My Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Debarshi Chatterji

Movie night! Ah how I keep waiting for you. I don’t remember if I have ever written about our ‘Legendary Movie Nights’ but they are our guilty pleasure nights when we eat anything we want without worrying about the calories. So, Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Fish, Chicken Nuggets, Pizza and Ice Cream are a big yes! The idea is to eat different varieties of finger foods till we are full and enjoy back to back movies or binge watch series.

This weekend, I decided to have a lovely Cheese Plate for our movie night. I wanted to get a readymade cheese plate where we will get everything pre selected and arranged. However, when I went to buy it, the price was a shock! For those who don’t know, even the smallest cheese plates can be pretty expensive. Now they usually have many new and different types of cheese and meats in them along with fruits, crackers, olives and dips. However, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money for a fun evening, so after some consideration and research, I decided that since neither Debarshi nor I am fond of cured meats like Prosciutto and Salami so they are off the list. Also all the expensive cheeses like Gouda, Manchego or Mimolette are just too expensive to buy for a fun movie night. Now I had already decided to include a cheese plate so I thought why not create my own version of it? That way, I can include all the fun and delicious items that we like without worrying about the cost. I read somewhere that it is best to serve at least one familiar Cheese and that for us is Pepper Jack. It’s spicy and has a beautiful taste, also not at all expensive. You can in fact include any cheese you like (example: Cheddar). So, I got a big pack of Pepper Jack cheese and once that was settled, I moved on to the next item of my plate - Bread.

A cheese plate asks for a selection of Breads, you can go for Baguette, Bread Sticks, Crackers, Garlic Toasties or even Flatbread. I got a baguette, cut it up into small pieces and laid it on a big tray. Yes, you will need a big flat serving plate or tray to show off the items even if they are budget friendly. Presentation matters! 

Next on the list: Condiments, now this section totally depends on your personal taste. I read that Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Horseradish and Caponata (it’s a Sicilian eggplant dish, sort of a salad) go very well in a cheese plate and if you like to go for an extra mile Caramelized Onions are an excellent option which can be prepared at home within a short time. Another quick and fuss-free option is to go for jarred condiments and vegetables, sweet preserves or tart chutneys. I got Honey and Spicy Mustard for my plate.

Next section is Fruits and Nuts. I had Grapes and Toasted Salted Almonds at home so I included them but you can also use Candied Nuts and Pistachios or go for an assorted option of seasonal and dried fruits which can include Figs, Cherries, Apples and Pears. I also included Stuffed Green Olives but you can also go for Kalamata. Finally, is there anything better than Chocolates? Yes! to complete the sweet part, add some pieces of chocolate on the tray. 

After the sweet part comes the savory which is Meat. Here you can be as creative as you like because it will depend on what you like best. You can go for Ham (Smoked, Peppered, Black Forest), Smoked Turkey Breast, Roast Beef, Salami (Hard or Genoa). For me Chicken is always the best option so I went for a delicious Chicken Andouille Sausage. You can also get Buffalo Chicken Breast or even Sliced Pepperoni whatever you like.

Of course there are no special serving tips for my Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate but some time soon I will try arranging the real cheese platter with all the delicious and expensive cheese and meats and then I will be able to share further information with you. Till then how about you enjoy a movie night with friends and family with your own version of cheese plate. Let me know what all you included. My only advice is, do not include expensive cheese for a group of more than ten or for a fun evening. Try going for the cheap ones which taste great like Pepper Jack, Provolone, Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack or Swiss cheese whichever you like best. Serve with some tooth picks and paper towels and enjoy your own homemade cheese plate with your favorite movie.

For the Movie Nights:

Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Fish, Chicken Nuggets, Pizza and Ice Cream

To create My Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate:

A big flat serving plate or tray 

Cheese: Pepper Jack, Provolone, Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack or Swiss cheese 

Bread: Baguette

Condiments: Honey and Spicy Mustard 

Fruits and Nuts: Grapes and Toasted Salted Almonds, Stuffed Green Olives and Chocolates

Meat: Chicken Andouille Sausage

To create a fun Cheese Plate for Date Night:

A beautiful platter or wooden cutting board

Cheese: Gouda, Manchego or Mimolette 

Bread: Baguette, Bread Sticks, Crackers, Garlic Toasties or Flatbread

Condiments: Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Horseradish, Caponata, Caramelized Onions or jarred condiments and vegetables, sweet preserves or tart chutneys 

Fruits and Nuts: Candied Nuts and Pistachios, assorted option of seasonal and dried fruits which can include Figs, Cherries, Apples and Pears, Kalamata Olives, Chocolates

Meat: Ham (Smoked, Peppered, Black Forest), Smoked Turkey Breast, Roast Beef, Salami (Hard or Genoa), Prosciutto, Buffalo Chicken Breast or Sliced Pepperoni

Recommended Reading (easy and quick recipes for your Movie Night):

• Pyaz Ke Pakore (Onion Fritters)
• Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki
• Alu Tikiya ki Chaat (Crispy Fried Potato Patties with Dried Peas, Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)
• Methi Pakora (Gram flour and Fenugreek leaves Fritters)
• Palak ke Pakore (Gram flour and Spinach Fritters)
• Dhania Chutney (Cilantro Chutney)
• Tamarind Chutney – sweetness with tang
• Jalapeno Poppers with Cream Cheese and Bacon
• Plum Chutney

Alu Tikiya ki Chaat (Crispy Fried Potato Patties with Dried Peas, Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)

Photo courtesy: Dr. Debarshi Chatterji

Recipe Courtesy: Mamma (Sumita Moitra)

As I wrote in my previous article (Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki), I decided to prepare some yummy Chaat at home from scratch. The idea was to have a fun evening with our favorite Indian street foods. 

Every Chaat lover knows that Phulki is just a start, you have to continue the lip smacking journey with some delicious Tikiya and who else can give me a perfect Tikiya recipe other than my mom? For those who don’t know, enjoying a plate of hot steaming Chaat with your mom, sister or girl friends is another heavenly experience. Those few minutes when no one talks, other than the occasional requests to the Chaat wala, ‘bhaiya thoda aur chutney de do’ (brother, can you please add some more chutney in my Chaat?) and once everyone finishes eating, the planning for the next Chaat meeting starts. I think it’s amazing how our heart can feel so content just by eating a few plates of street food which are normally the most inexpensive foods you can ever find.

Now, I have tried other recipes of Alu Tikiya before but my mom’s recipe is easy and quick. All you need to do is boil and grate the potatoes and mix it with a little flour which will help to bind together the potatoes and make a nice round patty. The flour will also absorb the extra moisture of the potatoes. The patty will be prepared by shaping the potatoes in a round shape and patting them down a bit to flatten them. After that they are fried twice and served hot. 

When ready to serve, arrange all the ingredients (Chutney, Yogurt, Onion, Masala and Alu Tikiya) in different bowls on the table so that everyone can assemble the final dish themselves as per their liking. I do hope that you will also enjoy this dish as much as we did.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes - 2, cut into halves, washed, boiled, drained and peeled
• Salt - to taste (about ½ teaspoon)
• Oil – to fry (about 2 ½ cups)
• Green Chilli - 2, chopped
• All Purpose Flour – about 2-3 tablespoons, or as required

Serve with:

• Plain non-fat Yogurt – 2-3 cups, whipped
• Chutney – Hot Mango or Tamarind, ½ cup
• Onion – ½ cup, chopped finely
• Masala – Recipe in the Phulki article
• Matar – Recipe in the Phulki article

Directions:

• Let the potatoes cool down completely. 
• Grate the potatoes using a grater.
• Mix the Salt and Green Chilies in it.
• Mix a tablespoon of Flour in it. If the mixture feels sticky, add some more flour. You will see the texture changing. The flour will start absorbing the extra moisture.
• Start rolling the balls. Apply a little oil on your palms, this will help you to roll the balls easily without sticking the potatoes all over your fingers. 
• Once you have rolled all the balls, start flattening them and smooth the sides so that they don’t crack. The flour will make the patty look smooth.
• Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add 2-3 tablespoons of Oil in it.
• After a minute, start adding the patties in it in a single layer. Do not over crowd the skillet, add only 5-6 patties at a time.

• Carefully turn each patty over with a spatula and cook the other side until they look reddish golden in color then transfer them on a paper towel.
• We will fry them again later, 5-10 minutes before serving so that they are hot and taste crispy and not greasy. Heat a wok over high heat. Add about 2 cups of oil in it.
• Press the patties lightly with your palm so that they flatten even more. Be careful not to break them.
• Drop the patties (carefully) in the oil and fry them till they are reddish brown in color and crisp up.
• Serve them with Yogurt, Matar, Onion, Chutney and Masala.

Tips:

• Use the leftover Alu Tikki (if any) to prepare delicious sandwiches or burgers. Use Cilantro Chutney or ketchup with onion rings to add more flavor.
• Check my article on Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki for the recipe of Matar and Masala.
• Once you drain the potatoes and peel them, you can leave them in the colander on your kitchen counter for a while. This will dry them up automatically.
• Different potatoes develop different textures when boiled. Increase or decrease the amount of flour accordingly. The purpose of adding the flour is to reduce the stickiness of the grated potatoes.
• Use russet potatoes.
• Use a grater.
• You can use the same skillet to re-fry the Tikiyas, no need to use the wok and less to wash!
• When serving to guests, fry the Tikiyas before hand and keep them warm and crisp by placing them in an oven safe dish. Heat the oven to the lowest temperature (170 degrees F) and place the Tikiyas inside the oven. When ready to serve, they will be just as warm and crisp as if they have been freshly fried.

Recommended reading:

• Allahabad - The City of Good Food
• Pyaz Ke Pakore (Onion Fritters)
• Lassi and Namkeens of Loknath
• Dhania Chutney
• Samosa (Spicy Potato stuffed Pastries)
• Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki
• How to Deep-Fry food with Confidence?
• How to check if the oil is hot enough to fry
• Kitchen essentials: Utensils which come handy
• Tamarind Chutney – sweetness with tang
• Methi Pakora (Gram flour and Fenugreek leaves Fritters)
• Palak ke Pakore (Gram flour and Spinach Fritters)
• My Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate
• Alu Cutlet (Crispy Shallow Fried Potato Patties)
• Loknath wali Meethi Lassi (Sweet Yogurt based drink)
• Namkeen (Savory Deep Fried Indian Snacks)
• Plum Chutney
• Mamma’s Dahi Bara (Lentil Fritters with creamy Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)
• Baked Cumin / Nigella Seeds Namkeens
• Egg Devil (Bengali recipe of Croquettes with egg and minced meat/ Indian Scotch Eggs)
• Masala Alu (Spiced Potatoes)
• Vegetable Cutlets

Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki

As you have read in my articles numerous times, I am an absolute street food lover. Specially the foods from my home town Allahabad hold a unique place in my heart. However, this time I decided not to go for just one plate of my favorite foods from the local Indian Chaat café. Instead, I decided to make it a fun evening. So, I got a couple of items from the Indian store and made myself and Debarshi some yummy Chaat!

Now I am sure you can get a recipe of making Phulki from scratch online but I decided to get a big box of readymade Phulki. I also got a hot mango chutney which was lip smacking delicious. 

Assembling Meethi Phulki is easy and is a fun activity for the kids as well. They can mix and match the different items on their plates and eat whatever way they like. So, let’s move ahead and see what all ingredients we will need:

Ingredients:

• Phulki – 1 big box 
• Plain non-fat Yogurt – 2-3 cups, whipped
• Chutney – Hot Mango or Tamarind, ½ cup
• Onion – ½ cup, chopped finely

For the Masala:

• Chaat Masala – 1 teaspoon
• Roasted Cumin Powder – ¼ teaspoon (optional)
• Black Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Dry Red Chilies – 4-5, coarsely grinded

Matar:

• Dry White peas – 1 cup
• Turmeric – ½ teaspoon
• Salt – ½ teaspoon (or to taste)
• Baking Soda – 1/8 teaspoon
• Red Chili Powder – ½ teaspoon

It’s always better to plan ahead whenever you are making Matar. Since they are dried peas they need to be soaked in water before cooking (just like dried kidney beans or chick peas). I usually wash and soak them in normal tap water overnight. However, you can also speed up the process by soaking them in hot water for 3-4 hours. Keep warming the water every hour so that they get enough warmth to soften up. 

Let’s do a little prep:

• Wash the white peas and soak them in enough water overnight.
• Drain the water and add the peas in a pressure cooker with about 2 cups of fresh normal tap water.
• Add Salt, Turmeric and Baking Soda and mix. 
• Attach the rubber and the whistle on the lid and cover the cooker.
• Heat the cooker on medium heat and wait for 2 whistles.
• Turn off the heat and let it cool down.
• Once the pressure drops and the lid opens, press a pea with your spatula to check if it has been cooked through. 
• If you feel there is too much water in the peas, dry the excess water by putting the cooker without the lid on the gas oven over high heat. Keep stirring occasionally till you get the required consistency. The peas should not be too dry neither too watery.
• Add the Red Chili Powder and mix.
• Matar is ready!

Directions to assemble the yummy Meethi Phulki:

• Take a serving dish and arrange 6 pieces of Phulki on it.
• Carefully take each Phulki and make a hole in it by tapping on the center lightly.
• Fill the Phulki with about 2 tablespoons of Matar, 1 tablespoon of Yogurt and some Onion. 
• Drizzle a little chutney over it and sprinkle some Masala.
• Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki is ready. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Note:

• If you like enjoying Phulki with Jeera Jal (Cumin Water) like me, then get a ready made Jeera Jal packet from the Indian store as well. Prepare the water by mixing the spice mix in cold water (follow the instructions given on the packet). Add some sprigs of Mint leaves, Black Salt, Cumin Powder and Chaat Masala (as per taste) and Lemon slices in the water as well for extra flavor. 

• When ready to eat, take about 2 cups of Jeera Jal in a bowl. 
• Take a Phulki and make a hole in it by tapping on the center lightly. 
• Fill the Phulki with about 2 tablespoons of Matar and fill it up with the Jeera Jal. 
• Eat it swiftly but carefully (the water has spices remember) and enjoy!

Tips:

• Check the Phulki box before buying the Jeera Jal packet. Sometimes the box includes the Jeera Jal powder.
• If you have Boondi, add a handful in the Jeera Jal.

Recommended reading:

• Allahabad - The City of Good Food
• Pyaz Ke Pakore (Onion Fritters)
• Lassi and Namkeens of Loknath
• Dhania Chutney
• Samosa (Spicy Potato stuffed Pastries)
• Alu Tikiya ki Chaat (Crispy Fried Potato Patties with Dried Peas, Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)
• Tamarind Chutney – sweetness with tang
• Methi Pakora (Gram flour and Fenugreek leaves Fritters)
• Palak ke Pakore (Gram flour and Spinach Fritters)
• My Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate
• Make Cumin Powder at Home
• Alu Cutlet (Crispy Shallow Fried Potato Patties)
• Loknath wali Meethi Lassi (Sweet Yogurt based drink)
• Plum Chutney
• My Homemade Sausage and Feta Hors D'oeuvres
• My Homemade Spicy Potato Hors D'oeuvres 
• Mamma’s Dahi Bara (Lentil Fritters with creamy Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)

Lassi and Namkeens of Loknath

Today I am going to share two of my favorite food items – Lassi and Namkeens and one of my favorite go-to places to have them – Loknath.

This creamy milky beverage is called Lassi. It’s a yogurt based drink and it can be savory or sweet. Some restaurants also sell flavored Lassi like Mango Lassi. The savory Lassis are often prepared by mixing spices in them while the sweet Lassis often have a spoonful of cream or nuts topped on them. As I have mentioned earlier, my home town – Allahabad is famous for street foods and they are usually served in the traditional way. This photo shows sweet Lassi served in a clay cup. Now this clay cup is handmade on a pottery wheel and is not only environment friendly but also instills an earthen smell in the drink. I asked the shop keeper not to add any extra sugar in my Lassi but I couldn’t refuse the dollop of heavy cream on top.

(Photo shows from left: Yogurt for making the Lassi and Rabri used for topping)

Its such a sweet comfort that some things in life never change, for example the Loknath Gali in Chowk. Every time I go there, its like reliving all my happy childhood memories. Since I wanted to do things the exact same way, my mom and I took a rickshaw to Chowk and spent the entire ride chatting with each other and pointing all those shops where we used to shop. Now for those who don’t know, a rickshaw is a light three-wheeled cart attached with a cycle. The driver rides the cycle and the passengers sit in the cart. It usually has a hood to protect the passengers from the heat or rain. 

Now back to the topic, Chowk is one of the oldest areas of the city, packed with businesses. You can literally find everything there at whole sale prices but my main attraction has always been the food. Loknath has the smell of delicious food in the air, you can smell all different types of spices, pickles and sweets. Somewhere someone will be frying Kachoris or making delicious Bhature, walk a little further and you will smell all kinds of Mithai (sweets and desserts). In short, you will find some of the most yummylicious foods in this street. We did some shopping and then went straight to my favorite shops of Lassi and Namkeens.

Why are these cookies piled up in huge heaps? Well for starters these are not cookies but Namkeens. Now let me tell you what this word means: Namkeen comes from the Hindi word Namak which means salt. So it basically says savory snacks.

You must have had Samosas or even Mathris from the Indian restaurants or Chat cafes, they are also available in ready made packets in the Indian stores. If you like snacking on Indian Namkeens you have to go to this savory paradise. They have all kinds of snacks like Papri, Mathri, Kachori, Khasta (a puffed pastry made with a filling of lentils) etc. Another special item of these Loknath shops is Samosa. Normally you will find Samosas with a potato filling about medium in size but Loknath’s Samosas are prepared with a filling of lentils and spices and are smaller in size. They are called Masala Samosas and are fried in Ghee (Clarified Butter) which brings an intensified silky, rich buttery taste. All the Namkeens are freshly prepared everyday and you can store them at room temperature for about a week, believe me they don’t go bad.

Now I know you must be thinking, all this sounds really good but why should I go to Allahabad just for the Lassi and Namkeens? Let me tell you, Allahabad is not only a food paradise but also a place of historic and religious significance. There are lots of places to see and lots to eat and not only Lassi and Namkeens, Loknath is also famous for other dishes like Chat, Dosa (a type of Crepe made with fermented batter of Rice and lentils), Chow mein, Rabri (this is prepared by thickening the milk so that it has lots of cream in its layers), Paan (made by filling Betel leaf with Areca nut or Supuri and sometimes Tobacco, Fennel Seeds and Mints, it is very popular in Bengali families and is often chewed after meals as a mouth freshener), Sambar Bara (Sambar is a Vegetable and Pigeon Pea Lentil Curry served with Bara which are doughnuts made with a batter of Black Gram Lentils) and varieties of Dalmoths (this is a savory dry snack made with crispy fries of Gram Flour batter and sometimes lentils, it is usually a combination of Fried Peanuts, Puffed Rice and spicy tangy spices). 

(Photo shows from left: Khoya and Paneer)

Locals also go to Loknath for their day to day grocery shopping for spices, fresh produce and milk products like Paneer and Khoya (prepared by thickening and drying whole milk in an open pan, Khoya is often used for preparing desserts and puddings). 

This yummy food list is almost never ending but I don’t want you to take my word for it. So plan a trip to Allahabad and make sure you are going to this Loknath Gali for all the yummy food especially for the cool Lassi and Namkeens.

Recommended Reading:

• Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki
• Alu Tikiya ki Chaat (Crispy Fried Potato Patties with Dried Peas, Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)
• Loknath wali Meethi Lassi (Sweet Yogurt based drink)
• Rabri (Clotted Cream in Condensed Milk)
• Cafe Bigboxx, Allahabad

Kitchen essentials: Utensils which come handy

I am sure you will have most of these items in your kitchen because they are pretty basic like a cutting board, knife (refer to Kitchen essentials : Knives, Oils, Vinegars, Sauces and Wine), peeler, grater and can opener. Once you have cut and washed your vegetables or meat (using the above things), next comes the cooking utensils like pots and pans, wooden spoons, whisk and spatulas. Finally, the serving part for which you will need bowls and plates and silverware. Don’t forget to get a soup ladle for pouring the soup neatly. I am sure I don’t have to tell the wine enthusiasts to get a cork screw and glasses. 

Tip: I prefer to use plastic chopping boards for cutting meat as they can be washed in the dish washer at a high temperature. I have wooden chopping boards for Vegetables, Fruits, Bread and Cheese.

If you feel like you will rather enjoy baking over cooking, then you should have measuring cups and spoons. You may also need a rolling pin (for rolling the pastries or pies). You can get a roasting pan or a muffin tin to bake the recipes you like best. However, I would recommend to go a little easy here and buy the pans as you need. If you like cookies and want to give it a try, then a cookie sheet and cutter is a must for you. Don’t forget to get a pot holder and oven mitt before starting your adventures.  

There is one more thing which is my personal favorite and that is a Colander. A Colander (or Pasta Strainer or Kitchen Sieve) is a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food such as Pasta. It can be made of a light metal, plastic or ceramic. I have a plastic colander. It's light to use and can be stored anywhere (I can hang it or put it inside a cabinet). I use it for different purposes - to wash fruits, vegetables, shrimp, fish, meat and of course to drain pasta. Sometimes I also use it to keep or cover hot fried foods like Puri (Deep Fried Puffed Bread), Pakoris (Fritters) or even Naan. The holes of the Colander allow the steam to pass through thus preventing the hot food from being soggy. It's a small thing with many uses.

Finally, an apron is a must to prevent all the oils and spills from getting on your clothes. 

Recommended Reading:

• Luchi – Deep Fried Puffed Bread
• Alu Tikiya ki Chaat (Crispy Fried Potato Patties with Dried Peas, Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)
• Kitchen essentials : Knives, Oils, Vinegars, Sauces and Wine
• Alu Cutlet (Crispy Shallow Fried Potato Patties)
• Baskets - say No to kitchen clutter
• Namkeen Puri (Deep Fried Savory Puffed Bread)