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Jun 16, 2010

Chicken in Cashew Nut Gravy


Ingredients:
Chicken - 1 kg (cut into pieces)
Onions - 4 (chopped)
Ginger-garlic paste - 1.5 tsp.
Ripe tomatoes (big) - 2 (chopped)
Red chilli powder -  1 tsp.
Coriander powder - 2 tsp.
Salt (to taste)
Cashew nuts - 15
Goda masala - 1.5 tbsp.
Oil
Cinnamon - 2 sticks
Gloves - 2
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp.

To marinate:
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp.
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp.
Salt
Yogurt - 2 tbsp.

Method:
Marinate the chicken with the given ingredients 'to marinate'. Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes.
Heat oil in a kadai and throw in the cinnamon and cloves.
Add the onions and saute until golden color.
Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes and saute until mushy.
Add marinated chicken and saute for 4 minutes.
Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, salt and goda masala. Saute for 2 minutes.
Now cover with a lid and let it cook. Stir in between.
Meanwhile soak the cashew nuts for 30 minutes in hot water. Grind them into a thin paste.
When the chicken is tender and dry, add the cashew paste and saute for 2 to 4 minutes.
Throw in the coriander leaves and saute.
Remove from heat.
Enjoy with chapathi or naan.

Note:
I added kashmiri red chilli powder
The gravy thickens when it becomes cool.
Fresh cream can aslo be added at the final stage.

Jun 15, 2010

Pani Puri/Gol Gappe-ICC for May

For May's ICC, the popular Indian Chaat Pani Puri/Gol Gappe is the challenge. When I first tried the recipe, the puris turned out to be like papris. My husband teased me if I was making papri chaat or pani puri. Then I told him that I was following the recipe exactly as given. He said, "Don't add baking soda or baking powder. Instead, increase the measurement of maida." Then I checked my recipe collection for reference, only to find that no baking soda or powder was added. Then I took maida's and sooji's/rava's ratio as 1:1 (equal amount). I didn't add salt also. It was a huge success. For accompaniments, nothing was changed; we loved the red tamarind chutney especially. Now onto the recipe.


Puri
Ingredients:
Sooji/Rava - 1/2 cup
Maida/APF - 1/2 cup
Water (to knead)

Required Items:
Damp cloth or towel - 3

Method:
In a bowl, add rava and maida.
Add water and make a stiff dough out of the flours.
Cover with a damp cloth and keep it aside for 15-20 minutes.
After the given time above, make small balls like seedais and cover it with a damp cloth.
Roll them into small circles.
Place the circles on another damp cloth and cover it with the other.
Heat oil in a thick-bottom pan, slide one puri and lightly press it with a ladle (should puff at this stage).
Continue the same process with a batch of 4 puris.
Fry them till they turn golden color.
Place them on a paper towel.

Note:
Allow the puris to cool and store them in an air-tight container.



Pani/Spicy Water
Ingredients:
Mint leaves - 1 1/2 cup (chopped)
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp. (chopped)
Tamarind - 1/3 cup
Ginger - 1 inch
Green chillies - 4-5
Ground cumin- 1 tsp.
Black salt - 1 1/2 tsp.
Salt (to taste)

Method:
Soak the tamarind with 3/4 cup of water.
Extract the pulp from the tamarind.
In a blender jar, add mint leaves, coriander leaves, ginger, dry roasted ground cumin, chillies, tamarind pulp, salt and black salt and blend into a smooth paste.
Keep in the refrigerator.
While assembling, add required amount (maybe 4 cups) of water to this paste and run through the strainer.



Red Tamarind Chutney
Ingredients:
Tamarind - 1 cup
Jaggery - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 2 tbsp.
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp.
Dry roasted ground cumin - 1 tsp.
Ground black pepper - 1/4 tsp.
Cloves -2
Warm water - 2 cups
Salt (to taste)

Method:
Soak the tamarind with 2 cups of water.
Extract the pulp from tamarind.
In a pan, dry roast the cloves and pound them into a coarse powder.
In another pan, add tamarind pulp, jaggery, sugar, red chilli powder, black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder, cloves and salt.
Heat for 5 minutes on medium heat.
After 5 minutes, remove and cool the mixture.
Run through the strainer and keep the chutney aside.


Potato Filling
Boil 4 small potatoes.
Peel and chop them.
Sprinkle little salt and red chilli.
Keep it aside.


Lentil Fillings
Ingredients:
Chana (cooked) - 1 cup
Salt (to taste)
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp.
Tumeric powder - 1/4 tsp.
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp.
Oil - 1 1/2 tsp.

Method:
Heat the oil in a pan, And add the cooked chana and masalas and saute for few minutes.
Remove from heat and keep aside.



To assemble:
Make a hole in the centre of a puri.
You can stuff in whatever you want with the fillings.
Open your mouth extremely wide "AAAH!" and pop it in.

Jun 11, 2010

Dal Palak (Microwave Version)



Ingredients:
Moong Dal - 1/2 cup
Palak/spinach - 1/2 from a medium bunch
Onion - 2 (chopped)
Ginger - 1.5 tsp.
Tomatoes - 2 (chopped)
Green chillies - 3 (slit)
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Salt (to taste)
Oil - 2 tsp.
Coriander leaves - 4 tbsp. (chopped)

For tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp.
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp.
Asafoetida - 1 pinch

Method:
Soak moong dal with 1 cup of water for 2 hours.
Add this moong dal with water in a microwave proof dish (I used corningware).
Cook micro high for 10 to 12 minutes.
Stir in between for every 2 to 3 minutes.
After sometime while cooking water dries up, so add little water and conitnue to cook.
Once the dal is cooked (that is after 12 minutes), remove from microwave and keep the dal aside.
In another microwave bowl add oil, onions, green chillies, ginger and micro high for 2 minutes. Stir.
Add tomatoes, chopped spinach and micro high for 2 minutes. Stir.
Add this green mixture to the dal, and also add salt, turmeric powder, coriander leaves, cumin powder and if required add water.
Micro high for 4 to 6 minutes stirring in between.
Remove and keep aside.
In a micrwave bowl, add oil and do the tempering for a minute.
Add this tempering to the dal plalak.
Enjoy with roti or with plain rice.

Sent off to "MEC-Delicious Dals" (hosted by Kamalika and started by Srivalli).

Jun 10, 2010

Egg White Omelette

This is a healthy and simple omelette for breakfast.



Ingredients:
Egg white - 3 eggs
Spinach - 4 leaves
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp. (chopped)
Tomato - 1/2 (small)
Salt (to taste)
Coarsely crushed pepper (to sprinkle)
Oil

Method:
In a bowl, add the egg white.
Tear the spinach and add to it.
Scoop out the seeds of the tomatoes, dice them and add them to the egg white.
Add the coriander leaves and mix lightly.
Heat a griddle and add the egg white mixture.
Sprinkle a little oil.
Cook on both the sides.
Remove the omlette and place it on a plate.
Sprinkle salt and coarsely crushed pepper.
Enjoy with breakfast.

Sent off to "CWS-Pepper" (hosted by Padma and started by Priya).

Jun 9, 2010

Simple Dal (Microwave version)



Ingredients:
Masoor dal - 1/2 cup
Spring onions - 4 (chopped)
Ginger - 2 tsp. (chopped)
Garlic - 2 cloves (crushed)
Tomatoes - 2 (small-chopped)
Green chillies - 2 (slit lengthily)
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp.
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp.
Curry leaves - 10 leaves
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp. (chopped)
Asafoetida - 1 pinch (optional)
Lemon juice - few drops (optional)
Salt (to taste)
Oil - 2 tsp.

Method:
Soak dal in 1 cup of water for 30 minutes.
In a deep microwave safe bowl add the dal with the soaked water and also add 1/2 cup of water to 1 cup of water.
Cover and cook at microwave high for 10 to 12 minutes or until dal's cooked. Stir in between. Be careful!
In another microwave bowl, add oil, mustard and cumin seeds. Microwave for 2 minutes.
Add chopped spring onions, ginger, garlic, green chillies and microwave for another 2 minutes. Stir in between.
Add tomatoes and microwave for 3 minutes.
Now add this mixture to the dal and stir.
Add salt, cumin powder, turmeric powder and water if required and stir.
Microwave for 3 minutes and stir.
Add garam masala, curry leaves and coriander leaves. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir.
Add lemon juice (I didn't add lemon juice and asafoetida) and serve immediately.
Enjoy with plain rice or with chapati.

Note:
I didn't have a bowl of long depth, so I used the normal regular ones and the dal water leaked out of it on the turntable (the rotating glass plate).
I didn't mash the dal.

Updated on 14/06/10
Edit:
-Soak the dal before cooking in the microwave.
-The dal should be cooked without any lid closed on the vessel.
-The water dries up while cooking. Check every 2-3 minutes for the moisture and add a little amount of water every time when it dries up. This is to prevent the dal from being burned.

WARNING: DO NOT COOK IN PLASTIC!

-Use a microwave proof dish or a corningware dish.

Sent off to "MEC-Delicious Dals" (hosted by Kamalika and started by Srivalli), "Think Spice Think Garam Masala" (hosted by Saraswathi and started by Sunitha) and "Healing Foods-Onions" (hosted by Priya and started by Siri).

Jun 8, 2010

Snake gourd/Pudalankaai Poricha Kootu



Ingredients:
To boil:
Pudalankaai/snake gourd - 350 gm (tender)
Moong dal - 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp.
Salt (to taste)

To fry and powder:
Black gram/urad dal - 1 tbsp.
Peppercorns - 1 1/2 tsp.
Byadgi chillies - 3
Grated coconut- 1/4 cup
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
Asafoetida - 1 pinch
Oil

To Temper:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp.
Urad dal - 1 tsp.
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Oil


To garnish:
Chopped coriander leaves

Method:
Add moong dal and water in an open pan. Let it cook.
When the dal is half done, add the chopped veggies along with white fiber and tender seeds.
Add turmeric powder and salt.
Fry and powder the given ingredients.
Add this powder to boiled dal and vegetable. Mix well.
Temper the given ingredients and pour it in the kootu.
Remove from heat and garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve as side dish for rice.

Sent off to "CWS-Pepper" (hosted by Padma and started by Priya) and "Green Gourmet Event-1" (hosted by Preeti Kashyap of Write Food: Relishing Recipes).