Thursday, December 25, 2014

Chole/garbanzo beans samosas.

Chole Puffs/ Samosas.



Constantly on the lookout for new recipes that help maintain good sugar levels, I tried this filling as an experiment for a party 9 years ago and it's become a family hit.  A shortcut that helps me many a time are these covers I've discovered.  As you get older you are not particular about samosa having to be in triangles...push the limits of creativity and make them any shape that is convenient.

For 20 large samosas.

Cover

I use Empanada covers from the Mexican Grocery store. (10 puri like circles will yield 10 large samosas). They are available in the frozen section and if you can't find them, ask for them.
You can also make the cover dough following any basic samosa cover recipe.

Filling:  Either follow your favorite recipe for chole or the one below.

2 cans garbonza beans (chole)
or 32 ozs soaked, cooked chole.
2 medium onions.
2 medium tomatoes, chopped.
1/2 bunch haridhania/cilantro, chopped fine.
6 cloves garlic.
1" ginger.
2 level tsps channa masala
1/2 level tsp white or black pepper powder.
Chilli powder and salt to taste.
1/2 level tsp haldi.
1/2 level tsp amchoor.
2 small bay leaf/tej patha
3 cloves
1 stick cinnamon (1")
2-4 Tbsps oil (I use olive oil).
1 Tbsp butter (optional)
1 spoon chaat masala.

Oil for deep frying.

Chop one onion in cubes and the other fine.
Open cans and drain chole.  Rinse well.
Heat oil.  Fry bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon till they change color.
Remove from oil.
Add cubed onion only and fry till transparent.
Add tomatoes and fry till soft.  Remove.
Grind onions and tomatoes with cloves, cinnamon, ginger and garlic.
In remaining oil fry finely chopped onion golden brown.  Remove.
Put masala into oil with channa masala powder, pepper and chilli powder.
Add butter at this stage.
Add chole, haldi, salt.
(I use a flat spoon/satta to mix so chole doesn't get mashed)
If needed and tomatoes are not juicy enough, add a couple of tablespoons water so everything blends well.
Keep flame on medium for 5 mins, cover pan.
Remove from stove, add hari dhania, fried onion, chat masala and mix.
End result has to be dry like a potato filling.

Cool, taste, think...make additions if required.
The chole has to be excellent.
I make this a day before and refrigerate as I feel flavors blend better overnight.  It can be done in one stretch too.

Defrost empanada covers and then taking one at a time on a lightly floured surface fill with one Tbsp chole, moisten edges with a little smeared water and seal.  I use a fork to press down edges.
Heat oil in a kadai/wok
and fry till both sides are golden brown.
Drain on a paper towel lined plate.

Serve hot with pudhina chutney or as a samosa chaat with beaten yogurt, chilli powder, kala namak, chaat masala, chopped raw onion, chopped haridhania, sweet date chutney and hot green chutney.

It's a party favorite and worth the work!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014



NO FRY DAHI VADES




I'm always trying out some of the recipes posted in my cooking group.
Ruchi Airen's no fry dahi vade, made weeks ago, caught my attention: http://www.foodfellas4you.com/dahi-ki-pakori-in-the-appe-pan/
While experimenting with her recipe, I researched and tried out two other 'no-fry' dahi vades from authors not on our blog.  One was Nishamadhulika's steamed dahi vades (in an idli steamer) and the other was Tarla Dalal's 'no-fry' dahi vades where they are made on a skillet.
Please note the different toppings were so I wouldn't forget which was which when eating/writing the recipes up.
I was extremely pleased with all three results and thank Ruchi for bringing one of my favorite dishes, with a healthier 'no fry' method to my attention.
In the click, Ruchi's dahi vade is on top, NM's on bottom left and TD's on bottom right.
On the whole, I feel the traditional dahi vade does not retain/absorb too much oil if fried at the correct temperature and then dropped into warm water but this healthier option is available to us all now.
I hope dahi vades will feature in your menus soon....