Chicken Kali Mirch

 

Ingredients:

500 G. Chicken (curry cut)
1 Onion (finely chopped)
2 Fresh green chili’s (chopped)
1 in. Ginger (fine chopped)
4 Pods Garlic (chopped)
1C. Yogurt (whisked)
½ Tsp. Garam masala powder
½ Tsp. Cumin powder
½ Tsp. Coriander powder
1 Tsp. Cinnamon powder
4 Tbsp. Oil
4 Cloves
1 Tsp. Black pepper corns (crushed)
3 Green cardamoms (crushed)
¼  C. Coriander leaves (chopped)
1 Tsp. Kasuri methi
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
½ Tsp. Honey
½ C. Water
Salt to taste

Recipe:

Heat oil in a pan & add cinnamon powder, green cardamom, cloves & pepper corn. Once fragrant, add chopped onions, ginger – garlic, chilies and cook for 7-8 minutes.

Add the cumin powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder & mix well.

Stir in the chicken pieces and sear on high flame for 5-10 minutes.

Now add the yogurt & mix evenly coating the chicken pieces.

Add water, kasuri methi, lemon juice, honey & keep stirring while the gravy simmers, approximately for 5-6 minutes or till the chicken is cooked.

Once the chicken looks cooked, garnish with chopped coriander & serve hot with roti’s, naan or parathas.

Dal Palak – Indian Style Lentil Curry with Spinach

Ingredients:

½ c. Chana Dal (split chickpeas)
¼ c. Masoor dal (pink lentils)
2 c. Spinach (chopped, you can use frozen too)
1 Tomato (chopped)
1 Onion (chopped)
2-3 Green chilies (chopped)
2 tb. Coriander (chopped)
3 tb. Ginger (chopped)
1 tsp. Cumin seeds
¼ tsp. Asafoetida powder
¼ tsp. Turmeric powder
1 tsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
Oil
Salt

Recipe:

Begin with washing the lentils and pressure cook until done. Keep aside.

In a pan heat some oil and add cumin seeds, chilies, ginger and sauté for a minute or two.

Add onions and cook until slightly golden. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and continue cooking over medium heat.

Add all the spices and cook until oil begins to separate.

At this stage add the spinach and cook until it becomes soft and stops releasing water.

Once done, add the cooked lentils and mix well.

Adjust the thickness of the curry by adding water as per your liking.

Check for salt and simmer for 5-6 minutes on slow heat.

Garnish with coriander and serve along with some rice

 

 

 

 

Chicken Handi

The traditional recipe requires a clay cooking pot as it enhances the flavor. However, cooking the same in a regular pot works just fine too.

Ingredients:

500 Gr. Chicken (cut into medium pieces)
½ C. Cashew nuts (plain, unsalted)
1 Onion (finely chopped)
1 Tomato (finely chopped)
2 Fresh green chili’s (Slit)
½ in. Ginger (julienne)
2T. Ginger Garlic paste
¼ ^th C. Coriander leaves (chopped)
¼ ^th C. Mint leaves (chopped)
1C. Yogurt
1T. Chili powder
¼ ^th T. Turmeric powder
½ T. Garam masala powder
½ T. Coriander powder
4Tbs. Oil
2 cloves
½ in. Cinnamon stick
2 green cardamoms
Salt to taste

Recipe:

Start by soaking the cashew nuts in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Drain and grind them into a paste. Add yogurt and continue to grind. Set aside.

Heat oil in a cooking pot & add cinnamon, green cardamom, and cloves. Once fragrant, add chopped onions and cook till golden brown.

Add the ginger-garlic paste and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes.

Stir in the chopped tomatoes, julienne ginger and cook till the oil separates. Now add the chicken pieces, chopped coriander, mint leaves and sauté over medium heat.

Add the turmeric powder, red chili powder & coriander powder. You can adjust the salt at this stage.

Now add the ground cashew – yogurt paste, garam masala powder and slit green chilies. Give it a nice stir evenly coating the chicken.

Keep stirring while the gravy simmers, approximately for 5-6 minutes or till the oil starts to separate.

Once the chicken looks cooked, garnish with chopped coriander & julienne ginger.

Serve hot with roti’s, naan or parathas.

Creamy Spinach Penne Pasta

Ingredients:

250 Grams penne pasta, cooked
3 Garlic cloves, minced
1 Onion, finely chopped
5C. Fresh spinach, washed, dried & chopped
1/2  C. Basil, finely chopped
1T. Olive oil
1T. Butter
2C. Cooking cream
1C. Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 T. Salt
1/4 T. ground black pepper

Recipe:

Start by cooking the penne pasta. Drain and keep aside.

Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat.

Sauté the onions, garlic, salt, and pepper until lightly browned.

Add cooking cream and parmesan cheese, and continue to cook the sauce on low heat until slightly thickened.

Now add the spinach, cup by cup and keep stirring gently until it wilts.

Once the sauce is ready add the basil and cooked pasta to the pan and stir to coat.

Garnish with some more parmesan cheese and enjoy the delicious creamy spinach pasta.

Brazilian Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

300G. Chicken breast (fine shredded)
2T. Olive oil
2 ½ C. Vegetables (chopped, I used carrots, peas, sweet corn & beans)
½ C. Spring onion (chopped)
¾ C. Rice
10C. Chicken broth
4. Eggs (white separated)
1. Onion (chopped)
3. Garlic cloves (minced)
¼ C. Coriander (chopped)
Salt & pepper

Method:

In a pot add olive oil and sauté onions with garlic till fragrant. Add the shredded chicken and cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once the chicken starts turning white, add the rice and roast along for few minutes.

Now add the chicken stock, chopped vegetables and check for seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot. Let it simmer till the rice is cooked.

Once the rice is done add the chopped coriander and egg whites while stirring it.

Pour it in a bowl, garnish with a lime slice and enjoy!

Mixed Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

½ C. Corn Kernels (frozen or fresh)
1 Carrot (peeled & chopped)
1 Onion (finely chopped)
4-6 Beans (finely chopped)
2T. Spring Onions (chopped)
2T. Cauliflower (small florets)
2T. Peas
1T. Cornflour
2C. Water
2C. Vegetable Stock
½ T. Sugar
¼ T. Oregano Seasoning
Salt & Pepper
1T. Butter

Recipe:

In a pot melt some butter & sauté all the vegetables except the spring onions. Around 3 – 4 minutes.

Meanwhile stir the cornflour in 1 cup of water and leave aside. Make sure there are no lumps.

Now in the pot with the vegetables add the stock and water. Once comes to a boil allow to simmer for few minutes.

When the water in the pot is reduced, stir in the cornflour mixture. The soup will start to thicken at this stage. Add the sugar, pepper and check for salt. Let it simmer for 5 more minutes.

Garnish with spring onions, oregano seasoning and serve hot.