4 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies a pinch of  soda bi-carb F...

Vegetables in Tomato Gravy The highlight of this recipe, as the name suggests, is the abundant use of tomatoes. Moreover, a varied bunch of veggies are used – ranging from ladies finger and drumsticks to french beans and potatoes. You can try other combinations depending on what vegetables you have in stock. The gram flour plays an interesting role in perfecting the consistency and balancing the sourness. Preparation Time:  20 mins Cooking Time:  40 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients 4 cups  roughly  chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup   french beans  , cut into 1” pieces 1/2 cup   cluster beans (gavarfali)  , cut into 1” pieces 1/2 cup   drumsticks  (saijan ki phalli / saragvo) , cut into 2” pieces 1/2 cup  peeled  potato cubes 2 tbsp   oil 1 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 2  pinches of  asafoetida (hing) 1/4 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) 5   curry leav...

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 ...

Cabbage Vadas You will love these mouth-watering deep-fried vadas of crushed lentils and chopped cabbage, supported by a gentle combination of carrots, green chillies and coriander. Cabbage vadas will make a wonderful after-school snack for kids or a tea-time treat for elders. Soaking time:  Overnight. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  30 mins Makes 20 vadas Ingredients 1 cup   chana dal (split bengal gram) 6   green chillies  , roughly chopped 1 cup  finely  chopped cabbage 1/2 cup  finely  chopped carrots 1/4 cup  finely  chopped onions 1/4 cup  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) 1/4 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying For Serving green chutney Method Soak the chana dal overnight. Next day, drain and keep ½ cup of the chana dal aside. Combine the remaining chana dal with green chillies and blend in a mixer to a coarse mixtur...

Spicy Pineapple Curry Pregnancy Recipe This is a different way of adding fruits to your diet. Ripe diced pineapple is cooked with an aromatic blend of spices and simmered in coconut milk. The iron and the fibre levels in this curry are good and the coconut adds to the protein and energy content. If you are not fond of pineapple, add a cup of mixed vegetables like peas, carrots, potatoes to the same gravy, and you can also throw in a few cubes of pineapple, if you like. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  10 mins Makes 3 servings Ingredients 1 1/4 cups  fresh  pineapple cubes 1 tsp   oil 1 tsp   besan (bengal gram flour)  dissolved with 1 cup  coconut milk 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) a pinch of  asafoetida (hing) 1/4 tsp   garam masala 2 tsp   sugar salt  to taste To Be Ground Into A Smooth Paste 2   red chillies  , broken into pieces 3 tbsp   grated coconut For The Tempering 1 tsp ...

Aloo Chaat ( Mumbai Roadside Recipes ) Aloo chaat, it’s a delight to watch the baby potato turn into something so exciting! tiny potatoes, marinated in indian spices and sautéed in oil, are served topped with delicious chaat toppings, moong and sev. Not an integral part of all chaat counters, but has a fan-following of its own. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  4 mins Makes 2 plates Ingredients For The Marinated Potatoes 1 1/4 cups   boiled , peeled and halved baby potatoes 3 tbsp   oil 1 tsp   chilli powder 2 tbsp   coriander-cumin seeds (dhania-jeera) powder 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) 2 tsp   dried mango powder (amchur) 2 tsp   besan (bengal gram flour) salt  to taste 2 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) Other Ingredients 1/2 cup   whisked fresh curds 2 tsp   garlic chutney 4 tsp   green chutney 2 tbsp   sweet chutney 2  pinches  cumin seeds (jeera) powder ...

Coriander Roti Generally, coriander adds value to any dish in which it is used. Here, it steals the show! the use of minimal spices speaks of coriander’s innate aroma and flavour. Coriander rotis are quick and easy to make, and utilise common ingredients that are always available in our kitchens, making it a typical everyday fare. Preparation Time:  5 mins Cooking Time:  12 mins Makes 4 rotis Ingredients For The Dough 1/2 cup   whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) 1 1/2 tsp   oil salt  to taste To Be Mixed Into A Stuffing 3/4 cup  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) 2 tsp   coriander-cumin seeds (dhania-jeera) powder 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) 1 tbsp   besan (bengal gram flour) 2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies salt  to taste Other Ingredients whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta)  for rolling oil  for cooking Method   For the dough Combine all the ingredients in a deep b...

Palak Methi Dumplings A healthy and delicious steamed snack, quite similar to the famous gujarati muthias. Made of wholesome whole wheat flour and protein-rich besan, these palak methi dumplings combine a generous amount of nutritious spinach and fenugreek leaves too. Mildly-spiced yet aromatic and flavourful, these dumplings will be loved by young and old alike, and hence a brilliant means of including greens in your diet. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  12 mins Makes 14 dumplings Ingredients 2 cups   shredded spinach (palak) 1 1/2 cups   chopped fenugreek (methi)  leaves a pinch of  asafoetida (hing) salt  to taste 1/2 cup   besan (bengal gram flour) 1/4 cup   whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) 1 tsp   sugar 1 tbsp   ginger-green chilli paste 1 tbsp   oil 2 pinches of  soda- bi carb oil  for greasing For Serving green chutney Method Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, and knead ...

Curd Shorba http://cookingwidfun.blogspot.in/ A novel, all-indian soup, curd shorba is nothing but wholesome kadhi transformed into a light and refreshing soup. It has a very comforting flavour and texture, and can surely soothe you on a day when you are tired and yearning for something warm. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  5 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 3 cups  fresh  curds (dahi) 4 tsp   besan (bengal gram flour) 1/4 cup   milk 2 tbsp   oil 1 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 1/2 cup  finely  chopped onions 1 tbsp  finely  chopped green chillies 1/2 tsp   grated ginger (adrak) a pinch of  turmeric powder (haldi) salt  to taste 1 tsp   sugar 1/2 cup  finely  chopped cucumber 1/4 cup  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) Method Combine the curds, besan and milk in a deep bowl and whisk well till no lumps remain. Keep aside. Heat the oil in a deep non-stic...

Bhojpuri Aloo     Microwave Recipe Traditional bhojpuri aloo or stuffed potatoes in mouth-watering gravy can be easily prepared in a microwave oven. A well thought out combo of spices ranging from cinnamon to shahjeera, make this a real culinary masterpiece! Preparation Time:  5 mins Cooking Time:  5 mins Makes 2 servings Ingredients 2  cooked  potatoes  , peeled and halved 2   cloves (laung / lavang) 1   cardamom (elaichi) 1   bayleaf (tejpatta) 6 mm  ( 1/4")  cinnamon (dalchini)  piece 1/2 tsp   caraway seeds (shahjeera) 1/4 tsp   ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste 1 tbsp   onion paste 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) 1/2 tsp   chilli powder 2 tbsp   curds (dahi) 3 tbsp   milk 2 tsp   besan (bengal gram flour) a pinch of  sugar 2 tsp   oil salt  to taste To Be Mixed Into A Stuffing 4 tbsp   cooked mashed potatoes a pinch of  turmeric powder ...