How to Make Saffron water | केशर पाणि

I had seen this trick in one of 'Vahchef's' videos when chef 'Sanjay' needed saffron water for some reason and he casually shared this tip of making the perfect Saffron Liquid.I exactly do not remember the recipe I see more and more and more recipes of him,but all I remembered of this important and easy TIP.

Needless to say that saffron is used world wide.In Indian dishes,two things come to mind immediately,those are 'Shrikhand' and 'Biriyani' where this saffron liquid is a must.Now,let us learn to make this.

Ingredients :

1. Kesar or Saffron - 8 to 10 Strands.

STEPS :

• Heat a heavy bottom utensil or you can also use a laddle.
• When it is hot, put the flame off and immediate place the Saffron strands on the hot surface.
• Within some seconds,you will get to feel the nice aroma of saffron.
• Now Saffron strands are hard and can be crushed very easily.Transfer the Saffron to a bowl.
• Crush with hands or spoon.
• Add around 4 Tsp of water and leave for 10 minutes.
• After some time,you will see a nice orange water. 

TIP :

• Milk can be used instead of water.

नाचणी चे आंबिल | ರಾಗಿ ಅಂಬಲಿ | Red Millet Savory Porridge

'Nachani cha Ambil(Marathi)' is a fanous and 'must have' beverage in all Maharashtrian and Karnataka homes.But let me tell you, not only in India, but this beverage is consumed in many parts of the world with different names.'Raagi Ambali or Abmli' is the Kannada name..It's a savory porridge.

This is the most popular summer cool drink in both villege and cities.If you go the villages in Karnataka (North) and Maharashtra, you will definitely get to see this and of course you cannot deny their hospitality. Because Red Millet is rich energy source, one cannot say no to it.

Ragi keeps the body cool.

Let us learn how to make.There must be many versions of making this.It is one of them.

The following measurements makes around 6 glasses depending upon the consistency one likes.

Ingredients :

1. Ragi or Red Millet flour - 1/2 Cup
2. Green chilli - 1 (Depending upon how much spicy you want, you can adjust the quantity)
3. Garlic - 2 cloves
   
4. Salt to Taste
5. Butter milk - As Required (For 6 people, around 1 liter must be sufficient).

STEPS :

• In a container,add 750 ml water and keep to boil.
• Add salt
• Cut the Chilly and garlic and mash it and add immediately to the water.
• Now, make a paste of Ragi flour.This paste need not be thick one,Make sure,there are no lumps in the paste.
  
• By this time,water must be boiling.Bring the flame to low.
• Now start adding the Ragi flour Paste with one hand and keep stirring the water continuously with the other hand.
• Do not stop stirring until the porridge is cooked.It takes around 5 -7 minutes to be cooked.This helps avoid lumps in the porridge.
• When it is really cooked,it turns out to be dark brown.
• Keep For cooling.
• In a glass, add this Ragi ambli and buttermilk.Mix well and is ready to serve.
  

TIPS : 

• You can add some extra salt to Ambli.So when you add the buttermilk, the taste gets balanced
• Make sure that the flour is cooked well.Uncooked porridge results into bitter taste.
• You can refrigerate this  Ambil or Ambli and add fresh butter milk whenver needed to serve.
• This is supposed to be drunk cold.
• You can add chopped MINT leaves to buttermilk.It tastes really good.
• You can skip adding chilies and garlic,Makes better option for kids

लसणाचि चटणि | Garlic Chutney | ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ ಚಟ್ನಿ | Garlic Chutney

This is the chutney found in Maharashtra and most of Karnataka.Main ingredients is garlic along with dry coconut.Tales less than 5 minutes to make.There are many versions where sesame seeds and peanuts are added too.but this version just awesome and goes perfect with chapati, roti, rice etc

Ingredients :

1. Dry grated cocnut or Coconut flakes - 1 Cup
2. Garlic cloves - 1/4 Cup
3. Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder - 3 Tbsp
4. Cumin seeds - 1 Tbsp
5. Salt to taste
6. Sugar - 1 Tbsp (Optional)

Steps :

• Add all the ingredients to the grinder and grind it as much as you can.
• Stop the grinder after every 30 seconds,give a mix and grind again.It stars loosing oil and then your chutney is ready. 

TIPS :

• Depending upon the Coconut, the chutney may remain dry.In that case, add 2 Tbsp of edible oil and grind again.
• Keep in ait tight container.
• Try this : Add butter to chutney.Apply this mixture to the bread and grill it.The out put you get is just heavenly.Same applies to Chapati or Roti.

BURRITO BOWL

The easiest recipe on this earth I would say.This Mexican bowl has a special place in my heart.Let us learn the recipe.

The below measurement serves 1 person

Ingredients :

1.  Cooked Rice - 1 Cup (You can choose to have white or brown rice)
2. Guacamole - 1 Cup (You can adjust the quantity according to your taste)
3. Lettuce,shredded - 1 Cups       
   
4. 1/2 Onion -  Finely chopped
5. 1/2 Bell Pepper or Capsicum - Finely chopped
6. Salsa - chopped onions,chopped Tomatoes- 1/2 cup each,cilantro - 1/4 cup,coarse pepper (1/2 teas spoon),salt to taste,Lime Juice (1 Tbsp)
7. Baked Beans - 1/2 cup ( In a pan, add baked beans, little water, salt to taste and boil for around 5 mins,along with mashing it).
8. Boiled corns (Optional)
9. Cheese (Mozzarella or Parmesan) - 1/2 Cup (Optional)
10. Sour Cream - 1/2 Cup (If you do not have, take yogurt in a container, whip it nicely and it is a great substitute)

STEPS :

• In a pan, take 1 tsp of Oil or Butter.To that add Bell peppers and Onions,Salt and sauté until they are nicely fried and cooked. Set it aside.
• In a Bowl a plate, spread the rice.
• Next layer is Guacamole
• Baked Beans
• Then comes Sour Cream
• Now fried Bell peppers and Onions
• Next one is Salsa,Lettuce,Corn
• Cheese

TIPS : I do not think there is any thing as this is the effortless but yet delicious recipe.I have not added the Chipotlé sauce.You can add if you like.