4 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter) / butter
1 cup(s) semolina (or quick cream of wheat)
1 teaspoon(s) each of mustard and cumin seeds
1 sprig(s) curry leaves
1 teaspoon(s) ginger chopped
2 green chilli(es) slit / chopped
2 onion(s) sliced finely
1 large tomato(es) chopped
4 tablespoons coriander leaves
2 tablespoon(s) grated coconut if available
2 cup(s) hot water
salt to taste
fried cashewnuts to garnish

Heat half of the ghee (clarified butter) in a pan. Fry semolina, stirring continuously, to a golden color on medium / low level for about 2 minute(s). Keep aside.
Heat the remaining ghee (clarified butter) in a pan. Toss in the mustard seeds followed by the cumin seeds and fry till the seeds splutter fully. Add the curry leaves, ginger, green chillies and onions. Stir fry on medium level for about 3 minutes or till the onions are transparent and soft.
Add the chopped tomatoes and fry on medium level for about 3 minutes or till they are soft and cooked. Add half of the coriander leaves (reserving the rest for garnishing) and fry briefly till they wilt.
Mix in the semolina and salt. Add the hot water to this and mix well. Add more hot water if the mixture is dry. Cover and cook on low heat for about 3 minutes or till the mixture is almost dry.
Garnish with fried cashewnuts, grated coconut and finely chopped coriander leaves

TIPS:

Ghee is very important to impart flavor to this dish. A combination of oil and ghee/butter can also be used.
Green chillies can be increased if desired.
It is better to heat more water than specified above in case it is required.
Serve hot with: Coconut Chutney (Nariyal Chutney)

3 cups rice (not basmati!), soaked overnight — room temp. water. 1 cup urad dal (a specific type of lentils avail. at Indian grocery stores— no substitution; other dals will not work like this)
Soaked separately overnight — room temp. water
Traditionally, stone grinders (huge mortars) and rolling pestles are used to grind the rice and the urad dal and motorized versions of those are now available at Indian elcetronic stores in D.C. A mixie
or a blender cuts the grains into fine pieces, but does not “mash” them like the stone grinders do. So there is a good deal of difference taste when you use a blender. But still, it is not bad at all if you make sure that you grind the rice really fine. Cover the rice with water just 1/2 “above the rice line in the blender.
Grind till Sssssmooth.
Grind the dal separately, with water that barely covers it. Grind a long time (be patient!), stirring once
in a while and grinding again. When
the dal is ground very well, and small air bubbles appear once you stop running the blender, it is enough. Add more water if necessary. But this should be very thick.
MIx the rice and the urad dal pastes, with 1/2 tsp salt.
Add one tablespoon beaten yogurt, and mix well.
Keep covered to let oit ferment fro at least 5 to 8 hrs or more. (Keep it close to a heater or in any warm place).

Once it has risen, stir briefly, and keep it oin the fridge.

You have the batter now.

Grease a griddle with plain sesame oil or peanut oil if you care about max. flavor; if not use veg. oil. The heat should be medium or slightly higher. When hot (a few drops of water will sizzle gently and disappear), using a metal ladle, pour one ladleful over the griddle; with quick and even and gentle strokes, spread the batter out
with the ladle as if you are drawing concentric circles on the batter. Do it either clockwise OR anticlockwise else you get lumps.
It takes a few tries believe me, and some of us who are trained well in this mess up occasioanlly. drizzle oil around edges, and on top. Once the bottom is cooked, turn it over, and cook the top. Be careful when using your spatula (metal preferred) to take it out to flip it.

This can be served with chilli-dal-spice powder and oil or ghee, coconut chutney, cilantro or mint chutney, onion chutney, or
red garlic chutney, and/or saambar. (If you want their recipes, email me) This is standard breakfast or supper fare for us, growing up in the south.

Else, as in your restaurant, make a filling as follows:

1. Take 2 large boiled potatoes, peel and mash coarsely.
2. Thinly slice one large red onion, 2 cloves of garlic (optional) and 3 or 4 green chillies.
3. Grate a 1″ piece of ginger.
4. Cut up a tomato if you want.
5. Take a sprig of curry leaves and chop them coarsely.
6. Heat some veg. oil, add some fennel seeds, and cummin seeds (1/2 tsp. each) 7. Add 1/2 tsp of black mustard seeds.
8. When they crackle, add the green chillies, ginger, garlic (if used), and onions and fry them with a little salt for a while till
onions are transparent. Add curry leaves.
9. Next add 1/2 pkt of frozen peas, tomatoes (if you choose), and fry for 5 minutes.
10. Add the potatoes, and more salt if desired. stir well till blended 11. Add some chopped cilantro if you want.

When making the dosai, spread the batter out as mentioned earlier, drizzle oil, and keep the skillet or griddle covered (any
cover will do as long as the dosai area is covered; just be sure the cover does not touch the dosai). In less than a minute, the dosai will be cooked with oil on the bottom, and its top will be cooked by the steam that is generated when you cover it. The color is now not the white of the batter but kinda dull; you’ll know)

Turn the heat down, place the cooled filling acrooss the center along the diagonal, and fold both sides overlappingly over it
to form a cylindrical shape. Increase the heat slightly, drizzle more oil, and cook both sides till golden.

Else, place the filling in the center, and fold from three sides, forming a triangle, overlapping and covering the filling.

Cook as above.

If you have left over batter, and really fermented, make “OOTHAPPAM”: Chop some onions, green chillies, and cilantro really well, mix with salt.Soon as you spread out the pancake, sprinkle the chopped stuff on top. Drizzle oil on top, flip it over carefully when the bottom is cooked, and cook the other side. Serve with coconut chutney.

If you are into a health-diet, do not drizzle oil over and around pancake. Just grease the griddle lightly with a paper towel; in this case, cook just one side of the dosai on the greased surface, covering the dosai to let the steam cook the top. This dosa is very soft and tasty.

Back home, we add some fenugreek seeds to the urad dal, soak and grind them together for a superior texture, flavor, and color.

Hope that helps! I have babbled too much, but really, it is very easy to make once you have the batter.

800 grams of boneless 1″chicken chunks
1 cup(s) yoghurt well beaten
1 teaspoon(s) each of hot spice mix (garam masala), cumin and red chilli powders
4 whole red chillies made into a paste with a little water
1 tablespoon(s) each of ginger and garlic pastes
1 tablespoon(s) dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
2 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
2 tablespoon(s) oil
butter for basting
salt to taste
finely cut onion rings, lemon wedges and finely chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Make cuts on the chicken chunks. Apply a mixture of red chilli powder, half of the lemon juice and salt to them and keep aside for about an hour.
Whisk the yoghurt in a bowl and combine the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Rub this marinade well into the chicken chunks and refrigerate for at least four hours.

Skewer the chicken chunks and roast it in a preheated oven for about 12 minutes or till the chicken is almost done.
Baste the chicken chunks with butter and roast for another 3 minutes.
Garnish with onion rings, lemon wedges and finely chopped coriander leaves.

TIPS:

If there is access to a traditional clay oven or a Tandoor, the chicken should be cooked in it. Alternatively the chicken chunks could be barbequed on an open grill.
Dried fenugreek leaves are called kasoori methi in India. They enhance the flavor of this dish.
Serve hot with: Green Chutney (Hari Chutney)
(from syvum.com)

Plain flour (Aata) 2 cups
Water for kneading
Salt 1 tsp.
For Filling
Grated cauliflower 2 cups
Green chilies finely chopped 2-3
Coriander leaves finely chopped 1 tbsp.
Red chilli powder 3/4 tsp.(according to taste)
Garam Masala Powder 1/2 tsp.
Salt according to taste
Vegetable Oil for making the parantha

Method:

For Dough
1. Sieve flour. Add salt.
2. Add water a little at a time.
3. Knead into a medium soft dough.
4. Cover with a wet cloth and keep it for half an hour
For Filling
1. Add coriander leaves and green chillies to the grated cauliflower. Mix well.
2. To this mixture add all the spices & again mix well.
For Paratha
1. Divide the dough into balls of equal portions and
2. Roll one ball at a time in the form of a small puri.
3. Now put a small quantity of above mixture (filling) over it, close it from all sides.
4. Apply some flour on both sides and roll it gently into a paratha.
5. Now cook on a tava, by applying 1/2 to 1 tsp. oil on each side, until light brown and serve hot.

Serve with Chutney or Pickle or Plain Curd.

Plain flour (Aata) 2 cups
Water for kneading
Salt 1 tsp.
For Filling
Potatoes boiled 3-4 medium size
Green chilies finely chopped 2-3
Small onion finely chopped 1
Dry Fenugreek leaves 1 tbsp.
Red chilli powder 3/4 to 1 tsp.(according to taste)
Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp.
Salt according to taste
Vegetable Oil for making the parantha

Method:

For Dough
1. Sieve flour. Add salt.
2. Add water a little at a time.
3. Knead into a medium soft dough.
4. Cover with a wet cloth and keep it for half an hour
For Filling
1. Mash the potatoes. Add dry fenugreek leaves, green chillies and onion.Mix well.
2. To this mixture add all the spices & again mix well.
For Paratha
1. Divide the dough into balls of equal portions and
2. Roll one ball at a time in the form of a small puri.
3. Now put a small quantity of above mixture (filling) over it, close it from all sides.
4. Apply some flour on both sides and roll it gently into a paratha.
5. Now cook on a tava, by applying 1/2 – 1 tsp. oil on each side, until light brown and serve hot.

Serve with Chutney or Pickle or Plain Curd.

Tomatoes 2
Onion 1
Ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp.
Green chilli 2
Corinader leaves 2 tbsp.
Curry leaves 1 tbsp.
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds 1 tsp.
Black pepper powder 1/4 tsp.
Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp.
Sugar 2 tsp.
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil 2 tbsp.

Method:

1. Cut onion, tomatoes and green chilli into small pieces.
2. Heat oil (1- 1/2 tbsp.) in a pan. Add cumin seeds and green chilli and fry for about 1 min.
3. Add pieces of onion, tomatoes, ginger-garlic paste, sugar and salt and cook until tender.
4. Remove from heat. On cooling, blend it in an electric blender along with the coriander leaves to make paste of medium consistency.
5. Heat remaining oil (1/2 tbsp.) in a small frying pan. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Fry until the seeds start splattering.
6. Add black pepper powder and red chilli powder. Pour over the tomato paste and stir well.

Ginger
Lemon
Green Chilli
Salt

Method:

1. Crush ginger, green chili and salt together.
2. Then pour lemon juice and serve.

For Bhaji :
Potato medium size 4
Cabbage chopped 1 cup
Cauliflower flowerets 1 cup
Green Peas 1/2 cup
Onions finely chopped 2
Tomato finely chopped 2
Green chili chopped 2
Butter 4 tbsp
Pavbhaji masala 2 tsp.
Red chili powder 1-1/2 tsp. (according to taste)
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp.
Garam masala 1/2 tsp.
Salt according to taste
1 cup water for boiling vegetables
Pavs (soft buns) 8-10
Green Coriander leaves finely chopped 2 tbsp.
Onion Small size finely chopped (for serving) 1
Lemon juice 2 tbsp.
Green chutney / Tomato Sauce

Method:

1. Cut potato into small pieces. Wash the vegetables thoroughly with water.
2. Pressure cook all the vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, potato, peas) till well done. Mash them coarsely. ( If you are using frozen peas, then no need to pressure cook the peas)
3. Heat 2 tbsp. of butter in a frying pan or kadhai. Add green chili.
4. Add chopped onions and fry until they become light golden brown in color. Then add chopped tomato and cook till it becomes tender.
5. Add pavbhaji masala, chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, salt, and cook again for 4-5 minutes. (Incase you are using the frozen peas then add now)
6. Add the boiled vegetables, lemon juice and mix well. Simmer till it becomes thick, keep on stirring and mashing pieces in between.
7. Slit the pavs horizontally.
8. Apply little butter on tava and roast the pavs till hot and soft.

Garnish bhaji with chopped coriander leaves and onions. Serve hot with pav and tomato sauce/green chutney.

Puri:
Fine semolina (Sooji) 1/2 cup
Plain Flour (maida) 1/2 tbsp.
Clubsoda 3 tbsp.
Salt to taste

Pani:
Chopped Mint Leaves 1 1/2 cups
Chopped Coriander Leaves 1 tbsp.
Tamarind 1/3 cup
Ginger 1″
Green Chillies 4 to 5
Ground Cumin Seed (roasted) 1 tsp.
Black Salt 1 1/2 tsp.
Salt to taste

Other Things:
Mashed slightly cooked potatoes with salt to taste 2 small
Tamarind Chutney

Method:

Puri:
1. Mix semolina, plain flour, soda water and salt. Knead well to make a semi-stiff dough. Cover it with clean wet cloth for about 10 minutes.
2. Divide the dough into forty equal portions and roll each portion into circles. Place each circle under damp cloth right after rolling.
3. Heat oil in a kadhai. Deep fry these circles, slightly pressing with a slotted spoon, until they puff up and are golden brown.
4. Place the puffed circles (“puris”) on absorbent kitchen tissue. Extra puris should be stored in an air-tight container.

Pani:
1. Soak the tamarind in ½ cup of warm water for approximately 45 minutes. Strain out the pulp to get tamarind water.
2. Add mint leaves, chopped coriander, ginger, chillies and cumin seed. Add a little water and mix to a smooth consistency using a blender.
3. Transfer the paste into a large bowl. Add 1 litre of water, continuously mixing the contents with a spoon. Add black salt and salt. Mix well.
4. Refrigerate for about 2 hours to ensure proper blending.

To Serve: Pani-Puri is to be eaten as soon as it is served.
1. Poke a small hole in the center of each puri.
2. Add small quantity of mashed fried potatoes as filling. Add a little imli chutney. Dip in pani so that puri is filled with it. Serve.

Paneer 200 grams
Gram flour 1 cup
Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp.
Roasted cumin powder 1/2 tsp.
Garam masala powder 1/2 tsp.
Chopped coriander leaves 2 tbsp.
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil as required
Green chutney 1/2 cup

Method:

1. Mix gram flour, red chilli powder, roasted cumin powder, garam masala, chopped coriander leaves and salt.
2. Add little water and beat the mixture to form a thick and smooth batter.
3. Cut paneer into medium size thick square shape pieces. Remove a small portion of paneer from the centre top and fill it with green chutney.
4. Heat oil in a kadhai / deep frying pan.
5. Dip the paneer pieces carefully (so that green chutney dosen’t come out) into the batter and deep fry on medium heat until golden brown.

Serve hot with any chutney.