Kachori for ICC

This month’s challenge for ICC was Kachori.And this was challenging for me in many ways!!!

I have tasted kachori years ago and can hardly remember it.It was snowing since morning yesterday and that’s when I realized I still hadn’t finished [or to say, started with] the challenge!All I wanted to do was to stand by the window and watch the snowfall .But I knew that it would not be possible as I had to prepare kachori and click it as soon as possible as the light was fading out as early as 12pm! I also had to prepare lunch for my family and so took the challenge side by side.

Kachori is a a savory snack native to North India,especially Punjab,Rajastan and Gujarat. It can also can be found in our neighboring country Pakistan.

There is also a sweet variety that is prepared during fasting but the one we took up as challenge this month is the savory one.

We were given 3 types of fillings and I prepared 2.The procedure for all three is given below. My notes are at the end.

The dough is the same for all the fillings.

Kachoris

Adapted from Medhaa's Aunty and Tarla Dalal

Resting Time for the Dough is app 1/2 hr - 1 hr

Frying time for the Kachoris - 20 mins for each batch app.

Soaking Time for the Filling is app. 1 hr

Cooking Time for the Filling is app 15 mins

Yields - 15

For the Dough Ingredients Needed:

All purpose flour / Maida - 2 cups

Oil/ Ghee - 1/4 cup ,

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Water for kneading

Method

1. Mix the flour and salt, Add the oil/ghee and mix till you get a bread crumbs texture.

2. Slowly add water and make a soft dough. Knead well for about 8 minutes.

3. Cover and keep aside to rest for atleast half hour.

Special Tips / Notes for the dough:

1. Keep the dough covered at all times, if not it will dry up and not puff up when frying. If the dough is made right wet cloth can be used if not just a towel.

2. The dough could spring back for many reasons:

Dough is too cold (If wet cloth is used)

Dough is not soft enough.

Not kneaded for enough time.

Oil is less.

Not rested enough.

Fillings Khasta Kachori - Moong Dal Kachori

Ingredients Needed:

Split Moong Dal (yellow) - 1/2 cup

Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp

Hing / Asafoetida - a pinch

Curry Leaves - 2 tsp chopped fine (opt)

Green Chilli - Ginger paste - 1 tsp

Sauf / Fennel seeds powder - 1 tsp

Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp

Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Mango powder / Amchur - 1 tsp

Oil - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Method

1. Wash and soak dal in water for atleast 1 hour. You can go upto 4 hours not more.

2. Drain the water well.

3. Grind the dal to a coarsely. (Will resemble Idli Rawa)

4. Heat oil in a pan.

5. Add the hing and cumin seeds.

6. Once the seeds splutter add the curry leaves.

7. Add the dal.

8. Lower the heat and keep stirring for 5 minutes till the dal stops sticking to the pan.

9. Cook for another 10 minutes on low till the dal turns slightly brown.

10. Add all the masalas.

11. Cook for few minutes till the aroma of the spices hit you.

12. Add Salt.

13. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.

Special Tips / Notes for the filling:

* The fillings have to be really dry if not when rolling they will ooze out..

* Adjust the masalas according to your taste. What is given in this recipe is spicy to the extent one can still enjoy.

* For idea on pressing the filled kachori, check out Manjula's method. If you try to press out using a rolling pin, the filling may come out and make holes in the kachori.

* Fry the kachori's on medium low to get a crisp outer layer, that is the key. For people using electric stove, the numbers can be going from 6 to 4.

Muttar Ki Kachori from Tarla Dalal: For green pea filling

2 cups green peas

1 teaspoon green chillies, chopped

1 teaspoon ginger, grated

1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)

2 teaspoons fennel seeds (saunf)

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon chilli powder

1 teaspoon garam masala

4 tablespoons chopped coriander

2 tablespoons oil

salt

For the green pea filling

1. Coarsely grind the green peas,green chillies and ginger in a blender without using any water. Keep aside.

2. Heat the oil in a pan,add the nigella seeds,fennel seeds,bay leaves and ground green pea mixture and saute over a very slow flame for 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Add the chilli powder,garam masala,coriander and salt and saute for 2 more minutes.

4.Remove the bay leaves and discard. Divide into 12 equal portions.

To Make Kachori's

1. Make a small ball from the dough. Roll out into a 2 inch diameter circle. Or flatten the ball using your fingers having the center thick and sides little thin.

2. Place about 1.5 tsp of the filling in the center of the rolled dough.

3. Cover the filling with the dough by slowly stretching it over the filling. Seal the ends and remove excess dough. Repeat with all the balls and keep aside for 5 -7 mins.

4. Then using your palm, flatten the balls by lightly pressing it, as using the rolling pin will make the filling come out. (See notes below).

Keep aside covered. Repeat with the remaining dough.

5. Meanwhile heat some oil for deep frying. The oil should not become smoking hot. Test to see if the temperature is right by dropping a tiny ball of dough and see if it is rising slowly to the top.

6. Drop the kachoris in batches of 3-4 gently into the oil. It should rise up slowly. If you don't want to use lot of oil, use just enough for two or three at a time and fry them.

7. After it rises up (about 2 minutes), turn it over.

8. Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes till the side down gets a golden brown color.

9. Turn and cook the other side for another 6 minutes or till its golden brown in color.

10. Remove when done, cool and store in airtight container.

11. Serve with coriander chutney and tamarind chutney

Muttar ki kachori served with tomato sauce

Pyaz Ki Kachori

For the onion filling

2 cups onions, finely chopped

1 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)

2 teaspoons fennel seeds (saunf)

2 bay leaves

1½ teaspoons green chillies, finely chopped

2 tablespoons Bengal gram flour (besan)

2 teaspoons coriander (dhania) powder

2 teaspoons chilli powder

1 teaspoon garam masala

3 tablespoons chopped coriander

2 tablespoons oil

salt to taste

To make the onion filling

1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the nigella seeds, fennel seeds, bay leaves, green chillies and onions and sauté till the onions turn light brown in colour.

2. Add the gram flour, coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala and salt and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add the chopped coriander and mix well. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Allow the mixture to cool completely.

4. Divide into 12 equal portions and keep aside.

To Make Kachori's

1. Make a small ball from the dough. Roll out into a 2 inch diameter circle. Or flatten the ball using your fingers having the center thick and sides little thin.

2. Place about 1.5 tsp of the filling in the center of the rolled dough.

3. Cover the filling with the dough by slowly stretching it over the filling. Seal the ends and remove excess dough. Repeat with all the balls and keep aside for 5 -7 mins.

4. Then using your palm, flatten the balls by lightly pressing it, as using the rolling pin will make the filling come out. (See notes below). Keep aside covered. Repeat with the remaining dough.

5. Meanwhile heat some oil for deep frying. The oil should not become smoking hot. Test to see if the temperature is right by dropping a tiny ball of dough and see if it is rising slowly to the top.

6. Drop the kachoris in batches of 3-4 gently into the oil. It should rise up slowly. If you don't want to use lot of oil, use just enough for two or three at a time and fry them.

7. After it rises up (about 2 minutes), turn it over.

8. Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes till the side down gets a golden brown color.

9. Turn and cook the other side for another 6 minutes or till its golden brown in color.

10. Remove when done, cool and store in airtight container.

11. Serve with coriander chutney and tamarind chutney

Special Tips / Notes for making the Kachoris:

* You can fry 3 kachori's at a time.

* The oil should be at a heat when you drop some dough it should come up slowly, if the dough comes up too fast the oil is too hot, if it does not come up then the oil is cold.

* It will not be crisp if the oil is too hot.

My notes:

1. I halved the recipe and adjusted the filling ingredients accordingly.

2. The recipe said we could use ghee / oil for the dough and I used oil.

3. I could not get nigella seeds so omitted them and did not replace them with any other ingredient.

4. The dough obtained a very good texture as it was kneaded for 10 minutes. I let it rest more than an hour.

5. Apart from these, I followed the above procedure and the result was amazing!!!

6.Care has to be taken when flattening the stuffed kachori.If it is uneven the 'doughy' portion tends to be soft and not crisp.

On the whole, though the method looked to lengthy, it was fairly simple to prepare. The shape of the kachori can be mastered after preparing a few. But when you take a bite, the shape actually does not matter.

Will I be making this again? Of course!!!!It was a great snack to have with tea on the snowy evening!!!!