Tomato Poori

Poori: one of the best deep-fried bread from India. It basically goes very well with any curry. In fact, it does nothing but enhances the flavors of anything it compliments with. Its downside is that it is deep fried yes! guilty pleasures of human taste buds. Now here I tried to have fun by adding healthy ingredients and played with the flavors. Recipe adapted from Maayeka site. Loved it the moment I saw it! Have been making these since past couple of years! Everyone loves it at home and I am sure you will too!

Poori is not cooked on an everyday basis (it is deep fried you see :)) in most of the households. It is considered as a special bread to be served on important occasions like festivals, birthdays, anniversaries etc. In my house, I tend to do that. Today on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, took an opportunity to make tomato pooris along with kala chana dry sabji.

The combination of tomato, mint, cumin is so appetizing and the poori's taste simply amazing. No cutting, chopping or sweating. It is a straight forward recipe and I am sure you will enjoy making it as much as I do.

Without any further delay, let me get to the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4th cup semolina (rava)
• 1 6oz tomato paste ( or 1 cup thick tomato sauce)
• 1 tbsp mint chopped 
• 1 tsp chili powder ( or less of you like less spicy)
• 1 cup water to knead (approx)
• 1 tsp cumin mildly crushed
• pinch carom seeds (ajwain - optional)
• pinch baking soda
• salt as per taste
• 1 tsp oil
• oil to fry

Preparation: 

• In a mixing bowl, add all the above ingredients and mix with a spoon first.
• Add water little by little and start kneading the dough. Make a semi-stiff dough. Rest it for 15 minutes by covering it.
• Now make small balls from the dough and lightly coat with oil (can use a drop or 2), roll into a 3-inch disc.
• In the meantime, heat oil in a frying pan, frying should be done on med-high flame. 
• Slide poori in the hot oil and gently press the poori from one side with a slotted spoon, it helps to puff up the poori. Turn over and fry for few more secs. Take it out and let it rest on a paper towel, let the excess oil be absorbed. Got to do everything we can to get that oil out :);)
• Serve hot with your favorite chutney or ketchup, kala channa, or any curry.

You may also like dry kala chana, ragi poori (finger millet), lachcha paratha, aloo bhaji, kala channa curry etc

njoY!! happY cookinG!!

Health Benefits: The health benefits of tomatoes include improved eyesight, good stomach health, and reduced blood pressure, as well as relief from diabetes, skin problems and urinary tract infections. Furthermore, tomatoes can increase digestion, stimulate blood circulation, reduce cholesterol levels, improve fluid balance, protect the kidneys, detoxify the body, prevent premature aging, and reduce inflammation and related conditions. Tomatoes consist of a large number of antioxidants that have been proven to fight different forms of cancer. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and exerts a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases.

Happy 70th Independence Day to India!

I cannot describe India in just 5 lines here on my blog! Today she celebrates 70th Independence Day and has come a long way! 31 States, 1618 Languages, 6400 Castes, 6 Religions, 6 Ethnic Groups, 29 Major festivals and one Country! 

India sits on layers upon layers of history, with each layer contributing to the present in some strange way, adding to our rich culture and spirit of tolerance. This is a land where many of the great religions of the world were born. It is the land where foreign influences of the past, Persian, Greek, Chinese, etc were welcomed and assimilated. In theory, India is “secular,” but in many ways, she is a Hindu land, with her 30 crores deities:) But it is the land where, for the better part Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists, and Jains can live in absolute freedom. All religions are free by law to preach and propagate their beliefs. 

It is a land of every possible form of contrast—a clash of colour and a cacophony of sound. She is wealthy. She is poor. She is highly educated. She is illiterate. She is cultured. She is wretched. She is finicky about cleanliness and rules. She is utterly filthy. India is extremely corrupt and bogged down by bureaucracy, chaotic and crowded. Cricket is a religion and Bollywood stars are worshipped.

The way this great giant of a country rouses herself every morning and functions amidst all this chaos belies explanation. When so much of money is siphoned off due to corruption, from government projects, why do the bridges stay strong and why do the buildings not collapse? Why, with the chaotic roads, the accident rate is not higher than in other countries. I think God Himself must love India very much.

Salute to her and may she be blessed with greenery, no-smoke, peace inside out!!

Recipe:

Shown in this post are the colors of Indian Flag: 3 bottles of glasses with orange roundels, lime roundels and mint, and ginger with blueberries! Washes down the acidity and helps you keep your body cool in hot summer days aiding in digestion and losing weight!

njoY!! happY independencE!! :)

excerpts from courage to tremble.

Mint Chutney

Mint chutney is another great side dish which actually serves as a multipurpose condiment. It makes a great marinade for paneer dishes, chicken kabobs, fish fry etc. It is used in various chaat/fast food dishes. Best thing is that you can freeze it for a few weeks and use whenever you need it, makes your life simpler :)

So here is the recipe:

MINT CHUTNEY

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mint leaves
• 1 cup cilantro leaves
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp pomegranate seeds
• 2 green chillies ( add more if chillies are not spicy)
• 2 pods big garlic
• 1-inch ginger
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 

Preparation:

• Take all the ingredients except lemon juice and salt and grind to make a green paste. 
• Transfer it to a bowl then add lemon juice and salt.
• Mint chutney is ready.

Health Benefits: Mint is a herb and has medicinal properties. Promotes oral health, aids in digestion, helps in weight loss, acts as an effective remedy for nausea, relieves symptoms of acne, clears up congestion of nose, throat and lungs. Its flavor is used in toothpaste, chewing gums, tea leaves even cookies and ice cream. It is a powerful plant with nutrients, minerals and vitamins.