Tuesday, 13 October 2015

How To Make Kesari

Ingredients
Serves: 4 

  • 1 cup Cream of wheat (rava/ semolina)
  • 1 - 1.5 cups Sugar
  • 3-4 tbsp Clarified Butter (Ghee)
  • 3-4 Cardamoms (de-skinned and crushed)
  • 8-10 Golden Raisins (kismis)
  • 1tsp Orange food color (kesari)

Directions
Prep:2min  ›  Cook:10min  ›  Extra time:12min  ›  Ready in:24min 

  1. Add 1 tbsp ghee in a wok with a thick bottom, when its hot add the raisins and de-skinned and crushed cardamoms, once the raisins become plump, Add the semolina and roast in the ghee along with the raisins and cardamom till the rava gets a faint pink color. Keep aside.
  2. Now in the same wok, add 3 cups of water, add the color and let it boil. When it comes to boiling point, add the semolina slowly, constantly stirring, and mix well. Allow the semolina to be cooked at medium heat. The trick is that the semolina has to cook well. Keep covered and cook for a while.
  3. When it is fully cooked, add the sugar and stir well. The sugar makes it watery, so stir well. When the sugar is fully dissolved, add the remaining ghee. Keep stirring until the semolina starts leaving the sides of the pan. Your Kesari/Sheera/Sojji is ready. Check the close up snap of the Kesari, it shows how moist and well cooked it is. Serve warm, dunk in with a spoon and enjoy it.

Tip

“Kesari wouldn’t be Kesari if there is no ghee”. But this recipe doesn’t have as much ghee and still tastes good. Here is a no-fail recipe, if followed properly as per the measurements given here and the procedure followed here. Make this Kesari and enjoy the compliments.

How To Make Payasam

Ingredients

Roasted Vermicelli [semiya ] - ¾ cup
Ghee – 2 tbsp
Cardamom – 3
Saffron – 7-8 strands
Milk – 1 +1/4 cup
Water – 1 to 1 ½ cup [approx ]
Sugar – ¼ cup
Condensed milk – ¼ cup
Cashew nut – 8 broken
Almonds – 4 break into small pieces
Raisins – 10

 Method

Heat pan on stove, add ghee and roast cashew and almond till golden brown. Make sure that flame is low .
Add raisins and wait till it puff up. Transfer into separate plate [ only dry nuts ]
Use the same ghee to roast vermicelli for just 2 minutes.

 Though I used roasted vermicelli, I roasted again in ghee for best flavor. Another important thing is, use store bought roasted vermicelli. Because if we roast at home, it will get roasted only outside not from inside. So if you cook you may get your kheer become thick once it cooled down or if refridgerated.
Because of the starch in the vermicelli. But in the store bought vermicelli, since it is roasted from inside out, it wont release any starch. So the consistency will remain same till you finish J

After roasting for 2 minutes add 1 cup milk and ½ cup water [reserve remaining water and milk for later use ] .
Cook for 5 minutes. After five minutes, add saffron and cardamom. Remember to crush cardamom seeds so that it will release flavor.
Cook for another 5-6 minutes till vermicelli become soft and well cooked.
Now add condensed milk,sugar,remaining water and milk. Mix well and let it to cook for 2 more minutes.
Finally add fried dry nuts and raisins. That’s all. Your delicious vermicelli kheer or semiya payaasam is ready to serve.

You could either serve warm or chilled. My style is chilled kheer with a scoop of ice cream on top.

Sunday, 11 October 2015

How To Make Mango Chutney

Ingredients:
3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
2 large mangoes, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar
1 tablespoon(15ml) lemon juice
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoons each:ground nutmeg and salt
1/3 teaspoon cloves
 
Directions:
1. Combine apples, mangoes, onion, and vinegar in a large stainless steel saucepan.Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, and boile gently, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until fruit is tender and mixture is thickened, stirring occasionally.

2. Add sugar, lemon juice, curry powder, cloves, cinnamon, and salt. Boil gently for 5 minutes
This sauce can be used with several things: a dipping sauce, marinate sauce for chicken dish. Either way, you will have fun thinking up of different ways to use this.

How To Make Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:
Tomato: 3 large
red chili powder : 1 tsp or adjust according to your taste
turmeric powder:1/4 tsp
For tempering :
Oil: 1 tsp
mustard seeds: 1 tsp
curry leaves:few
asafoetida : a pinch(optional)

Method:

  • wash and blanch whole tomatoes in boiling water for 3-5 min
  • pull out ,let cool and peel off the skin
  • cube into large chunks and puree until smooth . keep aside.
  • If your tomatoes are a little sweet add a tiny bit of tamarind while making the puree.
  • heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds ,let crackle
  • add the red chili powder and turmeric cook for few minutes.
  • add the curry leaves and pinch of asafoetida
  • finally add in the puree and season with salt

How To Make Idli

Ingredients :
1 cup urad dal
2 cups rice
(Ratio 1:2)
1/2 cup cooked rice
fenugreek seeds-1tbs


Method:
  • Start by rinsing the dal and rice in cold water .
  • add the fenugreek seeds to urad dal and soak both the dal and rice for a minimum of 4 hrs.
  • first blend the soaked urad dal into a thick paste adding very little water .
  • next add the rice to the blender and also dump in the cooked rice .make a thick paste of this too
  • add the rice paste to the dal paste and add desired amount of salt
  • mix with clean hands until everything is incorporated well.
  • keep in a warm place overnight for the fermentation to take place
  • once fermented the batter should rise significantly ,if this fails to happen then the temperature is too low ,leave the batter in this case in a much warmer place until the fermentation takes place
  • once the batter is ready ,pour into idli molds and steam cook for 12-15 min
  • serve steaming hot with your favorite condiment

Notes:

  1. Always make a thick batter ,if desired water can be added in later stage to dilute the paste .
  2. mix with hands,the warmth from our hand is supposed to promote the fermentation process .
  3. The batter should rise to get soft and spongy idlis, so have patience and if you live in a very cold place try keeping the batter in the oven after preheating for 2 minutes and turning it off.

How To Make Paalappam

Prep Time: Inactive (4 hrs soaking + 8 hrs fermenting); Active (5 minutes grinding)
Cook Time: 2-3 mins per appam
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:
Raw Ponni Rice – 2 cups, washed and soaked for 4-5 hours
Cooked Rice – 1 cup
Fresh Shredded Coconut – 1 cup
Salt – 1 tsp
Water – 1/2 cup, warm
Yeast – 1/4 tsp
Sugar – 1 Tbsp + 4 Tbsp
Water – 1 cup + 1/2 cup (divided)

Method:
1. Mix Yeast and 1 Tbsp Sugar into Warm Water. Cover and set aside until foamy.
2. In a blender, grind Cooked Rice and Coconut using the Yeast Water.
3. Add raw soaked rice and salt to the blender and continue to grind using additional 1 cup of water (little at at time). Batter should be absolutely smooth.
4. Remove batter into a large container with a lid and keep it in a warm place to ferment for about 8 hours.
5. Add additional 4 Tbsp Sugar and 1/2 cup water and mix well.
7. Heat Appam Chetty or non-stick skillet until water droplets sprinkled on evaporate immediately.
8. Pour a ladle full of batter into the center of the skillet.
9. Pick up the skillet and twirl it around so that the batter swirls all the way to the edges of the pan.
10. Cover the skillet and allow the appam to cook for approx 2 minutes.
11. When edges are brown, gently lift the appam from one side and move the skillet so that the appam moves freely.
12. Slide appam off the skillet onto a plate and serve immediately.

Saturday, 10 October 2015

How To Make Chicken Kurma

Ingredients

500 grams Chicken
2 tbsp cashew or Poppy seeds
2 number chopped gr chillies
1 cup Coconut grated
2 tbsp Cooking Oil
1 bunch coriander leaves
1 tbsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Cumin Seed Powder
1 cup curd
1 springs curry leaves
2 number finely chopped Onion
3 piece Garam Masala
1 tsp Ginger garlic paste
1 tsp paste Garlic
1.5 tsp pepper pdr
1 to taste Salt
1 pinch turmeric
1.5 cup Yogurt


Directions
In a big frying pan heat oil, add garam masala,mustard ,cumin then fry the onions until they turn golden brown. Now add the garlic paste and ginger paste.curry leaves chopped chilli After a few minutes add the coconut and cashew or poppy seed paste , stir and then add the yogurt, ,cumin pdr, coriander powder. add the chicken pieces and cook in the gravy add pepper pdr add cream if you desire and serve hot with chopped coriander as garnish

How To Make Chicken Curry

Ingredients:
(Serves 2-3)
350 gms boneless chicken
2 small potatoes
1 inch ginger piece
3-4 cloves of garlic chopped
1 large onion
1 green chilli
1/2 cup of Yogurt + 1/2 cup of water
1/2 tsp red chilli pwd
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp coriander pwd
1/2 tbsp Tomato paste
2 tbsp oil for cooking
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp garam masala
Pinch of Kasoori methi (Dried fenugreek leaves)
Garnish with cilantro leaves

Method:
1. Fry cumin seeds in hot oil
2. Add onions, ginger, garlic, green chilli and fry for 2-3 mins
3. Mix yogurt, water and spices to make sauce.
4. Once onions start turning golden brown, add chicken and let it get white (sealing in the juices). Usually takes 2-3 mins
5. Next, add potatoes. fry for 2 mins.
6. Add tomato paste. Mix it well.
7. Add yogurt sauce.
8. Everything will be done in about 4-5 mins. (Cooking time depends on cut of the chicken. Make sure potatoes are cooked as well.)
9. Once chicken is cooked, add garam masala and dried fenugreek leaves. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve with roti, rice or naan

Butter Chicken Recepie

Ingredients:
Chicken and Marinade:
• 500g boneless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp Tandoori Masala
• 0.5 tsp cumin powder
• 0.5 tsp coriander powder
• 4 tbsp yoghurt
• Few drops lemon

Sauce:
• 0.5 cup butter
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp chopped ginger
• 2 large tomatoes, quartered
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil (approximated)

Finishing:
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 green cardamom pods
• 3 cloves
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 — 1.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp Haldi (turmeric powder)
• 0.5 tsp red chilli powder
• 0.5 tsp Amchur (mango powder)
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 cup whipping cream
• A pinch of Kasoori Methi (ground fenugreek leaves)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp Garam Masala
• Coriander leaves, to garnish

Method:
• Add chicken and marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix well until all ingredients are well-combined
• Cover with cling film and store in fridge for at least an hour (more is better)
• Melt butter in a large saucepan and add cumin seeds and fry for one minute
• Add onion, ginger and garlic then fry until the onion turns golden brown (5-6 minutes)
• Remove onion from butter then puree
• Add tomatoes to the saucepan and sauté for 2-3 minutes
• Remove sautéed tomatoes and puree
• Add vegetable oil to saucepan and turn to high heat
• When hot, add bay leaves, cardamom and cloves and fry for one minute
• Add chicken and marinade and fry for 5-6 minutes until it turns white
• Add onion and tomato purees along with tomato paste to the saucepan
• Simmer on low heat until chicken is tender and fully cooked
• Remove whole spices from saucepan
• Add salt, Haldi (turmeric powder), red chilli powder, Amchur (mango powder), brown sugar and ground cinnamon
• Simmer for 15 minutes
• Add whipping cream and simmer for another 5 minutes
• Add Kasoori Methi, Garam Masala and black pepper
• Simmer for another 2 minutes
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with Naan or freshly cooked Basmati Rice