Share-Kentucky Fried Chicken is loved across the world and there are many recipes online that try to duplicate the great taste. After many tries at preparing the perfect chicken I have learned that there are several factors that have a great influence the perfect result.


Ingredients:

• Chicken-8 pieces (I used the drumsticks and thighs of a large chicken)
• Red chilli powder-1tsp
• Garlic powder-1tsp
• Mixed herbs-3tsp( is easily available at large supermarkets)
• Black pepper powder-1tsp
• Meat tenderiser-1/4 tsp
• Salt-to taste
• Egg, beaten -1
• Milk-1cup
• Flour-2cups
• Coarse bread crumbs-2tbsp
• Shortening/ vegetable oil-to deep fry

Remove any excess skin and fat from the chicken pieces.
Soak the chicken in 5 cups of water and add the red chilli powder,garlic powder,mixed herbs,salt and meat tenderiser.
Combine the beaten egg ,a pinch of salt and milk in a bowl.
Working with one piece at a time, first dip in egg and milk then coat the chicken with the dry flour mixture, then the egg and milk mixture again, and then back into the flour.
I like to double coat my chicken for extra crispiness and texture.
Stack the chicken on a plate.
Drop the chicken, one piece at a time into the hot shortening/oil.
Fry on medium heat till golden brown.



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SharePav bhaji  is a fast food dish popular in most cities of India and liked by almost everyone. Pav means bread and bhaji is a term for the mashed vegetable curry  garnished with coriander and chopped onions. Ingredients-

• Boiled and mashed vegetables(potato/cauliflower/capsicum/carrot/beans/green peas)-500gm
• Finely chopped onions-1 big
• Finely bchopped tomatoes-2 medium
• Chopped garlic-2tbsp
• Chopped fresh coriander leaves - handful
• Pav bhaji masala -  2tbsp
• Red chilli pwd - to taste(optional)
• Salt to taste
• Lemon juice
• for garnishing - onions and coriander finely chopped
• Low fat Butter
• Pav/Burger buns/bread-1 pack (use brown bread/buns for a healthier dish)

Bhaji:

Cut all the vegetables in big pieces and boil them with a cup of water and a little salt in a pressure cooker.
Mash these vegetables.
In a pan put 2tsp oil, add the garlic and chopped onions and sautee till slightly pink in colour.
Add the tomatoes and cook closed until soft.
Add the paav bhaji masala.(I use Everest/mother's recipe pav bhaji masala) saute the tomatoes well.
Add the vegetable mixture to it & mix it well .
Add salt (according to taste) and red chilli powder if you like a real hot gravy.
Add water if the gravy gets too thick
Let it boil for a minute or two.

Add 2tbsp butter to it as per your taste and mix it well.
Once you remove it from gas pour in juice of half a lemon for that extra taste.

For Pav:

Apply butter to your pav.
Toast your pav until they turn golden brown.

To serve:

Serve your Pav and Bhaji together with onion, cilantro & lemon juice garnished on the bhaji.
Enjoyyy !



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ShareFalafel is very popular in the Middle Eastern snack.

• Dried chickpeas or canned chickpeas -1cup/1can
• Onion, chopped -1large
• Garlic, chopped-3cloves
• Fresh parsley, chopped-3tbsp
• Fresh cilantro, chopped -3tbsp
• Cumin -1tsp
• Flour-4tbsp
• Dry hot red pepper-1/2tsp
• Salt-to taste
• Baking powder-1tsp
• Oil -for frying
• Tahini sauce thinned with a few drops of water(Homemade recipe to follow in next post)
• Chopped tomato/onion/bell peppers- for garnish

Combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, cumin, parsley, cilantro, salt and pepper in bowl. Add flour and baking powder.
Mash chickpeas well ensuring to mix ingredients together. You can also combine ingredients in a food processor if  you want the result to be a thick paste.
Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Slightly flatten.
Fry in 2 inches of oil on medium flame until golden brown .Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel for a minute or two.
NOTE: As an alternative, falafel can be formed into patties and served like a burger.

Share have been longing to try baking spring rolls insted of frying them.Finally,I tried it and they turned out to be perfect.

• Chicken boiled and shredded-2cups
• Carrot cut into juliennes-1cup
• Capsium cut into juliennes-1cup
• Cabbage shredded-1cup
• Sliced onion-1cup
• Black pepper powder-to taste
• Salt-to taste
• Ajinimoto- a pinch
• Soy sauce-1tsp
• Oil-to brush rolls

Let it cool.

Filling the spring rolls:

Thaw the spring roll pastry as per the instructions in the package.
Carefully remove a sheet and cover the rest with a moist cloth to prevent drying.
Brush them with oil and bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Flip the rolls after 15 minutes and flip them back again after 30 minutes.
The spring rolls were very crispy and tasty.
You would never deep fry your spring rolls again, once you taste this.
These spring rolls can also be made using phyllo pastry sheets,but the fat content is more.

ShareThis is really a simple, quick,healthy and tasty treat that makes a great tv time/ movie time snack.
I have been making this in the microwave and find that it tastes just as good and is just as crunchy as the deep fried ones without the guilt associated with frying and minus the calories of course.

• Raw Peanuts – 1 cup
• Besan – 2tbsp
• Rice flour – 2 tsp
• Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
• Asafoetida-a pinch
• Crushed garlic-3cloves
• Salt
• Oil – 4-5 tsp

Mix all dry ingredients well.
Sprinkle over the moist groundnuts & mix well for them to get a uniform coating.
Add oil and mix well.
Seperate the peanuts from one another and spread evenly.
Allow to stand for 5 mts.
Remove onto absorbent tissues for the oil to be absorbed completely.
Cool.
Enjoy the crunchy & tasty gultfree peanuts!

ShareI like potatoes in all forms, but if I had to pick a favorite, this healthy baked version would easily be it.
Potatoes are good for you as long as they're cooked in a healthy manner. For those longing to indulge on potato wedges and not feeling guilty,this is a must try.

Ingredients:

•  Medium sized  potatoes, peeled and washed-5
• olive oil-3tbsp
• Garlic powder
• Chilli flakes
• Salt
• Pepper
• Mixed herbs(optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Slice the potatoes with the skin on into even wedges toss well with the other ingredients.
Spread in a single layer on lined baking tray and bake at 375 degrees F until lightly browned and tender.

ShareLight, fluffy and fruity, these pancakes are the perfect special breakfast. Serve them stacked high, with fresh/dry fruits and honey/maple syrup.
In Ramadan, the best and most nutritious "Sohour" is a plate of pancakes with honey and a cup of milk

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour-1 1/2 cups
• Baking powder-2 1/2 tsp
• Salt-1/2 tsp
• Sugar-1tbsp (optional)
• Milk-1 1/4cup
• Egg-1
• Melted butter-2tbsp

ShareIn this summer,I would like to treat you all with simple, delicious and delightful ''AAM RAS''. It is really simple and can be made in no time.

• Mango pieces-3cups
• Saffron strands-1/4tsp
• Milk-1cup or more to taste
• Sugar-4tbsp or to taste

Wash mangoes.

Grind the mango pieces in a mixer and strain the juice.
Mix sugar in the cold milk and add to the mango juice.
Add water for required consistency.
Serve chilled with puri or paratha.
Dilute with a little more milk/water and serve as a refreshing drink

ShareMasala Vada is a  snack sold very frequently in Railway Platforms down south India.
As a kid, travelling many times by train I have seen and enjoyed this snack by sight and never really tasted it. We were never allowed to eat anything sold on the platforms. I can only vouch it tastes excellent by the attention this attracts, the moment it is brought through the platform. The aroma wading through the platform, the vendor bustling around the crowd, to get his stuff sold, the kids forcing their parents to buy them Masala Vada is sure a sight to watch.

Ingredients:

• Bengal Gram / Channa Dal - 1 cup
• Chopped Onion - 1 big
• Green Chillis - 4nos
• Finely chopped Ginger - 1/2" (optional)
• Coriander leaves - as desired
• Salt to taste
• Chopped Curry leaves- 2 strings
• Oil for deep frying

Wash and soak channa dal for min 3 hrs.Reserve 2 tbsp of Channa dal and  grind the rest with Chillies coarsely without adding water.
Add chopped Onions, coriander and Ginger. Mix this with the dal to form a good mixture.
On pretext of sampling, I normally eat one or two, while frying them. Rest I either serve as such or else with Coconut Chutney. But even on its own Masala Vada is amazing.

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• Rice flour-1cup
• Water-1cup
• Roasted gram dal powder(bhuna chana)-1/4cup
• Moong dal-2tbsp
• Sesame seeds-1tsp
• Cumin seeds-1tsp
• Red chilli powder-1tsp
• Ghee/Oil-1tbsp
• Salt-to taste
• Oil-to fry

Soak moong dal in water for an hour.
Heat water in a pan.When it gets to boil,add salt,ghee,moong dal and rice flour.Mix well and switch off flame.
Cover with a lid and let it rest.
When cool,add the remaining ingredients and knead well to form a smooth dough.
Roll the thread to a bangle or any desired shape. Keep it aside.
Now turn the flame to medium high and fry till the oil stops bubbling and the kodubale get a golden colour.
Remove the fried ones on a kitchen towel.Cool

ShareMurukku / Chakli is a savoury snack, popular in every Indian Household. Ideally eaten with a cup of tea.The Chaklis are usually made with ural dal and rice flour.For a change,I decided to try it with Moong dal instead.
Trust me,these crunchy twirls were the best I have ever tasted.

• Moong dal-3/4th cup
• Rice flour-1 cup(or more)
• Sesame seeds-2tsp
• Carrom seeds(ajwain)
• Red chilli powder-1tsp
• Ghee-2tbsp
• Salt-to taste

Boil the moong dal with water in a presuure cooker until just cooked.
Drain in a colander.Transfer dal into a dish and mash it with a spoon until a smooth paste.
While the mashed dal is still warm,add the remaining ingredients to form a smooth dough.(a little softer than the dough for chapathis).Add a little warm water if it gets too hard.
Press the chaliks of desired shapes on to a greased plastic sheet first and then gently transfer it into the oil if you find trouble pressing them directly into the oil.
Enjoy these mouth watering twirls with a hot cup of Tea.

ShareDahi Vada can be an ideal snack on a  hot day and can be the perfect accompaniment to other meat or vegetable dishes on a special occasion.

• Urad Daal without skin (black lentils)- 1 1/2 cups
• Salt- to taste
• chillies chopped-2
• Oil- for deep frying
• Thick fresh yoghurt (should not be sour)-3cups
• Cumin powder-1/2tsp
• Red chilli powder- to taste
• Chaat masala-1tbsp
• Suger-1 1/2 tsp
• Chopped corainder leaves- to garnish

For tempering:

• Mustard seeds-1/2tsp
• Asafetida-a pinch
• Whole red chillies-2
• Curry leaves-1string
• Cumin seeds-1/2tsp

Grind it into a paste the next morning. Add few drops of water while grinding.
Add the green chillies and salt to this paste.
Lightly whip yoghurt.
To this, add sugar,salt and cumin powder.
Heat oil on medium flame. Grease your palms with oil and put 1 tbsp of the lentil mix in your palm. Make into a donut shape or just fry them as roundels.
When all urad daal paste is used up and the the vadas are done as above and in the platter, pour the thick yoghurt mix over them to cover completely.