Do you love cooking? how about cooking with your friends? I do, unfortunately, it's only virtual but still we enjoy this how about you? don't you want to  see what we all have been doing in our kitchen!

Cooking With Friends: This blog post is part of the monthly “Cooking With Friends” themed blog post challenge. This challenge was started by a bunch of virtual friends united by their love of food, with the aim of tackling a different food related theme each month. If you want to try this month’s theme, please feel free to do so and link your recipe in the comments section. We’d love to check it out. Meanwhile, check out what the others in the group have come up with this month.

Anjana from At the Corner of Happy and Harried, Garima from CafeGarima, Jyothi from Curry Tail, Madhuri from MADaboutkitchen, Subhasmita from The Flavors of Kitchen, and Sujatha from Spice n Treats, Dolphia from Story  of Cooks

When we decided to cook something with a vegetable which we have never used before, so, what’s next step, off to the market, I took my daughter to a nearby supermarket. We went through the aisles, my daughter said that it's going to be tough day and said we should have gone to some gourmet shops, wherein I might find something, I am not boasting I promise, I literally have cooked every vegetable from the supermarkets here, I should thank Mr.R for this, anything new he sees he brings it home, he loves to try every vegetable.  As we were walking through the aisles my eyes fell on this sea vegetable, I had been eyeing it from a long time but never bought it. I think there were two reasons for this, firstly, I didn’t know what I was going to make out of it so I left it alone for when I thought of something, and secondly for just around 100g it was too expensive, so, I never had a chance of tasting it and didn’t know if my family liked it or not I didn’t want to take a risk.

But, all this said, it was a challenge I had to put myself in to see how it goes, not with the cooking but I mean with how I am going to make my family eat it.  My girl had more ideas when I was unsure, she said let’s buy it Amma (mum), go home and taste it, on the packet it says salty and goes well with fish, only we can’t eat fish we will use this with potatoes, shrugging her shoulders she went on saying, anything with Potatoes we can push it, (we were thinking of my twins who are a slightly difficult to please that they would enjoy it more if I am going to serve it this way), After tasting it if we find it not interesting we will bin it and not tell Dad about it, keep it  a secret between us.  We were giggling away, have I ever told you my daughter is my best mate, we share so many things not as mother and daughter but as friends, we have almost similar interests and enjoy exploring lots of things together.  So I came back home with the Samphire packet, ripped it open and tasted it, the packet said it was salty, but it wasn’t as bad as we were imagining, so we were not going to bin it! Now I had the task of having to think what I have to make with it.

I have joined these group of bloggers who are such a bunch of wonderful people, they just don't blog recipes but amazing photographs as well.   I planned to post this yesterday, when I started getting updates on my mobile, I lost track of the time, because I got so carried away with their lovely photographs, I got a bit depressed that I have such a long way to go learning this beautiful and colourful world of photography, but also inspired to try harder and make more time and use of the long summer days ahead! Check out their blogs for beautiful photography and interesting recipes.

Samphire according to Wikipedia is  Originally "sampiere", a corruption of the French "Saint Pierre" (Saint Peter),^[2] samphire was named after the patron saint of fishermen because all of the original plants with its name grow in rocky salt-sprayed regions along the sea coast of northern Europe or in its coastal marsh areas. It is sometimes called sea asparagus or sea pickle. In Norfolk, it is commonly called sampha [sam-fa]. In North Wales, especially along the River Dee's marshes, it has always been known as sampkin.

All the plants bearing the name are annuals that begin growing in late autumn and vegetate throughout the winter until the first warm weather arrives. Then the first stems and internodes form, and by mid-spring the plant measures 6 to 8 cm.
Marsh samphire ashes were used to make soap and glass (hence its other old English name, "glasswort") In the 14th century glassmakers located their workshops near regions where this plant grew, since it was so closely linked to their trade. Samphires of all kinds have long been eaten in England. The leaves were gathered early in the year and pickled or eaten in salads with oil and vinegar. It is mentioned by Shakespeare in King Lear:
Halfway down Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade! (Act IV, Scene VI). This refers to the dangers involved in collecting rock samphire on sea cliffs.

Collecting Information through Googling I have found these tidbits which might be useful if you are going to use it in your kitchen, it is said that it is gaining more popularity in England now and is available in all supermarkets
Types:  There are two types of Samphire available; Marsh (salicornia europaea) and Rock (crithmum maitimum) but Marsh is the one which is more widely used.
Taste:  it is salty and crispy
Availability:  best to buy during July and August
How to use it: It is best to buy fresh and won’t stay for long, wash thoroughly before using it, and can be eaten raw, if not cook it in a pot of boiling water for just 2 to 3 minutes and use it or steam over a pot of boiling water for a few minutes.
If you are interested and know more about this sea vegetable check out this link, you have lots information available. Coming back to the recipe, this is how I used it, do try it out and tell me if you liked it.

Ingredients:
100g - Samphire
7 to 8– potatoes *
1 cup – Peas *
2 tsp freshly crushed Black Pepper
1 tbsp of oil
2 Garlic pods
Few sprigs of parsley and mint
Salt as required
*(Check notes)

Method
Peel and cut potatoes and pressure cook them for a whistle or drop them in boiling water until it is cooked Al Dante as we don’t want them becoming mushy or you can roast them in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes until well done (if cooking them in the oven sprinkle some oil and salt and bake them)
Wash Samphire thoroughly in cold water, take it in a vessel and boiling water and close the lid for 5 minutes. Drain it and leave it aside.
Cook peas in a microwave until done and set aside. Chop onion and garlic finely.
Once potatoes are cooled down cut them into medium sized cubes, so now all your ingredients are ready let’s start…
In a large wok heat oil, once sufficiently heated, add a tsp of cumin seeds, then add onion and garlic, sauté well and add the potatoes. After few minutes sprinkle some salt and fry until golden brown.
When it’s nearly done add the cooked peas, cooked samphire and stir fry for few minutes until well combined. Add little more salt and crushed black pepper, taste it and adjust the spice. Add a tsp of butter(optional), chopped mint and parsley to garnish, give it a minute and mix again so the aroma of the herbs get infused into the veggies. That’s it done.

 SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
You can just eat it like that, otherwise you can serve it like me I served it with cooked Basmati Rice or eat it with toasted Bread and butter or grilled with cheese and some salad Tomatoes.
NOTES:
You can use normal potatoes or roasting potatoes which can retain their shape or use new potatoes which are good for roasting.
I have used frozen peas, you can use fresh peas it would be tastier
I have just used pepper for spiciness, you can try using dried chilles or green chillies or any kind of spice like any Mediterranean spices, I wanted to keep it more British so just added crushed pepper.

Print

Samphire with Roast Potatoes and Peas salad

This dish is a fantastic summer salad both in flavours and looks Salty Samphire makes its appearance with a new avatar mildly spicy and delicious, serve with yogurt

Course Dinner / Breakfast /

Cuisine British

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 100 g - Samphire
• 7 to 8 – potatoes *
• 1 cup – Peas *
• 2 tsp freshly crushed Black Pepper
• 1 tbsp of oil
• 2 Garlic pods
• Few sprigs of parsley and mint
• Salt as required

Instructions

• Peel and cut potatoes and pressure cook them for a whistle or drop them in boiling water until it is cooked Al Dante as we don’t want them becoming mushy or you can roast them in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes until well done (if cooking them in the oven sprinkle some oil and salt and bake them)
• Wash Samphire thoroughly in cold water, take it in a vessel and boiling water and close the lid for 5 minutes. Drain it and leave it aside.
• Cook peas in a microwave until done and set aside. Chop onion and garlic finely.
• Once potatoes are cooled down cut them into medium sized cubes, so now all your ingredients are ready let’s start…
• In a large wok heat oil, once sufficiently heated, add a tsp of cumin seeds, then add onion and garlic, sauté well and add the potatoes. After few minutes sprinkle some salt and fry until golden brown.
• When it’s nearly done add the cooked peas, cooked samphire and stir fry for few minutes until well combined. Add little more salt and crushed black pepper, taste it and adjust the spice. Add a tsp of butter, chopped mint and parsley to garnish, give it a minute and mix again so the aroma of the herbs get infused into the veggies.
• That’s it done.

Notes

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:
You can just eat it like that, otherwise you can serve it like me I served it with cooked Basmati Rice or eat it with toasted Bread and butter or grilled with cheese and some salad Tomatoes.
NOTES:
You can use normal potatoes or roasting potatoes which can retain their shape or use new potatoes which are good for roasting.
I have used frozen peas, you can use fresh peas it would be tastier
I have just used pepper for spiciness, you can try using dried chilles or green chillies or any kind of spice like any Mediterranean spices, I wanted to keep it more British so just added crushed pepper.

The post Vegan Samphire with Roast Potatoes and Peas salad appeared first on My Veg Fare.

When Kalyani announced Magic Mingle # 5, I was really not into it, as my kids are not a big fan of Paneer, So when I wore my thinking cap, everything seemed alright, put two and two together and I thought it will work..
I get so involved every time she announces that I indulge myself in trying out new ways, techniques and become more creative in thinking what I can do.., this is what  I tried and turned out very well, my kids just loved it so much, It's such a keeper recipe, This monthly mingle of Kalyani's is such an enjoyable event as I keep trying new methods of cooking and baking.., here is one such thing.., I took a chance and it really worked out, go and try it out and tell me if you liked it.

Let us go straight to the recipe...

PANEER AND MINT FLAVOURED GARLIC ROLLS -EGGLESS

INGREDIENTS:
75 grms Minted Paneer 
300 grms White Bread flour
125 grms Plain flour
2 tbsp oil
1 and 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Sugar
2 and 1/2 tsp Active Yeast
100 grms water roux ( Rice flour water roux )
1/4 cup water / or whey water from making paneer
1/2 Cup Milk
Rice flour water roux**
2 tbsp of Chilli flakes

Method for Making Garlic butter
peel and chop around 6 to 7 cloves of garlic
chop 2 to 3 tbsp of coriander leaves  / mint leaves
25 gms butter

Method for Mint Paneer
Check out this Link for making fresh Minted Paneer at home.

Method for making Water Roux 
Check out this link for making Rice flour Water roux

METHOD:



TO MAKE GARLIC ROLLS
First mix both the flours using a sieve or with hand until well combined.
In a large bowl, take 1 tbsp of warm water ( luke warm ) add yeast and a tsp of sugar, leave it for sometime in a warm place, you will notice the yeast bubbling up, this way we will be sure that the yeast is still active.
Meanwhile, In a mixie / food processor take minted paneer  and 1/2 cup of milk, blend them together.
Pour this into the yeast bowl.
Add salt and flours into the bowl of yeast with water using a spatula or using your hand mix them together
to this add Rice flour water roux , mix them well together.
Then start kneading the dough, dust the surface and hand with flour and knead and stretch for 10 minutes, in few minutes you will see that the dough becomes soft and beautiful.
Oil the same bowl and roll this dough in it, and cover it with a cling film and leave it to raise in warm corner for at least 1 and 1/2 hours (depending upon the altitude and temperature of the place you are living ), you can mark the bowl or guess by eyeing that the ball has doubled in shape.
While the dough is rising make Garlic butter, Blend garlic cloves and chopped coriander and Mint leaves into a paste with a tsp of water.
mix this paste with butter and keep aside until needed.
Next punch the dough so the gases are released and spread the dough to a rectangle shape, spread Garlic butter on top of it and some chilli flakes to get a kick out of the rolls when biting into them!!
Now roll out the flattened dough from the longer side when you come to the end pick up the end portion lift it and join it to the top, this way you can be careful that nothing leaks out.
Dust the surface with flour and roll the rolled dough so they are evenly distributed and you would get a perfect log shape, cut them into equal portions.

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5/180 degrees, place a bowl of hot water underneath.
Place these portions on a parchment paper giving gaps, and allow it to raise again around 1/2 an hour, you can see that it would have swelled up again.
Brush it with milk and place the tray into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes depending upon the temperature of your oven or insert a skewer which comes out clean  telling you that the roll is done.
Take it out of the oven , leave it on the wiring rack for 5 minutes then slide them on to the wiring rack for it  cool down, otherwise the bottom will get very soggy. as the bread still cooks because of the heat from the tin.
Serve it warm or cold with a hot cup of soup, or just eat it with sauces..

My verdict : My kids fell in love with these rolls, these rolls stayed soft. Keep it in a airtight container. serve it with soup or with ketchup, They even took it for their lunch boxes!!

Stay tuned  I will soon be posting an other recipe with Minted Paneer....., later in the day...

The post Paneer and Mint Flavoured Garlic Rolls - Eggless appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Paneer is made with milk, it is easy to make your own paneer it is like cottage cheese, you can get it in shops in blocks or cubes.., I love paneer only in sweet dishes like Rasgulla, sandesh and many more Bengali sweets which are my all time favourite,  rather than the curries and Gravies.

My kids don't like Paneer at all even if you use them in spicy gravies or Curries, That is why you don't see lot of paneer recipes in my blog, especially my son, doesn't like it at all, Like me they also love to eat paneer only in Sweets :), Just like Momma.....
When Kalyani announced this month's Magic Mingle # 5 challenge it was Paneer and mint, the first thought was let me dish out some pulav, Once I made pulav which is still in my draft and my son kept mumbling over it, My H loves paneer, that is why now and then I make it.  But then I made some parathas which I will post soon, Before the parathas I made this curry, and to my astonishment, my twin girl loved it very much and even my son the curry was so tasty, totally it was only Kadai full, I made little so I don't have to eat it lunch, brunch and dinner if my kids don't like it.., But, to my surprise, it was all gone.., by the end of the day I can say I am going to make this again...
Hope you all like it and tell me how it turned out...., if you make it 🙂

PANEER BHENDI IN MINTY MASALA CURRY

INGREDIENTS:
15 Bhendi / Lady's finger Small ones
1 Large Onion
1 tsp Ginger - Garlic paste

1 Tomatoes or 2 small tomatoes
1/2 Cup Paneer Cut into small cubes
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/4 tsp Cumin powder
1 tsp Chilli powder
1/4 tsp Amchur powder
1 and 1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
Oil

To Marinate:

2 Fist ful ( 4 Sprigs ) Mint / Pudina Leaves
1 fist ful ( 4 sprigs) Coriander leaves
1 Green Chilli

METHOD:
First of all Cut the cubed Paneer into still smaller pieces ( like four pieces ), then wash and grind the ingredients under marinate, add a tbsp of water if it doesn't grind then add this to the cut cubes, mix well and leave it at least for 1/2 an hour, or until you need it.
Next wash and wipe or dry Bhendis or Lady's Finger with a cloth, you have to do this so when you fry them they will not have that sliminess in them. Then cut the top and bottom of the bhendi's these days I just cut the top only and use the tail end of it too.., you can try if you like it or you can cut that end too. Then cut the Bhendi's into 1/4'' pieces and keep them aside.
Chop Onions and tomatoes and keep them ready.

Take a deep pan /or wok add 2 tbsp oil, fry these bhendis until they are soft and slightly crisp around and keep aside.
Then again add an other 2 tbsp of oil fry the marinated Paneer until they turn slightly reddish in colour, to this add a bit of salt and fry them and keep aside.

In the same wok / Pan add a 2 tbsp of oil when hot add mustard seeds when they splutter add Ginger-Garlic paste then add finely chopped Onions fry them until they are transparent then add finely chopped tomatoes fry them until they become soft, do all this in a low flame, so they don't get burnt.
Once they are done add the dry masala powders fry them for a minute, then add Bhendi and Paneer and mix  them well add a cup of water or a little more if you like it a bit more in a gravy consistency.
Close the lid and keep it in a low flame for few more minutes which helps in absorbing the masala into them.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve it with Chapatis, pulkas or rice.

Tips:
Be careful if you add too much water then dissolve 1/2 tbsp of corn flour in 1 or 2 tbps of water and add it to the gravy, this helps in thickening the gravy.
Use the Dry masala ingredients to your taste, as they might be different from what I use. like my green chilli is too spicy so I have just used one, and even my chilli powder is too spicy so I have just used one tsp so, use it according to your liking.

Sending this to Magic Mingle #5

The post Paneer Bhendi in Minty Masala Curry / Mint Flavoured Curry with Lady's Finger and Cottage Cheese cubes appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi everybody this is my first post of the day, Hope everybody is doing well, You know I have joined Blogging Marathon of Srivalli's, from last month, I put myself into this so I could be more regular in my posting, still I am unable to sort out and be more organised.  Children are back to school and that would give me more time I think!. This is the 15th edition of Blogging Marathon, and this time I have choosen to do Chutneys, Spice Powders and Dry Saute's.

CARROT AND MINT CHUTNEY/THOGAIYAL 





INGREDIENTS
190 gms carrot (after peel, with peel 243 gms)
2 tbsp Channa dal
1 tbsp Urad dal
1/4 tsp Coriander seeds
2 flakes of Tamarind
4 to 5 Green chillies
4 sprigs of Mint leaves
4 sprigs of Coriander leaves
25 gms Coconut
A pinch of Hing/Asafoetida
1 and 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp of oil
1/2 cup water

SEASONING:
1 tsp of oil
1/2 tsp of mustard seeds
3 to 4 curry leaves

METHOD
Wash and peel the carrots and grate them, cook them in 1/2 cup of water in a low flame with a covered lid. Check it now and then you don't want the water getting completely evaporated (may be it takes around 10 minutes). They become soft.
Pour these cooked grated carrots on to a strainer with a bowl below so that you don't throw away the water. Reserve the water.
pick out the leaves from the mint and chop the coriander twigs with the stalk and keep aside.
Meanwhile heat a pan with a tsp of oil, add channa dal, urad dal, chopped green chilies and tamarind and saute them for a while in a medium flame for few minutes until the dals change colour to golden brown.
Now to this add the mint and coriander leaves and saute for 1 or 2 minutes just they wilt a little bit.
Take the ingredients out of the pan and put them on to a plate, so that they cool down to run them in the mixie.
Put the above Ingredients into the mixie with Hing and grind to a nearly fine powder, to this now add grated coconut, salt and cooked carrots, and run the mixie again ( it won't grind so first mix well and with going back and forth on the number one speed so that it is grinded )
Then start adding the reserved water a tbsp at a time to Grind it completely.
Then heat a small pan add oil, mustard seeds when they splutter add curry leaves and pour it on to the chutney. Serve it and enjoy.

If you grind it into a coarse paste it becomes Thogaiyal which can be mixed with Rice to eat.
If you add more water and you can make it into chutney consistency and can served with Idlis, Dosas and chapatis or any way you want to use it.

I am also linking this to
sravs spring seasonal food
Chef Mireillie's coconut event 
EP series - Mint  and Coriander
Healthy Diet vegetarian side dishes - vardhini's started by Priya

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#15

The post Carrot & Mint Chutney/Thogayal appeared first on My Veg Fare.