INSTANT OASTS IDLI

I am fond of oats and love to try different recipes with oats for breakfast. I wanted to try instant oats idli for a long time. They looked very tempting to try. Here I used Quaker oats for my recipe and it works well, even saffola oats is also good. I just modified the quantity and a recipe a bit suit our taste and the result was soft, fluffy, smooth and tasty idlis. I am sure that you all also like the recipe and make it for breakfast when craving for idlis and need an instant idli recipe. I love this recipe so much and this tastes similar to the usual idli, but more healthy undoubtedly. I am a huge fan of idli and can have it any time of a day. Infact, I love Southy stuff like idlis, dosas, appams, idiyappam and medu vadas and tried many variations of it as per my convenience. Sometimes, hunger for idlis and forgot to soak the rice and dal to prepare the traditional idli batter and I get annoyed with myself. It’s easy, quick and healthy breakfast dish for all age groups. To make more healthy you may add fresh veggies in it which I have mentioned below in notes section. Oats idlis are great even for kids short break lunch box. So next time give a try to this instant oats idli and don’t forget to share the comments if you like the recipe.  

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Quick Cooking Oats [I used Qualer oats here for my recipe]

½ Cup Fine Sooji / Rawa / Samolina

½ Cup Fresh Curd [see notes]

Chopped Coriander

2-3 Chopped Green Chillies [see notes]

10-12 Curry Leaves, Chopped Finely

1 teaspoon Ginger, Chopped Finely

8-10 Cashews, Chopped

1-2 tablespoon Grated Coconut

½ teaspoon Crushed Black Pepper

A pinch of Asafoetida

Salt as per taste

½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds

½ teaspoon Mustard Seeds

½ teaspoon Split Black Gram [Urad Dal]

1 teaspoon Bengal Gram [Chana Dal]

1 teaspoon Eno / ½  teaspoon Baking Soda

1 tablespoon Oil

Water as per needed

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Take oats in a mixer grinder and blend/grind it to a fine powder/ flour.

STEP 2 – Heat a pan with oil and lets crackle the cumin-mustard seeds in it.

STEP 3 – Then add both the urad dal and chana dal in it and cook till golden brown.

STEP 4 – Add a pinch of asafoetida and chopped cashews in it. Then add curry leaves and chopped green chillies in it and cook for a minute.

STEP 5 – After that add rawa and stir it well for 2-3 minutes.

STEP 6 – Then add oats powder in it and stir very well. Keep on stirring often while roasting the flour.

STEP 7 – Roast it for about 4-5 minutes.

STEP 8 – Remove it in another bowl and add chopped coriander,salt and grated coconut in it. Let it cool completely.

STEP 9 – Now add curd and mix.

STEP 10 – Add water and stir well. You should have a medium consistency. Cover it and allow the batter to rest for 5-7 minutes.

STEP 11 – By that time, grease the idli moulds with some oil or ghee. Also heat water in the idli steamer.

STEP 12 – Then add eno / fruit salt in the batter and mix the batter quickly.

Now the batter becomes less fluffy and soft. Be quick in this step so that the eno is mixed evenly in the batter.

STEP 13 – Pour a ladle ful of batter in the idli moulds. [see notes]

STEP 14 – Place the moulds in the steamer and cover it and steam the idlis for about 10-15 minutes.

Taste with a toothpick, if the inserted toothpick comes out clean means idlis are ready.

STEP 15 – Allow the idlis to cool for 5 minutes. Then remove them with a spoon dipped in oil. Idlis are ready to serve.

Serve these piping hot, light, spongy and healthy idlis with coconut chutney or sambar or tangy tomato chutney.

NOTES: You can skip adding curd and add about 1/ 2-1 of the lemon Juic to get a slight sour taste.

You can add grated carrot, chopped french beans and steamed peas in this recipe to give more crunch to the idlis. If adding veggies then add them in Step No. 4.

 As the batter have eno in it, try to use the batter in one steaming.

PINEAPPLE CAKE

After trying my hands on so many simple cakes, I have been wanting to make a pineapple cake for quite some time. So here I am sharing my delicious eggless pineapple cake recipe and this can be served any time of the day and for any occasion. These days there is no celebrations without cakes. I have made basic vanilla cake in pressure cooker. Who says you can't make cake without oven?? You can make easily cakes in pressure cooker that too a crunchy exterior, soft and spongy from within.This recipe will help those who do not have OTG or oven in their kitchen. So baking cakes in pressure cooker is the other option. We loved the cake and hubby and daughters drooled over it ate almost double cake than everytime he eats demanding to make more such cakes. Infact they didn't realized that it is oven made or pressure cooker made. Here in my recipe I am going to share step-wise series for your better understanding. Always follow the instructions such as pre-heating of cooker, about using gastket/ whistle while baking cakes in cooker which I share in the end of the recipe.  So do try it and let me know how you like it and don't forget to read the recipe and my notes thorouhly before setting out to make this dessert. Celebrate any happy moments with your homemade pineapple cake or make it without any celebrations and enjoy.......!!
 

INGREDIENTS:

For cake:

170gms. All Purpose Flour /Maida

170gms. Powdered Sugar

70gms. Cake Constant Powder[see notes}

10ml. Cake Gel

250ml. Water [see notes]

20gms. Melted Butter

2-3 Drops Vanilla Essence

For assembling the cake:

15-20 pieces of Tinned Pineapple

1 Cup Sugar Syrup

1 Cup Pineapple Crush

1 Cup Whipping Cream
Cherries/ pineapple slice/ sprinkles for garnishing.
2-3 tablespoon Natural Glaze
2-3 Drops of Liquid Yellow Colour

For sugar Syrup :
1 Cup Luke Warm Water
2 tablespoon Sugar

METHOD:

Baking Cake:

STEP 1 – Take Maida, sugar, constant powder in the bowl. Add water to it and mix it well.

STEP 2 – Mix the batter with the beater and simultaneously add vanilla essence and melted butter to it. And mix it well for 2 minutes.

STEP 3 – Grease the mold with butter and put the butter paper in the pot.

STEP 4 – Lastly add cake gel and give a nice stir.
STEP 5 - Pour the batter in the pot and bake for 5 minute at high and then for 25 minutes on low flame. [see notes]
STEP 6 - Cool the cake in cooker for 5 minutes and then remove from cooker and demold the cake.
STEP 7 - Let it cool completely.

Make a sugar sryup:

STEP 1 - Mix sugar in water and dissolve completely. Sugar syrup is ready to use. keep this aside.

For Assembling :

STEP 1 – Cut the cake properly in three round slices.

STEP 2 – Then take one piece/ slice of cake and pour sugar syrup over it using a spoon..

STEP 3 – Generously spread whipping cream evenly over it.

STEP 4 – Then add pineapple crush over it.After that add pineapple pieces.

STEP 5 – Then repeat the same procedure with the second layer.

STEP 6 – Finally spread whipping cream over the top layer and from sides too.

STEP 7 – Fill the whipping cream in a piping bag and decorate the cake with flowers, leaves and sprinkles as per your liking designs.[see notes]
STEP 8 - Top it with some pieapple chunks or cherries. Cake is ready to serve.

Cut it into slice and enjoy.

NOTES: *You can add 1 teaspoon baking powder abd 1/2 teaspoon baking soda instead of cake constant.
              *Use water as required. Don't add whole water at a time. Add it slowly as required.
              *Garnishing is according to our choice.
              *Some important Points to remember while baking in a pressure cooker:
              *Use a good quality, heavy and thick bottomed 5-6 litre cluminium cooker.
              *Keep this cooker, only for baking only. Do not use this cooker for pressure cooking anything, as the metal weakens.
              *Remove the gastket [rubber ring] and the whistle from the cooker lid before you close the cooker with lide.
              *Cook on slow flame.
              *Before proceeding with the recipe, do check if the baking pan fits inside the pressure cooker.
              *This cake yields a small cake enough for a family of 3-4. 

Pre-heating of Pressure Cooker:
As we pre-heat in oven same manner we should pre-heat in cooker. How do we pre-heat in a cooker?? Just place the empty cooker on a medium heat with no whistle and no rubber gasket. Just cover the lid and let it pre-heat for 10 minutes. You might get some burnt smell but no worries. It is perfectly fine. Once the cooker is pre-heated place a seperator and with help of tongs place the cake pan over the stand.

EGGLESS VANILLA CUPCAKES

 
  

Vanilla cupcakes are the ultimate party food. I have made this recipe during Christmas but it so late to update the recipe. I am so sorry for the delay. This is very easy, quick and delicious cupcake recipe. To make it more interesting I added choco chips for the crunchiness. My family love this plan vanilla flavoured cupcakes, basic vanilla cakes. Because it goes with anything like Ice creams and all. For last many days, I have been making only Microwave mug cakes for them  and I think they get bored with it. So badly wanted me to bake a regular cake this time. So I quickly browsed and tried this eggless vanilla cupcake. This recipe uses simple ingredients. The cake raised beautifully and tasted great with moist, soft and spongy texture. I couldn’t feel it’s a no egg recipe. You can dare to try this recipe even if you are beginner in baking. To make them more attractive I added choco chips in this cakes. You can add chopped nuts oe even decorate the cake simple chocolate frosting or with whipping cream. A classic cupcake for all occasions!!! There is more fun decorating the cupcakes. There is nothing fancy about these eggless vanilla cupcakes. They are made with very basic ingredients which I am sure you must already have in your pantry. So what are you waiting for . Just get started with the recipe and surprise your family.

 INGREDIENTS:

2 Cups All Purpose Flour [Maida]
2 teaspoon Baking Powder

½ Cup Butter

½ Cup Sugar Powdered

1 Cup Milk

2 teaspoon Vanilla Essence

1/4 Cup Choco Chips[optional]

Muffin Molds

Whipping cream for garnishing

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Mix the flour, baking powder, butter and sugar.

STEP 2 – Add milk, vinegar, Vanilla essence and mix.

STEP 3 – Beat the batter with the help of beater till smooth.

STEP 4 – Transfer onto the greased molds.

STEP 5 – Bake in pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes. Insert a tooth pick in it, if it comes out clear then muffins are done. Cool in oven for 5 minutes.

STEP 6 – Remove from oven and demold them.

STEP 7 – Cool them completely and garnish with whipped cream and enjoy.

Serve the ready vanilla muffins to your dear ones and enjoy.