Monday, April 30, 2007

panner tikka















Panner Tikka ;

One of my favorite ..

Here goes the method I do..


Servers for 5 , total cooking time 35 mins

Ingredients
-------------

Panner - 1 pack (you can sclice them horizontally or vertically )
Capsicum (bell pepper) --1 (thinly sliced )
Curd - 3 spoons (large spoon) , The curd should be very thick .
Chat masala -½ spoon or tandoori masala -½ spoon (if u don’t have the chat or tandoori masala add 1 spoon of garam masala)
Garam masala - ½ spoon
Ginder and garlic paste -- 1 spoon
2 spoon of oil
Salt to taste

Method:
---------
In a large bowl ,add the scliced panner ,capsicum , curd and other ingredients listed above and mix it well. Let them marinate for 10 to 15 mins .

In a pan take a spoon of oil and brush it well trough out.. Place the Panner one by one in the pan. Leave it for 6 to 7 mins . Toast it well. Let them become golden brown . Toast the other side as well .At last fry the capsicum with the remaining oil.. Garnish it on the top..

Have a great treat!!!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Tomato moong dhal soup :

Tomato moongdhal soup :

Total cooking time :25 mins ,servers for 3



After pressure cooking








Tomatoes are not only one of our favorite foods, but they’re also one of the most important, from a nutrition standpoint. They are especially notable for being high in vitamin C , a good source of vitamin A and it acts as an anti oxidant.



Ingredients:
-------------

Tomato (ripened ) - 3 in nos
moong dhal (Yellow lentil , Tamil : pasi parupu or paitham parupu) - ½ cup
Onion medium size - ½ (thinly sliced )
Fat free butter ( reduced ) - 2 small spoons
Corn flour - 1 ½ spoons
Milk (optional) - ½ cup
salt and pepper 1/4 spoon or to taste
Croutons or masala papad for garnishing

Method :

Pressure cook the tomato and moong dhal together (cut the tomato into half). Leave it for 3 whistles. Once it cools down, In a blender add the pressure cooked tomato and dhal, blend and liquefy . If u don’t have a blender , grind it in a mixi till it gets into smooth puree (add some water if you find it semi solid) .Heat a pan , add the butter ,sauté the onion till golden brown , sprinkle the corn flour on it and stir it well to prevent lumps.. Now add the tomato puree you have made .you can also add milk if you want.It will taste good even without milk. Cook for 7 to 10 mins .. You can see a colour change .. Orange will become dark orange .. If the tomato is red .. It will turn into bright red color .. trun off the stove ..

Dress it with croutons .. I garnished with roasted Punjabi masala papad!!!

Monday, April 23, 2007

Noodles with gobi manchrian



Noodles With Gobi Manchurian
-----------------------------------

Ingredients :
=========

Noodles (spaghetti ) - A bunch
Vegetables thinly sliced - Carrot, beans, red capsicum(red bell pepper) , cabbage ,garlic (optional)
Soy sauce - 2 spoons
Oil- 1 spoon
Rice vinegar -1 spoon
Salt and pepper to taste


Method :
=======

Cook the spaghetti with lot of water (usual method ) with salt . In a pan ,take 2 spoons of oil saute the vegetables for 6 minutes ,then add the soy sauce and rice vinegar to it . Toss it and add salt . Add the noodles to it ,toss it again .Let it be in the stove for 5 minutes. The noodles is ready to eat. Server hot .


Gobi Manchurian :(WITHOUT deep FRY)
=============

Ingredients :
=========

Cauliflower florets 20 pieces
Less then ¼ of milk
Onion and garlic finely minced
Corn flour 2 spoons
Oil 2 + 1 spoons
Tomato ketchup 4 spoons
Pepper and salt to taste


Method :
======

Boil the cauliflower florets in water with less than a cup of milk (combined) for 3 to 4 mins . Drain to out and pat it dry .

Add the oil in a non stick tawa , then add the cauliflower to it .. Sauté lightly when it turns golden brown ,sprinkle the corn flour sauté again . Fry for 5 mins ,till the corn flour turns golden ,then add the ketchup to it add pepper and salt . Toss it well.. Keep the cauliflower aside in a plate. Now add the onion and minced garlic in the same pan with a spoon of oil ,sauté it for 3 mins … Dress it over the cauliflower . Your Manchurian is now ready with out much of oil ..garnish it with coriander

Bon appetite

Thursday, April 19, 2007

eggplant parmesan


Eggplant parmesan


Servers for 4 ,cooking time 45 to 1 hour .

I love egg plant parmesan ,but I avoid it in restaurant as they deep fry it . Once, out of curiosity I did this with easy ingredients and I tried baking It came out very well and very tasty . This is a easy version ,tasty and low in calorie . He he .. Try it out n pass me comments !!!!

Ingredients


1 Medium Eggplants

6 Tablespoons Salt

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese

1 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese


For The Sauce:


2 Cans Chopped Italian Tomatoes or Freshly chopped tomatoes

1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Onion

2 Cloves Garlic, Minced

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)

Method:


Cut the eggplants lengthwise into 3/4 to 1 inch thick slices. Place a few slices in a colander and sprinkle with a little of the salt. Continue to slice the eggplants and place them in the colander with salt. Place a plate that just covers the eggplant on top . Let the eggplant drain in the sink for about 15 minutes. Pat the eggplant dry. This helps to get rid of the bitterness in Eggplant .

Take 2 spoons of olive oil. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute or two. Next add the tomatoes, salt pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook over low heat until the sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile take the chappati tava or u can use broiler in oven to toast the sliced eggplant .
Brush the eggplant with live oil and toast it both side till it becomes golden brown.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. F. In a large baking pan, first spoon in a little sauce to just barely cover the bottom of the pan. Place a layer of eggplant slices side by side without touching each other. Spoon a little sauce on each slice, and then sprinkle a little of each of the grated cheeses. Choose another slice of equal size for each of the prepared eggplant slices in the pan, and cover each one with this second slice. Spoon some sauce on each of these slices, and then sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake the eggplant until bubbly and lightly browned, about 35 to 40 minutes.

I loved it!!!!!


Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Vegetable soup : (CLEAR soup)












Vegetable soup : (CLEAR soup)

----------------------
----------

Servers for 4 , Total cooking time 20 mins .


Hey guys !! Thanks for your encouragement .

Here is a super healthy soup for you. Best for dinner !!!


Ingredients :

1 small carrot Thinly sliced .
1 small cup zucchini sliced .
1 small cup of cabbage thinly sliced
½ cup of baby corn sliced .
½ cup of spinach
½ onion thinly sliced.
3 cloves of garlic.(Optional)
2 tomatoes chopped
1 cup of macaroni (boiled )
(hey u can use any of your favorite vegetable )
½ spoon oregano(dried herb)
1 spoon of vinegar
1 spoon extra virgin olive oil
A pinch of pepper powder
Salt to taste
½ spoon of cheese for garnishing

Method :

boil the macaroni with a pinch of salt in water.Let it get cooked (taste and see whether it is cooked), darin and keep aside . Boil the chopped tomato in a medium size vessel with 4 cups of water in medium heat . Let it boil for 10 mins . Add all the chopped vegetables with another 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil .add the macaroni ,extra virgin oil, Vinegar ,oregano ,pepper and salt and turn off the stove . Garnish it with coriander and cheese.

Note : some of the vegetable cooks very fast(zucchini ,Cabbage ,lettuce ) . So add it after the hard vegetables gets half cooked(carrot,beans,) !

Healthy to eat, yummy to taste!!!!!

Monday, April 16, 2007

Baby corn mushroom fried rice :

Baby corn mushroom fried rice :

Servers for 2.Cooking time 35 mins.




















Ingredients:

10 to 15 baby corn
1/2 pack of mushroom
1 medium size shallot
2 garlic cloves
2 spoons oil (olive ,maize )
pepper and Salt to taste
1 spoon of cashews fried in ghee .
1 cup long grain rice

Method:

Wipe the mushroom with clean wet cloth or tissue paper (do not wash mushroom it easily absorbs water ) and slice it . Soak the rice for 15 mins ,with 1 1/4 cup of water either pressure cook it .(or keep it in a rice cooker ).You can also fry the rice with a ½ spoon of ghee without soaking in the water and pressure cook it .
In a pan take 2 spoons of oil .sauté the onion ,garlic for 3 mins or till translucent . add the baby corn .saute for another 5 mins till the baby corn turns golden brown .then add the mushrooms . Saute for 6 to 7 mins or till the mushroom turns brown ,add the rice mix it well. Let it be on the stove for another 6 mins .
Add the salt and pepper power . Garnish it with fried cashews .

Simple but tasty !!!

Friday, April 13, 2007

masala dosai






Masala Dosa :
--------------

One of my favorite …Masala dosa with spread!!

Here goes the recipe for Dosa batter

Ingredient:

Raw rice - 3 cups
Par boiled rice -1 cup
Urad dhal -¾ cup
Avul (poha) -2spoons
Fenugreek seed - ½ spoon


Method :
--------
Soak the rice and urad dhal in a separate container with lot of water ,overnight . Add the fenugreek seed and soak it along with the rice . You can soak auvl(poha) half an hour before you grind. Don’t add lot of water to avul (poha).the above should be soaked for at least 6 hours .

Grind the rice and poha together and the dhal separately . With water in intervals .don’t pour more water to the batter . It is better to start with just enough water and add as you go along,grind it till the batter is very smooth to touch. Let the batter ferment . You can see bubbles over the batter in 5 to 6 horus. When the weather is cold you can keep it inside the oven for fermentation. When u see bubble over it. The batter is ready to do dosai and doesn’t smells raw.

DOSA:
-----

Heat pan or thava . The test you can perform is sprinkle some water on the pan. If the water evaporates immediately, pan is hot enough.
Take a round utensil, say a ladle, and put a ladleful of batter in
the center of the pan. Immediately spread the batter in a circular motion starting from the center, to get a crêpe. Drizzle the corner with oil and ghee.
Remember, you have to be pretty fast in spreading the batter, otherwise
it will start cooking instantly. The idea is to get thin crepes.

Hey!! Better oil the thava and spread it with a paper towel ,then add batter to it. Else cut a piece of onion and potato tame it in the thava so that the batter will not stick to it ..


Masala :
-------

1 big onion
2 medium size potato
1 to 2 green chilies
A piece of ginger (optional)
½ spoon Channa dhal
¼ spoon mustard seed
A pinch of turmeric powder.
1 spoon of oil
3 curry leaves chopped

Boil the potato and peel out the skin and mash it well . Add one spoon of oil into the pan and when the oil get heated spatter the mustard seed,add the channa dhal wai till it becomes golden brown then add the chili and the onion and sauté till it becomes translucent. Add the mashed potato and add the turmeric power and the curry leaves sauté it for say 6 mins.off the pan .


SPREAD :chili spread
---------------------

4 to5 dried red chili
3 garlic cloves.

Method:
Soak the chili and garlic for 15 mins in water, grind it into a paste .



For masala Dosai :
-----------------

After spreading the batter , turn you gas knob to low heat. After u see the crisp in the corner ,take a spoon of chili paste and spread it over the dosai. Then add masala on the top .YOU NEED NOT TURN THE DOSA .
Warp it up. You can serve it with a slight butter on the top!

Yummy!!!!!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Akki rotti


Akki rotti: total coking time 15 mins ,servers for 2

Akki is a kannada word for rice . Akki roti is rice roti . it’s a very tasty one with chutney podi (thenagai podi is called as chuty podi ) and kothammali chutney (coriander chutney ).

Ingredients :
------------

Rice flour -1 cup (hey ! If u have left over rice ,add that too with the rice flour.. And mash it well with your hand!!)

½ medium size onion finely chopped
1 medium size green chili finely chopped (depends on your spice level you can add extra if u want)
A tint of asafetida (Perumgayam)
4 spoon of oil.
A little of Finley chopped coriander and curry leaves
Salt to taste

Method:
--------

In a large bowl , take one cup of rice flour ,left over rice (mashed) and other above give ingredients .
mix it well and make a dough (as u do it for chapatti) with little of water . Do not over pour the water.
Add water in intervals during mixing .
Divide the dough into 4 parts .

Now ,heat up the thava (low) , add ½ spoon of oil and brush it over the thava . Have a bowl of water near by. Dip your palm in water ,take a portion of dough and tap the dough gently on the thava ,make it round and thin (flatten it well) .Hey don’t worry nothing will happen to your hand .!! .. Adjust the gas to medium flame. Drizzle ½ to 1 spoon of oil on the corner .leave it for 2 mins . Now it is the time for the another side to cook. gently rise the roti with spatula and turn the side . Wait for 3 minutes . You can have a crispy and tasty akki roti in minutes ! Do the same for the remaining rotis .

Chutney :
----------
A small cup of coconut
A bunch of coriander leaves (cleanly washed ,u can also chop if you want)
½ spoon of split gram (pottu kadalai)
1 medium chili (again it depends on your spice level)
Mustard seed & 3 curry leaves
Salt to taste

Method:
Grind the above ingredients well with very small amount of water in a mixer .Take it in a bowl.Spatter the mustard seed with ½ spoon of ghee and the curry leaves to it,garish it over the chutney .

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Jasmine rice with tofu curry




Jasmine rice tofu curry
----------------------------
Cooking time :15 to 20 mins ,serves for 3

Ingredients
------------


1 pack Tofu (either hard or soft)
1 ½ cup of Mixed vegetable of your choice (carrots,broccoli, beans, cauliflower,double bean,rajmma)
3 spoons of red wine vinegar (recommended) or apple cider vinegar (both the vinegar gives sweet flavor )
4 spoons of soy sauce
3 spoons of sugar
1 spoon of hot chili garlic sauce
2 ½ spoon of pea nut oil or any other of your choice
2 spoons of pea nut salted for garnishing

Method :
-----------

Tofu : place the tofu in the freezer for a day . Let it freeze .If you are going to do the tofu in the morning let the frozen tofu in a bowl for the whole night or you can also microwave it when needed .
The tofu will be watery .. Press the tofu and extract the water from it. Usually deep frying of tofu gives very good taste but you know its full of oil. Better sauté the tofu with 2 spoons of oil till golden brown.
Keep it aside .

Mix the soy sauce, sugar, hot chili garlic sauce and the red wine vinegar in a bowl Whisk it for 2 mins.

Steam up the vegetables till they are half cooked. Or microwave it for 2 mins with 2 spoons of water.

Take ½ spoon of oil .let it get heated. Add all steamed veggies and sauté for 3 mins. Add the tofu along with it. Let it be in the stove for another 2 mins.. Stir occasionally. Pour the mixed sauce into the pan of steamed veggies. Let it cook for another 5to 7 mins. Here ur tofu curry is ready!!! Have it with jasmin rice .garnish the tofu curry with peanut.

Health to eat n easy to do!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Mushroom masala :





Brfore adding milk






















total cooking time - 20 mins ,servers for 4

Ingredients
------------

1 pack of button mushrooms
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 spoon of freshly grinded garlic and ginger paste
2 spoons of garam masala
2 spoons of tomato puree (or freshly prepared paste )
1 medium capsicum
2 spoons of oil
½ cup of milk(subsitutw for cream.. which is very high in calorie)
Salt to taste
Coriander of garnishing

Mehod :
-------

Slice up the mushroom into pieces (half).Mushroom usually absorb water. So wipe the mushroom with wet cloth. it’s a pain .. anyhow for gravy u can wash it cleanly as it not going to be dry.

Sauté the onion with 2 spoons of oil for 2 mins and add the capsicum saute for another 3 mins . Add the tomato puree and ginger garlic paster along with ½ cup of water. Let it cook till the raw smell goes . It takes hardly 7 to 10 mins.
Then add the mushroom to the gravy (no need to sauté the mushroom) . Sprinkle the garam masala over the gravy .. Stir it well. don't add water .. After 5 mins add the cup of milk into the gravy .Let it boil for another 5 mins .add salt . Granish it with coriander leave .

Hey guys .. Its very easy to do and doesn’t have lots of oil. So enjoy the recipe when every you want.

Bisibele bath:

Bisibele bath:
--------------
Total cooking time 45 mins , serves for 4



Ingredients
----------------
½ cup rice
½ thoor dhal
Vegetables (optional like carrot, beans)
½ cup garbanzo (kondai kadali steamed)
½ cup peas
2 spoons of oil
3 spoons of ghee
1 spoon of Mustard
5 to6 curry leaves
2 spoons of jaggery
Coriander for garnishing

To be grinded into paste :
-------------------------------
4 pieces cinnamon bark
3 ½ spoons of channa dhal(kadalai parupu)
4 spoons of dhaniya
1 spoon of kasa kasa (soaked in hot water of 1 ½ hrs)
1 spoon of cashew
2 elachi powdered
6 pepper corn
5 to 8 dried chili (depends on the spice level, you can also limit the chili to 4 if your spice level is low)Only Badgi chili adds red color when it is grind.
3 spoons of coconut

Method :
-----------

Pressure cook the rice and thoor dhal put together . Pressure cook it upto 5 whistles. Off the stove let the cooker be on the heat.
Mean while get the paste ready . In a pan take one spoon of oil, add the channa dhal fry it for 3 to 4 mins ,add the dhaniya sauté for 3 to 4 mins in medium heat do not over fry or burn .add the dried chilli to it followed by peppercorn,elachi powder and cinnamon stick . After you smell the essence of cinnamon add cashew followed with coconut. Sauté for 1 min. Take it off from the stove and let it cool .
Note : Kasa kasa can be added during grinding .

Now take a thick bottomed vessel (your pressure cooker will do) . Add the pressure cooked rice and thoor dhal to it . Add the vegetables to it with 2 cups of water. The fried ingredient is now ready to grind. Add the kasa kasa along with it. Add ¼ of water grind it into fine paste . Now add the paste into the rice and mix it well with 2 cups of water. Let it cook. Stir it often . Add the ghee and jaggery .It takes 20 mins to cook. Stir often . Atlast spatter the mustard in a pan with 1 spoon of oil ,add it to the bath . Add curry leaves for aroma . Off the stove let it be in the stove for few mins . Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Serve it with Applam (papad ) ,Vadam.. Tastes great !!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Paneer with capsicum gravy



It’s a very easy and very yummy dish . Best for Chappati, nan and rice .

Total mins :20

Ingredients :

½ red capsicum
½ onion
1 cup paneer sliced horizontally
1 spoon of garam masala .
¼ spoon Kashmir chili powder (it gives good red color)
¾ spoon garlic and ginger (grinded in to paste)
1 ½ spoons of tomato puree (tomato paste)
2 spoon of oil

Method:

Cut the capsicum and the paneer into medium thin pieces horizontally. Chop the onion into small pieces.
Sauté the onion with a spoon of oil till it becomes translucent , then add the capsicum and sauté for 3 to 4 mins . Add the garlic paste and tomato puree along with 1 cup of water.. Stir it leave it for 5 mins. Add the garam masala and the sauté paneer to it .. Let it be in the stove for another 5-7 mins till the gravy becomes thicker(and till the raw smell goes off). garnish it with the coriander leaves.

* Before sautéing the onions ,sauté the paneer with 1 spoon of oil in medium heat… continue it till paneer becomes slightly golden. Off the stove and change it to a bowl ,let the paneer cool .

Monday, April 2, 2007

Sesame Steamed Vegetables and Spaghetti









Easy dinner or lunch ?? want to save cooking time.. try out this delicious dish...

Total cooking time : 20 mins

Sesame Baked Vegetables and
Spaghetti
--------------------------------------------------------

Ingredients

Spaghetti - a bunch(organics is good and cooks very fast)
Rice vinegar - 2 spoons
Sesame oil - 1 1/2 spoon
Sesame seed -3 spoons(roast the seed with out any oil)
garlic - 2 clove
onion - 1 onion
peanut butter - 1 spoon
soy sauce - 2 spoon
vegetable broth-1/2 cup
brown sugar or powdered jaggry - 3/4 spoon
red pepper flake - 2 pinch


Cook pasta in a big vessel with water and 1/2 spoon of salt for 10 to 15 until it becomes soft(stir it occasionally) . After u feel it is soft(better taste it and see whether it is cooked) , drain it with the stainer and leave it dry.
note : to avoid over cooking ,U can pour some cold water to it.

For the sauce
------------------

In a small skillet add the sesame oil and saute the galic and onion for 2 to 3 mins.Add the peanut butter and keep on string ,once you notice the bubbles, pour the rice vinegar followed with soy sauce .stir it for a minute ,then add the 1/2 cup of vegetable broth , red pepper flake and t he brown sugar . cook it for 5-7mins (occasional stir) ,until the liquid becomes little thick.turn off the stove .Let the sauce stand in the stove for 5 more mins (let it cook in the heat).. In a bowl or vessel take the pasta and pour the sauce over it and mix it well.
To serve :
Place the spaghetti on a plate and garnish it with cucumber frills.(cucumber frills can be done with the peeler).for the final touch, add the sesame seed on the top of the delicious spaghetti ... yummy!


Steamed vegetable :

Ingredients

Any vegetable of your choice (Ex broccolis florets ,carrots,dew peas,beans,bell pepper(capsicum),bamboo shoots) .
1/2 spoon sesame oil.
1/2 spoon vegetable oil or sunflower.
1 spoon rice vinegar.
1 1/2 soy sauce .
1 pinch red pepper flake .
1/2 brown sugar or powered jaggery

To do:
--------
Steam the vegetables in a steamer
.

Dressing
-----------
Meanwhile take a small bowl,whisk all the ingredients above to make a dressing .
Place the steamed vegetables on a plate .Pour the sauce(dressing) over the vegetables.garnish it with roasted sesame seeds . Jaggery gives a very good flavor and aroma .


hope you like it!!!!!