Minty Cheese Paratha

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi All,

I would love to prepare this everyday, because my younger daughter loves it. I am happy that she loves something good food... And ask me!! I am always ready for CHEESE and that too if it is with Mint!! 

A very tasty combo and perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I usually prepare this for an early dinner. A very common paratha, but if you stuff the same with some scrambled paneer, what a healthy way to start your day.

Mint or Pudina is always there in my fridge or many times I keep the mint chutney ready in the refrigerator. I will be waiting for the summer as I dry these fresh mint leaves, powder it and store it again in the fridge.

Mint gives you a very fresh feeling. Add it in the butter milk and have it in the Summer noon. See how fresh you feel.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

Wheat flour - 1 cup

Salt to taste

Oil - 1 tsp

Sugar - 1 tsp

Water to make the dough.

Mix all the ingredients except water. Keep on adding little water to make the flour into soft dough.

Keep it aside.

For Stuffing:

Fresh Mint or Pudina - 1 small bunch, cleaned, washed and finely chopped

Mozzarella Cheese - 1 cup, grated

Salt to taste

White pepper powder - 1 tsp

Mix all the ingredients and keep it aside.(Not for  long time)

Divide the dough into big lime size balls.

Take one ball, roll it to make a big puri size.

Spread the cheese and mint mixture(About big one spoon or more if you like more cheesy paratha) evenly.

Fold it to give square shape(shown in the photo)

Slowly roll the parathas into square and bigger size.

Roast the parathas with little oil on both the sides.

Serve hot with pickle or sauce(I don't recommend) or some wet chutney. I love to roll it and have it just like that to enjoy the cheese in each bite.

Sending it to PJ's Herbs and Flowers In My Platter.

I know I am late, but got confused with the last date and forgot to check. I kept the post half ready before only,  As there was a time constraint, I could not post it before 15th. I am sorry for the same PJ. Hope to maintain the time in the future.

Keep Smiling,

Fresh chana green rice(ಕಡಲೆ ಕಾಳು ಅನ್ನ )

Tried and tasted by Nivedita

Hi all,

One more interesting and very tasty rice which I love the most and the whole year I wait for this, as I have to prepare this only during November till January end.

We get this only from November till January. I love to eat this just like that. (We call it Kadli geeda in Kannada). Great time pass when chatting with your friends! But I take care not to spread all the skin and leaves on the ground and my environment dirty.

When I was browsing the net for this, I got these links, which explains in detail about this. (http://mathildasanthropologyblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/the-turkish-domestication-of-the-chickpea/)

and (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cicer_arietinum_HabitusFruits_BotGardBln0906a.jpg)

And the rice prepared using these chana really has different taste! NO other dry chana can replace this taste as each chana has its own taste. After Avare kalu I love this one very much. But we make lot of dishes with Avare kalu, and this girly chana (What!???!? Now a days, without my knowledge,  I am getting funny words for my kitchen things, girly because of its beautiful fresh curves on its body!!!) is used to make very few dishes.

Here is the recipe,

Long grain or normal rice - 1 cup(soak in a water for a minute and keep it to dry at least for 15 minutes.

Fresh chana(ಕಡಲೆ ಕಾಳು) - 1 cup

Oil - 2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Fry and paste the below ingradients:

(Go on adding one by one after each minute in a tbsp oil and fry till nice aroma comes)

Onion - 1 big, (this needs 2 minutes to fry). After the onion is fried go on adding others.

Fresh coconut -1/4 cup

Ginger - 1/2"

Green chilly - 2 to 3

Cardamom - 1

Cinnamon - 1"

Tomato - 1 small

Pudina (Mint leaves) - 1 bunch

When cool, make into a fine paste and keep aside

Lime juice - 1 tbsp

Heat oil in a cooker. Add the ready paste and fry till it starts leaving oil on the side. Now add fresh chana and salt. Cook it for a minute and add rice. Mix properly and fry for a minute or so. Add hot or warm water, according to how much the rice needs water. (usually what I do is, I do not measure the water for rice, but pour the water till the rice is just covered, but each rice has its own quality. So be sure about the water intake of the rice or else it will turn into kichadi!!)

Cover the cooker with lid and give two whistle. When done, add lime juice before transferring into serving bowl.

Fresh chana green rice is ready to serve. Enjoy each bite of chana!

Keep smiling,