vegetarian casserole!

This is a recipe that has a touch of italian & Mexican to it! Its not the usual way of doing a caserole,but I tried it in my own way after going through a lot of recipes & keeping in mind the ingredients I had in hand.It was a long process but the end result was nice & I thought its worth sharing.Its a nice change when you are bored of the usual food,but this is really high on calories[like my husband reminded me when I made it :)],as it uses processed cheese,butter,& oil.But I guess its ok to indulge once in a while.:)
Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients!
There are three stages or rather its a mix of three combinations.
For the Patties:
1.Potatoes-4 nos(mashed)
2.Paneer-100gms(crumbled)
3.Green chillies-1 no(finely chopped)
4.salt to taste
5.oil for shaallow frying
6.chopper corianderleaves
7.chilli powder-1/2 tsp
corn flour-1tsp

For the Rice:
1.Steamed rice-2cups
2.Cooking butter-3 tsp
3.Mix of boiled vegetables(peas,beans,cauliflower,capsicum,mushrooms,carrots,that has been finely chopped)
4.Onion-1 no(finely chopped)
5.salt to taste
6.chilli powder-1/2 tsp


For The Tomato Gravy:

1.Onions-1 no.(finely slicesd)
2.Tomatoes-3 nos
3.Salt to taste
4.Chilli powder-1/2 tsp
4.Oil-2-3 tsp
5.Ajwain or oregano-1 tsp.
6.Cooking Butter & Oil-1 tbs each

We need 3 small blocks of processed Cheese,for the final garnishing.

Procedure:
For the Patties:
Mix the mashed potatoes,crumbled paneer,salt,greenchillies,chilli powder,corn flour & corainder leaves well & make small balls of this mixture.Flatten them on your palms & shallow fry these patties until browned on both sides.Keep them aside on a tissue paper,so as to remove excess oil.

For the Rice:
Heat the butter & then add the chopped onions & stir them for a few seconds.Once the onions start changing colour,add the cooked vegetables,salt & chilli powder.Stir for a few seconds & once a litlle crinchy in texture,add the steamed rice & mix well.Keep tis aside.

For the Tomato Gravy:
Heat the cooking butter & oil & add ajwain & the sliced onions to the melted butter.Stir it for a few seconds & then add the sliced tomatoes.Cook until pulpy & then add the salt & chilli powder.Once cooked,let the mixture cool,then make a paste of this using a blender.

Final procedure:
You need a greased glass utensil that can be used in a microwave or oven.I used a borosil glass utensil in the microwave.
You need to first put a layer of rice,then the patties & then add the tomato sauce on top of this.Finally garnish with shredded cheese on top.

Keep this in the Grill combi mode in the microwae for 5-10 mins until the cheese melts & its slightly browned.You could bake this in an oven too.
Remove & serve hot.Let me know on your comments on the same....................:)

Veg Spring Rolls

Spring rolls as a starter is really nice & until I tried making it,i used to think,it would be rather difficult to prepare.But after trying out the recipe,i realised that its really really easy.
Here goes the recipe:

Ingredients:
1.Maida(Refined Flour)- 250gms
2.salt-to taste
3.Water-to knead the dough
4.oil-for frying
5.Mix of vegetables-like spring onions,carrots,onions,capsicum,cabbage,beans,mushrooms(cut very finely)
6.soya sauce-2 tsp
7.chilli powder-1/2 tsp

Procedure:
First take the maida & add salt to it & make a dough so as to make chappatis out of this.Keep the dough aside for a few minutes.
Next heat 2 tsp oil & add the finely chopped onions to it.Saute for a few seconds & then add all the vegetables which has been finely chopped into small pieces.Stir & add salt & chilli powder to it.Once they are a little crunchy in texture,add 2 tsp of soya sauce to it & stir for a few more seconds.
This is the filling for the rolls.Let this mixture cool.
In the meantime,start rolling out chappatis of the dough & once the mixture has oole keep it in the centre of the chappatis & roll it very thinly & seal the edges,so that the mixture doesnt come out.
Heat oil & then fry this & once done,cut the roll into small pieces.Repeat this with the remaining dough.

Paneer in White Gravy

Paneer in White gravy is one of my favourites with Naan,Rotis & Kulcha. Whenever I think of Paneer,I get reminded of the Paneer served at a restaurant named Peter Cat in Kolkata.That was one of my family's fav place for dinner.They had this really rish & creamy gravy for paneer which is sooo yummy that I have no words for it. Earlier whenever I made paneer ,I used to add tomatoes,but it never gave me the taste that i love.After long i realised that just adding freshcream to the usual paneer gravy wouldnt give me the same taste,what was needed was to not use tomatoes & instead use cashewnuts for the rich & thick gravy.So here goes my recipe:This would serve at least 4 Adults.
Ingredients:
Paneer-200g (cubed)
Onions-3 small ones
Green Chillis-1 no.
Cashews-2-3 tbs
Oil-  3-4 tbs
Jeera-1/2 tbs
Bayleaves-1
Cloves-2-3nos
Cinnamom-a small piece
Poppy seeds- 1 tbs
Ginger-a small piece
Garlic-4-5 pods
Water-1/2 cup
Chilli Pwdr-1/2 tbs
Turmeric pwdr-a pinch
Salt to taste
Sugar -1/2 tbs or acc to taste
Fresh cream-half cup
Milk-half cup
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:
Take the onions & microwave them for half a minute.Then take,the onions,ginger,garlic,poppy seeds(u can dry roast the poppy seeds if u like for half a minute),cashew & greenchillies into a smooth paste.
After this heat the oil & add the bayleaves,cloves,cinnamon & jeera.Once they sputter,add the ground paste into it & add some more oil if required.Fry this for a while on low,ensuring that they do not get burned.Once the oil starts separating(this takes at least 7-10 mins),add the turmeric,salt & chilli powders.Mix it well & then add some water(1/2 cup or if needbe a little more).Keep mixing & once it starts boiling add the milk to this.let it boil for some more time & then add the fresh cream( i used the Amul tetrapack).At this point you can add the paneer into this mixture.Also add the sugar.Let it boil  &put the flame on low,as it might curdle or stick to the utensil.Keep mixing the gravy until its a thickish in texture.Once the right consitency is achieved,switch of the flame & add the chopped coriander leaves for garnishing.Its best served with chappatis & naans.:)