Baked Cheesezee Broccoli

This bake goes to my Hubby who is on High Fat Low Calorie (HFLC) / Paleo diet where,  sugar (in any form), grains, cereals, legumes, refined / hydrogenated  oil, and all high calorie / high in glycemic index foods are not allowed.  Time to time, I try to post few HFLC / Paleo recipes.

I tried this as a trial, but it turns out to be a really good bake. Chewy halloumi cheese with broccoli in a spicy, tangy sauce kind of mix is a divine dinner. Usually Halloumi is used to be grilled or fried but, I used it here to bake as I do not have enough stock of mozzarella, which is the ideal cheese for bake. 

Ingredients :     One  med-size broccoli (cut into florets, stems peeled and sliced or diced)       ;        1/4 cup of Schezwan paste      ;       1 tbsp of chopped garlic (fried in 2 tbsp of butter)          ;          1 tsp of soya sauce       ;      salt to taste      ;        250 grams of full fat halloumi cheese.

Ingredients for Schezwan paste :    15 no’s of Kashmir red chilies      ;      ½  Capsicum        ;           7 – 10 gloves Garlic (finely chopped)          ;      small piece of ginger  stem (finely chopped)          ;         ¼ tsp of  soy sauce           ;          ¼ tsp of vinegar        ;       1 tsp of tomato sauce      ;     1 ½ tbsp. of  coconut oil  ;      salt to taste

Procedure for Schezwan paste :  Remove the stems from red chilies, and soak them in hot water for about 30 mins and transfer it to a mixer grinder along with  chopped capsicum and grind into a fine paste and set aside.  (If require add some water)

In oil, stir fry the finely chopped garlic and ginger for about 2 -3 mins Add into the mixer along with chili paste and grind further to a fine paste and set aside. In a pan add oil, red chili paste allow to boil in low flame till the oil starts separating. Add soya sauce, vinegar, tomato sauce, and salt and cook further about 5min in low flame.   (note : Schezwan paste can be used in pasta and noodles preparation and can be stored in a air tight container in the fridge for month)  

Procedure for Cheesezee Broccoli :  After washing the broccoli allow it to dry and toss the broccoli florets with the schezwan paste, salt, soya sauce and butter fried garlic and spread them on a baking pan.

Sprinkle the halloumi cheese chunks all over the broccoli and transfer into  180°C Preheat oven and bake (without stirring) about 30 – 35 mins or until the edges are crispy.  (As halloumi has got very high melting point, it may not melt thoroughly) Serve it hot.

Palak Bread or Spinach Bread

I posted many bread varieties here. But, this one is very unique just not only by its (green) colour also by its ingredient. 

I am sure, most of the mums like this bread because of palak added into this bread (which is enriched with vitamin and minerals) but, kids can’t event feel it. My son calls it as “Popeye” bread". 

Ingredient – Palak (spinach) bunch (cleaned and blanched)       ;       hand full of  mint and coriander leaves       ;        1 tsp of salt        ;        1 tsp of sugar        ;        1 tsp of yeast         ;       50 gms of butter         ;          3 /4 cup of warm water        ;        2 cloves chopped garlic    ;       1 ½ cup whole wheat flour          ;          1 cup of all purpose flour

 Procedure : Rinse the palak (spinach) leaves very well in running water and remove the stringy stems (if any) add the leaves into  (3 cups)  hot water (about 60 - 70°C) with  ¼ tsp salt and close with a lid and leave it for  2- 3 min.

Strain the palak leaves quickly and add about 3 cups of ice cold water  (to preserve the green color of the spinach) allow it for a minute  and strain the water and add the spinach leaves and chopped mint and coriander leaves in a grinder jar and make smooth puree (do not add any water) and keep it aside.

In a mixing bowl add lukewarm water, sugar, yeast, butter mix well. Add palak (spinach) puree, garlic and mix well. Add 1 ½ cup of whole wheat flour mix in to the yeast - spinach mixture and start kneading the dough. 

Add the all purpose flour little by little and knead until it become smooth and elastic dough but, not sticky. Shape it into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl and cover with damp cloth for about 1 1/2  -  2 hours or till it become double in volume. 

 

Gently deflate the dough and shape the dough into a greased loaf tin and cover the loaf with damp cloth for about an hour or it raise almost at the edges of your loaf tin.

Bake at 180°C pre-heated oven for about  40 to 50 minutes or till the bread is nice brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped. 

 

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.....