Chicken Hotdog Stuffed Buns

  The morning of Kolkata is totally different as it looks in  the busy hours.  It is beautiful, serene and romantic. Less number of vehicles on the road and less crowded. Almost no honking - the morning always weaves a different story. My daily route to romance with the morning is passing by  the Rabindra Sarobar, Southern Avenue, Gol  Park then the Gariahaat Crossing to Kashba. The morning fresh breeze brushes my hair, kisses my face with a tender touch.  I keep on inhaling the fresh breath to store it for the whole day as much as I can before another side of Kolkata faces off pretty fast soon. Surprisingly I get to hear the birds chirping when I pass through the grovy and bushy lanes of Southern Avenue. I see all the young & old  on the road taking the pleasure of a morning walk. Some relaxing on a "Cutting Chai" or sipping hot tea in a Khuri ( small container made out of clay especially for serving tea in Bengal) or some drinking coconut water.  You will see the JhaNkawala Shabjiwala/ Folwala (The vendors who sell fruits/vegetables in a basket) busy in selling their stuffs to the morning passersby and with a hope in their eyes to gain profit as much as they can for the day.  Some devotees will be seen busy in enchanting the Mantras in front of Lake Kalibari. Whoever crosses through the road they will surely slow down their cars to show their respect and faith for god in front of the Temple.  A small and quick salutation will be seen touching the forehead then the chest and again regaining the speed to race with the traffic. I love this lane though I hate so many cars are parked blocking a lane. But here I get to see different kinds of busy morning and people where people are busy in relaxation. They are enjoying their morning walks or chatting with their everyday walking partners or laughing aloud on some jokes.  My car passes by and I keep on watching and storing all the stories of the different Kolkata lanes and the different scenarios in the weekdays. The Gariahat crossing tells a different story. It was then calm and quite. Only the cars and a handful of passersby will be seen. All the stores are deep in their somberness. A smile spreads soon after I cross this road. I smile at the tranquility of this place which in a few hours will be turning in to one of the craziest roads where it will be hard to drive through the road. All the passersby will come on road to either cross the road or to catch a bus/taxi/auto. The honking sounds from each and every vehicle will make your life like a hell. The traffic guards will be trying their best to make the traffic run smooth. But there will be no change. It will remain as busy and unorganized as it is. And here I should blame the people who are always prone to dissuade to make the city beautiful. Sigh...

The other day we the parents dropped lil K at her school and enjoying the drive way back home recollecting all the old new stories of our life. The weather was cloudy and the cool breeze made it more romantic to float down in a realm of romanticism. We crossed the ever enchanting Rabindra Sarobar Bridge and heading towards the Prince Anwar Shah Crossing. All of a sudden the Hubby Man hold his break and slowed down the car. A mother cyclist was carrying her little daughter on the back carrier of the cycle, crossing this speedy traffic prone road reluctantly. She crossed our car and the Hubby Man was just about to gear up the speed when we heard a bloodcurdling screeching sound of someone's car who pressed the emergency break and we saw the Mother and the child with a loud shout fell from the cycle. The Driver of that car and the Hubby Man stopped the car and rushed to them. I was sitting standstill and trying to understand what exactly happened in these last few seconds.  I got down from the car and went to the spot. By God's grace both the mother and the kid were fine. It was the driver of the car who had actually saved them. I saw my husband scolding that lady a lot for her recklessness. Frankly speaking I was feeling like slapping the lady for how irresponsible she could be. The way, she was crossing the road as if it was a playground totally ignoring the speedy moving cars.  Being a mother it is the first responsibility to protect your child and to teach all the rules & regulations of life. If we keep on ignoring them then in long run why to blame the kid. And moreover if something would have happened to them, everybody would blame the driver and might be beaten him to death, where the truth was the driver was actually the saviour. With a pounding heart all of us started moving to each other's destination.  The sweet morning within a fraction of second changed in to bitterness. And for few days I was not able to bear the fact of the recklessness of the mother and dreading the fact what worst could have happened. We always blame to reckless driving but every day I travel to and fro 80 kms and most of the time it catches my notice that the passersby are most of the time at fault.

Now let us move to today's recipe: Chicken Hotdog Stuffed Buns. It is very filling and healthy too. For the filling you can go wild with anything after your mind.

Ingredients:

(Yields 4-5 buns)

For the buns:

Flour - 1 cup

Instant yeast-  A bit less than 1 tspn

Warm Milk - 1/2 - 3/4 cup (More or less)
Olive oil - 2 table spoon

Salt - 1/4 tspn

Sugar - 1 tspn

Butter - 1 -2 tbspn

Sesame Seeds - 1 tbspn

For the Stuffing:

Chicken Hotdog - 2-3

Slices Onion - 1 small

Coloured bell pepper sliced - 1/2 cup

Chopped garlic - 2 tspn

Ginger paste - 1/2 tspn

Tomato Sauce - 1 tbspn

Worcestershire sauce - 1 tspn
Grated cheese - 1/2 cup (Optional)
Oil- 1 tbspn
Salt and Sugar ad per taste

Method:

Make the stuffing: 
Heat oil in the pan. Add the garlic and fry. Add the onion saute for a while then add all the other ingrediants apart from the cheese. Fry for few minutes on flame and then take off  from the stove. Make sure it is dry.
Make the buns:

1. Add all the dry ingredients with the flour. Mix well. Add warm milk slowly at a time and keep on needing. Don't pour all the milk at one time. One has to make a semi soft dough so add milk as per requirement.
2. Keep on kneading at least for 10 minutes. Then take a big bowl and cover the dough with a damp cloth or cling fling  and let  rise for 1 hour. After one hour again knead back the dough for 3-4 minutes and then again keep it for 40-45 minutes. Now take the dough and make 4-5 balls (Or more or less) out of it. Make sure the balls should have enough size to be stuffed.
3. Roll each ball in a small disc and then put the stuffing and cheese in it. And then join  together the edges and seal nicely and roll in to a smooth ball again. You can add a bit oil on your palm to avoid the stickiness. Make a nicely shaped buns rolling in between the palms.
4. Pre- heat the oven at 200 C for 6-7 minutes.
5. Take a baking tray. Grease it and put the buns. Brush the buns with melted butter and top with some sesame seeds on each bun.
6. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the buns gets a nice brown tinge and the top is crispy enough.  Take it out and enjoy.

Note:

1. You can use egg white too to brush the top of the buns to get a nice brown top while baking.
2. For the stuffing anything can be added. You can go for a veg or a non- veg too.

Photography Notes::
I clicked it on Program mode. The ISO was 1600. I shot it at night time. It was clicked in normal Tube Light that we had in every house. The light was coming from far left and I had kept the right side dark. From my experience - dark background for night shoots suits best.

Chicken Keema Mattar Stuffed Stromboli/ Minced Chicken Peas Stuffed Stromboli

I have never ever imagined in my life that Bread making/baking will be that tad easy. The only special trick that learnt is to choose the right yeast and the pairing of it with the desired Flour.  I have first tried my hands with the Active dry Yeast. But to my disappointment I was not able to accumulate the trick to make the yeast work. But if you have experienced bread baker friends around, you will know success is not too far. It is Amrita and Sayatani I must mention who truly helped me to cheer in joy to see the first fluffy and soft bread coming out of my oven.  One can really feel the sheer joy when success kisses your hand and your hard work pays you.  Instant Yeast it was on which I am now fully and blindly depending on. First I tried a basic bread recipe with 1 cup of flour. After it got successful I move on to a next step to experiment bread with some stuffing. And now my kitchen is smelling more of the baked breads when Sarani annouced to have a Bread Baking event on our KFB group.  She named it 'Yeasty Feasty' and welcomed all Food Bloggers to join the event. To get the detail pls click HERE. 

Italian cuisine is always significant with its diversity and the range of dishes that serves and is famous all over the world. Whether it is the various types Pasta or bread, the varieties the cuisine serves are unbeatable. This time I preferred to welcome a bread recipe from Italy to my Indian Kitchen. So I made an Indian Italian Bread that I called: Keema Mattar stuffed Stromboli. Stromboli is a kind of variation of Italian Focaccia. Only the difference is the dough is pierced to allow the stuffing to erupt through the holes during baking.  But Stromboli itself is very controversial when it comes about its origin. Some claims it originates in the United States and some in Italy. Recently I treasured one bread baking bible where it states that it is from Italy and the basic base is the same base of a regular Pizza one. So I followed the basic Pizza dough recipe and added my stuffing to it. No need to say it comes out super tasty. So I don't mind whether its an American or Italian by origin as long as food is concerned it has its own charm and when it is tasty who thinks of the origins. So here is my recipe. Do try it and let me know if you have enjoyed it too!!!!

Partially adapted from HERE.
(Yields 3-4 adults)
Ingredients:

For the Stromboli Dough:

All Purpose Flour: 3 cups

Instant Dry Yeast; 3 tspn (I have used the HIGH ACTIVE PRIME INSANT DRY YEAST, available in New Market , Kolakata)

Sugar: 1 tpsn

Salt: 1tspn

Olive Oil: 2 tbspns

Warm Water: 1 & 1/2 cup

For the Stuffing:

Minced Chicken/Keema: 200gm

Green Peas: 1/2 cup

Onion: 2 medium (Finely chopped)

Ginger-Ginger paste: 1 tbpn

Tomato: 1 large

Turmeric Powder: 1/2 tspn

Cumin Powder: 1tspn

Coriander Powder: 1tspn

Salt & Sugar - as per your taste

White Oil - 1 & 1/2 tbspn

Red Bell pepper:  1/2 cup sliced

Mozzarella Cheese grated: 1/2 cup (You can add more)

Egg - 1 (For the wash)

Method:

1. First let us make the Stromboli Dough. Mix all the dry ingredients nicely.  Then add the liquid and knead at least for 10 - 15 mnts unless the dough looks smooth and soft.
2. Cover it with a wet cloth for an hour. You will find it in a double of  its size. Knead it again for 2-3 minuits and leave it for another hour to rise again.
3. In the meanwhile make the stuffing. Heat oil in a Kadai/Pan. Add the chopped onion and the Ginger-Garlic paste. Saute nicely till it turns brown. And the tomato and fry till the mixture starts to separate oil.
4. Add the Minced chicken, Green Peas, Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder, Salt and Sugar to taste. Fold them nicely , then cover with a lid for 4-5 mnts and cook in a medium heat. Then dry the juice whiling cooking it on high flame and then take it off the flame and reserve.
5. Now take a Flat baking tray on which you will bake the Stromboli. Cut a wax paper according to the size of the Baking tray.
6. Sprinkle Flour on the wax paper and the then roll the dough in to a rectangular shape leaving an inch less from the boundary line of the wax paper.
7. Spread the Chicken stuffing lengthwise. Then cut the remaining dough in to 1/2" strips sidewise. Pls check the following link to get a proper knowledge (HERE). Now keep on braiding the strips on from one side and then the other from the opposite sides.
8. Pre- Heat the Oven for 10 mnts at 190 degree C.
9. Now when you will bake the Stromboli make sure you have greased the Wax paper properly. So just slowly lift  one side of the stromboli and grease the wax paper and then the other side.
10. Now thoroughly brush the  top with the lightly beaten egg wash.
11. Bake for 15 mnts. Then again brush the top with Egg wash and bake for another 15 - 20 mnts until it gets a nice light brown shade and crisp.
12. Serve with any dip or some salad.

Note:

If you would like to know more about the roles of different types of YEASTs, pls visit HERE. Suma has given such a nice detail information about Yeast.

Updated: Active Dry Yeast is available in the stores like Spencers, In & Out or the Local grocers in Kolkata.... 1 tspn Instant Dry yeast = 1 & 1/4 tespn Active Dry Yeast. (Amrita Thanks for the guidance)

This is off to the ongoing event 'Yeasty Feasty' By Kolkata Food Bloggers Group.

Stuffed Mini Boule

Stuffed Mini Boule or in simple terms Stuffed Bread is one of the hot pot items in my Food Menu. Just a couple of days back I prepared the dish after a long gap. My husband relishes and enjoys the dish to its full pit always. This is the first time, I served it to my daughter and to my wonder she finishes her plate just in no time. Now a day I mainly cook the dishes placing myself to my daughter’s place, what she will like and what will be healthy for her and of course it should take the shortest time to prepare.This dish takes very little time to prepare. The time what it takes is the baking time. It is a very full meal which can be served as a breakfast, a lunch or as a dinner too. The crispy and crunchy taste of the bread blend marvellously with the soft and spongy bite of the stuffing. I usually prepare the dish with French bread. But this time I got the Mini Boule instead. The French word boule means ball or round, so “boule” may be used to describe a variety of breads that all have the boule shape in common. A typical French boule is a hearty, country bread with a chewy crust, an open crumb, and a moderately soft interior and is baked in many different sizes. It is most often prepared with white bread flour made into a similar type of dough used for a French Baguette (narrow French stick loaf); however a variety of flours and other ingredients can be used.

Ingredients:

Pls note: All ingredients used are according to my own taste change the measure as per your taste.

• Whole Bread- 1 (not the slice one. Pls get the bread which looks dense in width.)

• Egg- 2

• Boiled potato- 1 medium size

• Boiled carrot- 1 small or ½ of the medium size

• Chopped colour bell pepper- ½ Cup

• Chopped tomato- ½ cup

• Grated Ginger- 1 tea spoon

• Grated cheese- ½ cup

• Melted butter- ¼ cup

• Italian seasoning- according to taste (Tip: I usually store the seasoning mixes delivered from the Pizza hubs. In need they help to season my preparation perfectly)

• Salt, Sugar, Black pepper- As per taste

Method:-

• First slice the head of the bread in round shape. Scoop out the bread from inside, so that should look like a bowl. Keep the extra bread in a separate container.

• Preheat your oven to 375 F.

• Now take the extra scooped bread. Crumble the bread with your hand. The feel of the texture will be like bread crumbs. Mix all the other ingredients gently except the cheese and eggs.

• Beat the eggs and fold it to the mixture. Pour the whole ingredient into the Bread bowl and cover the lid with the head of the bread slice.

• Grease the whole bread with butter.

• Grease a baking tray, place the bread and set it for baking for 40-45mnts.

• After 10mnts open the oven, remove the top of the bread and bake both separately just placing the bread slice side of the bread bowl. After 15mnts turn the bread slice to the other side.

• When the time is up check the bread stuff with a toothpick or a knife pricked in the centre comes out clean. If it’s done switch off the oven, bring out the tray and sprinkle the cheese on the top of the bread bowl and close the top once again with the bread lid. Put again to the oven and keep inside till the cheese melts down.

• Bring it out of the oven. Cut into thick chunks and serve with salad, boiled vegetables.

Note:

• The baking time I have given is as per my estimate. Your time may take more or less. Just keep on checking the colour of the bread and the Stuffing. If you see that the bread is getting over toasted then just decrease the temperature of the oven and bake it till the stuffing is done.

• The stuffing will flap up a little. Therefore don’t worry.

Variations:-

• You can add boiled chicken in the stuffing.

• Other breads are always welcome. Only they should be not sliced and thin.

• If you want to make it a vegetarian dish. Use corn flour instead of Egg. But be careful about the amount of the corn flour. Use only as much needed for a binding.

Culinary is just an Art of creation. Many a time, we just get a hunch of a recipe and make it in our own kitchen in our own way and as per our taste. But most of the time we create rather than recreate something.

I am sending this recipe to the Events -Sunday Snacks:Healthy Snacks .

And to Kid's delight ~ Wholesome Snacks.