Oct 11, 2018

Chonge


                                 Chonge                               

This sweet dish is originally prepared at time of Muharram by Muslims and it was adopted by my ajji, don't know what might be the reason just to have sweet dish or something else, anyway it's tasty one, it is made in our home in Muharram.



Ingredients: 

Wheat flour : 2 cup
Puttani hittu/ fried Bengal gram flour : 1 cup
Jaggery powder : 1/2 cup, as per taste
Poppy seeds : 2 tsp
Dry coconut gratings : 1/2 cup
Cardamom : 1 or 2
Clove : 1 or 2

Sep 21, 2018

home-made thin crust pizza

I learned to make pizza by watching YouTube videos. The first time I made regular pizza with minimum toppings and it took about 2 hours. The pizza turned out good. Encouraged with the success, I started making it frequently and now I need an hour for the entire process.


First comes the ingredients (for dough, toppings and sauce) and then the methods (making base, sauce and finally pizza).

Ingredients for pizza dough-
* 2 cups maida or all-purpose flour
* 1 tea spoon dry east
* 1 tea spoon sugar
* 1 cup water (use as needed)
* 2 tea spoon olive oil
* Salt as per taste



Ingredients for pizza sauce -
* 1 large tomato
* 2-3 garlic cloves chopped finely
* 1 tsp red chilly flakes
* 1 tsp Italian herbs
* Salt as needed
* 4 tsp oil
* 2 tsp tomato ketchup
* 1 finally chopped onion (optional)

Ingredients for pizza toppings -
* Mozzarella cheese about 200 grams or as needed
* 1 cup cubed veggies (capsicum, onion, tomato, mushrooms, olives, etc)
* 1/2 tsp Italian herbs
* 1/2 tsp red chilly flakes (optional)




Making pizza dough -
1. Add yeast and sugar to warm water and mix well, set aside for 15 mins and allow it to activate.
2. When the water turns frothy, add flour, salt and olive oil and mix a dough adding more water if            needed.
3. Knead the dough very well until its very soft.
4. Then apply a thin layer of oil and cover it with wet cloth, keep it aside for 30 to 45 mins. Allow   
    the dough to rise and double in size.


Preparing pizza sauce -
I use a simple method to make pizza sauce.
1. Heat cooking oil in a small pan and saute garlic until it smells good.
2. Add red chilly flakes and then onion if you are using it. Saute until onion turns slightly golden.
3. Add finally chopped tomatoes (you can also use tomato puree instead) salt and mix it well.
4. Cook it until the tomato pieces turn into thin paste.
5. Add tomato ketchup and mix well
6. Set aside to cool.

Making the pizza -
1. Preheat the oven to 240°C for 15 mins.
2. Transfer the dough to work area.
3. Punch the dough to deflate it, and cut to 2 to 3 portions.
4. Gently shape it to a ball and flatten it.
5. Sprinkle some maida over the pizza tray.
6. Spread the pizza sauce as desired (don't apply on edge part).
7. Layer the veggies and then spread grated cheese.
8. Sprinkle Italian herbs and red chilly flakes.
9. Lastly apply some olive oil on edge part of pizza dough.
10. Place it the oven and bake it for 15 mins until the base is cooked and cheese turns slightly golden.

The baking part is crucial. Watch it until its completely done to avoid over-cooking. Once its done, take out the pizza along with the tray and allow it to cool for a minute and few seconds.

pizza base in oven tray

applying auce to the base

cheese sprinkled over the sauce

toppings layered over cheese
Slice and serve pizza hot.


Do share your comments / questions. I would love to hear back from you.
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Aug 5, 2018

ಜೋಳದ ಅಂಬ್ರಾ ~ Jolada Ambra

This is a simple, easy to prepare dish usually had during summer months or when weather is warm. Its a coolant, easy on your tummy.

Ingredients-
  • Jowar flour, 4 table spoons 
  • Curds, should be sour, 1 cup
  • Jeera, ½ table spoon (optional)
  • Garlic, 5 pods (optional)
  • Salt, to taste
Steps-
  • Mix jowar flour in curds and ¼ cup water, allow it to soak for 2 to 3 hours
  • It can be left overnight if you want to prepare it morning
  • Heat 6 cups water to boiling in a curved bottom vessel
  • Pour the curds-jowar flour mixture in the boiling water
  • Add more water to adjust thickness so its not too thick or watery
  • Add crushed Jeera and crushed Garlic
  • Add salt to taste
  • Boil for about 5 minutes
  • Cover the vessel and allow it to cool little
  • Jolada Ambra is ready
Serve while it is still steaming hot, You can have when its cool but hot Ambra tastes better. Consume while its fresh, not a good idea to keep it for later. So prepare as much as you can finish.


Jolada Ambara is similar to Ragi Ambali.
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