Kadai Chicken.

Kadai Chicken is also known as a kadai ghost prepared with mutton or lamb and this dish is originated from Pakistan and North India. This dish is known for it's spicy and flavourful taste and can be served with naan, roti or jeera rice. As everybody knowns this days cooking is all about experimenting and cooking something different and that how I keep trying something new every time. I have added capsicum in to this dish which is optional and I have used milk instead of cream and it still gave me the thick and creamy gravy which went very well with homemade garlic naan. It is worth trying this recipe and you will be very happy with the results.

Ingredient's to make kadai masala.

1tsp whole coriander seeds

2 dry red chilli

1/2tsp cumin

1/2tsp black pepper

3 bay leaves

2 green cardamom

3 cloves

1inch cinnamon stick.

(Dry roast all the above in ingredients and grind it to a fine powder)

Ingredient's.

1/2kg chicken (cut into medium pieces)

1 big onion (finely chopped)

1 cup tomato puree

1 medium green capsicum (cut into small cubes)

1tsp ginger garlic paste

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder

1tbsp kadai masala, 1/2tsp garam masala

1tsp kasoori meethi (dry fenugreek leaves)

1/4cup curd, 1/4cup milk

1tsp lemon juice

Oil and Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

In a wok, add oil and fry ginger garlic paste, then add onion and fry for 2 minutes. Add turmeric, salt and chicken, fry for 2 to 3minutes. Then add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala and kadai masala fry for another 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the tomato puree, curd, milk and capsicum and cook for 7 to 8 minutes or till all the masala is coated well to the chicken and oil starts floating on top. finally add lemon juice and kasoori meethi and give a quick stir.

Serve hot with Naan. Roti or Rice.

Basic Sponge Cake/ Vanilla Sponge Cake.

Happy New Year 2014 to all my readers and blogger friends.. I know i'm 1 day late to wish you all, what to do I was very lazy for 2 weeks because of my hubby's holidays and was not feeling like posting or doing anything.. Last 2 weeks it was like a honeymoon period for me, not much to cook or do household work, was just shopping, eating outside and roaming and for him also it was the best time to rest after a very hectic work schedule. This was the best new year I had after very very long time... Actually I had feeling that I would be doing this only once his holidays starts, because of that only I had baked this cake before and took the pictures, so when I bake it again on new year I don't have to take the pictures.. The cake had turnout very tasty and soft. I serve it with some whipped cream and fruits you can serve as you like..

Ingredient's.

1 cup all purpose flour

1tsp baking powder

2/3 cup melted butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup milk

1tsp lemon zest

1tsp lemon juice.

Baking Method.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Butter the round baking pan and keep it aside.

Stir together the flour and baking powder in a large bowl, set it aside.

Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the melted butter and blend for another 1minute. Add the milk and vanilla essence in a small bowl and mix it well, then add it to the egg mixture and blend for another 30 to 40sec.

Add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together slowly by making sure not to over mix. Mix everything with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Pour the batter into buttered pan and bake for 30 to 31minutes. Allow it cool before taking out from the pan, then cut and sprinkle some icing sugar on top.

Serve as you like..

Choco Walnut Tea Cake..

Choco Walnut Tea Cake...I had bought a bottle of drinking chocolate few days back and in the starting we both use to drink every second day. After a while we felt bore and stopped completely and I forgot about it.. While I was cleaning my kitchen, found that bottle and was not having idea what to do with it.. Then suddenly my mind strike, why don't I bake muffins and that's how I ended up making Tea Cake... I have used drinking chocolate instead of cocoa powder in this cake to try out different recipe and I must say this was worth of trying and it came out very well, Though it was bit dry according to me but it was going very well with whipped cream on top and cup of tea...

Then after some days I had baked this cake again by adding more milk and it turn out very soft and moist. This recipe is for the cake which I baked second time, so no need to worry if you run out of cocoa powder at home and you have drinking chocolate which is not being used for some reason this is the best recipe to use that drinking chocolate..

Ingredient's.

1/2cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup drinking chocolate powder 

1tsp baking powder 

1/2 cup milk

1tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup white sugar

1egg, room temperature

1/4 cup chopped walnuts.

Baking Method.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Butter the flat square baking pan or loaf pan and keep it aside.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, drinking chocolate powder in a large bowl, set it aside.

Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg and blend for another 1minute.

Add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine, making sure not to over mix. Then add the chopped walnuts and make sure you give everything a good stir with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Pour the batter into buttered pan and bake for 30 to 35minutes. Allow it cool before taking out from the pan, then cut into square shape and sprinkle some icing sugar on top.

Serve with Tea or Coffee.

Kesar Shrikhand. (Low Calorie Yogurt Dessert)

Kesar Shrikhand is healthy Indian dessert made from strained curd. This is a low calorie, rich and creamy yogurt. Shrikhand is generally flavoured with saffron, cardamom and dry fruits even it is served with fresh fruits or as a standalone dessert... I was not knowing what is shrikhand and how it taste, I had heard about it but never tasted before I meet my H, I still remember that day when he had got a pack of Haldiram's shrikhand and I told him that why did you get such a expensive curd, you should have just bought a pack of curd which will not cost more then 10rs. He look at me and said you don't know what is this? and I told him yes ofcourse I know this some weird color curd. He started laughing and said this is shrikhand my dear and I can't belive you have still not tasted this and my reaction was ohhh this is shrikhand from then I know what is shrikhand and how it taste like..

I made this dessert last week and it tasted better then the store bought and I did not get the perfect color of saffron while I was taking pictures and I did take the pictures soon just because I knew that it will be over and I was not sure when I will make this dessert again.. After 2 hours I had got the perfect saffron color and it was looking beautiful... Do try this wonderful low fat dessert and serve as you like...

Ingredient's.

2 cups yogurt

1/2 cup powdered sugar (add more if you like)

10 to 15 saffron strands

3tbsp finely chopped dry fruits (pistachio, almond, raisin and cashew)

2tsp milk

Pinch of cardamom powder.

Method.

Spread clean muslin cloth on a big plate. Place yogurt in the center. Wrap and tightly tie muslin cloth.

Hang yogurt for 2 to 3 hours or until all water is drained off from yogurt. It should become very thick.

After that untie muslin cloth and transfer thick strained yogurt to bowl.

Add sugar and cardamom powder and mix well until smooth.

Dissolve saffron in milk and add it to the yogurt mixture and mix well. Then refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hour before serving.

Garnish it with dry fruits nuts and serve chilled.

Breakfast Chocolate Chunks Muffins..

Chocolate Chunks Muffins.. Muffins are very versatile you can keep on changing or adding the ingredients and they taste better every time. I have never baked the muffins by following the same recipe I keep the measurement same and change the ingredients each time I bake. Last week I bought a pack of chocolate chunks cookies from pound land and from there only I got this name idea and I wanted to add the cookies also in the muffins but unfortunately they were no cookies left, then I decided to save that recipe for one more day and just do with chocolate and cinnamon... I have added the dairymilk chocolate but I felt it was better if I would have added some other chocolate. No problem I will leave it to you all to choose from your favourite chocolate and enjoy this muffins for breakfast.

Preparation time: 10 minutes 

Baking time: 20 minutes 

Serving: 9 medium cupcakes.

Ingredient's.

1/2cups all-purpose flour

1/6 cup cocoa powder 

1tsp baking powder

1/4 cup chocolate chunks

1/4tsp cinnamon powder 

1/3 cup milk

1tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup white sugar

1egg, room temperature.

Baking Method.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 9 cup muffin pans with paper baking cups.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, coco powder and cinnamon in a large bowl, set it aside.

Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat for another 1minute.

Add the dry ingredients and just mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine. Add chocolate chunks and make sure you give everything a good stir with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Scoop the batter into your lined cupcake tin, make sure it's only filled ¾ of the way up because they will rise. Bake for 18-20 minutes and let cool before serving.

Serve with whipped cream or just like that.

Dahi Vada.. (Curd And Lentil Vada With Tangy Tamarind Chutney)

Dahi Vadas are lentil dumplings topped with a spicy savory yogurt and tamarind chutney. These are great as a side dish on any occasion or served as a chat too.. This dahi vada was made by Nupur my friend on Diwali day in a different way and with different ingredients... I use moong dal to make dahi vade but she made it with urad dal, exactly the way we cook medu vada. It was very good and I'm happy to know one more recipe of dahi vada..

To be honest I'm not a great fan of dahi vada, because of that only I use to avoid cooking.. But this time it was totally opposite because of the tamarind chutney, I ate 2 dahi vada with lots of tangy tamarind chutney and chat masala.. It was awesome and I have a plan to cook it again in some time... Thanks to my friend Nupur for a such a yummy dahi vada recipe..

Ingredients For Vadas.

1 cup urad dal

Oil for deep frying.

Ingredient's For Curd.

1 1/2 cup yogurt

3tbsp milk

1tsp salt

1/2tsp roasted cumin powder.

Ingredient's For Tamarind Chutney.

1cup tamarind pulp

2tbsp sugar

3/4 cup jaggery

1/4tsp red chilly powder

1/2tsp roasted cumin powder

Pinch of salt.

Cooking Method For Tamarind Chutney.

In a heavy bottom pan, add all the ingredinets of tamarind chuteny and cook on a low flame, till tamarind pulp becomes semi thick and dark in color.. That will take about 30 minutes. (keep stirring in between to avoid sticking at the bottom) When it is done take out in a bowl and allow it to cool.

Cooking Method For Vada.

Wash urad dal several times until the water appears clear and soak it over night.

Drain the water and blend dal to very creamy texture. Just using enough water as needed to blend. 

Whip dal batter using a spoon in a circular motion for about two to three minutes until batter become light and fluffy. If needed add few spoons of water.

In a deep frying pan add oil and allow oil to become hot on medium flame. To check if oil is ready put a little batter into the oil, oil will sizzle and batter should start expending upwards slowly without changing color.

Then place a plastic sheet on to a flat surface and apply little water, then put 2tbsp batter on to plastic sheet and slowly flatten the vada and make a small hole in a centre. Take the plastic sheet slowly up and leave the vada into hot oil for frying. Fry until they are golden brown and fry the vadas in small batches

After you have made all of the vadas, place the vadas in luke warm water and soak for about 20 minutes.

Next squeeze the vadas gently to take out the water, be careful not to break the vadas.

To make Yogurt topping and Garnish.

In a large mixing bowl take yogurt, milk and mix until very smooth. add salt and cumin powder give a good mix.

Then soak all the vadas in the yogurt for at least twenty minutes, giving the vadas time to absorb the yogurt.

Slowly pick up each vada and transfer into a serving dish, pouring a few spoons of extra yogurt all over the vadas.

Just before serving, sprinkle red chilly powder and chat masala finish off with a drizzle of tamarind chutney.

Rasmalai..

Rasmalai is a very famous milk-based dessert of India.This dessert is rich in its texture, flavour & can be made easily by everyone at home. I had made this Rasmalai along with few more sweets on Diwali to impress my hubby and his college close friend and his wife. As I have mention in my earlier post that this is my hubby first diwali away from home, that to in a unknown country. Thank god we had his friend family and little kid to make it even more special, we really had a blast and never felt like we are not in india... I can easily count this diwali into one of the most memorable day of my life..

 Ingredient's For Paneer

5cups whole milk

2tbsp sugar

1tbsp lemon juice

4cups water.

Ingredient's For Rasmalai (milk mixture)

4cups whole milk

1cup sugar

10 to 15 saffron strands

1/4cup chopped almond and pistachio (for garnishing).

Cooking Method For Paneer.

Boil the milk in a heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. As the milk comes to a boil, add the lemon juice slowly and stir the milk gently. The curd will start separating from the whey, turn off the heat.

Once the milk fat has separated from the whey, drain the whey using a strainer line with cheesecloth or muslin cloth.

Wrap the curd in a muslin cloth, rinse under cold water, and squeeze well. This process takes out the sourness from the lemon.

To take out the excess water squeeze the cloth till all the water has come out.

Once the paneer is drained, place on a dry, clean surface and knead the paneer for 3-4 minutes until the paneer is almost rolls into smooth soft dough.

Knead the paneer by dragging the palm of your hand hard on the paneer. Keep scooping it back to together and knead more. 

Divide the dough into 10 equal parts and roll them in smooth balls.

Mix the sugar and water in a pressure cooker on medium high heat and bring to a boil.

Add the paneer balls and close the pressure cooker. After the pressure cooker starts steaming, turn the heat to medium and cook for about seven minutes.

Make sure the cooker is large enough to accommodate the (rasgullas), as they will expand to about double in the volume while cooking in the syrup!

Close the heat and wait a few minutes before opening the pressure cooker.

Then take out the rasgulla from the syrup and squeeze them lightly,and keep aside.

Cooking Method For Rasmalai (milk mixture)

Boil the milk, sugar and saffron strands in a deep frying pan on medium heat until the milk reduce to about 2 cups.

Make sure to frequently stir the milk as the milk burns easily in bottom of the pan.

Once the milk is ready, switch off the flame, then add the rasmalai into milk. and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours

Garnish with chopped almonds and pistachios.

Rasmalai is ready to serve.

Serve the Rasmalai chilled.

Masoor Dal Makhni.. (Whole Red Lentil Curry)

Masoor Dal Makhni... After I started cooking this whole masoor dal makhni I totally forgot about the dal makhni... I really feel this dal is more tastier and easier to cook. You don't need to add cream or milk it taste delicious even without any of the heavy ingredient's and gives the same taste as Dal Makhni.. I have tryded even with cream, but I like with out cream or milk.. You can change or add ingredients according to your taste.. Serve with Jeera Rice and Naan and take my words you'll also forget about the other dals...

Ingredient's

1 cup whole masoor dal

1/4 cup rajma

1 medium onion, 1 large tomato, 2 green chillies

1tsp red chilli powder, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder, 1tsp garam masala

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1/2tsp cumin

Hand full of chopped coriander leaves

1/4 cup cream or milk (optional)

Butter 2tbsp

Oil 1tbsp

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Soak the rajma for 3 to 4 hours, then in a pressure cook add whole masoor dal, rajma, salt and 2 cups of water and boil for 4 to 5 whistle on a low flame. After boiled take out from the pressure cooker and set it aside.

In the same pressure cooker, add butter and oil, when hot add cumin, onion and green chillies, fry to golden brown, then add all the masala powder, ginger garlic paste and tomato, fry all the masala till the oil start separating and keep smashing the tomato in between.

Now add the boiled dal and little water if required and give a nice mix, adjust the salt and close the pressure cooker lid and cook for another 2 whistle on a low flame.. Allow the pressure to go completely before opening the pressure cooker. Then mix in the coriander leaves and (cream or milk) give a quick mix and again close the pressure cooker.. Whole Masoor Dal Makhni is ready to serve.

Serve hot with Jeera Rice or Naan..

Breakfast Walnut Muffins..

Walnut Muffins!!! After getting my hand set on oven I just feeling like keep baking and baking.. I have tried many recipes in last 1 week which I will be posting it soon.. I'm trying to bake everything in a less quantity so that I get a change to bake more and was thinking that this muffins will go for 2days till then will think of some other recipes, but it just got over in a day.... Now again i'm in a same thinking processes:) Adding walnut to muffins or a cakes I just love it, they taste so good feels like having more then one.. Try these tasty muffins for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee or tea..

Yeilds: 8 to 9 medium Muffins

Preparation time: 10minutes

Baking time: 20 minutes.

Ingredient's

1/2+1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup butter

1tsp vanilla essence

1tsp baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts.

Baking Method.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line muffins tin with liners and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder, set aside. 

In a another mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs, vanilla and cream together until you get a smooth mixture.

Add the dry ingredients and walnuts, mix together and slowly add the milk and just mix everything to combine. DO NOT OVERMIX! 

Make sure you give everything a good stir with a spatula from the bottom to incorporate any bit that wasn't mixed.

Scoop the batter into your lined muffins tin, make sure it's only filled ¾ of the way up because they will rise.

Then sprinkle some more walnut from top and Bake for 20 minutes and let cool for sometime.

Serve for Breakfast with your favourite drinks..