Yummy Paneer Tikka

Paneer tastes great raw or cooked.There are so many dishes made with paneer and panner tikka is the most popular and delicious starter.My husband and myself were bored with weekdays diet and wanted something rich and tasty weekend special!!!So came this paneer tikka:))

INGREDIENTS:
1) Paneer cut in thick squares - 1/2 cup
2) Curd - 3/4 th cup
3) Tandoori masala powder - 1tblsp
4) Red chilly powder - 1tsp
5) Ginger garlic paste - 1tsp
6) Turmeric - 1tsp
7) Sour cream(optional) - 1tblsp
8) Salt to taste
9) Green bell pepper(capsicum) cut in big chunks - 1/4th cup
10) Orange,yellow or red bell pepper(optional) - 1/4th cup
11) Onions cut in big chunks
Few skewers to arrange paneer and vegetables

Mix all of the above ingredients except for the paneer and vegetables.Now take half of the mixture and marinate paneer, with the remaining mixture marinate the vegetables.leave it in the fridge covered for 2 hrs or even more (I kept it for 2 hrs).

Soak the skewers in water for few minutes before arranging.This will allow the skewers not to break.

Pre-heat the oven to Broil.

Start aligning paneer and vegetables as per your wish on the skewers. Broil the paneer for 10 mins or until it becomes golden brown. Take it out carefully and turn it to the other side and leave for 10 more mins or until the other side also gets brown.See to that the paneer is soft not hard.

Paneer tikka is ready !!! Serve it with mint chutney or just simply squeeze some lime over it.You can serve the dish with skewers,it makes a lovely presentation.

Note: The oven time varies.So keep an eye to not burn the paneer.

Tasty Spicy Crispy Corn

We all love corn,I remember having corn on the cob on a rainy day!!Nowadays we get corn throughout the year frozen or fresh. I had some frozen corn kernels sitting in my fridge and thought why not fry it:)) yes deep fry it!!It tasted soo yummy,crispy on the outside and bit chewy on the inside.. It became a pass time snack in our house:))

INGREDIENTS:

1) Corn kernels thawed(defrosted) - 1cup
2) Chick pea flour( besan or kadalai mavu) - 1/4thcup
3) Red chilly powder - 1tsp
4) Coriander powder - 1tsp
5) Chat powder - 1tsp
6) Salt to taste
7) Fresh coriander leaves - few
8) Oil for frying

Thaw the corn kernels on kitchen towel. Pat it dry.

Mix all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and just coat the kernels.Do not add water, it should be dry and dusted over the corn kernels.

Heat oil in a kadai,fry few kernels at a time,until golden brown. Be careful it might splutter in oil .Few of mine did :) Drain it over kitchen towel to remove the extra oil.

Sprinkle some chat powder over it.

Crispy corn is ready!!!Enjoy it with some tea or coffee.

Aloo(Potato) Gravy- Jain Style

I came up with this recipe because I was really bored having heavy and rich gravies with masala.I wanted to try something light, simple and bland.This side dish goes well with Jeera rice.As this is no onion and no garlic recipe,anyone can enjoy it once a while:))

INGREDIENTS:
1) Potatoes cubed - 2 medium size
2) Whole spices(bay leaf,cinnamon stick,clove) - 1 each
3) Tomatoes chopped - 2
4) Black eyed beans(karamani)canned or fresh(soak overnight) - 1/2 cup
5) Coriander cumin powder(you get in grocery stores) - 1tblsp
6) Green chilly - 1
7) Red chilly powder - 1tsp
8) Turmeric powder - 1tsp
9) Sugar or jaggery (optional) - 1tsp
10) For tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds - few
Ajwain seeds(omam) - 1/2 tsp
Red chillies - 2
Hing - few pinches
Curry leaves - few
Oil - 2tbsp
11) Water - 2 1/2 cups
12) Salt to taste
13) Fresh coriander leaves.

In a pressure cooker,temper the above ingredients along with the whole spices. Add potatoes and saute for a minute or two.Then,add the tomatoes,green chilly,black eyed beans and fry for a minute.Mix turmeric powder,red chilly powder,coriander cumin powder,sugar,salt,water and close the lid.Allow two whistles and switch off the stove.

Carefully open the lid, with a help of a ladle very lightly smash the potatoes.Garnish with coriander leaves.

The gravy is ready!!! Enjoy with Jeera rice or Roti.

Note: You can use russet potatoes instead of ordinary ones because it has zero cholesterol and fat.You can use any other vegetable feel free to use your imagination :)

Broccoli And Green Peas Soup

Nowadays,the importance and awareness of healthy recipes has grown a lot. This soup is very nutritious, healthy and tasty..yeah all in one:)). My husband and myself do not like broccoli much:))I have been trying different ways to add such rich vegetable into our diet.Finally got a solution!! Even children can be fed saying "THE HULK SOUP" !!!

INGREDIENTS
1) Broccoli florets- 11/2 cup
2) Green peas - 1/2 cup
3) Milk - 1/2 cup
4) Salt to taste
5) Pepper to taste

Boil the broccoli florets and green peas together. Keep the broth for the soup.

Puree the broccoli and peas along with little broth.

In a vessel,add the puree,the remaining broth,milk,salt and pepper and bring to a boil.

In no time the soup is ready!! Serve it with some croutons over it or some bread sticks.

Note: To make the soup more rich add some butter before adding the puree.

Onion Pulav - Quick Lunch Box Recipe

This rice was an outcome of no proper vegetables for preparing a vegetable pulav:)))) I thought, why not try making this recipe in a simple way and have it with some rich gravy.Trust me,it tasted so great! by itself.Just few ingredients,the pulav tastes delicious. This rice needs no preparation earlier, can be made and served in a jiffy:))

INGREDIENTS:
1) Basmati Rice - 1cup
2) Onion(roughly chopped) - 2
3) Ghee or butter (I used low fat butter) - 2tblsp
4) Oil - 1 tblsp
5) Whole spices(bay leaves,cardamom,cinnamon sticks and cloves and caraway seeds)-1or 2 according to taste
6) Cashews - few
7) Coriander powder - 1tsp
8) Red chilly powder - 1tsp
9) Tandoori Masala - 1tblsp
10) Salt to taste
11) Fresh mint and coriander leaves - few


Wash the basmati rice in water. Drain it and keep aside.

In a saute pan,heat oil and ghee.Now,add the whole spices and saute till nice aroma comes.Add,the cashews and fry in medium heat for a minute.Add the chopped onions to the pan and fry till it becomes translucent.Now add, the coriander powder,red chilly powder and saute for a minute.Then,add the rice to the pan, mix the tandoori masala and fry for a another minute.

Transfer all the above mixture of ingredients to a microwave safe bowl and add the required amount of water for the rice, I added 2 1/2 cups of water.Stir in the fresh mint and coriander leaves.Cook the rice covered for fifteen minutes(first for 5 mins,give it a stir,then again cook for 7 mins,mix it and finally cook for 3 mins).

Hot onion pulav is ready !!!! enjoy with gravy or raita.

Note: Microwave cooking time differs.Cook adjusting to the time.

Pudina(Mint) Rasam

This rasam is very good for someone who is having cold . It can be had simply as a soup on a cold day.It tastes yummy with some steaming hot rice with ghee and potato fry:))

INGREDIENTS:
1) Thoor dhall - 1 1/2 tblsp
2) Red chillies - 3 to 4
3) Cumin seeds - 1 1/4th tblsp
4) Pepper corns - 1 1/2 tblsp
5) Curry leaves - few
6) Garlic(optional) - 2 pods
7) Tomatoes roughly chopped - 2
8) Fresh mint leaves - 1/2 cup
9) Salt to taste
10) Tamarind extract - 1/4th cup
11) Ghee for tempering.
12) Hing
13) Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
14) Fresh coriander leaves - few
15) Mustard seeds - 1tsp


Dry roast thoor dhall,red chillies,cumin seeds,pepper corns,curry leaves,hing and garlic.Grind the above roasted ingredients with tomatoes and pudina.

In a vessel, pour the ground mixture and add some water, bring it to a boil. Now, add some turmeric powder.Then,add the tamarind pulp and salt to the mixture and boil it till nice aroma comes.Then add the coriander leaves.The rasam is ready switch off the stove.

Now,in a small pan,heat ghee .Add mustard seed,cumin seeds,hing and curry leaves and allow it to crackle. Pour the tempering into the rasam.

Hot rasam is ready!!! enjoy.

Chilly Baby Corn

This dish,I try it when I am in Saravana Bhavan in Chennai. My husband and myself love this dish very much.Its a very good starter.I saw some baby corn in our grocery store here,I thought why not make this dish with my own touch and bring Saravana Bhavan into our house:)))

INGREDIENTS:
1) Baby corn - 1 can
2) Green bell pepper (capsicum)thinly sliced -1cup
3) Green onions(spring onions)thinly sliced - 1cup
4) Garlic (chopped) - 2 pods
5) Corn flour - 1/2 cup
6) Red chilly powder - 1tsp
7) Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
8) Salt to taste
9) Pepper - 1 tsp
10) Chinese chilly sauce - 1 tsp
11) Soy sauce - 11/2 tsp
12)Tomato ketchup - 1tblsp
13) Vinegar - 1 tsp
14) Oil for shallow frying

Cut the baby corn into four pieces. Marinate them with corn flour(use1/4th), chilly powder, pepper,ginger garlic paste and salt(be careful will be adding it again in the sauce) for 10 to 15 mins.The mixture should be dry and sticky.Do not add water.

Meantime,julienne the peppers and onions and chop garlic.

Shallow fry the marinated baby corn and keep aside. In the same oil, stir fry the vegetables on high flame.Add soy sauce,chilly sauce,vinegar and ketchup,salt and pepper.then add the remaining corn flour with very little water to form a paste and mix well with other sauces.Cook till the sauce becomes thick and sticky.Finally, add the baby corn to the sauce and mix it well.Fry till the baby corn turns golden brown.

Chilly baby corn is ready!!! enjoy