October 14, 2006

Puri-Bhaji/ Fried Bread with Mashed Potatoes.


Our weekend breakfast, brunch or early lunch...Puri Bhaji is my easy, no frills yet feel good meal. I like to make this but prefer eating the puris with bananas mashed in sweetened milk. A remnant of my childhood habits. Hot fried puris, straight of the flame is definitely comfort food. Here, with me rolling and frying,(and photographing now),I tend to get them not as hot.(But I start eating one rolled up with sugar, while the others are being produced.)

I know a lot of people like to eat it with Aam Ras(mango pulp), but a simple gingery potato or banana milk is my favorite combination. The excessive ginger in this recipe is supposed to relieve the indigestion produced by potatoes. Optionally, add a couple of cherry tomatoes along with the potatoes.

You'll need: For about 10-12 puris
Whole wheat flour- 1 1/2 cups
Water- ¾ cup more or less.
Oil -1 tbsp
Salt-to taste
Oil for Frying-1-2 cups

Preparation:
1. Add salt and oil to the flour and make it crumbly. Add water a bit at a time to make dough. Knead well for about 5 minutes till everything comes together.The dough should be smooth but medium hard in texture. Knead it well to make a smooth roll. Cover with a plastic wrap and keep aside for 15 minutes. Divide into even sized balls...about the size of a very small lemon.

Roll it out to a small circle and fry it. Do not roll out more than 2-3 at a time as it hardens if it is not fried immediately. Heat oil in a wok/kadai/cheenachatti/ and when it is hot, slide one puri in from the side. Press down with the slotted spoon to allow it rise completely and then turn over and cook the other side till golden flecks appear on both sides. Remove and drain onto paper towels.

P.S: Do not roll it out too thin. Test the temperature by dropping a speck of dough in the oil and seeing how fast it comes up. The heat should be medium hot consistently.

Potato Bhaji
Potatoes-2 big ones diced into small pieces.
Onion-1 cup chopped coarsely
Green Chilies-6-7 chopped.
Ginger- 1 inch piece, chopped finely
Turmeric-1/2 tsp
Salt-3/4 tsp or to taste
Curry leaves- 1 sprig.
Mustard Seeds- ½ tsp
Oil-2 tbsp
Preparation:
Heat the oil in a heavy pan. After a minute, lower the heat and add the mustard seeds and cover till it finishes spluttering. Keep a safe distance if uncovered. Now add the curry leaves, and onions, green chilies and ginger.

Stir fry for a minute and then add the potato cubes, turmeric and salt. Add 1 cup water (enough to submerge the potatoes), and let it come to a boil. Now cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Open and add more water if the potatoes are not cooked. When the potatoes are cooked, mash them with a potato masher or the back of a spoon. Check seasoning.
Serve hot with the puris.
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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

So true I too like to have it with sugar hot hot... Your pooris look yum yum .

archana said...

What a beautiful photo,i just love puri-bhaji. I used to eat puris with sugar dusted all over. How do you make your banana milk for puris? Thank you for the recipe.

g said...

Great post. And good reading list too. G

Priya Bhaskaran said...

Hey Shaheen, wow nice pictures... I make almost the same way-- I add 1/4 tsp of baking powder to the flour :)

Shah cooks said...

Veggie Delight:Good to know I am not the only eccentric one.

Archana:Thanks! Banana milk.. is so simple. Squish a regular ripe banana into a a cup of milk and sweeten with 1-2 tsp of sugar and a pinch of crushed Elaichi.

G:Thanks..,let me know if you have read any of them.

Priya: Maybe I should add a pinch of baking powder.. is it to make it rise or to make it soft?

FH said...

My fav combo!! Yummy!! Thank you!

Are you getting ALL THE Diwali goodies, Shaheen?!:))Mine comes on Thursday!! Have fun!

Anonymous said...

Really nice looking puris and the alu bhaji looks so good.I love to eat puris with aam raas and alu bhaji, Heaven on a plate indeed.

Cheers,TRS

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, thanks so much for sharing. I have yet to venture into homemade puri-- you have convinced me I must do it.

indosungod said...

Shaheen, my daughter likes pooris with sugar, infact that is what gets her excited about pooris and must confess so do I. Poori/ bhaji great combo any day

Maneka Nirmal said...

Nirmal likes to have pooris as it is when they come out of the oil. I rather prefer them to eat with bhaji/dhal than having them plain. The photo is just nice shaheen..

Anonymous said...

Lovely picture Shaheen. I love hot puris :).

Rajesh &Shankari said...

hmm..love poori and potatoes. I have to have one poori with sugar, one with yogurt and the rest with potato bhaji. Lovely picture

Shah cooks said...

Asha: Diwali sweets.. no not yet..

Trupti: It is a delicious combination!

Stepahnie: If you can make pastry dough, you can make puris.. Do try it.

Indo:I agree with your daughter... puri with sugar.

Shah cooks said...

Maneka:Puri with dhal?how is that?

Shilpa:Thanks a lot.Did you post a puri recipe recently?

Shankari: One with this and one with that.. whats left for bhaji:)

Unknown said...

Hi Shaheen,
Your recipes are very much inspiring. And nice photography too. Do you take the pictures yourself?

It would be great if you could post the recipe and preparation method of Alisa or meat porridge.

Gattina Cheung said...

The food items are beautifully arranged! Definitely a feast to both tummy and eye!

Krithika said...

Puri bhaji looks delicious !

Priya Bhaskaran said...

Shaheen, it makes the puri fluffy and helps to rise:)

Shah cooks said...

Shameem:Yep, the photos are mine..:)Coincidentally I amde Alisa this weekend and was wondering whether to post it or not. Will do so now.

Gattina: u are kind..thanks.Try making it.. u will like the mustard and potato combination.

Krithika:Thanks..
Priya:Nice of u to respond back. My puris rise well, but let me try with baking powder next time..

Unknown said...

First time here,came thru your comment in mine.Just made poori-bhaji yesterday.I add little bit of rava while making poori dough, helps making it crisp.

Shabs.. said...

hello shaheen....how are u?...
Oru vivaravum illallo..hope u r doing great...Was just browsing thru recipes for bhaji for referring and came here:)...