For the love of waffles

Heat your griddles - time to sample these crisp batter cakes in ways you've never had them before

Waffle Dahi Chaat
Ingredients
. 2 cups yellow lentil
. 2 tbsp raisins
. 1 tbsp green chilli, chopped
. 1 tsp fruit salt or Eno
. Salt to taste
. Oil, to grease waffle trays
To serve:
. 1 ½ cups fresh yoghurt
. Salt to taste
. 1 tsp sugar
. Pinch of rock salt
. 2 tbsp mint chutney
. 2 tbsp sweet date chutney
. 2 tbsp pomegranate
. 1 tsp dry roasted cumin powder
. 2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
Method
Rinse the lentils a couple of times and soak for 2 hours. Wash again and grind in a mixer. Mix the lentils together with the raisins, chilli, fruit salt and salt.
Heat the waffle trays and brush with oil. Pour the batter evenly and cook for 9-10 mins on medium setting. Remove gently.
Boil water with salt and dip the cooked waffle for 3-4 minutes. Cool and squeeze gently.
Mix yoghurt with salt and sugar.
Arrange the waffles in serving plates and top with yoghurt, mint chutney, date chutney, pomegranate, cumin powder and fresh coriander. Serve immediately.
Sweet Potato Warm Waffle Salad
Ingredients
. 1 kg sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed
. 1-inch cinnamon stick
. 2 star anise
. Salt to taste
. 1 tbsp lime juice
. 1 bunch lettuce
. 2 cucumbers
. 1 red bell pepper
. 2 tbsp beetroot, julienne, optional
For the dressing:
. 2 tbsp lime juice
. 1 tbsp honey
. Black pepper to taste
. 1 tbsp roasted cumin powder
Method
Boil sweet potato cubes with water, cinnamon and star anise until cooked. Remove from heat and discard the water.
Mash with the help of a masher while still hot. Cool and add salt and lime juice.
Heat the waffle trays and grease with some cooking spray.
Make tomato-sized balls with the mashed dough. Arrange in waffle trays and cook on low heat till done.
Remove the waffles and serve on a bed of lettuce with cucumber and red bell pepper.
Mix all the ingredients for the dressing and pour on top of the waffles. Garnish with the julienned beetroot.
Serve warm.
Berry Sweet Waffle
Ingredients
. 1 cup store-bought strawberry cake flour mix
. 2 tbsp butter
. 2 tbsp yoghurt
. 2 tbsp milk
. 1 tbsp beetroot powder
. 1 tsp strawberry essence
. 2 tbsp icing sugar
. Butter, to grease silicon waffle trays
. Few strawberries, to serve
Method
Sift the flour and mix with butter and yoghurt.
Mix until smooth and add milk to adjust the consistency.
Pre-heat the oven on 180°C for 20 minutes.
Grease the waffle trays and pour the batter.
Cover with another tray and bake for 20 minutes.
Cool completely and remove from the tray gently.
Dust with icing sugar and serve with fresh strawberries.
Saffron Waffle Naan With Palak Paneer
Ingredients
. 5-6 strands of saffron
. 2 tbsp milk
. 1 tsp dry yeast
. 1 tsp sugar
. 2 cups all-purpose flour
. ¾ cup warm water
. 1 tbsp oil
. 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
. Salt to taste
. 2 tbsp butter
. 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Method
Soak saffron in warm milk. Set aside.
Mix a little warm water with yeast and sugar. Set aside.
Mix flour with warm water and saffron milk to make soft dough. Add oil, cover and keep at warm place.
After an hour, mix Parmesan cheese and salt with the dough and knead again.
Grease waffle trays with butter and spread with sesame seeds.
Set the dough in the trays and let rest for 30 minutes, before baking it for 18-20 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 220°C.
Remove when done and serve warm.
Waffle Uttapam With Roasted Apricot Chutney
Ingredients
. 2 cups ready-made idli batter
. ½ red bell pepper, finely chopped
. 2 tbsp carrot, grated
. 1 tsp green chilli, finely chopped
. Salt to taste
. 1 tsp Eno, or fruit salt
. 1 tsp cumin seeds
. Oil, to grease waffle trays
For the apricot chutney:
. 4 apricots, dry, soaked in warm water
. 2 tbsp cranberries
. ½ cup blood orange juice
. Salt to taste
. 1 tbsp olive oil
. 1 tsp black pepper
Method
For the chutney, heat the oil in a pan and roast the soaked apricots on both sides. Cool and blend in a blender with the remaining ingredients. Set aside till required.
Heat the waffle iron and grease the trays with oil spray. Mix all the vegetables with the idli batter, and add salt, Eno and cumin seeds. Pour the mix into the trays, and cook for 12-14 minutes on medium setting. Remove when done, and serve with roasted apricot chutney.
Red Velvet Waffle With Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
. 1 cup pancake flour
. 1 tsp beetroot powder
. 1 tsp chocolate powder
. Pinch of salt
. Milk, for batter
. 1 tsp vanilla essence
. 7-8 blackberries
. 5-6 raspberries
. 7-8 strawberries
. 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
. 2 tbsp raspberry coulis
. 2-4 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Method
Heat the waffle trays and grease with cooking spray.
Mix the pancake flour with beetroot powder, chocolate powder and salt. Add milk to make the batter smooth. Then add vanilla essence and pour into the waffle trays. Cook for 7-8 minutes; cool and remove.
To serve, arrange the cooked waffles in the centre of the serving plate. Top with berries, seeds, coulis and vanilla scoops. Serve at once.

• Food and Dining