Culinary Creations

Sambar (Indian Soup)

2011-05-22T00:25:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

Vegetables:

One onion cut to medium sized pieces.

2-3 tomatoes cut to medium sized pieces.

1/2 cups of diced carrots

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup green beans

2 sticks of drumsticks cut to pieces

1 cup of radish or gourd (sorakaya)

1 cup any other veggies like ladysfinger or eggplant or green peppers

2 cups of lentils (toor dal)

For Tadka:

2 tbsp of broken gram/ split peas (channa dal)

1 tbsp of coriander seeds

½ tsp fenugreek seeds

A pinch of asafoetida

Other Ingredients:

2 tbsp of dhania-jeera powder

4-5 green chillies

Tamarind - size of a small lemon

4-5 tbsp of grated coconut

PROCEDURE:

Boil the veggies and the dal in separate dishes in a pressure cooker.
Soak a small lemon size of tamarind in water for atleast 10 mins.
Heat 2 tsps of vegetable oil in a kadai and add all the tadka items and let these fry till they are golden in color.
Squeeze the tamarind and get the juice into the water. Remove the tamarind and add the juice to the kadai and let it come to a boil.
To this add the dhania-jeera powder and the grated coconut.
To this add the boiled vegetables and 2-3 cups of water to this and let it come to a boil.
Grind the boiled dal in a grinder to make a paste.
Add this dal paste to the boiling vegetables.
Add cut green chillies and salt to taste.
Simmer the heat and let the mixture come to a boil.

Lemon Rice

2011-01-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

A friend from work really loves this dish and asked me to publish the recipe. Lemon rice holds a special place in Andhra Cuisine. It is prepared on most of the religious festivals, and is considered an auspicious dish. It is known as "Pulihora" in Telugu language. Pulihora actually means, Sour Rice. This can be prepared with tamarind or lemon or even raw mango. Lemon rice or Nimmakaya Pulihora is the easiest of the lot to make, though others aren't as tough either. Serves 2-3 people.

Ingredients:

Vegetable/ Canola Oil - 3 tbsp

Basmati Rice - 1 cup

Lemon juice - 4 tsp or juice from a Big Lemon

Peanuts - 1/2 Cup

1/2 tsp of turmeric powder, mustard seeds, chana dal, jeera, red chillies (3-4) for Tadka

1/2 tsp of turmeric

3-4 green chillies - cut

1/2 tsp of dhania-jeera powder

Salt to taste

Procedure:

1. Soak the rice for about 15 mins and cook it, in 2 glasses of water, preferably in a Rice cooker.

2. Let the rice cool a little.

3. In a pan, heat the oil, fry peanuts.

4. To the pan add, the cut green chillies and all the items for the Tadka. Stir them, till the mustard seeds split. Add dhania-jeera powder to this, and mix properly.

4. Remove tadka and the peanuts and add them to the rice.

5. Add turmeric, lemon juice and salt to the rice and mix them up thouroughly.

Lemon Rice is Ready to be served!

Bhindi Masala/ Okra Masala

2010-01-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

This is a great curry that is a good combination with Rotis.

Ingredients:

Cut Okra (bhindi) - 1/2 kg

Tomatoes - 3 (medium)

Onions - 2 (large)

Green chillies - 3

Cinnamon - 1 piece

Cloves - 3

Bay leaf - 1

Ginger-garlic paste - 1 tsp.

Red chilli powder - 1 tsp.

Oil - 2 cups

Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp.

Coriander leaves for garnishing

Salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Cut the onions, tomatoes, okra & green chillies.

2. Heat the oil in pan and add the okra pieces. Deep fry.

3. Remove fried okra and place on kitchen tissue or table napkin so that excess oil is removed. Keep it aside.

4. Heat 3 spoons of oil in a pan. Fry the cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf for 30 seconds. Now add onions, green chilli pieces and fry them until onions turn light brown.

5. Add the ginger-garlic paste and fry for one minute.

6.Add tomato pieces, red chilli powder and salt, cover the pan and cook for a few minutes until tomatoes become soft. Stir twice or thrice to prevent the mixture from sticking to the pan.

7.Add fried okra and mix slowly. Keep on heat for two more minutes and then remove the pan.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.

Indo-Chinese Noodles

2009-07-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

Chinese dishes have a very special place in the Indian food scenery, just for the fact that the Indian version of these dishes taste amazing. I am sure all of you agree with me. Each and everyone of you must have had the indo-chinese noodles at some point in your lives at some city in India. It is the kind of dish that is made with both the Chinese and Indian spices, that cater to the spicy Indian palate. I had to try this recipe a couple of times to get it right. Cook and Enjoy!!! Serves four.

Ingredients:

Vegetable oil : 3tbsp
Egg Noodles or plain noodles : 350 g
Onions : 1 (cut lengthwise or thinly sliced)
Carrot : 1 (large and cut in to thin slices)
Snow Peas : 120 g (cut length wise)
Bean Sprouts : 50 g
Whole Garlic : 2 ( pressed)
Green onions : 1/4 cup ( thinly sliced)
Broccoli stalks : 220g ( cut crosswise in to 2 inch) (optional)
Salt to taste

Sauces:

Cooking soy-sauce : 3 tbsp
Chinese rice wine : 2 tbsp (optional)
White Vinegar : 2 tbsp
Spicy Chilli Sauce : 2 tbsp

Procedure:

1.Heat a pan with 3 cups of water and little salt . Bring to a boil.
2.Place a flat pan or wok in a high heat and once it is hot add oil in to it.
3.Now add the onions and garlic in to it , fry them little bit till its soften.
4.After that start adding the carrot-strips, snow peas, bean sprouts and
stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
5.Now Remove the pan or wok from heat add all the sauces one by one by mixing
it with the vegetables. Keep them aside.
6.Now add the noodles and broccoli in to the boiling water and cook them for 2
minutes or until the broccoli is crisp tender and noodles are al dente.
7.After that strain the noodles and broccoli and add them in to Sauce and
vegetable mixture in the pan or wok.
8.Mix it well and add the basil leaves and toss to combine and to coat the
noodles and vegetables with the sauces.
9.Finally garnish the noodles with Green onions and serve.

Chilli Gobi or Cauliflower Manchurian

2009-07-06T11:20:00.001-07:00

My Hubby loves Gobi Manchurian. Its like if I prepare this, he wouldnt need anything else to eat. I had to try this out a couple of times to come up with the perfect and easy to make recipe. Serves six.

Ingredients:

1 kg of small florets of cauliflower
200 gms Ginger cut into small pieces
300gms Garlic cut into small pieces
Coriander leaves
1 Onions cut into long pieces
All purpose flour - 200 gms
Egg - 1
Bell pepper - 1 cut into small pieces
Agin-o- motto - a pinch
chilli powder, salt, black pepper to taste
Vinegar - 5 tablespoons
Green chillies - 10 cut into small pieces

Procedure:

1) Mix the all purpose flour, beaten egg, ginger garlic paste, salt, chilli powder
to make a thick paste.
2) Add the cauliflower to the paste, making sure the paste coats the florets and let it for 45 minutes.
3) Heat some oil in a pan and deep fry the cauliflower. The depth of the oil should be such that the cauliflower florets are immersed in oil.
4) Heat about 2-3 tsps of oil in a pan and fry the onions, bell pepper, ginger-garlic
pieces and cut green chillies.
5) Add the vinegar
6) Add the fried cauliflower pieces to the boiling mixture.
7) Add the aginomotto and coriander leaves.

Tomato Bath/Tomato Rice

2009-06-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is one of the easy to make recipes that give out a really tasty item. A great recipe to make use of left over rice.

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp of turmeric powder, mustard seeds, chana dal, jeera, red chillies (3-4) for Tadka
4-5 green chillies - chopped
1-2 Onions - chopped
3-4 Big tomatoes - diced
1/2 bunch of cilantro - chopped
1/2 bunch of mint - chopped
2 cups rice - cooked
3/4th Tsp of Sambar powder
3/4th cup of peanuts (optional)
Salt to taste

Procedure:

1. First cook the rice and keep it aside. Its best if you use left-over rice for this recipe. If not, make sure the rice it cooked and really dry before you mix it with the curry.
2. In a kadai, heat about 2 tsps of oil n fry the items for tadka till they crackle.
3. Add the peanuts and saute for about 2-3 mins.
4. Add the green chillies and onions to the kadai and saute till the onions are golden brown.
5. Add the cilantro and mint to the onions and saute for another 2 mins.
6. Add the diced tomatoes and saute till the tomatoes are cooked.
7. Add the sambar powder and salt to taste (this salt should be enough even after you mix the rice in) and mix the curry well.
8. Now add the rice to the curry and mix it well with the curry.

If anybosy doesn't like tomatoes, Grind cilantro, mint, green chillies and tomatoes to paste, add it to the sauted onions, cook it and then mix it with rice.

This recipe tastes really well with Onion Raita/plain curd and chips/papad.

Njoi!!!

Chinese Fried Rice

2009-05-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

Chinese food has always been one of the favorite cuisines for the Indian Folk. Though we have indianized, this recipe too, here is a recipe which will stick to the original ingredients used, but also appeal much better to the India crowd. Try it out!!!
Serves four.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked and cooled rice (small-grained raw rice is the best, if not use Basmati)
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced onions
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 1 cup mixed vegetables - peas, carrots, french beans etc
• 4 dry red chilies
• 4 green chillies
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp chili paste
• 1 tsp rice wine (optional, gives a nice tangy taste)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
• 2 eggs scrambled (optional)
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt to taste

Procedure:

In a large wok or frying pan, heat the oil. Add the red chilies and sliced onions and sauté till brown. Add the crushed garlic, green chillies and the mixed vegetables and sauté for a minute or so. Add the soy sauce, chili paste and rice wine. Cook till the vegetables are soft. Season with salt.
Add the cooked rice, and mix well to combine. Add the black pepper and mix well. Cook, tossing frequently, till the rice is heated through. Add the scrambled eggs if using and mix well.

Fruity Parfait Twist

2009-05-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is an easy to make dessert that can be made in about 15 mins. It satisfies the sweet-tooth of a person without really adding the calories. It has the taste of fruit, a hint of coffee and the fresh tangy flavor of lemon. Serves six.
Ingredients:
1 package of shortcake dessert cups
1 cup of strawberries – diced
1 cup of peaches – diced
1 cup of oranges – diced
2 cups of whipped cream
1 tbsp of Kahlua wine (for a bit of coffee taste to the dessert. People who do not
like coffee can skip this ingredient)
1 tbsp of lemon juice
¼ cup of mixed berry juice (you can use a fruit juice of your choice)
2 tbsp of honey

Procedure:
1. Mix the Kahlua wine, lemon yuice, mixed berry juice and honey in a bowl.
2. Place the shortcake dessert cups in small bowls and soak each dessert cup
with about 2 tbsp of the juice mixture.
3. Now take the whipped cream in a bowl and add the fruits to it. Gently fold
the fruits into the whipped cream to make the Parfait. Do not over mix them.
4. Top the dessert cups with the Parfait in equal quantities.
5. Refrigerate the dessert cups for about 30 mins.
6. Remove and Enjoy!