Does rice always have to be in the main course? No, it is such a versatile ingredient it can be used to make anything from crunchy and savoury starters to sweet and luscious dessert. Here is one such delectable starter, Spicy Rice Samosa, made of a plain flour dough packed with an Oriental flavoured rice filling. You will enjoy the crispy outer covering as much as you enjoy the soft and spicy filling. You can also try other recipes with rice like Rice and Cheese Balls and Rice Kheer

Snow peas, cooked the right way, has a beautiful mildly-sweet flavour and succulent texture. Make an amazing dish of sautéed snow peas and bean sprouts, perked up with soy sauce, sesame seeds and other ingredients that give a strong flavour to the mild veggie. The snow peas are blanched in boiling water before sautéing, to retain their vibrant colour, flavour and juiciness. Sautéed Snow Peas and Bean Sprouts is indeed a super-tasty treat that you can prepare within minutes! Some more recipes to enjoy snow peas - Penne with Cheesy Vegetables , Schezuan Style Stir Fried Vegetables , 8 Treasure Vegetables and Mixed Vegetable Stir-fry .

Lemon Rice is an all-time favourite rice preparation in South India, where it is made on a regular basis for lunch or dinner, offered as prasad to devotees at temples, served as part of a wedding spread, and carried frequently in the dabba to work or school. With a holistic flavour that combines spice and tang, this rice does not need any complex accompaniments – just a papad or some crispy potato wafers would do!

True to its name, this tikka will melt in your mouth and delight your palate! replacing the fat-laden white gravy of cream and cashews with whole wheat bread mayonnaise results in a healthier version, which you can serve in portions of two pieces.

usal recipe | Maharashtrian usal | traditional Kolhapuri misal | Puneeri misal | with 53 amazing images. usal recipe | Maharashtrian usal | traditional Kolhapuri misal | Puneeri misal is an authentic dish exceptionally famous in some speciality restaurants and also served in almost all street side eateries in Maharashtra. Learn how to make Maharashtrian usal. To make usal, heat the oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds. When they crackle, add the asafoetida and kaddi patta. Add the onions and sauté till they are translucent or till it become golden brown. Add the tomatoes and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the usal paste, goda masala, red chilli powder and cook till the oil separates. Add the sprouts, turmeric, salt and 2½ cups of water and mix well. Add jaggery. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes till the sprouts are tender. Top with the coriander and chopped onions. Serve the usal with lemon wedges and ladi pav. Maharashtrian usal is a traditional recipe of spicy pulses in a thin watery gravy which is usually eaten with bread. Most common pulses used are moong, safed vatana and matki. These can be sprouted if you like them. Here we have used mixed sprouts. An assortment of ingredients ranging from onions and tomatoes to spice powder like goda masala and chilli powder offer their unique flavours to this intense gravy, making the traditional Kolhapuri misal an experience that will remain in your memory forever. The coconut based paste is an additional flavour boost which is very peculiar about Puneeri missal. The perfect balance of green chilies, ginger and garlic with coriander and dry coconut in this preparation is a pleasure to dig into. Tips for usal. 1. Remember to use dry coconut for the masala and not the fresh coconut. 2. Choose green chillies as per the spice level of your choice. The light green chillies are spicier than the dark green variety. 3. Mixed sprouts can be replaced solely with moong sprouts or matki sprouts. 4. Goda masala can be replaced with malvani masala. 5. As a variation, you can top it with some gathiya. Enjoy usal recipe | Maharashtrian usal | traditional Kolhapuri misal | Puneeri misal | with step by step photos.

This is a popular, easy-fix maharashtrian dish. The combination of jaggery and kokum gives a sweet and tangy taste to this usal, which is made using vaal.

bread fritters recipe | Indian style bread bhaji | party starter | leftover bread recipe | with 27 amazing images. bread fritters recipe | Indian style bread bhaji | party starter | leftover bread recipe is an easy and delicious way to use the leftover over bread. Learn how to make Indian style bread bhaji. To make bread fritters, remove the crust of the bread slices and crumble them into small pieces with your fingers and put in a deep bowl. Add the curds and mix very well using your fingers. Add the carrot, besan, green chilli paste, coriander and salt and mix well. Add approx. ¼ cup of water and mix well or till the mixture binds well. Next divide the mixture into 16 equal portions. Grease your palms with a little oil and shape a portion into a round ball in between your palms. Press it lightly in the centre to form a slight depression and put in hot oil in a deep non-stick kadhai. Shape 3 more portions and put it in the oil and deep-fry all 4 at a time in a batch on a medium flame till they turn golden brown in colour from all the sides. Drain on an absorbent paper and keep aside. Serve immediately with green chutney and tomato ketchup. Bread, soaked in curds and bound with besan, is mixed into a thick batter together with an assortment of interesting ingredients like grated carrots, coriander, and so on. When deep-fried this innovative batter transforms into an appetizing and tasty Indian style bread bhaji that you will enjoy sinking your teeth into. The addition of curds to the mixture has an interesting effect, imparting not just tanginess but also a delectable crispness to this party starter. Serve with homemade tomato ketchup for a homely snack. Tips for bread fritters. 1. Mix the mixture well with your fingers is necessary to ensure that the besan and spices coat the bread well. 2. It is best to roll the fritters one by one and add them directly in hot oil for frying. We do not recommend shaping all the fritters and then deep frying. 3. Deep fry the fritters only on a medium flame and not high flame. 4. Serve them immediately on frying to enjoy their crispiness. Enjoy bread fritters recipe | Indian style bread bhaji | party starter | leftover bread recipe | with step by step photos.

A line-up of bread boats. Fill them up with toppings of your choice.

jada poha chivda recipe | fried poha chivda | chivda namkeen snack | Indian thick poha chivda | with 35 amazing images. jada poha chivda recipe | fried poha chivda | chivda namkeen snack | Indian thick poha chivda is a delicious Indian jar snack. Learn how to make fried poha chivda. To make jada poha chivda, heat the oil for deep-frying in a deep non-stick pan, dip the strainer in it and put half of the poha in it and deep-fry on a medium flame till it turns crisp but not brown. Drain on an absorbent paper. Repeats step 1 to deep-fry the remaining half of the poha. Keep aside. In the same strainer, place the coconut slices and deep-fry them in the same oil till they turn light brown in colour from both the sides. Drain on an absorbent paper and keep aside. Repeat step 3 to deep-fry the roasted chana dal, cashewnuts, curry leaves, peanuts and raisins individually one by one. Keep aside. Heat the oil in another deep non-stick pan and add the mustard seeds and asafoetida. When the seeds crackle, add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and salt and mix well. Add all the deep-fried ingredients, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Transfer the mixture into a deep bowl and cool slightly. Once slightly cooled, add the sugar and toss well. Cool completely and serve or store in an air-tight container and use as required. Fried poha chivda is the homemade version of an all-time favourite Maharashtrian jar snack – poha chivda. With a mix of sweet, salty and nutty flavours, and a wondrous blend of textures, this chivda is sure to appeal to young and old alike. It is important to deep-fry each of the ingredients separately and drain them before mixing together. This is because each ingredient is unique in its own texture and thus has to be fried for a particular time. And don’t forget the small quantity of sugar because it is responsible for the unique flavour of the chivda namkeen snack. This Indian thick poha chivda tastes quite similar to the store-bought one, but has a fresher taste and crispier mouth-feel. Try other jar snack recipes like mini bhakarwadi or whole wheat flour chakli. Tips for jada poha chivda. 1. Prefer to use a strainer with thin holes. 2. Deep fry the jada poha till they puff up. We do not need to brown them. 3. The raisins and roasted chana dal get fried immediately. So keep a close watch while frying them. 4. If you don’t have powdered sugar, grind the table sugar in a mixer and sieve it before use. Enjoy jada poha chivda recipe | fried poha chivda | chivda namkeen snack | Indian thick poha chivda | with step by step photos.

vegetables in hot garlic sauce recipe | Chinese style vegetables in hot garlic sauce | crispy vegetables in hot garlic sauce | Chinese style veg gravy | with step by step photos. vegetables in hot garlic sauce is an accompaniment to any Chinese style rice delicacy. Learn how to make Chinese style vegetables in hot garlic sauce. In Chinese style vegetables in hot garlic sauce, vegetables are cooked in the ginger-garlic rich sauce, with a good measure of tomato ketchup and soya sauce. It is fiery, tangy and saucy making your Chinese meal extra delicious. To make Chinese style vegetables in hot garlic sauce, finely chop and slice all the veggies as mentioned in the ingredients. Then heat the oil in a wok / kadhai on a high flame till it smokes. Add the ginger, garlic and green chillies and sauté on a high flame for a few seconds. Add the onions and capsicum one by one sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the broccoli, carrots and baby corn and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the schezuan sauce, tomato ketchup and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the cornflour-water mixture and sugar, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring continuously. Garnish with spring onion greens and serve immediately with fried rice. crispy vegetables in hot garlic sauce, if you want to try something different and go beyond manchurian gravy or sweet and sour vegetables, this recipe is a spicier version that your guests will enjoy! It is also much more flavorful than a manchurian. Rich flavours of ginger and garlic is what makes this Chinese style veg gravy super-delicious, so try to use fresh ginger and garlic while cooking! Tips for vegetables in hot garlic sauce. Finely chopped ginger is best. But if you wish you can use grated also. 2. Heat the oil in the wok till it smokes. This helps veggies cook faster and stay crispy. 3. After cornflour-water mixture it is necessary to mix continuously, else gravy might have lumps. 4. Top with spring onion greens and then do not cook, to maintain their colour and eye appeal. Learn to make vegetables in hot garlic sauce recipe | Chinese style vegetables in hot garlic sauce | crispy vegetables in hot garlic sauce | Chinese style veg gravy | with step by step photos and video below.

Malvani chana masala recipe | Maharashtrian chana gravy | Malvani hara chana masala | Malvani style green chana masala | with 47 amazing images. Malvani chana masala is a famous Maharashtrian dish that has to be experienced to understand its full worth! Learn how to make Maharashtrian chana gravy. Malvani chana masala is boiled hara chana along with tamarind pulp, fresh cream and spices cooked in Malvani chana masala. To make Malvani chana masala, first make the Malvani paste. Combine the Kashmiri chillies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, caraway seeds, cardamom, black cardamom, poppy seeds, star anise, cinnamon and dry coconut in a non-stick pan and dry roast on a medium flame for 3 minutes or till the masalas release an aroma. Keep aside to cool slightly. Blend in a mixer to a smooth paste using ½ cup of water. Keep aside. Then blend 1 cup of hara chana in a mixer to a coarse mixture and keep aside. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan, add the garlic paste and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds. Add the malvani masala paste and sauté on a medium flame for another 2 minutes. Add the coarsely crushed hara chana, remaining 1 cup of whole boiled hara chana, salt and 1 cup of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the tamarind pulp, fresh cream, coriander and sugar, mix well and cook on a medium flame for another 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Serve hot. There are several interesting things about this Malvani style green chana masala. The hara chana is cooked and crushed to a very convenient consistency before being used in the gravy. Then, there is the use of tamarind instead of tomatoes, which adds to the flavour and pungency without toning down the effect of the spices. Above all what makes this Maharashtrian chana gravy more interesting is its authentic paste of dry coconut with a host of khada masala, which means whole Indian spices. The perfect proportion of each of these masalas is very important to lend a fantastic taste to this sabzi which can be combined with most Indian breads like roti, chapati and paratha. The use of fresh cream in this Malvani hara chana masala is not very traditional, but it will help get a creamy texture and balance the spiciness as well. You can also try other chana recipes like Chana Ghassi and Kabuli Chana Stir- Fry. Tips for Malvani chana masala. 1. As a variation to Malvani style green chana masala, you can replace hara chana with kala chana which is commonly also known as brown chick peas. 2. Use of Kashmiri chillies is a must for the bright red colour of this sabzi. Enjoy Malvani chana masala recipe | Maharashtrian chana gravy | Malvani hara chana masala | Malvani style green chana masala | with step by step photos and video below.

corn croquettes recipe | Indian style corn croquettes | corn and rice croquettes | with 24 amazing images. These attractive, golden-coloured corn croquettes are perfect to serve at parties as they have a brilliant flavour and texture. Learn how to make corn croquettes recipe | Indian style corn croquettes | corn and rice croquettes | You will love the mild sweetness of corn, the succulent softness of cooked rice and the perky flavour of green chillies, which play out wonderfully well in this corn and rice croquettes. Serve the Indian style corn croquettes as a party starter, as finger food at a kitty party, or simply make it to accompany a cup of tea on a rainy day! pro tips to make corn croquettes: 1. You can also add grated mozzarella cheese in the mixture to make this recipe. 2. Always remember to roll the croquette in plain flour-water mixture with one hand and in bread crumbs with the other hand. This will help to prevent the hands from turning out to be messy and also get croquettes with shape perfect. 3. Make sure you deep-fry only 2 to 3 at a time. Enjoy corn croquettes recipe | Indian style corn croquettes | corn and rice croquettes | with detailed step by step photos.

dahiwale aloo ki sabzi with rajgira puri recipe | rajgira aloo puri | dahi aloo ki sabzi for upvas | vrat rajgira puri with aloo sabzi | with 35 amazing images. dahiwale aloo ki sabzi with rajgira puri recipe | rajgira aloo puri | dahi aloo ki sabzi for upvas | vrat rajgira puri with aloo sabzi is a satiating meal for fasting days. Learn how to make rajgira aloo puri. To make aloo sabzi, combine the curds, rajgira flour and ½ cup of water in a deep bowl, whisk well and keep aside. Heat the ghee in a deep non-stick pan, add the cumin seeds and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds. Add the bayleaf, cloves and cinnamon and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the curd-water mixture and green chilli paste, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring continuously. Add the baby potatoes, coriander and rock salt, mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Keep aside. For the rajgira puris, combine all the ingredients in a deep bowl and knead into a semi-stiff dough using enough water. Divide the dough into 15 equal portions. Roll each portion into a 75 mm. (3”) diameter circle. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan and deep-fry the puris a few at a time till they turn golden brown in colour from both the sides. Drain on absorbent paper. For serving, serve hot rajgira puris with hot aloo sabzi. This is an easy recipe, which can be made with few ingredients and in little time! The simple flavour of the dahi aloo ki sabzi for upvas is very soothing to the palate, and just right to nourish yourself on a fasting day. Baby potatoes cooked with curds and spices is a great combination for rajgira aloo puri. The final touch of coriander is the finishing flavor to this sabzi. With the use of rajgira flour to thicken curd, we are sure you will not miss the taste of your daily cooking. If you like vrat rajgira puri with aloo sabzi, then also try other faraal recipes like sabudana khichdi or kand aloo pakoda. Tips for dahiwale aloo ki sabzi with rajgira puri. 1. If you don’t have baby potatoes, then boil the potatoes, peel them and cut into big cubes. 2. Whisk the curd mixture very well. It should not have any lumps. 3. After adding the curd-water mixture, make sure you keep stirring continuously to prevent it from curdling. 4. After kneading the dough do not keep it for long time. This might make rolling difficult. 5. If you find rolling the puris difficult, then roll them between 2 sheets of plastic. Enjoy dahiwale aloo ki sabzi with rajgira puri recipe | rajgira aloo puri | dahi aloo ki sabzi for upvas | vrat rajgira puri with aloo sabzi | with step by step photos.

Although red in colour, the red garlic chutney is not fiery. The use of coconut moderates the spiciness of this chutney, making it suitable for all. The use of tamarind pulp is very important to balance the taste of coconut and garlic, and ensure that you add the suggested quantity.