Garlic Chutney Recipe

This fiery red garlicky chutney can be a life-saver. It's a 3-ingredient recipe that takes very little time to make. And it can be stored for up to a month in the freezer.

Garlic Chutney Recipe

And there are so many uses of this chutney. Add it to pav bhaji (recipe here) while cooking after the tomatoes are done and before you add the potatoes. Use it as a topping for your ragda patties (recipe here). Add it as a spread to your frankie (recipe here). Mix it into your dal ke parathe (recipe here) dough for an extra zing! Or serve it as an accompaniment to your wada pav (recipe here), bhajiyas/ pakoras (recipe here) and cutlets (recipe here). 

Garlic Chutney Recipe

The uses of this 'wonder' chutney are only limited by your imagination! 

Garlic Chutney Recipe

Preparation Time: 40 minutes

Making Time: 5 minutes

Makes: about 1 cup of chutney

Ingredients:

20 dried whole red kashmiri chillies

2 cups warm water to soak

30-35 cloves of garlic

1 tsp corriander powder

2-3 tsps water to grind

Salt to taste

Method:

De-seed the kashmiri chillies. A trick to do this is to use a scissor, cut the top open and squeeze till the seeds all fall out.

Soak the deseeded chilles in the warm water for half an hour. Drain the water away.

In a grinder, grind together the soaked chillies, garlic, corriander powder and salt with a little water to form a smooth paste.

Store in a clean airtight container in the freezer.

Methi Na Thepla (Fresh Fenugreek Flatbreads) Recipe

After my wedding, I find myself getting closer to traditional Gujarati cooking. Firstly because hubby and aai-baba love it. And of course, because when I feel the (very rare) cravings for some simple Gujju food, my mom and maasis can't be around. 

Methi na Thepla (Fresh Fenugreek Flatbreads) Recipe

Any Gujju worth the name "Gujju" loves methi na thepla. These very lightly spiced fenugreek flatbreads are our go-to meal when in doubt! Pair them up with a potato sukhi bhaaji (recipe will be up soon) and some homemade chhundo (sweet grated mango pickle/ relish) and you've got yourself the ultimate Gujju meal!

Methi na Thepla (Fresh Fenugreek Flatbreads) Recipe

Thepla easily last for about a week without refrigeration, so they make for great travel food. My most fond memories of thepla are the heaps that my maasi used to carry for our overnight train journeys to Ahmedabad. Mom used to get her amazing chhundo and sukhi bhaaji and we'd have a fest having avoided the bland train food. Those meals are some of the best travel stories I have. 

Methi na Thepla (Fresh Fenugreek Flatbreads) Recipe

Methi Na Thepla (Fresh Fenugreek Flatbreads) Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 minutes per thepla

Makes: 10 theplas

Ingredients:

2 tbsps yoghurt 

2 tbsps sugar

1 cup packed fresh methi leaves (fenugreek)

2 cups whole wheat flour

4-5 garlic cloves crushed

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp red chilly powder

1 1/2- 2 cups water

Salt to taste

Whole wheat flour as required for dusting when rolling

Vegetable oil as required for roasting theplas

Method:

In a small bowl whisk together sugar and yoghurt till the sugar dissolves completely. A fork should be good enough to whisk it, you don't need a whisk for this!

In a large plate take the cleaned methi (fenugreek) leaves. Add the salt, turmeric, red chilly powder and the garlic cloves. Now add the prepared yoghurt and sugar mix. Mix all of these well with your fingers.

Add the whole wheat flour and mix this dry mixture again with your fingers.

Slowly start adding water and make a hard dough like the one for paranthas. Cover and rest it for 10 minutes. 

Heat a tawa/ flat griddle pan.

Make balls of the dough of about 2 inches in diameter. Dust with wheat flour and roll out a parantha. Keep dusting while rolling, as required.

Roast on the pan on both sides till half done without oil. Then brush oil and roast on both sides till done. 

Relish hot with chhundo, pickles, yoghurt, or even chutney!