Masala Toast Sandwich

Masala Toast Sandwich in Marathi

Time: Preparation - 15 minutes | Cooking - 10 minutes
Yield: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:
8 slices of bread
2 to 3 tbsp salted butter, softened
1/4 cup green chutney
Onion slices, thin and round
Masala:
2 big potatoes, boiled
3 tbsp green peas (Frozen)
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
2 tsp green chili paste
For tempering: 1 tsp oil, pinch of mustard seeds (optional), pinch of hing, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
4 to 5 curry leaves, finely chopped
1.5 tsp ginger-garlic paste
salt to taste

Method:
Masala:
1) Peel and mash the potato. Heat oil into a nonstick pan. Add mustad seeds , hing, turmeric powder and curry leaves. Saute for few seconds.
2) Add green chili paste and ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 15 seconds. Add chopped onion, cover and cook for 2 minutes. After two minutes, add peas and cook covered till onion becomes reddish and peas are done.
3) Add mashed potatoes and salt. Lower the heat and mix well. Cover and cook for couple of minutes.

4) Spread butter on one side of all 8 bread slice. After applying butter, take 4 slices and spread chutney on them.
5) Spread an even layer of masala over 4 bread slices on which we have applied chutney. Place an onion slice and finish it by putting buttered bread slice on top of it.
6) Then Spread little butter on the surface and toast in the toaster. If you don't have one, toast it on heated tawa (medium heat). Press gently and brown both the sides.

Serve hot with green chutney and tomato ketchup

Tips:
1) Use white sliced bread.
2) Masala toast sandwich tastes much better if it has sufficient amount chili paste. So add as much as you can tolerate.
3) Use as little oil as you can for making masala. If it becomes oily, it does not taste good.
4) To make the above recipe for kids, add very little or no green chili in chutney as well as in potato masala.
5) You may add mint leaves in green chutney

Spicy Eggplant Curry

Eggplants in Spicy Curry in Marathi

Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4 persons

Ingredients:
10 small eggplants (small)
Masala Paste
1 cup Onion, thinly sliced
1 medium tomato, roughly chopped
5 big garlic cloves, chopped
1 inch ginger piece, chopped
5 curry leaves
4 green chilies, chopped
1 tbsp roasted peanuts powder
2 tbsp grated coconut
1/2 tsp roasted poppy seeds, ground (optional)
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
3 tbsp Oil
other ingredients:
2 tsp oil
5-6 fenugreek seeds
1/4 tsp hing
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp kashmiri mirch powder
2 tbsp tamarind pulp

Method:
1) Wash eggplants and cut the stems. Cut the eggplants and make 6 to 8 wedges of each one.
2) Masala Paste
i) Heat oil into a pan. Add curry leaves, onion, green chilies, garlic and ginger. Saute until onion becomes translucent.
ii) Add tomatoes, and cook until tomatoes are mushy.
iii) Add peanuts powder, coconut, cumin-coriander powder, poppy seeds, garam masala and salt.
iv) Let the mixture cool down. Then ground to a fine paste. Add little water if needed when grinding.

3) Heat oil in a pan. Add fenugreek seeds and wait till color changes to brown. Now add hing, turmeric, and eggplant slices. Also add little salt. Cover the pan and cook for few minutes or till slices become tender. Then add ground masala, tamarind pulp and red chili powder.
Add some water to get the desired consistency. Boil for few minutes.
Serve hot with white rice or chapati.

Tips:
1) Choose small purple eggplants with glossy skin without any brown rust spots.
2) Kashmiri Red chili powder does not have spiciness, but gives nice red color to the curry. Therefore, its upto you whether you want to add it or not.
3) Little sweetness plays well along-with sourness of tamarind. Hence, if you like sweet and sour combination, add little jaggery or sugar (1/2 or 1 tsp)

Masoor Amti (Dal)

Masoor Amti in Marathi



Time: 15 to 20 minutes

Serves: 4 persons



Ingredients:

1/2 cup Masoor (Tip 1)

Tempering: 1 tbsp oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 2 pinches cumin seeds. 1/8 tsp hing, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 5 to 6 curry leaves

4 to 5 big garlic cloves, roughly sliced

2 tbsp fresh coconut

1 tsp Maharashtrian goda masala

3 Kokum slices

2 tsp jaggery or to taste

salt to taste

1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro



Method:

1) Soak masoor overnight in water. Drain the water. Add 1/4 tsp salt and pressure cook upto 2 whistles without adding water. Turn off the heat. After 15 minutes, open the pressure cooker and mash masoor slightly. Add 1 cup of water and mix.

2) Heat oil in kadai. Add roughly sliced garlic over high heat and wait until edges of garlic become dark brown (do not burn). If you don't saute garlic well, the raw smell will stay and ruin the taste of amti.

3) Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, turmeric powder and red chili powder. Add curry leaves. saute for few seconds.

4) Add fresh coconut and saute for about 20-30 seconds. Pour in cooked and mashed masoor. Adjust the consistency by adding sufficient water. Add kokum and goda masala. Bring the amti to a boil. Add jaggery and salt to taste. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes over medium heat.

5) Adjust the spices after tasting the amti. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice.



Tip:

1) I usually sprout masoor beans, if I have enough time. To sprout masoor soak them overnight, drain the water. Then tie soaked masoor into a clean cotton cloth and keep it at a warm place for 8 to 10 hours.

mugachi usal

Mugachi usal in Marathi



Time: 20 to 25 minutes

serves: 2 to 3 persons



Ingredients:

3/4 cup dry mung beans

For tempering: 2 tsp oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 1/8 tsp hing, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, few curry leaves

2 big garlic cloves, crushed

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1/4 cup fresh coconut

2-3 kokum pieces

1/2 tsp Goda masala (optional)

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp sugar or to taste



Method:

1) Soak mung beans over night in warm water. Next morning drain all the water. Pick and remove any hard bean or small stone. Take a clean cotton cloth and place the mung beans at the center. Gather all the edges and tie tightly. Put it someplace warm to sprout. It will take atleast 10 to 12 hours to sprout. And in winter this time period may lengthen. Once mung beans are sprouted, put them in cold water and drain immediately just before beginning to make sabzi. A little bit water will prevent mung beans from burning after putting them in hot pan.

2) Heat oil in the pan. Add mustard seeds, hing, turmeric, red chili powder, curry leaves. Add garlic cloves and saute until color changes to light brown. add onion, salt and cook until onion becomes translucent.

3) Add these mung beans, salt and kokum to the pan and saute well. Cover and cook over medium-high heat. Do not let the mung beans become dry. Also, do not add too much water at once. It will diminish the flavors. Occasionally, sprinkle 2-3 tbsp water to avoid drying. It will take around 15 to 20 minutes to cook the mung beans.

4) When mung beans are almost done, add fresh coconut, some salt and goda masala. Also add water to get the desired consistency. Add sugar and boil for couple of minutes.

Serve hot with Chapati.



Tips:

1) This sabzi can be prepared without onion and garlic. However, garlic and onion gives nice flavor to this sabzi.

Matki usal

Matki Usal in Marathi

Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Matki
For Tempering: 2 tsp oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 1/8 tsp asafoetida, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder
4-5 curry leaves
1/2 tsp goda masala (optional)
2-3 Kokum petals
1 tbsp jaggery
salt to taste

Method:
1) Soak matki in plenty of warm water overnight or for 7-8 hours. Put the soaked matki in a colander for 20 minutes and let the excessive water drain out.
2) Take a muslin cloth or any clean cotton cloth and mound matki at the center. Gather all the edges and tie tightly. Put this pouch at a warm place atleast for 10 to 12 hours. You may require more time if the climate is dry and cold.
3) Put the sprouted matki in water and then discard the water. It will prevent burning when added to hot kadai.
4) Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard seeds. add hing once mustard seeds crackle. Then add turmeric powder, chili powder and curry leaves. Add matki and saute for few minutes. Add some salt.
5) Cover the pan and cook for few minutes. Sprinkle some water (few tbsps) whenever needed. Do not let matki become dry. Also, don't add too much water. Both will spoil the taste.
6) When matki is half way done, add kokum and goda masala. When matki is almost done, add jaggery and some water. Boil for few minutes. Let the matki cook completely.
Add some fresh scraped coconut and cilantro.
Serve hot with chapati.

Malai Kofta in white gravy

Malai Kofta in Marathi

Time: approx 1 and 1/2 hour
Serves: 3 persons

Ingredients:
For Kofta Cover:
3 medium potatoes
2 tbsp Corn Flour
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry
Stuffing:
1/2 cup grated paneer
2 pinches salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 green chili, finely chopped
25 Raisins
2 tsp finely chopped cilantro
Gravy:
1 big White onion, cut into two halves
2 tsp butter
2 green chilies
paste of 3 big garlic cloves,
paste of 1 small piece of ginger
Whole spices: 2 bay leaves, 2-3 cloves, 3 black pepper, 1 small stick of cinnamon, 2 cardamom buds
2 tbsp cashew paste
1/2 cup Half and half (Tip 5)
Salt to taste

Method:
Kofta:
1) Boil the potatoes. Peel and mash well (tip 2). Add 2 tbsp corn flour and salt to taste. Knead well and divide into 8 equal portions.
2) Mix all the ingredients given under stuffing label. Divide this stuffing in 8 equal portions.
3) Flatten the potato mixture and make a semi thick round disc (around 2.5 inches). Put the stuffing at the center and cover nicely by joining all the edges. Make the surface smooth. Finish making koftas.
4) Deep fry koftas over medium high heat. Keep aside until we make gravy.
Gravy:
5) Boil the onion (I pressure cooked the onion upto 2 whistles.). Make a fine paste.
6) Heat butter into a pan. Add whole spices (Tip 1), green chilies and ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 15 seconds. Now add onion paste and salt. Cook over high heat. Stir continuously until color changes slightly.
7) Add cashew paste. Stir in between as cashew paste tends to stick at bottom of the pan. Add very little water to adjust the consistency. Cover the pan and cook until raw smell of cashews disappear. (for 3 to 4 minutes) (Tip)
8) Turn the heat to low. Add half and half and stir vigorously as it may curdle due to salt and onion. Once its well blended put the flame over medium. Cook for few minutes. Add koftas and serve immediately with chapati or any Indian bread.

Tips:
1) In step 7, after cashew paste is well cooked, I removed the whole spices from the gravy. After that, I blended the gravy for couple of minutes to make it smooth and silky. Then I put the gravy in the same pan and followed the recipe as given.
2) Mash the potatoes very well. There shouldn't be any lumps.
3) If you add garam masala or any other spice powder, it will change the color of gravy. Therefore, add whole spices which will give flavor to the gravy without changing its color.
4) The stuffing can be variate or few additions like cashews, pistachios may be added to your preference.
5) Half and half is a mixture of 1 portion whole milk and 1 portion heavy cream.It is available at grocery stores in refrigerator section

Kakadicha Kayras

Kakdicha Kayras in Marathi

Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 persons

Ingredients:
1 cup finely chopped cucumber (peeled)
1 tbsp tamarind pulp
3 to 4 tbsp grated jaggery or to taste
2 tbsp roasted peanuts powder (coarsely ground)
For tempering: 1 tbsp oil, 1/8 tsp cumin seeds, 2 pinches asafoetida, 1/8 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp red chili powder
2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
salt to taste

Method:
1) Take tamarind pulp into a medium bowl. Add around 1/2 cup water and mix well. Add salt, jaggery and mix until dissolve. [Taste should be sweet and sour, so do not hesitate to add some more jaggery if you want to.]
2) Add chopped cucumber to tamarind water. We want runny consistency, so add some more water if required. Also, add roasted peanuts.
3) Heat oil into a tadka pan. Add cumin, hing, turmeric powder, red chili powder. Pour this tempering over kayras. Garnish with cilantro.
Cucumber kayras can be served as a side dish.

Noodles Thin Soup

Noodles Thin Soup in Marathi

Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 3 to 4

Ingredients:
2 to 3 Mushrooms
3 Tbsp Carrot, Julienne
3 tbsp Capsicum, Julienne
2 tbsp cabbage, finely chopped
2 to 3 baby corn, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 green chili, finely chopped
1.5 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp oil
4 cups vegetable stock
30 grams Noodles
1/4 tsp white pepper powder
1 tsp vinegar
1 stalk spring onion, Keep white and green part separate, chop finely
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Boil sufficient water to cook noodles. Add 1 tsp salt to the water. Add noodles in boiling water. Cook the noodles and add to cold water after cooked completely.
2) Heat oil in a wok. Add green chili and garlic paste. Saute carrot, capsicum, cabbage, baby corn, white part of spring onion and mushrooms for couple of minutes. Add vegetable stock and let it boil.
3) Once stock starts boiling, add vinegar, and salt to taste. Boil for couple of minutes. Add noodles and cook for a minute. Sprinkle white pepper powder.
serve into the soup bowl. Garnish with spring onion. Serve hot.

Tips:
1) If vegetable stock is not available, use water. OR you may use any other type of stock like chicken stock.

Musk Melon Juice

Cantaloupe Juice in Marathi

Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 2 persons

Ingredients:
2 and ½ cup Cantaloupe, medium cubes (Tip)
½ cup Orange Juice
½ tsp lemon juice
½ tsp grated ginger
pinch of black salt
sugar to taste (optional)

Method:
1) Put all the ingredients except sugar in a blender and blend well.
2) Strain through a fine mesh strainer or strain using clean cotton cloth. Squeeze the remnant of cantaloupe.
3) Check the taste. To make the juice healthy, do not add sugar. However, add a tsp if you feel.
Chill the juice in the fridge and serve. To serve instantly, add couple of ice cubes.

Tips:
1) I had used readymade Orange juice, so i dint add any extra sugar. If you are using fresh oranges to make juice, use juicy sweet and sour oranges.
2) Use ripe and sweet cantaloupe. So that, you don’t have to add sugar. To make medium cubes, first cut the cantaloupe in two halves. Carve the core and remove seeds. Then divide each half into 6 to 8 wedges, peel and cut into cubes.
3) If you have juicer, making juice will be more easy.
4) Fresh herbs like mint, basil can be used to give nice flavor. Just crush 2-3 leaves and add while serving.

Green Mango Pickle

Mango Pickle in Marathi

Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 2 cups Pickle

Ingredients:
2 cups Raw Mango, small cubes (Stone removed)
1.5 tsp salt or to taste
1/2 tsp Hing (asafoetida)
1/4 to 1/2 tsp Fried fenugreek seed's powder (Step 2)
1 tbsp ground mustard seeds
2 tbsp red chili powder
For Tempering:- 4 tbsp Oil, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp hing

Method:
1) Wash green mangoes and pat dry well prior to dicing. Take cut mango into a bowl. Add salt, red chili powder and hing. Mix well and keep it covered for an hour.
2) Deep fry 12 to 15 fenugreek seeds. Crush into mortal and pastel.
3) Heat oil in a small tadka pan. Add mustard seeds, hing, turmeric powder. Transfer this tadka to a small steel or glass bowl.
4) After an hour add fenugreek powder, mustard seeds powder and prepared tadka (at room temp.)
Store this pickle into a glass jar with tight lid.

Tips:
1) Some people like to have extra amount of masala. For that, prepare 2 tbsp more tadka and also increase amount of ground mustard seeds.
2) Fenugreek seeds have bitter taste. If added in moderate amount, it gives nice flavor. But if added more than needed, it will make the pickle taste bitter. Hence, add 1/4 tsp first and mix. Taste the pickle. Add remaining fenugreek powder only if you like.
3) Adjust the salt to taste.
4) I had used 2 tbsp red chili powder from that 1/2 tsp was Kashmiri red chili powder and the remaining was normal red chili powder. Kashmiri red chili powder gives bright red color.
5) A tbsp of "split yellow mustard seeds" can be added along with ground mustard seeds. Split mustard seeds taste good as well as look very nice if this pickle.

Homemade Mango Icecream

Mango Icecream in Marathi

Time: 30 to 35 minutes
Serves: 8 people

Ingredients:
1 cup Heavy whipping Cream, chilled
2 cup Mango Pulp chilled (I used ready-made sweetened pulp)
1/2 cup powdered Sugar
Cardamom Powder (Optional)

Method:
1) Take a big glass bowl and refrigerate it for half an hour before whipping the cream.
2) Pour the cold heavy whipping cream into chilled glass bowl. Using hand mixer, whisk the cream.
3) When cream starts becoming fluffy, add sugar in 2-3 batches and keep whisking. Do not whisk once cream becomes nicely fluffy. Over-whipped cream will begin to separate and curdle, and then turn to butter.
4) Add chilled mango pulp to whipped cream and fold with spatula. Also add cardamom powder or any other flavor (vanilla, mango etc) at this point. Mix nicely.
5) If you have ice-cream machine, churn the mixture as per the instructions written in the manual.
6) If you don't have ice-cream machine:-
i) Pour the mixture into a freezer safe plastic or metal container (Metal pan used for baking work too). Freeze the ice-cream mixture for an couple of hours. Then Remove it from freezer. Wait till it loosens a bit. Grind in a grinder for couple of minutes. Again freeze the mixture. Repeat this process for atleast 3-4 times to get smooth consistency.

Tips:
1) Home squeezed Alfonso mango pulp can be used instead of ready-made pulp. Squeeze out the pulp and strain through a strainer to get smooth pulp. Also, you need to add some more sugar as homemade pulp is not as sweet as ready-made one.
2) Roasted Khoya tastes great and gives nice texture. So add around 1/2 to 3/4 cup of khoya to the ice-cream mixture.
3) Chopped pistachio, almonds give a nice crunch.
4) Add small mango pieces after final grinding.

Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi in Marathi

Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Milk
1 cup Yogurt
3/4 cup Mango Pulp (I used readymade mango pulp)
4 tbsp Sugar
1/4 tsp Cardamom powder
Crushed Pistachios for garnishing

Method:
1) Add milk, yogurt, mango pulp, sugar and cardamom powder to a blender. Blend until mixed well.
Pour into 2 serving glasses. Garnish lassi with pistachios and serve chilled.

Tips:
1) Readymade mango pulp was already sweetened. Therefore I used only 4 tbsp of sugar. Mango pulp can be prepared at home. Use good quality Alfonso mangoes. Peel and remove stone. Puree into blender and then strain. Follow the same method given above. Add some more sugar, as homemade pulp is not that sweet.
2) Use full fat plain yogurt for better results. Yogurt made at home is preferable. Readymade lowfat or fat-free yogurt has gooey texture which ruins the taste and texture of lassi.
3) Adjust the consistency to your own preference by increasing or reducing amount of milk.

Kolhapuri Masala

Kolhapuri Masala in Marathi

Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Yield: approx 3/4 to 1 cup Masala

Ingredients:
1 cup dry red chilies (Tip 1)
1/2 cup grated dry coconut
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
2 bay leaves
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp oil
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
2 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder

Method:
1) Take a kadai. Add all the spices except red chili powder and nutmeg powder. we will be adding these both ingredients at the end.
2) Drizzle 1 tsp oil and coat all the spices by mixing well. Roast these spices over medium high heat. Stir continuously to avoid burning.
3) After 5 to 8 minutes, edges of red chilies will blacken, mustard seeds will crackle, coriander-cumin seeds will become dark reddish. Also, you will sense nice aroma of roasted spices. This is the sign that spices are roasted nicely. Do not roast too much, otherwise spices will burn and get unpleasant bitter taste.
4) Transfer roasted spices to a big plate. Let them cool completely. Grind it to a fine powder. Add nutmeg and red chili powder. Mix well.
Take a clean glass container or any airtight container. Put all the masala in it and close with lid. Store in a dry place.

Tips:
1) Use hot red chilies. I used 1/2 cup kashmiri red chilies and half cup normal hot red chilies. Kashmiri chilies don't provide heat. They only give deep red color to this masala. whether use any proportion or use only hot chilies, its upto you.
2) Do not grind until spices are completely cold. If ground before spices are cold, the masala blend will become moist and cakey.

Khoya matar paneer

khoya matar paneer in Marathi

Time: 35 to 40 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 persons

Ingredients:
3/4 cup green peas (Frozen)
3/4 cup Khoya, roasted
150 grams Paneer, small cubes (Tip 1)
3/4 cup tomato puree (Tip 2)
1/2 cup milk/ water
1 tsp Ghee
1 small piece of ginger, finely grated
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin seeds (Optional)
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
7-8 cashews, (reserve few for garnishing)
1 tbsp golden raisins + few more raisins for garnishing
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste
Whole spices - 1 bay leaf, 2-3 cloves, 3-4 Pepper corns, 2 green cardamom, 1 small stick of Cinnamon or 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (Tip 4)

Method:
1) Heat a skillet. Lightly roast the whole spices. Cloves will puff up and cardamom will pop open. Grind the spices to fine powder.
2) Heat ghee in a pan. Add cashew-nuts, cumin, ginger and tomato puree. Cover the pan and cook for couple of minutes.
3) Add khoya and mix well. Try to break as many lumps as you can. However, tiny lumps and grainy texture are expected. Saute until well blended.
4) Add peas and water/milk. Mix well, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes.
5) Now add coriander-cumin powder, sugar, red chili powder, raisins and salt. Cook for couple of minutes.
6) Finally add paneer cubes. Mix well and cook for couple more minutes.
Serve hot.

Tips:
1) When using store bought paneer, cut into cubes. Immerse them into hot water for 2 minutes. Paneer will become soft and there won't be any need to deep fry.
2) If tomatoes are not enough sour, add very little amchoor powder.
3) Mix the gravy well after adding milk to avoid curdling.
4) If using cinnamon powder, do not roast it. Add directly along-with coriander-cumin powder.

Navalkol sukhi bhaji

Navalkol Bhaji in Marathi

Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 3 people

Ingredients:
2 medium bulbs of Kohlrabi (Navalkol)
for tempering: 1 tbsp oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 2 pinches cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 2-3 curry leaves
2 green chilies
2 tbsp fresh coconut
1/2 tsp sugar or to taste
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Peel the Navalkol bulbs and cut into medium cubes.
2) Heat oil into a pan. Prepare tempering by adding mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, curryleaves and green chilies.
3) Add chopped navalkol and salt. Cover the pan and cook till navalkol cubes become tender. Sprinkle little water occasionally. (Tip)
4) Add fresh coconut and sugar. Mix and cook for couple of minutes. Garnish with cilantro.
Serve hot with chapati

Tips:
1) Do not add whole lot of water. Sprinkle couple of tbsp at a time in batches.

Chinese Noodles Frankie

Noodles Franki in Marathi

Make the following Recipe kids friendly - See tip below

Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 medium Frankie

Ingredients:
For Stuffing
1 medium noodles cake (50 to 70 grams)
1 cup cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 cup carrot, thinly sliced (make very thin strings)
1 small bunch of spring onions
1/2 cup capsicum, thinly sliced
1 tsp oil
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
2 green chilies, finely chopped
1 tsp red chili sauce
1 tsp green chili sauce
1/2 tsp soy sauce
salt to taste
For frankie Wrap
3/4 cup Maida
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Method:
1) Boil around 4 cups of water and cook noodles as per instructions given on the packet. Once noodles are done. drain the hot water and immediately add cold water.
2) Heat oil into a pan. Add ginger-garlic paste, green chilies. Saute for 5 seconds. Then add capsicum, carrot and cabbage. Also add red chili sauce, green chili sauce, soy sauce and salt to taste. Mix well. Do not cook for longer. We need vegetables crispy. Add noodles and toss well. Transfer the mixture into another bowl. Do not keep it in the hot pan, noodles will become sticky.
3) Add 2 tbsp oil and 1/2 tsp salt into maida. Knead the dough by adding water. Make very soft dough. Also use some more oil to make it soft and pliable.
4) Divide the dough and the stuffing into 6 equal portions. Dust the dough ball with some dry maida flour. Roll it to a nice thin circle. Roast both sides over heated tawa.
5) Spread 1 portion of the stuffing at the middle line of the circle. Wrap the stuffing by pulling two sides. Press with spatula. Serve hot with Tomato ketchup.

Tips:
1) To make the above recipe Kids friendly, do not add chili sauces and green chili. Instead, use tomato ketchup.

Moongdal Khichdi

Moongdal Khichdi in Marathi

Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 persons

Ingredients:
1 cup Rice
1/2 cup Moong Dal (Tip 1 and 2)
3 to 3.5 cups hot water (Tip 3)
For tempering:- 1 tbsp oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, 1 pinch hing, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp red chili powder
1/2 cup Green peas (Tip 5)
1 tsp goda masala
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Wash rice and moong dal and drain all the water. Leave it for 1/2 an hour.
2) Heat a small pressure cooker (Tip 6). Add oil and wait till its hot. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, turmeric powder and red chili powder. Saute and add washed rice and dal. Saute until nicely dry (about 4-5 minutes).
3) Once rice is roasted, add peas and saute for a minute. Then add hot water, goda masala and salt. Stir. Add little salt if needed.
4) Close the cooker with lid and let khichdi cook upto 3 to 4 whistles. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes to release the pressure.
Do not forget to add a tsp of ghee while serving khichdi.

Tips:
1) Moong dal (peels on), Toor dal or masoor dal can be used instead of yellow moong dal.
2) The quantity of moongdal can be adjusted according to your preference.
3) To get soft consistency add little more water.
4) Roasting rice and dal keeps the grain separate after cooking. Just careful not to burn the rice.
5) Potato cubes, cauliflower florets, capsicum slices, onion slices, carrot chunks etc can be added instead of green peas.
6) Khichdi can be made without pressure cooker. Do the tempering in heavy bottom pan. Roast rice. Only add some more water. Cook over high heat until water is almost soaked into rice, then turn the heat down and cover the pan. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes.While using toor dal, soak in the water before making khichdi as toor dal takes longer to cook.

Morawla (Amla Preserve)

morawala in Marathi

Ingredients:
1 cup Amla, grated (Indian Gooseberry)
1 cup sugar
2 to 3 cloves

Method:
1) Add water (level should be 1 inch from bottom) into the pressure cooker.
2) Mix grated amla and sugar. Take a steel container which would fit inside the pressure cooker. Add this mixture to the container. Also add cloves. Do not add water in it. Put the container into pressure cooker and pressure cook upto 1 -2 whistles. Then turn off the heat.
3) Let the pressure cooker stand for 10 minutes after turning the heat off.
i) If you are going to put the Morawala in the refrigerator, then pour it in a clean glass jar and close with an airtight lid.
ii) If you want to keep it outside at room temp., then put the mixture in a pan and boil until sugar syrup reaches two thread consistency. Then let it cool down. Transfer it to a clean glass jar and close with an airtight lid.

Tips:
1) Clove can be replaced by green cardamom or cinnamon.

Manchow Soup

Manchow Soup in Marathi

Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Servings: 3

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp oil
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 inch ginger piece, finely chopped
1 to 2 green chilies, finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped vegetables:- green bell pepper, carrot, mushrooms, white part of spring oion
3 cups vegetable stock - Click here for the recipe
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp vinegar
1/2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1/2 tbsp maggi chili masala sauce
1 tbsp corn starch or corn flour
2 pinches white pepper powder
salt to taste
For garnishing - green part of spring onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup Noodles (optional)

Method:
Noodles: Boil the noodles in salt water and cook until 80 to 90 % done. Deep fry half of the noodles until crispy. Keep the remaining noodles to add in the soup.

1) Heat a tbsp of oil in a wok. Add finely chopped ginger and garlic to it. Saute for 4 to 5 seconds. Add green chili and chopped vegetables. Cook the vegetables until half done. Add salt.
2) Add 3 cups vegetable stock. Once it starts boiling add 1 tbsp soy sauce (Light soy sauce), tomato ketchup and Maggi chili sauce. Let it boil for a minute. Taste the soup and adjust salt. Also sprinkle white pepper powder.
3) In a small bowl, mix corn starch and 1/4 cup water. Blend well and add to soup. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add vinegar. If you are going to add noodles, add cooked noodles.
Serve into a soup bowl. Garnish with finely chopped green part of green onion and fried noodles.

Tips:
1) If the vegetable stock is not available,use plain water.

Masala Papad

Masala Papad in Marathi

Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Serves: 4 persons

Ingredients:
4 Urad Papad (5 to 6" dia)
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup tomato, finely chopped
2 tbsp Cilnatro (coriander), finely chopped
1/2 tsp red chili powder or to taste
1/2 tsp Chaat Masala
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry

Method:
1) Heat a flat pan (Tip 1). Add oil and deep fry Papad as usual.
2) Rub lemon juice to the chopped onion. (Tip 2)
3) Sprinkle Red chili powder (Tip 3)and chaat masala over the papad. Also spread tomato and onion. Sprinkle very little salt.
Garnish with Cilantro and serve immediately.

Tips:
1) Usually we use kadai to deep fry papad. But, sometimes papad gets twisted while frying. Hence I used flat pan. It requires very little oil and papad does not fold or twist.
2) Lemon juice gives nice tangy flavor. However, masala papad should be served immediately after adding lemon juice. Otherwise, papad becomes mushy.
3) I had used Jeera flavored Papad. It is better to use plain urad papad. You may use other flavors urad papad, but the taste changes a bit. Sprinkle very little red chili powder, when using Miri flavored (black pepper) Papad.
4) Papad can be roasted instead of frying. However, roasted papad soaks the moisture and gets mushy immediately.
5) Fine sev can be sprinkled to make the masala papad more attractive.