September 23, 20:00Aaj Tak

Master Chef Pankaj Bhadauria shares five unusual ways to use a sandwich maker

Sandwich makers are widely used in modern kitchens, allowing for the quick preparation of sandwiches filled with potatoes, cheese, or vegetables. However, many appliances often remain unused in the cupboard because people are accustomed to using them only for making sandwiches.

Experts note that a sandwich maker can be used much more creatively than just for grilling sandwiches. With a smart approach to using this small kitchen appliance, one can prepare many dishes without needing to take out separate pans or grills. Master Chef Pankaj Bhadauria shared several such clever ways to use a sandwich maker.

Ways to Use a Sandwich Maker

Firstly, the device is suitable for baking stuffed vegetables. You can make incisions in eggplant, zucchini, or bitter melon, fill them with your favorite spices, brush them with a little mustard oil, and bake them in the sandwich maker. This allows you to get vegetables that are crispy on the outside and aromatic inside, without requiring a large amount of oil in a pot.

Secondly, the sandwich maker can replace a tandoor for preparing chicken skewers made from cheese or soy meat. If you want to eat paneer tikka or soy chap at home, you just need to marinate the cheese or soy meat in yogurt and spices. Then, by threading them onto skewers, you can cook them in a lightly oiled sandwich maker so that they cook thoroughly and acquire the taste of grilled meat.

Thirdly, besides savory dishes, it can be used to prepare sweet snacks, such as crispy waffles. For this, you need to prepare dough from flour, milk, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla extract. After brushing the sandwich maker with a little oil, you can bake the dough and then serve the waffles with fruits and cream.

The fourth method is making crispy potato hash browns. You need to grate the potatoes and thoroughly remove excess liquid. Then, salt, black pepper, a little butter, and cornstarch are added to the grated potatoes. Small patties are formed from this mixture and then baked in the sandwich maker until golden brown, achieving a crispy exterior texture and a soft interior.

Finally, the sandwich maker simplifies the process of making stuffed paratha. Instead of spending time frying paratha in a pan, you can wrap the filling in dough, brush the sandwich maker with oil or ghee, and press the paratha. This allows the paratha to cook evenly on both sides and become very crispy, which can be served with yogurt, pickles, or chutney.

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 23, 08:28

Using an Idli Mold for Cooking: 6 Unobvious Ways to Use the Kitchen Gadget

Many home kitchens contain items that are used for only one specific task for years, such as sandwich makers or multi-cookers. The idli mold also belongs to such items. In most homes, it is used exclusively for making idli by placing batter into molds and steaming. However, if this mold is used more thoughtfully, you can prepare idiyappam, dhokla, healthy vegetable pakoras, and even mango sweets. This eliminates the need to take out different cookware or buy a new steamer for every small dish.

Below are six ways to use an idli mold that 99% of people might not know about.

Making Mango Modaks instead of Idli: You can make mango modaks in an idli mold. If you have ripe mangoes and some leftover rice at home, you can prepare a special type of sweet. To do this, mix pureed ripe mango, leftover rice, gur (jaggery syrup), rice flour, and cardamom powder to form a soft dough. Then, shape it into modaks and place them on a greased idli mold, steaming for about 8 minutes. This results in soft and aromatic modaks, and this method applies to all types of modaks.
Making Soft Idiyappam in an Idli Mold: The idli mold is also suitable for making idiyappam, which is rice noodles. For this, knead a soft dough by adding hot water and a little oil to the flour. Then, press the dough into an idiyappam press and gently press it onto the greased idli mold, steaming for about 10 minutes. Hot idiyappam can be served with vegetable sambar.
Making Healthy Steamed Vegetable Pakoras Instead of Deep Frying: If you want pakoras but need to minimize oil consumption, the idli mold can help. Finely chop cabbage, potatoes, onions, and bell peppers, then mix them with chickpea flour, rice flour, and spices. First, steam this mixture in the idli mold. Afterward, you can lightly fry them in a pan to give them a crispy crust. This method eliminates the need for deep frying the pakoras in oil.
Making Fluffy Dhokla in an Idli Mold: The idli mold is also perfect for making dhokla. You need to prepare a batter by mixing chickpea flour, dry rice semolina, yogurt, lemon juice, and spices, and then pour it into a greased idli mold. Steaming takes about 15 minutes. When finished, top it with a hot tempering of cumin seeds and green chilies, and garnish with cilantro, resulting in small, soft, and fluffy dhoklas.
Steaming Vegetables: The idli mold can be used to steam vegetables. This allows you to easily steam vegetables, eliminating the need for a separate steamer.
Making Momos: Momos are loved by both adults and children, and many are now making them at home. Since momos are steamed, the idli mold simplifies this process. You can steam momos directly in this mold.

Thus, next time you take out your idli mold, do not limit yourself to making only idli. This simple kitchen appliance, designed for steaming, can simplify many tasks in the home kitchen, especially for those who prefer cooking with minimal oil and maximizing the use of existing kitchen utensils.

www.aajtak.inSeptember 12, 07:55

Yogurt and Cheese Sandwich Recipe: Chef Kunal Shares a Quick Breakfast Idea

Chef Kunal Kapur shared a recipe for a yogurt and cheese sandwich that is perfect for breakfast or an evening snack. This option appeals to everyone, from children to adults, and it is very quick to prepare.

If your family is tired of eating paratha, poha, or chila every morning, it's time to try something new. If you are looking for a quick breakfast recipe, a sandwich is an excellent choice. However, instead of a simple sandwich, you can make a special version with yogurt and cheese that doesn't take much time and is liked by everyone.

Cheese contains protein, and yogurt cools the stomach, making the yogurt and cheese sandwich an ideal dish in hot weather. Chef Kunal Kapur presented a simple recipe for this sandwich that can be made at home in just a few minutes.

How to Make Yogurt and Cheese Sandwich

First, mix thick yogurt and crumbled cheese in a large bowl to create a creamy base. Then, add finely chopped red, green, and yellow bell peppers, onion, grated carrots, and boiled corn to this mixture. Green pepper, minced garlic, and fresh cilantro must also be added.

Next, stir in chili flakes, roasted cumin, black salt, and regular salt to taste. All ingredients need to be thoroughly mixed. If the filling seems too thick, you can add about two tablespoons of water and mix again. It is important that the filling is firm enough to spread easily on the bread but not too runny.

After that, take a slice of bread, place a generous layer of the prepared filling on it, and top it with a second slice to close the sandwich. Next, heat a frying pan or cast iron griddle. Butter the outer sides of both slices of bread, and fry the sandwich over medium or low heat on both sides. When the bread becomes golden and crispy on the outside, remove it from the pan.

Cut the hot sandwich diagonally into two pieces and serve it with cilantro and mint sauce or tomato ketchup.

Why This Sandwich Will Be Loved for Breakfast

Thanks to the addition of bell peppers, carrots, and corn along with cheese and yogurt, various flavors and textures combine in one sandwich. The crunchy exterior and creamy interior make it a fun snack for both children and adults, and it can be packed in a child's lunchbox.