Sweet-n-Sour Guava ladoo

So what do you do when the guavas get ripe lying in the fruit basket and no one wants to eat them at home? You either throw them or get down to "google down" some saviour. A post that I tracked - indeed a saviour that was.

Time required: An hour

Recipe courtesy: http://www.lovefoodeat.com/

INGREDIENTS:
Guavas

Sugar

Ghee

METHOD:

1) Wash the guavas well and cut into halves

2) Scoop out the inside of the guavas leaving the seeds aside (will tell you what to do with the seedy part later - creating suspense so that you scroll till the end ;))

3) Chop the deseeded guavas very roughly and cook for 10-15 minutes

4) Blend the cooked guavas into a smooth puree

5) In a pan, pour the puree, add sugar and cook over low flame (keep stirring) until it is hard and starts sticking to the bottom of the pan

6) Add ghee and stir more till you get a barfi/ fudge consistency

7) You can either spread it on a greased plate and cut them in diamond shapes once hardened. I found that slightly difficult so I rolled them into ladoos and coated them with dry coconut powder

Now - eat and serve and enjoy!

What to do with the seeds? Add ginger, salt, green chillies, coriander and make a tangy chutney to be savoured best with puris. :) 

Bread Tikki

Don't get misled by the image. No, it is not break served with tikkis (cutlets). What is it then? Find out on your own! :) 

Tikki (cutlet) is associated with aloo (potato) in India. Thus, one of the most favoured street foods/ chaat of India "Aloo tikki" (potato cutlet), which is savoured with sweet, sour and hot chutneys (sauces). My mouth is watering as I write this. :) 

Overview - Well! I have a slightly healthier version - bread tikki, equally delectable. So, get ready to fix a quick breakfast/ evening snack. Or may be captivate the imagination of your guest with just some leftover slices of bread in your refrigerator. Or get your kids to have a healthy snack without too much hassle.

Time required - Hardly any ;)

INGREDIENTS:

Slices of bread: 2 to 3

Vegetables: Of your choice - finely chopped or shredded (I had used cabbage, beans, carrot and some left over cooked potato and spinach curry, finely chopped onions, ginger, coriander leaves). Can add green peas, boiled and mashed potatoes, spring onions, capsicum, etc.

Cheese - grated: Optional (recommended if it is a rainy evening ;))

Spices: Salt, Roasted chilli flakes, Mixed herbs (alternatively add some jeera/ cumin seeds, ajwain/ carom seeds, basil, dhaniya/ coriander powder)

Semolina/ Sooji: for coating

METHOD:

Step 1:

a) Mix all the vegetables and spices
b) Soak the slices of bread (one slice at a time) in water and squeeze really well before adding it to the mixture and making a dough
c) Moisten your palms
d) Make the cutlets in any shape (flat or cylindrical)
e) Place some semolina in a plate and coat (a very thin coat) of the cutlets with semolina after which it should look like this - at this stage you can refrigerate it and follow the next steps just when you are ready to binge 
Tip: Careful with salt if you have added cheese. Squeeze out water from bread as much as possible

Step 2:
a) Heat a tava/ skillet/ nonstick pan

b) Grease it lighly

c) Place the cutlets on it for frying - something like this

d) Wait till golden on both sides

Tip: Fry on medium/ low flame for better cooked cutlets

Step 3: Bite into it while hot with any sauce of your choice. I prefer the Indian style - tomato sauce. Could also be enjoyed with some toast. 

But it is just perfect on a rainy evening - when you are in your own company with your favourite book and a cuppa and suddenly have a munching desire. Take my suggestion - grab a "Bread Tikki". Happy reading!