Paneer Pakoda

Its the last day of the 1st week, and here I present to you Paneer Pakoda. Simple to make but is a wonderful snack, no one can stop with just one. You will keep popping them as and when they are made. I say this out of experience as I was not even able to set a place to take a snap of this pakoda. As and when some one walks into the kitchen, they were popping it into their mouth. I managed the click the last batch in the kitchen itself (Pardon me for the bad picture)

Ingredients:

Paneer - 250 gm

Besan Flour - 1/2 cup

Rice Flour - 1 cup

Corn Flour - 1/2 cup

Maida - 1/2 cup

Red Chili powder - 1 tbsp

Salt - to taste

Oil - for deep fry

Method:

Drain water from Paneer and cut them into 1 inch pieces

Leave it aside

In a wide bowl add the flours and red chili powder

Mix well without any lumps

Add a little water and make a batter out of it.

Heat oil in a wide skillet wok

Dip each Paneer piece in this batter and deep fry it in hot oil

Remove it on a kitchen towel and serve hot with tomato sauce 

Paneer pakoda is being served at Blogging Marathon#18 and Kid's Delight-Evening snack hosted by Vardhini and started by Srivalli . Keep popping

Day 4 - Blogging Marathon - Peas Paneer Pulao

Yes Yes , I managed to post for 4 days in a row. This recipe is something close to my heart.I love the aroma of green peas in any rice. Every time I go to the market I definitely get them and try to incorporate them in some way in the cooking. Be it kichadi or any veggie subzi or curry, green peas will find its way. So much that if my dad sees green peas in any dish, he will immediately ask .. did you prepare this.

I just love them. I saw Divya's post on how to store (freeze) fresh green peas and felt happy that there are many people who love green peas like me. Be it a normal alu curry or even a cabbage curry, a handful of fresh peas definitely adds to the flavor and appeals to the eyes of the person who is gonna eat it. Add it to the salad you make your protein potion for the day is fulfilled. Plain boiled basmati rice along with a small amount of spice will not be appealing , just throw in some green peas, the color combination of fresh green against creamish white color of basmati rice will be loved by your cameras. My camera loves these yummy delectable combinations.

I somehow feel that the color combination of food that you serve is as important as the taste of the food. This reminds me , I have my cousin sister in law visiting us on Sunday along with her kids. I have the menu planned for them. Will post them along with the recipes after the marathon is done with.
Moving on to the day's recipe.. Its Peas Paneer Pulao. I prefer to call it like that rather than Paneer Peas pulao for reasons you know why.
Here are the ingredients that make this dish a yummy one.

• Basmati Rice - 2 cups
• Fresh green peas - 1 cup
• Paneer pieces - 8 - 10
• Green chillies - 2 ( slit length wise )
• Onion - 1 cut into thin slices
• Capsicum - 1 cut into think strips ( optional )
• Cloves, bayleaf, cinnamon stick, star anise ( as suited to individual taste) I prefer to have a mild flavor of spices
• Oil
• Salt to taste
• Cashew nuts and Raisins for garnishing ( optional )

So how do we make this recipe, follow the steps below and you will be left with your kitchen smelling good with its aroma

• Wash the basmati rice and let it soak for 10 mins
• Heat oil in a heavy bottom wok and add the spices listed
• Cook for a minutes time then add the sliced onions and capsicum
• Add the green peas and the rice along with the required water. Ratio for Basmati Rice is 1:1.5 ( add a little more for the veggies that you add)
• Bring the whole mixture to a boil and close it with a lid.
• Now transfer this to a electric cooker and switch it on
• In 15- 20 mins the peas paneer Pulao will be ready
• Serve it hot with some gravy and /or raitha

You can use the same method to make mixed veggie rice also. The picture here shows the finished dish in the electric cooker container. I was not able to take pictures after that.

Okay, time to go on a trail to my fellow runners kitchen, wanna come along..
Azeema, Bhagi, Champa, Gayathri Anand, Gayathri Kumar, Harini, Jay, Meena, Mina, Padma, Pavani, PJ, Priya Mahadevan, Priya Suresh, Priya Vasu, Rujuta, Santosh, Saraswathi, Savitha, Shanavi, Smitha, Sowmya, Suma, Usha, Veena