Am back from vacation friends and enjoyed thoroughly with my family...Its bit hard for me to come back home after having a great time there...I was bit lazy to blog and cook after having 15days of full rest..But my passion for blogging pulled me to post this easy breezy tandoori tofu,i prepared sterday with extra firm tofu chunks marinated with a home made tandoori paste and turned them super delicious by using microwave oven cooking..It took just 15minutes to get ready and we enjoyed having this delicious and spicy tandoori tofu after a long..This spicy tandoori tofu suits prefectly for a party menu, as an appetizier or either as a snack..Sending this spicy tandoori tofu bites to Global Kadai - Tofu guest hosted by Jaya Wagle, event started by Cilantro and Srivalli's MEC-Potluck Party& 365Days of Cooking..



2cups Extra firm tofu (cut as u desire)
1tsp Paprika powder

Enjoy hot or with any sauce..

Its has been a long i wanted to make out something with a combination of coriander leaves and mint leaves along with cubed tofus as a simple but spicy fritters as an appetizier..Finally i prepared this easy breezy tofu bites with coriander and mint stalks along with ginger, garlic, green chillies,chaat masala, cumin seeds, yogurt, salt and lemon juice..Wat all u need is to grind a grounded masala with those stalks and spices, in which cubed tofus are marinated for more than two hours or for overnite, i always prefer to prepare my marination always overnite..So that this marinated tofus are ready to get shallow fried or baked the next day, i went for shallow frying coz everyone at home wanted to taste this hara tofu cubes even before frying, so i choosed shallow frying as i wanted them to get ready with less minutes, u can also go for baking by preheating the oven to 350F, bake these cubes for 15-20minutes at 350F..These shallow fried tofu cubes tastes fabulous, spicy and we loved it.



250grms Extra firm Tofu (cubed or cut as any shape as u desire)
1cup Coriander leaves stalks (chopped)
1/4cup Mint leaves stalks (chopped)
1tsp Cumin seeds
2nos Green chillies
3nos Garlic cloves
1tsp Ginger (pieces)
3tbsp Yogurt
1/2tsp Lemon juice
1/2tsp Chaat masala
Salt
Oil

Grind the coriander stalks,mint stalks with cumin seeds, green chillies, garlic cloves, ginger, chaat masala, lemon juice and yogurt as fine paste, add this grounded paste to the cubed tofu, mix gently until the tofu cubes get well coated with the grounded green paste...let this cubed marinated tofu cubes sit either for 2 hrs or overnite in fridge..

Heat enough oil for shallow frying..drop gently the marinated tofu cubes to the hot oil, fry them on both sides until they turn golden brown, pick them with a toothpick and enjoy either with hot chilly sauce or with ketchup...

Needless to say about the health benefits of tofu, the famous soya cheese..Its quite a routine for me to get tofu packets whenever i go to nearby Chinese store, this time i was planning to make out something spicy at the same time as a side dish to enjoy along with rice..While going through Divya's space, i got hooked with this chilli tofu which sounds prefect for me to make out immediately with the extra firm tofu i bought...Its really very quick and easy to prepare, i prepared quite like a dry chilli tofu, while Divya went for a gravy like dish..Everyone at home liked this mildly spicy chilli tofu with rice and for dinner along with rotis..Healthy dish to enjoy even as a appetizier,definitely a feast for vegan lovers..I have added more bellpepper cubes and skipped the green chillies which i replaced with chilli sauce in my chilli tofu apart from that i didnt made any changes and followed exactly as like Divya went for this chilli tofu..



1cup Tofu cubes
1no Onion (big & cubed)
1tbsp Ginger garlic paste
3tbsp Tomato ketchup
2tbsp Soya sauce
2tbsp Chilli sauce (can decrease if needed)
2nos Green Bellpepper (cubed)
2tbsp Cornflour
Oil
Few Spring Onions (chopped)

Heat few drop of oil, fry the cubed tofu until they turns golden brown on both sides, keep aside...Heat enough oil in a pan, add the cubed onions and ginger garlic paste, saute until the onions turns transculent and the raw smell goes away, now add the cubed bellpeppers saute for few seconds, keep them crunchy..Add immediately the soya sauce, ketchup,chilli sauce and saute for a minute..finally add the tofu cubes, give a stir..make a thin sauce with cornflour and water, cook until the sauce get thickens..

Garnish with chopped spring onions and enjoy with rice, noodles or rotis..

Zunka is one of the famous Maharashtrian side dish made simply with onions, veggies and with besan flour..Earlier i have prepared zunka with okra, u can find here, this zunka is definitely a delicious and an easy side dish to enjoy along with rice dish or with rotis...This time i wanted to prepare as a fusion dish by adding some leftover tofu chunks which i marinated for half an hour with cumin seed powder,crushed ajwain seeds, chilly flakes, coriander powder with few tsp of oil and cooked them in microwave oven for 5 minutes in high and finally combined along with capsicum zunka...Both tofu and capsicum together works out wonder and this zunka was quite a hit at home, we enjoyed having this delicious, healthy side dish along with tomato pappu and finally prepared as wrap with some leftover zunka for our dinner...Will be posting the home made tortillas and the wrap in my next post, stay tuned friends..Sending this zunka to Global Kadai-Tofu guest hosted by Jaya Wagle, event by Cilantro..

We had a sunny saturday and few of our friends orangised bbq at our best friend's home..We enjoyed each and every grilled meats, few of our friends were vegetarian and vegan, I called my friends asking her wat she want me to prepare for our bbq party, finally she asked me to prepare this tandoori tofu kebabs specially for our vegetarian and vegan also i can get extra firm tofus easily as am living in Chinatown..As i prepared for vegan friends, i didnt add yogurt to make out this spicy tandoori tofu kebabs..With red onions chunks and green bellpeppers this kebabs was a big hit among our vegan friends and these kebabs vanished within few minutes...Quite an easy and spicy tandoori tofu prepared with paprika powder, olive oil, dry parsley leaves, pepper powder,ginger garlic paste,garam masala,red chilly powder..Delicious tofu kebabs going directly to Global Kadai-Tofu guest hosted by Jaya Wagle, event by Cilantro..

Nowadays am cooking many dishes with tofu and we are enjoying it....Before few months, tofu was one of the ingredients that everyone at home doesnt like to have but since i tried out with our Indian spices, even my H started liking this healthy soya paneer, one among those dishes is this tomato & tofu pulao, i prepared this as Sunday's special and served along with egg kurma, very easy rice dish to prepare quickly also at the same time this delicious pulao suits prefectly for lunch box menu, no need of grinding or making out any special spice powder to prepare this pulao,just with red chilly powder, cumin powder,coconut milk and garam masala powder this simple but tasty pulao gets ready within few minutes along with already cooked rice..Easy, simple, delicious as well as healthy pulao to enjoy without any hesitation, this pulao tastes divine when served with any raitas or simply with papads...Sending this healthy pulao to Global Kadai-Tofu guest hosted by Jaya Wagle, event by Cilantro..


2cups Cooked rice
1no Onion (chopped finely)
2nos Tomatoes (big & juicy,chopped)
1/2tsp Red chilly powder
1/2tsp Garam masala powder
1/2tsp Cumin seed powder
1/2cup Tofu chunks
2nos Green chillies (slit opened)
2nos Bay leaves & cloves
1/4cup Thick coconut milk
Salt
Oil
Coriander leaves (chopped)

Marinate the tofu chunks with red chilly powder, garam masala powder and cumin seed powder with enough salt and let them sit aside for half an hour...

Heat enough oil, fry the bayleaves & cloves, add immediately the chopped onions and slit opened green chillies, saute everything well until the onions turns transculent, now add the chopped tomato chunks and cook  until they turns mushy, add the marinated tofus and saute everything gently for few minutes, add the coconut milk , check for salt and add salt if needed, bring everything to boil and cook in high flame until the coconut milk get evaporates, add the already cooked rice to the tomato-tofu mixture, toss everything gently and finally add the chopped coriander leaves, put off the stove..

Serve hot with raitas, any spicy dish or simply with papads...

Soups are always welcome that to for dinner if the weather is too chilled and rainy, its raining too much and we are almost not able to go around coz of this chilled and nasty weather also i was bored to cook for dinner, yesterday i tried out making this hot and sour soup with tofu cubes and some leftover corn kernels for dinner through microwave oven, its turns really prefect, hot and fantastic...We enjoyed having this soup which suits increibly prefect for this rainy evenings and we loved it, this soup goes for simple ingredients and tastes too fantastic..Easy soup to prepare through microwave oven and also tasty soup to enjoy...This simple tofu soup goes directly to Sara's inbox as she is hosting this month's MEC-Soups, event by Srivalli...



1cup Tofu cubes
1/4cup Corn kernels
2cups Vegetable stock water
2tsp Soya sauce
1tsp Ginger(minced)
1tsp Garlic (minced)
1tsp Green chilli sauce
1/2tsp White vinegar
2tsp Tomato ketchup
1/4tsp White pepper powder
2cups Water
2tsp Corn flour
1tsp Green onions/garlic chives
Salt
Sesame Oil

Marinate the tofu cubes with soya sauce, ketchup,chilli sauce with few drops of sesame oil, let them sit for few minutes..Heat sesame oil in a microwave safe bowl in high for 2minutes, add the  garlic, ginger pieces and cook them for 3minutes in high, now add the marinated tofu cubes,corn kernels and cook again for 5 minutes in high..now add 2 cups of vegetable stock water, cook for 15minutes (stir in between twice) finally add the white vinegar n white pepper powder..

Mix enough water to the corn flour n make them as thin batter..add this batter to the cooking soup, cook for two more minutes in high, now the soup will be thick, garnish with green onions and serve hot..

Corn and tofu pulao, a superfast pulao to enjoy either for lunch or for dinner prepared with sweet corn kernels and tofu marinated with red chilly powder, garam masala powder, fennel seed powder,cumin powder and salt with some oil, cooked for few minutes in microwave oven finally cooked along with sweet corn kernels and already cooked rice...This pulao is really quick to prepare even with some leftover rice also, this corn and tofu pulao suits terribly for lunch box menu and corn gives a crunchiness to this pulao while tofu turns this pulao more delicious and yummy, u can also prepare this same dish with paneer cubes or soyabean nuggets to give a change instead of making out this dish with tofus..Then coming to the kurma, both pulao and kurma works out wonder and together we had a fantastic, filling, healthy and guilt free lunch..This kurma is prepared with a masala prepared with poppyseeds, fennel seeds grounded along with tomatoes,yogurt and coriander powder and its totally coconut free, a delicious kurma for everyone specially for dieting peoples and diabetic peoples to enjoy without any guilt...This kurma can also suits very well with rotis, parathas and also suits prefectly for simple breakfast dishes like idlies or dosas...Both this dishes goes directly to Pari's Combo Event, Siri's JFI-Fennel guest hosted by Siri, event by Indira..

1/2cup Corn kernels
3cups Cooked rice
1/2cup Tofu cubes
1no Onion(chopped finely)
1/4tsp Turmeric powder
1tsp Garam masala powder
1/2tsp Cumin seed powder
1/2tsp Fennel seed powder
1tsp Red chill powder
5nos Curry leaves
Salt
1tsp Cumin seeds
Oil

Marinate the tofu cubes with red chilly powder, salt, fennel seed powder, cumin seed powder, with salt and oil, let them sit for an hour..cook those marinated tofu cubes in microwave oven for 15minutes (stir twice in between) until they get well cooked..

Heat enough oil and fry the cumin seeds, add the chopped onions,curry leaves with enough salt (take care not to add more salt as the tofu cubes do have some salt already) and saute everything until the onions turns transculent, now add the corn kernels with turmeric powder, garam masala powder, cook everything in simmer for few minutes..finally add the already cooked tofu cubes and rice and toss everything gently, check for salt..

Serve hot!!


Coconut Free Potato & Green Peas Kurma:
2nos Potatoes
1cup Fresh or Frozen green peas
1no Onion (big & chopped)
2nos Whole spices
2tbsp Coriander leaves
Salt
Oil

To Grind:
1tbsp Poppy seeds
1tbsp Fennel seeds
1cup Yogurt
1no Tomato (big & chopped)
1tsp Garam masala powder
1tbsp Coriander seeds
1tsp Black peppercorns
2tbsp Roasted grams (pottukadalai)
2nos Green chillies

Dry fry the poppy seeds and fennel seeds until a nice aroma comes out from the seeds, take the fried seeds along with all the ingredients given in the list 'To Grind' and grind as fine paste without adding water..

Heat enough oil and fry the whole spices, add the chopped onions along with some salt and saute until the onions turns transculent, add the cubed potatos and green peas and saute for few minutes, finally add the grounded paste and saute everything in simmer..finally add enough water to turn them as gravy, bring them oil and cook until the veggies get well cooked, add the coriander leaves and put off the stove..


Serve this kurma along with warm corn & tofu pulao!! enjoy!! Am sending this both dishes to RV & Sudeshna's FFSL-Tiffin Box..

My baking adventures with brown rice flour continues, yeah am enjoying making out few delicious bakes with brown rice flour since from few days, personnally i love the bakes with brown rice flour now and u know wat the 2kgs of brown rice flour which i bought from the organic shop is almost getting finished, today i prepared this vegan dry fruits and chocolate cookies with silken tofu mixed along with dry fruits, my choice of dry fruits went for cranberries, raisins,chopped apricots chunks, few dates, prepared along with brown rice flour, almond powder,chocolate powder and all purpose flour for our evening snacks...Do you believe tat these cookies vanished quickly once i finished baking, with this given measurements i got 25 medium sized cookies and its definitely a guilt free snacks to enjoy anytime, obviously these cookies were really soft, moist and tastes delicious with those dry fruits chunks...Needless to say that this beautiful vegan cookies goes directly to Madhuram's inbox as she is hosting her baking event Whole Grain Baking Event-Rice & to Yasmeen Bitter Better Foods


1+1/2cups Brown rice flour
1/2cup Almond powder
1/2cup All purpose flour
1cup Silken tofu
3/4cup Sugar
1tsp Baking powder
1/2tsp Baking soda
1/4cup Dark chocolate powder(70%cacao)
1/2cup Dry fruits (raisins,dates, apricots&cranberries)
2tbsp Canola oil

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet over a baking tray...Grind the sugar as fine powder, add the silken tofu and oil to the powdered sugar and turn everything as a paste...take this paste in a bowl, meanwhile mix the brown rice flour, almond powder, all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate powder, dry fruits in an another bowl and add gradually the dry ingredients to the sugar-tofu paste, turn everything as a soft and slightly sticky dough with a wooden spatula, dont overmix..Take a small ball from the cookies dough and flatten them , arrange them over the lined baking sheet..before baking, just press the uncooked cookies with a fork and bake them in middle rack for 20-25minutes..

Let them cool and enjoy this guilt free chocolate cookies for snacks or for breakfast with a cup of milk...

Pekinese soup, delicious and easy soup which goes for tofu chunks,bamboo shoots and with some pieces of lotus stems..I prepared this soup as vegetarian version by avoiding completely thinly sliced chicken chunks which is used usually in this soup by replacing with some pieces of lotus steams..I had this soup twice in chinese restaurant and i got completely hooked with this delicious hot and slightly sour soup which tastes fantastic when served hot for a chilled evening dinner, a prefect soup for winter season..This soup is really nourishing, filling and tastes fantastic with crunchy bamboo shoots..Its really very simple to prepare and this soup needs hardly few ingredients to prepare, the most important ingredients to make out this soup is dark soya sauce and red chilli sauce without this two ingredients, its kinda hard to prepare this soup, personnally i felt corn starch turn out this soup much thicker than the corn flour, so i recommand to use corn starch which is quite availabale in chinese stores, in case if its hard to find out corn starch u can definitely used corn flour...We had this delicious soup sterday for our dinner, enjoyed having this pekinese soup..This delicious soup goes to Usha's Healthy Inspiration Event - Soups..


1cup Firm tofu (cubed)
1/2cup Canned bamboo shoots( i used the thin lengthwise slices)
10nos Lotus stem (frozen)
5nos Garlic(minced)
1inch Ginger (minced)
3cups Vegetable broth
2tbsp Dark Soya sauce
1tbsp Rice vinegar
2tbsp Red chilly sauce (adjust as per ur taste)
2tbsp Sesame oil
2tbsp Corn starch or corn flour(i used corn starch)
1/4tsp White pepper powder
Green Onions for garnishing
Salt

Marinate the tofu pieces with half a teaspoon of dark soya sauce and a teaspoon of sesame oil and keep aside atleast for few minutes...Heat the remaining oil, fry the minced ginger and minced garlic until they turns brown, add immediately the bamboo shoots and lotus stems and cook for few minutes, now add the already marinated tofu chunks and cook everything again for 5 minutes...meanwhile add the remaining dark soya sauce,salt as per need, rice vinegar, red chilly sauce to the vegetable broth, give a stir and add this vegetable broth to the veggies, cook everything for 10-15minutes in simmer...make a thin white sauce by adding water to the corn starch..add this white sauce to the cooking soup and stir until they turns thick..finally add the white pepper powder and garnish the soup with green onions...

Serve this pekinese soup immediately !!!