Pasta Augratin

Oh here again one of my favorite dish..... I love anything that's made with bechamel sauce / white sauce.... Many don't like as its blunt in taste... But I just love the creamy cheesy taste.... The same dish when prepared with just vegetables, its Veg au gratin.... Since I added pasta to it, i named it pasta au gratin.... You can use any type of pasta... I have used Corni pasta...

Ingredients:

Pasta - 1 Cup

Carrot and Capsicum (cut into thin strips) - 1 Cup

Onion (Sliced) - 1/2 Cup

Sweet Corn - 1/2 Cup

Cheese Spread - 1 tbsp (optional, it gives more cheesy taste)

Mozeralla Cheese - 1/2 Cup

Chili flakes - 1 tsp (you can adjust according to your taste)

For Bechamel Sauce

All purpose flour (Maida) - 1 tbsp

Butter - 1 tbsp

Milk (boiled and warm) - 500 ml

Garlic cloves (crushed) - 2-3 nos.

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Oregano - 1 tsp

Bay leaves - 1-2 no.s

How to make:

1. Boil 800 ml of water with 1/2 tsp of salt and add the pasta to it. Allow it to boil for 8-10 mins so that the paste is cooked well. Drain the water and keep the pasta aside.

2. In the mean time we can make the bechamel/white sauce. In a pan melt the butter and add the flour to it. In simmer keep roasting the flour in the butter.  Make sure the colour is not changed.This is our thickening agent and its called "Roux" in french.

3. After 2-3 mins nice biscuit flavour aroma comes out from  the roux. Now add the milk little by little. make sure no lumps are formed.

4. Add crushed garlic, bay leaves, salt and oregano now. Keep in simmer for 5-6 mins stirring often. Finally add the chili flakes & cheese spread and off the stove.

5. Half cook the vegetables and mix with the pasta. and arrange in baking tray. Pour the white sauce on top and give it a blend. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top.

6. Bake this in pre-heated oven at 180` C for about 15-20 mins. Or keep in microwave for 5-6 mins in half temp.

Capsicum Cheese Paratha

Another variety of stuffed paratha. A very tasty paratha....

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

Atta dough - enough for 4 paratha
Capsicum (Finely chopped) - 1/4 Cup
Cheese (grated) - 1/4 Cup
Paneer (grated) - 1 tbsp
Corriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 pinch

 

How to make:

 

1. Mix the cheese, panner, capsicum, chilli powder, corriander powder, salt together and make 4 equal balls.

 

2. Divide the dough into 4 parts and stuff each balls inside the dough. Roll it over to make paratha.

 

3. Make paratha with 1 tbsp of ghee/oil. Let it cook on simmer for 2 mins on both the sides so that cheese melts inside the paratha.

 

Pizza Cutlet

While I was making this I didn't know what to name it. But then since it tasted more like a pizza, my hubby named it pizza cutlets. So i kept the same. A very different snack which kids will love it....

Ingredients:

Bread crumbs - 1 Cup
Onion (Finely chopped) - 1/4 Cup
Capsicum(Finely Chopped) - 1/4 Cup
Mozeralla Cheese - 1/2 Cup
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Oregano - 1 tsp
Chilli flakes - 1 tbsp
Oil - for frying

 

How to make:

 

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl by sprinkling little water. Leave it for 5 mins aside.

 

2. Make your desired shape and fry in medium heat oil till it turns golen brown.

 

3. Serve it hot, so that you can feel the melting mozeralla inside...

Pizza Uthappam

Yday night I didn't feel like eating rice. So was checking in fridge what is left over. Little dosa batter was left. Then i made up my mind to have onion uthappam and took that out. Also saw half tomato in the fridge. So took that as well. While I was chopping the onion, came with a thought as why not make a pizza uthappam as i had cheese also. Then i included little capsicum, carrot and also some sweet corn. And to get that Pizza flavour, little oregano and chiili flakes also...This is such an easy way to make kids eat healthy vegetables with their lovable pizza flavour.  So here is the Pizza Uthappam.....

Ingredients:

Dosa Batter - 1 Cup
Finely chopped vegetables - 1/2 Cup
Oregano - 1 tsp
Chilli flakes - As per your taste
Mozzarella Cheese (grated) - 1/2 Cup

How to make:

1. heat the Dosa Pan and add 2 ladle of batter to make thick uthappam. Add all the vegetables on top of it. Keep the flame in simmer only.

2. After a min, just turn over the uthappam so that the other side with vegetables also cooks well. After a min, turn it over again and add the oregano, chilli flakes and mozzarella cheese and cover with a lid for a min. Remember to keep the flame in simmer only.

3. The Mozzarella cheese will melt soon and the pizza uthappam is ready to serve.....

P.S. Salt is not required for this as dosa batter will have salt and also cheese will be salty.

Bread Cheese Bonda

A super snack for a perfect evening along with a cup of coffee/tea or a yummy starter for a party. Simple to make and melts in your mouth with a south-Indian twist to the taste. 

 

Ingredients:

Potato (Boiled & mashed) - 1 Cup

Cheddar/Mozzarella Cheese - 1/2 Cup

Ginger (Finely chopped) - 1 tsp

Corriander leaves (Finely chopped) - 2 tbsp

Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Corriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp (adjust the salt as cheese will also contain salt)

Bread slices - 8 nos.

Water - 1/2 Cup

Oil - for frying

How to make:

1. In a bowl mix the mashed potato, cheese, ginger, corriander leaves, chilli powder, corriander podwer, salt and mix well.

2. Dip the bread slice in water and squeeze out the water completely. Keep some stuffing in the center and make to a round balls  by rolling in between your palms and keep aside.

3. Heat oil in a kadai and fry the bonda's. Fry it in medium heat. Take it out when it turns golden brown.

4. Serve it hot with tomato ketchup.

Tangy Macaroni

I wanted to try something different rather than what we cook daily... So thought why not macaroni ? I like pasta with white alfredo sauce which tastes little blunt. But my hubby doesn't like white base. He likes something tangy and spicy... Hence i decided to make with tomato base. For me i made the veggie macaroni and for him i added shredded boiled chicken.... It did turn out tasty and he liked it so much. So here it goes...

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

Macaroni - 100 gms

Onion (Finely chopped) - 1/2 cup

Tomato (Blanched and finely chopped) - 3/4 cup

Capsicum (Julienne) - 2 tbsp

Garlic (Finely Chopped) - 1 tbsp

Cheddar cheese (grated) - 2 tbsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Tabasco Sauce  - 2 tbsp

Oil - 1 tbsp ( I used olive oil)

 

* Blanching tomato - Just slit the tomato with  a knife at the bottom of the tomato and put it in boiling water for 1 min. Take it and run it under cold water. This way the skin of the tomato can be peeled off.

 

How to make:

 

1. Cook the macaroni in boiling water with 1 tsp of salt for 7-8 mins.

 

2. In a pan, heat oil and add the onion. Once the onion turns transparent, add the garlic and saute for 2 mins.

 

3. Add the chopped tomato, salt and Tabasco sauce. Sprinkle little water and saute for 2-3 mins. This will be in saucy consistency.

 

4. Now in a microwave bowl add the cooked macaroni, sauteed masala, capsicum and cheese. Mix well.

 

5. Microwave this at 70 % for 3 mins. the cheese will melt and blend well.

 

6. Serve it hot by sprinkling few grated cheese on top and with toasted bread....

 

P.S. You can add boiled shredded chicken during the microwave stage incase you want to make it a non veg macaroni...!!

 



Veg Delite Pizza

In Junk food category this is one favorite item for many of us... What made me try this Pizza at home... I couldn't find any other better reason than this... Gas was over at my house last week and couldn't get one the same day. Shop fellow told that he will able to deliver only the next day.... Thankfully i finished making some gravy for the afternoon which we ate during lunch along with Kuboos (which is famous in gulf country - tastes like a combination of naan and bread ). There were few Kuboos left and didn't know what to make for dinner.... Finally came up making Pizza with kuboos as base... Of course needless to mention, its so easy to make.....

 

 

Ingredients:

 

Pizza Base - 1 (If you have Kuboos, pls use that... ;-)...  )

Sliced Onion  - 1 tbsp

Sliced Tomato - 1 tbsp

Sliced Capsicum -  2 tbsp

Sweet Corn - 1 tbsp

Sliced Olives - 1 tbsp

Chilli flakes - as much as u like

Salt - just to sprinkle (Even if you dnt use salt, its ok... bcos cheese will be slightly salty)

Mozzarella Cheese - 4 tbsp

Sweet & Sour sauce / tomato ketchup - 1 tbsp

Oregano - as much as u like

 

How to make it :

 

1. In the Pizza base, first spread the tomato ketchup and sprinkle 3 tbsp of mozzarella cheese..

 

2. Spread all the veggies on top the mozzarella cheese and sprinkle the balance 1 tbsp of cheese on top of this... (You can use many more veggie or non veg as well.. In case of non veg, pls pre cook the non veg before). If you are using salt, pls sprinkle now.

 

3. Set the microwave at 20 % (180` C). Place the Pizza in the microwave and cook it for 10 mins now... The mozzarella cheese will melt and all veg will be coated with cheese...

 

4. Sprinkle oregano & chilli flake as per ur taste and enjoi the mouth watering melting pizza........