Eggless Ravioli

International Vegetarian Main Course Special

Italian Cuisine

Eggless Ravioli

Serves

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour (Maida)- 1 Cup, Refined or White Flour can also be used

Semolina (Sooji)-  1 Cup

Tepid/Luke Warm Water- 225 Ml.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil- 10 Ml.

Salt- a Pinch

For the Filling:

Pumpkin- 250 Grams, Roasted with Salt Pepper & Olive Oil

Potatoes- 2 Medium, Baked/Boiled

Ginger- ½ Tsp., Minced

Chives- 1 Tsp., Finely Chopped

White Bread Crumbs- 1 Tbsp.

Ricotta Cheese- 1 Tbsp.

Mascarpone Cheese- 1 Tbsp.

Parmesan Cheese- 1 Tbsp., Freshly Grated

Thyme Leaves- A Few

Salt & Pepper- To Taste

For Tomato Sauce:

Fresh Roma Tomatoes- 3

Fresh Basil Leaves-3 to 4

Extra Virgin Olive Oil- 2 Tbsp.

Garlic- 2 Cloves, Smashed

Tomato Puree- 2-3 Tbsp.

Salt & Pepper- To Season

Method:

Mix Flour, Sooji, Salt, Olive Oil & Water to form a Semi Stiff Dough

Cover & let it Rest for 30-40 Minutes

For Filling:

Mash Pumpkin & Potatoes

Season it with Salt, Pepper, Chives, Ginger, Breadcrumbs, Ricotta, Mascarpone, & Parmesan Cheese

Mix all together Nicely & Let it Rest in the Fridge for a Few Minutes

Knead the Dough on a Floured Surface& Cut in Half

With Half the Dough, Roll Out till it is about 2 Cms. Thin

Use a Ravioli/Round Cutter to make the Outer Shell

Brush a Little Milk on the Ravioli Shells

Put the Filling in a Piping Bag or use a Spoon to put the Filling in the Pasta

Use Fingers to Fold the Pasta into a Crescent Shape

Make 6 Crescents & Let it Cool in the Refrigerator

For Tomato Sauce:

Blend Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, Red Chilli Flakes, Olive Oil & Salt into a Thick Paste

Pour the Sauce & Olive Oil in a Saucepan & Cook till Boiling Starts

In a Pot, Put Water & Salt & let it Boil

Add Ravioli in Boiling Salted Water & let it Cook for Few Minutes

Add these Ravioli Gently in the Tomato Sauce  

Serve Hot with Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Cracked Black Pepper & Basil Sprigs!

Tips:

Thanks to ‘Vicky Goes Veg’ for this Wonderful Vegetarian Ravioli, eating Vegetarian has become less  of a burden and more of being creative now :)

Feel free to share your views & do let us know how this one turned out :)

Bottle Gourd Gravy Cooked in Simple Spices (Tariwali Lauki/Lauki Jhol)

Indian Vegetarian Main Course Special 
Madhya Pradesh/Uttar Pradesh Cuisine

Bottle Gourd Gravy Cooked in Simple Spices (Tariwali Lauki/Lauki Jhol)

Serves 2

Ingredients:

Bottle Gourd (Lauki)- 200 Grams, Peeled & Cubed into ½ Inch Pieces

Ripe Roma Tomato- 1 Medium 

Extra Light Olive Oil/Olive Pomace Oil- 1 Tbsp.

Hing- a Pinch
Cumin Seeds (Jeera)- 1 Tsp.

Coriander Powder- 2 Tsp.
Red Chilli Powder (Kuti hui Lal Mirch)-  ½ Tsp.

Turmeric Powder (Haldi)- ½ Tsp.

Salt- To Taste

Fresh Coriander Leaves- 2 Tbsp., Finely Chopped

Method:

Wash, Roughly Chop & Puree Tomatoes in a Blender

Mix the Dry Masalas (Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder & Coriander Powder) with some Water & Keep Aside

Heat Oil in a Pressure Pan

Add Jeera & Sauté on Low Flame

Add Lauki & Sauté Well

Add the Dry Masalas (Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder & Salt)

Add the Tomato Puree & Mix Well

Add Water, Cover & Pressure Cook for about 1 Whistle

Remove from Heat & Check to see if Lauki is Soft

Garnish with Freshly Chopped Coriander Leaves

Serve Hot with Phulka, Dal Fry, Set Curd & Roasted Papad!

Tips:

Traditionally Mustard Oil is used 
Keeping the Tomato Skin is optional, so the Puree can be made without the Skin as Well through Blanching

Variations:

Feel free to share your views & do let us know how this one turned out :)

Twice Cooked Potatoes

International Vegetarian Main Course Special

Lebanese Cuisine

Twice Cooked Potatoes

Serves 2

Ingredients:

Potatoes- 2 Big, Boiled with Skin

Sweet Potatoes- 2 Medium, Boiled

Zaatar Spice Powder- a Pinch

Smoked Paprika- a Pinch

Cumin Powder (Jeera)- a Pinch

Organic Black Pepper- 1- ½ Tsp.

Salt & Pepper- To Season the Potatoes

Thyme- 2-3 Sprigs

Rosemary- 2-3 Sprigs

Olive Oil- 1- ½ Tbsp.

For Hummus:

Cooked Black Chana- 1 Cup

Garlic- 1 Clove Bashed

Hung Yoghurt- 1- ½ Tbsp.

Olive Oil- 1 Tbsp.

Tahini Sauce- 1 Tbsp.

Salt- To Taste

Apple Cider Vinegar- 1- ½ Tsp.

Method:

Slice the Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes into Wedges

Arrange them on a Tray, Season with Salt & Pepper

In a Bowl, Mix together the all the Dry Spices (Cumin Powder, Zaatar Spice Powder, Smoked Paprika, Salt & Freshly Cracked Black Pepper), Thyme, Rosemary & Olive Oil

Pour this Marinade over the Potatoes on the Tray & Mix Well

Bake these Potatoes in a Pre Heated Oven at 250 Degrees C for 10 Minutes

For Hummus:

Blend together all the Hummus Ingredients (Black Chana, Garlic, Hung Dahi, Olive Oil, Tahina, Apple Cider Vinegar & Salt) so that it forms a Thick Paste

Garnish with Smoked Paprika, Olive Oil & Cooked Black Chana

Alternative hummus is ready!

So Serve the Hummus Fresh with the Twice Cooked Potatoes  & Lavache (Crispy Bread Sticks) & Place in a Tall Glass!

 

Tips:

Thanks to the show 'Vicky Goes Veg' host Vicky Ratnani for being an Inspiration on this Exotic Dish!

Zataar Spice Powder is a Blend of Few Middle Eastern Spices & is mainly used in Syria and parts of Armenia and Turkey. It contains Oregano, Dried Thyme, Dried Sumac Berries, Dried Hyssop Herb & Sesame.

One of the Major Ingredients in Zataar is Dried Sumac Berries which is made from the Plant Berries of a plant called Rhus Coriaria which grows Wild in Mediterranean  & Middle East Regions. The Brick-Red Fruit is sold either as Whole Berries or Dried & Ground. Sumac has a Sour Acidic taste & it was once used for Soothing the Stomach. Presently, Sumac is mainly used as a Condiment for Sprinkling on Vegetables & Small Dishes on the table

Tahina (Sesame Seed Paste) is a Very Important ingredient in the Hummus and Lebanese Cuisine in general!

For more reference, check out Culinary Expert Padma Lakshmi's Site:

http://www.padmalakshmi.com/forum/thread/global-pantry-zaatar-powder-has-endless-possibilities

Variations:

Feel free to share your views & do let us know how this one turned out :)

Sugarfree Apple Cranberry Crumble

International Eggless Desserts Special
Sugarfree Apple Cranberry Crumble
Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

For Filling:

Butter- 50 Grams
Apples-  2, Washed, Peeled & Cut in Cubes
Cranberries- 100 Grams
Cinnamon Powder- 1/3 Tbsp.
Orange Juice- 1 Tbsp.

For Crumble:
Flour- 50 Grams
Butter-50 Grams
Sugarfree- 25 Grams
Almond Flakes- 50 Grams 
Toasted Oats (optional)

Method:
For Filling:
In a Big Non Stick Pot, Heat Butter, add Apples & Sweat these
Add Cinnamon, Cranberries, Orange Juice, Cook Covered on Low Flame till Half done or about 10 Minutes


For Crumble Mix:
Mix Flour, Butter, Sugarfree with hands to achieve a Bread Crumbs consistency
Add Almonds & Mix

Put the Apple Mix in a Small Baking Cups/Ramekins
Cover the Cup with the Crumble
Put the Cups in a Tray & keep to Bake 170 Degrees for 20-25 Minutes or till the Crust gets Golden
Serve Fresh, Dust with Sugar with Low Fat Cream!

Feel free to share your views & do let us know how this one turned out :)

Bottle Gourd Cooked with Potatoes (Lauki Aloo ki Sabzi)

Indian Vegetarian Main Course Special  
Madhya Pradesh/Uttar Pradesh Cuisine

Bottle Gourd  Cooked with Potatoes (Lauki Aloo ki Sabzi)

Serves 2

Ingredients:

Lauki- 200 gm, Cubed

Potatoes- 250 gm, Cubed

Extra Light Olive Oil/Olive Pomace Oil- 1 Tbsp.
Curry Leaves- 6-7  

Green Chilli- 1, Finely Chopped

Asafoetida (Hing)- 1/2 Tsp.

Turmeric Powder- 1 Tsp.

Cumin Seeds- 1 Tsp.

Coriander Powder- 2 Tsp.

Salt- To Taste

Fresh Coriander Leaves- 2 Tbsp., Finely Chopped

Method:

In a Wide Non Stick Pan, Heat Oil

Add Jeera, Hing, Curry Leaves, Green Chilli & Saute till the Seeds Crackle

Add the All the Dry Spices (Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder) & Mix well

Add Potatoes and Coat all the Pieces well with the Powdered Masalas

Add Lauki, Salt & Toss well

Garnish with Fresh Coriander Leaves

Feel free to share your views & do let us know how this one turned out :)