A lunch with Bitter gourd

I know that all people have one or the other weird tastes and cravings... and I used to think, those who liked the Bitter-gourd were indefinitely weird... until one fine day, when I finally started loving this bitter vegetable. :)
Towards the end of our college days, we were required to stay at different NGOs and give a report on them. Myself and some of my classmates stayed in one run by a few christian priests, which had a self sustained farm of their own, apart from their usual social work. It was during my stay there that I developed my first liking for this vegetable which was given to us as a stir-fry with coconut...(perhaps it was because of the relaxed nature of our surroundings..or the 'fresh from the farm' vegetables..I couldn't say)... Anyway it was delicious and I don't think we would have needed any other side-dish for our rice... :) .. But though I liked it very much there, my mother's versions of the same had no effect on me, until one of my cousins..(she is a pretty good cook) showed me how she made it and so.... I got hooked again...:)
My weird taste allows me to have this with plain rice...enjoying every mouthful, and that's how it was for lunch yesterday... Papa had brought a bagful of this veggie (straight from his farm) and I decided.... Bitter-gourd and coconut stir-fry, it would be...

Ingredients:

• 1 cup finely chopped Bitter-gourd ( I just removed the seeds and used the chopper)
• 1 cup fresh grated coconut  (using the same quantity of coconut counters the bitter taste)
• 4 green chillies, chopped
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• a sprinkle of chilli flakes 
• a few curry leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper or according to taste
• salt
• oil (coconut is preferred)

Put the coconut and bitter-gourd in a bowl, tear in a few curry leaves, add some salt (about 1/4 teaspoon), sprinkle some coconut oil and rub them all together for a minute. Pat the mix down and keep it aside.
Heat 1 or 2 tblsp oil in a pan and add the garlic, chillies, onions and curry leaves and saute for some time adding a pinch of salt. Let it brown slightly and then add the turmeric and chilli flakes and stir again for few seconds.
Now add the bitter-gourd mixture to the pan, give a stir and close the lid. Allow it to steam up on medium flame.Give it a few minutes and then open the lid and stir again.
Taste and add salt and pepper accordingly. Cook until done stirring occasionally. (it might take about 10 minutes.) It should be a little fried but not browned.
Serve hot with plain rice... Enjoy!! vegetarian meal

Falafel recipe

Here is the recipe for those patties I posted last week...
I have added a teaspoon of chilli flakes to make it spicy. My friend had said.. spice and salt according to taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried chickpeas
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 green chilli chopped
• 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes 
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon coriander leaves/ cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon grated carrot (if you like)
• 2 tablespoons flour or more if needed
• a pinch of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt or more
• oil for frying

Rinse chickpeas in a bowl and allow to soak overnight.
Drain the chickpeas and set aside.
In a pan, over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons oil and saute onion and green chilli for 2 to 3 minutes then add garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
In a food processor, pulse together chick peas, red chili flakes and ground cumin and coriander to form a coarse consistency. Add water only if necessary, as little as possible. Then add flour, salt, and cilantro. Pulse until mixture starts pulling from the sides of the food processor.
Remove mixture to a large bowl and mix in the onion mixture and grated carrot. Chill falafel mix until ready to cook.
Before forming the mix into balls, check and add more salt or pepper if needed. Now mix in the baking powder as evenly as possible.
Heat the oil needed for frying.
Roll the dough into balls, slightly flatten them and deep fry until browned, turning as needed.
Drain on paper towels and serve hot with yoghurt dip or use it as a filling in pita bread.
snack, starter ,easy

Falafel

Yesterday, a Sudanese friend of mine gave me this mix...and she told to add salt and pepper to my taste, a pinch of baking powder and deep fry it after making into small flattened balls.... and here is what I got... the famous Middle eastern dish, Falafel.
I haven't eaten Falafel before and on tasting it I thought of likening it to an Arab version of the South Indian Dal Vada. They are very nutritious and can be used as a starter or snack or as a filling in sandwich wrap.  

Anyway.........these deep fried patties were delicious (thanks to her for introducing me to this new dish) and I intend to learn how to make the mix. I know it is made with chick peas, onion, etc... but.. I'll post the recipe after I get it from her.. :)

Chicken Pizza

How would you like to make your pizza from scratch??? The exact method for creating a pizza is simple, though it does vary a little by recipe.You can begin by making the dough. The basic ingredients for dough are water, flour, salt, and yeast. Variations include olive oil, sugar, and spices. The sauce comes next. Most pizzas have a tomato sauce with ingredients like basil, olive oil, and garlic, but there are tons of alternatives and additional flavors one could add. After that there are the cheese and toppings. Almost any type of cheese can be used, but I used mozzarella and cheddar. You can put the toppings on over the cheese so that they can be shown off...:) or put the toppings underneath the cheese so that the toppings can become extra bubbly. The beauty of it is that there is no right way to do it – making your own homemade pizza ensures that the best possible recipe is created for everyone's enjoyment! 

My recipe here is adapted and adjusted according to my taste... :)...but....as I have seen that it is enjoyed by others too...I have decided to put it up...for anyone who might like to have a go at making their own pizza including the dough... Good luck !! :)

                        Chicken Pizza with Tomatoes, Capsicum and Onions

For the dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• approx. 1 cup very warm water
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoon active dry yeast

Combine water, sugar, and butter/oil in a bowl.

Mix wheat flour, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl; stir well. Gradually add the warm liquid mixture, beating with your hand or an electric mixer at low speed for one minute.

Add egg, and beat an additional 2 minutes at medium speed. Gradually add all- purpose flour to make a soft dough. Add more water or flour if necessary. Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes). 

Turn the dough inside out and with the seam side down, put the dough in a large bowl coated with oil. Coat the dough also with a little oil. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap.Keep it in a warm place undisturbed and free from drafts.

Let the dough rise and double in size.(maybe 1 hour or more depending on the weather) After it has doubled, punch down and divide into 3 equal balls and let it rest for another 20 to 30 minutes.

Then place one of the balls on a buttered pan and flatten it with your palm. Now, slightly stretch it to all sides with your palm, retaining the circular shape...to about 10 inch diameter. Do this slowly allowing the dough to rest for five minutes in between. Your pizza base is ready. Add the sauce and toppings.

Toppings (for 3 pizzas):

• 1 cup pizza sauce 
• 3 chicken breasts (or an equivalent amount), cooked and diced
• 1 large onion diced
• 2 green peppers/capsicum chopped
• 2 tomatoes diced
• 1 or 2 cloves of garlic grated
• 1/4 teaspoon red chilly powder
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

To brush on:

• olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

(The chicken used can be of any flavour and the taste of your topping depends on it. I would suggest garlic chicken or chicken tikkas.)

Preheat the oven to 450 degree F.

Mix the vegetables with the grated garlic, chilly powder, olive oil and some salt. 

Prick the base all over with a fork.Crush the garlic and add it to some warm olive oil.Allow it to infuse for some time. Then brush the base liberally with this and pour 1/3 of the sauce onto it.

Arrange the vegetables and chicken.

Drizzle with more oil.

Bake the pizza for about 10 minutes and then take it out and add the cheese. Brush all over with eggwash (egg beaten with little milk and a pinch of salt)

Bake again for another 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown in colour and the cheese has melted and browned. The bottom of the crust will be light brown.

Serve immediately.