Veggie Pesto Panini

I don't know much about the sandwich, but you melt cheese perfectly in my panini

So today I’m sharing a quick and easy veggie pesto panini that satisfies the cravings of all cheese lovers out there. For this goodie, I’ve used sourdough bread (Pepperidge Farm is my fave!), you could also make this using ciabatta rolls, brioche rolls, or something as simple as white or wheat bread. When you make your panini, be sure to use loads of butter on the outer sides of panini to have that nice crunchy and golden brown layer. I've used crunchy veggies here. NOW if you really want to treat yourself, add shredded paneer along with mozzarella. Of course, you can enjoy this with soup, mac&cheese, or something as simple as chips.

Oh and all thanks to mom for making amazing basil pesto sauce ahead of time. You can also make pesto sauce using spinach, kale, or sun-dried tomatoes instead of basil leaves. Scroll down for the pesto recipe.

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Veggie Pesto Panini

prep: 15 mins | cook: 20 mins | total: 35 mins | servings: 4 panini

Ingredients:

· 1 medium red onion, sliced

· 1 red bell pepper, sliced

· 1 green bell pepper, sliced

· 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced

· 1 orange bell pepper, sliced

· 1/2 cup basil pesto sauce

· 1 cup (or more!) mozzarella cheese

· salt & pepper per taste

Instructions to assemble

1. Preheat the panini machine on medium heat

2. Spread basil pesto on both slices of bread and butter on the outer side

3. Top it off with sliced veggies, loads of mozzarella and shredded paneer (optional)

4. Simply press the sandwich in the machine until golden brown

A quick basil pesto recipe:

Grind the following in a grinder machine until a fine paste

· 3 cups fresh basil leaves

· 1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

· 4 cloves garlic, peeled

· 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

· 3/4 cup olive oil

· 1 jalapeño pepper (I like my pesto spicy!)

· A few leaves of mint for that nice pungent-minty flavor

· Salt per taste

Make it cheezy!

Ginger Chai

I'll bring chai, you bring pani. Let's have chai-pani.

Ginger Chai (aka adoo wali chah or adrak wali chai) is a beverage I personally make every day to give a good kick to start the morning. I am basically a chai addict and perhaps an obligatory post, hence the name chaitowine. Chai is one beverage that's made in all homes in India. You would see chai being sold pretty much everywhere, from chai stalls on every corner of streets (which is the BEST), at train stations, to five-star restaurants.

There are different variations of chai that one can enjoy. From ginger chai to masala chai, pudina (mint), cardamom, lemongrass or Irani chai (mix of spices: star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper). You can serve chai with cookies, pakoras, samosas, or enjoy slurping by itself!

I like to make my chai by adding grated ginger or chai masala and simmer it a little extra (to have that strong taste!).

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Ginger Chai

prep: 5 mins | cook: 15 mins (extra 5 mins for strong chai flavor) | total: 20 mins | servings: 4 cups

Ingredients

· 2 cups water

· 3-4 teaspoon black tea leaves (Wagh Bakri- available at any Patel Brothers or at any Indian grocery stores)

· 2 inches (or more) ginger, grated

· 2 cups milk (whole/2%/skim/soy milk)

· 4.5 tablespoon cane sugar

Instructions

1. Add 2 cups of water in a saucepan or kettle, wait until water starts boiling

2. In boiling water, add grated ginger, black tea leaves, and sugar

3. Let it boil for good 7 to 8 minutes until the water gets deep hue of red

4. Add cold 2 cups of milk, let it boil on high heat for 5 minutes

5. Again, simmer for 5 extra minutes for strong chai (for the best result)

6. Strain the tea through a strainer right into cups

7. Serve hot

Enjoy slurping!!

Boozy Pani Puri

Chocolate puri-fies the soul

Hey guys, today I'm sharing this amazing recipe of Dark Chocolate covered Pani Puri filled with boozy whipped cream and fruits & nuts...in short Boozy Pani Puri! You can play around with fruits & nuts of your choice and also with chocolate coating you can choose the type of chocolate based on your likings. The puris I have used to make this dish were store bought, so all I had to do was to pop them in the air fryer for a couple of minutes until they are golden brown. My pani puris from scratch don't ever turn out great so store bought are my go to fix.

Try this recipe and I promise you won't regret it!

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Boozy Pani Puri

prep: 30 mins | assemble: 10 mins | total: 40 mins | servings: 15 boozed pani puris

Ingredients:

· 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

· 1/4 cup confectioners sugar

· 2 teaspoons rum

· 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 1/2 bar of dark chocolate

· A handful amount of chopped blackberry, fig, pistachios, and cashews

· A handful amount of pani puri

Instructions:

Boozed whipped:

1. In a bowl, add heavy whipping cream, rum, vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar

2. Whip until you get a correct consistency of whipped cream

3. Refrigerate the cream for 10 mins

4. Fill up the pastry piping bag when ready

Dark chocolate:

1. Melt dark chocolate on a medium heat stove in a double boiler with butter 

2. Let the chocolate cool a little before dipping pani puris

3. Set the dipped pani puris in plates one beside the other and let it cool in the refrigerator for 15 mins

Boozed Pani Puri:

1. Start popping those chocolate covered puris making enough large hole for you to pipe the whipped cream

2. Add fruits and nut on the bottom then start piping the cream and garnish with fruits and nuts

3. You can also garnish with mint leaves for that minty flavor

PS: Because innovations are executed to share <3