Chicken pie

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chickenpie

Preparation Time : 1 hour

Cooking Time : 40 minutes

Serving : 8 members

Description

Chicken pie . A recipe that I got from my hubbies cousin sister Wahitha , while on our three day holiday to Bangalore . We stayed at our single bed room apartment , where the men were in the bed room and we both slept in the living room . All night we would gossip , giggle , laugh and share our silly stories and discuss food as well . That’s how this recipe was passed down to me . This recipe really excited me as I am crazy about stuffed snacks and this one has two different stuffings with two different textured layers . one the covering and the stacked flour discs in between the stuffings . I still remember she just told it to me with out any precise measurements . I registered it in my mind and gave it a try as soon as I was back home during rozza ( fasting time ) . Wahitha did mention about a big pizza size chicken pie that can be cut into wedges and served . but as i made it during rozza time , i preferred making single serving palm size ones instead , so there was no need to cut and serve as all are fasting . Not being able to taste the dish until my fast was broken , i kept wondering a lot about the taste but the aroma while preparing was really up lifting . This snack did do full justice on the table with hoo’s and aah’s all around . From then till date this is a signature dish of mine that has kept me and others crave more and more for it .

Step 1

Ingredients for the cover

Ingredients
Quantity
Flour / maida
250 grams
Salt
to taste
Oil1/2 cup
Waterenough to get a smooth dough

Method for the Cover

  1. Combine flour and salt together . Add oil and mix well .
  2. Sprinkle water little by little and knead to get a smooth dough and Set aside .

Step 2

Ingredients for the batter discs

Ingredients
Quantity
Flour / maida
2 cups
Water3 1/2 cups
Salt to taste

Method for the batter discs

  1. Mix all the ingredients together to a smooth runny batter with no lumps .Heat a non stick kadai and pour in a small ladle of the batter .
  2. Rotate to get a small circle that is smaller than your hand palm . Cover and cook on one side . Remove and set aside .
  3. Do the same until all the batter is over to get small discs .

Step 3

Ingredients for chicken filling

Ingredients
Quantity
Boneless chicken 1/4 kg
Ginger garlic paste1/4 teaspoon each
Saltto taste
Turmeric powder1/4 teaspoon
Onions 5 big chopped
Green chillies 4 chopped
Mint leavesfew
Coriander leavesone hand chopped
Pepper powderto taste
Oil2 tablespoons

Method for chicken filling

  1. Pressure cook cleaned chicken , salt , turmeric powder , ginger garlic paste and little water for one whistle .
  2. Bring to boil and Reduce the water . Cool completely and shred the chicken to treads ( I run it in the food processor for a second ) .
  3. Heat oil in a non stick board pan . Add onions and fry to translucent .
  4. Add green chilies , shredded chicken , mint leaves , coriander leaves , salt and pepper to taste .
  5. Mix well and lower the flame and keep stirring for 3 minutes letting all the flavours infuse together .
  6. Remove from heat , cool and set aside .

Step 4

Ingredients for vegetable filling

Ingredients
Quantity
Carrots2
Beans10
Cabbage1 cup
Capsicum1
Onion stem1
Onions2
Garlic2 crushed
Tomato sauce4 tablespoons
Light soya sauce1 tablespoon
Green chilli sauce1 tablespoon
Red chilli sauce1 tablespoon
Thai sweet chilli sauce1 tablespoon
Vinegar1/4 teaspoon
Ajinomotoa pinch (optional)
Red chilli powder1 teaspoon
Sugar1/ 2 teaspoon
Saltto taste
Pepperto taste
oil2 tablespoons

Method for vegetable filling

  1. Cut all vegetables to thin strips like we cut for noodles .
  2. Mix all the sauces , red chilli powder , salt , vinegar , sugar and pepper powder together . Taste and adjust and set aside .
  3. Heat oil in a non stick kadai . Add crushed garlic and sauté to brown .
  4. Top with sliced onions and all the cut vegetables . Sauté until half cooked on high heat making sure the burnt smell gets infused into the vegetables . Pour the sauce mixture .
  5. Mix well and sauté for 4 minutes until all the sauce has sunk into the vegetables and is just tossed around . Taste and adjust .
  6. Remove from heat , cool and set aside .

To Proceed

Ingredients : Oil – to deep fry

Method

  1. Take lemon size rounds of the dough from step one and roll into palm size circles by dusting flour like we do for poories .make two sizes of poorie’s one for the base which has to be small and another slightly bigger than the small poorie’s for the final top layer .
  2. Do the same with the dough until all the dough is over . Place a round poorie on your work surface .
  3. Top with a step two batter disc ( that has to be smaller than the poori you have placed below ) . Spread one full tablespoon of cooled chicken filling , flatten it .
  4. Place another batter disc from step 2 , top it with one tablespoon full of vegetable filling And flatten .
  5. Finally top with a poori that has to be bigger than the base poorie . Cover the two fillings well on all sides with the final poori .
  6. Twist and press the sides of the base poorie and the top poorie together . Do the same until all the poorie’s , step two batter discs and two fillings are over .
  7. Heat oil to deep fry . Deep fry the chicken pies one at a time to crisp and golden brown in colour .
  8. Takes about one minute on each side . Drain and serve hot with tomato sauce .

Notes

  1. I do the entire procedure a day before except for deep frying and place in a tray with floured base and keep in the refrigerator .
  2. Deep fry when required . It keeps well in the refrigerator for 2 days .

Aval pazlathappam

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photo (10)

Preparation Time : 30 minute

Cooking Time : 10 minutes

Serving : 4 members

Description

The vegetarian version was actually created by my mom for the sake of my vegetarian daughter. When we relish and enjoy and treat ourselves with Such dishes , having no choice she just has to gaze on us . So mom not wanting her grand daughter to just sit ideal made a vegetarian versions as well. (happens with all the dishes at home) have to mention how much our principal Mr. P.C Thomas , headmistress elsama and their children Liju and Julie Pradeesh used to enjoy my moms pallazthappams . Even recently Julie Pradeesh had mentioned about moms palazthappams.

Ingredients for Cover

Ingredients
Quantity
Kerala plantain500 gm ( ripeness is very important , as too ripe ones will become watery and hard to shape . Not to ripe ones will be hard to shape and not sweet enough )
saltto taste
Coconut oil or vegetable oilto deep fry

Method for Cover

  1. Steam the plantains and cook till they slit . Do not over cook . Cool and remove the black pith .
  2. Mash the plantains with out water in a mixer to get a tight dough . Set aside .

Ingredients for stuffing

Ingredients
Quantity
aval ( flattened rice , poha )2 cups
coconut grated1 cup
sugar to taste
salt a pinch
cardamom powder 1/4 teaspoon
cashewnuts1 teaspoon chopped
kismis ( dried grapes )1 teaspoon
waterto rinse the aval ( flattened rice , poha )

Method for Filling

  1. Rinse the aval in water and squeeze out the water . Mix with all the other ingredients and set aside .

How to Proceed

  1. Make lime sized balls with the plantain dough . Flatten each ball into round shaped circles . ( like poories , my mother used the poorie press keeping the plaintain ball inbetween two greased plastic sheets , this was so much easier than doing by hands )
  2. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of aval mixture in the Center of flattened plantain circle . Close the circle from one side to get a semi circle shaped palazthappam . Fold and press the edges gently to close the palazthappams .
  3. Do the same with the remaining plaintain dough and aval mixture . Heat oil ( coconut oil adds more taste ) to deep fry .
  4. Drop the palazthappams one at a time into hot oil and fry to golden brown colour and a bit crisp . Drain and serve as it is .
  5. Yummy sweet , sour , tangy palazthappams are ready to be eaten .

Paruppu Vadai

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Preparation Time : soaking time one hour + 15 minutes

Cooking Time : 2 to 3 minutes for one batch

Serving : 4 members

Description

Paruppu vadai . Also known as masala vadai every where and aamai vadai only in tirunelveli . The paruppu vadai is a street food found all over Tamilnadu. The first time i got to eat this dish as a kid , I over ate it and at midnight vomited. (crazy me only then did i realize that you should not over eat any thing beyond a limit) I learnt this dish from my mother – in – law but she uses Bengal gram dal .Once my friend Meera Aboo Thamby suggested asking me to use peas dal instead of Bengal gram dal. The paruppu vadai tasted so good. Then once my maid (fathima) made paruppu vadai adding bits of carrots and coconuts. I liked that to, so my paruppu vadai recipe has taken twists and turns from the time I got to learn it.Finally the recipe that follows is the latest version of my paruppu vadai.

Ingredients

Ingredients
Quantity
peas dal ( Pattani paruppu or vadai paruppu as known in Tamil ) 2 cups
dry red chillies4 to 5
small onions1 hand chopped finely
green chillies2 chopped
curry leavesfew chopped
snauf1 teaspoon
saltto taste
ginger1/4 inch pieces grated
carrot1 medium sized cut into small bits
coconut2 tablespoons cut into bits
oilto deep fry

Method

  1. Soak peas dal in water for one hour . Drain and reserve 2 tablespoons of whole soaked peas dal aside .
  2. Add red dry chillies and snauf to the remaining soaked peas dal and grind to a coarse paste adding very little water .
  3. Add all the other ingredients except for the oil to deep fry . Mix well . Heat oil to deep fry in a kadai .
  4. Make lime size balls with the peas dal mixture and flatten them to get small round 1/4 inch thick Pattice .
  5. Drop one by one , 4 to 5 in one batch into hot oil and fry for 2 minutes on each side to get a deep golden brown crisp paruppu vadais .
  6. Drain and serve hot with chuntny , tomato sauce ,tea ….. At home it’s had as it is without any dips or chuntny s .
  7. Even before going to the dining table 3/4 of the paruppu vadais are over in the kitchen , as every one has a taste before on the table .

Wheat bread diet Sandwhich

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Wheat bread diet  sandwhich

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Cooking Time : 8 to 10 minutes

Serving : 4 members

Description

Every one at home compliments me saying I am a good cook but critisize me that I never cook healthy food . My gal ANISHA is a health freak and is very cautious about eating and cooking . After her nagging and complaints about me , finally have started experimenting over healthy food . My first try were these wheat bread diet sandwhich . It tasted good and was filling too . I served it with mushroom soup .

Ingredients 

Ingredients for Sandwhich
Quantity
Wheat bread slices2
light mayonnaise½ teaspoon
Egg white omelet 1
olive oil1 teaspoon
mixed vegetables1/2 cup ( carrots , beans , green peas , capsicum , cabbage ) chopped
salt and pepperto taste
chilli flakesto taste
dried oregano , thyme , rose Mary and basil little

Ingredients for Soup
Quantity
mushrooms1/4 kg chopped
potato1 small chopped
onion1 big sliced
garlic2 flakes
stoke cube1 ( I used maggi vegetarian )
water3 cups
pepperto taste

Method for sandwhich 

  1. Heat 1/2 teaspoon olive oil in a non – stick pan . saute all the vegetables with salt for five minutes stirring constantly
  2. Season with pepper , chilli flakes and dried herbs . set aside.apply light mayonnaise on one side of the bread slices.
  3. Place the egg white omelet over One bread slice ,Top with mixed vegetables sautéed and cover with the other bread slice over ,mayonnaise applied side towards the vegetables .
  4. Heat a sandwhich toaster apply little olive oil and toast the sandwhich to crisp . Serve hot with soup .

Method for Soup

  1. Pressure cook mushroom ,all the ingredients together for 3 whistles .
  2. Cool completely . Blend to a smooth runny pulp . Strain .
  3. Bring to boil . Adjust seasoning and serve hot along with the sandwich .

Cutlets

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cutlets

Preparation Time : 35 minutes

Cooking Time : 10 minutes

Serving : 10 members

Description

I use to hate cutlets when I was a kid . Every time my mom used to force n feed me . Results I would throw up . I was so dame skinny n thin Then ( hope I am now ….. ) , mom just added beet roots along with potato once for the cutlet . It was pink in colour . The colour sure did attract me a lot . I tried one and that is how I started eating cutlets .

Ingredients

Ingredients
Quantity
Potato 1/2 kg ( boiled , peeled and mashed )
chicken 200 gm (boneless )
Turmeric powder 1/4 tea spoon
onion 3 chopped
garam masala powder1/4 tea spoon
green chillies4 crushed
ginger garlic paste 1/2 tea spoon
chilli flakes1 tea spoon
coriander leaves 2 table spoon chopped
mint leaves 1 table spoon chopped
pepper and salt to taste
lime juice 1/2 lime
egg 1 beaten with salt and pepper to taste
bread crumbs 2 cups
oil2 table spoons and to shallow fry

Method

  1. Boil chicken with turmeric powder , ginger garlic paste and salt to taste . Cook till dry n shared the chicken .
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a non stick kadai . Add onions and green chillies and fry to translucent .
  3. Add all the other ingredients one by one except for egg , bread crumbs , lime and oil to shallow fry . Saute till all the flavors infuse together .
  4. Remove from flame add lime juice . Mix well taste and adjust and cool .Make equal round balls of the potato mixture , dip in beaten egg . Then roll over in the bread crumbs.
  5. Place each ball on a flat surface and flatten with palms to get a four inch patty , dusting with bread crumbs.
  6. Heat oil and shallow fry the cutlets on both sides for 2 minutes on each side to golden brown in color .
  7. Drain and serve hot with tomato ketchup .

Chicken Rolls

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chicken rolls

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Cooking Time : 10 minutes

Serving : 8 members

Description

I don’t remember from where I learnt this dish but from the time I started cooking I have been making chicken rolls . During rosa ( fasting ) I make 30 to 50 rolls and refrigerate and store them . Defrost n deep fry . It’s so handy 

Ingredients

Ingredients for Pan cake
Quantity
Maida1 cup
Egg1
saltto taste
Waterlittle to make a loose batter of pouring consistency

Ingredients for Filling
Quantity
Minced chicken250gm
Beans6 chopped
cabbage1/4 cup chopped
onion1 big chopped
carrot1 big chopped
capsicum1 chopped
celery1 stalk chopped
ginger garlic paste1 tea spoon
turmeric powder1/4 tea spoon
chilli flakesto taste
pepper powder 1/4 tea spoon
green chillies 3 crushed
ajinomoto a pinch ( optional )
saltto taste
oil4 teaspoon

Ingredients for Coating
Quantity
egg whites2 beaten with salt and pepper powder to taste
bread crumbs2 cups
oilto deep fry

Filling Method

  1. cook minced chicken with Turmeric powder , ginger garlic paste and salt to taste . Cook to a dry consistency and keep aside .
  2. Heat oil in a sauce pan add onion , all the chopped vegetables , crushed green chillies and sauté till vegetables are half cooked .
  3. Add cooked minced chicken , chilli flakes , pepper powder and ajinomoto . Mix well  on low flame for 5 minutes .
  4. Should be of dry consistency . Taste and adjust and set aside

Pancake Method

  1. Mix all ingredients together , blend without lumps . Heat a non stick pan to medium heat .
  2. Pour 1/2 a ladle of batter . Cover and cook one side and remove .

How to Proceed

  1. Place a heaped table spoon full of filling in the Center length wise over the uncooked side  of pancake .
  2. Fold both sides to enclose  the filling  and then roll it completely to seal the filling .
  3. Dip the roll in beaten egg whites and then roll in breadcrumbs until fully coated . Heat oil to deep fry .
  4. Fry the rolls in hot oil till golden in colour and crisp .
  5. Drain , serve hot with tomato ketchup .

Samosa

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samosa

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Cooking Time : 10 minutes

Serving : 10 members

Description

The best Indian snak loved by all . This is a punjabi samosa , which has a potato filling inside usually and a soft lightly crisp cover . The South Indian samosa that we serve during the fasting time , always with non – veg filling that is very spicy and has a crisp cover . In my hubby’s place they call the punjabi samosa as somas and the South Indian samosa as samsa . ( funny isn’t it , no offence Nellai people ) when I was newly married had a terrible time understanding the Tamil spoken at my hubby’s place . At moms place our Tamil is 3/4 Malayam and 1/4 Tamil as we hail from Palghat and live in Coimbatore . I used to be teased a lot about my Tamil back then . The Tamil that they talk in tirunelveli is the purest form of Tamil ( that’s what my mother – in – law says ) . What ever I have improved a lot of my Tamil only after I got married from talking , reading and writing . Thanks to tirunelveli for that .

Ingredients
Ingredients for Dough
Quantity
maida(refined flour)500 gm
ghee or oil1/2 cup
ajwain5gm
saltto tatse
waterneeded
oilto deep fry samosa
Ingredients for Tempering
Quantity
cumin seeds1 teaspoon
turmeric powder1/2 teaspoon
red chilli powder1/4 teaspoon
green chillies2-3
ginger2 teaspoon
lime1
coriander leaves1 tablespoon
saltto taste
green peas1/3 cup
chaat masala powder2 teaspoon
fennel seeds1 teaspoon
garam masala1/2 teaspoon
cashew nuts2 tablespoon (chopped)
potatoes500gm (boiled and peeled)
ghee2 tablespoon
Method 
  1. Chop the green chillies, ginger and the coriander leaves.
  2. Mix all the ingredients for the dough except water and rub thoroughly.
  3. Sprinkle water and make a hard dough. Set aside for about 10 minutes.
  4. Divide the dough into round portions as per the size of the samosas required.
  5. Heat the ghee and add cumin, when crackling add ginger and saute.
  6. Add the rest of the ingredients excluding the final four and sauté for five minutes.
  7. Mix in the rest of the ingredients, including the potatoes and mix well.
  8. Roll each portion of dough into a thin oval shape cut into 2 semi-circles.
  9. Take a semi-circle. Apply water on the straight edge of the semi-circle. Hold the semi-circle in your hand, fold the straight edge, bringing together the watered edges, seal the watered edges into a triangular pocket.
  10.  Stuff the potato mixture and then seal the upper edges. 
  11. Repeat with the rest. Deep fry in oil till golden brown and serve.