Bittergourd/Parikkai Chips using Microwave ~ Crisp & Low Fat

When there are so many varieties of chips to choose from, why would any one think of chips out of bitter gourd. The name itself might bring unpleasant taste to many. I first tasted these chips when my co-sister got this from A1 chips, Coimbatore. It was very tasty that the bitterness could easily given a pass. I do make sun dried bitter gourd to use in vatha kuzhambu or deep fry them as occasional sides.  But its chips avatar really bowled me over. 

I have been thinking of trying it in microwave in the same way as masala peanuts is done. Every time I buy the bitter gourds, I remind myself that I should try with at least one. The theme of blogging marathon gave the final nudge and I made it yesterday. It came out very crisp and it was all done in 12 minutes.

You need

Bitter gourd, medium sized - 3 nos

Rice flour - 3 tspn

Red chilly powder - 1/4 tspn

Salt to taste

Oil - 1 tspn

Method

Wash and slice the bitter gourd into thin circles. Remove the seeds. If you find removing the seeds after slicing a bit tedious, you can cut the gourd into two halves, vertically. Remove the seeds and slice. Spread it on a newspaper for an hour or so. So it will dry out by then.

In a bowl, take rice flour, red chilli powder, salt and oil. Mix well. Add the sliced bitter gourd to the flour mix. Sprinkle few drops of water so that the masala coats all the pieces well.

Arrange the bitter gourd pieces on a microwave safe plate, in a single layer. Microwave high for 4 minutes. Take the plate out and flip the pieces. Microwave for 5 minutes. Check if it is crisp. Else MW in steps of 1 minute. After 10 minutes, you can drizzle few drops of oil and cook further.  It took 12 minutes for me. The time may vary according to the quantity and thickness of the slice. Store in an airtight container. It stays crisp for a long time.

Enjoy with your cup of tea/coffee or as a side for curd rice.

Variations
1) You can use sambhar powder or any other spicy podi
2) Add sesame seeds for crunch
3)Increase the amount of rice flour to get a batter fried effect


I am taking this to the MEC-Potluck hosted by Srivalli.

Do check out what my blogging marathon buddies have cooked for the day.

Broccoli Green Peas Pizza - Quick N Easy with Healthy Twist

It was a late, lazy week night ...didn't feel like making anything ...but was very hungry ...me and Anush were craving to eat cheese....didn't have much vegetables...what to do now??

I opened up my pantry and was thinking what to make...I saw this pizza packet. This comes with a flour mix, sauce and cheese...just takes 5 mins to make the dough and we can add our own toppings. So why wait...i grabbed it and when I looked into my fridge didn't have any vegetables but broccoli.

I thought lets make it simple and easy and as always add a healthy ingredients to make a twist to the recipe...

So here is the recipe....hope you all like it too!

Ingredients:
-------------
1 Pizza mix box (Store bought - which comes with pizza dough mix, pasta sauce and cheese)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1 head Broccoli
1/4 -1/2 cup Green Peas
Salt, Pepper and Red Chili flakes to taste

Method:
----------
1. Preheat the oven according to the instructions on the box.
1. Open the box mix and add water as mentioned in the instructions of the box and make a dough.
2. After 5 mins, stretch the dough with hands or roll the dough to desired shape.

3. Sprinkle some cornmeal or flour of the pizza pan or baking sheet, place the rolled pizza dough, extend it with hands so that it reaches to all the corners, add the pizza sauce, salt, pepper and red chili flakes.

4. Add the toppings and bake it for the time mentioned.

Sending this recipe to the Event ""Pasta Pizza and Noodles hosted by Jayasri - "Samayal Arai" and Pari - "Foodelicious".

Eggless Chocolate Pasta with Strawberry Cream Cheese and Chocolate Syrup (Pasta made from scratch)

Now I started enjoying making pasta at home, and my Anush being a fun partner in my kitchen helping me. This time I decided to do something which Anush would enjoy helping me and in eating as well. From long time I did want to try this chocolate pasta, as I remember I once saw it in the Iron Chef challenge in Food Network. Now that I can manage making a perfect dough, I thought why not try making chocolate pasta too. I still remember one of the non egg eater blogger (Schmetterling Words) asked me, as to why all these yummy recipes has to be made with eggs. So keeping that in mind, this time I am making this without eggs :-) and using flax meal instead. It didn't make any difference in taste, so I consider that I won in this experiment. Anush loved it and ate almost all of the pasta all my himself. What else can make a mom happy!!


Ingredients:
------------
To Make Chocolate Pasta Dough:
------------------------------------
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups of All Purpose flour
3 tbsp Flax Meal + 5 tbsp Water (or 1 Egg)
1/4 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate chips
1 tsp Olive Oil

To Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Sauce:
---------------------------------------------
1 cup Fresh Strawberries pureed
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Butter
3 tbsp Cream Cheese

Method:
----------
Making Pasta Dough and Shapes:
------------------------------------

1. In a mixing bowl add the flax meal and water and whisk it until it becomes frothy and gooey like egg, then add olive oil and whisk it again for a min.

2. In a microwave safe bowl add the chocolate chips and microwave it for about 20 secs. mix with a fork and if necessary melt the chocolate again for more 20 secs. Make sure the chocolate does not melt too much or burn.
3. Now allow the chocolate to cool a bit and add it to the flax meal mixture and mix again.

4. Now in another bowl add the all purpose flour and pour the flax meal and chocolate mixture and knead it until the sides does not stick. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and keep it aside for about 30 mins. Now remove the dough from the plastic wrap and knead the dough again for a min.

5. Transfer the crumbly dough into a working surface and knead the dough for about 6 mins or until the dough is elastic, smooth and doe snot stick to your fingers.

6. roll the dough with a rolling pin to any shape and thickness and cut into shapes. I used mini cookie cutter shape of rectangle and folded the sides and pressed in the middle to form a bow shaped pasta.

7. Make different shapes if you want to and dust all the pasta with flour so that each one does not stick.

Making Strawberry Crean Sauce:
-----------------------------------------------

1. In a sauce pan melt butter, add strawberry puree and sugar and mix well and bring it to a boil, off the flame and allow it to cool, then add the cream cheese and whisk it so that there are no lumps...or you can also blend it in a mixer to get smooth consistency.

Making Pasta with Sauce:
------------------------------------

1. In a large pot, fill with 1/2 of water, and bring it to a boil, add the pasta and cook it for about 7-8 mins or until the pasta is Al Dente.
2. Strain the ecess liquid and transfer it again to the pot, add the strawberry cream sauce and in low flame mix well for a min.

3. Serve it warm with more sauce and drizzle chocolate syrup for extra sweetness and taste.

Sending this to the Event "Pasta Pizza and Noodles hosted by Jayasri - "Samayal Arai" and Pari - "Foodelicious".

You Might Also Like:

Carrot Pasta with Carrot Ribbons

How to Cook Perfect Pasta

Sweet Potato Orzo Pasta Cassarole

Veggie Pasta Made Easy

Fettucini Alfredo topped with Basil and Croutons

Mushroom and Red Bell Pepper Ravioli