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May 31, 2017

Easy Chana Masala Recipe In Pressure cooker – How To Make Chana Masala Recipe

Easy chana masala recipe
You will not believe if I say this is the first time I am trying North Indian style Chana masala recipe using a pressure cooker. Usually I make South Indian hotel style chana kurma for chapathiEven though I have tasted chana masala ( Kabuli chana curry) in Punjabi and other North Indian restaurants, I haven’t tried at home. 

Recently my friend Shalini was suggesting me to try this easy chana masala recipe using Everest Chana masala/Chole masala spice mix powder. She told me to follow the recipe given on the pack. As I had already tried Chole recipe using homemade chole masala powder in my Punjabi thali post, I wanted to find the taste of chana masala using store bought powder.So I tried Chana bhatura for our weekend breakfast. I prepared few poori as well. We all loved its taste and I prepared again for their lunch box too. 

Actually I wanted to post both Chana masala and bhatura recipes today but bhatura din’t come out so well as expected. I will try to make a perfect bhatura recipe and share it soon. So today I am sharing this easy, one pot chana masala gravy using a pressure cooker. If you have homemade or store bought chana masala powder and cooked chickpea in hand, making this recipe is a breeze. This is a perfect bachelor style recipe. 

As a disclaimer, I would like to mention that this is not the authentic chana masala recipe or restaurant style one. This is just a simple, no grind version that would help working women, busy housewives and bachelors to make a quick side dish for chapathi, poori and bhatura. If you like, you can have it mixed with rice as well. 

Lets see how to make easy chana masala at home with step by step photos and video.
Finally, do check out my Kabuli biryani recipe ( chana dal biryani) and chana sundal recipes if interested !


How to make chana masala

Chana masala recipe - Easy chana masala in a pressure cooker


Chana masala recipe - Easy chole masala Easy chana masala/chole masala recipe in a pressure cooker using storebought chana masala spice mix powder.
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Side dish for roti/chapathi
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Kabuli chana/ white chickpeas - 3/4 cup ( soaked for 8 hours)
  • Cooking oil + ghee - 1 tbsp + 1 tbsp
  • Big onion - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Ripe tomato - 3 nos ( finely chopped)
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Dhania powder - 1 tsp
  • Chana masala powder - 2 tsp ( I have tried Everest & MDH brand, Both are good)
  • Green chilli - 1 no
  • Ginger - 1 inch piece
  • Chat masala powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Kasoori methi - 1/2 tsp ( crushed)
  • Coriander leaves - to garnish
HOW TO MAKE CHANA MASALA IN  A PRESSURE COOKER - METHOD

  • Wash and soak white chickpeas/kabuli chana in water for 8 hours or overnight. It gets doubled after soaking. Pressure cook in low flame for 3 whistles adding required salt and water. Take 1/4 cup cooked chana and mash it well. Set aside.
    Heat oil + ghee in a pressure cooker. Saute finely chopped onion, slit green chilli and thinly sliced ginger. Saute for a minute. Add finely chopped tomato and salt ,saute until mushy.
    easy chana masala recipe
  • Now add the red chilli powder, dhania powder, chana masala powder. Mix well. Add 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup mashed chana, 1 cup cooked chana and mix well. Note that you can also add uncooked chana directly after soaking but chana won;t cook soft.In that case, you should add a big pinch of baking soda in the gravy.
    easy chana masala recipe
  • Pressure cook in low flame for 2 whistles.Remove the lid after steam is released. Add chat masala powder, crushed kasoori methi. Mix well.Garnish with coriander leaves if you like.
    easy chana masala recipe
  • Mix well and serve with poori, chapathi or bhatura ! Enjoy !
    easy chana masala recipe

Note
  • Adjust the quantity of spice powders as per your taste.
  • You can add the spice powders after sauting onion, then add tomatoes. This was given in the Everest pack.But I added the masala powders after adding tomato.
  • If you want to replace chana masala powder, add 1 tsp garam masala powder + 1/2 tsp aamchur powder.

Try this easy, one pot chana masala for poori/bhatura or Chapathi !
Easy Chole recipe
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May 29, 2017

Indian Vegetarian Avocado Sandwich Recipe – Guacamole Sandwich Recipe

After a long gap, I am sharing a recipe with avocado because this healthy fruit is very rarely available in my placeSad. So whenever I see it in Reliance fresh, I take one to try some interesting recipes with it. Avocado is popularly known as “Butter fruit” in India. So far I have tried and posted avocado paratha, avocado milkshake and Guacamole recipes and that too very long back. So this time I made Indian style, vegetarian avocado sandwich for a change. This no cook sandwich is a quick and easy breakfast/dinner recipe. Its a vegan recipe as well. You can use whole wheat bread to make it healthy and low in calorie. I don’t think kids would like this sandwich. If you use milk bread, add lots of grated cheese to the sandwich filling and toast it with butter, kids may like to have itWinking. But this is an ideal recipe for adults who look for weight loss. One sandwich, a banana and a glass of milk was very much filling for meHappy. You too give a try ! Lets see how to make this easy and quick Indian style vegetarian Avocado sandwich recipe with step by step pictures.
Avocado sandwich recipe Indian

Indian Avocado sandwich recipe


Indian Avocado sandwich recipe Indian vegetarian style avocado sandwich recipe - A very healthy breakfast/dinner recipe !

Cuisine:Indian
Category: Sandwich Recipes
Serves: Serves 2
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 5 Minutes
Total time: 10 Minutes



INGREDIENTS

  • Ripen avocado - 1 no ( Big)
  • Green chilli - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Big onion - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Grated carrot - 1/4 cup
  • Lemon juice - Few drops
  • Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
  • Chopped capsicum - 2 tbsp
  • Ripe tomato - 1/2 no ( finely chopped)
  • Salt - As needed
  • Pepper powder - 1/2 to 1 tsp
  • Chat masala powder - 1/2 tsp ( add more if needed)
  • Olive oil or cooking oil - 1 tsp
METHOD

  • In a plate, wash and cut the avocado into two pieces vertically.Remove the seed with a knife. Scoop out the pulp and discard the skin.
    Vegetarian avocado sandwich recipe
  • In a wide bowl, take the paste, grated carrot, finely chopped green chilli, onion, tomato, coriander leaves, required salt, chat masala and pepper powder. Mix well.
    Vegetarian avocado sandwich recipe
  • Take two bread slices, trim off the sides if needed. Apply butter on one bread if needed.Apply the sandwich filling on the other bread.Cover it and grill or toast the sandwich if needed. I served it raw.
    Indian style avocado sandwich recipe
  • Enjoy!

Try this easy, healthy avocado veg sandwich for your breakfast or dinner. You will like it for sure !
Avocado sandwich recipe Indian

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May 25, 2017

Khoya Kaju Recipe – Restaurant Style Khoya Kaju Gravy Recipe

I have never heard about khoya kaju gravy until my reader friend Dheepika requested me to try this recipe after having in an Indian restaurant. When she told me about this recipe, I browsed and shared the recipe links from 2 different websites to her. She went through them and told me about the color & texture of the gravy along with a picture of one she had in the restaurant.When I browsed for the recipe, I found khoya kaju gravy tastes sweets with mild spices basically.But Dheepika told the restaurant people made it red in color by adding red chilli powder as they asked for a spicy version. Based on her inputs, I followed the recipe of white based khoya kaju curry from spice up the curry and I used red chilli powder in place of green chillies.I tried it yesterday for our dinner.After tasting this, Sendhil told Khoya kaju curry would be white in color in most of the hotels. Some people may add food color to present it red in color, he added. Whatever it is, gravy came out delicious and very flavorful.We loved it with roti. Thanks to you Dheepika for making me try this restaurant style gravy. Soon I will try to share the recipe of khoya kaju white gravy. Though this gravy is very high in calories with full of ghee, cashews and khoya, everyone must give a try at home as it tastes so good & delicious Love Struck. We can indulge in these type of gravies at least once in a while for celebrations and occasions.So friends, do try it and share your feedback with me Happy .Lets see how to make this restaurant style khoya kaju gravy with step by step pictures and video !


Khoya Kaju Gravy Recipe


Khoya Kaju Gravy Recipe Khoya kaju gravy recipe - Side dish for roti, naan, kulcha
Cuisine: North Indian
Category: Side dish for roti
Serves: Serves 3-4
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Cashew nuts - 1/2 cup
  • Unsweetened khoya - 1/4 cup
  • Ghee + Cooking oil - 2 tbsp + 1 tbsp
  • Bay leaf - 1 no
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Coriander powder - 1.5 tsp
  • Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
  • Cardamom powder – a pinch (optional)
  • Fresh curd/yogurt – 2 tbsp
  • Sugar – 1/4 tsp
  • Water – 1 cup
  • Kasoori methi – 1/2 tsp ( crushed, optional )
  • Fresh cream - 1 tbsp
To cook & grind
  • Big onion - 1 no or 1/2 cup (chopped)
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
  • Cloves - 1 no
  • Pepper corns - 2 nos
  • Cashew nuts - 1/4 cup
  • Water - 1/2 cup
METHOD

  • In a wide bowl, take the chopped onion, cashews, pepper corns, cinnamon, cloves along with water. Boil and cook for 5 minutes till onion turns soft. Grind everything to a smooth paste and keep aside.

  • Heat oil + ghee in a good non-stick pan and roast the cashews till golden.Remove in a plate. In the remaining oil+ghee, saute bay leaf and add the ground onion paste. This paste gets stuck to the bottom easily as it has cashews.So keep the flame very low and mix it till thick. Scrape the bottom and sides if needed and mix well.

  • Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, salt, sugar, cardamom powder and garam masala powder. Mix for a minute in low flame. Then add curd and mix well.  Add 1 cup of water and boil the gravy till oil starts to float on top.

  • Lastly add the crumbled khoya and mix well. Gravy look orange in color. Add the roasted cashews,mix well and switch off  the flame. Then add crushed kasoori methi, fresh cream and mix well. Serve with roti, naan or kulcha !
  • Enjoy !

Note
  • Reduce the quantity of red chilli powder if you want mildly spiced gravy.
  • Skip red chilli powder, dhania powder, garam masala powder and add green chillies while boiling onions to make a white based gravy.
  • You can add more khoya if you want more creamy gravy.
  • Adding kasoori methi is optional. But it adds flavor.

Try this yummy, creamy, rich & delicious Khoya kaju gravy at home !
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May 23, 2017

Aloo Dum Biryani Recipe – Baby Potato Biryani – Small Potato Biryani Recipe

In my veg biryani series, I had already shared a Chettinad style baby potato biryani in pressure cooker. But this baby potato Dum biryani is a completely different version. I tried this recipe after watching this video. Usually aloo Dum biryani is prepared by shallow or deep frying sliced potatoes, marinated in curd+ spices mixture, made into a gravy and then layered with parboiled basmati rice.

 When I was browsing for various small potato biryani recipes, I was scared to see the tedious process because I had very less time in hand to prepare our Sunday lunch. But convincingly, I got this recipe. Feedback from readers made me try this recipe without any second thoughts. I loved the idea and simplicity of this recipe.

Yes, This baby potato biryani is a much simplified version when compared with the traditional ones. This recipe involves no marination, no frying and taste wise there is no compromise at all. It tasted great just like Hyderabadi Veg Dum biryani. We all loved it & relished with onion raita. 

You can try this biryani for any special occasions like birthdays, wedding anniversary to treat your family. Kids would love this biryani for sure as it has their most favorite vegetable – Potato. You can try this biryani in a pressure cooker using regular potato as well. Lets see how to make aloo dum biryani recipe using baby potato with step by step pictures and video !




Aloo Dum Biryani Recipe - Baby Potato Biryani Recipe


Aloo Dum Biryani Recipe - Baby Potato Biryani Recipe How to make Aloo Dum Biryani using baby potato - An Easy version !
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Biryani
Serves: Serves 3-4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Basmati rice - 1 cup ( I used India Gate Classic)
  • Water - 6 cups
  • Cooking oil - Few drops (optional)
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Cardamom -1 no
  • Salt - As needed
To make gravy
  • Ghee + Cooking oil - 4 tbsp
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
  • Cloves - 2 nos
  • Cardamom - 1 no
  • Bay leaf - 1 no
  • Black stone flower - 2 pieces (Kalpasi)
  • Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
  • Baby potato - 12 to 15 nos
  • Big onion - 1 no ( Thinly sliced)
  • Green chilli – 1 to 2 no ( Slit)
  • Ginger,Garlic Paste - 1 tsp
  • Fresh Curd/Yogurt - 1/2 cup (Do not use too sour curd)
  • Red chilli powder – 3/4 to 1 tsp
  • Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
  • Mint leaves - fistful
  • Salt - As needed
For layering
  • Potato gravy
  • Cooked basmati rice
  • Saffron soaked milk - 1/4 cup
  • Coriander leaves - 2 - 3 tbsp ( Finely chopped)
METHOD

  • Wash and soak basmati rice for 15 minutes. In the mean time,wash and peel the baby potato or normal potato, cut into big slices or cubes if using big potatoes. Keep them in a bowl of water to avoid discoloration.

  • Boil 6 cups of water in a bowl. Add the soaked basmati rice, whole garam masala and required salt for rice. Let it roll boil in high flame till its 80% cooked. While the rice is boiling, you can make the gravy part. Remove the rice to a plate using a colander and drain the excess water. Spread the rice in a plate. Add a tsp of oil and fluff with fork if needed. Set aside.
  • Heat oil + ghee in a wide kadai. Saute the whole garam masala ( Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaf and black stone flower) for a minute. Add the turmeric powder, sliced onion, green chilli. Saute for a minute. Add baby potato, ginger-garlic paste and required salt. Saute till raw smell of gg paste goes off. Take care it splutters everywhere.

  • Cover the kadai with a lid tightly and cook for 10 minutes in very low flame.Stir it once or twice in the middle. In this 10 minutes, onions would be caramelized and potato will be cooked soft. Onion should not be burnt or charred. It will spoil the flavor of biryani. So please be careful till this step.

  • Now add curd/yogurt, red chilli powder and garam masala powder. Mix well. Mixture will become watery.So boil for 2 to 3 minutes in medium flame till it becomes semi gravy with little moisture in it. You can cover & cook if needed. By this time, potato would have cooked soft. You can check it by breaking the potato with a spoon.

  • Then spread the potato mixture in the kadai. If needed add 2 to 3 tbsp water to it. Layer the cooked basmati rice evenly over the potato gravy, chopped coriander leaves and sprinkle saffron soaked milk. Cover with a lid tightly and keep the flame very low. Put in DUM for 10 minutes. Make sure you don’t burn the gravy.

  • Open the lid after putting DUM and fluff the rice gently with a fork. I had mixed the rice very well as Sendhil doesn’t like to see white rice anywhere in Dum biryani. Serve hot with raita and chips !

    Enjoy !

Note
  • Adjust the quantity of chillies and chilli powder as per your taste.
  • Original recipe called for 3/4 cup basmati rice. But I used 1 cup. So I had increased the quantity of curd.Do not use sour curd.
  • If using too sour curd, add 1/4 cup and adjust the quantity of chilli powder accordingly.
Yummy kids friendly baby potato dum biryani is ready to serve !
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May 20, 2017

Pressure Cooker Cake Without Egg – How To Make Eggless Vanilla Cake In Pressure Cooker

Pressure cooker cake recipe
Eggless vanilla cake using a pressure cooker is my long time pending readers requested recipe. Many readers who tried my eggless cakes using convection oven had requested me to share some eggless cake recipes using a pressure cooker. Long back I had shared an eggless chocolate cake in a pressure cooker. But its procedure and recipe is completely different from the usual cooker cake. I used water in the bottom of cooker instead of salt or sand. 

Today I have shared the proper & perfect pressure cooker cake using powdered salt. I followed my eggless tutti frutti cake recipe and made it using pressure cooker instead of baking in oven. This simple, eggless cake recipe is made without using condensed milk or butter. Curd and cooking oil are the major ingredients. Cake came out really well, spongy and very soft as expected. The texture of the cake is equally great with the oven ones. There is no much difference in baking time as well. This vanilla sponge cake can be used as the base, decorate it with simple frosting and enjoy for birthday & anniversary celebrations Or it can be relished as simple tea time cake as well.For variations, you can mix in some tutti frutti to make this cake colorful.

 Friends, do try this cake during this vacation for your kids. I am sure you will get perfect results. I tried frosting the cake using Amul fresh cream.It tasted great but its texture was not so perfect. Soon I will try to make a simple and easy frosting recipe using fresh cream and share here. Lets see how to make eggless vanilla sponge cake in a pressure cooker with step by step pictures and video !


Eggless cake in a pressure cooker

Eggless Pressure cooker Vanilla sponge cake


Eggless Pressure cooker Vanilla sponge cake Eggless vanilla sponge cake in a pressure cooker
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Cakes
Serves: 1/2 kg
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 40 Minutes
Total time: 50 Minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 240ml
  • All purpose flour / Maida - 1.5 cups
  • Baking powder - 1.25 tsp
  • Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
  • Powdered Sugar Or fine sugar – 1 cup
  • Fresh curd - 1 cup  ( Semi solid)
  • Cooking oil - 1/2 cup (I used refined oil. Any flavorless oil works)
  • Milk - 1 to 2 tbsp ( optional)
  • Vanilla essence – 1.5 tsp
  • Maida & cooking oil – 1 tsp to grease the baking pan
HOW TO MAKE EGGLESS VANILLA CAKE IN PRESSURE COOKER - METHOD

  • In a wide bowl, take the curd. Add sugar and mix till sugar dissolves in curd. Then add baking powder and baking soda. As soon as u mix them, bubbles appear in the curd. Mix  gently and keep the curd bowl aside for 5 minutes. It foams up well.
    How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
    How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
  • After 5 minutes, add vanilla essence and cooking oil in the curd mixture. Mix gently.
    How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
  • Add sieved maida to the curd mixture little by little. If the cake batter is too thick, add 1 to 2 tbsp milk and loosen the batter slightly. Batter should be thick but pourable.

  • Take an aluminium baking pan and grease with oil. Spread 1 tsp maida all over the pan and pat the excess flour. Pour the cake batter and pat it twice to spread the batter evenly.
    How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
  • Take the pressure cooker, remove the gasket and whistle in the lid. Spread 1/2 kg powdered salt evenly in the bottom of cooker. Put a slotted plate or any plate over the salt.
    How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
  • Heat the cooker in high flame for 5 minutes. Salt gets heated well. Now open the cooker and place the cake pan inside it carefully. Close with the lid and heat the cooker in very low flame for 30 to 40 minutes. Open the cooker after 30 minutes and insert a toothpick or back of spoon. If it comes out clean, cake is done else cook for another 5 minutes. Mine got done in 35 minutes.
    How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker

  • How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
  • Remove the cake pan carefully and rest it for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the cake and invert in a plate. Cut the cake into pieces after it becomes warm. Enjoy. Store the leftover pieces in an air tight box. Do not refrigerate or let it open, cake will become dry. It stays good for 2 days. How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker


Enjoy !

Note
  • Adjust the quantity of sugar as per your taste. For me 1 cup sugar was fine.
  • Do not add more milk than the mentioned quantity.
  • Baking time varies from 30 to 40 minutes. So keep an eye after 30 minutes. Make sure you don’t burn the cake.

How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker

Try this soft and spongy eggless pressure cooker cake. You will like it ! I tried frosting the cake using fresh cream. Soon I will try to make a perfect frosting recipe and share here !

How to make eggless cake in pressure cooker
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