Creamy Cottage Cheese

Ingredients:

250G. Small Curd Cottage Cheese
1T. Ginger – Garlic Paste
2 Green Chili (deseeded, finely chopped)
1C. Red Bell pepper (finely chopped)
½ C. Green peas
2 Onions (chopped)
1 Tomato (chopped)
1T. Cumin seeds
¼ T. Garam Masala
¼ T. Turmeric Powder
½ T. Red Chili Powder
1T. Coriander Powder
¼ C. Milk
1T. Lemon Juice
2T. Fresh Coriander (chopped)
Oil
Salt

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Allow them to crackle.
Add chopped onions, chilies, ginger-garlic paste and saute for few minutes.

Now add the chopped tomatoes and bell pepper. Give it a quick stir and cook till they turn soft.

Add garam masala, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and salt to taste, stir.

Once fragrant add the milk and mix.

Stir in the cottage cheese, green peas, along with the lemon juice and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with the bread of your choice.

Tip: Any type of cottage cheese can be used for this recipe. Crumble or grate it before use.

Chole Bhature

A famous Indian street food from Amritsar, Punjab. A must try !

Ingredients for Chole:

1½ C. Chick peas (soaked overnight)
1T. Tea leaves
2 Dried Indian Gooseberries
2 Onions (chopped)
2 tomatoes (pureed)
2-3 green chilies (slit)
1½ T. Chana Masala
½ T. Coriander powder
Salt
Oil

Ingredients for Bhature:

2½ C. Refined flour
½ C. Yogurt
½ T. Baking powder
1T. salt
2T. Sugar
Oil
A pinch of baking soda

Recipe:

Start with preparing the dough for the bhatura. In a bowl sieve flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Mix yogurt, water and knead into a soft dough. Cover the dough and leave aside.

Drain the chickpeas and pressure cook with four cups of water. Tie tea leaves and gooseberries in a muslin cloth to form a bundle and add it to the cooker. Cook under pressure for around 12- 15 minutes or till completely cooked and soft.

Heat some oil in a pan and sauté onions and green chili till lightly brown. Add tomato puree and sauté till the oil separates. Add chana masala, coriander powder to it and mix well.

Add the boiled chickpeas with the cooking liquor and simmer for 15 minutes. Check for salt.

To make bhatura roll out five inch diameter diskettes of the prepared dough and deep fry till brown on both the sides. Drain on absorbent paper and serve hot with chole.

Butter Chicken Masala

Ingredients:

For the 1^st marinade:

400 gram boneless chicken, cut into 1.5 inch pieces
1T. Deggi mirch
1 lemon (juiced)
Salt

For the 2^nd marinade:

½ C. Yogurt
3T. Ginger garlic paste
½ T. Deggi mirch
½ T Garam masala
2T. Mustard oil
Salt

For Makhani gravy:

06 Tomatoes (pureed)
4T. Butter
2T. Ginger garlic paste
5 Green cardamoms
½ T. Mace
½ T. Fenugreek leaves (roasted, crushed))
1T. Honey
4T. Fresh cream
½ T. Garam masala
½ C. Water
Salt

Recipe:

Start with preparing the first marinade for the chicken. In a bowl add chicken pieces, chili powder, lemon juice and salt. Leave for one hour in the fridge.

After one hour add all the ingredients of second marinade in it, mix well and leave for another hour in the fridge.

Cook the chicken pieces over a grill or in a clay oven.

To prepare the Makhani gravy, in a heavy bottom pan heat butter and add cardamoms and mace. Once fragrant add ginger garlic paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Now add pureed tomatoes, red chili, salt and half cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes. Add the honey and crushed fenugreek leaves.

Now add the chicken pieces, fresh cream and garam masala to the tomato gravy and give it a nice stir. Simmer for five more minutes and serve hot with rice or naan.

Black Lentil Curry (Kali Dal)

 

Ingredients:

1 ¼ C. Split black gram (Dhuli urad dal)
3T. Split Bengal gram (Chana dal)
3T. Kidney beans (Rajma)
1T. Ginger-garlic paste
1T. Ginger (Peeled & Julienne)
2T. Deggi mirch
1T. Cumin seeds
1 Onion, medium (chopped)
2 whole dry red chilies (broken)
1C. Tomato puree
1T. Garam masala powder
2T. Clarified butter (Desi ghee)
2T. Butter
¼ C. Fresh cream
2T. Coriander (chopped)
Salt (as per taste)

Recipe:

Soak together all the lentils in four cups of water overnight.

Take the soaked lentil in a pressure cooker, add ginger julienne, salt, red chili powder, close the lid and cook on high heat till two whistles are given out. Remove from heat and leave aside for about fifteen minutes.

Heat ghee and butter in a pan. Add cumin seeds, chopped onion and sauté. Add red chilies, ginger-garlic paste and sauté for two minutes. Add tomato puree, garam masala powder and mix. Add the cooked dal.

Add chopped coriander leaves, cream and mix again. Simmer till the desired consistency. Serve piping hot.