Friday, August 24, 2012

"Everyday Cooking"- Spinach-Red Onion-Feta Cheese Pizza

There is nothing satisfying like Hot 'Out of the oven pizza'....with the Cheese bubbling all over it...with your favorite toppings and done just the way you love it!! The delivery/ take out won't give you this satisfaction. Moreover...it's fun to play with the toppings on the pizza.....try various combinations..some typical some not so typical. I feel even the 'layering' matters.If you put one topping on the other...or vice versa..the taste changes! Yes...try it yourself!
Ingredients:
1 ready to bake Pizza crust (or make your own!)
1/2 cup Pizza sauce/ Crushed tomatoes with added some Italian herbs
1 cup fresh Spinach leaves
1/2 Red onion sliced in rings
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Feta Cheese
1/2tsp Pizza seasoning/ Oregano+Basil etc
1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes( add more for spicy pizza)
1/4 tsp Black ground pepper
1tsp olive oil

Method:
1) Pre heat oven as per the Pizza crust instructions.
2) Brush the crust with olive oil
3) Spread the pizza sauce .Sprinkle the minced garlic
4) Spread half of the spinach leaves. Add half of the mozzarella. Add the rest spinach leaves and then the mozzarella.
5) Place the sliced onion rings.Add the feta cheese, pizza seasoning,black ground pepper, red pepper flakes.

6) Bake 7-8 mins and then broil for 1-2 mins until the cheese is bubbly and starts to brown.
7) Serve HOT OUT OF THE OVEN!






Wednesday, August 22, 2012

" Everyday Cooking"- Ragada Patties

'Ragada Patties' is not new to my Indian friends. It is a very famous street food and a very popular 'one dish meal' for a 'tasty' evening!!!
It satisfies your senses at all levels...you eat it steaming hot, it is spicy-tangy-sweet due to the chutneys, the onions add a crunch and the whole meal is filling and satisfying.
Whenever I am making 'White peas' curry to have with Chapati/rice , I also make some extra...so that we have this delicious meal the day after with this 'ragada'  and all I have to make is the potato patties!


Ingredients:
Ragada:
2 cups White chana/peas soaked in water overnight
1/2tsp mustard
1/2tsp cumin
5-6 Curry leaves
1/2tsp Turmeric powder
1tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp Tamarind/  1-2 Amsul
1/2tsp Jaggery
1tsp Maharashtrian goda masala
salt
oil

Patties:
2-3 boiled potatoes
2tbsp boiled white peas/chana
1/2tsp grated garlic
1/2tsp Cumin seeds
1/2tsp red chili powder
salt
oil

Chutney:
Tamarind-Jaggery Chutney
1/2tsp Tamarind concentrate
2-4 tbsp grated jaggery
1/2tsp red chili powder
1/2tsp cumin-coriander powder
salt
1/2 cup water
This chutney should be sweet-tangy and spicy
Mix together till everything is well blended.

Green chutney:
1/4 cup cilantro chopped
1/4 cup fresh mint
1 green chili
few drops lemon juice
salt
some water
Grind everything together till smooth paste

Chopped onion and Cilantro for garnish
Optional: Fine Sev for garnish

Method:
1) Boil the soaked white peas in pressure cooker till well cooked. I usually keep for 3-4 whistles.
2) Patties:Boil potatoes in the same cooker as white peas. Peel the potatoes, mash them. Mash 2 tbsp of the boiled white chana and add to the potatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients for the patties and form into flat rounds. Shallow fry in oil till golden on both sides.
3) Ragada: Heat 1 tsp oil, add the mustard, cumin ,curry leaves, turmeric powder. Add the boiled chana.Add some water, chili powder and the rest of the ingredients for ragada. Boil for 4-5 mins on low flame.
4) To serve: Place some hot ragada in a plate.Place the hot potatoes-peas patties on top. Add the chutneys, chopped onion, cilantro and sev.

                                    Enjoy a satisfying and tongue teaser meal!