Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Lady`s finger fry


Description:
Simple recipe with minimal spices.

Ingredients:
1. Bhindi/lady`s finger
2. Onion - 1
3. Green chillies - 3
4. Curry leaves
5. Mustard
6. Chilli powder - 1tspn
7. Turmeric powder - a pinch
8. Oil
9. Salt to taste

Procedure:

Wash the lady`s finger the previous night and put into a sieve to dry. Next day when you take them to cook don`t wash. Chop them in a slanting shape. Chop the onions and green chillies too. Take a woke and pour oil. Splutter mustard and add the green chillies, curry leaves. Transfer the lady`s finger and onions to the wok . Immediately add the chilli powder, salt and turmeric powder. Stir and cook with lids opened. Avoid to cook with the lids closed otherwise the moist will make the lady`s finger sticky. Cook till the lady`s finger are done. So simple and easy.



Fast Chicken stew


Description:
This stew is mostly made in Kerala to serve with appams.

Ingredients:
1. Chicken - 250 gms
2. Onions - 1
3. Green chillies - 2
4. Ginger
5. Garlic
6. Curry leaves(optional)
7. Coconut milk - 1cup
8. Cinnamon stick -1
9. Black Pepper corns - 1 tspn
10. Chilli powder - 1/2tspn
11. Turmeric powder - 1/2tspn
12. Coriander powder - 1tspn
13. Garam masala - 1/2tspn
14. Tomatoes - 2(small)
15. Mustard
16. Oil
17. salt to taste

Procedure:
Wash and clean the chicken. Chop the tomatoes, green chillies, ginger, garlic and onions. Take a cooker and pour some oil. Splutter some mustard, add cinnamon stick, ginger/garlic, green chillies and curry leaves. Then add the onions and saute for sometime. Next add the tomatoes and the chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, pepper corns and garam masala. Cook for few minutes till the raw smell goes away. Pour the coconut milk and add the chicken pieces. Mix well and close the cooker lid. Let 3-4 whistles goes.  Open the cooker and check, if the gravy is too watery transfer it to a wok and cook till the gravy gets little thick. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with coriander leaves.






Eggplant fry(Sri Lankan inspired cuisine)


Description:
The main highlight of this dish is the tanginess and the aroma.

Ingredients:
1. Brinjal/eggplant - 3 to 4
2. Onion - 1(small)
3. Chilli powder - 1tspn
4. Coriander powder - 1tspn
5. Turmeric powder - 1/2tspn
6. Coconut milk(thick) - 1/2cup
7. Vinegar/tamarind pulp (I used 2-3 tspn of tamarind juice, but the authentic Sri lankan Eggplant fry uses vinegar)
8. Pepper powder - 1/2 tspn
9. Garlic - 2
10. Oil for deep frying
11. Salt to taste

Procedure:

Wash and cut the eggplants into thin lengthwise sizes. Chop the onion and garlic too and keep aside. Take a bowl and transfer the eggplant into it, then add some turmeric powder and mix. Keep it aside for few minutes. Meanwhile take a wok and pour oil. Drop the garlic first then onions and saute till they starts to get golden brown color. Next add the chilli powder, pepper powder, coriander powder and remaining turmeric powder with salt and mix well. Cook for few seconds and then add the tamarind pulp. Next pour the coconut milk. Same time deep fry the eggplant till then it gets a golden colour. Add the fried eggplant into the masala and mix well so that all the masala coats on the eggplant. Make the dish dry by continuously stirring so that all the moist disappears. Done ready to serve with steamed rice.






NB:-

In authentic Sri Lankan recipe they use the vinegar mostly in place of tamarind pulp.
Incase if you are using vinegar be sure not to pour more, otherwise the dish will  be sour.


Simple brinjal stir fry/Eggplant fry


Description:

This recipe is a simple stir fry with minimal spices.

Ingredients:
1. Brinjal/eggplant(large) - 3 to 4
2. Green chillies - 2
3. Onion - 1/2
4. Chilli powder - 1 tspn
5. Turmeric powder - a pinch
6. Pepper powder - 1/2 tspn(optional)
7. Oil
8. Salt to taste

Procedure:
Wash and cut the brinjal/eggplant length wise. Chop the green chillies and onions too. Take a wok and pour some oil. Add the eggplant, onions and green chilles together into the wok. Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Next add the chilli powder, turmeric powder, pepper powder and salt. Mix well and again close the lid and cook for another 5 minutes. After that remove the lid and check whether the eggplant is done or not. If any excess water then remove the lid and cook till the water dry off . Cook till the eggplant becomes soft. Well, over the dish is ready.



Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Egg drop curry


Description:

Eating an egg a day is very good because of its health benefits. Egg raises the HDL(good cholesterol). This recipe is inspired from the Goan egg drop curry. Its very tasty as well as amazing to see when served on a plate.

Ingredients:
1. Egg - 4
2. Onion - 1
3. Tomato(small)/tomato puree-2
4. Green chillies - 2
5. Garlic - 2 pods
6. Coconut milk - 1/2cup
7. Cumin
8. Chilli powder - 1tspn
9. Coriander powder - 1tspn
10. Turmeric powder - 1/2tspn
11. Garam masala - 1/2 tspn
12. Oil
13. Water - 1/2 cup
14. Salt to taste.


Procedure:
Clean and chop the onion, tomatoes, green chillies and garlic. Add the tomatoes in the blender and make a puree or you can use readymade puree too. Take a deep pan/skillet and pour some oil. Splutter cumin seeds and saute the green chillies, garlic. Next add the onion and salt to the skillet. Close the lid and let the onion cook. Once the onion starts to become golden brown add the spices ie turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala. Immediately add the tomato puree too, otherwise the spices may get burnt. Stir well and cook till the raw smell goes. Add the water, salt and allow the gravy to boil.


Take the egg  and break  one at a time into a bowl. Slowly drop the egg into the curry, Add when the curry is boiling otherwise the egg will spread over the curry. Repeat for all the eggs. Close the lid and cook till the eggs are cooked, it won`t take much time. Once the eggs are cooked simmer the flame and slowly add coconut milk to the curry. Tilt the skillet multiple times slowly so the coconut milk spread all over the gravy and egg.  Coconut milk can be avoided but adding the milk really enhances the taste.






Transfer to a bowl and garnish with some cilantro leaves. The gravy consistency can be adjusted according to the food you are serving along. I made it bit dry because I served this curry with chappathi. Please try and enjoy.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Prawns pickle


Description:
Pickles are made with certain vegetables/fruits with edible oil and spices.

Ingredients:
1. Prawns(small) - 15 to 20 pieces
2. Green chilli - 3
3. Ginger
4. Garlic
5. Curry leaves
6. Mustard
7. Chilli powder - 2tspn
8. Turmeric powder- 1/2tspn
9. Vinegar - 1 to 2 tspn
10. Oil
11. Ginger/garlic paste - 2 tspn
12. Salt to taste

Procedure:

Devein and clean the prawns. Take some salt, chilli powder, ginger/garlic paste and turmeric powder in a bowl and make marination for the prawns. Drop in the prawns and let it marinate for overnight or atleast 1-2 hours minimum.  After sometime take the prawns and shallow fry both sides. Prawns doesn`t take much time to cook.  Chop the ginger, garlic and green chillies into small pieces. Take a wok and pour oil into it. Splutter mustard and add the ginger, garlic, green chillies and curry leaves. Saute for few second and then add the remaining turmeric powder and chilli powder. Slightly roast the powder in the same wok and mix with the other ingredients. Add little water and allow it to boil. The pickle gravy shouldn`t be too watery, it must have a thick consistency. When the gravy starts to boil add the vinegar. Be very careful when you add the vinegar. Only add the required amount otherwise the pickle will be too sour. I made this mistake when I first made the pickle. After adding the vinegar let the gravy boil for another few seconds. Add salt as required. Finally drop in the prawns and since the prawns are fried you don`t have to cook further. Give a good mix on low flame and switch off the stove. Check for salt. You can store this in fridge for almost 2 weeks. Transfer to a pickle jar and enjoy.

Chicken Stuffed mushroom grilled


Description:

Mushroom  dishes  are mostly liked by all the people and have good health benefits. Mushrooms are rich in Proteins, Minerals etc and it is low in calories. Mushrooms are of two types edible and edible, so be careful while buying it. This recipe is a very simple recipe but it tastes yum and juicy.

Ingredients:
1. Button mushroom(preferred) - 12 to 15
2. Minced chicken - 200 gms
3. Onion
4. Green chillies - 2
5. Coriander leaves - a bunch
6. Ginger
7. Garlic
8. Garam masala - 1 tspn
9. Chilli powder - 1 tspn
10. Olive oil
11. Tomato - 1
12. Salt to taste



Procedure:

Wash and chop the onions, ginger, garlic, green chillies and tomatoes into small pieces. Wash the mushroom and cut off the stalk(stem). Slowly with the help of a knife or small spoon scoop out the stalk  inside of the mushroom too. Take some water in a bowl and drop these mushrooms into it. Leave aside for few minutes. Put  the minced chicken in another bowl and mash it properly. Take a skillet and pour some oil. Add the ginger, garlic and green chillies. Next add the onions and saute till the onions starts to get transparent. Then add the garam masala, chilli powder, salt and the minced chicken. Mix properly and cook for 5 minutes with lid closed. When the chicken starts to cook it will ooze out water. After 5 minutes drop in the tomato pieces and coriander leaves. Cook till the chicken is done and  transfer to a bowl to cool down.









Take out the soaked mushrooms and wipe them dry with a tissue/clean kitchen towel. Spread an aluminium foil on a flat surface and arrange the mushrooms over it. Brush the whole mushroom with little oil. Now scoop  the filling with a spoon and stuff the mushroom.  Add few drops of oil on top of each stuffed mushroom.Then transfer them to a grilling wired tray. Preheat the oven  and keep the mushrooms for grilling(300c for 10-15 minutes).



  If the skin of mushrooms have started to get golden brown colour then its done.  Take out from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Its an eye catching dish as well as tasty, juicy and healthy.