Masala puri

Ingredients:
1 big onion - 1/2 finely chopped, other half diced
1 tomato - diced
1 1/2 cups peas (soft)
1/2 cup coriander leaves
1 Tbsp mint leaves (optional)
1 cup grated carrot
1-2 tsp chat masala
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
3 green chilli
1/2 tsp
2 cups sev
3/4 cup yoghurt
Salt
Water
1 Tbsp oil

50 Puris
Date-Tamarind chutney

Method (Serves 4):
1) Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, chilli, diced onion, diced tomato and fry for 2-3 mins.
2) Allow it to cool and grind it into smooth paste along with 1/2 cup peas, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, coriander and mint leaves
3) Transfer this back to the pan. Add peas, tamarind concentrate and water to get the desired consistency. Bring it to boil.
4) Add chat masala powder. Check for salt
DONE!!!

Puris - Buy it from the store ;)
Mash 6-8 puris in a plate. Sprinkle with sev, finely chopped onion, grated carrot with a dash of yoghurt and date-tamarind chutney

Oven Baked Okra (Ladies finger) Fry

Ingredients:
15-20 Baby okra
1/2 medium sized onion - sliced
2 Tbsp besan
1 Tbsp rice flour
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp pepper powder
3 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
2 Tbsp dessicated coconut
Salt

Method:
1) Preheat oven at 200 C
2) Remove the ends of bhindi. Cut lengthwise into 4 quarters. Mix all of the above with 2 Tbsp oil. Place it in a baking tray
3) Drizzle remaining oil and bake it in the oven until its done. (Took me an hour)
DONE!!!

Bonda

Ingredients:
1 onion - thinly sliced
1 medium sized potato - thinly sliced
3 Tbsp besan
1 Tbsp rice flour
1 tsp cumin seeds
Salt
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2-1 tsp red chilli powder
Baking soda (optional)
Oil for deep frying
Water

Method:
1) Mix all the ingredients except oil. Consistency should be like thick yoghurt.
2) Heat oil for deep frying on a high. When it is hot enough, dip about 8-10 onion slices in the batter and carefully put it into the pan. Depending on the size of the pan, add a few more. Deep fry until it turns golden brown. Remove and place it on a plate lined with paper towel to soak excess oil.
3) Similarly, for potato - dip individual slices in the batter and deep fry.
DONE!!!

Khara Pongal

Ingredients: (Serves 1):
1 Tbsp Oil
1 Tbsp Ghee
1/2 cup rice
3-4 cups water
2 Tbsp moong dal
2 Tbsp dessicated coconut
5-6 pepper corns
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
Salt

Method:
1) Boil rice and moong dal with 3 cups of water until done.  I microwaved it for 15 minutes. Note pongal will be watery.
2) In a pan, heat oil. Add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter. Add pepper corns, cumin seeds, curry leaves and turmeric powder.
3) Add cooked rice and moong dal, dessicated coconut and stir. If you want it more watery add another cup of water and boil it for 5 minutes. Keep stirring once every minute or two.
4) Check for salt. Add ghee.
DONE!!!
Serve with coriander-mint coconut chutney :)

Mango milkshake

Ingredients:
1 big ripe mango
1 cup cold milk
1/4 cup cold water
1 tsp cream/ vanilla ice cream
3 cardamom pods - seeds crushed
1-2 tsp sugar

Method:
1) Cut the mango into slabs and scoop the pulp out.
2) Put the pulp and the rest of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.
3) If you want it more cold, use a couple of ice cubes instead of water while blending or chill it in a fridge.
DONE!!!

Pineapple kesaribath

Ingredients:
1/2 cup semolina
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup water
3 pineapple slices - diced
7-8 strands of saffron - soaked in 2 tbsp water
1/4 cup sugar (adjust based on pineapple juice sweetness)
Pinch of salt
10 cashew nuts
5 raisins
4 cardamom pods - seeds crushed
Ghee

Method:
1) Take 1 tsp of ghee in a frying pan and roast semolina. Stir until it starts to turn brown. Keep aside
2) Take pineapple, pineapple juice, water, sugar, salt, 1 tsp ghee, cardamom powder, saffron strands in a pan. Bring it to boil.
3) Add semolina and stir. Make sure no lumps are formed. Keep stirring until semolina completely absorbs the water. Check for sugar.
4) In a small skillet, take 2-3 tsp of ghee. Add cashew nuts and fry until it starts to change colour. Take it off heat. Add raisins. After 10-15 seconds add it to the kesari baath. Stir again.
DONE!!!

Peanut Onion paratha

Ingredients (Serves 4):
3 cups atta - wheat flour
1 cup peanuts
1 medium sized onion - 3/4 of it finely diced, rest chopped
2 dry red chilli
1 clove garlic
1/2 inch ginger
2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp ajwain seeds
1/4 tsp fennel seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp amchur powder
1/2 tsp asafoetida
Water
Salt
Oil
Ghee

Method:
For the stuffing.
1) In a pan, dry roast peanuts.
2) In a pan, heat a Tbsp of oil, add 1 tsp cumin seeds, chopped onion, chopped garlic, ginger, asafoetida, red chilli. Fry for a minute. Mix with garam masala powder, amchur powder, turmeric powder and peanuts. Allow it to cool. Once cool, grind it without adding water
3) In a pan, heat 2 Tbsp oil. Add ajwain seeds, fennel seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds and finely chopped onion. Fry until onion starts to turn brown. Mix the ground peanut paste.Check for salt. Allow it to cool

For the paratha.
1) Mix atta with water, 3 tbsp oil. Check for salt.
2) Take a lime-sized dough and roll it into a 3 inch small disc.
3) Take 2 Tbsp of the stuffing and place it at the centre. Seal it by pulling the edges of the dough together and make a ball.
4) Roll it into a circular disc.
5) Heat a pan, place the paratha. Add a few drops of ghee. Flip over to the other side after a minute.
6) Add a few drops of ghee again. Once the under side is done, flip again to the other side and remove when done.
DONE!!!
Serve with yogurt and pickle :)