Cook Without Book

Gujiya Curry Savoury gujiyas served in a spicy gravy. Cooking Time: Servings:  4   Preparation Time:   Category:  Veg Ingredients FOR COVERING • Refined flour (maida) 100 grams • Salt to taste • Ghee 1 1/2 tablespoons • Carom seeds (ajwain) 1/2 teaspoon • Oil to deep fry For stuffing and gravy • Oil 2 tablespoons • Asafoetida a pinch • Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon • Coriander seeds,crushed 1 teaspoon • Green chillies,chopped 3 • Ginger,finely chopped 1 tablespoon • Crushed black peppercorns 1 teaspoon • Onion ,finely chopped 1 medium • Red chilli powder 1 teaspoon • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon • Coriander powder 1 tablespoon • Dried mango powder 1 teaspoon • Frozen green peas,crushed 1/2 cup • Potatoes,boiled, peeled and mashed 6-8 medium • Salt to taste Juice of ½ lemon • Fresh coriander leaves,finely chopped 1 tablespoon Method To make the covering,...

Cabbage Soup Cabbage takes the center stage in this tasty vegetable soup. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Cabbage,shredded 1 medium • Olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons • Onion ,diced 1 medium • Garlic,chopped 4 cloves • Ginger,chopped 1 inch • Leek,chopped 2 • Potato,Boiled, peeled And Grated 1 medium • Vegetable stock 3 cups • Salt to taste • Black pepper powder to taste Method Heat oil in a deep non-stick pan, add onion, garlic, ginger, leeks, potato and sauté for three to four minutes. Add cabbage, mix well and cook for five minutes. Add vegetable stock and wine, mix well and simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Add salt and black pepper powder, mix well and cook for a minute. Serve piping hot.

Potato And Chive Cakes Shallow fried chive flavoured potatoes cakes. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg -  Ingredients • Potatoes,boiled, peeled and mashed 4-5 medium • Chives,finely chopped 8-10 • Salt to taste • Mozzarella cheese 2-3 tablespoons • Red chillies,finely chopped 2 • Fresh parsley,chopped 2 tablespoons • Cornflour/ corn starch 1 tablespoon • Oil For shallow frying Method Place potatoes, chives, salt, mozzarella cheese, red chillies, parsley and cornflour in a bowl and mix well. Divide the mixture into eight equal portions and shape them into patties. Refrigerate for thirty minutes. Heat oil in a shallow non-stick pan. Place the patties in it and shallow-fry till golden and crisp from both the sides. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Potato Pancakes Pancake with Indian taste. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Potatoes,parboiled, peeled and grated 4 medium • Cornflour/ corn starch 4 tablespoons • Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon • Chaat masala 1 teaspoon • Green chilli,chopped 1 • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 2 tablespoons • Oil for cooking Method Mix together potatoes, cornflour, chilli powder, chaat masala, green chilli and coriander leaves in a bowl. Heat a non-stick tawa. Divide the potato mixture into four equal portions and pat evenly each potion directly on the tawa into a round pancake. Drizzle some oil and cook, turning, till both the sides are golden brown and crispy. Serve hot.

White Fantasy Nothing could be more fantastic. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Potatoes,boiled and mashed 2 cups • Fresh bread crumbs 6 tablespoons • Cornflour/ corn starch 2 tablespoons + 1/2 cup • Chaat masala 1 1/2 tablespoons + to sprinkle • Green chillies,finely chopped 2 teaspoons • Black pepper powder 2 1/2 teaspoons • Salt to taste • Paneer (cottage cheese),crumbled 1 1/2 cups • Green peas,boiled 2 tablespoons • Red capsicum,chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons • Green capsicum,chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons • Carrots,parboiled chopped 3 tablespoons • Oil to deep fry • Olive oil for greasing • Refined flour (maida) 1/4 cup • Sago (sabudana),soaked 2 cups Method For outer covering place mashed potatoes in a glass bowl. Add fresh breadcrumbs, cornflour, 1½ tbsps chaat masala, 1 tsp finely chopped gr...

Layered Vegetables ala Lasagne Extremely healthy extremely tasty, each vegetable adds its own flavour. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  20-25 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Potatoes,peeled 3-4 medium • Button mushrooms,sliced 15-20 • Green capsicums,roasted 3 • Red pumpkin (bhopla/kaddu) peeled and thinly sliced 300 grams • Fresh spinach leaves (palak) stems trimmed 15-20 • Red capsicums,roasted 2 • Olive oil 6 tablespoons • Onions,sliced 4 medium • Sea salt to taste • Crushed black peppercorns to taste • Cornflour/ corn starch 3 tablespoons • Garlic,chopped 1 tablespoon • Rosemary 1 sprig • Fresh thyme 1 sprig Method Preheat oven to 180° C. Brush the spring form tin with little oil. Thinly slice potatoes vertically. Heat 2 tbsps olive oil in a non stick wok. Add onions and saute. Arrange the potato slices at the base of the spring for...

Phal-Subz Seekh The humble banana dressed up with mushrooms and broccoli makes this starter fit for a royal repast Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  30-40 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Raw banana 2 • Potato,boiled and mashed 2 medium • Button mushrooms,chopped 200 grams • Carrot,grated 1 small • Broccoli,chopped 4 florets • Butter 1 1/2 tablespoons • Carom seeds (ajwain) 3/4 teaspoon • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 3/4 tablespoon • Ginger,chopped 3/4 inch piece • Fresh red chillies,chopped 1 1/2 • Salt to taste • Prunes,chopped 12 • Black salt (kala namak) 1/2 teaspoon • Black pepper powder 3/4 teaspoon • Green cardamom powder 1/2 teaspoon • Sandalwood powder a pinch • Dried rose petals a pinch • Bread crumbs 1/2 cup • Oil 1 1/2 tablespoons Method Boil, cool, peel and grate bananas. Heat butter in a pan, add c...

Aloo and Capsicum Parantha Masaledar aloo and capsicum stuffed paranthas. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Potatoes,boiled, peeled and mashed 2 medium • Green capsicum,chopped 1 • Whole wheat flour (atta) 3 cups • Salt to taste • Onion ,chopped 1 medium • Ginger,chopped 1 teaspoon • Green chillies,chopped 1 teaspoon • Coriander powder 1 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon • Dried mango powder 1 teaspoon • Carom seeds (ajwain) 1/2 teaspoon • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 2 tablespoons • Pure ghee as required Method Sieve flour and into a bowl. Slowly add three-fourth cup of water and knead into soft dough. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for fifteen minutes. Heat oil in a non-stick pan, add onions and sauté till light brown. Add ginger, green chillies, coriander powder, red chilli powder, dr...

Batata  Poha ( Microwave Recipe) This flavoured snack is one of my favourites as it is very easy to rustle up for morning breakfast as well as for the evening tea. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  8 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 2 cups  thick  beaten rice (poha) 1/2 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1/2 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 3 to 4   green chillies  ,  slit green chillies 1/2 cup   chopped onions 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) 1/2 cup  peeled and finely  chopped potatoes 1 tsp   lemon  juice 1 tsp   sugar  (optional) 1 tbsp   oil salt  to taste For The Garnish 1 tbsp  grated fresh  coconut 1 tbsp   chopped coriander (dhania) Method Place the poha in a sieve and hold it under running water for a few seconds. Toss well to drain out all excess water and keep aside. In a microwave safe bowl combine the oil, mustard seeds, cum...

Corn and Potato Handvo with Coconut Sauce Corn and potato handvo with coconut sauce, the innovation here is not just in the handvo, but in the accompaniment too! why settle for normal chutney or sauce when you can be different there too – try making this lovely coconut sauce instead! handvo is usually made with a batter of rice and urad dal, but here it is made using vegetables, corn, rawa etc. Coconut milk lends its unique flavour to this dish, but remember to use thick coconut milk. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients For The Coconut Sauce 1 tsp   oil 1/2 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) a few  curry leaves (kadi patta) 1/2 tsp   green chilli paste 1 cup  thick  coconut milk 1/4 tsp   sugar salt  to taste 2 to 3  drops of  lemon juice 1 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) To Be Mixed Together Into Corn and Potato Mixture 1 cup   boiled and crushed sweet corn k...