Potato Puff Pastry with step by step recipe - These delicious savory appetizer pastries filled with full of yummy mashed potatoes. It is easy to make. They are airy, light and just so tasty. It was not hard to eat them all!

This is quite long post with recipe of puff pastry as well sheets too and one small memory which I am shared with you all. Here it is...

This is one of my favorite pastries which is attached with my school time memories. That time we called "Potato Patties". One of my friend first introduced me to it and I get it interval time, I'll make sure it's available at the canteen. 

At interval time, after finished our lunch, me and my friend will specially go to canteen to have this on a regular basis or if its skip at school time, will have at after our evening tuition :D Beautiful memories of school days and especially with food :) Let's go to the post !!

During my recent trip to Australia to my elder sister place, she suggested that it would be easy for me to recreate this puff at home only. And I realized she was right. (Thanks for the idea Sister <3, love you!) 

While most of the breads & cakes are quite complicated for me :D and take lot of time, this pastry is something I can easily create at home. 

Pastries sheets are easily available in every shop in Australia but in India specially Bangalore, I was searched so many places and online website too, to get puff pastry sheet, but can't get anywhere these pastry sheets.

Then I have decided to make a dough of puff pastry at home only, I have tried with very small quantity, so I am sharing the recipe of puff pastry sheets with the same quantity I used. It will take lot of time to prepare but it's worth to try at home. I have adapted the recipe of Masterchef Pankaj Bhaduria
 
It’s basically a puff pastry, filled with simple cooked potato in an Indian style and topped with more sesame seeds for more taste, if you don't like sesame seeds you can skip this. I used potato filling you can customize your own preference of filling. You can customize their shapes also.

Recipe of Puff Pastry Sheets

Make - 7 pastries

Ingredients :

All Purpose Flour / Maida - 170 grams
Cold  Butter - 120 Grams [100 gm plus 20 gm in cubes]
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Powdered Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Cold Water - 120 ml or as needed

Preparation Method :

1) Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Gradually stir in water until the dough holds together enough to clean the sides of the bowl. Shape into a flat ball, and allow resting for at least 8 to 10 minutes.

2) Place the butter between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound into a flat disc using a rolling pin or other heavy object. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

3) Spread a plastic wrap and place the dough over it. Cover with another plastic wrap and roll it into thin sheets. Now fold them from both ends and invert them and roll it again into thin rectangle. Fold them from both ends. Cover this with plastic wrap and put them into fridge for 30 mins. 

4) On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Place 1/4 of crumbled butter (chilled) in the center and fold the two ends over it so that it is completely encased in dough.

5) Roll out the dough again, taking care not to let the fat break through the dough, to about 1/2 inch thickness. Fold into thirds. This is the first ''turn''. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and roll out into a rectangle again.

6) Fold into thirds i.e. 2nd turn. By this time the fat is starting to warm up. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.

7) Repeat this rolling, folding and turning one more time with butter and then without butter. Wrap and refrigerate. The dough is now ready to roll out and use in any recipe calling for puff pastry. 

8) Roll the dough out as thin as 1/4 inch to make pastries into a large rectangle/ square shape. Freeze them and use it when you required and make sure parch the baking sheet in between every pastry sheet so it can be easily come out.

Potato Puff Pastry Recipe

Ingredients:

Cooked Potato Veggie - 1 cup of your favorite thick-style mashed potato recipe (make sure it's a thick style one)
Frozen Pastry sheets / Homemade Pastry sheet
Sesame seeds for sprinkle

Preparation Method :
1. Defrost puff pastry sheets until they are soft enough to work with.

2. Preheat oven to 400F. Line 2 baking sheets with baking mats or parchment paper.

3. Remove frozen parchment paper from the puff pastry sheets. Using a sharp knife, slice the sheets along the folds, forming 4 long squares per sheet (see photos below). 

4. For every pair of squares, take about 1 to 2 tbsp mashed cooked potato and put into the center of it. 

5. Wet the edges with water so that it would stick while folding. Fold the puff pastry sheet towards you, as shown in the pic. Seal the edges by pressing with your thumb. Repeat with remaining puff pastry.

6. Brush the top with water, which will give the puff a bright brown after baking(you can use egg or oil or butter wash for brushing, but I didn't used it). Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.

7. Place into oven to bake. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until pastries puff up and turn a golden brown(mine will done in 15 minutes). Let pastries cool a few minutes before serving.

Note** : Check at regular intervals to avoid burnt puffs. 

8. Serve puff pastry with your choice of sauce.

Happy Cooking & Enjoy !!

How to make Tandoori Masala at home with step by step recipe - Nothing can beat homemade spices. Tandoori masala plays an important role in Indian dishes. It is a blend of Indian mixed herbs & spices, specifically for the use of marinating the chicken, potato, paneer tikka, fish and so many.

Preparing Tandoori Masala at home is very easy and quick process. No preservatives, Unique Aroma and WONDERFUL taste!! 

I used it to flavor the Paneer Tikka, Chicken Kebabs, Makhani Gravies and other chicken curries.

The general idea is to mix tandoori masala in yogurt to make a flavorful marinade which has an authentic taste to your dish.


I have posted earlier tandoori masala made at home in my blog using with mixed of spices, both of them have unique aroma and taste. This time I made a big batch of masala around 1.5 cup & it just hardly take 15 minutes to prepare. 
 
This recipe is just dry roast the ingredients and blend it into a blender and keep it in air-tight container for future use. You can use this masala with up to 2 months. Till 2 month, it stays fresh.   

I have used dry red chillies for taste and color, if you you can use Kashmir red chilies or paprika to get the dark red color or You can also add artificial food color to get dark red color. I have use cinnamon powder using instead of stick.

You can try end number of homemade spices like

Punjabi Chole Masala

 

Thandai Masala

Tandoori Masala Spice Mix

Makes : 1.5 cup
Cuisine : Indian
Author : Jolly Makkar

Ingredients :

Nutmeg powder - 1 teaspoon
Kasoori methi or Fenugreek seeds - 2 teaspoon
Cinnamon powder / sticks - 1 teaspoon
Cloves - 2 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 3 tablespoon
Coriander seeds - 4 tablespoon
Black peppercorns - 2 teaspoon
Black cardamom - 2 teaspoon
Green Cardamom - 2 teaspoon
Dry Ginger powder - 1 teaspoon
Dry Red chillies - 4-5 
Turmeric Powder - 1 teaspoon

Preparation Method :

1. Heat a non stick pan or wok or kadai. Dry roast all the above mentioned ingredients except nutmeg powder, turmeric powder, dry ginger powder till nice aroma comes. 

2. Don’t over-roast the spices as it may affect the taste. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Note* - If you are using stick, roast it  also with above ingredients as mention in the recipe or
If you are using cinnamon powder, don't roast it, just used it while grinding.

3. Grind roasted spices in a mixer to coarse powder. Add nutmeg powder, cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, dry ginger powder to it & grind again to smooth powder. Remove and keep aside. 

4. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container. Use it to prepare tikka or tandoori recipes.

Happy Cooking & Enjoy !!

Whole Wheat Jaggery Pancake with step by step photos - Wheat Jaggery Pancake is a vegan, easy and tasty recipe using with wheat flour, jaggery and flavored with fresh cardamom.

I remember when we were kids, we used to annoy our mom to make something yummy evening snacks with tea, so she usually prepare this sweet pancake (in punjabi we call it meetha pooda) my mom used sugar in it, which is already shared in my blog, 

but this time I used to make it more healthy using jaggery in a pancake instead of white sugar and flavored with fresh cardamom powder. 

Jaggery gives beautiful color to the pancake and cardamom gives amazing flavor. I feel jaggery and cardamom are made for each other :D I love the fragrance of the both delish ingredients, I love this and I hope you will love it for sure.

Healthy benefits of Fresh Cardamom pods with Jaggery

Cardamom has a unique flavor and aroma that is hard to put into words. It is compellingly strong, yet delicate; sweet, yet powerful; with an almost eucalyptus freshness.

While Jaggery is a great remedy for anemia, asthma, joint pains and menstrual pains. It is a great energy booster as it provides us lots of energy !!

I tried this combo pancake during my recent visit to my mother place and I made this for my family and they totally enjoyed it..The combination of wheat flour and jaggery is perfect in the pancake.

I love to eat my jaggery pancake with tea and I normally love to eat hot pancakes without any side dish but you can serve with any fruits.


You can make end number of pancake recipes like

Salty Whole Wheat-Flour Pancake

Eggless Chocolate Pancake Recipe

Potato Pancake

Cooking Time: 10 min

Serves - 4 to 5

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour / Atta - 1 cup
Crushed Jaggery - 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder - 2 crushed
Ghee / Oil for pan Frying
Water - 1 cup or as needed

Preparation Method:

1. Take jaggery in a saucepan and add some water and bring it to a boil. Mix well so that the jaggery dissolves in the water. 
Now strain this mixture through a sieve and allow them to cool down.

2. Take wheat flour in another pan and add the cooled jaggery water and mix well so that it doesn't form any lump.

3. Add water slowly and mix well and make pancake batter like consistency.

4. Add cardamom powder, pinch of baking soda into the mixture. 
Then use rubber spatula to fold the mixture gently. Keep it aside for 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Heat pan on gas and make small pancakes out of it, drizzle oil or ghee around the sides, let it cook for a min. Once it is cooked, flip over and cook for 45 sec to 60 sec...check it below video !!

6. Remove and serve hot with tea or coffee.

Notes :

* If you are making for small kids, try to avoid baking soda and use mashed banana helps to soften the pancakes.
* Increase Jaggery powder for more sweetness, if you want in your pancake.
You can even try jaggery recipes

Whole Wheat Jaggery Cake

Jaggery Dosa

Happy Cooking & Enjoy !!

Idli is very popular South India breakfast dish which is very simple to prepare at home. It is easy to make at  and liked by every generation. 

This is also called Steamed Spinach Savory Cake. This is quick and healthy breakfast as well as low calorie recipe. Made with few ingredients idli batter, spinach purée with few spices.

Bang On !! I am back with a short trip from my hometown, it was an awesome trip..it's small but going to mother place is always be pleasant & wonderful time, isn't it !! 

Feeling sad and little bit bad too :( every time I face the same experience, who want to come back from mom's place, but that's a life we have to move it like this way only :) :) let's move to the post..
Spinach/Palak is one of wonderful green-leafy vegetable often recognized as one of the functional foods for its wholesome nutritional and rich source of anti-oxidants vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C. It is also good source of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Although it can be stored inside the refrigerator for up to a week, fresh leaves should be eaten at the earliest in order to get maximum nutrition benefits.

So, here I am sharing my new and healthy version of palak idli, last weekend at home as a evening snacks with roasted chana dal & coconut chutney and fresh Orange Juice...my whole family really liked it and appreciate it, so I want to share my recipe with my readers, followers and friends.

Recipe of Chutney --> Coconut & Roasted Chana Dal Chutney

This recipe is a great option for meal on those days when you are very lazy and don't feel like spending much more time on kitchen ;) :) It is simple and easy dish.  

This spinach idli is a rich in protein, light and a healthy dish. It’s a really good option for breakfast or evening snacks. It's very light, yummy in taste and they are very light like most south indian food. 
 
I love to eat Idli's in any form with the chutney or with tangy sambar. Palak Idli is a quick dish, which is ready in short notice, and is fully satisfy your taste buds. 

They are really delicious and appetizing, idli and palak complement with each other in terms of flavor and color (white and green), this is one of my favorite combination in clothes :D This is perfect for a even lunch too.


If you are looking for some easy & quick snacks recipes then do check 

Coriander Rava Idly Recipe

Mixed vegetable uttapam

Ingredients :

Idli batter - 1 cup
Roughly chopped spinach - 2 to 3 bunches
Oil to grease
Cashew nuts(slit into 2 parts) - 5 to 6 pieces (optional)
Salt to taste
Red Chili Powder
Pinch of garam masala

Preparation Method :

1. Wash the spinach leaves and keep aside.

2. Blanch them in hot water for 3 minutes. When cool, puree them into a grinder.


3. Transfer the spinach puree into a idli batter bowl, add the salt, red chilli powder, pinch of garam masala and mix well.

4. Grease the idli moulds using oil, put spoonfuls of the batter into idli moulds, add a piece of cashew nut on top of batter and 

steam in a cooker or steamer for 10 to 12 minutes or till the idli's are cooked. I have used my prestige pressure cooker for steaming the idli.

5. Cool slightly, de-mould the idlis with the help of spoon and soft side of knife.

6. Serve immediately with healthy roasted chana dal & coconut chutney or with juice or enjoy with tea or coffee !!

Happy Cooking & Enjoy !!