How to make Homemade Crispy Rava Masala Dosa | Suji Dosa | Semolina Dosa

Rava Masala Dosa is a thin crispy dosa with semolina, rice flour, all purpose flour, whisk curd and other ingredients. It's an instant dosa recipe which does not require fermentation.

Dosa is the most popular South Indian dish which is eaten on a daily basis for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is eaten with Sambhar, and Chutneys like Mint, Coconut, Peanut, Tomato Onion, etc. It is just not eaten in southern but eaten in every part of our country.

Well, there are different types of dosas like Masala Dosa, Rava Masala Dosa, Sada Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Moong Dosa etc.

Here I'm making my favorite Instant Rava Dosa which you can make in 40-45 minutes and it taste delicious.

The dosa batter is made with semolina, rice flour, all purpose flour, whisk curd, salt, cumin seeds, black pepper. Add eno after 15 minutes, and water again. If your batter becomes very thick you can add more water until it becomes thin.

Adding onion tomato filling in the rava dosa is totally  optional. If you making without any filling or Masala just make sure to add more water in the dosa batter.

You can make filling of your choice, add anything which you like to eat. And fill the Masala in the dosa till it turns crisp or golden brown. 

I recommend you all just try this delicious recipe. This Dosa recipe is made for 8-10 people.

Dosa Batter

1. Combine semolina, rice flour, all purpose flour, whisk curd, and 1/2 cup of water in a deep bowl and mix it well.

2. Keep it aside for 15 minutes. Add cumin seeds, black pepper add salt. Whisk again and mix 1½ - 2 to 1 cup of water. Be careful while adding the water in the batter and adjust the consistency to get the smooth texture.

3. Add 1/2 tbsp of eno in the batter and mix it well.

Onion Potato Filling (Masala)

1. Heat the oil in the pan. Add in the mustard seeds let it splutter. Add chopped garlic and grated ginger. Sauté until it tell fragrant for around 1 minute. Add in the curry leaves and mix it well.

2. Than add 2 chopped onions till it turns translucent or for 4-5 minutes.

3. Add in the mashed potatoes and mix it well. Sauté it for 3-5 minutes

4. Add in the Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder, chopped green chilli, Salt to taste and mix it well. Sauté for 2-4 minutes.

5. Add in the cilantro leaves mix on medium flame for a minute. Switch off the flame and the onion potato filling is ready.

Prepare the Dosa and add the Onion Potato Filling (Masala)

1.  Grease the tawa with oil. Heat the pan on medium flame. Pour 1/2 cup of dosa batter on in the circular manner and cook it on the medium flame. Put the oil outside the corners of the dosa.

2. Flip the dosa till it turns golden brown from one side.

3. Add onion potato filling (masala) in the dosa fold over from both the sides. Spread oil once again outside the corner until crisp.

4. Serve hot with Sambhar, coconut chutney, Tomato, onion chutney or mint chutney.

If you are interested in checking out more delicious and hearty recipes check out my other recipes like 

 

Medu Vada

Sambhar

Coconut Chutney

Mint chutney 

Onion-tomato chutney

Peanut Chutney

How to make Homemade Crispy Rava Masala Dosa | Suji Dosa | Semolina Dosa

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 12-15 Dosa
Author: The Food Root

Ingredients

 

For making the Dosa Batter

1 cup semolina, finely coarsed
1/2 cup rice flour
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/2 cup whisk curd
1/2 tbsp cumin seeds
1/2 tbsp crushed black bepper
Salt to taste
1½ - 2 cups water
1/2 tbsp Eno

For Onion Potato Filling (Masala)

4 tbsp Oil
2 Onions, chopped
4 Boiled Potatoes, mashed
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tbsp coriander powder
1/4 tbsp turmeric powder
1 green chilli, chopped
1/2 tbsp mustard seeds
1 inch ginger, grated
4-5 garlic cloves, chopped
handful of curry leaves
handful of coriander leaves
salt to taste

Dosa Batter

1. Combine semolina, rice flour, all purpose flour, whisk curd, and 1/2 cup of water in a deep bowl and mix it well.

2. Keep it aside for 15 minutes. Add cumin seeds, black pepper and salt. Whisk again and mix around 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water. Be careful while adding the water in the batter and adjust the consistency to get the smooth texture.

3. Add 1/2 tbsp of eno in the batter and mix it well.

Onion Potato Filling (Masala)

1. Heat the oil in the pan. Add in the mustard seeds let it splutter. Add chopped garlic and grated ginger. Sauté until it tell fragrant for around 1 minute. Add in the curry leaves and mix it well.

2. Than add 2 chopped onions till it turns translucent or for 4-5 minutes.

3. Add in the mashed potatoes and mix it well. Sauté it for 3-5 minutes

4. Add in the Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder, chopped green chilli, Salt to taste and mix it well. Sauté for 2-4 minutes.

5. Add in the cilantro leaves mix on medium flame for a minute. Switch off the flame and the onion potato filling is ready.

Prepare the Dosa and add the Onion Potato Filling (Masala)

1. Grease the tawa with oil. Heat the pan on medium flame.

2. Pour 1/2 cup of dosa batter on in the circular manner and cook it on the medium flame. Put the oil outside the corners of the dosa.

3. Flip the dosa till it turns golden brown from one side. 

4. Add onion potato filling (masala) in the dosa fold over from both the sides. Spread oil once again outside the corner until crisp.

5. Serve hot with Sambhar, coconut chutney, Tomato, onion chutney or mint chutney.

Notes

1. If your batter becomes very thick, you can adjust it by adding water.

2. Adding cumin seeds and black pepper in the batter is an optional.

3. Infact adding onion tomato filling in the rava dosa is also optional.

4. If you making without any filling or Masala just make sure to add more water in the batter.

5. You can make filling of your choice, add anything which you like to eat. And fill the Masala in the dosa till it turns crisp or golden brown.

5. Using the right kind of tawa or iron skillet is very important to make a good tawa so that it doesn't stick on the tawa.

Restaurant Style Malai Kofta Recipe

Malai Kofta is a North Indian dish originated from the Mughlai cuisine. This dish is buttery rich, soft and sweet in taste. It goes well with naan or steamed rice.

Malai means heavy cream and Kofta refers to the paneer (cottage cheese) khoya balls. It’s a rich dish perfect for parties and special occasions. Malai Kofta is a quick and easy main dish that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.

This dish is such a hit at all Indian restaurants. There is nothing better than trying out this yummy restaurant style malai kofta recipe. It's one of the best vegetarian punjabi recipes.

My Mother recently surprised us with this dish. It's already been made twice this week at our home. The moment I looked at this dish, I couldn't resist taking the picture for my blog and post it for you guys. I'm super duper excited to share the recipe with you all. I tried this recipe and it came perfect like restaurant style. It is mainly served for lunch and dinner with naan and steamed rice.

The stuffing of koftas are made from mashed khoya, grated paneer (cottage cheese), mashed potato and nuts. Then they are deep fried into hot oil. When the koftas are ready they are gently dipped into rich gravy. This gravy is made from onion, tomatoes and indian spices. It's butterly and bright yellow in color. Malai Kofta is mostly sweet in taste but i always try to tame it a bit.

It's one of the easy malai kofta recipe. The recipe is wonderfully rich, hope you guys love it. Please, let me know in the comments below!

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Malai Kofta Recipe

Serves : 4 People
Preparation time : 15 minutes
Total time : 30 minutes
Author : The Food Root

Ingredients

For gravy

2 tablespoons, butter
1/2 inch long, ginger, grated
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon, salt or as per taste
3/4 teaspoon, cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon, red chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon, turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon, garam masala
3/4 teaspoon, coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon, sugar
2 green chillies, chopped
1/2 cup, water
1/2 cup, milk
1/4 cup, fresh cream
1/2 cup, khoya

For kofta

Oil for deep frying
1 cup or 100 gram, grated cottage cheese
1/2 cup or 50 gram, mashed khoya
1 mashed potato
2 tablespoons, corn flour
1/2 teaspoon, salt
1/2 teaspoon, garam masala
1/2 cup, cashews and raisins, chopped

Method

1. Heat butter in a pan, add ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Add chopped onion, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Next add chopped tomatoes and cook for another 3-4 minutes or so.

2. Then add salt, cumin powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, coriander powder, sugar and chopped green chilli. Mix everything well. Stir it nicely and cook them on low flame.

3. Add 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of fresh cream and 1/2 cup of khoya into the pan and stir occasionally, or for 6-7 minutes.

4. Next, to make kofta, we will take grated cottage cheese, mashed khoya, mashed potato, corn flour, salt, garam masala, chopped cashews, raisins in a bowl. Mix well and knead them into a dough and divide the mixture into the smooth balls.

5. While shaping the balls for koftas, heat the oil in a pan for deep-frying them. Once the oil is hot, dip koftas gently into the hot oil.

6. Once it’s browned from the one side, flip it over and do the same, and place it on the tissue paper.

7. Dip koftas into the gravy just 5-10 minutes before serving and enjoy!

Notes

* You can also stuff kofta with grated paneer, mashed potato and nuts and not add khoya into it but I recommend to add khoya in the koftas as it bring more creaminess and sweet texture in the recipe.

Sautéed Broccoli And Carrots

Heat up your pan and get ready to dig in to the best sautéed broccoli and carrots recipe that goes well with noodles, steamed rice or a vegetable platter.

This dish is a crispy and crunchy which will definitely surprise you! It’s a party in your mouth with lot of explosions. A perfect vegan dish for anytime of the day and gets ready in less than 15 minutes.

Sautéed broccoli and carrots is a colourful and delicious side dish. It's super simple and super easy to make. I make these sautéed vegetables recipe so often at our house, as my family love this recipe. I make this dish with carrots, broccoli and bell peppers as these are my favorite vegetables.

Broccoli is the best of all the cruciferous vegetables. It can be eaten raw, but blanching it in boiling water helps it give to a more crisp-tender texture. It protect your body from various diseases. It is rich in dietary fiber, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants. t’s a rich source of Vitamin A, K, C and many other minerals.

Carrots are the versatile vegetable and can be used in various dishes. It has a crunchy texture and a sweet taste. It comes in red, orange and yellow color which is due to pigments. Carotene makes the carrot orange and anthocyanin makes it bit yellow and red. They are rich in Vitamin A, B8, C, L, Folate, Potassium, Iron, Copper and Manganese.

Bell Peppers gives colorful, crispy, crunchy, sweet and salty flavour to the recipe. It comes in three colors - green, red and yellow. You can use pepper of any colour in the dish. They are an excellent source of vitamin A and C and are also a good source of dietary fibre, vitamin E, B6 and folate.

I typically serve this comfort meal as a side dish but you can serve it as an easy appetizer. It is a nutrient dense meal, so tender and tasty which fills you up quickly and tastes best with noodles, steamed rice or a vegetable platter.

How To Make Stir-Fry Vegetables?

It requires basic ingredients you likely have on hand like -  broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, olive oil, a splash of vinegar and flavourful herbs and spices.

1. Add harder veggies first, followed by softer veggies.
2. Only cook the veggies until they’re tender and crisp, but do not overlook them.
3. Feel free to substitute your favourite veggies.
4. Add your choice of flavourful herbs and spices.
5. Add your choice of sauces or condiments, which add flavour boost to your food, and make it savoury, sweet or spicy.
6. Extra virgin olive oil is perfect for sautéing vegetables but in case you don’t have olive oil in hand, you can use butter.

This recipe is a beautiful blend of carrots, broccoli and bell peppers. I totally adore the combination of these beautiful veggies. I'm a great fan of these veggies, but feel free to substitute your favourite veggies. You can control your spice level according to your taste preferences and requirements.

I love making this recipe a lot. It has so much flavours and textures. It tastes best when vinegar and cayenne powder is added, and is served hot.


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To prepare this yummy dish, first blanch broccoli in hot water then drain them into the bowl of cold water and strain them again and keep it aside for some time. Next, heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat, and add carrots and stir-fry them for 3 minutes or until they are tender. Add bell peppers, stir-fry for 2 minutes but do not overcook. Add the broccoli and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute. Then add cayenne powder and stir-fry for 1 minute. Season with salt to taste and sauté them for 2 more minutes. Drizzle vinegar and sauté for 1-2 minutes and enjoy.

Make it exciting, but not bland or boring. Add your favourite veggies and condiments and your kids will love it!

Check out my other post on easy and yummy stir-fry recipe - Sautéed Broccoli with Bell Peppers and enjoy!!

Sautéed Broccoli and Carrots

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 3 people
Author: The Food Root

Ingredients

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or butter
2 large carrots (cut them into thin strips)
1 medium broccoli florets  (300 grams)
1 medium bell pepper (Remove the seeds and cut 1/4 inch slice off)
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp salt or as per taste
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tsp rice vinegar

Method

1. Bring in a large pot of water to boil. Meanwhile, fill a bowl with a cold water preferably with ice cubes in it. Set it aside. When the water is boiling, add 1/2 tbsp of salt and broccoli florets. After 3 minutes, remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon or drain the florets in a colander. Now plunge them into the bowl of cold water and after 1 minute, strain them again.

2. In a pan, heat 1 tbsp of virgin olive oil or butter. Reduce to low medium heat, when the oil is hot enough, add carrots and sauté approximately for 3 minutes or until they are tender.

3. Then, add bell peppers, and stir well for 2 minutes or until they are tender, but do not overcook.

4. Add the broccoli and toss it for 2 minutes.

5. Next, add garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute.

6. Season to taste with salt and cayenne powder and stir well for 1 minute.

7. Drizzle vinegar and continue to stir-fry about 2 minutes. Serve Sautéed Broccoli And Carrots and enjoy!

Notes

1. In addition to the florets, the broccoli stems are edible. The stems work well in a stir fry recipes but make sure to peel the skin and cut them into thin circular shape.

2. You can drizzle any sauce you want like - soy sauce, miso sauce or barbecue sauce to enhance the flavour of the meal.

3. You can add lemon and this will enrich your recipe.


* Keep it simple and find vegetables you actually enjoy eating, and try Sautéed Broccoli and Carrots and let me know how you like it!!

Masala Khichdi | Vegetable Khichdi Recipe | Makar Sankranti Khichdi

What could be more wholesome and comforting than a big bowl of masala khichdi. A full meal on it's own and super easy to make! If you are looking for something hearty and warm, make this dish immediately.

Khichdi is a common delicacy to eat during Makar Sankranti. It’s a comfort food as it is quick to prepare and light on stomach. 

Sankranti also known as Pongal, is the ‘harvest festival’, falls on the 14th of January each year. This festival marks the beginning of spring season and is celebrated with lots of pomp and fervour. Making Khichdi is just a part of the celebration.

Khichdi is traditionally made with rice and lentils, tempered with Indian spices. It’s a nutritious meal for both kids and adults, and mostly considered as a sick food. 

Masala khichdi is a delicious take on the famous traditional Indian khichdi. It's a fulfilling meal where rice and lentils are cooked with vegetables and fragrant spices. Not only it’s healthy, it’s a soul satisfying meal with versions that are so different depending on the regional influences. 

Unlike other traditional simple khichdi recipe you’ve seen, this recipe is made with lots of veggies and flavourful spices. It’s a satisfying dish, perfect for lunch or dinner. 

Vegetable masala khichdi can be cooked in one pan but I like to cook the dish in two. I pressure cooked rice and lentils for 2-3 whistles, and cooked vegetables in a separate pan. This also retained the texture of rice and lentils and saved lot of my time. 

It’s an open end recipe and it’s variations are endless. I added moong lentils you can use any lentil of your choice. You can add veggies of your choice and add brightness to your dish. I added loads of seasonal vegetables like; potatoes, onions, fresh green peas, capsicum, cauliflower and carrots, and, tempered with fragrant whole spices - cardamom, cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon, cumin seeds and pinch of asafoetida, along with some ginger, garlic, green chilis.

Top it with ghee and accompany these delicious dish with yoghurt, pickle or papad. You can also make this dish without onion and garlic on the eve on Sankranti. And, if you want to make this dish vegan, than substitute clarified butter with your choice of vegan oil. 

Do try this recipe, I'd love to hear how it turns out for you?

Masala Khichdi

Yield: 4-6 servings

Preparation time: 15 minutes 

Cooking time: 30 minutes 

Author: The Food Root

Ingredients 

1/2 cup rice,

1/2 cup moong lentils

2 tbsp clarified butter (ghee)

1/2 tsp cumin seeds 

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 cloves

1 bay leaf

1/2 inch ginger, grated

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

2 green chillies, finely chopped 

1 onion, chopped 

1 tomato, chopped

1 tsp salt or as per required

1 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp red chilli powder 

3/4 tsp coriander powder

1/2 garam masala

1 carrot, chopped

1 potato, chopped

1 capsicum or bell pepper, desseeded, chopped

1/2 cauliflower florets, chopped

1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas

5 cups water

handful of coriander leaves

Directions 

1. Wash rice and moong lentils together. Allow them to soak for atleast 15 minutes.

2. Drain the excess water and transfer them into the pressure cooker. Add some salt, turmeric powder, bay leaf and 5 cups of water and pressure cook it for 2 whistles on medium flame. When done, keep it aside.

3. Meanwhile, chop all the veggies; potatoes, onions, tomatoes, capsicum, cauliflower, carrots and keep it aside.

4. Heat a pan over a medium flame, add cumin seeds, cinnamon and cloves. When the seeds starts spluttering, add pinch of asafoetida.

5. Add ginger, garlic, green chillies, onion and some salt. Sauté everything together and let them turn golden in colour on medium heat for at least 3 minutes.

6. Next add chopped tomatoes. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, till the tomatoes starts to soften. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and coriander powder and mix it well. Let the mixture cook till the oil separates.

7. Add all the chopped veggies; potato, fresh peas, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower in the pan and give it nice mix. Cover with a lid and lower the heat from medium to low and cook for 4 minutes.

8. Remove the lid and cook the mixture for next 5 minutes, on a medium flame. Stir it occasionally.

9. Add add cooked rice and lentils in the pan and toss it with the vegetables mixture and continue to mix together for 3-4 minutes on a medium flame. 

10. Now, add some garam masala at the end and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

and turn off the flame.

11. Now, transfer the Masala Khichdi to a serving bowl and and garnish it with fresh coriander leaves.

12. Serve it with yogurt, pickle or papad and enjoy!

Notes

1. Soak rice and lentils for atleast 15 minutes .

2. You can use any type of lentils, but I prefer using moong lentils as it taste the best and it’s light on stomach.

3. To make this dish vegan, substitute clarified butter with your choice of vegan oil.

4. You can add your favorite veggies of your choice.

5. You can add more water later to adjust the consistency of the khichdi.

6. You can cook this dish in a instapot or a pressure cooker. 

7. Spices like cumin seeds, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf can be avoided. You can make it according to your taste and requirements.

Shahi Tukda Recipe | How To Make Shahi Tukda?

Shahi Tukda is a rich and creamy Indian dessert, where fried bread pieces are dipped in cardamom flavored milk syrup, layered and finished off with some crushed almonds, cashews and pistachios. Check out the step by step pictures for the full detailed recipe.

Diwali festivities has officially begun, and it's the nationwide excuse to indulge in the delicious treats of this season. Shahi Tukda is a perfect dessert to celebrate Diwali or any other occasion, cook it up as an after-meal dessert at home and enjoy. Be it adult or kid, no-one can resist this irresistibly rich yet light simple dessert.

Shahi Tukda is a traditional dessert from the royal city of Hyderabad. It's a perfect fall season dessert with rich flavors and takes less than 20 minutes to prepare! A favorite at holidays and a treat to serve your guests for any get together you are throwing or any special occasion for your family

Shahi Tukda is one is the easiest dessert which any beginner can try and enjoy. It has a beautiful aroma and is quite hard to resist. This dessert is made with 5 main ingredients milk, sugar, bread, nuts and cardamom. The flavor of this dessert comes from cardamom. You can also add pinch of saffron or a tablespoon of rose essence to the syrup.

Some people like their Shahi Tukda crisp but some people like it really soft. I usually like the soft version so i skip making the sugar syrup, but, if you are someone who like a nice crunch, then you can make a sugar syrup alternatively and dunk the toasted breads into it, for around 20-30 seconds.

I started with making flavored thickened milk syrup (rabri) by simmering the full cream milk on the stove and flavored it with cardamom and rose essence, and, the end result was far better than what i thought. Everyone in my family just loved it. You can also use condensed milk or milk powder but I prefer making the rabri with full cream milk.

Toast or deep-fry the bread pieces in a clarified butter, dip them into the prepared thickened milk syrup and arrange them on a serving plate. Sprinkle some nuts on top. Freeze for 30 minutes, then serve.

HOW TO MAKE SHAHI TUKDA (STEP BY STEP)

1. Boil 4 cups of milk in a saucepan. Once it's boiled, add sugar, cardamom and rose essence for flavor and mix it well. Add in the dry fruits, and stir continuously till the mixture started to reduce and thickened. Turn off the flame.

2. Cut 6 bread slices into diagonal shape. Heat one tablespoon of butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook the bread from both the sides till it becomes golden brown.

3. Dip the the bread toasts into the prepared thickened milk syrup and arrange them on a serving plate. Sprinkle some dry-fruits on top. Freeze for 30 minutes, then serve.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know what y'all think!
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SHAHI TUKDA RECIPE

Yield: 4 Servings
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20-30 minutes
Author: The Food Root

Ingredients

6 Freshly Baked White Bread Slices, Purchased or Homemade
4 cups Full cream Milk or Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon Rose essence (optional)
5 tablespoon Butter, room temperature
5-6 Cardamom pods, crushed
5-6 Almonds, sliced
5-6 Pistachios, chopped
Chopped mixed nuts for garnishing

Method

1. Heat milk in a non-stick pan. Stir and bring it to boil till it reduces half of its quantity. Add sugar, cardamom pods and rose essence for flavor and mix it well. Add in the crushed pistachios and almonds, and, stir occasionally to avoid milk sticking to the pan. Once it's reduced and thickened, turn off the flame and let it cool down to the room temperature.

2. Remove the edges of the bread with the knife and cut them into diagonal shape. Heat one tablespoon of butter in a non-stick skillet over medium low heat. Place the bread and cook it from the both the sides till it becomes crisp and golden brown.

3. Dip each crispy bread piece into the prepared thickened milk syrup for about 20 seconds and arrange them into the serving plate.

4. Pour the remaining milk syrup over the pudding. Sprinkle some pistachios and cashews over it. Freeze for 30 minutes, then serve.

Notes

1. Add sugar as per your taste.
2. For more flavoring, you may add a pinch of saffron to the milk syrup.
3. Instead of soaking the balls in sugar syrup, they are soaked in thickened milk syrup.
4. You can serve it warm or refrigerate it for later.

Paneer Nugget Casserole

Paneer Nugget Casserole that we made for lunch today, turned out so yum that i wanted to share the recipe with you all, right away!

This is a healthy, quick and easy side dish that combines the meaty texture of soya nuggets and paneer (Indian cottage cheese), studded with capsicum, tomatoes and peas, and, flavored with a medley of aromatic herbs and spices. You can enhance the flavor of this dish by adding some lime juice and coriander or mint. It tastes phenomenally well with freshly made lacha paratha and fried rice.

Soya are a great source of high quality protein, and are rich in vitamins and minerals. It's a nutrient rich plant protein that has all the essential amino acids, and make an excellent substitute for the meat-based products. You can buy the packet of soya nuggets in an Asian market, and, if you don't have an Asian market near you, you can easily find them online. Soya nuggets can be added in variety of dishes like biryani, pulao, manchurain, soya chunks curry and other stir fry dishes. They are soaked in hot salted water, until, they are soft and fluffy. Once soaked, drain and squeeze out all the excess water from them and they are ready to cook. Soaked soya nuggets should be kept in the refrigerator and used within 3 days.

Paneer, is the star ingredient of this dish. It gives a very mild and a rich creamy texture to this dish. You can either buy paneer from the market or make your own. It should be kept in the refrigerator and used within 2-3 days. I always pan-fry the paneer, so that, it retains it's shape as it cooks, soaks up the flavor, and, doesn't melts.

Paneer Nugget Casserole is an open-end recipe and it's variation are endless. You can always toss in few extra veggies and add brightness to your recipe. I always try to make it differently, depending on what is available at my home. Just keep the texture fairly chunky rather than finely chopping as it contrast well with Paneer and Soya Nuggets. You can control your spice level, mix in your favorite veggies and make it according to your taste preferences and requirements. So just follow your tastebuds and enjoy!

PANEER NUGGET CASSEROLE

Serves: 3 people
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Author: The Food Root

Ingredients

1 cup soya nutri nuggets
100 gms paneer (Indian cottage cheese), cut them into 1/2 inch cubes
1 large bell pepper, sliced and deseeded, cut them into 1 inch square pieces
1/4 cup peas, fresh or frozen
2 medium-size tomatoes, finely chopped
4 small green tomatoes, should be firm, and feel heavy in your hand, cut them into half (optional)
1/2 inch inch ginger, peeled, grated
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 green chillies, finely chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp chilli powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1 tsp salt or as per taste
1 tbsp lime juice (optional)
2 tbsp olive oil
chopped coriander leaves, garnishing

Method

1. Soak the soya nuggets in hot salted water for 10 minutes. Once they are soaked, wash few times, drain and squeeze out all the excess water from them and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan, gently add paneer, a pinch of salt and pan-fry them for about 3 minutes. Flip them over and let the other side also fry and keep aside.

3. Next, roast capsicum for 2 minutes. Keep stirring to avoid burning. After 2 minutes of roasting, transfer it to a bowl.

4. Now, heat oil in the same pan, and, add grated ginger, followed by chopped garlic cloves. Give it a stir and cook for 1 minute.

5. Add the chopped tomatoes over medium heat. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and well cooked.

6. Add the green tomatoes, sprinkle the salt, turmeric and coriander powder. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Then, add peas followed by cumin and chilli powder. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.

7. Add the soya nuggets and the roasted capsicum. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the nuggets and capsicum are softened.

8. Add the roasted paneer cubes into the pan. Mix it together to coat the spice on paneer cubes. Cook for 2 minutes.

9. After 2 minutes, check for salt and add any, if required. Now, add some garam masala at the end and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

10. Squeeze some lime juice and sprinkle chopped coriander leaves, give it a mix and serve hot.

Notes

1. You can add your favorite veggies or whatever is available at home. The idea is to make the dish more colorful and delicious.

2. Remember to pan-fry the paneer, so that, it retains it shape as it cooks, soaks up the flavor and doesn't melts.

3. Just keep the texture fairly chunky rather than finely chopping as it contrast well with Paneer and Soya Nuggets.