Pav Bhaji / Indian sloppy joe's

Pav bhaji needs no introduction to people who have tasted it. For others, Pav is a  roll and bhaji is vegetables. pav bhaji includes a mixed vegetable curry, where the vegtables are finely minced and the ncooked in a spicy sauce with a special masala pav bhaji masala. Adding butter to the dish gives it a smooth silky texture. Pav bhaji is a very popular street food in India and is served with pav toasted with butter!

I used frozen yeast rolls as my pav, but one can also buy pav bread in Indian stores.The ingredients are pretty much the same, flour, yeast...You get the picture right!


Get Ready ( serves 4, medium spicy)

• 4 cups mixed vegetables  chopped ( beans, carrots, cauliflower, peas and potatoes)
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 1 jalapeno/ green chilli chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger grated
• 3 large tomatoes chopped
• 1 tsp pav bhaji masala or use chaat masala
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/2 cup cilantro

For serving

• chopped red / regular onion rings
• chopped tomatoes
• lemon wedge

Go:

• Cook your dinner rolls/ pav as per instructions and set aside.
• In a wide pan add 4 cups of finely chopped vegetables and add water just enough to cover the vegetables. add a little salt. Cook till the water boils, simmer, cover with a lid and cook till veggies are soft, but not mushy. Turn the heat off.
• Mash the cooked vegetables coarsely with a potato masher.
• In another pan, add oil and saute the onions, green chilli and ginger till the onions are light brown.
• Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder and fry till the raw smell goes
• Add the chopped tomatoes and fry till the tomatoes are mushy and oil separates.
• Add the mashed vegetables, salt to taste, pav bhaji masala and water to make it a little dilute. Don't add too much water.
• Once it comes to a boil, add the 2 tbsp of butter and turn the heat off.
• Garnish with cilantro.

To serve, toast the rolls half slit on a skillet with butter.
Add the bhaji on the side and serve with chopped red onions,  tomatoes,lemon wedge and more cilantro.

One can add garam masala if needed. Make it as spicy as you wish!

Sorry for the picture quality!

Paneer Pakoda/ Paneer Bajji or Fritters

Paneer is a versatile cheese. It easily blends into savory or sweet dishes. Here is quick recipe for a evening snack for those hungry little ones returning from school. I used store bought paneer, but if you have home made, of course it will taste pretty awesome!

The one thing that made me happy doing this pakoda was my 3 year old picky eater loved it! I sliced the paneer cibs, made a small slit in the middle and filled with some  chilli sauce and deep fried it. I needed some hear and spice in mine.
For the kids, used the good ol' paneer alone.

Get ready:

For the Outer covering

• 5 table spoons Besan/ chick pea flour/ kadali maavu
• 1 tbsp Rice flour
• 1/2 tbsp corn flour  ( optional)
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• pich of baking soda
• salt to taste
• water
• Paneer cut into wedge, slices or cubes of your choice
• Oil to deep fry.

Go:

• Whisk all the dry ingredients  with water til lit forms a thick paste, almost like a thick pancake batter. ( bajji maavu consistency)
• Heat oil in a kadai for deep frying. To check heat. add a smal drop of the batter, it should rise to the top immediately
• Dip the paneer slices in the batter so that the batter evenly coats the paneer.
• Deep fry them till golden brown, flipping them half way through.

Enjoy with ketchup or any hot chutney!

Easy Pasta bake

 

 

Here is an easy peasy pasta bake that will win your kids votes! i am not so sure why kids love pasta alot? is it the shapes, taste, easy to eat, i don't know! Iwish rice can be made into these fun shapes. I have 2  pasta lovers at home. I made this for dinner and meal time went like a breeze for my toddler!
Throw in any vegetables or cheese of your choice.

 

 

Get Ready:

• 1 &1/2 cup penne pasta
• 1/2 cup pasta sauce, more doesn't hurt
• 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• hand full of frozen broccoli

 

Go:

 

• Pre heat oven to 375F. Grease a baking dish and set aside.
• Cook pasta according to package instructions. also throw in the frozen broccoli inthe water cooking the pasta. drain pasta and broccoli and set aside.
• Add the tomato/ pasta sauce to the cooked pasta, broccoli and toss well.
• Add a spoonful of pasta sauce to the bottom of the baking dish.
• Spoon the pasta i nthe baking dih and spread evenly.
• Top it with shredded mozzarella and parmesan.
• Bake till the cheese bubbly.

Turn off the oven and serve hot.