Indian Tea - Chai...

It takes just 10 mins or less depending on how strong you like your tea :)

Ingredients:

1. Water - 120ml ( 1/2 cup )
2. Sugar - 1 tsp or based on how sweet you like
3. Black tea leaves - 2 tsp or based on how strong you like
4. Milk - 120ml
5. 1 Pan 
6. 1 Strainer

Method:

• Take a pan and add 120ml of water, 2 spoons of tea leaves, sugar (1 tsp). 
• Boil the above from step 1 for 5 minutes on medium sim or on 7 (if using induction)
• Add 120ml (1/2 cup) of milk after 5 mins of the above. Let this boil for another 3 minutes at medium sim or on 7 and change to low sim or on 6 (if using induction) 
• Tea is ready to be poured using a strainer in a cup and below pics for reference. 
• It can be enjoyed with rusk, khari, marie or parle G biscuits.

Poha

Poha is a quick breakfast and snack made with beaten rice or flatten rice, spices, and onions. 

Prep time - 10 minutes
Cook time - 15 minutes
Total time - 25 minutes
Serves - 4 people

Ingredients:

1. Aval poha - 3 cups (approximately 250 gms i.e. 720 ml) - Choose medium to thick poha 
2. Onions - 3 medium sized (chopped) 
3. Tomatoes - 2 medium sized (chopped) - optional
4. Boiled Potatoes - 2 medium sized (cubed to small size) 
5. Green chilly - 2 (chopped)
6. 1 sprig of curry leaves 
7. 2 teaspoon of mustard seeds (Rai in hindi)
8. 2 tablespoons of oil
9. Salt as needed
10. Sugar (optional) 
11. Red chili powder based on your spice level
12. Turmeric - 1 1/2 teaspoon
13. Coriander powder - 1/2 teaspoon (optional)
14. Chopped coriander for garnishing
15. Lemon juice as needed

Method: 

1. Strain the poha under running water for 45 seconds and drain water completely (do not soak poha) and place it in a big bowl. 
2. Add 1 tsp of salt, sugar, red chilli powder, turmeric to poha and mix it well.  
3. Add 1/4 tsp of salt to chop potatoes to avoid bland taste.  
4. Put oil in pan (kadhai in hindi) and let it heat for 30 seconds, add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter, and then add curry leaves and green chilly together and give it a stir. 
5. Add chopped onions to the pan and cook the onions on medium sim until it becomes transparent / pinkish. Keep stirring the contents occasionally so that it does not stick to the pan. 
6. Once the onion is cooked per above step, add 1/2 tsp of salt, red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder and chopped tomatoes and give it a quick mix and let it cook for 2 mins. 
7.  Add chopped boiled potatoes and saute the content for 2-3 mins on a medium to high flame.
8. Add poha from step 1 and mix it well. Cover the pan and let it cook on low heat for 2 mins.  
9. Turn off the pan and sprinkle some lemon juice.
10. Garnish it with coriander and serve it hot.  

This is my version on Poha and not from Doha or Soha and the spices are used as needed so it can vary per your taste and preference. 

Rawa (semolina) Idly

For 12 pcs of rawa idly

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups rawa (semolina)
2. 1 cup curd (yoghurt) 
3. 1 tsp Rai (mustard seeds)
4. 1 tbsp phutana dal (roasted gram) 
5. 2 green chillies 
6. Few curry leaves
7. 1/2 tsp baking soda 
8. 1 pc ginger (1 inch)
9. 2 tbsp oil 

Method:

1. Make a paste of ginger and green chillies.
2. Take a pan - add oil, rai (mustard seeds), phutana dal (roasted gram), ginger & chilly paste, curry leaves, & rawa (semolina) Roast for 3-4 mins at low heat.
3. Take a bowl - put one cup curd (yoghurt) & 2 cups water and mix. Then put the above mixture and keep it for 15-20 mins. 
4. When you want to make rawa idly - add salt, baking soda and little water to the mixture above.  It should be in a flowing consistency (not too thick and not too watery)
5. Steam it for 10 minutes. 
6. Serve it hot with coconut chutney and/or sambar and/or mint chutney and/or ketchup

Thandai Sharbat - Holi Hain

For one bottle of thandai (1 LTR) below are ingredients:

25 Badam
15 elaichi
1 tbsp poppy seeds (khas khas in Hindi)
1 tbsp Jeera
50 Black pepper
1/4 Nut meg (jafar in Hindi)
3/4 kg sugar
Kesar

Method:

1. Soak and grind all the ingredients except sugar.
2. Boil sugar
3. Add grinded paste to sugar syrup and boil till thick
4. Strain when it cools down
5. Pour in the bottle and store in refrigerator

Whenever ready to drink pour 30 ml Sharbat in glass and add cold milk.

Khakhra Sandwich (Healthy & easy option)

Ingredients :

• Rectangle khakhras - easily available in market
• Fresh paneer (cottage cheese) 

• Fresh Pudina chutney 

• Tomato ketchup 

• 1 Onion 

• 1 Tomato

Only two steps :

1.Take two pieces of khakhra, apply pudina chutney on one and tomato ketchup on another.

2. Cut onion and tomatoes in small pieces and spread it across any one khakhra piece. Slice paneer into thin layer and add.  

Combine both pieces of khakhra like a sandwich & Enjoy!

About Khakhra - Originating from the state of Gujarat, as part of Gujarati cuisine in India, Khakhara’s are thin crackers made from mat bean, wheat flour and oil. It is served usually during breakfast. Khakhra’s are uniquely hand-made and roasted to provide a delicious, crunchy and healthy snack enjoyed with a selection of pickles and chutneys.

Paneer Fish Fry - Vegetarian

Serves for 2

Ingredients:

250 gms Cottage Cheese (Paneer) 
1 Tbsp Flour (Maida)
1/4 Tsp Garam Masala
1/4 Tsp Jeera Powder
1/4 Tsp Amchur Powder
Pinch of tandoori color 
Oil for frying
Salt for taste

Method:

Mix all dry ingredients in flour (maida) except cottage cheese (Paneer)

Cut cottage cheese into long pieces & wash.

Dip the paneer in dry flour & deep fry.  

Dalia Upma

Serves for 2

Ingredients:

1 Cup Dalia (Broken wheat)

1 Tsp Rai (Mustard seeds)

1 Tbsp Broken Channa (Phutana)

1 Tbsp Oil

1 Tsp Jeera 

1 Onion (Chopped finely)

2 Green chillies (grinded)

1 pc Ginger (grinded)

Few curry leaves 

1 Lime (juice)

Salt to taste

Coriander

Method:

Take a pan : put oil, rai, jeera, broken channa, green chillies, ginger, curry leaves and onions. Mix for 2 minutes. 

Add dalia and mix it till it becomes brown (appox. 5 mins) 

Add 2 cups of water and salt, then keep the gas on sim. Cover the pan and keep it till it dries. 

Put lime juice and decorate with coriander.

Ice Cream Soda

Serves for 1

Ingredients:

1 Long glass

1 Tbsp Rose Syrup (or any other flavor syrup)

1 Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream

1 350 ml Bottled soda

Method:

Put syrup and ice cream in a long glass and pour soda and drink immediately.