Janhi Chingudi (Ridge Gourd with Shrimp)

Ingredients

Ridge Gourd - 4

Shrimp - 15 Large (remove vein and shell)

Potato - 1 Large

Ground Onion-Ginger-Garlic Paste - 4 tbsp

Curry Powder - 4 tbsp

Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp

Canola Oil - 3 tbsp

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp or as per taste

Cumin seeds - 1/8 tsp

Dry Red Chilli - 2

Method

Let the Shrimp thaw and be soft to touch.

Heat Canola oil. 

Once the oil is hot, add the Shrimp. Sprinkle Turmeric Powder and Salt and mix well. Stir every min or so till the Shrimp is cooked. Do not overcook.

Keep the Shrimp aside. In the oil remaining in the pan, add the chopped Potato. I chopped the Potato length-wise so it is similar in shape to the chopped Ridge Gourd.

Once the Potato is cooked, keep it aside with the Shrimp.

In the oil that remains, add Cumin seeds and dry Red Chilli.

Once this oil is tempered with Cumin seeds and dry Red Chilli, add a pinch of sugar and caramelize the same.

Add the Ground Onion-Ginger-Garlic Paste and mix well.

Once the paste is half-cooked, add the chopped Ridge Gourd

Note: Chop the Ridge Gourd into two or three pieces, so that it is easier to chop individually. Remove the skin and then chop into small cubes,

Cover if necessary.

Once the Ridge Gourd looks cooked, add the already cooked Shrimp and Potato pieces.

Mix well. Cover if necessary. Add a dash of water to prevent the dish from sticking to the sides of the pan.

Enjoy with Rice\Dal or Roti\Chapatti.

I was a never a fan of this vegetable, right from my childhood days. During my parents recent visit, my mom prepared this dish. I loved it but that was it. It's been a few months since and I thought of grabbing a few Ridge Gourd during my recent grocery shopping. Was I surprised how delicious this dish turned out to be!?! Think it's gonna be a staple.

The garlic-based Spinach dish in this pic is also a recent favorite of mine. I am adding a lot of new vegetables to my pantry this holiday season - can't be more proud of myself! The cooking experience when relaxed is a different experience - it is not a chore.

More about Ridge Gourd and it's health benefits (blood purifier, manages insulin levels, etc. among others) can be found here. More details about the vegetable can be found here (the image is from the same website).

Ridge gourd medically referred to as Luffa acutangula as well as called turiya or even turai or beerakai or dodka in several languages in India is yet another variety of gourd along with a functional veggie that provides a facet to the veggie delicacies. This can be referred to as Chinese Okra or even Sponge gourd.

Achari Brussel Sprouts

Yay! Another new vegetable added to my kitchen - yes, Brussel Sprouts. I have always avoided it for no apparent reason - in my experimentation mode which usually creeps in during the holidays, I got adventurous, if one may say so. 

Brussel Sprouts - 1 pack typically includes about 20 pieces

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Cut off the tough base of the Brussel Sprout and cut it length-wise into halves.

Marinade with Turmeric and Salt. I left it overnight, but an hour or so should suffice, I guess.

Canola Oil - 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp

Dry Red Chilli - 3

Onion-Ginger-Garlic paste - 2 tbsp

Achari Spice Mix - 3-4 tbsp (I used a brand gifted by my cousin, bought from Indore, India; Shan brand should also work)

Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp

Heat Canola oil in a pan.

As it warms up, add the Cumin seed as well Dry Red Chilli and let it sizzle.

Add the ground Onion-Ginger-Garlic paste. Mix it well and let it cook.

As the spice mix is getting cooked, add the Achari spice mix and coriander powder.

Add the marinaded Brussel Sprouts and mix it well.

Cook in high heat till the sprouts are cooked. Add few drops of water if you see the spice getting stuck to the pan sides.

If needed, cover for a few mins in Lowe heat.

Serve it as a side with Rice or Roti/Chappati. Enjoy! I had mine with Roti, Dal (lentils), Mutton Liver curry and Cauliflower/Mushroom Pakoda (fritters) - yum, that was a feast!

Eggless Dates-based Nankhatai (Indian shortbread cookies)

Inspired by the recipe here: http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/nankhatai-recipe/

Ingredients

• 1 cup Maida or all purpose Flour
• ¼ cup Besan/gram flour
• ½ tsp Baking soda
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 2 tbsp Sooji/Rava/Cream of Wheat
• ⅛ tsp Nutmeg powder
• ½ tsp Cardamom powder
• ½ cup Ghee
• ½ cup Sugar
• 10 Dates
• Quarter cup Milk
• Few Almonds or Dates, chopped
• Decorative Sugar

Method

1. Grind Dates with Milk till it is a smooth mixture. Keep it aside.
2. Cream the Ghee and Sugar in a food processor.
3. Mixture should become smooth, light and creamy.
4. Sift the the following dry ingredients - maida or all purpose flour, gram flour/besan, baking powder and baking soda. keep the sifted dry ingredients aside.
5. add milk/dates ground mixture to the creamed ghee+sugar mixture. mix very well.
6. now add the sifted dry ingredients. also add the sooji/rava/cream of wheat, cardamom powder and nutmeg powder.
7. gently mix everything. do not knead. just mix and gather to a smooth dough. if the mixture is too crumbly and you cannot bring together to a dough, then add 1 to 3 tbsp of milk. mix lightly and bring the mixture to a dough.
8. pinch medium sized balls from the dough.
9. roll them evenly in your palms. slightly flatten them. press decorative sugar and/or almonds on the top lightly.
10. you can also make some criss cross designs on the nankhatais with a fork or toothpick.
11. place the cookies in a baking tray.
12. keep some space between them as they expand while baking.
13. bake the nankhatai in a pre heated oven at 350F for 25 mins till light golden.
14. remove and place them on wire racks.

Chicken Kadai (with Banne Nawab Masala)

Ingredients

Chicken - 1 whole (about 20 pieces)

Onion-Ginger-Garlic paste - 15 tbsp (paste made with 2 Tomato, 1 large Onion, 6 cloves Garlic, 1 inch Ginger)

Banne Nawab brand Kadai Chicken Masala - 1/2 packet

Turmeric - 1tbsp

Salt - 1 tsp or as per taste

Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp

Dry Red Chilli - 3

Dry Bay Leaf - 3

Canola oil - 3 tbsp

Method

Thaw the Chicken to room temperature.

Marinade with Salt and Turmeric for approx. 30 mins.

Heat Canola oil in a pan.

As it warms up, add Cumin seeds, dry Bay leaf and dry Red Chilli to temper the oil.

Add the ground Onion-Ginger-Garlic paste. Mix it well.

Stir it frequently till the paste is cooked and oil starts separating.

Add the Chicken and mix it well. Cook at Medium-High heat to avoid the Chicken from becoming too watery.

As the Chicken is half-cooked, add the Kadai Masala spice mix. Mix it well.

If the spice mix or Chicken is sticking to the sides of the pan, add few dashes of water and remove the stuck items before it burns. Cover it for a few mins, if needed, to make it cook faster.

In the last 5 mins, you can add half an Onion, chopped into long slices. Mix it well and continue cooking. Serve it warm with Roti/Chapatti or Rice/Dal.

Note - There is a recipe enclosed in the Banne Nawab brand Kadai Chicken Masala spice mix. We love that preparation as well but it is different from the above.

Stir fried Bok Choy with Peanut Vignaigrette

Ingredients

Bok Choy - 1 pack (about 8)

Peanuts - 1/2 cup

Canola oil - 2 tbsp

Peanut Vignaigrette- a dash or 3-4 tbsp (as per taste)

Salt - 1/4 tsp or as per taste

Pepper - as per taste

Method

Chop the base of the Bok Choy

Cut it into halves or quarters length-wise

Clean it using running water - there may be dirt trapped in the base.

Heat Canola oil in a pan.

Add Peanuts to lightly roast them. Keep close watch in order to not burn them.

When the Peanuts are roasted, add the chopped and cleaned Bok Choys.

Add Salt and Pepper. Mix it well.

You can serve it at this point.

Alternatively, add the Peanut Vignaigrette and let it cook for another 5 mins.

Serve hot. 

Another alternative is to use chopped garlic instead of Peanuts - this will give two slightly different dishes than the above. Refer "Bok Choy Recipe by Steamy Kitchen" that shows how to clean Bok Choy and the Garlic-based recipe.

I am a Bok Choy fan now, as you can see! :) Happy holidays, everyone!

Tuna Fried Rice

Ingredients

Canned Tuna (in Olive Oil) - 1 can
Potatoes - 4 Medium, boiled and coarsely mashed
Onion - 1 Large, chopped
Green Chilli - 3/4, chopped (if not available, 1 dry red chilli will do!)
Dry Bay Leaf - 2

Cooked Rice - 2 cups (or more, if you want more Rice compared to Fish!)
Eggs - 4

Shan Egg Fried Rice Spice Mix - 1/2 packet (optional)
Salt, as per taste
Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp (or lesser, optional)
Cumin Seeds - 2 to 3 pinches

Canola Oil - 2 tbsp + 1 tbsp

Method

Use Paper towel to squeeze out the olive oil from the canned Tuna. The Tuna should eventually fall apart.
Mix it with Turmeric Powder, Chilli Powder and Salt.
Add the mashed Potato to the above and mix it together.

Heat 2 tbsp Canola oil in a flat pan.
Add Cumin Seeds, dry Bay Leaf and Green Chilli (or Dry Red Chilli). Let it sizzle and temper the oil.
Add chopped Onions. Stir and let it cook in medium heat for 5 mins till the Onion is translucent.
Add the already prepared Tuna-Potato mixture and mix it well.
Add little water if the mixture is sticking to the sides of the container. Keep stirring and let it mix till the raw smell is gone. Takes about 5-10 mins.
Keep this mixture aside. We will add it to the cooked Rice later.

Heat 1 tbsp Canola oil in a flat pan.
Once the oil is warm, add the eggs and let it cook. Stir it so that you have well cooked pieces of eggs.
Add Salt and Black Pepper for flavor.
Add the cooked Rice (room temperature is preferred for the Rice). Mix it well.
Add the Shan Egg Fried Rice Spice Mix, if you are planning to use it. Mix it well.
Add the prepared Tuna mix and combine them all together. This takes about another 5 mins.

I usually cover it and let it sit for 10-15 mins before serving. It goes well with a slice of Onion and Tomato or Raita or just Tomato Ketchup!

Bon Appetit! :)

Chia Seeds with Yoghurt Chat

Lately I have started eating one tablespoon of Chia seeds in some form or the other. One of my favourite is mixing it with Apple juice or Orange juice. Today I mixed it with Yoghurt and a teaspoon of Chat Masala. I had it as a side to Batata Poha.

Halloween Pumpkins (a post a year too late)

A post a year too late :) ... but just in time for this year! ;)

Last year, for the very first time, me and hubby got adventurous and got ourselves two large pumpkins. Since we had never carved one before, those pumpkins served as counter decor pieces for quite sometime - actually, not too bad! Then I got panicky and wanted them to serve the purpose they were meant for - lack of time and some my engineering skills and likely I had seen it online somewhere, I decided to use hubby's drill-set to serve my need! Well, I have not seen the drill-set since - most probably they have been stowed away to prevent any such future torture on them. Ok, enough of the background, here are my creations from last year - enjoy!

Tomatillo Dip

Ingredients

Tomatillo - 1 pack of about 12, grind it fine
Onion - 1 medium, finely chopped
Parsley - 1/2 cup, finely chopped
Lemon juice - 2, small
Salt - as per taste
Green chilli - 2 (optional)

Method

Grind the chopped Tomatillo into a fine paste.
Add water if you want it less thick.
Mix it with chopped Onion, chopped Parsley and Lemon juice.
Add Salt and chopped Green Chilli as per taste.

Serve with Pita chips and Hummus - amazing! It can't get more sour and tangy!

Chia Seeds with Yoghurt Chat

Lately I have started eating one tablespoon of Chia seeds in some form or the other. One of my favourite is mixing it with Apple juice or Orange juice. Today I mixed 1 tablespoon of Chia seeds with 3/4th cup Yoghurt and a 1/2 teaspoon of Chat Masala.

I had it as a side with Batata Poha. Yumm!

Batata Poha

Same recipe as posted earlier here.

Only addition is one boiled Potato, chopped into tiny pieces. It is added before the soaked Poha and tossed with the spices. Add a pinch of Turmeric Powder so that the raw taste of Potato is removed.

Pomfret with Bihari Kabab Masala

Ingredients

Garlic - 6 cloves
Ginger - 2 tbsp, grated
Bihari Kabab Masala (or Fish Masala, I used a spice mix from

Tunisia gifted by dear Kavita) - 2 tbsp

Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Salt - as per taste (approx. 1 tsp)
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Canola oil - 1 tsp

White Pomfret Fish - 2 (Silver one, cleaned with side cuts)

Method

Marinade uniformly the defrosted (if you use it fresh, it is much more flavourful) room temperature fish. Make sure some of the marinade gets into the cuts on the side of the fish.

Keep it aside for about 15-30 mins.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 mins.
Broil on High for 5 mins.

Serve hot, fresh off the oven with sliced Onion and Tomato slices. I think Green Coriander Chutney will also go great with this - try it out!

I remember eating Baked Fish in Kabob Factory, Bhubaneswar with hot Coriander Chutney and it was a very different but appetizing taste.

My friend Edgar had mentioned Corn Bread will also go great with this dish. Liked this idea and will definitely have Corn Bread as a side-dish with the baked Fish!

Ethiopian Thali :)

Injera Bread is used to rollup the different flavorful curries in Ethiopian cuisine. It is very close in taste to the Indian palette. The pics are from a trip to an Ethiopian restaurant in Maryland where me and my friend tried the vegetarian menu. It was delicious.

From Wikipedia:

Injera (Amharicənǧära [ɨndʒəra]; sometimes transliterated as enjera; Oromo: bidenaa; Somali: canjeero) or taita (Tigrinya ጣይታ)^[2] is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made out of teff flour,^[3] it is a national dish in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In making injera, teff flour is mixed with water and allowed to ferment for several days, as with sourdough starter. As a result of this process, injera has a mildly sour taste. The injera is then ready to be baked into large, flat pancakes. This is done either on a specialized electric stove or, more commonly, on a clay plate (Amharic mittad, Tigrinyamogogo) placed over a fire. Unusual for a yeast or sourdough bread, the dough has sufficient liquidity to be poured onto the baking surface, rather than rolled out. In terms of shape, injera compares to the French crêpe and the Indian dosa as a flatbread cooked in a circle and used as a base for other foods. The taste and texture, however, are unlike the crêpe and dosa, and more similar to the South Indian appam. The bottom surface of the injera, which touches the heating surface, will have a relatively smooth texture, while the top will become porous. This porous structure allows the injera to be a good bread to scoop up sauces and dishes. 

Spicy Mini-Potatoes

Ingredients

Boiled Baby Potatoes - 40-45 (add Salt and Turmeric while boiling for approx. 15-20 mins)

Canola Oil - 1-2 tbsp
Fresh Curry Leaf - 10-15
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Dry Red Chilli - 2-3
Tomato-Ginger-Garlic-Onion Paste - 10 tbsp (Grind 2 medium Onions, 1 inch Ginger, 2 Tomatoes, 7-8 Garlic Pods)

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Cumin Powder - 1 tbsp
Amchoor Powder - 1 tbsp


Method

Boil the baby Potatoes with salt and turmeric. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes till a fork\knife can easily poke into a potato. I throw the boiling water and let it sit for sometime to reach room temperature (or slightly warmer) before trying to peel.

Heat Canola oil in a flat pan.
Add fresh Curry leaves, Cinnamon, Cumin seeds and dry Red Chilli and let it temper the oil.
As the above sizzles and looks slightly roasted, add the Tomato-Ginger-Garlic-Onion Paste.
Stir it often so it does not stick to the sides.
Add Turmeric Powder, Salt and Chilli Powder and mix it well with the above paste.
Add Coriander Cumin Powder and Amchoor Powder.
Add the boiled Potatoes and mix it well. Stir it for about another 10 mins in Medium heat.

Enjoy it with Roti, Rice-Dal or with Dahi Vada as a side!

Guguni - Yellow Peas (street food of Odisha)

This is one of the dishes unique to Odisha - a popular street food apart from being akin to Cholley of Punjabi household in a Odiya household. It is the only use of Yellow Peas in my house - if you have any other recipe that uses the same, please do share.

Ingredients

Yellow Peas (dry) - 1 cup, soak overnight

Ginger - 1 inch

Cinnamon - 1 stick

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1 tsp

Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp

Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp

Dry Red Chilli - 2-3

Dry Bay Leaves - 3-4

Boiled Potatoe - 2-3, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes

Water - to pressure cook the Yellow Peas and for the gravy

Canola Oil - 1 tbsp

Tomato-Ginger-Garlic-Onion Paste - 10 tbsp (Grind 2 medium Onions, 1 inch Ginger, 2 Tomatoes, 7-8 Garlic Pods)

Onion - Raw, chopped to garnish

Cilantro - Fresh, chopped to garnish

Rock Salt - to garnish, as per taste, optional

Method

Soak Yellow Peas (dry) overnight in water.

Pressure cook the soaked Yellow Peas and chopped Potatoes (1/2 inch cubes or smaller) with Salt, Turmeric, Cinnamon stick and Chilli Powder(optional, as per taste) - I usually cook it for 3-4 whistles. Let it sit till the cooker cover opens by itself.

In a flat pan, hear Canola oil. 

Add dry Cumin seed, dry Bay Leaf and dry Red Chilli and let it sizzle and temper the oil.

Add the ground Tomato-Ginger-Garlic-Onion Paste. Stir often and let it cook.

When the oil separates, add the boiled Yellow Peas and Potatoes (without the water).

Let it cook for 5-10 mins and then add water as per the desired consistency.

Serve hot. Garnish with raw chopped Onion, chopped fresh Cilantro and powder Rock Salt - optional, as per taste!

Khichdi with Split Moong Dal

I first had this at my friend Prajakta's place. This morning, when I was thinking of having something hot to get some relief for my sore throat, this is the only dish that was coming to mind. Also, a one pot meal wonder to ease Sunday cooking - so off I went experimenting! 😊

Thank you, Prajakta, for this wonderful soul-food recipe.

Ingredients

Basmati rice - 1 cup

Split Green Moong Dal - 1 cup

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Asafetida - 4-5 pinches (Or dashes from a bottle with small hole)

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1 tsp, or as per taste

Dry Red Chilli - 3

Sugar - a pinch

Water - 8 cups

Method

1. Heat Ghee in Pressure Cooker

2. Add Cumin Seed and Asafetida

3. Add Dry Red Chilli, Turmeric and Salt

4. Add Sugar

5. Add the soaked and cleaned Rice and Dal mix (I soaked it in hot water for 5 mins and rinsed clean). Stir it till the grains are apart and do not stick to the side of the vessel.

6. Add water. Mix well and bring it to a boil in High heat.

7. Reduce heat to Medium-High. Cover the cooker and let it simmer for approximately 7 mins till the whistle goes off.

8. After the first whistle, reduce heat to Medium and let it cook for another 6 mins.

9. Stop the heat. Let the cover open by itself after a few mins.

10. Serve hot with Papad or Mango Pickle.