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Tag: cumin seeds

Easy Indian Recipe: Cauliflower and Peas- Gobi Mattar

Gobi Mattar

1 cauliflower head- florets cut into ½ inch pieces

1 cup frozen peas

3 tablespoons extra light olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 inch ginger, chopped

2 serrano chilies, deseeded and chopped

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 cup cilantro, chopped and divided in half

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon turmeric

2 teaspoons coriander powder

1 teaspoon garam masala

In a large wide saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the onions, ginger and green chilies. Saute on high heat for a minute and add the cumin seeds. Saute for 4-5 minutes on medium high heat. Add the cauliflower florets and half cup cilantro. Add the salt, turmeric and coriander powder. Saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and cover for about 10 minutes or till the cauliflower is cooked. Take the lid off and add the peas. Mix well and cook for a few minutes till the peas are warmed through. Add the remaining cilantro and garam masala. Check for seasonings.

Stir Fried Noodles with Steak and Mushrooms

I love a one pot meal! This is a yummy dish filled with noodles, steak and mushrooms. It is flavored with one of my favorite Chinese spices- Szechuan peppercorns!!

  • 10 ounces Chinese noodles, cooked according to directions, keep aside
  • 1 rib eye steak, sliced thin
  • 1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Roast the peppercorns and cumin seeds in a pan for 2 to 3 minutes. Let them cool and grind till a powder is formed. Marinate the steak slices with the spice mixture and salt for 2 to 3 hours.

  • 3 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 10 ounces Cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 ounces Shiitaki mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a wok like saucepan with the oil. Brown the steak on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Take out of the pan and add the mushrooms and sauté on high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic. Saute for a minute and add the cooked noodles, steak slices and the sauces. Mix well and check for seasonings. Garnish with cilantro.

A Restaurant Classic – Chicken Tikka Masala

Another staple for Diwali dinner… yum!

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 5-6 wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least an hour
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 inches fresh ginger

Process the garlic and ginger into a paste and add to a medium sized bowl.

  • ½ cup non-fat greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons half and half
  • 1 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • ½ cup raw cashews, ground

Chicken Tikka Masala1

Preheat broiler on high.

Add the yogurt, half and half, food coloring, lemon juice, coriander powder, salt, garam masala, cilantro and cashews into the bowl with the ginger and garlic. Mix well and add the chicken pieces. Marinate over night or at least two to three hours.
Take out the pieces out of the marinade and place them evenly onto the skewers. Broil on a broiling pan on high for 5 to 6 minutes on both sides or till the chicken is golden brown. Take the chicken out of the skewers and keep aside.
Chicken Tikka Masala4

  • 3 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger
  • 2 cans (14 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • ¼ cup half and half
  • Pinch of sugar
  • Salt
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 3 tablespoons dried fenugreek
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the cumin seeds on medium high heat. Saute for a minute and add the ginger and garlic. Saute for another minute and add the tomato sauce. Add the milk, half and half, sugar, salt, coriander powder and garam masala. Mix well and add half of the chicken pieces (the rest can be used for another recipe). Bring the sauce to a boil and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Add the fenugreek and fresh coriander. Check for seasonings.
Chicken Tikka Masala3

Grilled Chicken with Chipotle Sauce

Perfect recipe for a barbecue.. I made this last summer and it was a big hit!

Dry Rub

  • 1 tablespoon chipotle powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 smashed garlic cloves

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and keep aside.

  • 8 to 10 chicken drumsticks, skin removed

Score the drumsticks a couple of times and marinate them in the chipotle mixture in a zip lock bag over night or for at least 2 hours.

Chipotle Sauce

  • 1 cup tomato sauce, preferably fresh
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo (added a pepper in there as well)
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Bring all the ingredients to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste for seasonings and set aside.

Grill the chicken till done and baste with half of the chipotle sauce. Use the rest of serving on the side. Serve the chicken with a salad.

 

Ground Turkey White Chili

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 pound dark meat ground turkey
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, ground
  • 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 4 to 5 small tomatillos, husks removed and chopped
  • 1 4 ounces can of diced chilies
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 14 ounces can cannellini beans
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the ground turkey and brown the meat on high heat while stirring constantly- for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cumin, oregano and chili powder. Saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and tomatillos. Saute for another 5 to 7 minutes. Add the diced green chilies, salt and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and add the beans. Simmer on a medium heat with the lid partially on for 20 minutes, checking every 5 minutes to ensure enough stock is remaining. Take the lid off and check for seasonings. Garnish with cilantro and serve with corn bread.

Cauliflower and Potatoes with Mustard Seeds

Nothing like starting the week with delicious and healthy cauliflower. If you follow my recipes- you know I make a lot of this cruciferous veggie and this one is especially easy and yummy….

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 cup cilantro, stems cut up and chopped and separated from the leaves
  • 3 to 4 medium yellow potatoes, chopped into 1 inch dice
  • 1 cauliflower head, cut into small florets, about 1 inch
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

 

Heat a large saucepan with the coconut oil and add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Cook for 30 seconds on medium heat and add the onion, ginger and cilantro leaves. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes on medium heat. Add the potatoes and cook on medium heat, constantly stirring for 5 to 6 minutes or till golden brown. Add the cauliflower florets, turmeric, coriander powder, salt and cayenne pepper and sauté for another 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the heat down and cover for about 5 minutes or till the potatoes and cauliflower are cooked through. Turn heat down and check for seasonings. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve.

Penang Curry- My Version

Panang Curry

A great version to make at home…

Curry Paste

  • 2 to 3 dried chilies, soaked in warm water until soft and seeds removed
  • 1 inch galangal, grated
  • 3 to 4 stalks lemongrass, grated
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 small shallots
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro stems
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ cup peanuts
  • 1 teaspoon shrimp paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Roast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and peanuts in a small frying pan till aromatic, about 2 to 3 minutes. Take out and grind in a spice grinder. Add to a mortar and pestle. Add the soft red chilies to the spices in the mortar and pestle.
Add the grated galanga, lemongrass, cilantro stems, garlic and shallots to a small food processor and process till smooth. Add the mixture to the mortar and pestle. Add the shrimp paste to the whole mixture and pound the paste till incorporated together and relatively smooth. Add the salt and keep aside.

  • 1 can low-fat coconut milk
  • 3 to 4 kaffir lime leaves, sliced thin
  • 1 ½ pounds chicken breast, sliced thin on a bias
  • 1 cup haricot verts (green beans), cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • Juice and zest of one lime
  • ½ cup basil, shredded

Heat a saucepan on medium heat and add the curry paste. Add ¼ cup of coconut milk and sauté on medium heat while stirring constantly. Make sure the milk does not burn. Keep adding as the liquid evaporates and more is needed. This should take about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the beans and bring to a boil and cook for a minutes. Add the chicken and bring to a boil. Simmer and add the lime leaves, palm sugar, fish sauce, juice and zest of the lime. Mix well and check for seasonings. Turn off as soon as the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with basil and serve with rice.