The word "khana" in Indian Khana Made Easy means food. So come on, let's explore and cook some easy Indian food together including gluten-free and vegan dishes.

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June 25, 2018

I'm Nutty for Pea'Nutty Pakoda


For father's day, my mom made one of my dad's favorite snacks, peanut pakoda.

Why?

Because my father REALLY likes nuts and nutty snacks. He has a Costco sized nuts box at work and at home. I've gotten his routine down packed: After he gets home from work, he usually gets a handful of nuts and eats them while he enjoys a hot cup of tea or coffee. He also likes cookies with nuts.

I wish it was daughter's day...I couldn't stop eating these pakoda. They were so good. Don't take my word for it, try the recipe for yourself and let me know.
 



Ingredients
- 1 cup peanuts (soaked for 2 hours and drained)
- 1 cup besan/chickpea flour (sieved to remove lumps)
- 1/3 cup rice flour
- 1 Tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp crushed green chilies
- 1/4 tsp chili powder (as per taste)
- A pinch of hing (asafoetida powder)
- 1 tsp salt (as per taste)
- 1/3 cup fresh coriander, chopped
- 3 Tbsp oil (for forming dough)
- Water for forming dough, as needed

- 1 to 2 cups oil for frying (based on pan size)

Procedure

1) Using a medium size mixing bowl, mix together: besan, rice flour, chili powder, hing, and salt.  Warm the oil for dough (about 3 Tbsp) and add into the dry mixture and mix well.


2) Now add ginger-garlic paste, crushed green chilies, coriander, and drained peanuts. And mix well.



3) Add water little by little mixing the dough to bring it all together. The dough should hold all the ingredients and somewhat dry but not crumbly, like cookie dough. Taste a pinch of dough to adjust salt and chili powder to your liking. 


4) Heat oil for frying in a frying pan (or wok) on low to medium heat. When you feel the heat on the palm of your hand, test it by adding a small morsel of dough. If the bubbles start immediately and the dough floats to the top, the oil is ready for frying.




5)Take a lemon sized piece of the dough in your hand and bring small morsels of dough between your thumb, index and middle fingers and drop them into  the oil slowly. Make sure the peanuts are included in every bit. Add 10 to 15 morsels (pakodas) at a time and fry them on low heat until golden brown. Collect them with a holed ladle and drain excess oil. Next, transfer in to mixing bowl that has a paper towel in it to collect any extra oil.


6) Sprinkle some chat masala on the hot "peaNutty pakodas for a more chat-pata taste.




Allow these pakoda to cool down and enjoy with your favorite beverage like tea or coffee. The spicy and crunchy flavors also go well with cool drinks like beer.  I had to stop myself from eating too many of these since they were for my dad :(

Did you like this recipe? You'll go "nuts" for these other Indian snacks: Corn Flakes Mixture, Indian Trail Mix, Peanut poppers, Crunchy Cashews, Pappuchekkalu . 

June 22, 2018

Fun Filled Fathers' Day Celebration



You never really know how much your parents mean to you until you move away and start your own life. It's been 8 months since I got married and I miss my parents everyday. I didn't move far away but it still feels like they are oceans away...

My husband and I took my dad out for dinner a week before Father's day since we were going to be in town. We decided on Ming II in Morristown. It's a Pan Asian restaurant which serves a mix of Indian and Chinese dishes. I always a new dish so, this time I ordered Thai fried rice but I was a bit disappointing. I felt that it lacked flavor.

The best dishes of the dinner were Eggplant in Szechwan sauce, Pad Thai and Shrimp curry.

Although I didn't enjoy my dish as much, I really enjoyed my boozy drink...I can't remember the name of it and can't find it on the restaurant website to share with you all. It was smooth and delicious.

Boozy Coconut and pineapple drink from Ming II, Morristown

Actually, we all ordered drinks that night and enjoyed them a lot. My mom, ammamma and my husband ordered spicy mocktails and my dad got a glass of Riesling.

Since I celebrated with my dad the weekend before, my sister celebrated with him the weekend after. She took the whole family bowling and as I hear it, my mom placed second. Wonder how my dad did?

After bowling they enjoyed some home cooked food. My mom made some of my dad's favorite dishes including Dahi Vada, Pea'Nutty Pakoda, and Aloo Papdi Chaat.

Just over the Hudson, I was celebrating Father's day with my husband and his family. We went out for lunch at a new seafood buffet restaurant called Ebuffet in Brooklyn. First impression: it's spacious, still has the new feeling, friendly staff, and good food...even for a semi vegetarian like me.

I celebrated father's day with so many fathers this year...my father, my husband, his father, and my sister-in-law's husband. So much to be thankful for...good food and good company.

Happy Father's day to all those celebrating! The most important thing in the world is family and love