Whole Wheat Focaccia

I have a die hard fan of focaccia’s. I have been trying different versions of it but I guess I landed on a recipe that works out the best for me.
For those of you who do not know what this is, focaccia is a flat bread that resembles a pizza dough. It can be topped with tomatoes, olives, onions and herbs.

You shall need:
1.5 cup… Whole wheat flour + more for dusting
1/2 cup… All purpose flour
2.5 tsp… Active dry yeast
1/2 cup… warm water
1 tsp… Sugar
1.5 tsp.. Salt
2-3 tbsp+ more to drizzle on top… Olive oil
2 tsp.. Rosemary
1.5 tsp… Red chilly flakes
1/2… onion sliced in crescents
1 small… tomato sliced in crescents
Few tsp cold water

Method:

• In the warm water, add yeast and sugar. Cover it and keep aside for 10-15 min to froth.
• In a bowl, add the flours, salt, red chilly flakes and mix with a fork.
• Make a well in the center, add the yeast mix and mix well.
• Add a tbsp of cold water at a time to bring it all together.
• Once a dough is made, take it out on a clean platform/chopping board.
• Dust it with some flour and knead, knead and knead. Push the dough away with the base of your palm and bring it back together.
• Do this until it is nice and smooth and gluten is formed. We are looking for elasticity.
• Add the oil and knead it one final time.

• Put it in a clean bowl and cover it with cling film.
• Let it rise/proof for 1.5-2 hrs.
• Once it is done, oil the baking tray.
• Punch the dough and put it in the tray. Make sure it is well spread. We dont want few flat and few very risen bits.
• Poke the dough with your finger and drizzle oilve oil.
• pre heat oven to 170C
• Put onions and tomatoes on it (press them in) and let it proof for 30 min.

•  Bake for 15-20 min. The done-ness of bread will be when you touch it, it should spring back on you.
• Take it out of the oven. Let it cool down for 10 min.
• Get it out of the tray and cut it in shape you like.

Let me know how it comes out, if you try 🙂

Cheers,

Sending this to:

 Lavender & Lovage

 Simply Sensational Food

  Gayatri’s blog

Hard Shell Tacos

Last Saturday, I was determined to dedicate myself to the idiot box and I did. Since I was up at 6 am as P was leaving for work, I turned the TV on and one after the other I saw 8 flicks (Most of them side by side). Oh and did I mention, this was only till 1 pm.

I was bored to death by the time I was on the 5th flick which happened to be one of my favorite ones, Zindagi Na Milegi Dubara. While fiddliing with the remote, a magazine fell on the floor. It was Good Food India, August issue. On the cover page there were gorgeous hard shell tacos with Pindi chana filling. I said “Challenge accepted” to myself and headed for the kitchen.

Thank God I had maize flour else the plan would have been shelved. Let me take you through the recipe.

You shall need: (Makes about 8)

2/3 cup… Maize flour

1/3 cup.. All purpose flour

1/2 tsp.. Salt

1 tsp… Paprika

1.5 tsp… oil

1/2 cup… warm water (Use very little at a time)

To assemble:

Sour cream

Lettuce

Re-fried beans

Method:

• In a bowl, mix the flours, salt and paprika with a whisk.
• Add the oil.
• Now add few tbsp of water at a time and knead the dough.
• We want the dry ingredients to come into a soft ball. Do not add all the water at the same time.
• The Qty of water shall depend on the ingredients and their quality.
• The dough should take about 2-3 min.

• Wrap the dough in cling film and set it aside for atleast 30 min.
• Pre heat oven to 180C on the setting where both the rods are heating.
• Set a pan on the gas on low-medium flame.
• Divide the dough into 8 balls of the same size.
• Apply little oil on the rolling pin and the board.
• Roll them one by one to the thickness of a INR 2 coin.
• Using a round mould, you may cut the rolled dough to a perfect round.
• Using a fork, prick the rolled dough.

• Put it on the pan and let it color slightly on both sides.
• If you are using a non stick pan, you will not need any oil.
• We only want a nice bright yellow color on both the sides.

• wrap the cooked tacos on the wired rack of the oven. Do not pinch the sides too much else there will be no opening in the tacos. keep the folded sides fairly apart.

• Bake them for 10-12 min or until they are nice and crisp and golden.

• Let them cool and stuff with the filling of your choice.

Cheers,

 

 

 

Sending this to:

 originally hosted by Vardhini of Cooks Joy

 by Vardhini of Cooks Joy

  UK Rasoi- “What’s with my Cuppa !?” 

 

Chocolate and Malt Babka Bites

Yes yes I know Babka is a sweet yeast cake but who said there cant be exceptions 😉 I made these bites based on this reference from the Baking Partners. Swathi is the brilliant blogger behind the group.

For the dough: I made the eggless version

1/2-3/4 cup …. whole milk, warmed 110 degrees

1/4 cup… white sugar

1.5 teaspoons …Active dry yeast

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2… teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons…. unsalted butter at room temperature

For the Filling:

1/2 cup… chocolate chips {I used bournville rich cocoa)

1/4 cup… brown sugar

1/4 cup…. Complan/bourvita

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

pinch of salt

3 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

For the wash:

1 tbsp.. oil

1 tbsp… Sugar

1 tbsp… cream/milk

Method:

• Add the yeast to the warm milk with a pinch of sugar.
• Let it stand and dissolve and froth.
• Tip the dry ingredients for the dough in a pan, mix with a fork.
• Make a well in the eventer and tip the milk-yeast mixture.
• I used hand mixer with dough attachment to bring it all together.
• Add butter one tbsp at a time.
• Once it has all come together, tip it on the work bench and work the dough by the heel of the palm by pushing it away and then bringing it back.
• Once it has become nice and springy, add to an oiled bowl and cover with the cling film.
• let it rise to double the volume or let it stand for 1.5 hrs or so.
• For the filling, coarsely chop the chocolate in the mixer, add the complan and sugar.
• Now mix in the butter. Keep aside until further use.
• Once the dough has risen, flour the work surface and roll it out in a rectangle of about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Pre heat oven to 180C.
• Spread the filling uniformly on the dough.
• Now roll the dough carefully.
• Cut 1/5 inch pieces.
• Put them in a lined cupcake tray individually.
• Brush with the mix of the wash ingredients.
• Bake for 20 min.
• Serve with love.

 Cheers,

Pearl Onion Brown Rice Burrito #BM38

Oh Burritos save the dinners for me most of the time. They are my oh-My-God-what-do-I-made-today savers. Best part about them is that its one hand meal which makes flipping channels/clicking pictures easy 😛

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 38

You shall need:

4-5… Big chapatis

1 cup… Hung curd

2 tsp… oil

3/4 cup… cooked brown rice

1/4 cup… chopped pearl onions

2 tsp… chilly flakes

Salt to taste

1/2 cup… grated carrot

1 tsp… lemon juice

2 tsp… milk

Cheese spread (optional)

Method:

• In a pan, heat oil.
• Add the pearl onions and a little salt.
• Cook until they are soft.
• Now add the chilly flakes and rice.
• Mix well and cook until everything is combined.
• Bring it out of the pan and let it cool.
• In the hung curd bowl, add the carrots, salt and lemon.
• Add milk if needed, we need the consistency of a spread.
• Lay the chapati on a flat surface, add cheese spread (if you like)
• Now add a generous helping of rice and the hung curd dip.
• Fold it and serve it with your favorite tv channel 🙂

Cheers,

Awamat #BM38

These delish sweet treats from Lebanon come in handy for all occasions. These treats are fried until golden brown and immersed in simple sugar syrup.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 38

You shall need:

1 cup… flour
1 tsp…. sugar
3/4  cup…  water
3/4 tsp… dry yeast
1/4 tsp… salt
oil for frying

For Syrup:
3/4 cup… Water1 cup… Sugar
1 tsp… Lemon Juice

Method:

• In a small bowl, add 2 tbsp warm water and 1 tsp sugar. Add yeast in it and let it stand for 10 min.
• In another bowl, mix flour, salt and the yeast.
• Add water little at a time and knead into a dough.
• Let it stand for 1 hour or until the dough doubles.
• Punch it down, make a long log out of it and cut small pieces.
• Fry in hot oil on a medium-high heat until they are evenly golden.
• In a pan, boil the sugar, water and lemon juice until all the sugar is dissolved.
• Add lemon juice and let the syrup cool a bit.
• Strain the syrup through a mesh.
• Once the syrup is at room temp, tip in all the fried dough.
• It shall soak the syrup quickly.
• Serve as a snack or a sweet treat.

Cheers,

 

Beignet #BM38

I have been fascinated by Bignet’s ever since I laid my eyes on them on a TLC show. These pillows of fried dough with loads of sugar on top are as delicious as well. Love love love them.

For the BM#38 series for the week, I have chosen fried dough as the theme.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 38

You shall need:

1/4 cup …butter (melted)
1/4 cup… water
1/4 teaspoon… salt
1 cup …all-purpose flour
1/2 cup…. yogurt
1/2 tsp… Baking soda
2 tbsp… castor sugar
oil for deep frying
icing sugar

Method:

• In a bowl, mix slat, baking soda, castor sugar and all purpose flour.
• Now add butter and mix it in the flour.
• Add the yogurt next.
• We need to make a soft dough.
• Now add water as need be.
• The dough will be little sticky, but we need to knead it until it all comes together properly.
• Let it rest on the table counter in a oiled pan, covered with cling film, for about 2 hours.
• It shall be fermented till then, roll it out and cut shapes that you desire.
• Fry them in the hot oil  (on a medium high heat) until they get an even color.
• Take them out on a paper towel.
• Serve with a generous amount of dusting of icing sugar on top.

Cheers,

 

Panch Phoran Naan

My most favorite spice mix is Panch phoran. It is Bengali spice mix and makes for the most flavorful tadka. It contains 5 spices, namely:  fenugreek seed, nigella seed, cumin seed, black mustard seed and fennel seed in equal parts. I use it in a lot of dishes so why not naan too. 🙂

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 38

You shall need: (Makes about 5)

1 cup… All purpose flour

5 tbsp… Curd

1 tsp… Baking soda

1/2 tsp… Salt

1/2 tsp… Sugar

1 tbsp… Panch Phoran (dry roast in a pan for 2-3 min)

2 tsp… oil

1 tbsp… Butter (room temp)

1 tsp… Cumin

1 tsp… Paprika

Method:

• In a small bowl, mix butter , cumin and paprika and keep aside.
• In a bowl, add the flour, salt, sugar, spices and knead with the curd.
• Once the dough is nice and soft, put it in a oiled bowl, cover with tea towel and place on the counter for about an hour.
• Pre heat oven to 190C, on a buttered tray, place a rolled dough ball.
• Using a brush, apply a little of the spiced butter and bake for 5-7 min.
• Take it out and apply the butter once more and return to baking it for about 7-8 min.
• Serve hot with a dollop of the butter.
• Serve with love.

Cheers,

Dessert Naan

Well I am doing the Blogging Marathon after ages and boy I am glad to be back 🙂 This week I am doing 3 variations of naan’s. I thought let me start by doing something sweet.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 38

For me things that ring a bell of dessert are nuts, cinnamon, sugar and nutella. So I used up all this in the naan. 🙂

Here is all that you shall need: (Makes about 5-6)

1 cup… All purpose flour

3.5 tbsp… Ground sugar

2 tbsp… Granulated sugar

1 tsp… Baking soda

1/2 tsp… salt

1/4 cup… Almonds

2 tsp + 2 tsp… cinnamon powder

2-3 knobs of butter

1/2 tbsp… Oil

4-5 tbsp… curd/yogurt

Nutella/honey

Method:

• In a small bowl mix, granulated sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon powder.
• In a medium size bowl, add the flour, baking soda, salt and powdered sugar. Mix well using a fork.
• Now add the curd and knead it into a dough. Add a touch more curd, in case it is dry.
• Knead until nice and soft.
• Now add the oil and knead again.
• Put it on a oiled bowl and leave on the kitchen counter (covered with a tea towel) for about an hour.
• Pre heat oven at 190C.
• Make 5-6 balls out of the dough with the help of little oil/butter in your hand.
• Oil/ butter a tray and place the balls about 2 inch apart.
• Press the balls down gently to form discs, you may use rolling pin but I like the more rustic form.
• Sprinkle some of the sugar and cinnamon mix on it and top with some almonds.
• Bake for 10 min and then take them out. Smother some butter on top using the back of a spoon/a brush and bake for another 5 min.
• To serve, top it with nutella or honey.
• Serve with love.

Cheers,

 

Herbed Potato and cheese Monkey bread

Manjula from Desi Fiesta challenged us to make breads for last months home bakers challenge. She had a version of sweet pull apart bread but since the family loved savory breads, I had to make some changes. 🙂

So what is this monkey bread? It is a bread that one eats like a monkey eats fruits from the trees.

You shall need:

For the dough-

3 cup… All purpose flour [plus some more for dusting]

1 tbsp… Salt

2 tbsp… Fresh yeast  [or 1 tbsp dry active]

2 tbsp… Butter

1.5 cup… Water

For the filling:

3 … boiled potatoes

1 cup… Cheese [I used mozzarella]

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 tbsp.. Chilly flakes

2 tsp.. Oregano

2 tbsp… Fresh corriander

Some bread crumbs to sprinkle on top

Method:

• Knead the dough like this.
• Keep it on a big bowl and cover with a wet kitchen towel.
• Let it rise for 1.5 hrs.
• Punch it down and make ping pong ball size dough balls out of it.
• Mix all the ingredients for the filling.
• Flatter the dough ball and add a small amount of the filling to it.
• Cover the filling with the dough and seal it well.
• In a greased bread pan/rectangle pan/bundt pan/cake pan, arrange it properly.
• Repeat for all the dough balls.
• If there is extra filling, put it in between the dough balls.
• Let it rise again for 30 min.
• Bake in a pre heated oven at 180C for 20-25 min.
• When 15 min are gone by in the baking cycle, brush with an egg wash and sprinkle bread crumbs on top.
• For the last 5 – 7 min, bake on both the rods on. This shall give the top a nice color.
• Serve with love.

Cheers,

Sending this to:

hosted by Nandoo’s Kitchen and brain child of Nupur

hosted by Desi Fiesta brain child of Vardhini

hosted by Nivedhanams brain child of Preeti.

Healthy Bite

by Valli hosted at the magic sauce pan

by Priya hosted by Nivedhanam

Baked Burgers

I never would have thought that a day would come and I would make something I love something really quick and healthier. You might still miss the oily pattie but what the heck, I call it the lazy woman’s burger.

This recipe is part of the 30 day Blogging Marathon for this month. Check out other participants here in the Blogging Marathon page.

Week- 4

Theme- Crafts/Misc

Dish for Day – Burger

You shall need: [makes about 2 burgers]

2… Burger buns [Cut in half]

1 cup… Boiled and mashed potatoes

Salt, paprika and pepper to taste

1/2 cup… Grated cheese

Butter [Room temp]

Sauce of your choice- I used the roasted peppers sauce

Method:

• Pre heat oven to 200C.
• Mix the spices on the boiled potato.
• Spread some butter on the base portion of the burger.
• Now put some of the potato mix on this side.
• Cover it with cheese. -You may add tomatoes to this too
• To the cover of the burger, spread the roasted peppers sauce.
• Place the buns in the oven for 12 min or until the cheese has melted.
• Serve warm

Cheers,