Punjabi Meal :Pindi Chole/Mutter Pattice/Mini Paneer Parathas/Lassi

This one is a quick combo meal for all those who love Punjabi food. Very easy to make with the ingredients readily available at home. What you need is just a little planning!!!Actually it is ideal for all those working ladies. It comes especially handy when you have to host some guests at home,or plan kids party!

The potatoes can be boiled, mashed and kept ready as also the green peas filling or better still you could make the pattice and keep it in the fridge. Similarly you can keep the boiled channa ready. Also the dough could be made in advance.

Pindi Chole:

Here I have tweeked the recipe and tried to simplify it. For all those who dont want to waste time making the masala just use the ready made one but then reduce the tamarind or the tomatoes as the masala has amchur powder in it. Also I have used tamarind pulp here instead of tomatoes. 

Ingredients:

1 cup        Chole chana
2              Onions
1 tsp        Tamarind pulp
1 tsp         Red Chilli powder
1/2 tsp      Turmeric powder
1 1/2 tsp    Namak Shamak
4 tsp         Oil

for the masala:

8 to 19      Garlic cloves
1 inch       Ginger
2 tsp         Coriander seeds
1 tsp         Cumin seeds 
10 to 12    Peppercorns
1 inch       Cinnamon stick
1              Big Cardamom (badi elaichi)
2 tsp         Dagadphool
5              Staranise
5 to 6       Cloves

Grind all these together using very little water.

Method:

 


Pressure cook the chole chana till tender. You can add a tea bag or make a small potli of tea leaves while cooking the chana. This is impart a nice flavour as well as colour to the chole.

 
Heat oil in a kadhai, add all the ground masala and saute till oil separates out.Now add the chopped onions and cook till tender. Add the haldi powder, chilli powder and salt. 

Remove the tea bag from the chole channa and add the chana to the masala. Let it boil for 5 mins. Now add the tamarind pulp. Cover and cook for 5 more mins.

Serve hot with coriander leaves.


Green peas stuffed pattice:

Since green peas are in season I decided to use them in the stuffing. The frozen peas can also be used. Also you can substitute the peas with corn.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup        Green Peas
5 to 6              Potatoes
3 to 4              Green chillies
1 tsp               Saunf
1/2 tsp             Jeera
1 tsp               Garam Masala
1 tsp               Coriander Powder
1 tsp               Namak Shamak
2 tsp               Cornflour
1/2 cup           Rawa
Oil for frying

Method:

Boil the potatoes, remove their skins and mash them till smooth. Add the cornflour and 1 tsp salt.

Prepare the filling by boiling the green peas with a little salt. Drain and grind coarsely along with the green chillies and saunf.

Heat about a tsp of oil in a non stick pan and the jeera and let it splutter add the ground peas, now add the garam masala, coriander powder and salt. Mix thoroughly. Keep aside to cool.

Take the potato mixture and make a katori out of it, fill the green peas filling and close it. Give the pattice a round shape. Coat the pattice with the rawa and shallow fry on a griddle on low flame till golden brown and crisp.


Plain Paneer Paratha:

Here I have kept the parathas spice free so that the flavour of the chole is not lost. The same dough can be used to make bhaturas. Just roll them and deep fry in hot oil.

Ingredients:

2 cup       Whole wheat atta
1 cup       Crumbled Paneer
1 tsp        Curd
1 tsp        Namak Shamak

Method:

Knead the dough using all the ingredients. Cover and keep aside for sometime.

Heat the gas oven tandoor. Roll out small parathas and cook in the tandoor till lightly browned.

Serve hot.

Lassi:

Here again I have made sweet lassi to counter the spiciness of the chole, but you can make salty one or even flavoured ones like pudina or rose.

Ingredients:

1 cup       Fresh curd
4 tsp        Sugar
1/2 tsp     Salt

Method:

Mix all the ingredients using a blender. Serve chilled.