This instant chilli pickle will forever be “Gujarati wedding pickle” in my eyes. The mustard seed-flecked chillies and carrots always have a place at the dinner table.

How to serve Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle)

This fresh and crunchy pickle is delicious as part of a larger Indian meal. At home, we serve it with daily vegetable curries, rotli and plain yoghurt.

On Sunday mornings I love it with a stack of freshly-made Gujarati Thepla and Masala Chai. Style it out and make a Thepla and Athela Marcha rollup, wrap style. It’s a snackable cigar of crunch and happiness!

How to prepare chillies for Athela Marcha

What are some other names for Athela Marcha?

Depending on your location, language and family preferences, you might know this pickle by different names. Some might include:

• Raiwala marcha
• Rai vara marcha
• Athela rai gajar
• Mirchi ki achar

This is by no means an extensive list. If you know this pickle by a different name, let me know in the comments below. I’d love to learn about your version!

The best chilli pickle with mustard seeds

Mustard seeds are a key ingredient in this recipe for Athela Marcha. They provide deep, warming heat and aroma.

What type of mustard seeds should I use Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle)?

Athela Marcha call for split, skinned mustard seeds, also known as rai kuria. They are available in most Indian food shops or online.

Rai Kuria, also known as Rai dal is mustard seeds with the skin removed, then split. Rai kuria are the main ingredient in making many Indian pickles.

To add mango or not to add mango?

My recipe for Athela Marcha includes raw green mango. My family’s East Africa ties have lead us to create a version of this Gujarati pickle with sour raw mango.

The combination of spicy chilli, crunchy carrot and mouth-puckering mango is simply irresistible.

If you’re not a fan of raw mango, simply add more carrots or chillies instead.

How to store Indian chilli pickle

Almost every ingredient in this pickle serve to aid preservation. Salt, turmeric, citric acid and oil being the core natural preservatives.

Once mixed, pile your instant chilli pickle into a sterilised jar and store it in the fridge. It keeps well for up to 3 weeks.

What can I use instead of citric acid?

Unless you cook Indian food or make a lot of your own preserves, I understand that citric acid might not be a usual store cupboard ingredient for you.

If you don’t have citric acid, don’t buy a whole bag just for the small amount needed in this recipe. Simply replace the citric acid in this recipe with the juice of 2 large lemons.

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In my experience, citric acid keeps the carrots and chillies crunchier for much longer than chilli pickle made with lemon juice.

Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle) recipe

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Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle)

Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle) is a Gujarati-style Indian chilli pickle. Fresh green and red chillies, carrot strips and raw mango make for an amazing condiment.

Course Condiment

Cuisine Indian

Keyword carrots, chilli, condiment, mango, pickle, vegan

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 3 medium-sized carrots peeled and cut into batons
• 2 small raw green mangos cut into batons
• 15-20 mixed green and red chillies
• 40 g skinless split mustard seeds (rai kuria)
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida
• 2 tsp ground turmeric
• 75 ml oil any flavourless
• 1/2 tsp citric acid
• 1 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

• Heat the oil until it's smoking hot. Allow to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, mix together the carrots and raw mango batons.
• Cut the stalks off the chillies. Slit the chillies lengthways down the centre but don't cut all the way through. If your chillies are large or thick, cut them into smaller pieces and then split lengthways. You can wear gloves if you like.
• Mix together the mustard seeds, turmeric, asafoetida, salt and citric acid.
• Fill the split chillies with the dry mustard seed masala. I use gloves so my nails don't stain.
• Add any leftover mustard seed masala, along with the filled chillies to the cut carrots and mango.
• Pour the cooled oil into the pickle. Use your hands to toss everything well.
• Pile the Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle) into a clean, sterilised jar. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate and enjoy within 3 weeks.

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Love Sanjana

The post Athela Marcha (Instant Chilli Pickle) appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

My blend uses plenty of aromatics and not too much heat. This is so you can adjust the spice level of the dishes you cook. Easy!

What is Garam Masala?

Garam masala (Hindi: गरम मसाला) is a blend of warming spices, used most often in North Indian recipes.

Why? The cooler climate calls and rich Mughlai and Central Asian influences on North Indian cuisine are very well suited to the “garam” (warm) spices in garam masala.

Garam masala is a flavour protagonist in lots of North Indian sub-cuisines: Awadhi, Rajasthani, Bihari, Punjabi and Himachali to name a handful.

Which other cuisines use Garam Masala?

The use of this aromatic and warming blend of spices extends beyond the borders of India.

Indeed, Garam Masala is a popular in Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, African, Caribbean and Afghan cuisines. Garam masala is a blend that also features heavily in British Indian Restaurant (BIR) cookery.

What is Garam Masala made from?

Almost every family will have their own preferences. There is no one-size fits all answer.

Most recipes for garam masala call for a varying blend of the following spices:

Coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, Indian bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon (or cassia), nutmeg, mace, peppercorns, black and green cardamom.

Some recipes call for dried chillies, while others do not. Other additions can include ajwain and asafoetida. It simply depends on individual preference.

Is Garam Masala the same as curry powder?

No. Curry powder is a generic name for any blend of spices. Usually curry powder is specific to the region in which it is developed. Curry powder is usually yellow in colour (due to the addition of turmeric), whereas garam masala is typically brown.

Many world cuisines extending from Asia to the Caribbean have their own unique curry powders.

Garam masala refers specifically to an Indian-style blend of spices.

Some of my favourite recipes that call for Garam Masala

Homemade vs. shop bought

There’s no denying the heady wave of flavour homemade garam masala brings. Add it to a curry, samosa filling or rice dish and it surpasses mediocrity and becomes a complete flavour bomb.

Having said this, I always keep a good blend of shop-bought Garam Masala in my cupboard for when I’m short of time and the homemade stuff.

I like both Jalpur Millers Garam Masala and BART Punjab Masala when it comes to the shop bought kind.

Does roasting masalas shorten their shelf life?

In short, yes. Applying heat to spices teases out their natural oils and flavours.

How to store this masala

I advise you make any homemade masala in small batches and use within 6 months. Keep in an airtight container to prolong flavour and freshness.

Tips for making Homemade Garam Masala

• A dry frying pan is perfect for getting the spices nicely toasty. You don’t need to use oil for dry masalas.
  
• Don’t toast the spices over a high heat. A low heat will help coax the oils from the whole spices perfectly. Patience pays off.
  
• Keep the spices moving the whole time they’re in the pan to ensure they don’t burn. They have a tendency to catch in hotspots.
  
• Let the spices cool completely before you grind them.
  
• Store the Homemade Garam Masala in an airtight jar or container for up to six months. It’s okay to leave it beyond this date but the spices may lose some of their potency.
  
• I recommend making masalas in small batches so you can use them at their best.

Shop my Homemade Garam Masala: Spices & equipment

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Homemade Garam Masala recipe

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Homemade Garam Masala

Learn how to make a cracker of a Garam Masala blend using whole roasted spices. Here's a list of spices you need to jazz up any North Indian dish, from curry and pulao, to samosas and parathas.

Course Condiment

Cuisine Indian

Keyword masala, spice blends

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 40 g coriander seeds
• 30 g cumin seeds
• 20 green cardamom
• 4 bay leaves
• 5 black cardamom
• 12 cloves
• 2 blades mace
• 12 cm cinnamon stick or cassia, broken (10g)
• 2 star anise broken
• 10 g fennel seeds
• 5 g black peppercorns
• 1 small nutmeg

Instructions

• Heat a dry frying pan or saucepan over a low heat. Add all the whole spices and stir to combine. Cook over a medium-low heat for about a 4 minutes, stirring all the time to ensure the spices don't burn. Allow to cool.
• Pile the spices into a spice grinder or the bowl of a mixer/grinder (recommendations for these are included in the blog post above). Blend until the mixture becomes a fine powder. You might need to stop and stir everything once or twice to ensure all the spices are getting some blade time.
• Sieve the masala to ensure no large pieces or whole spices remain. If they do, just blend them again and sieve into the rest of the mixture.
• Pile the mixture into an airtight container or jar. This garam masala will keep well for a year but is best used within 6 months.

Video

If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Garam Masala Potato Gratin

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Achaari Mushroom Kebabs

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Love Sanjana

The post Homemade Garam Masala appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

It’s made with a tonne of crushed raw garlic, chilli, fresh coriander, salt and oil. That’s it. No cooking and no fancy spices.

Where does this raw garlic chutney come from?

This is simple Kathiyawadi village fare from the heart of Gujarat. Kathiyawad is a peninsula off the western coast of India, in the region of Saurashtra and it’s where my family come from.

Made up of several districts including Porbandar, Junagadh and Jamnagar, many people who live there have farming in their blood and an appetite for simply cooked but flavour-rich fare.

How to serve Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney

Serve Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney as an accompaniment to any curry (aubergines work particularly well and are traditional fare). Indian breads like millet chapattis (Bajra na Rotla), wheat chapattis both thin and thick (Rotli and Bhakhri) and fenugreek chapattis (Thepla) are fantastic pairings.

It livens up a bowl of warm, comforting lentil and rice stew (Khichdi). For a less traditional but equally delicious use for Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney, stir it into warm vegetables, pasta sauces, stews and soups.

Another thing I like to do is to fold some into mashed sweet potatoes with a little butter. Indeed, it is truly brilliant when you need instant garlic and chillies when making lazy curries – just dollop a spoonful in to your tempered spices and sauté away.

You can even beat it with plain yoghurt for a speedy drizzle or dip for chaat, pulao and fries!

How to make and store this raw garlic chutney

Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney (No-Cook Garlic Chutney) is something that’s often made fresh every day, our busy schedules often don’t permit us to pound fresh garlic chutney each day so I have a workaround.

I make a big batch of Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney, pile it into a clean, sterilised jar.

Each time we use it, I top it off with a layer of oil to ensure it stays fresh in the fridge. The oil and salt in the chutney itself help to preserve the fresh ingredients so it lasts months.

You only need a small amount of chutney to add big flavour to a meal so it’s worth making it in batches.

Can I use a blender to make this chutney?

This is good old-fashioned farmer food so leave the blender in the cupboard and make it by hand.

I like to use a garlic crusher and then mix all the ingredients together but you could also pound it all in a pestle and mortar for a coarse and deliciously-garlicky accompaniment to any traditional Gujarati thali.

Is this chutney vegan?

Yes!

Is it gluten free?

Yes it is!

Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney recipe

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Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney (No-Cook Garlic Chutney)

Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney is the condiment to rule all condiments. It’s made with a tonne of crushed raw garlic, chilli, fresh coriander, salt and oil. That’s it. No cooking and no fancy spices. This is simple Kathiyawadi village fare from the heart of Gujarat.

Course Condiment, Side Dish

Cuisine Indian

Keyword chilli, chutney, garlic, gujarati

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 1 large jar

Author Sanjana

Ingredients

• 3 large bulbs of fresh garlic peeled and crushed (I used a garlic crusher)
• 400 g red chilli powder I use Kashmiri chilli powder for milder heat and great colour
• 120 g fresh coriander chopped
• 270 ml oil any flavourless or olive oil if you like the taste
• 1 tbsp salt you’ll only be eating a tiny bit at a time so don’t be put off
• 2 tsp water or as needed to make a very thick paste

Instructions

• Use a wooden spoon to mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. I don’t recommend using a blender as that will dramatically change the texture. A coarse finish is what’s traditional and it’s perfect. You could also crush it using a pestle and mortar.
• Pile the mixture into a large sterilised jar, packing it down as tightly as you can.
• Top with a coating of oil to preserve it and remember to to this every time you use it. Store in the refrigerator and consume within 2 months.

Notes

This will keep well tightly covered in the fridge for 3 months. Ensure the entire surface of the chutney is topped up and covered with oil at all times.

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for 4 Street-Style Indian Chutneys

Love Sanjana

The post Gujarati Lasan ni Chutney (No-Cook Garlic Chutney) appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

These kebabs are made with thick, creamy yogurt that’s been hung for 24 hours, paneer, fresh mint, coriander, ginger and chilli – hardly health food but when a lettuce-wrapped kebab with crunchy veggies and sweet onion sauce tastes this fresh, you won’t care. I promise.

The Dhai Ke Kebabs themselves have a golden, crunchy exterior from a combination of breadcrumbs and semolina – the audible ‘crunch’ when you bite into it is SO satisfying. The inside is soft, surprisingly light and lemony with the freshness of mint, coriander and a touch of ginger. The delicate combo of flavours will dance on your palate as if you were partaking in a groom’s dhol procession at an Indian wedding, midsummer.

Inspired by the rich, spicy Mughlai feasts of kings and queens in Medieval India, this alternative take on Dhai Ke Kebabs is definitely a far cry from how they would have been eaten in ornate palaces. They would have probably made up part of a larger feast of biryani, slow-cooked curries laden with dried fruits and cream and fluffy tandoor-cooked bread – all served on a lavish dining table decked with the finest gold dinnerware.

Well I’m no Mughlai rani.

While the essence of indulgence remains with the Dhai Ke Kebabs, the rest of the dish is light, fresh, crunchy and colourful. Perfect for modern-day feasting and our busy lifestyles.

This is one of those dishes that was made for sharing. Crown your table with all the different components; Dhai Ke Kebabs, lettuce leaves, sliced carrots, cucumbers, sweet onion drizzle, toasted cashews, pomegranate, mint leaves, coriander and a few bottles of cold beer and you’re good to go. Assemble as you eat. That way, you can add more or less of whatever you like. The only problem you might have is fitting everything into the one lettuce wrap.

Word of advice… Eat with your hands – cutlery will only slow you down.

This is one of the most mouth watering dishes you can cook when you’re craving something fresh, inspired and just that little bit different from the usual veggie burgers or falafel.

Dhai Ke Kebab Lettuce Wraps with Sweet Onion Drizzle
Serves 6-8

For the Dhai Ke Kebabs:

350g hung yoghurt (try using Greek yoghurt, hung in a cheesecloth for 24 hours)
220g crumbled paneer
100g fresh breadcrumbs
4 fresh chillies, chopped finely
2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
2 tbsp dry-roasted chickpeas, ground (daria)
1 tsp cracked black pepper
½ tsp ground coriander seeds
Juice ½ lemon
Salt to taste

For the kebab coating:
100ml milk
100g fresh breadcrumbs
30g coarse semolina

Oil to deep fry

To serve:
2 heads Cos lettuce, leaves separated
Pomegranate seeds
1 cucumber, sliced finely
4 carrots, sliced finely
Handful toasted cashews
Fresh coriander
Fresh mint

For the sweet onion drizzle:
180g brown sugar
80ml apple cider vinegar
1 red onion, chopped finely
2 tsp poppy seeds
1 tsp sesame oil
2 red chillies
1 tsp English mustard
1 tsp ground fennel seeds
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cornflour dissolved in 2 tbsp cold water

Method

1. First, make the sweet onion drizzle. Combine all the ingredients except the fennel seeds and cornflour in a pan. Stir to combine and bring to the boil. Simmer, stirring often for 20 minutes until slightly thick and syrupy. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the head and stir in the ground fennel seeds and cornflour. Stir until thick, adding a little bit of water if necessary. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. You should have a sticky-sweet and spicy sauce.

2. To make the kebabs, combine all the ingredients apart from the coating ingredients in a large bowl and combine. You should have a dough-like consistency. Knead it for a minute.

3. Make golf ball-sized balls and shape the kebabs as you wish – you can do little slider-type tikki shapes or longer kofta-style kebabs. I did both just to mix it up a bit. Place onto baking sheets.

4. Combine the breadcrumbs and semolina for the coating. Roll each kebab into the coating and arrange on the baking tray. Once you’ve done them all, briefly dip each one into a bowl of milk and back into the coating mix. This will ensure your coating is substantial for a crispy outside.

5. Arrange each one on a baking tray and place in the freezer for 20 minutes.

6. Fill a pan with enough oil to deep fry the kebabs. Heat to 160C. You could bake them with a spray of oil but they won’t be as crispy, evenly brown or delicious. Deep fry them – I promise you it’s worth it.

7. Remove the kebabs from the freezer and fry three or four at a time, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding the pan will result in the temperature of the oil dropping. Nobody wants greasy kebabs.

8. Fry until golden all over. Drain the kebabs on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Serve immediately or keep warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes. You could also freeze them for baking later.

9. Place all the filling ingredients on a platter and serve in the middle of the table, allowing everybody to dig in and build their own lettuce wraps.

Enjoy watching everyone fight over the Dhai Ke Kebabs.

Love Sanjana

The post Dhai Ke Kebab Lettuce Wraps with Sweet Onion Drizzle appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

The batter is puffy, light and packed with spices reminiscent of bhajia – a super popular Indian starter. Like fish tacos, the bite-sized vegetables are coated and fried until golden and crispy. It’s best to do this right before serving so they’re hot and delicious for your vegan tacos.Packed with lime, garlic and yoghurt, the creamy sauce is perfectly balanced to douse any heat from the fried green chillies. It’s so tempting to eat it right from the blender with a spoon or maybe some tortilla chips. A crunchy salad of radish, red onion, lime and a few spices tops these tacos off beautifully. The contrast of the hearty fried veggies and fresh salad, lettuce, fruity pineapple chutney and crunchy toasted cashews is so dreamy. Even non-vegans will feel like they’ve eaten a filling meal.

The pineapple chutney is a lovely way to round off the sharp flavours in the dish. It’s quick, easy and perfect not only with these tacos, but also with Jalebi Paratha. Don’t be alarmed by the long list of ingedients here. Most of the prep is super simple and just assembling or blending. The only actual cooking is of the cauliflower and broccoli. The chutney can even be made up to a week in advance. Just store it in the fridge.So this year, take some time to sit around the table with your family and friends and enjoy a meal that was made for sharing.  This one certainly was. Vegan Masala Cauliflower and Broccoli Tacos With Avocado and Coriander Sauce

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

500g mixed cauliflower and broccoli, broken into small florets
10 small green chillies, pierced (these will be fried too)
12 mini corn or wheat flour tortillas
Shredded lettuce, to serve
Toasted cashew nuts, to serve
Oil for deep frying

For the Batter:

100g chickpea flour
100g plain flour
2 tsp coarse semolina
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
240ml ice-cold sparkling water
1 tsp finely-chopped ginger

For the Avocado and Coriander Sauce:

2 large ripe avocados
2 tbsp non-dairy plain yoghurt or regular plain yoghurt if you’re not vegan
2 tbsp chopped coriander
1 medium clove garlic
¼ tsp salt
Juice of 1 lime

For the Radish and Red Onion Salad:

1 medium red onion, sliced finely
200g radishes, sliced finely
Handful chopped coriander
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
½ tsp toasted nigella (kalonji seeds)

For the Pineapple Chutney:

500g pineapple (fresh, canned or frozen)
1 large onion, chopped finely
100g sugar
Juice of 2 limes
½ tsp salt
½ tsp freshly-ground mace
1 star anise
1 tsp nigella (kalonji seeds)

Method

1. To make the avocado and coriander sauce, blend all the ingredients together until super-smooth and creamy. Set aside.

2. To make the pineapple chutney, coarsely-blend the pineapple. Place into a large, non-stick pan with the sugar, lime juice, salt and onion. Cook on a medium heat, stirring frequently until thick and all the water has evaporated. This can take up to 40 minutes. Finally, add the mace, kalonji and star anise. Fill into a sterilized jar and set aside.

3. To make the radish and red onion salad, toss all the ingredients together and set aside.

4. To make the fried cauliflower and broccoli, place the vegetables in a microwave-safe plate with a splash of water and cook on high power for 3 minutes. Drain and allow to cool.

5. To make the batter, mix together all the ingredients and whisk until you get a not-too-thick batter. If it’s too thick, add a little more sparkling water.

6. Heat around 4 inches of oil in a tall pan or wok. Let it reach 180 degrees C. Place all of the vegetables and the chillies in the batter and mix until coated. One by one, tap off any excess batter and carefully drop into the hot oil. Fry the vegetables in small batches until they’re golden. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

7. Warm up your tortillas, pile all of the fillings into bowls and plates and serve everything separate at the table for everyone to build their own tacos.Love Sanjana

The post Vegan Cauliflower and Broccoli Bhajiya Tacos appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

Two of my favourite things in the world are naan and pizza. I love them in all shapes and forms from classic peshwari naan to hybrid naan pizzas – especially when they involve cheese, green veggies and lashings of garlic. I’ll be honest, getting home from a long day at work and sitting down to a naan pizza made with shop-bought garlic and coriander naan and leftover paneer butter masala is one of the most incredible dinners ever! Don’t believe me? Try it yourself.

Here’s a simple recipe that celebrates my love of naan and pizza in an easy-to-eat fashion. My recipe for naan pockets uses crumbled paneer and crushed peas as a stuffing for the deliciously-light and buttery naan envelopes. They’re folded into the classic teardrop shape, brushed with a mixture of butter and turmeric, sprinkled with kalonji seeds, and then baked in a hot oven until golden.

If you’re not a fan of paneer, these are also great with a filling of grated broccoli and spinach, steamed sweet potato, and cauliflower and green chilli cooked in the exact same way as I do the paneer and peas filling.

To serve, slice the pockets in half and serve with a bowl of my spicy pizza dip which is infused with a touch of garam masala, green chillies and ground coriander.

These are the perfect party nibbles, starters for an Indian meal and a sure-fire hit with kids. I even love them for dinner, served with both the spicy pizza dip and a cooling cucumber raita.

Stuffed Naan Pockets with Spicy Pizza Dip
Makes 18-20 mini pockets

Ingredients

For the naan dough:
310g strong white bread flour
7g fast-action dried yeast
1 tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
1 tsp kalonji (nigella seeds)
1 small clove garlic
1 tbsp plain yoghurt
2 tbsp sunflower oil
135ml warm water

For the peas and paneer stuffing:
250g shop-bought paneer, cubed
130g frozen peas, thawed
1 clove garlic
2 green chillies
1 inch piece ginger, peeled
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp ground black pepper
Salt to taste
1 tbsp crème fraiche
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped finely
2 tbsp sunflower oil

To brush the pockets:
Melted butter
¼ tsp turmeric
Kalonji seeds

For the spicy pizza dip:
2 large tomatoes
1 tbsp concentrated tomato paste
1 clove garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped

Method
First, make the naan dough. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt kalonji seeds and garlic. In a separate jug, whisk together the warm water, yeast, sugar, oil and yoghurt. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour in the liquid. Bring together using a spoon and then your hands. Knead for 10 minutes. The mixture may seem stick at first, but keep kneading and it’ll come together. Grease the bowl with come oil, cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, blend together all the ingredients for the spicy pizza dip in a food processor. Add the mixture to a saucepan and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and allow to simmer on a low heat for 30 minutes.

To make the stuffing: in a food processor, blend the garlic, chillies and ginger. Remove and set aside. Next, pulse the peas a few times until coarsely chopped. Remove and set aside. Repeat the same process with the paneer. Bring the peas and paneer mixture together in a bowl. Heat a saucepan and add the oil. Sauté cumin seeds and the garlic, ginger and chilli mixture until aromatic. Add the peas and paneer mixture, black pepper, salt, crème fraiche and coriander and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Preheat the oven to 190°C and line a few baking trays with greaseproof paper and spritz with non-stick cooking spray.

To fold the pockets: take the risen naan dough and knock out all of the air. Take a ping pong ball-sized amount and roll into a ball. Use and rolling pin to roll into 3-inch in diameter round. Don’t add any extra flour – the oil in the dough should stop it from sticking too much. Take a tablespoon full of the cooled stuffing mix and place into the middle of the dough. Starting with the top and bottom of the dough, pull the dough around the filling, pinching the dough to seal until you get to the outer edges. Ensure the dough is well sealed without any cracks by pinching it all together until smooth.

Roll the dough gently until around 3 inches in diameter. Then use your hands to gently pull the top of the dough into a teardrop shape. Place the other side up on the greased and lined baking tray and repeat for the rest of the pockets.

Use a sharp knife to make small holes (not all the way through) in the naan pockets. Melt the butter and whisk in the turmeric – this will give them a lovely golden colour. Brush the pockets generously with the butter mixture and sprinkle on the kalonji seeds.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden all over.

Serve hot from the oven with the warm spicy pizza dip.

Love Sanjana

The post Stuffed Naan Pockets with Spicy Pizza Dip appeared first on Sanjana.Feasts.

Served in paper cones with fried green chillies for that ‘bhajia on the beach’ feel

I’ve always been a sucker for ordering too many starters in restaurants, especially when it involves Crispy Potato Bhajia (paper-thin potato slices coated in a bespoke spice blend), Hara Bara Kebabs (pea and cauliflower cakes) and Daal Kachori (spiced daal in semolina pastry). I’m told my eyes are bigger than my belly and I’ve never been one to argue with legitimate allegations.

Although I love eating out as much as I love home cooking, there’s always one question lingering on my lips as I attempt to make a choice of which restaurant to spend my Friday evening in  – do they serve decent starters?

In all honesty, I think I can judge an Indian restaurant menu by the starters they have to offer. If the vegetarian appetisers are limited to samosas and onion bhajis (to this day, I still don’t understand onion bhajis – what are they and where did they come from?) I know I’m not going to be dazzled by their selection of mains. This is something I’ve learnt from eating out far more than I can afford to.

With other cuisines, I’m rubbish at menu guessing but I’m often just delighted if the vegetarian options stray from tired goat’s cheese salads or baked aubergine mush. In any case, I’m often at my happiest when there are three gorgeous starters I can get stuck into whilst everyone else enjoys their mains.

An Ode to Bhajia

One of my favourite restaurants to do this at is the revered Maru’s Bhajia House in Wembley, London. With its humble green sign and modest dining area, the café is nothing elaborate but with a shining reputation going back decades, I guarantee you’ll never get a better bhajiyu (vegetables, often potatoes, deep fried in a spicy batter). Their signature bhajia have a closely-guarded recipe, brought to the UK from Nairobi by a family who must have loved seeing people’s smiling faces when they dug into a plate of these beauties. For East African Indians, Crispy Bhajia were the cupcake of their time. To some extent, they probably still are.

Many have tried to create the original version in their own homes – whether they were successful or not is probably kept as much a secret as the Maru’s Bhajia House recipe itself.

Here’s my version of the classic. Share this dish with family and friends; I’ve known many a chap risk stinking out entire London buses to get home and share Crispy Potato Bhajiya with their loved ones. Now that’s what I call dedication.

Crispy Potato Bhajia with Hot and Sour Cucumber Chutney

For the bhajia:

400g unpeeled potatoes, sliced thinly (I used a mandolin)
150g chickpea flour
60g rice flour
1/2 tsp cornflour
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
6-8 green chillies (or to taste), pounded into a paste
4 large cloves garlic, crushed
6 heaped tbsp fresh coriander, chopped very finely
½ tsp carom seeds
2 ½ tsp turmeric
1 ½ tsp sugar

Oil to deep fry

For the cucumber chutney:

200g cucumber
200g fresh tomatoes
140g carrot
1 clove garlic
8-10 tbsp fresh coriander
6 green chillies (or to taste)
Juice of two lemons
200ml water
1 ½ tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt

Method

1. Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of iced water.

2. Mix all of the other ingredients for the bhajia. A blend of different flours will give the bhajia a beautifully crisp finish.

3. Drain the potatoes but do not dry them. Immediately toss the potatoes in the flour mixture. The mixture should stick to the potatoes. If it seems dry, add just enough cold water to make the flour coat the potato slices. Allow to stand whilst you make the chutney.

4. Blend together all of the ingredients for the chutney until coarsely puréed. Place into serving bowls.

5. In a large wok, heat the oil to around 190°C and slowly place 1/3 of the potato slices into the pan. Allow to become golden all over. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Serve alongside the chutney immediately for optimal crunch. I like to serve my bhajia in paper cones for that ‘bhajia on the beach’ feel but maybe I’m just being finicky. Sprinkle with rock salt and chilli flakes if your guests are that way inclined.  

Love Sanjana

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1. Add the chopped peaches to a large pan on a low heat and add the white sugar. Do not add water.

2. Once the peaches start to cook, they will release their own juices. At this point, you can increase the heat.

3. Simmer the peaches on a medium heat for 25 minutes or until thickened.

4. To test if the chutney is done, place a plate in the freezer for 10 minutes, remove and put a tsp full of chutney on it. Allow to rest for 2 minutes and push the mixture back with your finger. If it wrinkles, it’s done.

5. Always add your spices at the end. This keeps them fresh and punchy. Add the remaining ingredients and stir through.

6. Dollop into sterilised jars. Cover the top of the chutney with a very thin film of groundnut oil and a piece of parchment paper and allow to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate.

Watch out for another sweet recipe using peaches later on this week. I’ve been pretending to be a pastry chef this weekend. That’s all I’m going to say.

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I’m stepping into rhubarb terriory. My motto concerning fruits and veggies unknown has always been: If all ideas fail, just chutney it.

This week’s recipe challenge for Food Network UK:

Create a recipe using a secret seasonal ingredient chosen by the FN UK HQ’s, Chopped style.

My latest recipe for the Food Network UK blog is for Rhubarb and Anise Chutney. It was a ‘Chopped’ style challenge (if you’re an avid Food Network fan, you’ll know all about it. If not, you need to switch on the TV and start watching).

Good old British rhubarb reminds me of the times I spent devouring crumbles made with ‘proper’ Yorkshire rhubarb while growing up. It also brings back the not-so fond memories of the hideous bellyaches I had after polishing off entire ‘quarter’ bags of rhubarb and custard sweets from my pa’s sweet shop.

If you’re a chutney person you really need to bottle up a few jars of this to keep in the fridge. It’s great on toast, in sandwiches with cheese and spread on crackers.

Read my recipe for Rhubarb and Anise Chutney on the Food Network UK blog and remember to leave a comment!

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I wish we all had three day weekends. One night to recuperate from the long week we just had, one night to party hard and another to recover from the partying – in that order.

Don’t get me wrong, I love work, but three day weekends would make me a very happy bunny indeed. Speaking of bunnies…

In this week’s recipe, grated carrots, swede and sweet potatoes are bound together with nutty chickpea flour and spices to create these light and crispy fritters. Dip them in a spicy coriander and lime chutney and the flavours come alive.

I wanted these fritters to remain a beautiful orange colour, keeping the filling grated and not mashed. In order to do this, I blanched the whole carrots, swede and sweet potatoes for around 6 minutes, refreshed in iced water and then grated them. This way, the vegetables became bright coloured and part-cooked, yet still held their shape.

These would make a great starter as part of an Indian or international menu and are perfect for lunch or impressing dinner party guests. They can be shallow fried, then placed in a low oven for up to 30 minutes until you’re ready to serve them. If you don’t eat onions, omit them – I added them mainly for colour.

If you can’t get hold of swede, you can also try these with courgettes and if you’re feeling indulgent, some grated paneer would taste divine.

Fresh coriander stalks, lime zest and ginger bring beautiful fresh flavours to this dish, which are reflected in the coriander and lime chutney – it’s a fantastic pairing.

Carrot-munching rabbits don’t know what they’ve been missing out on all this time. This is where it’s at.

Carrot and Swede Fritters with Coriander and Lime Chutney
(makes 10-12)

Ingredients for the Carrot and Swede Fritters

240g carrot, peeled (about 2 large carrots)
240g swede, peeled and halved (about 1 small swede)
120g sweet potato, peeled
2 tbsp finely chopped red onion
1 tbsp finely chopped coriander stalks
1 tsp lime zest
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tbsp lime juice
2 green chilli, finely chopped
5 tbsp plain flour
3 tbsp chickpea flour
2 tbsp fine cornmeal
1 tsp cornflour
½ tsp toasted cumin seeds
Pinch bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp salt
Oil to shallow fry

Method

1. Place the whole carrots, halved swede and sweet potato in a pan and cover with boiling water from the kettle. Bring to a boil and simmer for 6 minutes. Drain and shock the vegetables in a bowl of iced water.

2. Grate the vegetables and squeeze all the water out of them (this is very important as your mixture cannot be runny).

3. Combine the grated vegetables with all of the ingredients for the fritters and bring together with your hands.

4. Form small fritters with the mixture and place on a cling film lined baking tray. Dust with some fine cornmeal, cover and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

5. Heat about 1cm of oil in a frying pan. Place in a few fritters at a time, trying not to move them around too much. When lightly golden on one side, flip and cook the other side. Use the back of a fork to very gently press and flatten them to create craggy edges which will crisp up. When golden on the other side, place the fritters on a baking tray and put them in a preheated oven at 180°C for 15-20 minutes to cook through.

6. Serve with a coriander and lime chutney and a wedge of lime.

Ingredients for the Coriander and Lime Chutney

80g fresh coriander including stalks
4 hot green chillies
Juice and zest of 1 lime
1 ½ tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
1 clove garlic

Method

1. Blend all of the ingredients in a food processor to create a fine puree. If you don’t have a food processor (I don’t have one), use a pestle and mortar and some elbow grease to pound it all to a pulp.

When you’re making your chutney, please try not to get any ‘chatta’ (splashes) in your eyes. I don’t want an inbox full of angry emails threatening legal action.

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