Peanut & Garlic Roast

My friend Daughter, who is just 13 year old (Also regular reader of my blog) called me and asked a very simple and quick snack (along with  evening Chai (Tea)) to surprise her mother !. (My friend, her mother was sleeping!!)

I felt very happy and sad at the same time. Happiness because, someone (age is not a matter) has a trust on my Passion.  Felt sad, I don’t have a Daughter ! ( I need to bake my own B’day Cake !!)

Story apart, I asked her, “do you have a Peanuts ?”    “yes” She Replied.   Do you have  Garlic Cloves ?   “Yes”   She Replied  “Do you have chilli flakes and Curry leaves ?”    “Umm…. Ya !”

I started narrating the procedure over the phone.  “Switch on the Oven set the temp at 150 ° c”  

“yes, aunty done” she replied.

“Good, Take a baking tray add two cups of Peanuts, grate 6 -7 cloves of the Garlic on it, and 1 tsp of Olive oil and sprinkle ½ tsp of  chilli flakes and mix well with your hand”

“Yes Aunty done” she replied.

“put the tray in the Oven for about 20 min and do not forget to wear the cotton glove, while removing  the tray from oven”

“Ha, Okay Thanks” She replied.

“Once removed, allow it to cool and then serve / surprise her”

“Okay aunty Thank you” – Phone disconnected. I think she is in action.

Ha, I forgot to mention, while narrating the recipe, I was also parallelly acting on. 

Later, She sent me the final output clicks in whatsapps………Also, her mother’s Big Smile ! I am jealous.....

Bear Bread with Paneer Bhurji

This month challenge in we knead to bake was Different Shape bread with Savory filling. I decided to bake bread that (shape) attracts the children. The bread recipe, adopted from notquitenigella. 

I am quite happy with shape and softness of the bread. With the savory filling and cup of tea this bread is a divine.

Ingredients for Bear Bread  :   2 ½ cup  of All purpose flour   ;   1 tsp Instant yeast   ;     1cup of Luke warm water ;    2 tbsp of Honey    ;    20 gms of soften butter   ;    tsp of Salt   ;   1 egg for glaze (optional)   ;  few pepper corns for eyes / nose

Ingredients Paneer (Indian cottage Cheese) filling :  150gms of Paneer crushed ;    1 small Onion (finely chopped)    ;  ½  Capsicum (finely chopped)   ;  1tsp Chilly powder    ;     1tsp  Oil   ;  ½ tsp Tomato sauce   ;   Salt to taste

Bear Bread preparation : In the bowl add honey, yeast, salt and water and mix. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes in a warm place.

Add flour little by little to make dough. Add butter and start knead the dough till become soft.

Shape the dough into a ball and cover with cling wrap and allow it to rise for double in size. (may take up to one hour)

In the meantime, let’s do the filling…… In pan add oil, sauté onion and capsicum till onion changes to pink color then and chilly powder, sauce, salt, paneer and stir for 1-2 min or till all combine well and dry.

Now back to the Bread dough……remove the cling wrap and punch down the dough and knead for a minute.

Shape the dough into eight equal small balls (keep some dough for nose and ears) Roll the dough into 3 inch disc keep 2 to 3 tbsp. of filling and close. Try to maintain the ball shape even after filling.

Now prepare the ears and nose and fix them. Also fix the pepper corn for eye and nose. Keep the bears on a greased baking tray and cover with the damp cloth for about 45 min.

Those who don’t like egg and glaze, they can bake the bread at 180°C in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.

Those who don’t mind egg in the bread, they can glaze the bread with beaten egg, just before baking. The Glazing will give the fabulous finish. 

Whole Meal Flour Pizza with Grilled Chicken

 

I try my best to avoid disappointing my Veggie readers by not posting any meat recipes.  (But, egg is an exemption. Because,  Eggs are one of the basic ingredients in Baking, can’t avoid. However, I have given egg alternatives in the Tips & Tricks page)

But today, I am posting first meat recipe. I can see the smile, in my non-veg reader’s face. 

It’s a revised (non veg) version of my earlier Pizza recipe. The veggies can still read this and Substitute Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese) for Chicken.  (Both Paneer and Chicken are Rich in Protein) 

Usually, Pizza is made with 100% All purpose flour. Here, we are going for a healthier version.

Ingredients for Pizza base : 2 1/2cup of Whole meal flour   ;    1/2 cup of All-purpose flour  ;   1 ½ cups of  Water    ;    ½ tsp  Sugar  ;       1 ½ tsp  Salt   ;     1 ½ tsp Yeast  ;  1  Egg     ;       1 tbsp  Olive oil    ;  1/4 cup  Pizza sauce.

Ingredients are required for Topping : Onion, sliced 1 medium  ;   half grilled chicken (grilled paneer for Veggies)   ;   Tomatoes cut into thick strips 1medium    ;    Green capsicum cut into thick strips 1 medium    ;   ¾ cup of   Low fat Mozzarella cheese, grated   ;    1 tsp Olive oil    ;    ¼ tsp of  Dry oregano    ;  1tsp  Chili flakes.  

Ingredients are required for Grill chicken :  Chicken Breast   ;   Tandoor masala  ;  2 tsp of Oil   ;   2 tsp of  Curd (Yogurt)    ;      Salt to taste

Grill Chicken Procedure :  Mix Tandoor masala, oil, yogurt, salt well and Marinate the chicken breast for about an hour. (if require sprinkle little water)

Grill the Chicken in Oven till it done. Allow it to cool and chop in to chunks. 

Making procedure of Pizza Base : Mix yeast and sugar with Luke warm water and set aside until it become frothy.  Thanks to the process fermentation 

Add salt, olive oil, egg, meal flour and all-purpose flour to the yeast mixture and kneads into soft dough. 

Leave the dough covered with a damp cloth in a warm place until dough is about double in volume.  It may take about forty five minutes, depends on the atmosphere temperature. Our friends yeast and bacteria, acts much faster in tropical conditions (around 100°F or 38°C).

Divide the (pizza) dough into two equal half, roll out each portion into medium thick discs. Prick with a fork all over. (If you don’t prick, Pizza base raises like a bun while you bake. Resulting, the toppings to fall)

Preheat oven to 220°C... …….Meanwhile, let’s prepare the topping. 

Spread prepared pizza sauce on rolled pizza base, top it with sliced Onion, grilled Chicken chunks, Tomato, Sliced Olives and Capsicum strips. Finally sprinkle grated low-fat mozzarella cheese to evenly cover the pizza top. 

Sprinkle chili flakes on top with olive oil. Place it on greased ovenproof tray and bake in the preheated oven at 220°C until the pizza base is crisp and the cheese melts and starts bubbling.  (May take about twenty minutes) Remove from oven, sprinkle with dried Oregano and serve hot with preferred sauce.