KHAJLA

KHAJLA

In continuation to the special food series in Numaish Aligarh please find the recipe for Khajla. This is also believed to originate from Meerut. The other two were Halwa Paratha & Barola

Ingredient :
Maida ( All purpose Flour) - 250gm 

For Syrup :
Sugar - 250 gm

Refined Oil / Ghee for frying

- Mix flour with 2 tbsp refined oil / ghee & 1 ½ cup of water with soft hands. 
- Knead the dough well and leave it for 10 mins. It should be soft as in case of Bhature.
- Roll the dough and put ghee on it. 
- Now roll it and leave for 10 mins again. 
- Cut it and leave it for 5 mins. 
- Now roll like roti and put it in warm ghee and deep fry. 

Keep Aside.

Make Syrup of 2 wire by boiling 250 gm sugar in 2 cups of Water.
Remove from Heat.

Dip the Dry Khajla in Syrup and remove from Syrup in a plate and let the sugar dry.

The Khajla is ready.

(Its variant is found as Khaza in Bihar)

Halwa Paratha

Halwa Paratha of Aligarh.

Starting in the last week of January begins the Annual festival of Numaish in Aligarh. Its a mix of trade fair and local fair but lasting for almost a month. One thing that you would see along with this all across the city are three special foods : Halwa - Paratha , Khajla & Barola.

Halwa - Paratha:

This dish is believed to originate from the adjoining district of Meerut. However some old residents of Aligarh also say that this actually arrived from Karanchi during partition. And usually used to be made on annual get together's when these families used to meet here in Aligarh. Whatever is the truth, let's enjoy the recipe. 

Paratha:

Paratha :  Is actually a huge Puri made of Maida (fine flour) (250 gm for one puri). Miada is kneaded with enough of moin (three four tbsp of refined oil / ghee). It should be loosely kneaded so that it can be easily spread into Puri of almost 2ft diameter. To spread it into paratha, make a single ball of approx 250 gm and put it on a greased flat base and press it slowly starting from center till it is evenly spread and becomes a large paratha as below.

Deeep fry this in hot refined / Ghee in a flat bottom Kadahi.

Paratha is ready.

Halwa : Halwa is the rawa (suji) Halwa we normally make at home.

Recipe : In about 50 gm ghee fry rawa (150gm) regularly stirring till you get a light pink colour. Add water (three cups) and keep stirring till it starts setting. Add one cup sugar to it. Keep stirring. When all sugar melts and mixes add 50gm ghee and remove from flame. Spread on a flat bottom plate and garnish with dry fruit, Coconut and Cherry.

Serving : This is normally sold by weight in kgs. And served by cutting paratha in piece and a scoop of Halwa. 

Relish.

The other two dishes Khajla and Barola would be discussed separate.

You may also enjoy these from Aligarh :

Aligarhi Kachauri      Atrauli Aloo Chaat      Khajla                Barola  

                           

Snacky Chicken

SNACKY CHICKEN

My kids don't want chilly in their food. But they love non veg. So I try this method which they love. This also goes good as snacks with drinks. 

Ingredients : 

Chicken : Half Kg

Onion : 250gm, sliced

Curd : 2 tbsp

Salt : as per taste

Haldi powder : 1tsp

Ginger : 2 tsp - crushed

Garlic Paste: 2 tbsp

Eno Powder - 1/2tsp

Garam Masala - 1tsp

Chart Masala - 1 tbsp

Whole spices for tadka 

Clove - 5 peices

Dalchini - 1 small peice

Big Cardamom - 5 peices

Small cardomom - 2peices

Black pepper - 10 -12 peices

Tejpatta - 2 peices.

Red chilli - 2 peices

Marination : In a bowl put washed - drained - chicken pieces and add one tbsp garlic paste, 1tsp ginger paste, salt as per taste, curd 1tsp and mix well. add the eno powder and mix again. Check the whole chicken should be well coated with marination. keep aside for one hour.

Preparation : In a flat bottom kadhai add three tbsp of refined oil. (If you prefer mustard oil you can use the same esp eastern India) let it heat. Add the whole spice enlisted above for tadka. Let it crackle. Add onion and fry on mild heat till it is tender and pink. Add marinated chicken and fry covering with lid in turns to soften the chicken. Once it fries a little add a tsp of turmeric (haldi) ,garlic paste and ginger paste and continue frying. After some time add the left one tbsp of curd and fry till its well mixed. Add garam masala poiwder and chaat masala powder and saute till the chicken is soft enough to eat. Your snacky chicken is ready.

Serve hot.

Aditya Sinha