Kache Kele Ke Kofte

Ingredients:
For the Koftas:
6 raw (kache) bananas
2 gms cumin
Salt to taste
5 gms ginger, chopped
5 gms green chilli, chopped
1 gm asafoetida (hing)
5 gms garam masala powder

For the Gravy:
1/4 kg beaten curd
2 gms cumin
3 gms clove
1 gm asafoetida (hing)
4 bay leaves
25 ml oil
5 gms ginger and green chilli, chopped
1.5 gms turmeric
5 gms garam masala powder
50 ml water
2 gms red chilli powder

Method:
Peel and boil the raw bananas and after they are boiled, mash them. Add all the other ingredients for the kofta to the mashed banana. Make small balls and deep fry. Keep these balls aside.

For the gravy, heat oil in a pan. Add cloves, asafoetida (hing), bay leaf, cumin, ginger and green chilli. Add turmeric, garam masala powder, and the red chilli powder to the curd and mix well. Add little water to get a thinner consistency. Add this curd to the pan. Put salt and let the gravy cook for 5 minutes. Add thekoftas, gently simmer for a few minutes and serve hot. Chop fresh coriander and garnish the koftas with it.

Note: This can be complete jain recipe just avoid the use of ginger.

Tricolor Paneer kebabs

Ingredients:

Yellow Coloured Paneer Kebabs 

8-10 paneer pieces (cut into a 2” squares) 

For marinade 

4-5 tbsp hung curds 1 tbsp black pepper powder (a pinch of garam masala powder for added flavour) 1 tbsp amchur powder or lemon juice A big pinch turmeric powder - (for the yellow colour) Salt to taste 

Method

Marinate the paneer pieces in the above marinade for 2 hours in the refrigerator. 

Red Coloured Paneer Kebabs 

8-10 paneer pieces (cut into a 2” squares) 

For marinade 

1 tbsp red chilli powder - (for the red colour) 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1/2 tbsp kasoori methi (optional) 4-5 tbsp hung curds 1 tbsp lemon juice Salt to taste 

Method

Marinate the paneer pieces in above marinade for 2 hours in the refrigerator. 

Green Coloured Paneer Kebabs

8-10 paneer pieces (cut into a 2” squares) Make a paste of mint (small cup) and coriander leaves (small cup), 1 green chilli, 1”ginger piece, 1 tbsp lemon juice and salt.

Method

Marinate the paneer in this paste for 2 hours in the refrigerator. Make thick slices of 3 medium onions and 3 medium sized tomatoes and cut 2 capsicums into big pieces and keep aside. Grill/barbeque the paneer Skewer the vegetables and paneer pieces and grill them for 5-6 minutes turning them around while cooking to ensure they don't get burnt. Cook them till they are soft and attain a light golden shade. Serve with green chutney or tomato ketchup.

Note: For Jain Recipe avoid the use of ginger-garlic paste.

Pav Bhaji

Ingredients:

8 pavs (squarish soft buns about 4" x 5" size)

butter to shallow fry.

For Bhaji

1 capsicum chopped fine

2 onions chopped fine

2 tomatoes chopped fine

2 1/2 cups chopped mixed vegetables (beans, carrots, cauliflower, potota, beans, bottle gourds, etc.) 

1/2 cup shelled peas

2 tbsp. butter

2 tsp. pavbhaji masala

1 1/2 tsp. chilli powder

1/4 tsp. turmeric powder

1/2 tsp. sugar

salt to taste

1 cup water (in which vegetables were boiled)

1/2 tsp. each ginger grated, garlic crushed

juice of 1/2 lemon.

To Garnish

1 tbsp. coriander chopped

1 onion chopped

small pieces of lemon

Method:

Pressure cook mixed vegetables and peas till well done.

Mash them coarsely after draining.

Heat butter in a pan.

Add ginger-garlice, capsicum, onion, tomatoes.

Fry for 2-3 minutes till very soft.

Add pavbhaji masala , chilli powder, turmeric, salt  and fry further 2-3 minutes.

Bring to boil.

Simmer till gravy is thick, stirring and mashing pieces with masala, in between.

Add lemon juice, stir.

Garnish with chopped coriander and a block of butter.

For Pavs

Slit pavs horizontally leaving one edge attached. (To open like a book).

Apply butter (as desired) and roast open on a griddle till hot and soft with the surface crisp on both sides.

Serve hot with bhaji, a piece of lemon and chopped onion.

Note: For jain avoid the use of onion, garlic and carrot.

   Instead of potato use raw banana.

Shrikhand

Ingredients:

1/2 kg. curds

300 gms. sugar

1/2 tsp. cardamom powder

few strands saffron

1/2 tbsp. pista & almond crushed

Method:

Tie curd in a clean muslin cloth overnight. (6-7 hours).

Take into a bowl, add sugar and mix.

Keep aside for 25-30 minutes to allow sugar to dissolve.

Rub saffron into 1 tbsp. milk till well broken and dissolved. Keep aside.

Beat well till sugar has fully dissolved into curd.

Pass through a big holed strong strainer, pressing with hand or spatula.

Mix in cardamom powder and dissolved saffron and half nuts.

Empty into a glass serving bowl, top with remaining nut crush.

Chill for 1-2 hours before serving.

Note: To make fruit flavoured shrikhand eg. mango, add pulp at the stage of adding cardamom and saffron.

A complete Jain Recipe

Potato in Curd Gravy

Ingredients:

3 medium. potatoes boiled and peeled
1 cup curd or yogurt beaten
1 tsp. red chilli powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dhania powder
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
1/4 tsp. garam masala
2 pinches asafoetida
1 stalk curry leaves
1 tbsp. coriander leaves chopped
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. each ginger, garlic grated
2 green chillies slit
1 tsp. each cumin, mustard seeds
1/4 tsp. wheat flour
1 tbsp. oil

Method:

Cut potatoes into big pieces. Mash 3-4 pieces fine with hand. Keep both aside.
Mix all the dry masala in 1/4 cup water.
Heat oil. Add the seeds (cumin and mustard). When they splutter, add ginger-garlic, chilli and curry leaves.
Add the masala mixture and fry for 2 minutes.
Add beaten curd and fry for 5 minutes or till the curd loses its whiteness. Stir continuously after adding curd.
Add the remaining water and all the potato and flour. Stir well.
Boil and simmer for 10 minutes or till gravy thickens
Garnish with chopped coriander.
Serve hot with thin wheat chappaties and rice.

Making time: 30 minutes.
Makes for: 5
Shelf life: Best fresh