Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Baked Paneer

Paneer is one thing that my husband absolutely loves. Most recipes ( Indian cuisine) that use paneer require the paneer in fried form. I would often not make a dish to avoid the hassle of frying paneer. I came up with a simple alternative, baking.

Ingredients:
Paneer - 400 gms cubed
Oil - 3 Tbl sp
Chili powder - 1tsp
Salt - to taste.

Method:
  1. Mix oil, salt and chili powder in a bowl.
  2. Lightly coat two opposite sides of the paneer cube.
  3. Pre-Heat the oven to 375 degrees
  4. Bake for 10 min.
  5. Flip each cube and bake again for another 5 min.
PS: Do not use cookie sheets or any kind of baking sheets. Directly place the paneer on the baking sheet.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip

This recipe happened when I was completely bored one afternoon and decided to bake cookies. The recipes I found online were doing me no good since I didn't have all the ingredients and so I decided to make my own recipe. How wrong could I go? was my attitude. I have no clue of the exact measurements since I eye balled most of the ingredients. I will try and get the measurements the next time I make it. To all the avid bakers who will probably be appalled at the recipe since measurement is supposed to be key, all I have to say is I am a person for whom baking typically means instant brownie/cake mix, so please bear with me.
Ingredients:
Instant Oatmeal
Sugar - regular white sugar
Eggs - 2
Baking Powder- 3 pinches
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Milk - about 1/3 cup

Method:
  1. Grind the oatmeal and sugar into a coarse mixture.
  2. Slightly beat the two eggs and add it to the mixture.
  3. Add milk to the mixture
  4. Add the chocolate chips and mix well
  5. Refrigerate for about 10 min
  6. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees
  7. Spoon the dough onto a baking sheet
  8. Bake for about 12-13 min
  9. Then pull the cookie out and flip it.
  10. Bake for another 8 min
  11. Serve hot
PS: This cookie might get a wee bit hard when cooled so warm it in the microwave for 20 seconds before serving.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tomato Celery Chutney

This was a recipe i obtained from my sister, who inturn got it from her good friend. It goes so well with idli and dosa and its a delightful way to include celery in our diet ( esp for asians who might find the celery too strong a flavor).

Ingredients :
Celery - 1 bunch
Tomato paste - 4 Tbl
Vegetable oil - 1 Tbl
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tsp
Channa dal - 1 tsp
Asefotida - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Fenugreek Tumeric powder - 1 tsp ( optional)
Salt - as required

Method:
  1. Cut Celery into small pieces.(1 bunch)
  2. Take very little oil in a kadai, and fry the celery till it is done.
  3. Grind with a little water to a smooth paste.
  4. Heat a little oil in a kadai/
  5. Add mustard seeds, channa dal, and urud dal.
  6. Add hing.
  7. Add the ground paste of celeries and tomatoes pulp/paste.
  8. Add chilli powder, salt, and some vendhaya manjal podi(if you have that).

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Pizza



Ingredients :

Flour - 3 and 1/2 cups
Water - 1 cups ( warm )
Yeast - 2 tsp
Olive oil - 1/4 cup
Honey - 2 Tbl
Salt - 1/2 tsp

Method:
  1. Mix the  water with honey salt and yeast. Leave it aside for  10 min.
  2. In a bowl 1 cup of  flour and olive oil and mix well.
  3. Now mix in  yeast.
  4. Add the rest of the flour a  few Tbl at a time.
  5. Mix till it forms a smooth ball.
  6. If its too dry add the rest of the water,  1Tbl at a time.
  7. If its too wet add flour, 1tsp at a time.
  8. Dust a board ( any surface to knead) with some flour. 
  9. Place the flour on it and knead for a min.
  10. Place the dough in a plastic bag or a covered vessel in a warm and dry area for 45 min.
  11. After 45 min, you will find the dough has risen. Punch it down till it deflates.
  12. Store away as mentioned in step 10 for about 1 and 1/2 hour.
  13. After that time, its ready to use.
  14. To roll out the dough. I followed Mitch's method
  15. Once the dough is rolled up , place it in a pizza pan ( I used a 12 inch pan ).
  16. Use a fork and make a few holes on the base to let the steam out while cooking.
  17. Brush some olive oil.
  18. Spread the  Pizza sauce leaving an some  space near the edge
  19. Layer it with you favorite vegetables ( I used tomato and capsicum).
  20. Top it off with a thick layer of mozzarella.
  21. Place it in the middle rack of a pre-heated ( 450 degree ) oven for 15 minutes.
  22. Allow it cool for about 10 min and serve.
PS: 
  1. The dough can be frozen and used when needed.

Pizza sauce

Last week I had this sudden whim to try out pizza at home from the scratch. I started by making a tomato sauce for the base. I threw in few things together and it turned out pretty good.

Ingredients 

Tomato puree - 1 can
Onion - 1 chopped
Garlic - 5 cloves minced
Olive oil  - 1 Tbl

Spices :

Rosemary - 1/4 tsp
Basil - 1/2 tsp
Oregano -1/2 tsp



Method:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a kadai . Add all the spices  and fry for a min.
  2. Then add the garlic and fry for another minute.
  3. Now add the onion and fry till it turns golden brown
  4. Now add the tomato puree and mix well.
  5. Simmer till the sauce turns thick ,stirring occasionally.
  6. Serve hot on pasta or use it in your pizza.


Mutter Paneer


I recently tried this recipe from one of my cookbooks and fell in love with it. Its perfect with either naan or rice. 

Ingredients 

Paneer ( Cottage cheese) - 100 gms ( cut into squares)
Peas - 2 cups 
Onion - 1 big (chopped )
Tomato - 2 ( chopped)
Cumin Seeds - 1 Tbl
Vegetable broth - 3 cups
Vegetable oil - enough to fry the paneer
Margarine - 2 Tbl
Ginger garlic paste - 2tsp


Powders :
Chilli powder  - 2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Cumin powder - 1tsp
Salt - as required
Turmeric - 1 and 1/2 tsp

Grind together :
Onion - 1 big
Tomato - 2 
Cashwenuts - 1/4 cup
Green chillies - 2
Ginger - 1 inch piece

Method: 

  1.  Fry the paneer till it turns golden brown evenly on all sides. 
  2. Mix  5 cups of water and the turmeric in a pan and bring to boil. 
  3.  Remove from fire and add the paneer to the pan of water.
  4. Keep it there till its time to use it in the gravy. This keeps the panner soft.
  5. Add the margarine to the kadai and allow it to melt.
  6. Add the cumin seeds. Once it splutters , add the chopped onion and the ginger -garlic paste. 
  7. Once the onion turn golden brown, add the ground mixture.
  8. Fry for about 6 - 7 min. 
  9. Add the chopped tomatoes and fry till the tomato pieces turn tender.
  10. Now add the all the spice powders and salt. Fry for about 2 min.
  11. Now add the broth and peas and bring it to a boil.
  12. Allow the peas to cook and the gravy to thicken.
  13. Now add the paneer cubes. 
  14. Let it simmer for about 5 min.
  15. Serve hot with naan or rice.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Bread Uppma

Ingredients

Onions - 1 chopped
Tomato - 2 chopped
Coriander - 1/2 a bunch chopped
Bread - 5-6 slices cut into squares
chilli powder - 1 ans 1/2 tsp
garam masala
 - 1 tsp (optional)
salt - to taste
oil - 2
Tbl

To season:
Jeera - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1tsp 

Method
1. Add the oil to a
kadai.
2. when the oil becomes hot enough, add
jeera and urad dal.
3. Once
urad dal turns brown, add the chopped coriander and fry for a few minutes.
4. Add onions and fry till it turns golden brown.
5. Add tomatoes and fry till its cooked.
6. Add the spice powders and salt and fry for a about 4-5 min.
7. Turn of the burner. Now add the pieces of bread and mix well.
8. Serve hot with any tomato based sauce.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Butternut Squash And Corn Soup

Ingredients

Butternut Squash - 2 cups ( chopped)
Onion - 1  big
Corn - 1 can
Carrot - 1
Coconut Milk - 1/4  can
Lemon juice - 2 Tbl
Vegetable broth - 3 cups
Butter - 2 Tbl

Powders

Salt - as required
Pepper - as required
Chilli  powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp 
Coriander powder -1/4 tsp
Chat masala - 1/2 tsp


Method 
  1. Heat the saucepan. Add the butter and allow it to melt.
  2. Add the onion. Fry till turns transparent.
  3. Add the squash pieces ,corn and carrot.
  4. Saute for about 10 min.
  5. Add the spice powders ( except pepper) and a pinch of salt.
  6. Saute for about 4 min.
  7. Now add the vegetable broth, cover the pan and allow it to cook till the vegetables are tender.
  8. Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
  9. Heat the saucepan and add the puree.
  10. Add salt, pepper  and coconut milk.
  11. Bring to boil.
  12. Remove from heat.
  13. Add the lime juice.
  14. Serve hot.

Mashed and Super Creamy Potatos

Ingredients

Potatoes - 5 large
Garlic - 10 cloves ( peel the skin)
Milk - 1 and 1/2 cup
Cream Cheese - 1/2 cup
Margarine - 2 Tbl

Spices ( dried)

Basil  - 1 tsp
Oregano - 1 tsp
Rosemary - 1 tsp

Powders

Salt - as required

Method
  1. Cut the potatoes into large pieces.  Add it to a pot of boiling water. Cook till the potatoes are completely done. Drain the water and peel the skin. Add it to a vessel and mash.
  2. Heat a skillet and  add the margarine. Once it meltes, add the spices.
  3. Fry for a few minutes.
  4. Add the garlic cloves ( whole).
  5. Fry till they turn light brown.
  6. Remove the cloves  alone from the skillet. Grate it into the vessel containing potatoes.
  7. Heat the skillet with its contents again.
  8. Add the milk and cream cheese.
  9. Bring it to a boil.
  10. Add the milk mixture to the potatoes and mix well using a mixer.
  11. Now whip using an electric mixer with the whipper attachment.
  12. Whip till the mixture turns creamy and soft.
  13. Add the required salt and Serve lukewarm.



Friday, April 17, 2009

Get Well Soon Soup

I was in the kitchen today trying hard to think of someway to make a soup for my poor hubby who had all his 4 wisdom teeth pulled out. With a little inspiration from Mansi's blog,  I decided to make my own soup.

Ingredients

Carrots - 3 chopped into big pieces
Peas - 1 1/2 cups
Onion - 1  big
Garlic - 5 cloves minced
Milk - 1 cup 
Lemon juice - 2 Tbl
Vegetable broth - 3 cups
Butter - 2 Tbl
Cloves - 4

Powders

Salt - as required
Pepper - as required
Chilli  powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp 
Coriander powder -1/4 tsp
Chat masala - 1/2 tsp
Aam Chur - 1/4 tsp


Method 
  1. Heat the saucepan. Add the butter and allow it to melt.
  2. Add the minced garlic. Fry till it turns light brown.
  3. Add the onion. Fry till turns transparent.
  4. Add the peas, carrots,cloves and all the powders ( except salt and pepper)
  5. Fry for another 4 minutes.
  6. Now add the vegetable broth, cover the pan and allow it to cook till the vegetables are tender.
  7. Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
  8. Remove the cloves and puree the  mixture in blender .
  9. Heat the saucepan and add the puree.
  10. Add salt, pepper  and milk.
  11. Bring to boil.
  12. Remove from heat.
  13. Add the lime juice.
  14. Serve hot.

PS: It got its name courtesy my hubby who absolutely loved this soup. 

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Quick Pal Khoa

I found this recipe in Saki's blog  when I was looking for a quick and easy recipe to make on 
Tamil New Year's day. I made a few slight changes to enhance the taste.

Ingredients 

Condensed milk - 1 tin
2 % Milk - 4 Tbl
Curd - 2 Tbl
Butter - 1 or 2 Tbl ( unsalted)

Method:
  1. Add all the ingredients except the butter to large microwave vessel.
  2. Mix well and allow to cook in microwave for 5 min. Stirring every two minutes.
  3. Now add the butter , mix well and allow to cook for another 4 min. Stirring every 2 min.
  4. Serve hot.
PS:
1.  The large vessel is used to keep the contents from spilling out when cooking. 
2. It might harden when allowed to cool, so heat it in the microwave for 30 sec with a few tsps of milk.



 

Monday, April 13, 2009

Cabbage And Capsicum Rice

It happened to be one of my  "No Way Am I Cooking"  or NWAIC days. The day when I refuse to cook and my hubby does all of it. But this  particular NWAIC day , he had to work and I was left with no choice but to cook, to satisfy my rumbling stomach.  I had shredded cabbage and one capsicum left in my fridge and was really happy when i found this quick and easy recipe ( courtesy :vahrehvah.com) with just these two as the main ingredients. I didn't realise a recipe this simple could taste this good.

Ingredients :

Basmathi Rice - 1 and 1/4 cup
Cabbage  -  2 cups (shredded)
Capscicum - 1 ( julienned)
Ghee - 1 Tbl
Olive oil - 2 Tbl
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Powders :

Salt - to taste
Pav Bhaji masala - 2 or 3 tsp
Turmeric - 1 and 1/2 tsp

Method :
  1. Wash and soak rice for 5-10 min.
  2. Drain the water and fry the rice for a few min in ghee .  
  3. Cook the rice and set aside
  4. In a kadai, add  the olive oil.
  5.  After a few min add the cumin and turmeric.
  6.  A minute later add the cabbage, capsicum and salt, stir and close with lid.
  7. Cook till the veggies are tender , stirring every two min.
  8. Now add the pav bhaji masala. Stir well.
  9. Allow it to cook about 3-4 min.
  10. Remove from heat.
  11. Mix well with rice and serve.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Sabudhana (Jevvarisi) Kichadi

I had it for the first time in a (marathi)friend's house for breakfast. It looked really unappetizing and I was quite suprised when it tasted good. Its like all my other recipes  really simple to make but awesome to taste. It can be had practically at any time of the day though its great for  breakfast or brunch.

Sabudhana - 1cup
Buttermilk -1/3 cup
Green chilles - 2 minced
Coriander - 1/4 bunch chopped
Mustad Seeds - 1tsp
Cumin seeds - 1tsp
Peanut - 1/3 cup (dry roasted and coarsely grounded)
Vegetable oil - 1Tbl

Powders:
Salt - to taste

How to:
  1. Wash and drain the sabudhana. Mix with buttermilk and keep aside for 5 hours. Then drain the sabudhana for excess buttermilk. Add enough salt mix and set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a kadai.
  3. Add the mustard and jeera and allow it to splitter.
  4. Add the green chillies and coriander. Fry for few minutes.
  5. Now Add the sabudhana. Mix it well and allow it to cook.
  6. This will take about 6-7 min. Do  not stir constantly.
  7. Now remove from fire and mix in the peanut powder.
  8. Serve hot.

Variations :
  1. Add chopped onions and fry along with the green chillies.
  2. Add boiled and chopped potates when frying the green chillies. Just add a pinch of salt for the potatoes.
  3. Add whole or halved(dry roasted) peanuts along with peanut powder for a better crunch.
  4. The buttermilk will make the sabudhana a little more stickier than usual. If you don't like this consistancy , just soak it in plain water for 8 hours or overnight.
  5. Complete till step 4 and add the contents of the kadai and sabudhana to a microwave vessel . Cook for 5 min. Stir after 2:30 minutes.
PS: If you use a kadai some part of the sabudhana might melt and stick to the bottom. Its easy to clean as the sabudhana is almost has a glue like consistancy , you can simple peel it off the bottom of the kadai before you begin to clean the vessel.






Monday, January 5, 2009

Cheese Sauce

This is a really simple cheese sauce that you can use to top any pasta dish with ( can be used even in your lasagna) or simply eat it with plain pasta for a delicious and atrociously simple meal.I love eating it with any kind of pasta or spaghetti but its awesome with the rotini( mix of spinach ,tomato and plain).

Butter - 2 Tbl
Flour - 1Tbl
Heavy Cream -1/8  pint
Mozzarella - 2 cups (shreaded)
Parmesan  - 1 cup


Powder:
Salt - 2tsp
Pepper Powder - 1 Tbl


How to :
  1. Melt Butter in a pan  (make sure it does not brown).
  2. Add the flour and just fry for about 2 min ( Don't leave it for too long or the burnt smell of flour will propogate throughout the recipe)
  3. Add the cream and bring to boil.
  4. Add the Mozerella  and allow it melt.
  5. Now remove from fire add the salt and pepper.
  6. Top with the pamesan cheese.
  7. Server hot with any pasta or spaghetti.

Variations : 
  1. Use maragarine instead of butter.
  2. Use  whole milk and avoid cream but you have to add about 1 and 1/2 cups of milk and allow to reduce.
  3. Use a sharp or medium  chedder instead of  mozzarella. Use a mix of both.
  4. Add  1 tsp oregano  and reduce pepper to 1/2 Tbl.






Penne Pasta in Tomato Garlic Mix

Penne Pasta - 3 cups 
Tomato - 3 chopped
Garlic - 10 pods minced
Tamarind Juice - 1-2 Tbl
Olive oil - 3Tbl

Powders :
Salt - to taste
Crushed red pepper - 1Tbl

How to:
  1.  Bring 6 cups of water to boil. Add 1/2 tsp of olive oil and some salt.
  2. Add the pasta and allow to cook for  about 10 min. Drain and cool the pasta
  3. Add the rest if the oil to a skillet.
  4. After a few min add the garlic and allow it to lightly brown.
  5. Add the tomatoes, pinch of salt and pepper powder. Fry for about 5 -6 min.
  6. Now add the tamarind water.
  7. After 3- 4 min  remove from gas.
  8. Add the pasta. Mix well and Serve hot.
  9. Can be topped witha cheese sauce and served. 

Variations: Add chopped peppers. You can avoid pepper powder and added quater jalapeno minced.