Cook Without Book

Palak Aur Matar Ki Kachori Palak dough stuffed with green pea mixture, shaped into kachoris and deep fried. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Spinach puree 3 tablespoons • Green peas 1 cup • Refined flour (maida) 1 1/2 cups • Ghee 1 1/2 tablespoons • Carom seeds (ajwain) 1/4 teaspoon • Salt to taste • Oil 2 tablespons + for deep-frying • Asafoetida a pinch • Ginger,finely chopped 2 inch piece • Green chillies,finely chopped 2 • Fennel seeds (saunf) 1 teaspoon • Fresh mint leaves,finely chopped 2 tablespoons Method Knead maida, ghee, ajwain, palak purée and salt with sufficient water into a dough. Heat 2 tbsps oil in a non stick pan, add asafoetida, ginger, green chillies and fennel seeds and sauté.Add peas, salt and mint leaves. Mix well, cool and grind to a coarse mixture. Transfer into a bowl. Divide the dough...

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...

                               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 Chaat - Calcutta Style A delightful chaat that will thrill you to the core – hold it in your hand, capture a whiff of the namkeens dipped in sweet and tangy chutneys and topped with choice spices, dip your fingers and lick the chutney, take a mouthful and lose yourself in this calcutta style spicy chaat. Soaking time:  3 to 4 hours Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  30 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Pakodis 1/2 cup   urad dal (split black lentils)  with skin 1/4 cup   green moong dal (split green gram) with skin 4   green chillies  , roughly chopped 12   ginger (adrak) 1 tsp   nigella seeds (kalonji) 1/4 tsp   asafoetida (hing) salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying For The Papadis 1 cup   plain flour (maida) 1 tsp   carom seeds (ajwain) 1 tbsp   oil salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying For Serving 1 cup  fresh  curds (dahi) salt  to taste 20  bo...

Mooli Bajre ki Roti Bajra roti stuffed with spicy radish mixture Cooking Time:  20-25 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Radishes,grated 1 medium • Radish leaves,finely chopped 1 • Millet flour (bajre ka atta) 2 cups • Carom seeds (ajwain) 1/4 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon • Green chillies,finely chopped 1-2 • Salt to taste • Ghee for cooking Method Mix together grated radish, radish leaves, carom seeds, red chilli powder, green chillies and salt in a bowl.Add millet flour and warm water as required and knead into a dough. Heat a non stick tawa. Take a small portion of the dough, dust it with a little dry flour and pat with your fingers into a round roti. Place the roti on the hot tawa and cook for a minute. Turn it over, drizzle a little ghee over it. Turn over once again and drizzle a little ghee on the other side too. Cook till both sid...

Ajwaini Roti A simple whole wheat roti spiked up with the delicate flavours of ajwain. Serve them with a simple vegetable dish and some pickle to make a satisfying working lunch. Preparation Time:  10 mins. Cooking Time:  10 mins. Makes 4 rotis.  Ingredients 1 cup   whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) 1/2 tsp   carom seeds (ajwain) 2 tsp   oil salt  to taste Other ingredients ghee  for cooking Method Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Add enough water and knead to a soft dough. Keep covered for 10 to 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Roll out each portion into a round of 100 mm. (4") diameter. Roast the roti on either side, using a little ghee, on a hot tava, till both sides are golden brown.

                        Baby Corn Masala Baby corn, sliced onions and capsicum literally play together in this attractive, mouth-watering and crunchy dry subzi. Using coloured capsicums greatly enhances the visual appeal of this dish Preparation Time:  5 mins Cooking Time:  9 mins Makes 2 servings Ingredients 1 cup   baby corn  , cut into half lengthwise 1/2 tsp   carom seeds (ajwain)  , roughly crushed 1/4 cup   sliced onions a pinch of  turmeric powder (haldi) 1/4 tsp   chilli powder 1/4 tsp   garam masala 1/4 tsp   cardamoms  , powder 1/4 cup  sliced coloured  capsicum  (yellow , red , green) 1/4 cup   sliced tomatoes 2 tsp   oil salt  to taste For The Garnish 1 tbsp   chopped coriander (dhania) Method Combine the oil and ajwain in a microwave-proof bowl and ...

Thin and round slices of potatoes dipped in a thin layer of besan and deep fried are a delight to relish Crispy golden yellow aloo pakora teamed with hot masala chai is a stealer. You can relish the mouthwatering aloo pakora along with your spouse or with a group of friends. Either way, the aroma of the fried potatoes makes the get-together quite interesting.  It's utterly simple to prepare the aloo pakora. The method is not at all tedious and anyone can make it. And if you like your pakora to be crispier with minimum use of besan. Ingredients Potatoes -- 2 -3 Besan - 75-100 gms Water - 200 ml Cumin seeds - ½ tsp Ajwain/ Carom seeds (optional) - ½ tsp Red chili powder - ½ - 1 tsp Salt to taste Method -Cut the potatoes into thin round slices. Make a thin(do not make a thick paste like mixture) batter by constantly mixing the besan with water. -Add cumin seeds, ajwain, red chili powder and salt and mix it well. Next, add the potato slices to this mixture...