Saturday 28 April 2012

Baked spaghetti with vegetables and eggs



A very healthy and fulfilling recipe for kids and us too ! just requires assembling all the ingredients and popping in the oven...Here you go:)


1)fresh vegetables ( I have used broccoli,carrot,capsicum ,onion, green bean)
2) 3-4 tomatoes chopped or 1/2 can of chopped tomatoes.
3) spaghetti 
4) oregano-1 tsp
5) salt and pepper
6) Grated Parmesan cheese
7) 2 eggs
8)2 tbsp butter


Method



  1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook tomatoes and onion over medium heat until it has consistency of a sauce add oregano salt and pepper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk 1 egg, Parmesan cheese and butter. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture and toss to coat.
  3. Place all the vegetables in first layer,2nd layer of  the spaghetti mixture in a greased baking dish. Top with the tomato mixture break the second egg on the top and sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.
  4. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10 mins.
  5. Serve hot!

Thursday 26 April 2012

navratan korma

A decadent  Mughlai dish with 9 varieties of vegetables,nut,paneer,creamy sauce all of which come together to whip up a beautiful delicacy.its origin from a royal era gives it a very rich and slightly sweet taste. This is an absolutely delicious recipe and for all those who are not so fond of spicy Indian food, this should be a perfect veg recipe.



Ingredients:


Diced Vegetables - 3 cups [ I used carrot, beans, cauliflower, peas, corn, capsicum,cabbage,Courgette]
Paneer - 1/4 cup or few cubes.
Cashew & Raisins - 1/4 cup or 15 each
Onion - 2 large
Tomato - 2 lage or 1/2 can chopped tomato
Green Chili - 2
Ginger-Garlic Paste - 2 tsp
Red Chili Powder  - 2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder  - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 2 tsp
pouring cream/sour cream-1 cup
Butter - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste 
pineapple chunks and cherry-1/4 cup


Method:


1. Finely chop onion, slit green chili .Soak dry fruits in water for 10 minutes and grind to smooth paste.


2. Chop all the vegetables and keep aside. 


3.  Add all the vegetables & chilies except corn and peas with little water and microwave for 5 minutes.  
~ this makes the cooking process faster and retains the natural color of the vegetables.


4. Meanwhile heat butter in pan add chopped onion and saute until transparent, add ginger-garlic paste, mix well and cook for 1 minute.  Add all powder masala and cook for another 1 minute.


5. Add puree tomato, mix well and cook for 6-8 minutes or until butter starts oozing out.


6. Now add all the cream ..i like the taste of sour cream and simmer until a boils comes.  Add microwave vegetables and cook in medium heat for 8-10 minutes. 


7.  Add paneer and cashew, raisins paste and give a good stir cook for another 2-3 minutes.   Add salt and cook for 5 minutes until gravy become thick. 


8.  Add pineapple chunks and fresh cherries or sweetened cherries.















Wednesday 18 April 2012

traditional gatte ki sabji(chick peas flour curry)


A dish from from the royal part of India 'Rajasthan'.Dumplings made of chickpea flour (besan/gram flour) are cooked in a flavorful and tangy yogurt gravy.Not an easy dish for a novice cook but its worth trying once and will prove to be an enhancement for your culinary skill.
very delicious dish with an earthy flavor.

Ingredients

For Gatte
  1. Besan (Chick Pea Flour) - 1 cup
  2. Haldi (Turmeric Powder) - 1/2 tsp
  3. Mirch (Red Chilli) Powder - 1/2 tsp
  4. Ajwain (Carom Seeds) - 1 tsp
  5. Dhaniya (Coriander) Powder - 1/2 tsp
  6. Salt - as per taste
  7. Dahi (Yogurt) - 1/4 cup
  8. Oil - 1/8 cup

For Gravy
  1. Onion - 1 cup finely chopped
  2. Tomato - 1 cup finely chopped
  3. Ginger - 1 inch piece grated
  4. Garlic - 4 cloves crushed
  5. Dahi (Yogurt) - 1 cup
  6. Dhaniya (Coriander) Powder - 1 tsp
  7. Jeera (Cumin) Powder - 1 tsp
  8. Mirch (Red Chilli) Powder - 1 tsp
  9. Amchur (Mango Powder) - 1/2 tsp
  10. Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
  11. Rai (Mustard Seeds) - 1 tsp
  12. Jeera (Cumin Seeds) - 1 tsp
  13. Salt - as per taste
  14. Oil - 2 tsp


Preparation

For Gatte

  • Mix all dry masalas in besan
  • Add oil to the besan and mix
  • Slowly add dahi and mix it. Remember not to add all together as otherwise besan tends to get sticky. You may not use all the dahi.
  • Make it into a firm dough (firm enough to roll it into cylinderal shapes
  • Now, take a small ball of the dough and roll it into 1/2 inch thick cylinderical shape (about 6 inch long or so.
  • Now take a pot and boil water in it. Take enough water to put all the above made rolled gatte in it.
  • Now, add the gatte in the boiling water. They should be fully merged in water.
  • It should take about 10-15 min. Check by inserting a knife in one of the gatte shaped roll and make sure knife comes out clean.
  • Once all are done, drain the gatte rolls out of water. Do not throw water as we will use it for the gravy.
  • Cut about 1/2 - 1 inch thick gatte at an angle (based on how big you would like them).


Gravy and Mixing

  • Add all dry masalas (except salt, add salt at the end as needed) to dahi and mix it well till smooth.
  • Take a wide pan, add oil
  • Add rai, jeera and let them splutter
  • Now, add ginger and garlic and fry for a minute
  • Add onion and fry till it is translucent
  • Add tomato and  fry till it is all mushy (cover the lid, it will be quicker)
  • Add the dahi and mix till the gravy starts boiling and separating oil
  • Now, add the gatte pieces in it, cover and cook for5 more min.
  • Add saved water (and more) as needed.
  • The sabzi is ready !!!




Wednesday 11 April 2012

strawberry ice-cream shake

Make yourself a naughty but nice summery treat, justified by lots of fruit!


Tip the hulled strawberries into a food processor with the milk and ice cream Blend until smooth and creamy.Pour into tall glasses, top with sliced strawberries and ice cream of ur choice.

  Recipe from a friend Leji Aby.




Tuesday 3 April 2012

chilly chicken dry!


An easy recipe which can be served both as starters as well as main-course.absolutely delicious for all the chicken lovers.
We require very simple ingredients:)

  1. Onions                                             200  gm
  2. chicken(with bone or boneless)            500  gm                                        
  3. Chilli Powder                                     25    gm
  4. Chilli sauce                                       10   gm
  5. Tomato ketchup                                 10   gm
  6. Soya sauce                                        5    gm
  7. Orange color                                      2    gm
  8. Vinegar                                             10  ml
  9. Salt                                                  to  taste
  10. cornflour                                            10 gm
  11. egg                                                   1      
  12. Capsicum                                           50 gm
  13. Coriander leaves                                 20 gm
  14. Oil                                                    required


Procedure:

1.Clean the chicken.Add chilli powder, chilli sauce,soya sauce, vinegar, salt. Keep aside and soak for one hour.

2.take the chicken pieces out of the bowl to remove the excess water and keep it in another bowl.

3.Add egg and cornflour to the chicken and mix well.Shallow fry the chicken pcs and cook in small batches.

4. Slice the onions into thick pcs. Cut the capsicum, remove the seeds and cut it into lengthwise slices.

5. Heat oil, fry onions and capsicum. Add salt and then put the chicken and fry for few minutes.add tomato ketchup,chilly sauce and soya sauce fry till its all the sauces are absorbed.

6. Serve hot, garnished with corainder leaves.


Sunday 1 April 2012

traditional Indian gram dal with spinach and brinjal.


An Indian-spiced lentil dish. Serve with a pita or rice for a complete meal.

Ingredients:

1 cup chana dal (a yellow lentil), washed.
5 cups water
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
salt to taste
1 bunch spinach chopped.
1 brinjal chopped in cubes
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 onion chopped
1 tomato chopped or 3 tablespoons canned tomato(this one gives very gud colour to the dal)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon chopped green chili
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
cilantro/parsley/coriander leaves to garnish

Preparation:

Cook the dal in the 5 cups of water with turmeric and salt for 30 minutes. Add the spinach and brinjals cook until the spinach and brinjal is tender and mixed with the lentils - about 35-50 minutes.
In a separate pan heat the oil, add the cumin seeds and as they pop add the onions. Brown the onions.
Add the garlic, tomatoes, green chili, coriander, garam masala, red chili powder, stir 2 minutes.
Add the daal and spinach and lemon juice, stir and heat through.
Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with pita or chapati or basmati rice.