North Indian Cooking by..Geeta Seth

  • North Indian Cooking....By Geeta Seth
  • Recipes - Index
  • Reference to Spices and Herbs
  • Dals / Lentils
    • DAl / Lentils - Index >
      • About Dal/ Lentil's - Indian Dal Preparations
      • Tadka
      • Maa Ki Kali Dal
      • Dal Makhani
      • Masoor Dal
      • Moong dal with spinach (Palak with moong dal)
      • Chana Dal
      • Moong Dal with Spinach (Palak Dal with Yellow Moong Dal)
      • Moong Dal (Split and skinned yellow Moong Dal)
      • Maharni Dal (Black urad, chana Dal & kidney beans mixed)
      • Red split Masoor Dal (Malka Masoor dal)
      • Split Black Urad Dal
      • Sprouted Moong Dal
      • Split Green moong Dal
      • Panchratan Dal or Panchmel Dal ( (Five Dal Mixed )
      • Trevti Dal (Toor Dal & Moong Dal & Chana Dal Mix)
      • Masala Tadka Dal (Arhar dal or Toor Dal)
      • Toor Dal & Masala tadka dal (Arhar Dal or Pigeon pea)
      • Toor Dal (Arhar Dal)
      • Urad Dal (white urad dal)
      • White Urad and chana Dal mix
      • Whole Green Moong Dal
  • Beans
    • Bean- Index
    • Bean- Index
    • About Beans
    • Black Beans
    • Chole (chick pea curry)
    • Lima beans
    • Lima beans curry
    • Rajma (Red kidney Beans)
  • Rice and Pulao's - Index
    • About rice and pulao >
      • Rice and pulao's >
        • Rice and Pulao's - Index
        • Chicken Biryani
        • Shrimp Biryani
        • Rice with caramelized browned onions
        • Vegetables and paneer Biryani
        • Boiled white rice
        • Boiled white rice
        • Toor Dal with rice khichdi (Arhar dal khichdi)
        • Black urad dal with rice khichdi (Maa ki dal ki khichdi)
        • Urad dal with rice khichdi (Black urad dal khichdi, Ma ki dal)
        • Moong Dal and rice khichdi
        • Moong dal and dalia khichdi
        • Kali dal ki khichdi (Black urad dal or Maa ki dal ki khichdi)
        • Maa ki dal ki khichdi (whole urad dal khichdi)
        • Sabudana Khichdi (Tapioca pearls)
        • Muttar paneer pulao (Rice with green peas and cheese)
        • Muttar pulao (Rice with green peas)
        • Pulao with cauliflower, green peas and potatoes
        • Vegetabale Pulao
        • Tamarind Rice (Imly rice)
        • Arhar dal with rice khichdi
  • Meat Dishes - Index
    • Meat Dishes >
      • Meat Dishes - Index
      • About the Indian meat dishes
      • Beef Kebabs
      • Beef Keema with Spinach
      • Ground Beef shammi kebabs
      • Beef Seekah Kebabs (Minced meat roasted on skewers)
      • Beef Frankie (wrap)
      • Beef with Spinach Curry
      • Butter Chicken (Murg makhani)
      • Chicken Curry
      • Chicken Kebabs
      • Chicken Keema with spinach
      • Chicken Seekh Kebabs (Minced meat roasted on skewers)
      • Chicken kebabs Stir fry
      • Chicken shammi kebabs
      • Chicken korma
      • Chicken Frankie (wrap)
      • Chicken tikka Masala
      • Chicken with spinach curry (chicken saag)
      • Palak Gosht (Beef with Spinach Curry)
      • Chicken Saag (Chicken with spinach curry)
      • Tandoori chicken
  • Kati Roll
    • Kati Roll - Index
    • Beef kati roll
    • Chicken kati roll
    • Paneer kati roll
  • Paneer dishes - Index
    • Paneer dishes >
      • About paneer
      • Paneer dishes - Index
      • How to make the paneer at home
      • Butter Paneer (Paneer makhani)
      • Crumbled paneer curry with green peas
      • Kadhai paneer
      • Muttar paneer (paneer with green peas)
      • Paneer curry (paneer ke sabzi)
      • Paneer tikka (Barbecued Paneer Kebabs)
      • Paneer Bhurji (Scrambled Paneer)
      • Palak paneer (spinach with paneer)
      • Paneer Frankie (wrap)
      • Paneer tikka masala
      • Shahi paneer
      • Tandoori Paneer Tikka Kebab
  • Kofta - Index
    • Koftas >
      • Kofta - Index
      • About Koftas
      • Cabbage Koftas (Bandh gobi kofta)
      • Lauki Kofta curry (Bottle Gourd)
      • Masoor Dal Kofta
      • Paneer Koftas
      • Palak Kofta (Spinach kofta)
  • Vegetable dishes - Index
    • Vegetable dishes with gravy >
      • Vegetable dishes - Index
      • About the Vegetables dishes
      • Arbi with gravy (Taro roots)
      • Aloo tamater ke sabzi (Potatoes with toamtoes curry)
      • Aloo Muttar Ki Sabzi (Potato with Green Peas Curry)
      • Aloo wadiyan (Potatoes with urad dal wadiyan)
      • Besan Kadhi
      • Bharwa aloo (Stuffed potatoes)
      • Dum Aloo (Potato curry)
      • Egg curry (Ande Ki curry)
      • Mangories with Aloo, tamater (Moong Dal Mangories with potatoes and tomateos)
      • Sarson Ka Saag
      • Spinach with mushrooms
      • Stuffed cabbage rolls curry (Bandh gobi ki rolls)
      • Palak Mushroom curry (Spinach with Mushroom curry)
      • Punjabi Kadhi (Besan pakoda kadhi)
      • Pyaz ki Aloo (Potatoes with onion curry)
  • Vegetables side dishes - Index
    • Vegetables Side dishes (sukhi sabzi) >
      • Vegetables side dishes - Index
      • About the vegetables
      • Aloo baingan (Eggplant with potatoes)
      • Aloo Gobi masala (Spicy Potatoes and cauliflower curry)
      • Aloo Gobi masala (Cauliflower)
      • Aloo methi ki sabzi (Potatoes with fenugreek leaves)
      • Aloo Muttar sukhe (Sauteed boiled potatoes with green peas)
      • Aloo Muttar masala
      • Aloo palak ke sabzi (Potatoes with spinach)
      • Arbi - Masala arbi (Taro roots)
      • Bell Pepper stuffed with potatoes (Capsicum, Shimla Mirch)
      • Bell peppers with onion and potatoes (Capsicums)
      • Eggplant Bharta- Indian Roasted Banigan Ka Bharta
      • Baingan Ka Bharta (Eggplant Bharta)
      • Bharwa Baingan (Stuffed Eggplants)
      • Bharwa Bhindi (Okra Stuffed with onion masala)
      • Bharwa banana peppers - Banana peppers stuffed with potatoes
      • Bhindi ke Sabzi (Okra)
      • Cabbage Curry (Bandh gobi, patta gobi)
      • Gajar methi ki sabzi (Carrots with Fenugreek leaves)
      • Capsicum masala (Bell peppers)
      • Gawar Ke Phalli (Cluster Beans)
      • Gawar Ke Phalli (Cluster Beans)- 2
      • Gobi aloo with onion & garlic (Cauliflower with onion, garlic & potatoes)
      • Gobi ki bhurji (Grated cauliflower with Green Peas)
      • Gobi aloo ki sabzi, Phool gobi (Cauliflower with potatoes)
      • Gobi Musallam (Cauliflower)
      • Green Beans (French beans)
      • Karela Bharwa with masala (stuffed Bitter Melon)
      • Lobia ki phalli (Green long beans)
      • Kaddu Ki Sabzi (Yellow pumpkin curry)
      • Lauki ki sabzi (Bottle gourd, Long Melon, Ghiya)
      • Jera Aloo (Potatoes with Cumin Seeds)
      • Jeera Aloo (Potatoes with Cumin Seeds)
      • Mooli ki bhurji (White daikon radish bhurji)
      • Methi Matar Malai (Fenugreek leaves, Green peas and Malai)
      • Muttar aloo with tomatoes and onions(Green peas with potatoes,tomatoes& onions)
      • Sangri, mooli ki phalli aloo ki sath (Dikon green beans with potatoes)
      • Sem aloo ki sabzi (Flat beans with potatoes)
      • Sem aloo ki sabzi (Green fava beans with potatoes)
      • Sukhe Aloo ke sabzi (Boiled sautéed potatoes with masala)
      • Masala Turaii (Zucchini with Masala)
      • Turai ki sabzi (zucchini)
  • Salad - Indian salads
    • Salad - Indian salads Index
    • Kala Chana Salad - Indian Black Chickpea salad
    • Cabbage salad - (Indian spicy Cabbage salad)
    • Fruit salad - Indian spicy fruit salad
    • Chickpea Salad - Indian spicy chickpea salad
    • Corn Salad - Spicy Indian Corn Salad
    • Kachumber Salad - Indian Cucumber, Onion & Tomato salad
    • Mixed Bean Salad - Indian Mixed Bean Salad
    • Sprouted Green Moong Salad - (Indian recipe)
    • Quinoa Salad with Strawberries, Blueberries and Grapes
  • Popular Indian Sweet dishes- Index
    • Desserts .. Popular North Indian sweets >
      • About Indian desserts
      • Indian sweet dishes - Index
      • Almond burfi (Badam Ki Burfi)
      • Almond Halwa
      • Besan ka Halwa (Gram flour Halwa)
      • Besan ka ladoo (Gram flour ladoo)
      • Boondi (Sweet Boondi)
      • Boondi or Boondi Ladoo
      • Boondi Ladoo
      • Carrot Burfi (Gajar ki burfi)
      • Carrot Halwa (Gajar ka halwa)
      • Cashew burfi (Kaju burfi, Kaju katli)
      • Coconut Burfi (Nariyal Ki Burfi)
      • Gujia
      • Gulab jamun
      • Kheer (Rice pudding)
      • Kala Jamun
      • Lauki Ka Halwa (Bottle gourd Halwa)
      • Makhanna Kheer (Puffed lotus seeds pudding)
      • Rasugalla
      • Rasgulla
      • Rasmalai
      • Rasmalai
      • Sabudana Kheer (Tapioca Pudding)
      • Vermicelli Kheer (Seviyan kheer, Payasam Kheer)
      • Shrikhand (Sweet Yogurt)
      • Sooji Ka Halwa (Cream of wheat, Rava)
      • Pista burfi (Pistachio Burfi)
      • Phirni (Rice pudding)
      • Petha
      • Pumpkin burfi (kaddu ki burfi)
      • Til ke Burfi (Seasme Seed Burfi)
  • Snacks and chaats - Index
    • Snacks and Chaats >
      • Snacks & chaats - Index
      • About snacks and chaats
      • Aloo Bonda (potato balls dipped in Besan Batter)
      • Aloo Tikki (Potato patties)
      • Besan sev (Gram flour noodles)
      • Besan spicy french toast (Toast dipped in besan batter and cooked)
      • Besan cheela (Gram flour pancake)
      • Besan and sooji ka cheela (Gram flour & cream wheat pancake)
      • Bread rolls stuffed with spicy potatoes
      • Chola Aloo Tikki (Potatoes and chick peas patties)
      • Chole Chaat - Indian spicy Chickpea Chaat
      • Corn Chaat
      • Fruit Chaat - Indian spicy Fruit chaat
      • Kala chana chaat- Indian Black chickpea chaat
      • Dahi Vada ( urad dal pakoras with yogurt)
      • Dokhla Tips
      • Besan Ka Dokhla (Gram flour dokhla)
      • Moong Dal Dokhla
      • Sooji ka Dokhla (Cream of Wheat Dokhla)
      • Urad Dal and Rice Dokhla
      • Gol Gappa (Pani Puri)
      • Dosa
      • Dosa aloo masala for dosa stuffing (Potato Dosa masala)
      • Rava Dosa
      • Sambher
      • Idli
      • Rava Idli (Sooji or Cream of wheat idli)
      • Rava Masala idli (Masala idli)
      • Hariyalli tikki or Hara bhara kebab
      • Mathri (Crispy salty crackers)
      • Gluten Free Mathri (Crispy salty crackers)
      • Medu Vada
      • Vegetable Cutlets (Mixed vegetable cutlets)
      • Moong Dal Cheela (Moong dal pancake)
      • Namkeen paras (Cispy salted crackers)
      • Aloo pakoras (Potato fritters)
      • Cauliflower pakora (Gobi ka pakora)
      • Pakora with Green Moong Dal and potatoes (Fritter)
      • Pyaz ka pakoras (Onion pakoras fritter)
      • Mixed vegetable pakora - Fritters (potatoes, spinach & onion mixed)
      • Potatoes and vegetables mix pakoras (Fritter)
      • Palak pakora (Spinach pakoras)
      • Paneer pakoras (Fritter)
      • Chicken pakoras (Fritters)
      • Papari / papadi Chaat
      • Bharwa mirchi ka pakora (Stuffed green chilie fritters)
      • Poha with green peas
      • Potato Cutlet
      • Potato paneer tots
      • Roasted cauliflower
      • Tandoori Gobi (Tandoori Cauliflower)
      • Sabudana, Aloo Vada (Tapioca cutlet with potato)
      • Samosa (Muttar aloo samosa)
      • Shakkar paras (Sweet crackers)
      • Sprouted Green moong chat
      • Upma
      • Uthappam (Rice & Dal uthappam) (pancake)
      • Uthappam (Rava Uthappam) (Pancake)
  • Chutneys
    • Chutney - Index
    • About Chutney
    • Coconut chutney
    • Hari chutney (Green chutney, coriander leaves or clintro chutney)
    • Pudina Ki chutney (Mint chutney)
    • Tamarind chutney (Imli ki chutney)
    • Tomato Chutney
  • Raita (Yogurt)
    • Raita (Yogurt) - Index
    • About raita and Yogurt
    • Aloo, Dhai ka raita (yogurt with potatoes)
    • Boondi ka raita (yogurt with boondi)
    • Gajar ka raita (Yogurt with carrots)
    • Kheera ka raita (Yogurt with cucumber)
    • Lauki ka raita (Yogurt with lauki)
    • Pudina ka raita (Yogurt with mint leaves)
    • Palak ka raita (Yogurt with spinach)
    • Yogurt with green onion, cucumber and tomatoes
  • Breakfast dishes - Index
    • Breakfast dishes - Index
    • Anda Bhurji (Egg Bhurji)
    • Spicy scrambled eggs
    • Muttar Chaat (Green peas)
    • Kala Chana (Black chana)
    • Moong dal chaat or sukhi moong dal
    • Sweet Dalia
  • Indian Breads (Roti, Paratha, poori)
    • Indian Breads - Index
    • About Indian Breads
    • ROTI:
    • Roti - Index
    • Chapattis (Pulkha or Roti)
    • Bajra ki Roti (Millet flour)
    • Besan ki roti with onions (Gram flour roti)
    • Lachha roti (Spiral Layered roti)
    • Makai ki roti (Corn flour roti)
    • Methi ki roti (Roti with Fenugreek leaves)
    • Roti with Layers (Paratdar Roti)
    • Roomali roti
    • PARATHAS:
    • Paratha - Index
    • Aloo paratha (Potato stuffed paratha)
    • Bajra (millet) ka paratha
    • Besan ka paratha (Gram flour paratha)
    • Gobi ka paratha (Cauliflower stuffed paratha)
    • Lachha paratha (Spiral layered paratha)
    • Layered Paratha (Paratdar Paratha)
    • Makai ka paratha (corn flour paratha)
    • Methi Ka Paratha (Paratha with Fenugreek leaves)
    • Mooli ka paratha (Daikon stuffed paratha)
    • Mughlai paratha
    • Muttar Ka paratha (Paratha with green peas)
    • Palak paratha (spinach paratha)
    • Paneer paratha
    • Urad Dal stuffed paratha
    • Puri - Index
    • Poori (Puri) :
    • Poori (Puri)
    • Methi ki poori (Poori with Fenugreek leaves)
    • Muttar Poori (Poori with green peas)
    • Palak poori (Poori with spinach)
    • Poori stuffed with urad dal (kochari)
    • Bhature
  • How to...........
  • How to make Garam masala
  • How to make Ghee from Butter (Clarified Butter)
  • How to make basic onion masala
  • How to make & freeze onion masala in large quantity
  • How to make the paneer at home
  • How to sprout mung beans (Moong Dal)
  • How to sprout Black grams (Urad Dal)
  • How to make yogurt at home
  • How to marinate chicken
  • How to make roasted Jerra powder (Cumin Seeds)
  • Restraunt style curry gravy
  • Cooking measurement conversion
  • Measurement Converter

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                          Shakkar para
                     (Sweet shakkar para)

Shakkar para is a popular snack. Shakkar means sugar in Hindi and para is a piece of pastry. To prepare shakkar para first dough is made by adding oil and water in the all-purpose flour (maida) and cream of wheat (sooji) then this dough is rolled into a circle then with the knife the dough is cut into square or diamond shaped then they are deep fried. After frying these paras are dipped in sugar syrup. Sometimes to in hence the flavor shakkar paras are coated with coconut and touch of cardamoms. This is one of those snack you cannot stop munching. Shakkar paras are usually prepared on special festivals like Holi and Dewali.

Ingredients for the dough:

1    Cup of all purpose flour (maida)
½   Cup of cream of wheat (sooji)
½   Cup of water
3    Tablespoons of vegetable oil
 
Ingredients for syrup: 

¾   Cup of sugar or per taste
½   Cup of water
3    Tablespoons coconut powder (optional)
¼   Teaspoon crushed cardamom (optional)

Cooking measurement conversion
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All-purpose flour (Maida)
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Cream of wheat (Soozi / Rava)
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Oil
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Water
Ingredients for syrup: 

¾   Cup of sugar or per taste
½   Cup of water
3    Tablespoons coconut powder (optional)
¼   Teaspoon crushed cardamom (optional)
​
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Fine flake coconut powder
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Sugar
Directions for making the dough:

 1. In a bowl place all purpose flour, cream of wheat and oil, mix them together.
     With the palms knead the flour into oil. 

2. Once the flour and oil mix well, add a little water at a time and mix it with flour
    in a rotating motion from the center of the bowl to outward until it form a
    dough and it cleans the sides of the bowl, knead it for few minutes. The dough
    should be firm but smooth.

3. Once the dough become smooth, knead the dough with wet hands make a ball
    and cover it with a damp towel and keep it aside for at least 15 minutes.
 
Food processor or dough maker could be used to make the dough. 

Directions for making the shakkar paras:

1.  Prepare the syrup (See below how to make syrup)

 
2.  Once the dough is ready knead the dough for few minutes to make it smooth
     then divide it in to 2 equal parts.   

3. Take one part of dough at a time and roll in between your palm and make a ball
    then press it with your palms and make it flat and place it on the rolling board.

4. With the rolling pin roll the ball of dough firmly in to a circle and thickness of
     salted crackers. 
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Place the dough on rolling board
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Roll the dough into a circle
5. Once you roll the dough in a circle then with the fork prick it all over the
    surface of the rolled dough, so the paras do not puff when frying.

6. Grease a knife or a pizza cutter wheel, and make the cuts in rolled dough, either diamond shape or square shapes. For diamond shape first cut one side straight lines and flips the plate around about 45 degrees and start cutting diagonally. For square shape cut straight lines both sides.  You can cut the paras in your desire shape.
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With a fork prick all over the rolled dough
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Cut the rolled dough
7.  Heat 3 cups of oil in a frying pan or kadhai on medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes
     or until oil become hot. 

8.  To check if the oil is ready drop a small ball of dough in the hot oil, if the dough start sizzling and comes up slowly it means it is the right heat but if it becomes too dark quickly it means oil is too hot, turn the heat down. 
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Heat the oil
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Slide a knife under the paras
9.     Take a knife and slide under the paras to loosen them, then pick some of the paras and very gently slip in into hot oil, with a fork separate them so that they do not stick together, then immediately with the help of pierced spatula start flickering hot oil over the top of the paras. After few minutes flip the paras to other side and fry.  Keep the heat down and keep flipping the paras for 7 to 8 minutes or until paras become golden brown on both the sides.
     
10.   Make sure to place just enough paras so you can turn them over easily when frying. 
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Gently drop the paras in the hot oil
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Paras are fried they become golden brown
11.  Once both side become golden brown lift the paras with the spatula and shake all the oil out, take them out from the hot oil and place them on a plate over paper towel, so that all the extra oil absorbed by the towel. 

12.    Turn the heat down and drop another batch of paras after few minutes raise the heat, because oil is hot and you do not want to fry paras quickly. Repeat the process until all the paras are fried.

13. Let the shakkar paras comes to the room temperature and they become crisp.
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Place the paras over paper towel
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Fried paras

14.      If the syrup cool down then turn on the heat and heat it.

15.      Add the paras in the hot syrup and mix making sure all the paras are well coated with the syrup. Turn the stove off. Quickly transfer the paras into a plate and let them cool down. With the fork separate the shakker paras so that they do not stick together. 
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Add fried paras in the hot syrup
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Mix the paras in the syrup
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Spread the sugar coated paras in the plate
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Coconut coated shakkar paras
Directions for making the syrup:

 1. In a pan add sugar and water and boil on medium heat for 8 to 10 minute or  until it become half a string of consistency, means when you touch the syrup between two fingers it makes a half string  or it reach to 220 degrees F. on a candy thermometer. Turn the heat off.

2. If adding coconut and cardamom add this time to the syrup and mix.
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In a pan add sugar and water
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Syrup is ready add cardamoms powder and mix
 
Tips:
 
1.    If you find it is hard to loosen the paras and drop them in hot oil then pick the rolling board and take it over the frying pan and then with the knife slide the paras in hot oil, then quickly with the fork separate them so that they do not stick together.

2.  Shakker paras should be fried on low heat. If they are fried on high heat they will be soft and will not be crispy

3. Shakker paras can be stored in airtight container. 


Please take the time to let me know what you think about my recipe. Your comments would be helpful to me to improve the recipe.

Thank you     

Geeta Seth
Other recipes:

Namak paras (Crispy salty noodles)                          Bondi or bondi ladoo

Mathri (Crispy, salty crackers)                            Besan ladoo (Gram flour ladoo)

Besan Sev (Gram flour noodles)                       Vermicelli (Sevian kheer)
    Please take the time to let me know what you think about my recipe. Your comments would be helpful to me to improve the recipe.. Thank you.. Geeta Seth
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