Achari Baingan Recipe | Spicy Brinjal with Pickle spices

Achari Baingan recipe with step by step photos.Brinjal is one of my favorite vegetables and I love to eat it mostly in the form of stuffed varieties.I have already posted many stuffed Brinjal curries like Stuffed Brinjals with fresh Coconut,Stuffed Brinjal with Onion and Bagara Baingan.Today I am posting a quick and easy Achari baingan recipe where brinjal is cooked in the pickle spices and mustard oil which imparts a nice achari flavor to the curry.I have tried various versions like the gravy kind, with and without onion and I liked this version the best.It is very simple and quick which does not include any grinding or chopping apart from the brinjals.

I highly recommend to use Indian baby brinjals or Indian long brinjals for this recipe but not chinese eggplants or aurbergines(bharta wala brinjal.Also try not to skip any of the spices or mustard oil in the recipe as that gives the typical achari flavor to the curry,I have even added carom seeds but it is entirely optional.You can even coarsely grind the spices and add to the oil instead of the whole spices.

Check out other brinjal recipes in my blog:

• Bagara Baingan
• Begun Bhaja | Bengali style Brinjal fry
• Brinjal-Soya Chunks Curry
• Brinjal Stir fry-with Curry powder
• Kalchina Vankaya Pacchadi | Roasted Brinjal Chutney
• Rava Vangibath
• Vangi Poha | Eggplant Poha
• Vangibath/Eggplant Rice-Karnataka Style
• Vankaya Kobbari Karam | Stuffed Brinjals with fresh Coconut
• Vankaya Kothimeera Karam | Aromatic Brinjal Curry with Coriander
• Vankaya Ullipaya Karam/Stuffed Brinjal with Onion

Here is how to make achari baingan recipe with step by step photos.

Achari Baingan Recipe:

Serves 2 | Recipe source:here

Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 20 mins | Total time: 30 mins

Cuisine: North Indian | Category: Side dish

Ingredients:

6-8 small round Brinjals or 2 long Brinjals

a sprig of Curry leaves

2 tbsp Coriander leaves,chopped

1.5 tsp grated Ginger

2 tsp Coriander powder

1 tsp Amchur powder

1 tsp Red chili powder

1/2 tsp Garam masala

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

a pinch of Asafoetida

1/4 tsp Sugar

Salt,to taste

to temper:

2-3 tbsp Mustard oil or any other vegetable oil

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1/2 tsp Fennel seeds

1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds

1/2 tsp Nigella seeds(Kalonji)

1/2 tsp Carom seeds(Ajwain),optional

Method:

• Wash and trim the brinjals into 8 long slices and put them in water to avoid discoloring.

• Heat mustard oil in a thick bottomed pan until it is smoking hot and switch off  the flame and leave it aside for a while.Again heat the oil and crackle mustard seeds,cumin seeds,fennel seeds,fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds and carom seeds.
• Add asafoetida,curry leaves and grated ginger and fry for half a minute.

• Reduce the flame and add turmeric powder,coriander powder and red chili powder and quickly saute and add drained brinjal pieces and mix it nicely until all the pieces are coated well with the spices.

• Fry the brinjal pieces for 2-3 mins and cover it and cook for 8-10 mins until done.You can sprinkle some water on the brinjals if you feel that the masalas are burning at the bottom.

• Add salt,garam masala, sugar and amchur powder and mix well and cook it without lid for another 3-4 mins.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve it hot with rotis/parathas/naans/kulchas.

Notes:

1. Mustard oil is highly recommended for this recipe as it adds a nice flavor,but if you do not like it you can either use sesame oil or any other regular oil.
2. Indian baby brinjals or Indian long brinjals work best for this recipe.Do not use either chinese brinjals or aubergines(bharta wala baingan) for the recipe.
3. You can even coarsely grind all the spices(mentioned under to temper) and add along with the other powdered spices(like coriander powder),but I prefer this way.
4. I did few changes like the addition of carom seeds which was not there in the original recipe.

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Danish Apple Cake Recipe | Easy Tea Cakes

Danish apple cake recipe with step by step photos.Tea cakes or Brownies are the most preferred ones at home rather than the cream based cakes.I have made this Danish apple cake several times and served to guests and I have even baked them in beautiful disposable loaf pans and it was loved by everyone.I have followed the recipe from one of my old books-Nita mehta cakes and bakes and must say that this recipe is a keeper and is tried and tested by me many times.The addition of walnuts and cinnamon powder complements the soft and juicy bite apple and must say that this was totally delicious.Try this quick and easy apple cake this Christmas.

Check out other Tea time bakes in my blog:

• Banana Bread
• Carrot Cake | Moist Carrot Cake Recipe
• Christmas Fruit Cake | Kerala Plum Cake
• Mango Pound Cake
• Pineapple Upside Down Cake-Step wise recipe
• Eggless-Dates Cake
• Eggless Marble Cake
• Eggless Parle-G Biscuit Cake
• Eggless Vanilla Sponge Cake | Eggless Tutti Frutti Cake 
• Eggless Orange flavored Sponge Cake

Here is how to make danish apple recipe with step by step photos:
Danish Apple Cake Recipe:
yields:8" square cake | Source: Nita Mehta
Prep time: 10 mins | Baking time: 35-40 mins | Total time: 50 mins
Cuisine: International | Category: Baking-Cakes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup(75 gms) All purpose flour
3/4 cup(75 gms) powdered Sugar
1 cup Red Apple,cored and chopped along with peel(from one big apple)
1/4 cup Walnuts
75 ml Oil
2 large Eggs
3/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp Baking powder
a pinch of Baking Soda
a pinch of Salt
1 tsp Vanilla essence

for topping:
1/2 Red Apple,cut into slices along with the peel
1 tbsp Brown sugar
1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder
1 tsp melted Butter

Method:

• Grease an 8"square tin with butter/oil and dust it with flour or you can line a parchment paper in the tin.
• Sift flour with baking powder,baking soda,salt and cinnamon powder.

• Separate egg whites and egg yolks.Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt and vanilla essence till stiff.Add sugar in batches and beat well after each addition.
• Put egg yolk one at a time.Beat well.

• Add oil and beat for half a minute.
• Add flour gradually and fold gently with a large wooden spoon.

• Fold 1 cup apples and chopped walnuts(dust the walnuts with flour before adding) into the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared tin and evenly arrange the remaining apple slices on the batter.

• Mix a 1 tbsp of brown sugar with 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder and 1 tsp melted powder in a bowl and sprinkle this mixture on the arranged apples in the tin.
• Bake in pre-heated oven at 170 deg C/300 deg F for 35-40 mins.Insert a skewer in the center to check the doneness of the cake.If it comes out clean,remove from oven.

• Let it cool and invert on a rack and cut into pieces and serve.

You can serve a warm/cold custard sprinkled with the cinnamon powder along with the cake.

Notes:

1. You can bake this in two small loaf tins or 1 big loaf tin too.
2. Walnuts add a nice bite in the cake,so do not miss it.
3. The cup I used in the recipe is 1 cup = 200ml.

Technorati Tags: apple cake,tea cakes,egg based tea cakes,baking recipes,apple tea cake,christmas cake recipes,tea time snacks

Eggless Wholewheat Chocolate Cake Recipe

Eggless wholewheat chocolate cake recipe with step by step photos.Chocolate cake is a favorite to most of us and I would never no to a piece of chocolate cake as it is always tempting.But we restrict ourselves to eat less as it is usually made out of flour(maida) and butter,though sometimes I go overboard and eat more and feel guilty later.Also when I prepare any bake for my son I like to do it with wheat flour rather than the regular white flour.This recipe of wholewheat chocolate cake comes to rescue under such circumstances.I have tried this cake a couple of times and it came out well.The only change I usually do in this recipe is to use cold milk instead of cold water as the cake tastes bit rich with the usage of milk rather than the water in the recipe.The cake is also very moist because of the usage of COLD water in the recipe.I have mentioned few variations in the notes in case if you want to try the recipe.

Check out other eggless cakes recipes in my blog here:

• Eggless Chocolate Banana Bread-low fat version
• Eggless-Dates Cake, Eggless Marble Cake
• Eggless Sponge Gateau with Strawberry Cream Icing
• Eggless Vanilla Sponge Cake | Eggless Tutti Frutti Cake 
• Eggless Orange flavored Sponge Cake
• Eggless Cocoa Walnut Brownies
• Eggless 2 mins Instant Microwave Mug Brownie/Cake
• Eggless Parle-G Biscuit Cake
• Eggless Chocolate Cake

Here is how to make eggless wholewheat chocolate cake recipe with step by step photos:

Eggless Wholewheat Chocolate Cake:

Yields: 1 loaf or 7" round tin | Source: Vegrecipesofindia

Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 35 mins | Total time: 45 mins

Cuisine: World | Category: Desserts/Snack

Ingredients:

dry ingredients:

1 cup(120 gms) Whole wheat flour(1 cup=250ml)

3 tbsp Cocoa powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

a pinch of Salt

for wet ingredients:

3/4 cup(150 gms) Sugar

1 cup(250 ml) Cold Water

1/4 cup Oil

1 tbsp Lemon juice/Vinegar

1/2 tsp Vanilla essence

Method:

• Grease a loaf tin or 7" round tin with oil and line with parchment paper.
• Preheat the oven at 180 deg C/350 deg F for 10 mins.

• Sieve wholewheat flour with cocoa powder,baking soda and salt a couple of times and keep it ready.

• In a bowl take sugar and add cold water and mix it until the sugar melts.Add oil and lemon juice and mix it nicely until you get uniform mixture.

• Add vanilla essence and mix it again.
• Now add the sieved flour-cocoa mixture to the wet ingredients and mix it nicely until you get a homogeneous mixture with out any lumps.The batter will be slightly on the thinner side.

• Pour it in the prepared pan and tap it to remove the air bubbles and bake it in the preheated oven at 180deg C for 35-40 mins until the cake is done.To check the doneness of the cake you need to inset a toothpick in the center ,if it comes clean which indicates that it is done.

• Remove the tin and let it cool for 8-10mins on the counter and gently loosen the edges with a knife and gently invert on the wire rack and let it cool completely.

Cut into slices and serve as a snack or decorate with chocolate ganache or cocoa frosting and serve as a dessert.

Notes:

1. To make ganache: heat 1 cup cream over medium flame until it is hot(you do not need it bubbling, just hot enough to melt the chocolate) and pour over 2 cups chocolate chips and whisk it nicely until you get an uniform smooth ganache mixture and let it become slightly warm.Pour this ganache over the cake and decorate it with sprinkles or cocoa powder for a simple celebration cake.
2. Use good quality cocoa powder and good quality chocolate for a richer taste.
3. You can even frost the cake with cocoa frosting or chocolate icing.
4. I have used 1 cup cold milk instead of 1 cup cold water and still it worked well and liked the taste of cake made with milk than the water.You can even use half and half of cold milk and cold water.Make sure you use cold water/milk not the room temperature water/milk.
5. You can make the cake with regular flour or half and half too.
6. You can replace oil with the melted butter(at room temperature)in the recipe but it needs to be beaten nicely as it is difficult to incorporate butter to the cold water.

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Kala Masoor Pulao | Whole Masoor Pulav Recipe

Kala masoor pulao recipe with step by step photos.Pulao varieties appear in my menu mostly over the weekends as I would like to spend less time in the kitchen and these pulao varieties are quite easy to prepare.Apart from the various vegetable pulav I like to prepare this kala masoor pulav as this recipe uses both vegetables and lentils in the same recipe and yet it is not mushy like khichdi.I prefer the version without vegetables if I have to prepare it for guests as the lentils add nutty texture to the pulao.This pulav is prepared like any other pulao just that the addition of lentils add a texture and nice taste to the pulao.You can pair it with a simple onion raita or boondi raita or any spicy vegetable gravy and papad,it tastes delicious.

Check out other pulao recipes in my blog:

• Avarekalu(Hyacinth Beans) Pulav 
• Babycorn Pulao
• Capsicum-Potato Pulav
• Coconut Milk Vegetable Pulav
• Methi Pulao | Fenugreek Leaves Pilaf
• Mixed Vegetable Pulav
• Paneer Pulao
• Peas Pulav
• Saffron Rice | Saffron Pulao 
• Soya Chunks Pulao
• Spicy Corn Pulav
• Tawa Pulav-Mumbai Style

Here is how to make kala masoor pulao recipe with step by step photos:
Kala Masoor Pulao Recipe:

Serves 2 | Author: Prathibha

Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 30 mins | Total time: 40 mins

Cuisine: Indian | Category: Main course

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati Rice

1/2 cup Whole Red lentils(Black Masoor)

1/4 cup Carrot,chopped

1/4 cup Peas

1/3 cup thick curd,beaten

1 large Onion,chopped

2 tsp Ginger-Garlic paste

2-3 Green chilies,slit

1/3 tsp Garam masala or Biryani Pulav masala

2-3 Bay leaves

1" Cinnamon stick

3-4 Cloves

2-3 Green Cardamom

1/2 tsp Shahjeera

2 tbsp Oil/Ghee

Salt,to taste

Method:

• Soak whole red lentils in water for 2-3 hrs and wash the lentils and keep aside.Wash the basmati rice and soak it for 10 mins.
• In a pressure cooker heat ghee and crackle shahijeera and add bay leaves,cloves,cinnamon stick and cardamom and fry for half a minute.

• Add chopped onions,slit green chilies and ginger-garlic paste and fry until the onions wilt.
• Now add chopped carrot and peas and fry for a minute and then add soaked and drained whole red lentils and fry for a minute and add garam masala and salt and mix nicely.

• Add soaked and drained rice and mix it gently and add beaten curd and mix it nicely and cook until the water content from the curd evaporates.

• Add 2.5 cups of water and let it come to a boil and close the pressure cooker and cook it for one whistle and simmer it for 7-8 mins.

• Once the pressure is dropped leave it untouched for 5-10 mins and then gently fluff up the rice with a fork.

Serve it hot with Onion raitha or Boondi raita or Vegetable raita or any vegetable gravy.

Notes:

1. The addition of vegetables is entirely optional and I like it more without the addition of vegetables as the lentils add a nutty texture to the pulav.
2. You can increase the spice level according to your wish and if you want it more masaledar add more 
3. garam masala in the recipe.
4. I recommend you to do this pulav in the cooker as the lentils get cooked properly.However you can cook in a thick kadai but make sure you add little extra water so that the lentils get cooked and cook it over low flame.

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