Mini Tofu Cutlets

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Serve these protein and calcium rich cutlets made with tofu as a starter or as a snack…

Ingredients:

200 gm tofu, grated

1 large potato, boiled and mashed

2 green chillies

1 medium onion, chopped

¼ tsp garam masala

1/4 tsp mustard seeds

Salt to taste

1-2 tsp corn flour

1/4 cup roasted and grounded oats (I used saffola masala oats)

1/2 tsp chaat masala powder

Olive oil

Semolina or suji for coating

Method:

• In a pan, heat 2 tsp oil and add mustard seeds, after seeds start crackle add chilli and onions. Sauté for few seconds and turn off the flame.
• Mix in all the ingredients in a pan and mix well.
• Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape each portion into a round, flat cutlets.
• Spread little suji in a plate and coat cutlets with suji.
• Heat a non-stick tava (griddle) on a medium flame and grease it with oil and cook the tikkis, till both sides are golden brown in colour.
• Serve hot with tomato ketchup or green chutney.

Pasta and Cheese Canapes

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Quick and yummy recipe prepared from canapes filled with pasta and veggies…

Ingredients:

15-20 canape cases (I got ready made)

1/2 cup boiled pasta

1/2 tbsp dried herbs

1/2 cup finely chopped veggies (bell peppers, cabbage, onion)

Salt to taste (optional)

1/2 cup grated cheese

Method:

• In a bowl, mix pasta, veggies, and dried herbs and keep aside.
• Before serving, mix in salt and fill mixture in the canape cases.
• Top with grated cheese.
• Bake at 150 deg C for 5-7 min or till cheese start to melt and canapes turn crispy.
• Serve hot with tea or coffee.
• You can top same filling on bread or biscuits also.

Barley Roundels

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Enjoy healthy and tempting starter prepared from barley…

Make 8-10 roundels

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole barley grain, soaked 

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 tbsp oil

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp coriander powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp chaat masala

1/2 tsp cumin powder

2 tbsp besan (gram flour)

1/2 tsp garam masala

1 green chilli, chopped

1 medium potato, boiled and grated

1 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
salt to taste

Method: 

Soak barley for 3-4 hrs and cook in pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles and drain out.

In pan heat 2 tbsp oil, add onion, chilli and ginger-garlic paste and cook till onions turn light pink.

Add barley, dry spices, besan and salt and mix well. Cook covered for one min.

Cool the mixture and coarsely grind; mix in grated potato and chopped coriander leaves.

Make small roundels of equal sizes.

Heat remaining oil and shallow fry roundels from both sides till golden brown.

Serve hot with green chutney.

                        

Tawa fried Paneer Tikka

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Famous Punjabi starter – Cubes of Paneer and vegetables soaked in spice, tangy marinade and then cooked to perfection....

Ingredients:

300 gm Cottage Cheese (Paneer)

1/2 each red-green-yellow bellpeppers

1 onion

For Marinade:

3/4 cup hung curd

A pinch turmeric powder

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp dry mango powder (amchoor)

1/4 tsp black salt

1 tsp chaat masala

1/2 tsp garam masala

Coriander leaves, chopped

1 ½  tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp kashmiri lal mirch

1/2 lime

1 tsp cumin powder

Salt to taste

Oil for pan frying

Method:

•  Cut paneer, bellpeppers and onion into 1” cubes and keep aside.
• Mix all ingredients for marinade and keep aside.
• Brush the marinade to the paneer and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Add the left marinade to the vegetables and refrigerate.             
• Arrange paneer and vegetables in skewers.
• Heat oil in a non-stick griddle tawa) and fry marinated paneer and vegetables till golden brown from all sides.
• Garnish with coriander and lemon slices.
• Serve hot paneer tikka with green chutney.

• If using griller, soak wooden skewers in water for an hour.
• Add lime juice just before using marinade.

Grilled Babycorn Platter

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Grilled baby corns marinated in spicy and tangy yogurt marinade.

Ingredients:

100 gm fresh baby corns

2 tbsp yoghurt

1/2 tsp chilli powder

A pinch turmeric

1/2 tsp garlic paste

1/4 tsp chaat masala

1/2 tsp oil

1/2 tsp corn flour

Salt to taste

Method:

• Mix all the above ingredients except baby corns to get a marinade.
• Marinade the baby corn and leave aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven at 200 C, line a baking dish with foil.
• Grill baby corns for 5-7 min till light brown then turn baby corns to other side and again cook for 5-7 min. 
• Serve hot with green chutney and lemon wedges.

Patties stuffed with Spinach and Cheese

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Enjoy tea-time with yummy Patties stuffed with cheesy filling…

Ingredients:

1 bunch spinach, blanched and finely chopped

100 gm cottage cheese (paneer), grated

3 large  potatoes, boiled and mashed

3 tbsp corn flour

1 tbsp ginger-chilli Paste

1 tsp chaat masala

1 tsp garam masala Powder

100 gm cheese (cut into tiny cubes)

Oil for brushing or shallow frying

Salt to taste

Method:

• In a bowl mix together all the ingredients except spinach, cheese and corn flour.
• Sprinkle the corn flour and mix well.
• Divide the potato mixture into equal sized balls. Mix the spinach with the cheese
• Flatten each ball into tikki shape and insert a spoonful of spinach mixture into the centre.
• Coat patties with bread crumbs and shallow fry on low to medium heat for 10-15 min till golden brown on both sides.
• For baked version: Place the prepared patties onto a greased baking/cooking tray. 
• Brush a little oil on the top and bake at 200° C for 5 minutes.
• Turn the patties over with a spatula and cook for another 2-3 minutes till golden brown. 
• Serve hot with any chutney or ketchup.

Little Heart Cheese Crepes

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Delectable and delicious little heart shaped Cheese crepes, best served as starters or for breakfast.

Ingredients:

1 cup rawa/semolina

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup maida

Salt to taste

For Topping

2 onion small diced

1 tomato, small diced

1 green capsicum, small diced

2 tsp coriander, chopped

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Oil to shallow fry

Method:

• Make a thick batter with rawa, rice flour and refined flour by using enough water.
• Add salt to taste and whisk well and allow to rest for 15 -20 min.
• Heat tawa/griddle and add ½ tsp oil, pour ladleful batter to make small crepe like pancake.
• Top with vegetables and cook. Now sprinkle cheese and cover to melt.
• When done, cut out with cookie cutter to any desired shape and serve with any chutney.

Linking this to Valentine day Recipe Contest

Italian - Style Baby Potatoes

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Luscious stir-fried Baby Potatoes in Italian-style! Great for starters…

Ingredients:

2 cups baby potatoes, boiled and peeled

1/4 cup grated processed cheese

1/3 cup fresh cream

1 tbsp butter

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp chilli flakes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper powder to taste

Method:

• Prick the baby potatoes or cut in halves and keep aside.
• Heat the butter in a non-stick pan.
• Add the potatoes, salt and pepper and cook on a high flame for 5 to 7 min, stirring occasionally.
• Add the cream and cook on a medium flame for a minute.
• Add the cheese, oregano, chilli flakes, and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve immediately garnished with parsley or basil leaves.