Jalebi

Ingredients:


For the batter:
Maida (seived flour or all purpose flour) :1 cup
Fine suji (semolina) :3/4 tblspn
A pinch of baking powder
Curd or yogurt :1/2 cup
Warm water :1 cup
A pinch of saffron threads.


For the sugar syrup:
Saffron threads :1/2 tbl spn
Sugar :1 cup
Water :1 cup
Green cardamom seeds powder :1/2 tsp
Rose water :2 tbl spn
Ghee or oil for frying.

Plastic bottle with a small hole, usually ketchup
dispenser suits well.

Preparation Method:


For the batter:
In a mixing bowl, sift the flour, suji, baking powder together. Beat curd and mix 1/2 cup of the water in it. Mix well with a whisk. Add this to the flour, blend it well and add little water if required to form a batter or pouring consistency. Sprinkle some saffron and whisk until smooth. Cover the bowl with a cling film and set aside for about 6 hours to ferment.

For the syrup:
In a non-stick kadhai/wok, dissolve the sugar in a cup of water and boil for around 10 minutes. Add saffron and cardamom powder and boil for 5 more minutes.


For the jalebis:
Heat ghee or oil in a kadhai/wok on a high flame. Then lower the flame to medium-low, pour the batter in the dispenser and then make small jalebis by dropping the batter into round shapes directly into the kadhai to form coils.

Make only a few jalebis at a time. Fry the jalebis only at a low flame, flip over and fry them equally from both sides until they are golden and crisp. Remove from the kadhai and drain on kitchen paper towel. Drop them into the hot sugar syrup.

Leave for 2-3 minutes so that they soak well in the syrup. Drain and transfer them in a serving dish and serve hot.

Pav Bhaji

Ingredients:
Finely chopped garlic :2 tbl spn
Capsicums finely chopped :2
Onion chopped :1
Chopped vegetables(cauliflower,
green peas,carrots,french beans,etc) :2 cups
Potato, boiled, peeled and coarsely mashed :1 large
Turmeric powder :1 tbl spn
Red chilli powder :1 tbl spn
Pav bhaji masala :4-5 tsp
Salt to taste
Butter for frying


For garnishing :

Chopped coriander
Finely chopped onion
Butter :1 tbl spn

Preparation Method:

In a frying pan, heat some butter, saute chopped garlic for 2 minutes and then add the chopped onions. Saute the onion till it becomes transparent. Then add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, fry for a minute.

Add chopped capsicum, mix well and cover with a lid for 2 minutes. Remove cover mix well and add the pav bhaji masala, fry for some time. Then add the boiled potatoes and other vegetables.

Mix well and cover with lid. Cook covered for about 5 minutes. Open and mash all the vegetables and keep mixing. Cook for another two minutes and garnish with coriander leaves, chopped onion and some butter.
Serve with pav.

TIP: Slit the pav, apply some butter and heat them on a tava/skillet till they turn brown.