Renus Kitchen

Filling Ricotta cheese - 1 tub Mint leaves - 1-1.5 cup Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Corriander powder - 1.5 tsp Garam masala - 1 tsp Salt to taste Green chillies, chopped - 3-4 Amchur powder (dry mango powder)- 1 tsp, optional Dough Whole wheat flour  - 3 cups Water - 1 cup or as needed Method: Prepare dough by mixing flour and water and knead with hands to get soft, pliable dough. It should not be very sticky, otherwise add more flour. Leave the dough covered at room temperature for 30 minutes Mix every thing in the filling section. Adjust seasoning to adjust taste. Divide the dough into small balls approximately 12 in number Roll one ball at a time into a small circle. Fill 1-2 tbsp of filling mixture and seal the edges of the ball. Dust the ball with flour and roll it gently to form disc (It is very likely it going to tear will rolling. It is OK if this happens, parathas will still taste good :)) Toast on hot griddle with vegetable oil or ghee and serve hot...

  Ingredients: Cabbage, chopped - 1 cup Yogurt - 1.5 cups Green chillies - diced and according to your taste Vegetable oil - 1tsp Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp Seasoning: Salt Roasted cumin powder Cilantro leaves for garnishing Method: Steam chopped cabbage and keep it aside Heat oil, add mustard seeds and wait to crackle. Now add green chillies followed by steamed cabbage and cook till glossed with oil. Let it cool at room temperature. Beat yogurt to mix lumps. Add all the seasoning and adjust consistency by adding water Now mix cooked cabbage, garnish with chopped cilantro leaves and chill in refrigerator Serve chilled !  

This an unusual halwa for me. I had never tried cooking fruit to make halwa. This halwa is a perfect prasad for festivals.   Ingredients: Red apples - 3 medium size Sugar - 1-1.5 c Ghee - 2-3 tbsp Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp Saffron strings (Kesar) - 3-4 Slivered nuts - optional Method: Soak saffron strings in 1 tsp warm water. Peel the apples and remove seeds and core. Dice and grind in a hand blender. Heat ghee in a non-stick pan (or a heavy bottomed pan) and cook apple pulp on medium heat until the water evaporates. Add sugar, soaked saffron strings and cardamom powder. Cook on low heat till the mixture leaves the sides of pan. Cool and garnish with slivered pistachios Verdict:   Halwa has this sweet and tangy taste, a distinctive apple flavor.

Another way of getting beetroots in diet.   Ingredients for Dough 1-2 small beet roots 2 cups whole flour Ingredients for potato filling 2 potato - boiled 1 medium onion - chopped 1 green chillie - chopped Mustard seeds - 1 tsp Coriander Powder - 1.5 tsp Turmeric - 1 tsp Cilantro leaves - few sprigs Salt Any vegetable oil - 1.5 tbsp Method Grate beetroots and steam for 10 minutes. Combine steamed beets and whole wheat flour to make dough. Cover the dough and keep it aside Prepare potato filling by frying boiled potatoes and onions in vegetable oil tempered with mustard seeds. Add all the spices and salt. Garnish with cilantro leaves and let it cool Pinch out small balls out of the dough and and roll it a little. Place potato mixture on the rolled dough ball and seal the sides with your finger. Sprinkle little dry flour on the rolling board and roll it gently with rolling pin into a circle. Put the rolled circle on a hot griddle kept on medium heat a...

This makes a good breakfast muffin which includes oats and banana. You are sure to get some fiber and fruits in one serving. Ingredients: [makes 6 medium size] 1/2 cup oat [Coach's Oats bought from Costco store ] 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder 1/8 tsp salt 3/4 cup mashed banana [very ripe] 3 tbsp canola oil 1/2 cup thick yogurt 1/2 cup chopped fresh cherries [optional] dessicated coconut powder [optional] Method: Pre-heat oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit. Mix all the dry ingredients except sugar. In a separate bowl blend mashed banana, yogurt, oil and sugar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and blend just enough to mix the batter. Fold in the fresh cherries. Line muffin tray with paper and fill 2/3rd with batter. Sprinkle grated coconut powder and bake for 20-25 minutes or until inserted tooth pick comes out clean. Allow to cool before indulging .....

Tired of boring breakfast everyday ? try this protein packed wrap ! Prepare it simple or spice it up, you are going to like it :) Ingredients: * Tortilla wraps - 1 Egg - 1 large Salt and pepper Shredded cheese - optional Cooking oil Method: Beat the egg with all salt, pepper and shredded cheese Heat oil in a griddle, put tortilla wrap and slightly cook on both sides Remove wrap from the griddle and keep it aside Now add some more oil to the pan and pour the egg batter and let it spread Once the egg is half cooked and slightly liquid, put the wrap on top  Flip the wrap ( fused with egg ) over and cook for few seconds Roll up the with egg side inside Variation:   * Use plain Indian paratha instead of wrap Spread some filling like onions, tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup on the egg side, roll it and serve

Biscotti is a twice baked cake originated in  Italy. They are best eaten by dunking in hot coffee on a rainy day :) They are large crunchy, dry cakes and very very easy to bake. This is a tried and tested recipe from Joy of Baking .   Ingredients: All-purpose flour - 1 3/4 cup Baking powder - 1 tsp Salt - 1/4 tsp Eggs - 2 large Sugar - 2/3 cup Vanilla extract - 1 tsp Toasted almonds - 1/2 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips - 1/4 cups Method: Mixing  Set the oven 350 degrees F . Line the baking tray with parchment paper or foil. ( don't use wax paper in place of parchment paper. I did it and it was smokey inside the oven ) Beat eggs and sugar at high speed for 5 minutes. Now add vanilla extract.  In a separate bowl sieve flour, baking powder and salt at least 2 times. Now pour egg mixture and beat until mixed. Fold in toasted almonds and chocolate chips Baking Step 1 Transfer the dough on baking sheet and form a log ~ 12 inches long and...

Great smoothie for kids, like my little one who doesn't like to drink milk. Adding some walnuts make it more nutritious. Soaked almonds also make nice addition. Ingredients: Milk - 1 cup Strawberries - 3-4 nos Walnuts - 3-4 pieces Sugar - 1.5 Tbsp or Honey instead of sugar Method: Blend everything in a blender till its smooth. Pour in a glass and enjoy !

Nice curry for a change. Goes well with parathas and naan.   Ingredients Corn on the cob - 2, large Potatoes - medium -2 Onion 1 medium Tomato - 1 medium Tomato puree - 1 tbsp Ginger garlic paste - 1.5 tsp Garam masala - 1.5 tsp Corriander masala - 2 tsp Salt - as per taste Red chilli powder - optional Green peppers - minced, optional Cumin seeds - 1 tsp Vegetable oil - 2-3 tbsp Method: Boil the corn on the cob for 8-10 minutes in water or steam it. Remove the kernels by scrapping with knife Chop onions, tomatoes, green peppers and keep it aside. Peel and dice potatoes and keep in water (this will stop them from darkening) Heat oil, add cumin seeds and wait to for them to crackle. Add chopped onions and saute till pinkish brown.  Now add ginger garlic paste and fry on low heat Once onion and ginger-garlic past eis cooked, add chopped tomatoes followed by tomato puree Add all the dry spices, cook till oil separates from the paste Now add some wat...

This is a power packed nutritious raita which combines the goodness of beetroot and yogurt. Beetroots have very powerful antioxidants called betacyanin, a potent anti-carcinogenic compound. It also cleans blood, liver, kidney, spleen and gall bladder. Yogurt is well known probiotic. Keeps the gut clean and provides good amount of calcium. So when yogurt and beetroot come together with a hint of mint, nothing can resist those taste buds ! Ingredients: Beetroot - medium Mint leaves - handful Yogurt - 1 cup Roasted cumin powder - 1 tsp Black salt - to taste Salt - to taste Red chili powder - optional Method: Grate and steam beetroot and keep it aside. Whip yogurt, add some water to get desired consistency. Add all the spices, grated beetroot and chopped mint leaves. Mix, cool and serve

  I love to make this paratha as it is one good way of giving goodness of spinach and paneer to my little picky eater :) Very easy to cook. I used fresh spinach, frozen can be used too. I normally prepare paneer in advance and keep it in my fridge. Find the recipe here   Ingredients: For Dough: Whole wheat flour - 2 cups Spinach -  1 bunch, chopped For Filling: Paneer , crumbled - 2.5 cups Cilantro leaves, chopped - 1/2 cup Salt - to taste Black pepper , crushed Oil Method: Prepare Dough Steam spinach and mash it in a hand blender to make smooth paste Mix the spinach paste to the flour and prepare dough using little by little water Keep the dough at room temperature for ~ 30 minutes Prepare Filling Crumble paneer and mix salt, pepper, cilantro. Adjust for taste Prepare Paratha Make parathas by pinching small balls from the dough. Roll a little and put the paneer stuffing on top. Seal the edge and roll it again  Fry the ...

I prepared this cake for my trip to Las Vegas. I normally make it eggless by substituting egg for yogurt, however, didn't have yogurt in my pantry and I had no time to run and get one. So I mixed two of my cake recipe idea ( Eggless Carrot Cake and Moist Banana Muffin ) to get this wonderful cake.   Ingredients All purpose flour - 1.5 cups Baking soda - 1.5 tsp Salt - 1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon - 1/4tsp Sugar - 1cup Grated Carrot -1.5 cup Butter or vegetable oil - 1/4 cup Milk - 1/4 cup Egg - 1 Vanilla essence- 1/2 tsp Walnuts - 1/4 cup Yogurt - 1/4 cup Vanilla - 1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder - 1 tsp Cinnamon powder - 1tsp Resins - 1/4 cup Method: Heat the oven at 350 F Line / grease cake pan (I used 8 inch bundt pan) Sieve all the dry ingredients EXCLUDING SUGAR and keep it aside  Whisk egg, yogurt, oil,  vanilla essence, milk and sugar  Slowly fold in the dry ingredients and mix gently  Add the grated carrots, resins and walnuts. Stir a...

Ingredients: All purpose flour - 1.5 cup White sugar - 3/4 cup Baking powder - 2 tsp Cardamon powder - grind 2 pods Vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp Salt - 1/4 tsp Whole milk - 1/4 cup or more Vegetable oil [canola oil] - 2 tbsp Butter [un-salted]- 4 tbsp 2 Large eggs Method: Preparation of peach layer: First we will slice the peaches with skin and add 1 tbsp of table sugar to it. Take 1/4 cup sugar in a thick bottomed pan and heat it with 2 tbsp water and warm the mixture on medium heat, the sugar will start melting and bubbling Next add the peaches and cook in sugar for 5 minutes at medium heat. Take a 8 x 8 inch pan and grease it thoroughly [otherwise the cake will stick at the bottom] and pour the cooked peaches and arrange it properly to cover the surface. Now proceed for next step Preparation of cake Sift all purpose flour, baking powder, cardamon powder and salt and keep it aside In a different bowl whisk the following Butter for 3 minutes [at mediu...

 Nice treat for kids and very easy to make. Ingredients: Marshmellows - 2 cups Rice puffs - 1 cup Butter - 1.5 tbsp Method: Cook butter and marshmellow untill the later starts melting Turn off the heat and puffed rice  Mix until rice puffs get coated with marshmellow Transfer the contents on a greased plate and press it gently to form a layer Cool and cut into desired shapes

Normally mattar paneer has a rich creamy gravy. Yes, it is yummylicious, but it comes with a price...I mean saturated fat in the form of cream. This recipe does not use cream. I have noticed, that cashew nuts alone can do the trick. Yes, cashew nuts are fat laden too, but they are rich in good fats and I am asking to add only a few :) Read more about Cahews here Ingredients: Paneer - 2 cups Tomato - 1 big ripe Tomato puree - 1 tbsp Onion - 1 medium Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Frozen peas - 1 cup Cashews - 5-8 soaked in water (or milk) Oil to cook Spices Salt - as per your taste Red pepper - 1/4 tsp Garam masala - 1tsp Corriander powder - 1/2 tbsp Turmeric - 1 tsp Cumin seeds -1 tsp Method: Prepare paneer in advance by following the recipe here or buy it from a store   Finely chop onions and tomatoes Heat oil, add cumin seeds and wait till it starts to crackle. Now add chopped onions and cook till they are pinkish. Add ginger garlic paste and cook for 1 mi...

This is somethings kids will love cooling of on hot summer days. Also, a good way of getting your toddler eat a serving of fruit :) Ingredients: Water - 1/4 cup Sugar - 1/4 cup Watermelon - small size, fleshed and deseeded Method: Boil sugar and water in a small saucepan and let it boil till its syrupy. Cool and keep it aside. Puree the watermelon and mix with sugar syrup Pour it into the popsicle molds and freeze !

This is a very unique gatte ki sabzi, unique because it does not have yogurt gravy ! My mother makes it in onion gravy and its tastes delicious.  My onion gravy doesn't comes out as good as hers, so added small amount of tomatoes and voilà, it tastes amazing. Ingredients For Gattas: Gram flour (Besan) - 1- 1.25 cups Yogurt - 3 tbsp Oil - 2 tbsp Turmeric - 1/4 tsp Chillie powder - to taste Salt - to taste Asafoetida- pinch For Curry Red onion - 1, big Tomato - 1 medium Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp Garam masala - 1.5 tsp Corriander powder - 1 tsp Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Cumin seeds - 1 tsp Asafoetida - 1-2 dashes Method : Prepare Gatte's  : Mix all the ingredients under Gatte's and make dough by adding water little by little. The dough doesn't come all together at once. Keep oiling your hands and work on the dough and eventually it will form smooth dough Pinch lemon sized balls from the dough and roll it between your palms to make it cylindrical, lik...

Stuffed tomatoes or bharva tamatar is a good  recipe for potlucks, picnics and very easy to cook. They look very pretty and delicious. These go well with naan, plain parathas or pulao (aromatic fried rice) and some raita as a side dish Ingredients: Tomatoes - 4 Boiled potato - 1 cup Grated cauliflower - 1 cup Green peas - 1/2 cup Mint leaves - 2-3 sprigs Vegetable oil for cooking Spices: Turmeric - 1 tsp Corriander powder - 1 tsp Red Chilli powder - to taste Garam masala - 1/4 tsp Black pepper - 1/4 tsp Salt - to taste Method: Filling Wash tomatoes and chop off the head. Keep the head portion to cover the tomatoes later. Now scoop the pulp and seeds. (do not throw away the seeds and pulp. Boil it in microwave and sieve it to collect the juice and use it to prepare any tomato based gravy ) Heat oil in a heavy bottom wok. Add cumin seeds and let it crackle. Now add chopped onion, fry till they are translucent. Add grated cauliflower followed by frozen peas and...

I have perfected baking chocolate cake (with eggs) and can whip an awesome cake anytime :) I was looking for egg-less chocolate cake for very long time and my search ended when I googled for it. There are numerous recipes out there and most of them are pretty much the same. Hence my recipe is no different. Try it out, you wont be disappointed. This recipe is a keeper. Ingredients: All purpose flour - 1.5 cups Cocoa powder - 3.5 tbsp Sugar - 1 cup Baking soda - 1 tsp Salt - 1/4 tsp Oil - 1/4 cup White vinegar - 1 tbsp Vanilla essence - 1/2 tbsp Water - 1 cup Method: Pre-heat oven 350 degree Fahrenheit and line the 8x8 inch baking pan Sieve all the dry ingredients (excluding sugar) at least 3 times Whisk together oil, sugar, white vinegar, water and vanilla Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix gently [the batter will be runny] (I baked this cake again today, June 26, 2011 and accidentally dumped dry and wet ingredient in the same bowl and whisked it together and...

My son likes pancakes and so as me. Normally I use pre-mixes bought from the store. They come out very good, however need eggs all the time. There are times when I don't have eggs in the kitchen and my son craves for pancakes, then I am stuck and come up with some excuse. Last week I found this wonderful recipe on  Good Food . Loved the recipe, it has no eggs and uses dates. I love dates and always find excuse to use it. I couldn't wait to try it out. I made few minor changes to the recipe like added some cardamon powder and grated coconuts and it tasted awesome !!! Ingredients:  Wheat flour - 1 cup Pitted dates - 12-15 Milk - 1 cup and more Baking powder - 1 tsp Salt - 1/4 tsp *Sugar - to adjust taste or optional Cardamon powder - 1 tsp Grated coconut - 2 tbsp Cooking oil Method: Mix all the dry ingredients including sugar and coconuts in a bowl Soak dates in half cup of milk and put it in a microwave for 45seconds. Blend using a hand blender and make a paste....

Ingredients: Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) - 15-20 pieces Thick yogurt - 4-5 tbsp Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Dry spice powder: Chaat masala - 1-1.5 tsp Red chillie powder Black pepper  Salt Turmeric powder - 1 tsp Tandoori masala (optional) Cubed veggies - onion, bell peppers, zucchini, squash Metal or wooden skewers Lime juice Cooking oil Method: Cube paneer pieces and keep it aside ( recipe here ) Combine all the spices, ginger-garlic paste and yogurt. Cover the paneer pieces with the above yogurt mixture.Marinate it by keeping it covered in fridge for at least 2 hours Grease the skewers and arrange marinated paneer pieces and cubbed veggies on them (for wooden skewers, please soak them in water for 30 minutes before using. This will prevent charring of the wood) Heat regular griddle or a stove top grill pan, sprinkle some oil and arrange the skewers on them and cook till the veggies and paneer gets brown spots Keep changing the sides for even cooking o...

This is my second time trying this Zebra Cake and again it did not disappoint me. This is one cake which looks intimidating but very easy to put it together. Kids love the stripes and can't stop having more than one slice. I like it with Coffee or french vanilla ice cream !try it your self. Check the Recipe here !

 Milk cake ....yummm, reminds of the sweet shop of my city, made some delicious milk cakes. It used to be our favorite pick from that store on the occasions of Rakshabandhan and Diwali. I am so happy that I found this recipe here and now I can make it my kitchen. Its a super duper easy recipe and it cooks in no time. Enjoy this recipe for the Mothers Day this weekend !! Ingredients: Milk - 6 cups Lemon juice - ~ 3 tbsp Sugar - 1/2 cup Ghee or unsalted butter - 2 tbsp Cardamon powder - pinch Pistachios - for garnishing Method Boil milk in a thick bottomed saucepan, preferably non-stick. Let it it boil for 2-3 minutes Add small amount of lemon juice to the milk and let it curdle. Do not add the entire amount of lemon juice, just enough to curdle the milk and not separate whey completely Boil for 4-5 minutes and remove 1-2 cups of whey water over a strainer to retain the curdled milk pieces that may come along with whey. Put back the curdled milk pieces back in the ...

I was looking for something to bake for my Moms club meeting and I landed on this recipe here . I knew I had to try this ... Ingredients All purpose flour - 2 cups Baking powder - 1 tsp Baking soda - 1/2 tsp Salt - 1/2 tsp Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup Sugar - 1 cup Large eggs, at room temperature - 2 Vanilla extract - 1 tsp Ripe banana - 1 cup, mashed Low fat yogurt - 1/2 cup Chocolate chip - 1/2 cup Method Pre-heat oven at 325 Fahrenheit. Line baking pans with butter or wax paper Sift all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt at least 3 times and keep it aside In another (preferably, glass)  bowl cream butter, eggs and vanilla extract using electric mixer In a separate bowl mix banana and yogurt Alternatively mix dry mixture and banana mixture into the butter-sugar mixture Fold in the chocolate chips Pour the batter in pre-greased baking pans and bake in the center for 60-70 minutes or until the tester comes out clean and top gets golden color Coo...

I have been munching on this since I was a child. Its absolutely a guilt free tea-time snack for our family. For those who don't know about puffed rice, read here . It is made by heating rice with sand. It is easily available in Indian stores or can be bought from here   Ingredients Puffed rice (murmura/laiya/ lai/) - 3-4 cups Peanuts - 1 cup Red Chillie - 1-2 whole pieces Mustard seeds (rai) - 1.5 tbsp Curry leaves - 10-15 Turmeric - 1 tsp Salt - to taste Sugar - just enough to give sweetness Vegetable oil - 1.5 tbsp Method: Dry roast peanuts on stove or microwave. Let it cool to room temperature Heat oil in heavy bottomed pan. Add rai seeds and let it crackle. Add whole red chillies followed by curry leaves and spices minus sugar. Immediately add puffed rice & peanuts.  Mix everything thoroughly on low heat. Add sugar and adjust for taste Cool and store in an air tight container

Ingredients: Whole wheat flour - 2-3 cups For Filling Green peas (fresh/frozen)- 1 packet Ginger - 1 inch, grated Salt - to taste Chaat masala Corriander powder - 1 tsp Green chillies - 1-2 Ajwain (carum seeds) - 1 tsp Cumin seeds (Zeera) - 1.5 tsp Asafotedia (Heeng) Vegetable oil for cooking Method: Prepare dough from wheat  and let it sit at room temperature Steam green peas in a steamer until soft. (You can pressure cook if you don't have a steamer) Gently mash the peas by the back of a ladle or a potato masher Heat oil in a wok. Add zeera when hot followed by green chillies, carom seeds and ginger.  Immediately add mashed peas mixture and cook on low heat Add all the spices including salt and cook covered on low heat.  Turn off the heat in 10-15 minutes Pinch out small rolls of dough and roll it into small chapati Put 1-1.5 tbsp of pea mixture and seal the edges. Roll it again (around 7-8 inches diameter) Fry the parathas on hot tawa/griddle...

My mother makes these the best...and am surprised my attempt was as good as hers! Ingredients Gram flour (Besan) - 1.5 cup Semolina flour (Sooji/Rawa) - 2-3 Tbsp Ghee (Clarified butter) - 0.5 cups Sugar (Powder) - 3/4 cups Almonds, Pistachio - handful Cardamom (grounded) - 1/4 tsp   Method Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan. Add besan,sooji and cook continuously on low-medium heat until the mixture turns golden-brown and releases a nutty aroma Remove the pan from heat and let it cool.  Add almonds, pistachios and sugar Make ladoos (balls) by gathering the mixture in your palms and pressing it to form round balls Store in air tight container    Check out Atta ka Ladoo