Quick "puffed wheat" snack

I wonder how many of you are aware of this item called “Puffed wheat”. Believe me, this item was absolutely new to me as well a few weeks ago.

It so happened, that one day, me and my spouse went to Malleshwaram ( a suburb in Bangalore) for some work. On the side walk/footpath, we saw a few vendors selling some items in huge gunny bags and they all had quite a few customers. Well, after our work and on our return, my curiosity got the better of me, and besides, there were fewer customers; I peered into the gunny bag and saw what resembled like the puffed rice but three/four times its size and it had a slight golden tinge to it. On inquiring, I was told that it was “Puffed Wheat”. The vendor lady even suggested as to how this can be used as a snack. I prepared this exactly the way she told me. The garnish part of it is my addition to the recipe which in my opinion, makes it all the more tasty. Try it and see it for yourself. It's healthy, and a tasty tea-time snack that can be prepared in a jiffy. 

One point to note is that its slightly salty and hence avoid adding salt while preparing.

Ingrdients

Puffed Wheat	2 cups
For Seasoning:
Oil	1 -2 tsps
Mustard seeds	1 tsp
Curry leaves	1 sprig
Green chilly (chopped)	1
Asafaetida (hing)	A pinch
For garnish
Coconut gratings	1 tbsp
Chopped coriander leaves	1 tbsp

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan or kadai.
2. Add all the seasoning ingredients. When the mustard seeds start spluttering, add the puffed wheat. Stir well for about 2 mins keeping the flame low. Remove from flame.
3. Just before serving, garnish with coconut gratings and chopped coriander leaves.
4. Serve immediately.

Puffed wheat

 

Tempering under process

 

Garnished with freshly grated coconut & chopped coriander leaves 

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 5 mins

Serves : 2-3 persons

Note:

• Salt is not required in the recipe.
• It can be also be prepared like "bhel" (Sukha bhel or chutney bhel) or “charmure upkari”.  Be innovative and add your own masala or eat it as it is. Its nice and crunchy.

Oats Coconut Honey Slice

Last week was celebration time at home – what with friends meet, birthdays and anniversary etc; I had my hands full. In celebration, I wanted to bake something in the shortest possible time. But at the same time, it had to be tasty, quick and easy to make and ofcourse healthy too. A tall order! So I dug into my recipe collection and picked out this recipe as I had all the ingredients and noticed that it did not involve much paraphernalia. I had not tried this before, so I was not sure of its outcome. One will never know unless one tries!

However, I was quite pleased with the end result – appearance wise and taste wise. It made my day especially when the family members loved it too.

Ingredients:

Oats	1 cup
Plain flour (maida)-sifted	1 cup
Grated coconut	¾ cup
Sugar	¾ cup
Butter	125gms
Honey	2tbsps
Bicarbonate of soda	½ tsp
Water	2tbsps

Method:

1. Grease a baking tray/pan measuring roughly 20cms x 25 cms
2. Combine oats, sifted flour, grated coconut, and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Combine butter, honey and water in a saucepan, stir over heat (on a low flame) until butter is melted.
4. Add soda. At this juncture, the whole mass will froth and rise. Switch off the gas and immediately pour the contents into the dry ingredients. Stir until combined.
5. Press the mixture evenly into the greased pan.
6. Bake in moderate oven (175-180 degrees C) for about 25 mins.
7. Cool in pan before cutting.
8. Store in an air-tight container.

Ingredients

Combine Oats, grated coconut, sifted flour and sugar

In a saucepan, butter, honey and water are combined and is being heated

 

Butter starting to melt

Butter mixture combined with the dry ingredients

Mixture pressed evenly into the baking tray

Just removed from the oven after 25 mins.

Cut into slices when slightly cooled.

Oats Coconut Honey Slices ready to be served

Preparation time: 10 mins

Cooking time : 25 mins

Makes: 18 slices

Note:

• I used Eno (1 tsp) instead of bicarbonate of soda.
• I felt that sugar can be reduced slightly since honey is also added to it.
• Will keep for a few days without refrigeration.
• It is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.