Tag: garam masala
Meat Koftas- Meatballs in an Onion Gravy
This is a delicious meat ball dish. In India we meatballs are called koftas. They can be made with a variety of meats. My favorite is goat meat- but pork is delicious as well.. and so is beef.
The key to make this dish successful is to season every component of this dish. I started off with the minced meat which I seasoned with salt, garam masala and a small shallot. I let that mixture sit for a few hours (over night would be great). I then prepared a spice mixture consisting of coriander and cumin seeds. It is important to use whole spices as the grounds ones don’t give as much flavor- although, in a pinch one can use the ground variety. The next step was to blend an onion with ginger and garlic- that is the base of the gravy. If the steps are followed- the dish is a sure hit.
It is not the fastest dish to make- so I would leave this for the weekend.. but it is definitely worth the extra time….
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Keema Mattar (Ground Turkey with Peas)
This is a very simple, weeknight meal one can whip up in no time. Keema is one of my favorite things to eat and make. Keema is essentially ground meat cooked in spices, onion, ginger and garlic- the rest is up to you. I love pairing the meat with different vegetables to make a great one pot meal. Brown rice or fresh make whole wheat rotis can be served to create and delicious and wholesome meal.
I made this one with peas but I also added a variety of different spices- which are not my usual. I used curry leaves and mustard seeds. The mix of spices gave this dish a fabulous flavor. My daughter loves keema- her favorite is the one I make with cauliflower. She devoured it with two big rotis and a glass of milk….
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Moong Dal with Cumin Seeds
This dal would be a great complement to the seekh kebabs from yesterday. It is a dal dish my Mom has made for years and this is the first time I have ever made it myself. I do have another recipe for it on the blog courtesy of my Mom. I always thought it was very complicated and hard to make this particular version.
Typically one adds the lentils and water to a pan and the dish is cooked till the lentils are soft- very simple. This one, you cook like pasta- once the lentils are al dente, you drain and then dress with different spices or herbs.
In my case, I decided to keep it simple and add cumin seeds, onions and ginger. I of course added some garam masala – which I think adds a very distinctive flavor. I finished it with some fresh chopped cilantro. I couldn’t believe how simple it was to make- this will definitely be part of my repertoire. Try this dish, you will really like it…
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Kashimiri Koftas (Indian Style Meatballs in a Yogurt Gravy)
My mom has been making these meatballs ever since I can remember. A friend from Kashmir taught her these a long time ago. Since then the dish has been tweaked to perfection. Technically speaking- it is not a typical Kashmiri dish. My mom has changed it over the years by adding more onions to the gravy, etc- she has made it her own.
I had never made these before. I would usually wait for my Mom to visit and make this delicious dish. I finally decided to write down the recipe and try it on my own. It is a bit laborious- but definitely worth all the work.
It is a bit different than the rest of Indian dishes I have posted- the dish does not have any tomatoes or garlic. The main flavorings in the meat are ground fennel and ginger powder. The gravy includes whole cinnamon and cloves. The most interesting flavor comes from asafetida. It has a very distinct flavor. If you can’t find it, no worries- just eliminate it. The dish will be good even without this spice.
Serve it with naans or rotis. I would highly recommend this dish- try it and it will part of your repertoire…
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Besan Ki Roti- Homemade Spiced Gramflour Bread
This roti is ideal for breakfast or brunch. I grew up eating it for brunch on the weekends.
The bread is made with whole wheat flour and chickpea flour. The chickpea flour gives the bread a delicious nutty flavor and has protein as well.
The two flours can be paired with onion, ginger, green onions, cilantro and a bunch of spices- sky is the limit. You can make it as spicy as you want with a lot of chilies and cayenne pepper or keep it mild.
In this case, I added coriander powder, garam masala and salt. Once the dough is made, it is important for it to rest for a bit before the bread is ready to be rolled.
Rolling the bread can be difficult so don’t worry about the shape. Roll it out into whatever shape is the easiest. Once it is rolled out, cook it on a non-stick pan (it is the easiest to handle). Cook on both sides until golden brown. You can cook longer to make the exterior crusty. Either way, the bread is delicious.
Traditionally it is served with pickles and yogurt (to alleviate the heat from the bread). It can also be served with a fried egg on top- my favorite.
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Moong Dal with Spinach (Lentils with Spinach)
This is a great dish to make through the week. It is simple and quick. Especially since I used these particular lentils- moong. They take all of 15 minutes to cook up. I have quite a few lentils in my pantry which is great when I don’t have anything else to cook.
I made these simply with some turmeric, salt and garlic. I let the lentils cook for a while and then added the frozen spinach- another thing I have on hand- it is extremely versatile and easy to use.
While the lentils were finishing up, I heated up some ghee (butter can be used instead) and added cumin. I added the mixture to the lentils and that was it. I served the lentils with some rice and it was a delicious weeknight meal. Everyone loved it.
Make these lentils through the week- they don’t take long at all.
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Mint and Ginger Burgers with Cilantro Mayonnaise
These burgers hold a special place in my heart- why you ask- well, because this was the first time my daughter started eating burgers! She does not like sandwiches- they only one she will eat is a jam sandwich. I don’t make it for her very often since it offers hardly any food value.
I made this for a barbecue and she had been outside playing all day and came in completely famished and ready to pounce on dinner. I had planned on giving her grilled sausages with corn since I knew she was not keen on the hamburgers- but surprise, surprise- she picked up a burger and started eating it.
I made these simply with ground turkey, ginger and some fresh mint and cilantro. I flavored them with salt and garam masala. I also whipped up a quick cilantro mayonnaise with lots of fresh cilantro, green onions and lemon juice. It is amazing how much different a few key ingredients can make a huge difference- the mayo was delicious.
My daughter had the burger with baby spinach but no mayo. She loved it and announced that she will be eating burgers from now on. I am thrilled- yet another food group had been added to her vast collection.
Try these burger this weekend- they are quick, easy and delicious…
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