Paneer and Zucchini Roll-ups

“Paneer-Zucchini Roll-ups”

These grilled roll-ups make a perfect summer appetizer...are amazingly delicious...and look stunning! 😋

Heighten your zucchini experience by bundling up either paneer or chicken in thin strips of zucchini and then grilling them on a grill or a skillet.

*** Paneer version:
1) Cut paneer into medium cubes. Marinate for 30 mins with a marinade of thick yogurt, Tikka masala powder, red chili powder, turmeric and salt. 

2) Make zucchini strips with veggie peeler

3) Wrap the marinated paneer cubes with zucchini strips and secure with a toothpick.
4) Grill on griddle/ skillet/ grill with oil spray - on horizontal surface and also vertically till slightly browned.

Serve hot along with lemon slices. 😋

*** Chicken Version:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/12/appetizers-chicken-zucchini-roll-ups.html?m=1

Samosa Pinwheels

One of my favorite party appetizers are these beautiful looking and amazingly tasty 'Samosa Pinwheels'. What's not to like??? Nothing can go wrong with ...Spicy stuffing made with mashed potatoes and warm spices rolled up into puff pastry sheets and then baked to crispy perfection! YUMMMMM..OOO! Baked a large batch for a party at work tomorrow.

The trick however, is getting this beautiful pinwheels pattern. I have had these pinwheels before and not all were able to exhibit this beautiful pattern. So here goes the step by step recipe-

 ** The trick in using 'lump free' filling, spreading it in an even layer and rolling into a tight roll before slicing.

Recipe:
4 Potatoes boiled and washed well (no lumps)
1/2 onion finely chopped
2tsp ginger garlic paste
1tsp chopped curry leaves
1 tsp garam masala powder
1tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp cumin seeds
1/2tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Kasoori methi leaves
Salt
4tsp Oil

1 Puff pastry sheet (Thawed as per package instructions)

Method:
1) Heat the oil in pan. Add mustard seed, cumin seeds, curry leaves and chopped onion. Sauté for 2-3 mins.
2) Add ginger garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala powder, mashed potatoes, salt and kasoori methi. Sauté the filling for few mins. The filling should have no lumps. Let the filling cool for 1hr.

** Pre Heat the oven to 400F

3)  Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet. Spread the potato filling evenly on to the sheet, about 1.5cm in thickness. Start rolling the sheet tightly from one end, into a roll.

4) Slice the roll in the center. Wrap the rolls into wax paper and chill in refrigerator for 20mins.

5) After 20 mins, slice the roll. Place the pinwheels on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.

6) Bake the pinwheels at 400F for 15-20 mins till golden brown. I like to turn them half way through the baking on the other side to bake evenly on both sides.

7) Serve hot along with your favorite sauce. Enjoy these delicious beauties!

And...You know my favorite! I will of course serve these with "Maggie Hot and Sweet" Sauce :))

Spicy potato masala 'stuffed' appe

One of my most favorite appetizers is 'Appe' of various kinds. They are easy to make for parties, you can create variations, everyone loves them and they can me made in tiny bit of oil! Here,I used idli batter for the covering and stuffing of 'batata wada' as stuffing. 

Crispy outer covering with the spicy inner stuffing is just out of this world !!

How to make: 

Put a drop of oil in warm appe pan, some sesame seeds, then spoonful of idli batter (add some sooji if batter is too thin) followed by stuffing and idli batter again.

Cook on both sides till golden brown with another drop of oil.

No words to describe the awesomeness of these yummy bundles!! Enjoy!!

"Firecracker Shrimp" Indian style!!

Is it grilling season yet??

I doubled up my Panini grill to make a indoor grill and made these amazingly spicy and delicious 

'Firecracker shrimp' with an Indian touch.

Recipe:

Marinate 25 cleaned shrimp with a marinade of:

2 tsp tandoor masala powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp oil
Salt

Thread onto skewers and Grill for 4-5 mins till done. Enjoy the lipsmackingly hot firecracker shrimp!!

Note: use paneer for the vegetarian version.

Vegeterian version:

Mini Frittatas in Appe pan

For munching or brunching.... A healthy snack!!

Mini "frittatas" a.k.a mini omlettes with vegetables and cheese, made in our very own 'Appe pan' !! 

Recipe: cracks eggs, whisk along with salt, red chili powder, chopped onion, broccoli, cilantro and

some shredded cheese. Pour into hot Appe pan greased with few drops of oil. Cover with lid to cook.

 Cook on both sides. Serve hot along with toast, butter and Maggie hot and sweet sauce!!

Mukimame (Green Soy) and green peas balls with corn and cheese filling

I am clearly at home today, and doing my most favorite thing...cooking and making something delicious and nutritious at the same time!!

A high protein snack doesn't have to be non vegetarian or boring. These super tasty balls made with mukimame + green beans + oats with a cheesy corn filling made in my favorite "Appe Pan"...will surely make everyone in the family happy:))

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen mukimame
3/4 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup bread crumbs or 3 bread slices
1/3 cup Sooji (cream of wheat)
3 tsp( Ginger+ garlic+ green chili paste)
3 tsp chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp cumin
Salt
Oil

Filling:
1 cup corn kernels
1/2  cup (Cheddar + Parmesan cheese)
1/2 tsp chili powder


Method:
1) Microwave the mukimame and green peas for 3 mins. Grind them in the mixer along with oats, ginger-garlic- green chili paste and cilantro.
2) Mix the bread crumbs/ crushed bread slices, sooji, salt,cumin and form into dough. You can add more oats/sooji if the dough is loose.
3) Mix corn kernels, cheeses and chili powder
4) Form the mukimame dough into balls and stuff with corn and cheese filling.

4) Heat appe pan on low to medium heat.Add few drops of oil. Place the mukimame green peas balls in the appe pan.Cover with lid.Cook till golden brown on one side.Then flip and cook on the other side with a drop or two of oil.

5) Serve hot along with ketchup/ hot and sweet chili sauce!!

 A tasty and high protein snack with warm cheesy filling ....yummmm ooo!

Dabeli Rolls

For my love of Dabeli...I could keep on trying out new looks and reinventing Dabeli with a newer fresher look!
Dabeli....in it's original form is lovely enough, but new fresh looks give it a interesting texture, taste and of course 'modernize' it!

Here is the original form:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/11/chatpata-chaat-kutchi-dabeli.html

Dabeli Wrap:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2013/10/dabeli-wrap.html

Dabeli Dosa:
All the fillings and fixings of Dabeli wrapped up in a crispy dosa

And now presenting the beautiful ...Dabeli rolls:

Ingredients:
Fillings and fixings of Dabeli
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2009/11/chatpata-chaat-kutchi-dabeli.html

1 Store bought Biscuit dough can (Buttermilk or plain)

Method:
1) Roll out the biscuit dough on little flour into oval shape with a rolling pin. Apply Tamarind-Jaggery/date Chutney and put the fillings in the center.
Cut the sides as shown at an angle.

2) Fold the alternate edges on to each other as shown to make the pattern.Press gently to seal edges.

3) Bake on baking sheet as directed on biscuit dough can till golden brown

Enjoy Dabeli in this new look hot look!

"Vangyache Kaap" / Spicy Eggplant fritters

So, I am the only fan of eggplant at home. 'M' and the kids don't care for it much and so we rarely make anything eggplanty at home. When you don't get to eat something for days or months together...it automatically gains 'special' place and you crave it as if its the 'best' thing in the world ;p
So is the place of eggplant for me these days :)
I took the opportunity to cook this..a very maharashtrian appetizer made with eggplant when 'M' was away on business trip and was enjoying his moms handmade 'Puran Poli' :)

Ingredients:
1 large purple eggplant or 4 medium eggplants sliced thinly and immersed in water
1/2 cup 'Thalipeeth bhajani' ( maharashtrian multigrain flour)
1 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
salt
oil to fry

Method:
1) Mix the bhajani flour with salt,turmeric and red chili powder. Place in a flat plate.
2) Coat the wet slices of eggplant with the dry bhajani powder.
3) Shallow fry in nonstick pan till eggplant is cooked and turns brownish.
4) Serve hot!

  

Masala 'Braids'

A quick evening snack on my mind as I was driving back from work. I have to admit how-much-ever I complain about my hour long commute, it fruitful at times. It is when I listen to my favorite songs.It is when I get to 'think' peacefully and 'too much' ;p (as I like to do). It is also, when I get these 'creative' ideas about 'blog' food!

So, I had this can of buttermilk biscuit dough sitting in the refrigerator. Molding it into 'braids' was fun and they looked so beautiful and made a yummy tea time snack!

Ingredients:
1 Can of Jumbo Buttermilk biscuit dough (makes 8)
2 tsp Sesame seeds
1 tsp chopped cilantro and mint leaves
1 tsp Olive oil
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp finely minced garlic
1/4 tsp black ground pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Method:
1) Preheat oven to 375F
2) Roll out one biscuit dough circle. Cut into 3 parts.Roll into tube like.

3) Press together the 3 tubes at one end and weave into braids. Press the ends together firmly to stick.Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4) Brush with Olive oil.Sprinkle with Sesame seeds, salt, chili powder,garlic, cilantro and mint.
5) Bake in the pre heated oven for 8-10 mins, till golden brown

6) Serve immediately with your favorite sauce