Chettinadu Vellai Paniyaaram

Paniyaram is another interesting Breakfast/Snack option. When bored with regular Idly/dosa, i try making paniyaram with the same batter. Pillow-like, Puffy and Soft and a versatile Dish,where we can vary the seasoning to our taste.
Today i m posting a Delicacy from Chettinad, Vellai Paniyaram. These Pillow-Puffies can be Deep-Fried in Hot oil too, i have made them in a Paniyaram Pan to make it a little healthy. Serve them hot with Tomato Chutney, you would relish it.
The Same Batter can be used to make Vellai Appam using Appam Pan. Use the same batter without the Seasoning.

Ingredients

4 Cups Raw rice 

1 cup Urad Dal/Dehusked Black Gram Dal

Salt to taste

1/4 Cup Milk

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

Oil for frying the paniyarams

Seasoning

1 Onion, finely chopped

2 green chilies, finely chopped or use 1/4 tsp green chili paste

2 sprigs of curry leaves, finely chopped

1/4 tsp grated ginger

2 tsp Bengal gram/Chana Dal, Soaked in Warm Water for 10 minutes

Method

• Soak Rice and Dal together for 3 hours. Drain the water and Grind it to a smooth batter. Add Salt at the end and grind well.
• Transfer the Ground Batter to another vessel, add the Seasoning Ingredients and Mix well.

• Add Milk, Baking Soda to the batter and Give a Good Stir.
• Heat the Paniyaram Pan/Abeleskiver Pan, pour little oil in the holes and fill the holes 3/4th of Batter.
• Keep the flame and Cook. Once it is done on one side, Flip it to other side and cook for 2 minutes.

• Do not be in a hurry while cooking, it takes about 5-8 minutes for a batch to Cook. Once Done, Transfer it to a plate and Serve Hot with Tomato Chutney an apt combination for this Delicacy

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#16

Sending this to Kids Delight - What kids Love for Summer hosted by Smitha, an Event by Srivalli and also to Healthy Food for Healthy Kids - Toddler Lunch, hosted by me, Event by Nithu

Appam with Cauliflower-Peas Milky Gravy

My Kiddo is an ardent fan of Dosa. Anytime, anyday, you give Dosa and a bowl(bucket) of Sambhar he is a Happy Kid. I bought an Appam Pan Last year from india, and haven't used it yet.Thought it is high time to take out that pan, so this weekend, i made him his Favorite dosa in a different Shape for Breakfast. He enjoyed it much.What attracts kids to this appam is the shape of it, the boat/bowl shaped Dosa, with a spongy center, they just love it!!!!

Ingredients

2 Cups Raw Rice

2 Cups Parboiled Rice

1/2 Cup Urad Dal

Salt to taste

1 and half Cup of Coconut Milk  (Equal Mixture of Thick and thin milk)

6 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

Method

• Soak Rice and Dal together for 3-4 hours. Drain and Grind them together to a Thick fine batter with little water. Add Salt and Mix together.
• Leave this batter on the Kitchen-top overnight for fermenting.
• Next Day Morning, Add the Coconut Milk Extract, Baking Soda, Sugar and Mix well.
• I have used Store-bought Coconut Milk. I used 1 cup Coconut Milk mixed with half Cup Water.
• Heat the Appam Pan, When it is hot, Pour a laddle of Batter in the center, and take the appam pan by its ears and Swirl around, so the batter coats the sides of the pan.

• Keep it back on the flame, Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Appam should be cooked by this time, Carefully take it using a Flat laddle and Keep it on a plate.
• Serve Hot with your favorite Curry.

 

Cauliflower-Peas Milky Curry

The Actual side-dish for appam would be Begetbale stew made using Coconut Milk, since the appam itself is rich with coconut milk, i wanted to try a less-calorie version using Plain Milk.

Ingredients

1/2 Kg Cauliflower

1/2 cup Peas

1 Large Onion, Chopped

1 Large tomato, Chopped

1 tsp Red Chili Powder

1 tsp Coriander Powder

1/2 tsp Garam Masala

1/2 Cup Milk (I used Low-Fat Milk)

Salt to taste

Method

• Cut the Cauliflower into Florets. Soak them in Salt water for 10-15 minutes. Blanch them in Hot water with little turmeric and Salt. Drain and Set aside.
• In  a non-stick pan, heat little oil, splutter cumin seeds, Add onions and saute till translucent.

• Add Chopped tomatoes and half cup water, add all the dry masalas to it and Cook till tomatoes turn mushy and oil separates out.
• Add the Drained Cauliflower and Peas and milk, add Salt. Cover and Cook for 10-15 minutes. Garnish with Coriander leaves and Serve Hot with Appam/Roti's.

Notes

• If you don't have an Appam Pan, you can make it as a plain dosa on Tava or use your paniyaram pan/Abeleskiver Pan.
• If the dosa/appam doesn't form holes/Kannu, then the Baking Soda added is not enough, so add little more and Give it a brisk stir and try again.
• Add only required/specified amount of  coconut milk or else the appam/dosa might stick to the Pan.

 Sending this to Kids Delight - What kids Love for Summer hosted by Smitha, an Event by Srivalli and also to Healthy Food for Healthy Kids - Toddler Lunch, hosted by me, Event by Nithu

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#16

Alfajores/ Crispy Shortbread Sandwich with Dulce de Leche

Alfajore are two buttery crisp shortbread cookies sandwiched together with a sticky, gooey, yummy Dulce de Leche filling . Another Mouth-Watering and a Fool-Proof Recipe from Joy of Baking. Alfajores (al-fah-HOR-ays) are very popular in Latin America. Which makes sense as they are filled with another Latin American favorite, Dulce de Leche (DOOL-say day LAY-chay). 

 To Make them even more rich, you can Sprinkle some Confectioner's Sugar on top and Roll them on to some Sweetened coconut Flakes or Dip them in Chocolate to make them Even more sinful. But, tell you what, they taste amazing without all these rich toppings and you would definitely bake them often for you kiddo and also for yourself.

Ingredients
1 Cup All-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup Crisco Shortening
1 tbsp of Water
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Dulce de Leche for Making the sandwich


Method

• Preheat Oven to 200C. Line a Baking tray with Parchment paper.
• Whisk together Flour and Salt. Using an Electric mixer, Beat Crisco shortening, vanilla extract, water and Sugar together, until smooth and creamy.
• Add Flour-Mix to Crisco Mix little by little and knead well to make a soft,pilable dough. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, take the dough out and Roll them out and Cut into desired shape using a cookie cutter. I simply, Pinched out small balls out of the dough and flatten them to make small disc.
• Place them on the baking tray and Bake for 12- 13 minutes or until edges start to brown.

• Take it out of the Oven, Let it cool on the Wire Rack.

• Once it is Cooled, Make the Sandwich!!!! Take a Shorbread, apply 1/2 tsp of Dulce de leche on the inside and press it with another shortbread. Enjoy!!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#16

Sending this to Kids Delight - What kids Love for Summer hosted by Smitha, an Event by Srivalli .