Japanese Pancakes

Today i just took a trip to Japan in my kitchen. Doesn't make any sense? well,it will when you try these super fluffy and delicious Japanese style pancakes.I always thought that cuisines in this part of the world consists of really complex methods and flavors.But i was amazed when i came across this recipe on a popular Youtube channel named "Popsugar".It was so easy and it demanded only for few ingredients which (surprisingly) already existed in my pantry.I planned to make it the very next day for breakfast.And i must say i wasn't disappointed at all.I decided to make tiny pancakes and they turned out so gorgeous(off course after 2-3 failed attempts).The pictures testifies it.

Ingredients makes around 10-12 mini pancakes

• 3/4th cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1/3rd cup sugar or as per your taste
• 1/4th tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4th tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• Mould/cutter of your choice
• oil or butter as required

Method

1. In a mixer/blender add all your wet ingredients(buttermilk,eggs,vanilla essence)and the sugar.Give it a quick mix.I have used a hand blender here instead.And it worked fine for me.I reckon you can even use a whisk.
   
2. Add in the dry ingredients(flour,baking powder,baking soda,salt).Blend it again thoroughly.Do not get too excited and blend it for too long.Please save your time and do not sift your dry ingredients before adding them to your went ones.Make your life simple.
   
3. Once that's done take a nonstick pan.Brush the surface with some butter or oil.Take a donut or a cookie cutter of your choice and brush the interior with oil or butter generously and keep it on the pan to become hot.(Now first i went for the biggest round cookie cutter that i had with me to give my pancakes a circular shape.As seen in the picture.But then i changed my mind and used a flower shaped cookie cutter and i was so happy that i did that)
   
4. Once hot fill 3/4th of the cutter/mould with your pancake batter.Do not fill it till the rim as it shall rise.
   
5. Once bubbles starts to appear around the edges flip the pancake along with the mould/cutter.Cook till it turns golden.Once done take it out and place it on a plate.At this stage the mould/cutter should easily be detachable from the pancake.If it doesn't then take a knife and go around the edges.It shall come off easily.Grease the mould again for your next pancake and repeat the process.Serve your Japanese pancakes as it is or have it with some maple syrup,honey,custard or even chocolate sauce goes well with it.Your compact breakfast is ready so Eat it up! :)
   

P.s:If you do not have butter milk then don't worry.Take your normal milk and add some vinegar or lemon juice.Keep it aside for a while and tadaaa your buttermilk is ready.For 1 cup of milk add 1 tbsp of vinegar or lemon juice.

Tamagoyaki- Japanese omelette

Japanese food and the language both are very intimidating to me.Unlike this recipe which is very simple and delicious.Japanese cuisine is known for producing complex flavors,using fresh produce and making every dish with a finesse.In fact there are certain dishes which takes the budding chefs a long time to prefect them.This recipe as i said before is hassle free.As the name tells the main ingredient is egg.It is a basic omelette but only the Japanese version.Now the traditional omelette is made with their local rice wines know as sake and miring.It is prepared in a rectangular pan using chopsticks.But i searched youtube for other variations where some of them used vegetables.Thus i thought if they can go an unconventional way then so can i.So even i added a tiny Indian twist to it.This omelette is nothing like you had before.It's super fluffy and delicious.

Ingredients Serves-5-6 pieces

• 4 eggs
• 1 tbsp of finely diced carrots
• 1 tbsp of finely chopped onion
• 1 tbsp of chopped tomato
• 1 tbsp of chopped capsicum
• 1/4th tsp of chopped green chilly or as per taste
• 1/4th tsp of grated ginger
• 1 tsp of kashmiri red chilly
• 1/2 tsp of vinegar
• 1/4th tsp of soy sauce
• Oil for greasing the pan
• salt to taste

Method

1. Crack 4 eggs in a large bowl and add all the vegetables,spices and salt.
   
2. Mix everything well.
   
3. Meanwhile,heat up a nonstick pan and pour few drops of oil and grease the pan with paper towel.
   
4. Add little bit of the mixture into the pan.Spread the mixture evenly.Burst the bubbles formed on the omelette with the back of the spatula.
   
5. Once one side of it gets cooked flip it into a roll and keep the roll to one side of the pan.
   
6. Again grease the pan(every time you add the mixture again don't forget to grease the pan) and pour a little of the mixture into the pan.Lift the roll and allow the mixture to penetrate beneath the roll so that once it's cooked it sticks to the roll.
   
7. Again once the mixture is cooked roll it with the roll kept on the side of the pan.The basic idea is to give layers to the roll.Repeat this process until the egg mixture is finished in the bowl.Make sure that when you add the egg mixture into the pan don't put a lot of it at once.Pour a thin layer so that it cooks quickly and the roll is light and fluffy.
   
8. Once done place the roll on a paper towel.Place another paper towel on top of the hot roll to give a proper shape.
   
9. Cut it into desired pieces and serve them as an alternate healthy breakfast option to your family and Eat it up! :)
   
   
   
   

Rainbow rice with chicken and sesame seeds

In Indian cuisine rice had been a staple food among various regions for centuries.The white rice is popular than the brown rice.Until recently where people have   become more conscious about what goes into their system.That is where the brown rice has evolved into prominence.Brown rice is basically a whole grain rice which is a better substitute of white rice.
Often when on a strict diet our palate demands for something which is tasty and healthy at the same time.This recipe is best of both worlds.Moreover,it can be made in a jiffy once you have all your ingredients ready.As the name suggests it has various vegetables added to it which makes it colorful like a rainbow.Additionally it even has chicken which has a good source of protein and sesame seeds which fights cancer.It's a win win situation.

Ingredients  Serves-2 people

• 3 cups of cooked brown rice
• 1/4th cup of diced green,yellow and red bell peppers
• 1/4th cup of broccoli cut into florets
• 1 medium sized onion sliced
• 4 cloves of garlic chopped
• 5 cherry tomatoes cut into two pieces
• 2 tbsp of sweet corn
• 100 gram boneless chicken cut into small cubes
• 3 tsp of white toasted sesame seeds
• 3 tsp of sesame oil/olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of crushed black pepper
• 1 tsp of soy sauce
• 1/4th tsp of green chilly sauce
• 1/2 tsp of vinegar
• salt to taste

Method

1. Heat up oil in a pan.Once hot add in the garlic and onions.Saute till the color changes.
   
   
   
2. Add in the chicken cubes and stir properly.
   
3. Once the chicken gets almost cooked toss in the bell peppers,broccoli and sweet corn.Saute it for 1 minute or 2.I like a bit crunch in my veggies.Thus i don't blanch it.But if you are more into a softer texture then you might as well blanch them before adding it in the pan.
   
4. Add in the cherry tomatoes.Give a quick stir.
   
5. Add in the toasted sesame seeds.It gives depth as well as a nutty flavor to the dish.
   
6. Pour the soy sauce,vinegar,chilly sauce and salt to taste.
   
7. Toss in the cooked brown rice.Blend everything properly and your Rainbow rice with chicken and sesame is ready to be served.Serve it with your favorite green salad and Eat it up!:)
   

Tips:-

1. To make it more colorful you can toss in red cabbage or any vegetable of your choice.
2. When you toast the sesame seeds make sure to keep a check over the heat because once it turns golden it takes only few seconds to burn and turn into dark brown.If turned it becomes bitter in taste and will be of no use.