Bruschetta - Italian Appetizer

Main Ingredient:
12 slices of Italian Bread or Baguette

Ingredients for Topping:
4 tomatoes finely chopped
3 mix color bell pepper finely chopped
1/4 cup cheese cubes (Kiri)
2tbsn sliced black olives
2tbsn sliced green olives
4 cloves fresh garlic finely crushed
1 cup basil leaves
4tbsn olive oil
2 tsp + 2tsp dried oregano
Shredded boil chicken 250gm
Salt as per taste
1 tsp White pepper powder
Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Ingredients for Green Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil leaves
8 cloves roasted garlic
1/2 cup roasted groundnuts
1 tbsn lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
10 green chilli
Salt as per taste
2 tsp white pepper powder
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Method of making Green Pesto:
Combine the basil, garlic, groundnuts, lemon juice & green chilli in a food processor & pulse until coarsely ground. Add 1/4 cup of oil & process until fully incorporated & smooth. Season with salt & pepper. Add the remaining oil, cheese & pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a serving bowl.

Fresh basil pesto is ready. Taste and see if it needs more pepper & salt and add as needed. Remember that the Parmesan cheese will add some saltiness too, so go light on salt in begining, you can always add more as needed.

Method of making Bruschetta:

• Preheat oven to 250 degree centigrade.
• Combine chicken, tomato, bell pepper, onion, garlic, green & black olives, cheese cubes, basil, oregano, olive oil, salt & pepper to taste in a bowl and mix nicely.
• Spread the green pesto on each bread slice and top with chicken mixture and garnish with grated mozzarella cheese and sprinkle oregano & chilli flakes.
• Now arrange the slices in a baking tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes till you see cheese is melted and slice is golden brown. Serve immediately & enjoy ....

Note: although Italian's Bruschetta is not much spicy but we have given an Indian touch by adding Laungi Green Chilli.

Paneer Papad Kurkure

Ingredients:

Urad dal papads crushed lightly
8 medium
Cottage cheese (paneer) cut into thick fingers 400 grams
Gram flour (besan) 1/2 cup
Rice flour 2 tablespoons
Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder a pinch
Coriander powder 1 teaspoon
Cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon
Carom seeds (ajwain) 1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Soda bi carbonate a pinch ,( opt)
Chaat masala 1 teaspoon
Thick green chutney 2 tablespoons
Schezwan Chutney 2 Tablespoons
Oil for deep-frying

Method:

Mix together gram flour, rice flour, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, carom seeds and salt in a bowl. Add sufficient water and whisk to make a thick smooth and batter.

Add soda bi carbonate and half teaspoon chaat masala and mix well. Rest the batter for ten minutes.

Apply green & schezwan chutney on one side of the cottage cheese fingers and cover with another finger.

Spread the crushed papads evenly on a plate.

Heat sufficient oil in a kadai. Dip the cottage cheese pieces in the batter and roll in the crushed papads. Gently slide into hot oil and deep-fry in medium hot oil till golden. Drain on absorbent paper. Sprinkle remaining chaat masala on top.

Arrange them on a serving plate and serve hot with tomato ketchup or a chutney of your choice....

Chilli Chicken Strip

Ingredients (Marination for Chicken):
Boneless Chicken Breast 500 Grams
Garlic 1 tsp
Ginger 1 tsp
Green Chilli Paste 2 tsp
Crushed Red Chilli 1 tsp
Chaat Masala 1 tsp
Salt as per taste

Ingredients (Coating for Chicken):
Egg 4
Black Pepper 1 tsp
Crushed Red Chilli 1 tsp
Salt as per taste
Bread Crumbs 2 cups

Oil for frying

Method:
Firstly clean the chicken and half boil the same with little salt. When done allow the chicken to cool down and then cut into small strips. Now take chicken strips in a bowl and add all marination ingredients and mix well and keep for 1 hour.
Now for coating beat all 4 eggs along with salt, black pepper & crushed red chilli. Now take each chicken strip and dip in egg and then roll it on bread crumbs and again dip in a egg and again roll in a bread crumbs and press between your palm so that all bread crumbs are pressed properly on strip and do all the strips like this and keep the same in freezer for atleast 30 to 60 minutes. Later on heat the oil in a karahi on medium heat and fry the stips till it is in golden color and serve hot with a schezwan chutney and french fries .....

Note: incase you want it to make it more crispy then you can use corn flakes after dipping strips in egg second time instead of bread crumbs.