MyMusingsSangSpeak-Pet Puja- Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji:

Pav Bhaji is a much loved Indian street food, hot favourite with majority people all across the country. Many people debate about the nutritional value of this dish as it is laden with butter and the vegetables are overcooked. Despite all criticisms, this dish is soul food and there are die hard Pav Bhaji fans that will vouch for it with all their hearts n souls. I am giving my version of Pav Bhaji where I use my homemade garam masala.

Ingredients:

Onions- 2 large

Potatoes- 2-3 large

Tomatoes- 2 large

French Beans- 100 gms

Carrots- 100 gms

Cauliflower- 100 gms

Greeen Peas- 100 gms

Ginger Garlic Paste- 2 tablespoons

Butter- 100- 150 gms

Oil- 2-3 tablespoons

Salt- as per taste

Red Chilly Powder- 1 teaspoon

Garam Masala/ Redaymade PavBhaji Masala - 1½ teaspoon

Water- 2- 3 cups

Lemons- as per taste

Coriander n finely chopped onion for garnish

Method:

Chop all vegetables finely. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onions and sauté well till they become light brown, then add tomatoes, ginger garlic paste and chopped potoatoes. Stir well, cover with lid for 4-5 minutes and cook on low heat. Then add the rest of the chopped vegetables, stir well, add garam masala, red chilly powder, salt and water. Cover with a lid and let it cook for about 10 minutes, then add butter and again cook for 5 minutes. Now, take the pan off heat and mash well with a masher. Serve the pav bhaji topped with finely chopped onion+coriander, butter and a slice of lemon along with buttered Pav.

Variations for cooking Pav Bhaji- You may boil potatoes and then add them so that it becomes more homogenous.

In addition, if you like you may add other veggies like brinjals, capsicums, this is optional.

Servings: Serves 4 to 5 people

MyMusingsSangSpeak-Pet Puja - Sheera(Suji ka Halwa)

Pet Puja - Sheera

Sheera

Sheera is loved by almost one and all. It is a must sweet dish in Maharashtrian household and is essentially cooked as Prasaad for Satyanarayan Mahapuja. My mother dished out the best Sheera ever. Everytime I cook sheera, I am reminded of my mother.

Every household will have its own way of making this savoury dish. Some use water, some may add ripe banana to the suji while roasting and some may use milk. Following is my method of making it. Hope you all enjoy it too.

Ingredients:

Suji/Rawa/Semolina: 1 katori or cup

Ghee: 1/4^th katori

Sugar: 1 katori

Milk: 3 katori

Kaju tukda : 2 teaspoon (optional)

Kishmish: 2 teaspoon (optional)

Cardamom powder: ½ teaspoon

Method:

Heat ghee in a pan and roast suji in the ghee on medium heat till it turns a golden brown. Then add kaju-kishmish and roast for another minute. Now add warm milk to this and stir for 2 minutes. Please be careful while adding milk as the mixture tends to bubble, spill n splutter, so do this with utmost care. Then add sugar, stir well and cover and let it cook for 3 minutes. Remove cover, stir well and add cardamom powder. Turn off the heat and sheera is ready to serve.

Servings- Serves 4-5 people

MyMusingsSangSpeak - Pet Puja- Paalak Murg( Spinach Chicken)

Paalak Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken- 600 gms with bones
Onions(medium)- 3
Ginger garlic coriander paste- 2 teaspoons
Green chillies- 2
Spinach Puree- One and half cup
Turmeric powder- Half teaspoon
Garam Masala- One teaspoon
Oil- 3 tablespoons
Water- One cup
Salt- To taste

Method:

Make a fine paste of onions. Take oil in a pan and fry the onion paste well, then add chicken and stir well for about 4 minutes. Then add ginger garlic coriander paste, finely chopped green chillies, turmeric powder, salt and stir well. Add water and cover with lid and let the chicken cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat. Now add the garam masala and spinach puree and cook for 5 minutes. Paalak Chicken is ready to serve and can be served with roti or rice.

Servings- Serves 4 people