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Tag: tomato sauce

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

Bolognese Garlic Bread Sandwiches

I watched Rachel Ray make these on her show and loved the idea. I changed up the recipe a bit and added mushrooms to make the dish healthier. I also jazzed up the ricotta cheese. These sandwiches were absolutely delicious. My daughter gave them two thumbs up!

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped pancetta
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 5 ounces Cremini mushrooms, grated
  • 2 medium shallots, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 small bunch, thyme
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup tomato sauce, preferably home made
  • 2 cups milk
  • Salt

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the pancetta and sauté for a minute or two. Add the ground turkey and separate the meat with the back of a wooden spoon. Saute on high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms, shallots, garlic and thyme. Saute on high heat for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sauté for a minute. Add the tomato sauce, milk and salt. Bring to a boil and lower to a simmer with the lid on. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or till the meat is cooked through. Take the lid off and check for seasonings. Keep aside.

Ricotta Topping

  • 1 cup full fat ricotta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Place the olive oil, garlic and parsley in a small frying pan. Heat over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes- just enough time to cook the garlic without browning. Add salt and let cool. Add to the ricotta, mix well and keep aside.

  • 4 ciabatta rolls
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Add the garlic, oil and salt to a small frying pan. Cook on a very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, making sure the garlic doesn’t get brown. Take off the heat and drizzle the garlic mixture all over the four rolls. Toast in the oven until fragrant and golden brown. Take out and assemble the sandwiches. Place about half a cup of the ground meat. Top with ricotta mixture and serve.

 

Pasta Arrabbiata with Herbed Breadcrumbs

Just a simple plate of pasta can be so delicious- you don’t need a whole lot of ingredients… just really good ones!!

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 to 3 medium shallots, chopped
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped (seeded depending on how spicy you want)
  • 3 cups fresh tomato sauce or canned tomatoes
  • ½ pound penne, cooked al dente with 1 cup pasta water
  • ½ cup fresh basil, chopped

Heat a saucepan with butter and oil. Add the shallots, garlic and jalapenos. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Simmer with lid off for 30 minutes. Add basil and pasta. Mix well and check for seasonings and add salt. Adjust consistency of sauce by adding pasta water if needed. Serve warm with a garnish of herbed breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs

  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Zest of one lemon

Mix all the ingredients and serve on top of pasta.

 

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.

 

Cheesy Turkey Meatballs

Another recipe for our favorite thing to eat in my house- meatballs!! These are absolutely yummy…

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup pancetta, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

Heat a frying pan with the olive oil. Add the pancetta and cook over medium low heat for 4 to 5 minutes till all the fat is rendered and the pancetta bits are golden brown. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Saute for another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the heat off and set aside to cool.

  • 1 pound dark meat ground turkey
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs soaked in ¼ cup milk (let sit for 10 minutes before adding to the turkey)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups tomato sauce

In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, parsley, cheese, egg, soaked breadcrumbs, salt and the cooled pancetta mixture. Mix well and keep aside.

Bring the tomato sauce to a boil in a large saucepan, form the meatballs and gently slide them into the sauce. Cover with lid and lower heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or once the meatballs are cooked through. Serve warm with spaghetti.

Pulled Chicken Tacos

I love making tacos- especially pulled chicken or pork… chicken being healthier, I tend to make them more often. I made a delicious crunchy cole slaw to go on top…

  • 1 pound chicken thighs, skinless, with bones

Spice Rub

  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons chipotle powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Mix all the spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle all over the chicken thighs and marinate for 2 to 3 hours in the fridge.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, sliced thin
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 cup blood orange juice (regular orange juice will work as well)
  • 2 cups tomato sauce (preferably homemade)
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • Salt
  • Pack of small tortillas

Heat a medium saucepan with olive oil. Brown the chicken pieces on high heat on both sides. Reduce heat and add the onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the orange juice to deglaze. Mix well and add the tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and cover with lid. Lower to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes. Take the lid off and turn the heat off. Let the chicken pieces cool. Take out the pieces and shred with a fork. Return to the pan and bring back to a boil to cook any extra moisture. Check for salt and garnish with cilantro. Assemble the tacos with the pulled chicken and top with cabbage slaw.

 

 

Pasta Primavera with Roasted Vegetables

Yummy and healthy dish for Meatless Monday!!

  • 2 cups zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, with skin on
  • Olive oil
  • Salt

Place the vegetables and garlic on to a line cookie sheet. Drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle some salt. Mix well and roast in a 400 degrees oven for 30 minutes. Take out and let cool. Slide the garlic out of the skins and mash with fork.

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cups fresh or store bought tomato sauce
  • ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 cup roasted corn
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Salt
  • ½ pound pasta of choice, cooked al dente and 1 cup spare pasta water

Heat a large frying pan with the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, basil and the roasted garlic. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn and the roasted vegetables. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cheese and pasta. Mix well and add the spare pasta water if needed. Check for seasonings and add salt.

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