March 17, 2016

Spinach Chappatis for St. Patrick's Day

Chapati is a flatbread made with whole wheat flour and cooked on a tava (skillet). March 17th is St. Patrick's Day and for this occasion I tried making shamrock patterns with chapati dough and spinach mixed chapati dough to make it festive.

Spinach Chapatis

Ingredients:
Plain chapati dough:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Yogurt - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Water - to make dough

Spinach chapati dough:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Spinach - a handful 
Green chilies - 2
Ginger - 1 inch
Salt - to taste
Water - to make dough
Olive oil - for roasting chapatis

Method: 
1.  Mix the ingredients for the plain chapati and make a soft pliable dough.  It should be elastic, soft and smooth dough easy to roll.
2.  Blend spinach, ginger and green chilies with very little water and add this to the other other of ingredients the wheat flour and salt.  Make a smooth and soft dough.
3.  Roll the spinach chapati dough thin with a rolling pin and cut out the desired shape with a sharp knife.
4.  Roll the plain chapati dough to a circle.  Place the cut out shapes of the spinach chapati dough and gently roll so it fuses with the plain chapati.
5.  Place it on a hot griddle and cook.  Apply oil and cook and flip to turn to cook on the other side till there are golden brown spots.
6.  When it is cooked keep it covered in a container.

March 7, 2016

Custard Halwa

Custard halwa is a very easy to prepare dessert.  I adapted this recipe from my friend on the "Foodie" group.  

Custard Halwa

Ingredients:
Custard powder - 1/2 cup (Vanilla flavor)
Sugar - 1 & half cups
Water - 2 cups
Ghee- 3 tbsp + 1 tsp for greasing
Cashew nuts - 12 chopped
Almonds - 6 coarsely powdered for garnish
Cardamom powder - a pinch

Method:1. Take a pan, add in custard powder, sugar, and water. Stir well so no lumps are formed.
2. Keep stirring continuously on high heat till it is thick.
3. Add a tbsp of ghee and keep stirring..
4. After a few minutes add another tbsp of ghee and mix well.
5. It will get thick and not stick to the pan. Add in another tbsp of ghee.
6. When the halwa will leave the sides and the ghee oozes out add in chopped cashews, cardamom powder and mix well.
7. Spread the halwa on a greased pan and let it cool.
8. When it is set, invert the plate to a flat baking sheet or cutting board and cut to desired shapes.