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Tag: indian food

Hyderabadi Style Chicken

We are all guilty of being stuck in a rut- especially when it comes to cooking. I realized, I had not cooked Indian food in a while- not sure what my rut was but it certainly wasn’t Indian food. I decided to change that and come up with a delicious chicken curry!

  • 2 pounds chicken thighs, bone-in or out, without skin
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 inch ginger, grated
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped fine
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Mix the yogurt, garlic, ginger, cilantro, lemon juice and salt. Transfer to a medium bowl with the chicken. Marinate over night or at least 2 to 3 hours.

Spice Mix

  • ½ cup grated coconut (I use frozen)
  • 2 green cardamoms
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 dried red chilies
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • ½ inch cinnamon stick
  • ¼ cup chopped almonds

Process all the ingredients in a spice grinder (coffee grinder) and keep aside.

  • 3 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • ½ cup water
  • Salt

Heat a heavy saucepan with the oil. Add the onion and sauté on medium high heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Add the spice mix and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomato puree and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken and water. Bring to a boil and simmer with lid for 35 to 40 minutes or till the chicken is cooked through. Take lid off and cook on high heat to cook off the excess liquid. Add salt if necessary. Serve warm with rice or quinoa.

 

 

Chicken and Rice with Spinach

This is a super quick, healthy dish- oh, and it is a one pot meal. I feel like taking a bow to the applauding audience- yes, I realize no one is applauding- but I feel like they should.

It was one of those days when I had no time and no ideas swimming around in my head. I took out two chicken breast from the freezer and in order to make it really simple, I spiced them with salt and garam masala. Garam masala is made with any where between 5 to 15 spices- depending on who is making it. Since I make my own, it is super flavorful, filled with cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.

I sauteed the chicken pieces and then used the same pan to cook onions and garlic and more garam masala. I added some tomatoes, chicken broth with the rice and tossed in a whole bag of baby spinach.  I sliced the chicken pieces and introduced it to the rice and spinach and came up with a wonderful dish.

The busy day ended with a well-balanced, one pot meal and I had only one pot to clean after making the dinner- perfect.

Make this rice dish when things are crazy and you have no time to spend in the kitchen….

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the chicken breast and sprinkle salt and 1 teaspoon garam masala. Cook on high heat for 2 minutes and flip to the other side. Sprinkle salt and the remaining garam masala and cook for another 2 minutes. Take out and keep aside. The chicken will not be cooked through. It will finish cooking with the rice. Cool the chicken for 10 minutes and cut into ½ inch slices and keep aside.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 5 ounces baby spinach

Heat the same saucepan and add the one tablespoon olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and garam masala. Saute on medium high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt and tomato sauce. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the rice and sauté for a minute. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook on high till bubbles begin to form on the surface. Add the spinach, lower the heat, and place lid on saucepan. Cook for 15 minutes or till the rice is cooked. Turn the heat off and add the chicken pieces on top and place the lid back on. Leave the saucepan covered for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Make sure the chicken pieces are cooked through. Mix the rice with the spinach and chicken well before serving.

Spinach with Mustard Seeds

This is a delicious side dish to make with any kind of meal- especially an Indian meal. It is quick with not too many ingredients….

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Indian Style Sweet Peppers and Potatoes

Sweet Peppers and Potatoes I thought it would be good idea to highlight some vegetarian dishes to highlight healthy eating. I am not for giving up meat or anything else unless medically necessary but I do believe in moderation and incorporating a bit of everything in ones diet.

I try to make a vegetarian meal once or twice a week. Indian food is a great way to do so. I usually cook some beans or lentils as well as some delicious vegetables. I pair it with fresh whole wheat rotis and I am able to serve my family a delicious, well balanced meal.

So, the first one today is made with sweet peppers and potatoes. It is a very simple to make. I started with some oil and cumin seeds. I added onions, garlic and tomato sauce to the mix. Potatoes and peppers were next followed by a variety of spices.

This dish can be an entree or a side dish. It is perfect with any fish or meat…. but we are sticking to vegetarian options this week… another one to follow tomorrow.
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Cauliflower with Cilantro and Mint

Cauliflower with Cilantro and Mint

  • 1 head of cauliflower, florets taken out and washed
  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • One lined cookie sheet

Preheat oven to medium broil

Transfer the cauliflower onto the lined cookie sheet. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle the salt. Broil for until the florets are golden brown.

Green Sauce

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons dried mint (1/2 cup fresh)
  • 2 tablespoons dried fenugreek leaves
  • ¼ cup water

Transfer the onion, garlic, cilantro, mint, fenugreek and water into a blender. Blend till smooth.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • Salt
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil. Add the green sauce and sauté over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the cauliflower and mix well. Lower the heat and cover with lid and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or till the florets are tender but not very soft. Add the coriander powder and salt. Mix well and taste for seasonings. Serve warm.

Cardamom Seekh Kebab

Seekh Kebab with Cardamom I love making seekh kebabs- like hamburgers, sky is the limit as far as flavors are concerned. They are great as an appetizer, a meal or a side dish. Serve them with a crunchy baguette and a big salad and you have a delicious meal- of course, a glass of wine helps and maybe some olives on the side…

For this recipes I used my usual turkey meat which is inexpensive and a lot healthier than other options. I wanted to use cardamom and planned on it being the star of the dish. You can use cardamom powder in this recipe but you won’t get the same flavor. When buying cardamom- make sure the pods are bright green. It is an expensive spice and you want to make sure it is super fresh. The mixture was delicious all cooked up on skewers. I broiled them under the broiler..

It is nice to have this mixture in the fridge or even in the freezer- especially in the summer when you don’t feel like doing much cooking. It is great to serve the kebabs with some grilled vegetables and a cold glass of rose…
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Tandoori Cauliflower

Tandoori Cauliflower I guess I will continue the cabbage and cauliflower theme this week. Cauliflower is everywhere right now- big, snowy white, beautiful!

We were in town and a local restaurant was selling farm fresh vegetables. The cauliflower was calling my husband from a mile away. We bought the biggest one we could find and brought it home.

We were having some people over and I was making vegetarian food- what does one make for an appetizer??? Well, grilled or tandoori cauliflower, of course!!

I mixed up a tandoori paste which included ginger, garlic, cilantro and Greek yogurt. I blanched the cauliflower and marinated the florets in the delicious paste. I had time and marinated them overnight. If you don’t have the luxury, marinate them for at least 2 to 3 hours..

Try this next time you are stumped on what to make for a vegetarian appetizer…
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