AnuSriram


Here is a punjabi thali i made when a close friend visited us last week. The menu is given below.

Menu:
Drink - Jal Jeera
Starters - Papad salad and Paneer fingers
Bread - Naan
Side dish - Kadai vegetables, Methi dhal and Chole
Rice - Peas-jeera Pulao
Raita - Cucumber raita
Dessert - Rabdi
Pickle and Sauce


Home-made paneer

Ingredients:
  • Milk - 5 cups
  • Yogurt - 1/2 cup or Lemon juice- about 1/4 cup

How to make it:

Bring milk to a boil. Add the curd and mix well. Let it boil on low flame until its curdled and the whey separates. Switch off the flame. Drain the whey water from curdled milk. Wash the paneer in cold water. Take on to a muslin or cheese cloth and squeeze to drain excess water. To make a paneer block, keep a heavy bottom pan over the paneer until set. The whey water can be used for making sabji's and also as a substitute for curd or lemon juice while making paneer. I have tried making panner using both lemon juice and yogurt. I prefer yogurt as it gives more quantity and a softer paneer.



Jal Jeera

A popular drink of punjab, served chilled before the meal instead of soup. Its refreshing as well as induce hunger.

Ingredients:
  • Jal jeera powder - 1 tbsp
  • Water - 1 cup
  • Ice cubes - 2
  • Mint or Corriander leaves - for garnishing
How to make it:

To a cup of water, add jal jeera powder and mix well. Add ice cubes and garnish with mint or corriander leaves.


Paneer Fingers

Ingredients:
  • Crumbled paneer - 3/4 cup
  • Rice flour - 1/4 cup
  • Corn flour - 2 tbsp
  • Chilli powder - 1 1/2 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
  • Onions - 1/4 cup, finely chopped
  • Salt - as required
  • Oil - for frying

How to make it:

Heat oil in a pan. In a bowl, mix all the above ingredients with just right amount of water to make a soft dough. Roll into required shape and deep fry in oil until golden brown.



Papad Salad

Ingredients:
  • Papad - 1 (I used Lijjat papad)
  • Tomato - 1, finely chopped
  • Onion - 1, finely chopped
  • Cucumber - 1, finely chopped
  • Corrinader leaves - few to garnish
  • Salt - as required
  • Black pepper powder - as required
  • Lemon juice - 1 tsp (if preferred)
How to make it:

Mix all the vegetables, add salt, black pepper powder, and lemon juice. Cook papad on medium heat on a tava. Place the cooked papad on a plate, topped with the vegetables and garnish with corriander leaves.



Naan

Ingredients:
  • All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups
  • Active (rapid rise) yeast - 1 tsp
  • Warm water - 1 cup plus more if required
  • Salt - as required
  • Sugar - 1/2 tsp
  • Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Oil - 2 tbsp

How to make it:

To 1/2 cup of warm water, add the yeast and feed with a pinch of salt and sugar. Keep aside until it becomes frothy. In a bowl, add the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the yeast water and knead to make a soft dough. Add oil and knead for few more minutes. Cover and set aside in a warm place until it rises into double. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees fahrenheit. Take a ball of the dough and roll flat. Bake on a pizza pan until done for about 10-12 minutes. Take out and brush with butter. Cut and serve.


Peas -Jeera Pulao

Ingredients:
  • Basmati rice - 1 cup cooked and grains separated
  • Onions - 1 cup chopped
  • Peas - 1/2 cup
  • Jeera - 1 tbsp
  • Cashews - few
  • Bay Leaf - 1
  • Cardamom - 3 or 4 crushed
  • Cloves - 3 or 4 crushed
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  • Green chillies - 2 or 3, slit
  • Oil - 2 tbsp
  • Butter - 1 tbsp
  • Salt - as required
How to make it:

Heat oil and butter in a pan, add bay leaves, cashews, crushed cardamom, cloves and jeera. Add the onions, green chillies and ginger garlic paste and fry until onion turns transparent and raw smell of garlic goes off. Add the peas and cook until peas becomes soft. Add the cooked rice and salt and mix well.



Methi dhal

Ingredients:
  • Methi leaves - 1/2 cup washed
  • Corriander leaves - 1/4 cup
  • Onion - 1, chopped finely
  • Toor dhal - 1/4 cup
  • Moong dhal - 1/4 cup
  • Masoor dhal - 1/4 cup
  • Turmeric powder - a pinch
  • Green chillies - 2 slit
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
  • Jeera - 1 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Salt - as required
  • Oil - 2 tbsp
  • Butter - 1 tbsp
How to make it:

Combine all the dhal and pressure cook with enough water and a pinch of turmeric powder. Heat oil in a pan, add jeera and when it sizzles add the onions, ginger garlic and chillies and fry until raw smell leaves. Add the chopped methi leaves, corriander leaves and curry leaves and fry for a while. Add the cooked dhal and salt. Cook until done. Add a dollop of butter on top. Mix well before serving!


Chole masala

Ingredients:
  • Chickpeas - 1 cup, soaked and cooked
  • Onions - 1, chopped
  • Tomato - 1
  • Turmeric powder- a pinch
  • Red chilli powder - 1 1/2 tsp
  • Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  • Jeera - 1 tsp
  • Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Cloves - 2 crushed
  • Garam masala - 1 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
  • Salt - as required
  • Corriander leaves - to garnish
  • Oil - as required
How to make it:

Puree tomato in a blender. Heat oil in a pan, add fennel seeds, cloves and jeera and when it sizzles, add onions and ginger garlic paste. Add the garam masala, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and cardamom powder. Fry until raw smell goes off. Add the pureed tomato, salt and chickpeas and cook until done. Garnish with corriander leaves.


Kadai vegetables

Ingredients:
  • Vegetables - 2 cups chopped ( cauliflower, carrot, peas, beans, potato and green peppers)
  • Onion - 1 chopped
  • Paneer - 1/2 cup cubed
  • Tomato - 1
  • Tomato paste - 1 tbsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  • Cashews - few
  • Cardamom - 2 crushed
  • Cloves - 2 crushed
  • Garam masala - 1 tsp
  • Chilli powder - 1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Kasuri methi - 1 tsp
  • Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  • Salt - as required
  • Oil - as required
  • Butter - 1 tbsp

How to make it:

In an un-oiled pan fry the cardamom, cloves and cashews. Grind with tomato and kasuri methi into a thick paste. Cube paneer and deep fry until golden brown. Set aside. Steam all the vegetables except onion and green peppers. Heat oil and butter in a pan add fennel seeds and when it sizzles, add onions and ginger garlic paste and fry for a while. Add chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric powder and tomato paste. Add green peppers and cook for a while. Add the pureed tomato and enough water and cook until oil separates. Add vegetables and fried paneer cubes and cook until done. Garnish with corrinader leaves.


Cucumber raita

Ingredients:
  • Cucumber - 1 small, finely chopped
  • Yogurt - 1 cup (plain)
  • Corriander leaves - to garnish
  • Salt - as required
  • Jal jeera - a pinch (if preferred)
How to make it:

Mix cucumber and salt in a bowl. Add yogurt and mix well. Granish with corriander leaves and sprinkle a pinch of jal jeera.


Rabdi

Ingredients:
  • Crumbled paneer - 1/2 cup
  • Evaporated milk - 1 can
  • Milk - 2 cup
  • Sugar - 1/4 cup or as required
  • Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
  • Nuts and raisins - to garnish
How to make it:

Boil milk and evaporated milk. Add cardamom powder and sugar and let it boil until a thick layer forms on top. Add the crumbled paneer and mix well until it become thick. Pour onto a bowl and once cooled refrigerate for few hours. Granish with nuts and raisins before serving!


Here is one more look!


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42 Responses
  1. Priya Suresh Says:

    Wow Anu, wat a delicious thali...am speechless and feel hungry on reading ur post...Great!!!


  2. Srilakshmi Says:

    OMG! What a Thali.. Great Spread.. I'm feeling hungry now :(


  3. Parita Says:

    Wow Anu, punjabi thali looks delicious, looks all rich and tempting, i just had my dinner and i feel like having again :(


  4. Wow..yummy thali..I esply liked those paneer fingers..


  5. Wow what a thali! Any chance I can come for dinner too ?


  6. Delicious spread Anu...I like the paneer fingers very much :)


  7. Pooja Says:

    Thats a yummy thali..Delicious post..


  8. miss v Says:

    wow.... these all look so good. i'm thinking of how i can possibly veganize paneer...


  9. Kalai Says:

    Lucky friends!! The whole spread looks so amazing, Anu! :)


  10. Manju Says:

    can i pls come for a dinner at ur place sometime..even if you half of what is there in the thali, i'll be a happy soul! :)


  11. Uma Says:

    Wow, what a spread!! Wish I was there for the dinner :) All the dishes are mouth-watering.


  12. oh my...so many dishes!! keep it up.


  13. VIDYA VENKY Says:

    thatz awesome anu....iam coming home for lunch.....iam hungry


  14. Unknown Says:

    Wow anu..super po kalakitta..looks so yummy...


  15. That is one delicious thali...Wish i would have been there on that day for dinner..


  16. Lavanya Raj Says:

    WoW..Lovely Looking Grand Thali! Great Effort!


  17. Suparna Says:

    hi anu,
    That's a geat menu! the punjabi thali looks so authentic, beautifully presented :) I like the pulao plate ;)
    I too made papad salad recently yet to post :)
    Your friends must have enjoyed the meal to the fullest!good job sweetie :)
    TC


  18. Wow what a delicious thali. Looks very tempting.


  19. wow...really a yummy delicious treat....am drooling here....u can send this to asankana's thali event


  20. lata raja Says:

    OMG. You have got me longing for this SIT DOWN DINNER.Just awesome.


  21. Laavanya Says:

    Now, i need to find a friend who'd cook this thali for me :) How lovely it looks and i can't believe all the effort & time you would've put to make this - great job Anu.


  22. Finla Says:

    I am comming over so you can also make this super delcious elaborate thali for me too.
    Your friend is really liucky to have a friend like you.


  23. Malar Gandhi Says:

    Oh my my, what an interesting spread is that, dear. Love ur feast!! So, let me know...when can I drop in!! He he, kidding.


  24. Pooja Says:

    what a wonderful treat for the eyes ... u have a lovely blog.. i like the template !


  25. Preety Says:

    wow this is called a treat love everything you presented..


  26. Vibaas Says:

    what a yummy spread! When are u inviting me anu? ;-)


  27. Sharmila Says:

    That's indeed a huge spread! Awesome. :-)


  28. Padma Says:

    Just entered from Dharani's blog to see this Delicious thali with so many lovely dishes ... lucky friend :)


  29. Chitra Says:

    I wish i cud be that frnd;)i want to taste all those now..By the way, how much time u took to prepare all these mouthwatering recipes..U shud b an expert in cooking dear:))
    Have bookmarked all:)


  30. Anu Says:

    Wonderful thali.. as usual ur hard work and presentation skills are reflected here :) Nangalum sapada varalama? ;-)


  31. vidhas Says:

    Wonderful thali Anu. Surely your guest have enjoyed.


  32. Cynthia Says:

    I am inviting myself over!


  33. lubnakarim06 Says:

    Oh wow......so many yum recipes......Iam all in.....


  34. Unknown Says:

    lovely spread every thing looks so delicious and so inviting.


  35. Samahita Says:

    wow....You made this all yourself? Awesome dear....I am simply bowled over by your enterprising skills. Keep it up.


  36. Usha Says:

    Wow what a spread, I am sure your friends enjoyed themselves thoroughly!


  37. Geez I wonder how u managed to make all these things!!! simply superb and I loved the way you pictured them!!! oh how much I wish I was there!!!


  38. Hi Anu,
    Punjabi thali is professional to the core. After a long time I visted your blog..From now on I am going to become a regular visitor..Your blog is just fantastic..The presentation of your recipe and the pictures shows the hard work you are putting in.Keep up the good work.
    Regards,
    Priya.


  39. Dori Says:

    ~ Yum... I wish I was the friend you had over!


  40. harry Says:

    best Punjabi thali at gopala's next Bhandup Mumbai India at great price........ HARRY


  41. harry Says:

    great Punjabi Thali at Gopala's next Bhandup, Mumbai, India at best price
    i feel like having non stop[ vist all]


  42. harry Says:

    best Punjabi thali at gopala's next Bhandup Mumbai India at great price........ HARRY