Simple masala rice with Veggies

This is probably one of the most easiest and delicious recipe that I have tried. Its especially convenient to make when you have guests at home. I like to add what ever veggies I find in my refrigerator. So, its also the best way to finish all the leftover veggies. I have a 5 liter rice cooker at home and it makes it much more easier to cook this dish.

Ingredients:

Veggies - chopped 1.5 cups {I used carrots, peas, potatoes}

Onion - 1 chopped

Butter - 1 tbsp

Cardamom - 2

Cinnamon stick - 1/2 inch

Bay leaf - 1 

Cloves - 5

Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp

Salt - to taste

Coriander powder - 1 tbsp 

Chilli powder - to taste

Uncooked rice - 1.5 cups 

Water - 3 cups [depends on the type of rice you use] 

Fresh coriander leaves - handfull

Procedure:

1. Add butter in to a rice cook and let it melt. Add cardamoms, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves and mix well. After few seconds add ginger garlic paste and cook for a few seconds. 
2. Add chopped onion to the above and cook till they become translucent. 
3. Add in the veggies and cook till they become soft. 
4. Add rice to the above and mix well. Pour in the water and stir. 
5. Add coriander powder, salt and chilli powder and mix. Add freshly chopped coriander leaves and mix well. 
6. Close the lid and let it cook. Stir once or twice before the rice is completely done.

Serve with raitha or some curry on the side!!!!

Cheese Puffs

Its funny why I decided to cook this recipe. I had 3 egg and cheese left in my fridge and wanted to cook something with that. Then bumped in to this recipe. Which was very delicious. Simple recipe and if you also happen to have some cheese and eggs then go for it. Its best to consumer everything while it is hot!!.

Ingredients:

Butter - 100 gms
Grated Cheddar cheese - 1 cup
Eggs - 4
Flour - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1 pinch
Water - 3/4 cup

Procedure:

1. Add water in a hot pan, add butter and salt and stir till the butter melts. 
2. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Once the butter melts stir in the flour. 
3. Add eggs to the above and mix well. Add cheese to the above and mix well. 
4. Turn off the heat and transfer the mixture in to another bowl. 
5. Once the mixture cools, scoop the mixture on to a baking pan.
6. Place the baking tray in the oven and bake for 25 mins. 

Enjoy while they are hot!!!!

Tandoori Chicken

Yummy!!!! well since my description of this recipe already began with the word yummy it must be easy to guess that this is my favorite dish. In fact it is the favorite dish for most of the meat lovers in India. Not that complicate to make if you know the right ingredients. Back in India this dish is made in the hot clay ovens. But, my halogen oven works just fine - of course you will miss out on the charred flavor that comes from the clay oven. I prefer to make this dish using chicken thighs but feel free to experiment with what ever you like. This dish definitely lights up your day - so best option would be to make it on a moody day :)) or if you are in the mood to get some compliments!!!. You can have it with rice or chapathi or normal toasted bread. We like to have it as a snack with some type of sauce [either tomato sauce or garlic sauce] on the side.

Ingredients:

Chicken thighs - 4 to 6

Onion - 1

Oil - 2 tbsp 

Salt - to taste

Chilli powder - to taste

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp 

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp 

Lemon juice - 1/2 tbsp 

Tandoori masala - 2 to 3 tsp 

Yogurt - 1/2 cup

Cashew nut powder - 2 to 3 tbsp 

Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp  (optional)

Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)

Procedure:

1. Clean the chicken thighs. Make 1/4 inch slits on the meat. 
2. In a bowl add salt, chilli powder, turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, tandoori masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, 1 tbsp oil, yogurt and mix well.
3. Add the chicken pieces from step 1 to the above and mix well. 
4. Let them sit for 10 mins. Add cashew nut powder and mix well.
5. Let the chicken marinate for at least 4 to 5 hours. I usually let it sit over night in the fridge. 
6. Just before baking add chopped onion to the marinate chicken and mix well.
7. Grease the backing pan slighlty and place the marinated chicken pieces on it. 
8. Carefully add few drops of oil on each piece. You can just sprinkle some chopped onion at this point [optional].
9. Bake them in a halogen on high for 7 to 10 mins. Turn on the other side and repeat the same for 7 to 10 mins.

Serve with some onions and lime wedges on the side!!!!!!

Spinach stuffed Chapathis

This recipe is an experiment from leftovers of [ Aloo Palak & Chapathi] from. Spinach was never my favorite food, but this recipe turned out to be the best way for intake of spinach. Well, it turned out to be tasty as well. We had these Spinach chapatis with Alu fry and Raitha on the side and totally loved the combo. 

Ingredients:

Wheat flour - 1 1/2 cup
Water - 1/3 cup
Salt - 1 pinch
Yogurt - 2 tbsp
Oil - 1/2 tsp for each chapati

Spinach - 1 /2 cup [left over from Aloo Palak]

Procedure:

1. Add all the ingredients except oil, in to a food processor and blend it in to a stiff dough. [or you can always use your hand]
2. Let this dough sit for about 1 or 2 hours. 
3. Knead the dough once again just before rolling the chapathis. 
4. Divide the dough in to lemon size balls and roll them in to a round chapathi. (if you are trying for the first time then don't bother about the shape :))
5. Heat a pan and place the rolled chapathi on to it. let if fry on one side and then turn it to the other side and let it fry for some more time. At this point the chapathi will start to puffup.
6. Then add a little oil and fry it on both sides for some more time. 

Enjoy with some curry and raitha on the side!!!!!


Note: Incase you don't have any leftover spinach curry, just boil the spinach with very little water and salt. Blend it in to a fine paste and use it instead.

Kesari

I eat this dessert at least twice a week. One of the easiest recipes with very few ingredients and yet tastes wonderful. I am more of a dessert person and I always finish my meal with some thing sweet. When there are no sweets at home - I shift to my plan B [Milk chocolates]. I always have a stack of milk chocolates at home, just to be on the safe side :). Now it must be clear that I looooooove sweets. So here comes my favorite sweet.

Ingredients:

Milk - 2.5 cups
Rawa - 1 cup [semolina]
Butter - 2.5 tbsp
Cashews - 10
Sugar - to taste [ I used 3/4 cup:)]
Cardamom powder - 1 pinch

Procedure:

1. Heat 1 tbsp of Butter in a pan. Fry cashews in the butter and keep them aside. 
2. To the same pan add semolina and fry till the raw smell is gone completely. 
3. Add milk slowly at regular intervals and keep mixing. 
4. Add sugar and cardamom powder and keep mixing for at least 5 to 8 mins till the whole mixture becomes little stiff. 
5. Add fried cashews and the remaining butter and mix well till you get the desired consistency. 

Enjoy while it is hot!!!!!

Tomato Rice

One of the best recipe that I have tried so far. Very healthy and tasty and filling. Tomato rice can be made in several different ways. This is probably the best and the easiest way [:)] of making it.

Ingredients:

Tomatoes - 3 pureed
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Hing - 1 pinch
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Sambar masala - 1 tsp
Curry leaf powder - 1 tsp
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Sugar - 1 tsp
Green chillies - 2
Boiled rice - 1 cup
Onion - 1

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, chopped onion and saute till the onions become translucent.
2. Add ginger garlic paste and fry. Add sambar masala and cook for few mins. 
3. Add curry leaf powder, tomato puree, red chilli powder, garam masala and cook for a couple of mins. 
4. Add salt, sugar and mix well. Add chopped tomatoes, green chillies and mix well. 
5. Add boiled rice and mix well. Let is cook for 3 to 4 mins. 

Enjoy with some raita on the side!!!!!

Peanut Chutney

This is one of my favorite chutney of all times. It can be had with dosa, idly, wada and many others as well. Most popular chutney in India and can be prepared in no time. Peanut chutney can be made in several ways. Here is my version of it. 

Ingredients:

Peanuts - 1/2 cup 

Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp [optional]

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp 

Red chilli - 3 to 4

Curry leaves - 4 to 5 strips

Tamarind  paste - 2 to 3 tsp 

Salt - as per taste

Chilli powder - to taste

Mustard - 1/2 tsp 

Urad dal - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Chana dal - 1/2 tsp 

Water - couple of tbsp

Procedure:

1. Add 1 tsp of oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Once they begin to change color add red chillies and fry. Add peanuts and fry. 
2. Switch off the stove and add grated coconut,  tamarind paste, salt to the above and mix.
3. Blend the above in to a fine paste in a blender. Add small portions of water at regular intervals while blending to get required consistency. 
4. In another pan heat oil and add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds start spluttering add urad dal, channa dal, curry leaves and fry for few seconds. 
5. Add the chutney paste [from step 3] to the above tempering and mix well. Adjust the salt at this stage. 

Serve along with some tasty breakfast recipes!!!!