Recommend it

May 3, 2010

Chicken Biryani (Version 2)



Ingredients:
Chicken - 1/2 kg
Basmati rice - 2 1/2 cup
Coconut milk - 1 1/4 cup
Water - 2 3/4 cup
Onions - 5 (sliced thinly)
Tomatoes (ripe) - 4 (chopped)
Ginger - 2 inches
Garlic - 10 cloves (small)
Mint leaves - a handful
Coriander leaves - 3 tbsp.
Curd - 3 tbsp.
Kashmiri red chilli powder - 1 tsp.
Green chillies - 4 (slit into halves longitudinally)
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Mace - 2
Kalpasi/Dagad phool - 2
Black cardamom - 2
Bay leaves - 2
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Black pepper - 4
Cloves - 2
Salt
Oil
Ghee - 3 tsp.
Lemon juice - a few drops (optional)

Method:
Wash the chicken and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Grind ginger, garlic, cinnamon, mace, cloves, black pepper, cumin seeds, dagad phool and black cardamom.
Marinate chicken pieces with ground paste, green chillies, mint leaves, coriander leaves, curd, salt, chilli powder and keep aside.
Soak the rice in water and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
Add bay leaves, onions and sauté till the onions change to golden color.
Now add the tomatoes and sauté till it becomes mushy.
Add the marinated chicken with masala and sauté for 5 to 8 minutes.
Now add the soaked rice without water and 2 tsp. of ghee.
Stir gently.
Add coconut milk and water.
Check for salt and add if required.
Cover the pressure cooker with its lid and add the weight.
Pressure cook till one whistle and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat after 5 minutes.
When the pressure drops, remove the lid and spread the rice on a large wide plate.
Sprinkle the remaining ghee and add lemon juice before serving.
Also remove the bay leaves before serving.
Enjoy this tasty biryani with chicken fry and raita.
Sent off to Priya's "CWS-Cardamom Seeds" event.

May 2, 2010

Green Peppercorn Chicken Fry

Ahem! I'm back! :) I thought it would take weeks or months to get the computers fixed, but my husband (who is a lazy guy) spent a whole day to get them fixed!!! Half day was spent in buying the hardware parts and half day spent in setting them up. Okay, today's recipe is green peppercorn chicken (which is good for people suffering from cold). Although, green peppers aren't available here, my relative from Bangalore sent it to me as a gift.


Ingredients:
Chicken - 3/4 kg
Onions (medium) - 5
Ginger - 2 inches
Garlic (small) - 10 cloves
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Black peppercorns - 5
Green peppercorns - 3 medium sprigs
Green cardamom seeds - 2
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp.
Salt
Oil
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Coriander leaves (chopped) - 2 tbsp.

Green Peppercorns



Method:
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Grind ginger, garlic, cinnamon, green cardamom, fennel seeds, cumin, green and black peppers.
Marinate the chicken with ground paste along with salt, chili powder, turmeric powder and curry leaves. Keep aside.
Chop the onions.
Heat oil in a kadai and add the onion pieces.
Sauté till it changes color. Now add the marinated chicken pieces and start to fry.
Cover the kadai and cook the chicken by stirring in between.
When the chicken turns tender, remove the lid and sauté till the chicken becomes dry.
Enjoy as a side dish for chapathi or for biryani.

Sent off to Priya's "CWS-Cardamom Seeds" event.

Apr 29, 2010

A Break

Both my desktop and laptop computers went down one after another. I have managed to type this up from my mobile phone. Those who miss my posts(!), please expect delays.

Apr 27, 2010

Eggless Marble Cake (Microwave Version)

Ingredients:
Flour - 1 cup
Sugar (powdered) - 1/2 cup (or as per taste)
Milk - 3/4 cup
Butter - 3 tbsp.
Baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp.
Cocoa powder - 3/4 tbsp.
Drinking chocolate powder - 1 tbsp.
Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp.
Butter - 1 3/4 to 2 tbsp. (to melt chocolates)



Method:
Sieve flour and baking powder together 4 times.
Cream sugar and 3 tbsp of butter till they turn light and fluffy.
Add lukewarm milk, flour gradually and mix with a electric hand-mixer.
Combine the vanilla essence.
In another microwave bowl, add butter and melt butter on microwave high for 30 seconds.
Mix cocoa and drinking chocolate with melted butter.
Pour quarter batter in a micro container and on the top add 1 tbsp. of chocolate mix.
Again add little batter, chocolate mix and continue the process till you finish the batter and the choco mix.
Roughly mix with the help of a tooth pick.
Micro high for 5 minutes.
Let it stand in microwave for another 5 minutes (no cooking).
Remove the container and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Enjoy the cake immediately, as the cake dries fast.
Note: Butter the container before pouring the batter.

Apr 22, 2010

Carrot Halwa with Nuts (Microwave Version)



Ingredients:
Carrots - 400 gm (grated)
Fresh cream - 400 gm
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Cahewnuts and almonds - 1/4 cup (mixed)
Ground green cardamoms - 1 tsp.
Almonds and pistachios - 2 tsp. (chopped)


Method:
Take carrot, cream and sugar in a casserole. Microwave high for 5 minutes. Stir in between.
Now microwave high for 20 minutes by stirring in between every 3 to 4 minutes until liquid is almost evaporated.
Blanch almonds and chop both almonds and cashewnuts.
Add the nuts and ground cardamom. Microwave medium for 4 minutes.
Take out and spread out in a serving plate.
Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios.
Serve warm or chilled.

Sent off to Priya's "CWS-Cardamom Seeds" and "MEC-Kids Party Food" (hosted by asankhana and started by Srivalli).

Apr 20, 2010

Beans Pakodi Kura/French Beans Fritters Stir-Fry, Dondakaaya Vepudu/Ivy Gourd Fry, Gutti Dondakaaya/Stuffed Ivy Gourd (T&T- Sailu's Kitchen)

Here is the original recipe.

French Beans Fritters Stir Fry


Ingredients:
French beans - 1/4 kg (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
Oil (for deep frying)

For coating:
Bengal gram flour/ Besan - 3 tbsp.
Cornflour - 1 1/2 tbsp.
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp.
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp.
Salt (to taste)

Seasoning:
Onion (small) - 1 (chopped)
Red chilli powder - a pinch
Ginger - 1/2 tsp. (chopped)
Garlic - 3/4 tsp. (finely chopped)
Green chillies - 2 (chopped)
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Oil - 2 tsp.
Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp.

Method:
In a vessel add chopped beans and the coating ingredients. Sprinkle little water and combine well. Only a little water is required.
Heat oil for deep frying.
Slowly drop the beans coated with batter and fry them in medium or medium-low flame till they turn golden colour. Remove and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Add ginger and garlic and sauté for a minute.
Add green chillies and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.
Add the chopped onions and sauté till onions change colour.
Add chilli powder and crispy beans and stir fry on high flame.
Finally add the coriander powder and toss.
Serve as a snack or as a side dish for rasam rice or sambar rice.
My family finished this dish as a snack.

Ivy Gourd fry
Here is the original recipe.


Ingredients:
Ivy gourd/Kovakkai - 1/4 kg

For Stuffing:
Onions - 2 (finely chopped)
Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 tsp.
Chilli powder - 1 tsp.
Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp.
Fennel powder - 1/4 tsp.
Peanuts - 1 1/4 tbsp. (coarsely powdered)
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp.
Salt

Seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp.
Cinnamon Stick - 1 inch
Black gram dal - 1 tbsp.
Fresh curry leaves



Method:
Trim the ends of ivy gourds and slit till three-fourth of the gourds.
Mix all stuffing ingredients in a vessel and stuff them in the ivy gourds.
Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds and allow them to crackle.
Now add the urad dal, cinnamon stick and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.
Add the stuffed ivy gourd, left over stuffing and start to cook for 4-6 minutes by stirring every 2 minutes.
Reduce the flame and cover it with a lid. Stir once in a while. This process will continue for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook for few minutes till tender. It will be little bit crunchy.
Serve as a side dish for rice.

Stuffed Ivy Gourd

Here is the original recipe.

Ingredients:
Kovakkai - 1/4 kg
Onion - 2 (medium size)
Jaggery - 1 tsp. (grated)
Tamarind - lemon size
Salt (to taste)
Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp.
Coriander leaves (to garnish)

To powder:
Dry chillies - 4
Black gram dal - 1 tbsp.
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp.
Oil - 1/2 tsp.


Seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Garlic - 4 cloves
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs

Method:
Heat the tamarind in 1/4 of warm water and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, black gram dal, red chillies and fry for 3-4 minutes. Make a paste along with onions and salt.
Trim the ends of ivy gourds and slit till three-fourth of gourds.
Stuff the paste in every ivy gourd.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and let them crackle.
Add the cumin seeds, curry leaves, garlic and sauté for a minute.
Add the stuffed ivy gourd and the remaining stuffing. Cover it with a lid.
After 4 minutes, remove the lid and turn the pieces.
Cook for another 15 minutes by stirring in between.
Now add the tamarind extract along with 1/4 cup of water.
Cook with lid till the ivy gourd becomes tender in low flame.
Add jaggery and mix.
After 4 minutes, uncover the lid and turn the pieces.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Remove from heat and serve with hot white rice.

Sent off to "Tried & Tasted-Sailu's Kitchen" event (hosted by Kitchen Chronicles and started by Zlamushka).