Tag: indian cuisine
Indian Style Fried Rice
3 cups basmati rice, cooked al dente
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
10 to 12 curry leaves, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
5 cups mixed greens (baby spinach, baby kale), chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons soy sauce
Salt
Juice of half a lemon
Heat a wok like pan and add the peanut oil. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Saute on medium heat for 30 seconds and add the onion. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooked rice and sauté on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes and add the soy sauce and the greens. Saute till the greens are wilted. Add salt and lemon juice to fix the seasonings. Serve warm.
Easy Indian Recipe: Cauliflower and Peas- 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.
Sauteed Zucchini with Mustard Seeds and Curry Leaves
- 3 medium zucchini, cut into ½ inch slices
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
- Salt
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Juice of half a lemon
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Saute for 30 seconds on medium high heat or till the seeds begin to sizzle. Add the zucchini slices and sauté on high heat 5-6 minutes, till the slices begin to brown. Add the salt, coriander powder and cayenne pepper. Mix well and turn the heat off. Add the lemon juice and check for seasonings before serving.
Shrimp with a Cilantro and Mint Sauce
This is a yummy green curry made with coconut milk, cilantro and mint! It was a delicious combination I served with lemon rice and it was a bit hit. Overall- it was a successful attempt at a green coconut curry… I was very satisfied.
- 1 pound medium sized shrimp, cleaned
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
Green Curry
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup mint, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 serrano chili, chopped
- ¼ cup water
Blend the cilantro, mint, green onions, white onion, garlic, ginger, chili and water till a smooth sauce.
- 3 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and ground
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 10 to 15 curry leaves, chopped
- 1 (14 ounces) light coconut milk
- Salt
- Juice of one lemon
Saute the shrimp on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes in a wok like sauce pan with the extra light olive oil. Take the shrimp out on a paper towel lined platter. Keep aside.
Reheat the wok like sauce pan and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Saute for a minute on high heat or till the seeds start to sizzle. Add the sauce and sauté on medium high heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the coriander seeds, salt and coconut milk. Mix well and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat. Add the shrimp, cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice, taste for seasonings. Serve with plain or lemon rice.
Garlic Cilantro Naans
This will be a great addition to the Diwali dinner…
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup full fat yogurt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon oil
- Extra all purpose flour
- Cast Iron Pan
Garlic Topping
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon onion seeds (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mix the all the ingredients in a small bowl and keep aside.
In a large bowl, mix the flour baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar together. Add the yogurt and mix well to make a soft dough. Add more flour if necessary making sure it is still soft but not sticky. Clean the bowl and rub the oil and return the dough to rest covered with a damp towel for an hour.
Divide the dough into 3 even balls, cover with some flour and roll out with a rolling pin into a oval shaped naan. In the meantime, heat a wide cast iron pan on a medium high heat. Apply a bit of water on one side of naan and place it on the pan with the water side down. Brush a third of the butter mixture on top and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes or till the bottom part of the naan is golden brown. Take off the heat and place on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet under a medium heat broiler. Cook under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes or till the top of the nann is golden brown and cooked through. Serve warm.
Dal Makhani- Black Lentils with a Cream Sauce
Diwali is coming up and this is a must in our house… people typically make this lentil dish for a special occasion but it is so simple… you can make it any day you want… yum!
- 1 cup whole urad dal (black lentils)
- ¼ cup rajma (red kidney beans)
- ¼ cup channa dal (gram lentils)
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 inch piece of ginger, minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon ghee or butter
- 2 teaspoon garam masala
- 3 tablespoons half and half
In a pressure cooker or sauce-pan, add the urad dal, rajma, channa dal, water, crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, salt, cayenne pepper, coriander powder, turmeric and ghee. If using a pressure cooker, then close the lid and cook on high till the pressure is built, then turn the heat on low and cook for an hour. Turn the heat off, and take the lid off- check the consistency. The dal should be like a thick soup or a think stew. If there is excess liquid, then turn the heat on high and begin to evaporate the liquid. Add the garam masala and half and half. Cook till the dal reaches desired consistency. Taste for seasonings.
If using a sauce-pan, then bring the mixture to a boil and lower the heat, cook for at least 2 hours or till the lentils are soft and mushy. Add the garam masals and half and half. Cook till the dal reaches desired consistency. Taste for seasonings.
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
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.
- 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.
