Schezwan Cut Dosa

The world is going through one of the worst crisis of our times. The COVID-19 has taken toll in everyones lives in one way or the another. Everyone is at home trying to stay safe and keeping their loved ones safe. However, one positive way to look at it is- We all now have ample family time to do that craft with the family that we wanted to do, to play games with the kids, to create that art project, to pursue that hobby that we look forward to, to develop a new skill that otherwise got pushed to the back in our busy lifestyles.

For me, amongst the most satisfying and gratifying thing is that, I am able to help the community through the COVID-19 efforts through my work place and through some personal efforts along with my husband to show a small gesture of gratitude to the healthcare workers, who are the real heroes and fighting on the frontlines. Another bright side is that I am able to pick up on my cooking and blogging hobby again which had become a rare opportunity amidst the busy lifestyle! So expect new stream of posts over the next few days:)

In the current situation....Trying to eat healthy, conserve groceries and still keep the food interesting and delicious is surely a challenge on its own 😟
Repurposing yesterday’s ‘Kobi chi bhaji’ can’t get better than this!😁Mommy happy... little ones happy 😛Try it... you will love it!!! 😋

Yellow moong-Brown rice Dosa layered with schezwan sauce and then stuffed with filling of Sautéed cabbage-carrots and peas😋😋

• Recipe-
2 cups yellow moong dal
1/2 cup brown rice
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp green chili
1 tsp cumin
Salt to taste
Leftover cabbage bhaji ( I added carrots and peas too) Or You can make Chinese style stirred veggies
Schezwan sauce 

1) Soak dal and rice together for 6-8 hrs. Grind into fine paste along with rest of the ingredients.
2) Heat non-stick pan. Apply some oil. Make dosa. Add few drops of oil on the sides. Spread schezwan sauce and add leftover sautéed Cabbage chi bhaji. 

3) Roll the Dosa when golden brown.
4) Serve hot and cut before serving. 

Enjoy!!! 😋😋😋

Brown Rice Idlis and Dosa

Brown Rice....how many times have I decided to start using it..mainly as "Rice"....but somehow my palate isn't ready...and I keep postponing it.

Few months ago, when "E' was performing a dance at the Ganapati festival, we had the crispiest, yummiest Dosa at one of his friends house. 'V' makes excellent South Indian food.I was amazed at how delicious and crispy the Dosa was..and could hardly make out....that it was made with brown rice, neither by color nor texture nor taste.

Couple days ago....I made up my mind..and bought a 2lb bag of Brown Rice at Walmart for $ 1.32(good deal ha!!)
Inspired by "V''s Brown rice Dosa....I decided to make the batter and mark the beginning of "Brown Rice" era at home!

Batter--
2 Cups Brown rice
1 Cup Urad Dal
Water to soak
Soak the Rice and Daal separately in water for 5-6 hours.The water should cover the rice/daal and little over it.
Grind into a fine paste with the water that it was soaked in.So the rice doesn't loose any essential vitamins.
Let it ferment overnight.I preheat the oven to 'warm' for 5 mins, TURN IT OFF, before I put the batter in a large vessel and keep it overnight in the oven to ferment.
After it ferments and fluffs up...add salt to taste.
Idlis-
Steam the batter in idli stand for 15-20 mins. Serve hot with sambar and chutney

Dosa--
Preheat non stick pan/tava
Smear oil with a paper towel on the tava.
Spread a spoonful batter onto the tava and let it cook on low-medium flame till it browns and crisps up.
Serve immediately with Sambar and chutney.



 Sambar--

1 Cup well cooked Toor dal/masoor dal
1/2 cup Veggies like drumsticks, pumpkin, raddish, gourd,potato etc
1 tomato sliced
1/2 onion sliced
1/2tsp mustard seeds
1/2tsp Cumin
1/2tsp Methi seeds
2-3 tsp Sambar masala ( I used MTR brand)
1tsp red chili powder
1/2tsp turmeric powder
1/2tsp Tamarind concentrate
1/2tsp Jaggery
Curry leaves
2 Red whole chilies
2 tsp oil
salt

Heat the oil, add the mustard seeds, cumin,methi seeds, curry leaves, red chili.Fry for few seconds.Add the onion,tomatoes and veggies and fry for 2-3 mins.
Add turmeric, sambar masala,chili powder and the daal.
Add enough water to make desired consistency and then add the remaining ingredients. Let it boil for few minutes till the veggies cook.Serve hot!


 Coconut-Cilantro Chutney--

1/2 cup fresh coconut
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
3-4 green chilies
1/4tsp ginger
1 clove garlic
1/2tsp cumin
salt
sugar
few drops lemon juice
1tsp oil,1/2tsp mustard, curry leaves for tempering

 Grind coconut,cilantro,chilies etc into a fine paste in a blender. Heat 1tsp oil add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Let it crackle and then add to the ground Chutney.

"Everyday Cooking"- Oats Dosa

Recipe idea: Manisha Kute

Wondering what to make for dinner tonight..or perhaps just for a snack...want that to be healthy and nutritious and delicious all at the same time??? Manisha shared this recipe and it was pretty quick to make and best of all, my husband 'M' who is not a big 'oats fan' (actually he pretty much hates oats) could not tell, that the dosas were made with Oats!!!!
Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups 'Quick' cooking oats

2-3 green chilies

2 garlic cloves

1tsp ginger paste

1tsp Cumin seeds

1/4 cup chopped onion

2tbsp Rice flour

salt

oil

Optional: Spinach or other grated veggies

Method:
1) Add enough water to the oats to cover them completely. Let them soak for 1/2 hr or so.
2) Grind along with ginger, garlic, cumin, green chilies, salt and other veggies(like spinach).Add rice flour and mix.
3) Heat a non stick griddle. Brush with oil.

4) Place a table spoon full of batter and spread into semi thin dosa. Sprinkle with some finely chopped onion.

5) Cook on both sides till golden brown.

6) Serve warm along with Chutney/ Ketchup or just on it's own.
These dosas are pretty 'soft' in texture and can made a nutritious snacks/ meal for kids too. Just omit the green chilies!

"For Little Tummies"- Spinach-Carrot Wheat Dosas

It is kind of interesting, how your cooking 'style' changes according to the people you cook for. You tend to cater to their likings and needs. I have learned/discovered some recipes which I had never tasted before in my life. Cooking for 'E' , has been a learning experience for me.And I am sure, same goes with every 'new mom'. You have to cook and modify recipes to suite your little one and your family.

'E's palate has always been sensitive to 'texture'. As a baby, it took him a while to graduate to 'solid' foods. So he started eating the typical Indian food like chapati+ Bhaji (subzi ) very late. To incorporate 'wheat' and veggies in his diet...I started making these dosas. They are pretty soft(not crisp like the regular dosas) and packed with nutrition.He used to really like these and had no problem chewing. Sometimes I would also add the 'oat flour/ baby whole grain oat cereal 'to the batter.

Now that he has all his teeth (well almost..) at 2 years, he has finally started eating 'normal' food like..chapati,bhaji,parathas etc.

Though I started making these for 'E', both 'M' and I like these too.They are easy to make,taste delicious,are good for you...what's not to like???We often make these for lunch/dinner and have with sambar/chutney/ketchup/pickle.

Here is the recipe I started making as 'my experimentation as a new mom'-

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup finely chopped Spinach

1/4 cup finely shredded carrots (shred with finest grater)

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic finely chopped/paste

1/2tsp Cumin

1/4 tsp chili powder/green chilies

Salt to taste

Oil

Method:

1) Mix together, whole wheat flour, spinach, carrots,onion,garlic,cumin,salt, and make into batter by adding little water at a time.

2) Keep aside 10-15 mins.

3) On a non stick pan, on medium heat, spread some oil and add a table spoon of the batter.Spread into a circle evenly.Dab some oil on the sides

4) Once the dosa sets, and turns golden brown,flip on the other side. Fry for 2 mins on that side

5) Serve warm with Ketchup/Chutney/Sambhar etc

Variations:

1) Spiciness can be increased by adding ginger-garlic-green chili paste.

2) Add some owa seeds.Gives distinct flavor.

3) Finely grated potatoes can also to added to the same batter.

4) I have also tried adding,oat flour/baby oat cereal to the batter. The dosas come out softer.But then its difficult to flip them.