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It is often believed that when one thing is associated with another, it tends to become its sole identity. For instance, certain foods like Pav Bhaji or Chaat Papdi are found in Mumbai and Delhi respectively, and are therefore linked to these cities. Similarly, certain cooking tools or methods are also used synonymously with certain food items like the tawa for roti.
ASIN ID - B0B42TGZR9
However, the interesting thing to note here is that the tawa isn’t solely needed for making roti, an Indian flatbread paired with curries and sabzis. Instead, your sabzi can be made on the tawa too. In addition to masala paneer and mushrooms, dishes like pizza and burger can be tossed on this iron griddle too. Moreover, you can make non-vegetarian delicacies like tawa chicken and fish on it as well.
Here are a few recipes to make the most of the tawa in your kitchen.
1. Tawa Pulao
A much-revered street food from Mumbai, this pulao, as the name suggests, is made on a hot iron griddle. First, the onions and tomatoes are sautéed on it. Then, the masalas are added and everything is mashed together. Boiled rice is thrown in and everything is combined well. Sprinkled with coriander leaves and a dash of lime juice, the tawa pulao is served hot.
2. Tawa Chicken
This is a relatively dry chicken dish that is made on a tawa. The chicken pieces are marinated in ginger-garlic paste. Meanwhile, roughly chopped onions, tomatoes, and other spices are tossed on a tawa. The chicken is added in and water is added to let the chicken absorb all the flavours. It is cooked with the lid on for a few minutes until the water dries up. Then, it is garnished with kasoori methi and served alongside dal and roti.
3. Tawa Pizza
Super easy to make and a great alternative when you don’t have an oven, the tawa pizza tastes as good as any baked pizza. The pizza base is prepared and then slathered with pizza sauce. Chopped vegetables like onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and corn are added to it. Cold cuts like chicken salami or pepperoni can be added too. Next, grated cheese is sprinkled over it and it is cooked from the bottom on a tawa. Instead of flipping, the tawa is covered with a lid so that the pizza cooks properly. Once the crust turns brown and the cheese melts, garnish it with chilli flakes and oregano.
4. Tawa Paneer Masala
Who said you can only cook roti on a tawa? This tawa paneer masala recipe will make you think otherwise. The paneer masala, which includes sliced onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, and spices is sautéed on a tawa. Later, diced paneer cubes are thrown in and everything is mixed together. Water is added to let it cook and once it dries up, the thick masaledar paneer sabzi can be served with rice and roti.
5. Tawa Fish
ASIN ID - B003SLDNGG
This is one of the easiest dishes to make on a tawa. This is because fish itself has a short cooking time and when cooked over high heat on a tawa, it is ready in a jiffy. The marinated fish fillet is tossed on an iron griddle and flipped on both sides, so that it cooks properly. The marination is also added on top of it later. The tawa cooking lends the fish a smoky flavour and char grill marks.
