Buttermilk Moong Dal

This lovely dal is very popular in North-Gujarat, mostly in Jain Community without onion and garlic though. This is home cooked food which usually is unseen in restaurants. My version is garlicky and tangy with use of buttermilk, garlic paste, & green garlic. One can make this dal without onion-garlic as well, and it is still very flavorful. It is perfect with roti or thepla, jeera rice, and with cucumber salad. Also folks don't forget to watch video of this recipe :)


Ingredients :-

• 1-1/2 cups Yellow Moong Dal
• 1-1/2 cups Water
• 3 cups Buttermilk, 1-1/2 cups Yogurt + 1-1/2 cups Water Mix
• 2 tbsp Oil
• 1/4 tsp Cracked Fenugreek Seeds
• 1 Medium Red Onion, chopped
• 1 Medium Tomato, chopped
• 1/4 tsp Asafoetida
• 1 tsp Green Garlic
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 3 Green Chilies, chopped
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1 tbsp Garlic Paste
• 1 tsp Gujarati Dal & Subji masala, optional
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Cumin-Coriander Powder
• Salt to taste
• Cilantro, chopped

Method :-

1. Soak yellow moong dal in water for 4-6 hours.

2. Pressore cook moong dal with water, salt, and cracked fenugreek seeds.

3. Now heat oil in pan, add asafoetida,cumin seeds and let them splutter.

4. Add green chilies, garlic paste,gujarati dal-subji masala, dhania-jeera powder, turmeric, red chili powder. Mix and saute for 10 seconds.

5. Now add onion, mix well with masala and cook for 3-4 minutes.

6. At this point, add tomato and green garlic. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.

7. Pour buttermilk in masala, and bring it to boil on medium-low heat.

8. When it starts to boil, add cooked moong dal and salt. mix it well.

9. Cover pan with lid and simmer this dal on low heat for 8-10 minutes.

10. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve hot.

Enjoy...

Mawa Paneer Burfi

This Diwali I made this rich, soft, and flavorful burfi. It is also quick and easy to make. The Pineapple provides light and fresh twist, also it is great surprise in the mithai. One can use oranges, grapes, or mango as well.

Ingredients :-

• 1 cup Mawa/Khoya, grated
• 1/2 cup Paneer, grated
• 5 Cashews
• 5 Almonds
• 10 Pistachio
• 3-4 tbsp Sugar, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp Cardamom
• 1 tbsp Milk
• 1 tsp Rose Water
• Green Food Color
• Pineapple, canned and cut into small pieces
• Cherries
• Silvar Foil (Chandi Varak)

Method :-

1. Mix cashews, almonds, pistachio, and sugar in food prosessor until they are in powder form.

2. In bowl mix mawa, paneer, milk, and add dry fruits mixture.

3. Mix well and knead to a smooth dough.

4. Heat ghee in nonstick pan. Heat dough on low heat until sugar is melted. Keep Stirring.

5. When sugar is melted, add green color, rose water, and let it heat on medium low heat for 3-4 minutes. Then let it cool for some time.

6. Now make small balls from the dough while it is still warm and stuff pineapple in it and cover it well. Give shape you want.

7. Put silvar foil first, and cherry on top.

Enjoy...

Happy Diwali & Prosperous New Year

Hey All,

I wish you all "Happy Diwali" & "Happy New year" "Saal Mubarak" from me and my family. 

On the auspicious day of Festival of lights..May the joy, Prosperity, and happiness. Glow your days, in the year ahead. SHUB DIPAVLI :))

Cooking Garlic Paste

In Gujarat, one find this garlic paste in every household. It is also called "Lasanwalu Marchu" means chili with garlic. This is multi-purpose paste and can be used in everyday cooking items like gravy, dry subji, daal, grilled sandwich, and kadhi. It gives amazing garlicky taste and smell.

Ingredients :-

• 35 Cloves Garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp Red Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1-1/2 tsp Salt
• 3 tbsp Water
• 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
• 3 tbsp Olive Oil

Method :-

1. First add water in blender or prosessor and after that add garlic, red chili powder, cumin powder, and salt.

2. Make smooth paste. Take this out in a bowl.

3. Then heat olive oil for 2 minutes on medium heat, then add Kashmiri red chili powder in it and stir.

4. Pour this mixture in paste and mix it very well.

5. Refrigerate this paste in glass container for longer use, aorund 15-20 days.

Enjoy...

Roasted Peppers With Goat Cheese Pizza

I love pizza and love to bake at home. I always try new stuff on my pizza as I like to experiment with toppings, pizza sauce, or even method to cook them, like in the oven, on barbeque grill, or cook them on grill pan. The inspiration for this came from goat cheese and roasted bell pepper pizza at CPK. The combination of these two is just amazing. The tartness from Goat cheese and sweetness from bell peppers together serves  a creamy and tasty pizza. I like my pizza with loaded with veggies, but you can totally skip a few toppings. 

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Ingredients :-

• 1 Pizza Dough Store Bought, for one pizza around 14 ounces (for 2-3 people)
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
• 4 oz Goat Cheese, crumbles
• 3 tbsp Mozzarella Cheese, grated
• 1 Big Red Bell Pepper, roasted and sliced
• 1 Big Yellow Bell Pepper, roasted and sliced
• 1/2 Small Red Onion, thinly sliced
• 1/8 cup Marinara Sauce
• Cornmeal or APF for sprinkling

Method :-

1. Preheat oven on 400F.

2. Dust cornmeal or APF on flat surface.

3. Roll out pizza dough with rolling pin in circel.

4. Place this dough on pizza pan, brush 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil on top of the dough. Spread marinara sauce lightly with little salt and pepper.

5. Now top with sliced onion, roasted peppers, mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, and red pepper flaks. Drizzel 1 tbsp EVOO on top of pizza.

6. Bake it for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melt.

7. Serve hot with ceser salad on side.

Enjoy...

Tortellini Soup With Parmesan Crisps

I am welcoming fall with is hearty but light soup. This soup comes together very fast. This soup is a meal by itself, but it is not heavy on stomach. Sky is the limit for ingredients for this soup as it can be made with loads of vegetables, meats, or even with beans; however my version is very simple and light, as I make it in light broth and with not many ingredients. I also cook Tortellini separately because I don't like my soup starchy.

Parmesan Crisps are the perfect with this soup. It is crispy, salty, and super tasty. I always add pinch of lemon zest to make them a little lighter, and give fragrance to it.

For Parmesan Crisps

Ingredients :-

• 1/2 Cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese, grated
• 1/8 tsp Lemon Zest (Optional)
• Pinch of Black Pepper, ground

Method :-

1. Preheat oven on 400 degrees F.

2. Mix all ingredients together.

3. Pour 1 tsp parmesan cheese 1/2 inch apart on to silicon or parchment paper lined in baking sheet. Pat down little bit.

4. Bake for 4-5 minutes until golden and crisps.

For Tortellini Soup

Ingredients :-

• 2 Cups Cheese Tortellini
• 4 Cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
• 2 tbsp Carrot, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp Cabbage, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Shallot, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 3-4 Whole Black Pepper, roast and freshly groung
• Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
• Salt to taste

Method :-

1. Cook Tortelling in salted boiling water till Al-dente. Drain and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in sauce pan on medium heat. Add chopped garlic and saute for 10 seconds.

3. Now add carrot, cabbage, little parsley, and shallot. Cook for 30 seconds.

4. At this point add vegetable broth in to the pan. Add salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and mix. Cover pan with lid and bring it to boil.

5. Add tortellini in it and simmer this soup for 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat.

6. Pour this hot soup in serving bowl, sprinkle fresh parsley on top and parmesan crisps on side.

Enjoy...

Green Garbanzo In Gujarati Coconut Masala

This is very popular subji in South Gujarat. The green garbanzo(Fresh) are available at Indian grocery stores, Whole Foods, and occasionally at Costco. I prefer to buy them when they are still in their pod. Fresh green garbanzo(Chickpeas) beans are sweet in taste. They can be eaten roasted. Roast them with pod in a wok, or raw, or boiled. They are low in fat, high in fiber, and are also good source of iron. They are easy to digest if you use them fresh. For this recipe, one can use dried green garbanzo after soaking them in water overnight or frozen. I recommend fresh garbanzo beans for this subji.

The flavor of this subji is little nutty, sweet from coconut, and little spicy from freshly made paste. I still remember when my mom made coconut masala with mortar and pestle in our little backyard and the smell was amazing. We eat this subji with Juwar Rotlo, rice, Gujarati Kadhi, and papad. My mom's recipe is little different from others. She adds milk in it, and that makes the subji richer and smoother in texture.

Ingredients :-

• 2 Cups Fresh Green Garbanzo Beans, peeled 
• 1 Medium Potato, cut into small pieces
• 1 Small Tomato, chopped
• 1/2 Onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup Coconut, grated
• 1 tbsp Ginger, grated
• 1 tsp Green Garlic
• 3-4 Green Chilies, chopped
• 1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
• 1/8 cup Mint, chopped
• 1 tsp Cumin-Coriander Powder
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1/2 cup Milk + 1/4 cup Water Mix
• 2 tbsp Oil
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• Pinch of Asafoetida (Hing)
• Salt to taste
• Chopped Cilantro for garnish

Method:--

1. Mix onion, tomato, coconut, ginger, green garlic, green chilies, cilantro, mint, cumin-coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt, and 1-2 tbsp water in mortar and pestle or in blender. Make smooth paste.

2. Heat oil in pressure cooker. Add asafoetida and cumin seeds, let them spultter.

3. Add masala and saute them for 20 seconds. Than add garbanzo beans, potato and mix well.

4. Now add milk and water mixture. Mix well, taste and adjust seasoning. Bring it to boil.

5. Cover cooker with lid and give 3-4 whistles. Cool down cooker little and then open it.

6. Add lemon juice, mix well.

7. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Enjoy...