Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a popular dish made using Spinach and Paneer.Though there are many methods,I follow this method from Tarla Dalal's cookbook which is simple and tasty too.

Ingredients:

Spinach(Palak) chopped	3 cups
Paneer cubed	½ cup
Onion	1
Tomato	1
Ginger finely chopped	1 tsp
Garlic finely chopped	1 tsp
Green chilli slit	1
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Garam masala powder	½ tsp
Oil	1 tblsp
Salt	as needed

Method:

• Blanch Spinach leaves in a pan of boiling water till it turns bright green.Rinse immediately in cold water and allow to cool.Blanch the tomato in water,remove the skin and puree it.
• Toast the Paneer cubes in a fry pan till golden colour and drop in a bowl of warm water till further use.
• Blend the blanched spinach leaves to a puree.
• Heat oil in a pan,add green chilli,finely chopped ginger and garlic and fry for some time.Add the chopped onion and fry till it turns golden in colour.
• Add the Tomato puree,turmeric powder,salt and cook till the raw smell of tomato goes off.
• Add the spinach puree,paneer cubes,garam masala powder and cook in low flame for 4-5 mins till it blends well with the tomato mixture.serve hot.

Note:

• If you prefer more spicy,you can add some chilli powder while frying the tomatoes.
• you can either deep fry/toast the paneer and add to the gravy or add it as such.

Methi Thepla

Methi Thepla is a flavorful,healthy Indian flat bread made using fenugreek leaves.I like to have it with a bowl of thick yogurt sprinkled with some chat masala powder.

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat flour	2 cups
Gram flour(Besan)	1 tblsp
Methi leaves chopped	1 cup
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Chilli powder	1 tsp
Coriander powder	2 tsp
Cumin powder	1 tsp
Yogurt	2 tblsp
Oil	1 tblsp
Salt	as needed

Method:

• Take out fenugreek leaves and discard the stem.Clean well,chop them finely and keep aside.
• Heat 1 tsp oil in a fry pan and add the chopped fenugreek leaves.Fry for a minute till it just shrinks down.Transfer to a mixing bowl and add yogurt,salt and all the powders.Mix well.Add the wheat flour and gram flour and prepare a dough using water similar to chapathi dough.
• Grease with remaining oil ,cover and rest for 30 mins to 1 hour.
• Take golf ball sized balls from the dough and roll to chapathi of medium thickness.
• Heat a griddle and cook the methi thepla on both sides using little oil till golden brown sides appear on both sides.
• Serve it with yogurt,pickle of your choice.

Note:

• Frying the fenugreek leaves before adding to the flour is optional.You can ddirectly add it to the flour and proceed.

Bhindi Masala

Bhindi Masala is a simple dish of ladies finger cooked with onion,tomato and other spices.It pairs well with chapathi/roti.

Ingredients:

Ladies finger cut into pieces	1 ½ cups
Onion	1
Tomato	1
Chilli powder	½ tsp
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Garam masala powder	1/2 tsp
Amchur powder	1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves	to garnish
Salt	as needed
Oil	3 tsp

Method:

• Wash the ladies finger and pat them dry.Cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Heat a fry pan with little oil and add the ladies finger,sprinkle little salt and cook for 3-4 mins.Keep aside.
• Heat oil in a kadai,add the onions and fry till it turns golden brown.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and fry till tomatoes become soft.Now add all the masala powders,salt and cook well till the raw smell of the masala goes off. 
• Add little water,salt and cook for 2-3 mins.
• Finally add the ladies finger and mix well with the gravy and cook in low flame for 3-4 mins.
• Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and serve.

Note:

• Frying the ladies finger separately in a pan and adding to the gravy is optional.You can add the ladies finger directly after frying the masala,but I prefer frying separately before adding to the gravy.

My First award

    I am very happy to receive my first award. Charul of Tadka Masala passed me a "Very inspiring Blogger" award.Thank you charul for this wonderful award.

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Rules to accept this award:

1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Post the award image to your page.
3. Tell 7 facts about yourself.

•  I enjoy baking.
•  I have great interest in health,fitness and beauty.
•  I enjoy listening to music.
•  Love shopping and going out.
•  Ina garten's cookery show is one of my favourites.
•  Love to visit places with natural beauty.

4. Nominate 15 other blogs and inform them about that they have been   nominated.
 Here are some of my favourite bloggers..

• kitchen delicacies
• zestysouthindiankitchen
• nansyum
• uma kitchen
• Gayathris cookspot
• en veetu kitchen
• Priyas versatile recipes
• Padhus kitchen
• Raks kitchen
• Nivedanams
• Jeyashris kitchen
• laavys kitchen
• chitras food book
• Great secret of life
• The chef and her kitchen