How To Make A Perfect Tomato Omelette / Besan Cheela / Gram Flour Pancakes / Eggless Omelette

A tomato omelette or the Gram Flour Pancakes in hindi are called Besan Cheela. It is a breakfast dish. When I need a change from my regular parathas I opt for these omelettes, which are healthy and at the same time very mouth-watering. It is called on omelette just because it looks like one, but it does not contain any egg.

Tomato Omelette / Besan Cheela / Gram Flour Pancakes

For making the batter you would need the base ingredient that is the gram flour or besan, with some chopped finely chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillied, coriander with some of our Indian spices.

I used a non stick pan so I applied oil just before pouring the batter on the pan. If you are not using a non stick pan, then you would need to apply oil on both the sides of the omelette so that it would come off easily and would not stick to the pan. Also adding some oil would make the omelette crisp.

The detailed procedure is explained in the video uploaded.

If you are making the batter to use immediately then make it of a pouring consistency else keep it a bit thick because the onions and tomatoes would make it a bit thin. 

Ingredients: (Makes 4)

1 cup Gram Flour (chickpea flour / besan)

1 Onion (finely chopped)

1 Tomato (finely chopped)

2 Green Chillies (finely chopped)

Some Coriander leaves (finely chopped)

1 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Red Chilli powder

1 tbsp Garam Masala powder

3/4 cup Water

Salt

Oil for frying

Method:

In a bowl take all the ingredients except water and mix well.

take all ingredients except water

mix well

Then add water in parts and form a mixture of pouring consistency, which is a medium consistency not very thick or not very runny.

add water in parts

mix well

pouring consistency

Heat a pan.

Put 2 tbsp of oil and pour the batter on it with the help of a ladle.

heat oil

pour the batter

Spread lightly with the back of the ladle to give it a circular shape.

spread lightly

Cover and cook for a minute.

cover and cook for a minute

Remove the lid, by the time the lower side would have turned brown n crisp. Flip the omelette (can also apply some oil before flipping) and cook the other side.

flip the omelette

Both the sides should be evenly cooked and crisp.

both sides evenly cooked

When both the sides turn brown and crisp top it with butter and serve hot.

top with butter

Tomato Omelette / Besan Cheela / Gram Flour Pancakes

Tips:

Cook on medium to low flame.

While pouring the batter on the pan, the flame should be low.

It is a medium spice recipe, you can adjust it according to your taste by adding or cut down on chilies.

You can add or reduce on water as per required to attain the required consistency. For the amount of gram flour I had taken ¾ cup was adequate.

The omelette should be evenly cooked inside out.

Add water in parts. Gram flour easily forms lumps so mix well as there should be no lumps

Now how do I serve it? I apply butter on the whole omeletts then spread some mint chutney on it and fold it into half. It goes well with buttered bread with some tomato sauce and a cup of hot tea.

So foodies, go food-a-licious with this delightful breakfast recipe of Tomato Omelette / Besan Cheela / Gram Flour Pancakes and share your experiences with us via comments.

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Mint Chutney / Pudina Chutney / Green Chutney / The Basic Green Chutney

This recipe of Mint Chutney is a very basic one for the beginners. It’s a blend of mint leaves, coriander leaves, some garlic mixed with a few Indian spices. It’s an Indian condiment, can be used as a dip or a spread.

Mint Chutney / Pudina Chutney / Green Chutney 

It goes well with kebabs, tandoori dishes, tikkas, sandwiches and many many more.

As I mentioned it’s a basic recipe you can it to next level by adding in variations like curd, peanuts or even some cashew nuts.

For better understanding of the preparation of Mint Chutney, have a look at the video uploaded.

Even some main course dishes are prepared using this chutney as the marinade. One such recipe is Mint Paneer, which I have uploaded recently.

Ingredients:

1 cup Mint leaves

1 cup Coriander leaves

2 Green chilies

5 Garlic Cloves

2 Tbsp Dry Mango Powder

Salt

Method:

Take all the ingredients in the grinder jar.

take all the ingredients in a grinding jar

Grind it till medium coarse. 



Do not make a smooth paste.

grind till medium coarse

The mint chutney is ready to be used as a dip or a spread.

Mint Chutney / Pudina Chutney / Green Chutney 

Tips:

It’s a medium spicy recipe of mint recipe. To make it more spicy add in some more green chilies as per your taste.

Do not make it a smooth paste. Grind it till medium coarse.

Wash the mint and coriander leaves well.

Refrigerate and it can be used for a week.

Go food-a-licious with this green mint chutney use it as a dip or a spread and make your dishes tastier. I would be using this same chutney in my upcoming recipes Gram flour pancakes (besan cheela) and my favorite Papad Cones.

By the time you enjoy this mint chutney and let us know your experience via comments

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Bhindi Stir Fry / Okra Stir Fry / Lady’s Finger Stir Fry

There are different ways to make Bhindi (okra), and this is one of my favorite. Its takes less time to cook, no chopping, just cut off the crown and the base tip of bhindis (okra), give it a vertical slit, fill in the spices and stir fry. It’s just so uncomplicated.

Bhindi Stir Fry

 

While making any dish of bhindi (okra), the most important point to consider is that after washing the bhindis (okra), wipe them dry. There should be no moisture left on them, else while cooking the bhindis (okra) would become slimy and sticky.

In the spices I have added dry mango powder, as it gives the sour shade and also enhances the aroma. For better understanding I have uploaded the video.

The quantity specified of spices are given for ½ kg of bhindi (okra) which also depends on how much do you fill it in each bhindi (okra). In any case, if you run out of the spice mixture you can make it again as per needed.

You can also have a look at the other stir fried recipes Veg Stir Fry Pulao, Potato and Peanuts Stir Fry

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

½ kg Bhindi (okra / lady’s finger)

1 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Red chilli powder

1 tbsp Garam Masala powder

1 tbsp Dry Mango Powder

2 tbsp Oil

Salt

Method:

Wash the bhindis (okra) thoroughly and wipe them dry.

Cut off the crown and the base tip of each bhindi (okra)

cut the crown and base tip

Give it a vertical slit.

give a vertical slit

In a mixing bowl, take turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, dry mango powder, salt and mix well.

all the spices

mix well

Fill this spice mixture in all of the bhindis (Okra).

fill in each bhindi (okra)

Heat oil in a pan. 



Put in the spice filled bhindis (okra)

heat oil and put in the bhindis (okra)

Stir fry on medium to high flame for 10 minutes or until cooked.

stir fry for 10 min or until cooked

Serve hot.

Bhindi Stir Fry / Okra Stir Fry / Lady’s Finger Stir Fry

 

It goes well with rotis and phulkas with a bowl of dal and some raita.

Tips:

The recipe is medium spicy, add in more red chilli powder to make it more spicy.

After washing the bhindis (okra), wipe them dry. There should be no moisture left on them, else while cooking the bhindis (okra) would become slimy and sticky.

Make this food-a-licious Bhindi (okra) stir fry for your family and friends in lunch or dinner, it can also be packed for tiffin.

Do share your experiences with us via comment. 

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Cabbage Mayo With Rice Salad

Mayonnaise is loved by all, be it kids or adults almost everyone likes mayonnaise.

Cabbage Mayo With Rice Salad

My today’s recipe is of a salad, which is quite different - The Rice Salad. I have made it in combination with cabbage mayo and it tastes really great.

Again a very simple recipe, as it is a salad, there is less of cooking and just mixing the ingredients.

For better understanding I have uploaded the video.

The cabbage mayo has to be refrigerated before serving. The dressing also should be kept in the refrigerator before mixing it with the salad.

Ingredients:

Cabbage mayo:

½ cup Mayonnaise

1 tsp Lemon juice

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp White Pepper powder

Salt

2 cups Cabbage (shredded)

½ cup Spring Onions (chopped)

Rice salad:

½ cup Rice

1 small Onion (finely chopped)

1 small Tomato (finely chopped)

1 small Capsicum (finely chopped)

½ cup Corn (boiled)

Dressing:

6 tsp Olive Oil

2 tsp Lemon Juice

½ tsp White Pepper Powder

1 tbsp Mixed Dried Herbs

Salt

Method:

Cabbage mayo:

In a bowl take mayonnaise, add lemon juice, sugar, white pepper and mix well.

mayo,  lemon juice, sugar, white pepper, salt

mix well

Then add the shredded cabbage, spring onions and combine.

add cabbage, spring onions

 

combine

Keep it in the fridge.

Dressing:

In a bowl, take oil, add lemon juice, salt, white pepper powder and whisk it till the dressing turns light in color. Cover it with wrap and refrigerate it.

take ingredients of dressing in bowl

 

whisk

Rice salad:

Boil the water and after it comes to boil add clean and washed rice and salt. Boil the rice till just tender and strain it. Cool the rice completely.

Chop an onion finely, remove the seeds of the capsicum and chop it finely. Take away the bulky part of the tomato and chop it fine. Boil the corns.

Then add all these onion, tomato, capsicum, corn, and the salad dressing that we have kept in the refrigerator.  Mix it lightly with a fork.

rice salad

Serving:

First make a layer of rice salad. You can also use a mould for this. Then top it with cabbage mayo.

Or, place the cabbage mayo at the centre of the plate surrounded by the rice salad.

Cabbage Mayo With Rice Salad

Try this cabbage mayo with rice salad and write in your experiences and suggestions via comments

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Cottage Cheese in Mint Gravy / Paneer Pudina / Rich And Creamy

This recipe is quite different and hence less commonly made. Being different doesn’t always mean that it would be difficult to make. Actually it is a very easy recipe.

Cottage Cheese in Mint Gravy / Paneer Pudina 

As the name suggests, the recipe calls for Mint (pudina). The fresh flavor and aroma of mint is something which makes it unique in its own way.

Firstly, we need to marinate the cottage cheese (paneer), and for that you would require mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chillies, ginger and garlic. Take mint and coriander in the same proportion.

To add some richness to the dish we would add some cashewnuts. To make the texture more creamy add curd to it.

The cottage cheese (paneer) should absorb this flavor and hence it has to be kept in this marinade for atleast 15 minutes. You would get a better idea if you watch the video given.

And the most important point to remember is that while mixing the paneer with other ingredients the flame has to be medium to low and mix it very gently else your paneer pieces would smash off.

Also, check and adjust the salt later, while cooking. For me, the salt in the marinade was enough, so I didn’t add later on.

Ingredients:

250 gms Cottage Cheese (paneer)

2 tbsp Butter

1 Onion (finely chopped)

1 tsp Coriander powder

1 tbsp Fresh Cream

½ cup Water

For Paste:

1 cup Mint leaves

1 cup Coriander leaves

2 Green chillies

½ inch Ginger

3 Garlic Cloves

¼ cup Cashewnuts

1 Tbsp Dry Mango Powder

¼ cup Curd

Salt

Method:

Grind mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chillies, ginger, garlic, cashewnuts, dry mango powder, curd and salt to paste.

all ingredients for making marinade

grimd to paste

Cut the cottage cheese (paneer) into approx 2 inch squares. Combine the cottage cheese (paneer) pieces with the marinade (paste). All the pieces should be coated with the marinade (paste). Keep it aside for 15 minutes.

add cottage cheese pieces

let it rest for 15 min

Heat butter and add onion to it. Saute it till translucent.

heat butter, add onion

saute till translucent

Then put in the marinated cottage cheese (paneer) pieces along with the marinade.


Mix it gently.

add cottage cheese (paneer)

Then add coriander powder, fresh cream and give it a gentle mix.

add coriander powder, fresh cream

mix well

Add some water to adjust the consistency of the gravy. Mix well.

add water

mix well

Cover it and let it simmer for 2 minutes.

simmer 2 min

Garnish it with coriander and serve hot.

garnish with coriander

It goes well with any Indian bread. I prefer Garlic Naan and some Jeera Rice.

Cottage Cheese in Mint Gravy / Paneer Pudina

Tips:

Check and adjust salt while cooking.

Cook on low to medium flame.

Add water according to the consistency required

Go food-a-cious with this very rich, creamy, aromatic restaurant style Cottage Cheese In Mint Gravy (Paneer Pudina) and do share your experience with us via comments.😊

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