Ambode / Masala Vade With Sapsige Soppu/Channa dal Vada/ Fritters With Dill Leaves

Ambode or channadal fritters is one of  the famous fried snacks of Karnataka, prepared during festivals and family gatherings.Ambode  prepared with dill leaves gives it  a distinct flavour and taste that you can't stop eating them :-).Generally ambode and gasagase payasa is good combination and they compliment each other as a part of good menu during the special occasions.Here is my family recipe..hope you all like it.

Ingredients:
Channa dal/Kadale bele/Split Bengal gram-1 1/2cups
Dill greens/Sapsige soppu,chopped-1/2cup
Coriander,chopped-1/4cup
Onion-1 medium sized,finely chopped
Fresh coconut,chopped into small pieces,1 or 2Tbsp(optional)
Curryleaves,chopped-1sprig
Oil for frying

Masala for grinding
Dry red chillies-3
Green chillies-2
Ginger-1 inch piece
Jeera/cumin-1/2tsp
Black peppercorn-7-8
Cinammon stick-small piece(optional)
Cloves-3-4(optional)
Turmeric- pinch
Rock salt/salt to taste

Method:
1.Wash the channadal and soak in a clean water for 30-45 minutes.After soaking drain it in colander.
2.In  a mixie jar add all the masala's  and coarsely grind it ,then add the soaked channadal and grind it roughly with out adding water.
3.In a bowl add the grinded mixture mix well,now add dill greens,coriander,chopped onion,coconut,and curry leaves mix well. 
4.Heat a oil in a kadai,while oil is heating make a small balls of the channadal mixture and keep it on a plate.
5.When the oil is heated, take a ball on your palms and gently press them to give vada shape and slide them into the oil,do the same with the rest of the balls.
6.Cook them on medium heat,evenly on both sides until golden brown and crispy.
7.Take out the vada's when the bubbles stop  from slotted spoon,drain the excess oil and take out on kitchen paper. Serve them hot.It goes well along with Gasagase Payasa.

Note:
1.You can add little rice flour to the vada mixture if the mixture is little watery.
2.Don't soak channadal too much otherwise will ends up in watery loose mixture.
3.Don't overload the kadai,fry them in batch of 5-6 according to your kadai size.
4.You can make them thick or thin vada's according to your preference.

Chilli Cheese Toast

Ingredients:
White/Brown bread slices-4
Grated cheddar cheese-1Tbsp
Grated Mozzarella cheese-1Tbsp
Green chilli-1,finely chopped or red chilli flakes
Dried oregano-1/2tsp
Salt to taste
Black pepper powder-1/4tsp
Butter spread/margarine-4tsp(I have used olive spread)

Method:
1.Apply spread on  the bread slices and keep it aside.
2.In a bowl mix chopped chillies,grated cheddar,oregano,salt and pepper.
3.Spread this mixture on the two buttered slices then close the other two slices on top press them gently.
4.Heat a griddle or tawa, place the sandwiches on tawa and cook on low medium heat for 2-3minutes on each sides until crisp and golden brown.
5.Take out of the tawa and cut into 2 halves and serve with any sauce or ketchup.

Note:
1.Here I have used green chillies if your kids don't like spice use mild red chilli flakes.
2.If you want more spice you can add more chillies.
3.Ideal for above 7yrs old kids lunch boxes.
4.You can also add veggies like finely chopped capsicum,corn or any veggies of your choice.

Apricot Salsa

Ingredients:
Apricot,firm ripened ones-6
Red bell pepper-1/2 or small one
Fresh or pickled Jalapeno chillies to taste
Fresh coriander-3-4 sprigs
Lemon or Lime juice-1Tbsp or to taste
Sugar-1/2tsp
Salt to taste
Pepper powder-1/2tsp

Method:
1.Remove the seeds from the apricots and finely chop them.
2.Finely chop the bell pepper,jalapeno and coriander.
3.In a bowl mix chopped apricot, bell pepper,jalapeno, coriander,lime juice, sugar,salt and pepper
mix well.
4.Serve with Tortilla chips or any chips of your choice.

Note:
1.Choose the apricots which are firm and ripen.
2.You can also try this recipe with peaches and nectarines.
3.If the apricots are sour add sugar and lime juice adjust more or 
less accordingly.

Red Beans Quesadilla

Preparation Time:10 minutes| Cooking Time:5 minutes |Makes:4 or 6 Wedges

Category:Snack |Cuisine :Mexican 

Ingredients:

Red kidney beans-200g (1/2Can)if using home boiled beans means 1/2cup

Spring onions-2 sticks,finely chopped

Fresh Coriander-2tbsp

Cheddarcheese-1/2cup,grated

Red chilli flakes-1/2 tsp(if preparing for small kids,use black pepper powder instead)

Oregano (dried herb)-1/2tsp
Garlic clove-2
Salt to taste

Flour tortilla's-4

Method:

!.Toast all the tortilla's lightly on a tava and keep aside.
2.In a bowl  add red beans mash it roughly and add all the other ingredients mix well and keep it aside.
3.Heat a tava place the tortilla and evenly spread the handful of mixture on the tortilla and cover the another tortilla on top and press gently,make sure that the flame is low because tortilla's will burn quickly.
4.Cook on both sides until cheese melts,cut them diagonally into 4 or 6 triangular wedges.Serve warm with sour cream or any dip of your choice.

Note:
1.You can use any variety of boiled beans and seasoning of your choice .
2.You can prepare this with chappatis too.
3.Good for kids lunch box.
4.Don't overload the stuffing on tortilla's makes it soggy,don't put more
than a Tbsp.
5.If you are cheese lover you can add more cheese if you wish.
6.Look for more Mexican Recipes and Veggie Quesadilla
7.It can be cooked in the oven too,In a preheated oven at 180'c,place the sandwiched tortilla's on a baking sheet and bake for 2-3minutes until cheese melts.

Cereal Chivda

Ingredients:

Rice crispy cereal-3 cups
Corn flakes-1 cup
Raisins-1 Tbsp
Cashew nuts-1 Tbsp
Roasted peanuts-1/2 cup
Roasted chana dal-1/2 cup
Oil-3-4 Tbsp
Mustard seeds-1/2tsp
Cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Asafeotida/Hing-Pinch
Dry red chillies-2,splitted
Fistful of curry leaves
Turmeric powder-1/4tsp
Red chilli powder-1/2tsp or to taste
Sambhar powder-1/2tsp or to taste
Salt to taste
Sugar-1/2tsp

Method

1.Heat a oil in a wide pan over medium high heat. After oil is hot add mustard and cumin.
2.As mustard and cumin seeds crackle add asafeotida, slitted red chillies, and curry leaves.

3.Then on a low medium heat fry for 30 seconds, add cashews, raisins, peanuts roasted chana dal,dry coconut
 stir-fry for one minute on a low heat.Make sure you don't burn them.
4.Now add chilli powder,sambhar powder, turmeric,sugar and salt mix it well.
5.Add rice crispy cereal and corn flakes (crush the corn flakes before adding to the mix) stir the mixture gently mix it well quickly and turn off the heat.Mix it well until all the cereal is well coated with spices now chivda is ready.

6.Let the  chivda cool off to the room temperature before serving.
7.Cereal chivda can be kept for several days in airtight container.
8.Serve as a snack any time with tea or coffee.

Strawberry Scones

Ingredients:
Self raising flour-200g
Butter-40g
Salt-pinch
Sugar-1tbsp(optional)
Natural yoghurt-125ml
Strawberries-10-12
Milk to glaze

Method:
1.Preheat the oven to 220'c/gas 7/425'F,place a ungreased baking sheet to heat up in the oven.
2.Add the flour, salt,sugar and butter in a bowl,mix with hands until the mixture turns into crumbs.Now mix yoghurt gently and make a dough.
3.Chop the strawberries roughly  and keep it aside
4.Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface to make a smooth dough,mix the berries gently into dough,make a free-form balls on a palm.
5.Gently lift the scones onto preheated baking sheet. Brush the tops with milk and bake for 7-10 minutes until the scones are risen and  golden brown on top.
6.Cool on  a wire rack.Serve with Butter or jam.
Note:
1.You can use any fruits of your choice.

Yoghurt Scones(Eggless)

Ingredients:
Self raising flour-200g
Butter-40g
Salt-pinch
Sugar-1tbsp(optional)
Natural yoghurt-125ml
Milk to glaze

Method:
1.Preheat the oven to 220'c/gas7/425'F,place a ungreased baking sheet to heat up in the oven.
2.Add the flour, salt,sugar and butter in a bowl,mix with hands until the mixture turns into crumbs.Now mix yoghurt and gently knead a dough.
3.Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface to make a smooth dough.Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1inch.
4.Dip a 2.5inch plain cutter in some flour then use it to stamp out 8 rounds of dough.
5.Gently lift the scones onto preheated bakingsheet.Brush the tops
with milk and bake for 7-10 minutes until the scones are risen and  golden brown on top.

6.Cool on  a wire rack
Serve with fresh cream and strawberries or a simple fruit jam.

Fresh Fruit Flapjacks

Ingredients:
Raspberries or Blueberries or other soft fruit-1/2cup/(i have used raspberries)
Wholemeal flour-3tbsp
Caster sugar-2tbsp
Oats-3tbsp

Butter-3tbsp 

Method:
1.Take any soft fruit  squash them lightly on a plate  and keep it aside.
2.Take a bowl mix wheat flour,caster sugar,oats and butter and rub them
 in your finger until it becomes crumbly.
3.Grease a loaf tin,put half of the crumbly mixture into loaf tin and press
 it down firmly,now spread the squashed raspberries evenly.
4.Pour the remaining crumbly mixture on top of raspberries and pat it evenly

all over, nice and hard.
5.Tranfer the flapjack loaf tin  into preheated oven at 180'C for 20 minutes.
6. When it is cooked,leave it to cool flapjack completely before cutting into slices.
Note:1.This dish can be frozen for up to one month.
2.This flapjack is ideal for kids lunch box snack.
3.You can use any soft fruit of your choice.

Plantain/Banana Cutlet

Ingredient:
Plantain -1(boiled)
Potato, medium-1(boiled)
Onion-1,finely chopped
Green chilli-1,finely chopped
Jeera-1tsp
Chillipowder-1tsp
Besan-2tbsp
Riceflour-2tbsp
Salt to taste
Gingergarlic paste-1tsp
Fresh coriander-1tbsp
Bread crumbs as required
Oil for shallow fry

Method:
1. Grate the plantain and potato using grater.Mix all the other ingredients mix well.
2.Make a lemon size round balls out of the mixture.Roll the balls` in bread crumbs and
press the balls gently flat  in a palm to give them patty shape.Prepare these and keep it aside.
3.In a wide pan  add 2-3tbsp of oil,shallow fry all the patties until golden brown evenly on both sides.
Serve with tomato ketchup or green chutney.

Spicy Oats and Vegetable Burger

Ingredient:
Oats-1cup
Potato-2, medium,boiled
Onion-1,
Carrot-1,grated
Corn-1/2cup(frozen or fresh)
Gingergarlic paaste-1tsp
Green chilli paste-1/2tsp
Garam masala-1/4tsp
Chilli powder-1/2tsp
Coriander
Salt to taste
Oil-4tbsp
Rava- for coating,as required

Burger buns-6
Tomato slice-6
Lettuce as required

Method:

1.Heat a oil in pan,add onion fry until translucent,then add gingergarlic paste,greenchilli paste,garammasala,chillipowder,salt.
2.Add grated carrot,mashed potato, corn and oats mix well,fry for 5-6 minutes.Add coriander and mix well.
3.Leave the mixture to cool,then take 2tbsp of mixture in palm and make a  patty,roll it in rava,shallow
fry in little oil until golden brown on both sides.

4.Lightly toast the buns and arrange salad and cutlets on one half of the bun,close the other half and serve with Tomato ketchup.

Corn Vada

Ingredients:   
Corn cobs-4
Rice flour-1/2cup or as required
Green chillies-3,finely chopped
Onion -1,medium,finely chopped
Fresh coriander-1/2 cup,finely chopped
Cumin seeds/jeera-1tsp
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

Method:
1.Remove the corn from cobs and  roughly grind it.
2.Mix the corn with rice flour,green chillies,onion,cumin and coriander,add salt to taste, mix well if the corn is very tender and watery mix more rice flour to bind the mixture.
3.Heat the oil in a deep pan make small balls of the mixture, flatten slightly on your palm and deep fry until golden brown on both sides.

4,Serve hot with green chutney or ketchup.

Vada Pav

Vada Pav is one of the popular Maharastrian street snack,which is very tasty and filling.To get the authentic flavour of vada pav I used freshly crushed ginger,garlic and green chillies,which I highly recomand you to use..because it makes a huge difference in taste if you use freshly crushed spice..

Ingredients for vada:
Potatoes-3 big(boiled, peeled and roughly mashed)
Onion-1,finely chopped
Ginger -1"stick
Garlic-4-5 cloves
Green chilli-3
Chilli powder-1tsp
Dhaniya powder-2tsp
Fresh coriander-2tbsp,finely chopped
Lemon/lime juice-1tbsp
Sugar-1/2tsp
Salt to taste
Oil-2tsp
Mustard-1/2tsp
Cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Turmeric-pinch
Oil for frying
For batter:
Besan(chickpea flour)-1cup
Rice flour-1tbsp
Turmeric-pinch
Salt-1/2tsp
Baking soda-pinch
Water as required

Method:1.First crush ginger, garlic and green chillies roughly in a mixer without adding water.
2.Heat a oil in a pan,add mustard and cumin,when they begin to splutter,add onion, fry until little brown then add crushed ginger garlic and green chilli paste and saute for minute,then add mashed potatoes along with chilli powder,dhaniya powder,sugar and salt mix well. Take out of the flame add coriander and lemon juice mix thoroughly.And keep it aside to cool.
3.In a bowl add besan,rice flour,turmeric,salt, and soda,mix this with water to slightly thicker than dosa consistency.
4.Heat a oil for frying in kadai,Prepare lime size balls out of potato mixture and dip them in chickpea batter and  deep fry them until golden brown and crispy.Take them out on a kitchen towel to absorb extra oil.

For frying green chillies:
Green chillies-10,deseeded and crushed
salt-1/2tsp
oil-2tsp
Method:
Heat little oil in a frying pan,add crushed green chillies and sprinkle little salt over each chillies and fry for 2-3 minutes and take out.

For peanut chutney powder:
Dry coconut-1tbsp
Garlic-2cloves
cumin seeds-1/2tsp
Peanuts-4tbsp
Tamarind-pea size
Dry red chillies-2
Salt to taste
Method:Dry roast all the ingredients above,after cooling dry grind them roughly.

For serving:
Pav or buns-10
Crushed and fried green chillies
Peanut chutney powder
Aloo vadas

Assembling:Toast the pav buns lightly and keep it aside.Take a pav put chutney powder in the middle then place vada on top,close the other half of the pav bun press gently.Serve with fried chilli...Enjoy with hot cup of chai

Bele Unde/Habbe Unde/Steamed Dal Vada

 Bele unde or Habbe unde is a healthy and nutritious dish which can be served as breakfast or lunch or snack."Habbe" means steam in Kannada and "Unde" means vada or patties in Kannada.This dish is also called Nuchina unde in some parts of karnataka.This oil free vada's are very delicious to eat with coconut chutney.I have used only dill and coriander,you can also add any veggies of your choice.This ideal for those who are on diet...enjoy....Hope you like it.

Ingredients:
Channa dal-1cup
Tuvardal-1/2cup
Moong dal-1/4cup
Masoor dal-fistful(optional)
Onion-1 big,finely chopped
Dill/Sapsige soppu-1bunch,finely chopped
Fresh coriander-1/2bunch,finely chopped
Salt to taste

For masala:Dry red chillies-2-3
Green chillies-2-3
Cinnamon-1" stick
Cloves 3-4
Cumin-2tsp
Turmeric-1/4tsp
Ginger-1" piece
Garlic-2-3cloves


 Method:

1.Wash and soak all dals in clean water for 2 hours.
2.Drain the water from the dals and grind them roughly along with all the
masala's above(first grind all the masala to fine,then add dals and grind).Don't add
more water only add tbsp or so that the dals move freely.
3.To the grinded thick batter, add chopped onion,dill,coriander and salt to taste
and mix well.
4.Take a fistful of mixture,make a patty shape on palms and place them in idli plates
and steam them as you steam idli'es for 10-15 minutes.
5.Serve hot with thick coconut chutney.....

Spicy Mexican Bean Burritos

Ingredients:
Canned beans(kidney beans)- 2 400g tin
Garlic-2 cloves
Olive oil-2tsp
Chilli flakes-1tsp
Salt to taste
To serve:
Sour cream -4 tbsp or as required
Tomato salsa
Tortillas-6
Method:
Heat oil in a pan, add chopped garlic saute until soft then add drained, washed and lightly
mashed beans,seasoned with chilliflakes and salt.

Tomato Salsa
Ingredients:
Tomatoes-4big,ripen but firm ones,
Green chilli-1(optional)
Pickled jalapenos-2
Red onion-1 small
Olive oil-2tsp
Lemon juice-1tbsp
Coriander-2tbsp
Salt to taste
Method:
Chop all the vegetables finely and mix everything in a bowl and season according to taste.

To assemble:
Cook the tortillas on the tawa on both sides.Take one tortilla place 2tbsp bean mixture,tomato salsaand sour cream,roll them and cut into two halves,serve with salad.

Maddhur Vade

Maddhur vade is my all time favourite and had a fond memories with it.. My doddamma's house  is in Mandya,we used to visit them during our school holidays.Maddhur is a small town Half hour journey from Mandya and one hour from Mysore.we used to visit  many temples which surrounds Maddhur like vaidyanatheshwar temple on the bank of kaveri river,Paschima vahini,srirangapatna and many more..Then we used to buy these vade's there which is locally prepared  amd sell on streets,bus and railway station too.My doddamma gave me this recipe which is so easy and you can make it in a jiffy...Enjoy the taste of karnataka.


Ingredients:
Rice flour-1cup
Chiroti rava(fine sooji)-1cup
Salt to taste
coriander,finely chopped-1tbsp
Greenchillies,finely chopped-4
Onions,finely chopped-2
Oil for frying+2tbsp


Method:
Mix rice flour and rava,add 2tbsp of hot oil and mix well until the mixture crumbles.
Now add onions,chillies,coriander and salt mix well and add take small amount of mixture,add little water to knead a stiff dough.Don't mix all the mixture with water all at once,this will make the vada's soggy,so you have to mix little at a time and prepared immediately
Apply oil to palms,divide the dough into equal portions and prepare round balls.On a  plastic sheet,first apply oil on the sheet and take Small lemon size ball and spread the dough to a thin round and deep fry them until crispy and golden brown on both sides.serve hot with thick coconut chutney.

Vegetable Quesadilla

Ingredients:

Spring onions-2 sticks,finely chopped

Coriander-2tbsp

Cheddarcheese-1/2cup,grated

Red chilli flakes-1/2 tsp(if preparing for small kids,use black pepper powder instead)

Sweetcorn-handful(I have used frozen)

Red or green bellpepper-1/2portion,finely chopped

Salt to taste

Flour tortilla's-4

Method:

Toast all the tortilla's and keep aside.In a bowl mix all ingredients and keep aside.Heat a tava place the tortilla and spread the handful of mixture on the tortilla and cover the another tortilla on top and press gently,make sure that the flame is low because tortilla' will burn quickly.Cook on both sides until cheese melts,cut them into 4 or 6 triangular wedges.Serve warm with sour cream or any dip of your choice.

This Quesadilla's are off to  Event Kids lunch box treats hosted by Smitha of Taste Buds

Cabbage Bonda

Ingredients:
Besan/Chickpea flour/Kadlehittu-1cup
Rice flour-1/4cup
Onion,sliced-1
Green chillies,finely chopped-2
Cabbage,shredded thinnly-1cup
Cumin seeds-1tsp
Fresh coriander,finely chopped-2tbsp
Curry leaves,finely chopped-1 sprig
Chillipowder-1tsp
Salt to taste
Sodabicarbonate-1/2tsp
Oil for frying


Method:
Heat oil in a kadai.
In a bowl mix besan,riceflour,cuminseeds,chillipowder,salt,soda add tbsp of hot oil and mix until it becomes like crumbs.Now add veggies and little water and mix well.Take a tbsp of mixture and drop into hot oil and deep fry until golden brown.Serve hot.

Ajwain biscuits/Sweet and salt crackers

Ajwain biscuits  always reminds me of my childhood..There was a small shop opposite to my house,there we used to get this biscuits which are ,small sized but very tasty,for 50p we used to get 30 -35 small biscuits.Me and my brother used to buy this biscuits often.After so many years now,while cooking whenever I opened a ajwain container I remember those biscuits which smell the same..At that time I did not know it was ajwain or not but now I am sure to tell they are made out of ajwain as I still remember the smell of those biscuits.So thought of making them on my own,so with little bit of experiments :) I came out with this recipe which turn out to be a big hit in my family,not single biscuit was left and my little one love them...This recipe yeilds 20 -25 biscuits,I made them normal cracker size.These are sweet and salt in taste...So perfect for afternoon tea or as snack..You can store them in a airtight container.

Ingredients:
All purpose flour-1cup
Butter-25 gm
Ajwain seeds(Oma kaalu)-1tsp
Salt-1/2tsp
Sugar-1tbsp
Milk-4tbsp


Method:
In a mixing bowl, add flour,ajwain,salt and sugar,mix well.
Add cold butter rub into flour wntil it become crumbs.
Add milk and knead into a stiff dough like chappathi dough.
Lightly flour the surface and roll the dough thin and evenly into 
large chappathi.Take cookie cutter of your desired shape,Cut the 
discs and place on a baking sheet,repeat this process until you are 
finished with the dough.Prick the disc's so they don't puff up.Bake in the preheated oven at 180'C for 15 to 20 minutes.Cool and serve.


Note:This biscuits will be soft when you take out of oven,they will become crispier and hard when they are cooled.