KOLLU THOKKU(HORSEGRAM BALLS)

                   KOLLU THOKKU

This recipe is an authentic recipe made by my grandma.She'll prepare this for special occasions.We enjoyed a lot on those days and that was my sweet memories with my grandma.But she prepared this dish with kadalai(channa gram dal).I tried the recipe with kollu(horse gram dal).It needs only 3 ingredients and simple to make,we can enjoy a delicious snack.

I made this for shhh..... secret recipe challenge by priya.I paired with poornima porchelvan from http://www.poornimacookbook.com/.She has given me Rice and Kollu.I hated to prepare a regular rice dish so I decided to try my grandma's recipe with kollu.

Ingredients:

Kollu(Horse gram)-1 cup   

Raw Rice-1/2 cup   

jaggery-1 cup  

If you wish you can add cardamom powder a pinch

Method:

          Soak Rice for 1/2 an hr.Grind them with some water to a fine paste.And place a steamer on stove and grease a tray with oil or place a pure thin cloth on that tray or bowl.pour the batter into the bowl and steam them like idlies for 10-15 mins.

In a meanwhile dry roast kollu till it changes a slight color and grind them with jaggery in the mixer.My grandma will grind it in mortar and pestel.Then add in the idlies and grind well.They'll make like a paste now roll them into small balls and enjoyyy the treat...

The Idly

mixture f jaggery and horsegram

kollu(horsegram)

Ground paste....Ready to roll

Yummy balls ready to serve

PALESTINIAN MAFTOUL SALAD WITH VEGETABLES(COUSCOUS)

                                        Palestinian maftoul with vegetables

     

           Maftoul is a mixture of whole wheat flour and maida with bulgar(broken wheat).It is called as Couscous.It is the main dish in middle eastern countries.They have it for all occasions.This is the basic dish can be made into a salad,main dish and even dessert.........

I made this as a salad for Daring cooks May challenge hosted by sawsan from chef in disguise.Until I read her recipe I thought couscous can't be made at home,Instead it is very easy for me to make and easy for southIndians too becoz it is like the version of PUTTU,We make regularly in our houses.But like puttu it needs much care and patience to get a good shape otherwise it'll become a dough hahahaa......Usage of water should be in right proportion and in right time.The taste is awesome guys make a try and enjoy a healthy salad....It'll give u a new version of salad for who is getting bored with regular salads.......

MAFTOUL:

Ingredients:

Broken wheat(bulgar)-1/2cup  salt-1/2 to 3/4 tsp(according to your taste)   whole wheat flour-2 cups  maida(flour)-2 cups   water-1-1/2 cups

NOTE:

These are the measurements given by swasan but for me I needed half of the flours.Mix them only by hands.t needs more patience and right proportion of ingredients at right time.If you used excess then it'll form into a dough.So be patience in doing this but don't afraid it is very easy to make if you use the ingredients as instructed.

      

Method:

                  Mix whole wheat flour and maida in a seperate bowl and set aside.Mix water and salt together.

          Take bulgar(broken wheat) in a round flat dish and sprinkle 2 tbsps of salted water over it and wet them by mixing in hands then add 1/4 cup of flour and mix them by moving your hands over the mixture in circular motion.You'll find the formation of tiny balls.Then move them to one side of the bowl and add 2 tbsp water on empty side then move the mixture towards water by circular motion and add 1/4 cup flour by doing the same.Repeat the process until it forms enough sized granules and if you found any lumps gently break them by hands and do the process.Heat a pot with water and place a colander on it.(if you have idly steamer or any kind of steamer use that to steam the maftoul.

Spread maftoul over the towel placed in a colander or steamer and sprinkle 2 tbsps of water over the mixture and close the lid tightly then cook for 15 mins until they changes its colour lightly.When cooked place them in a bowl and sprinkle 1 tsp of olive oil over it and mix through.You can store them in an airtight container for a week in fridge.

Maftoul with mixed vegetables:

Ingredients:

couscous(maftoul)-1 cup   

Black chickpeas-1/2 cup(soaked overnight and boiled in salt water) 

 Big onion-1,cut into small cubes  tomato-1,deseeded and small cubed  

red cabbage-1/2 cup,shredded 

 green cabbage or lettuce-1/2 cup  

carrot-1 ,cubed   

paneer or any kind of cheese-cubed(optional)

 spice powder-1 tsp(cinnamon-1 stick,cumin-1/2 tsp,pepper corns-1/2 tsp,cloves-1-2 nos,cardamom-2 nos roast them slightly and grind to a fine powder,you can store them in an airtight container and use when needed)  

 salt to taste

 Method:

           In a pan add oil and onion fry slightly add tomatoes saute a while then add in boiled black chickpeas salt to taste  and spice powder mix well cool them and then add into couscous.Add the vegetables and cheese and enjoyyyy your salad.You can make variations in the mixing of vegetables and pulses according to your choice.

wet bulgar

mix flours

mix in circular motion

do by hands

do it till it granulates

steam them

mix with olive oil

Enjoyy the salad.........

 

FLAOUNES

 

 Flaounes

In this month of Easter celebration usually people make with easter eggs or any savoury dish.Flaounes are savoury cheese pies with greek easter recipe on the day of good fridayas a part of breaking meal after lent when they do not eat meat and cheese.Any kind of cheese can be substituted in this flaounes.I've used cottage cheese(paneer),cheddar cheese and mozarella.Its so yummy and delicious and decided to make another set of flaounes.

Ingredients:

maida-21/2 cups  

 yeast-3/4 tsp  

 salt-3/4 tsp  

sugar-11/2 tsp  

egg-1   

milk-1/4 cup   

butter-60 gms  

warm milk-1/4 cup(may be less)  

oil for greasing      

For the filling:

onion-1,diced  

tomato-1,cut 

 sausage-2 strips,cubed  

redchilly powder-1 tsp  

italian seasoning-1/2 tsp 

 salt to taste  

oil-1 tbsp

for topping:

 paneer grated-1/2 cup 

 cheddar cheese- 1/2 cup 

mozarella cheese-1/2 cup 

 milk-1/4 cup

Method:

            In a pan add oil and onion saute well then add tomatoes saute till it dissolves add sausages,redchilly powder,italian seasoning,salt to taste saute till water absorbs well and cool them.   

In a bowl add salt sugar and warm milk sprinkle yeast and rest then to prove.Then add in remaining ingredients and flour knead them to form a non-sticky dough.Rest them for 1-2 hrs till it rises up.

                                      Now make the dough into big sized balls and roll them flat and fill in 2 tbsp of sausage filling and sprinkle 11/2 tsp paneer then same amount of cheddar then top with mozzarella cheese fold in the sides to make a sqaure or rectangular shape.Preheat oven to 200°c place the flaounes and pour some milk into the filling and bake them for 20-25 mins.

flatten dough

fill in the filling

fold the sides

seal the edges

enjoy the easter treat.............