Soya Kheema.

It is kheema but not really Kheema!!
Amazed!???? So was I after tasting my cheats kheema but no kheema curry. It's a  good vegetarian take on hard core non vegetarian delight.

All you need is

Ingredients :

1.  Onion : 1 cup ( finely chopped)
2.  Tomato : 1 cup ( finely chopped)
3.   Ginger - Garlic paste : 1 Tbsp
4.  Turmeric powder : 1 tsp
5.  Red chilli powder : 1 1/2 Tbsp
6.  Lazeez Kheema Masala :  2 1/2 Tbsp
7.   Salt and Sugar to taste.
8.   Coriander or Mint : For Garnishing.
9.   Oil : 1 Tbsp
10. Soya Granules : 1 cup
11. Water : as per requirement.

Method :

1.  In a pan, heat oil and fry ginger garlic paste.  As soon as it fries add onion and cook till it is translucent. Add tomato.
2. After the tomatoes have wilted,  add turmeric, red chilli powder and Lazeez Masala.
3. Now add the soya granules and water. Keep adding water as the soya granules tend to soak up all the water. Add water as per your requirement.
4. Add salt and sugar add let it simmer till soya granules have cooked.
5. Garnish with Coriander/ Mint and serve hot with Pav or chapatis.

Caramel Custard - In pressure cooker

I love this wobbly dobbly Caramel Custard. Silky smooth and delicious custard made with very few ingredients. Great party dessert and will be a winner with your friends.
All you need is :

Ingredients :
1.  Eggs : 6
2.  Milk : 1 litre
3. Sugar : 1 cup
4. Vanilla extract : 1 Tbsp

Method :
1.  Boil 1 litre milk with 1 cup of sugar and keep aside to cool.
2. Beat 6 eggs and add vanilla extract.
3. In an aluminum tray caramalize sugar, as it turns black immediately put it in ice cold water bath.  This will help the sugar to crisp up.
4. Pour in the eggs into the cool milk and mix gently.
5. Pour this mix into the aluminum tray.  Pressure cook it for 45 mins to 1 hour.
6. Leave it to cool down till room temperature and then refrigerate. Serve chilled.

Enjoy!

Egg Ghee Roast

We all know how Mangalorean food is fast becoming one the most loved regional cuisines. The use of coconut, coconut milk, curry leaves, tamarind prominently in the dishes is what I love. Mangalore Ghee roast usually made using chicken is a lovely delicacy.  I tried to innovate and make my version of Egg Ghee Roast. Ingredients same, method is also similar and taste!!! Is to die for.  So for Egg Ghee roast all you need is :

Ingredients :

1.  Eggs : 4-5
2.  Ghee : 2-3 Tbsp
3.   Jeera : 1 tsp
4.   Curry leaves : 2-3
5.  Onion :  1 cup
6.  Ginger-Garlic paste : 1 Tbsp
7. Tomato : 1 cup
8.  Jeera-dhania powder : 1/2 tsp
9. Red chilli powder : 1 Tbsp
10. Turmeric powder : 1/2 tsp
11. Dahi : 1/2 cup
12. Grated coconut : 1/2 Tbsp
13. Salt and Sugar to taste.
14. Water : 1 cup

Method :
1. In a pan, heat ghee , add jeera,  curry leaves , onion , ginger garlic paste and fry for 3-4 mins. Next add tomato and again fry for 3-4 mins.
2. Now add turmeric, red chilli powder and jeera-dhania powder. Mix well.  Add grated coconut.
3. Add the dahi and mix well on a low flame.
4. Place the cooked boiled eggs in the pan and let them fry. Slowly add water.
5. Add salt and sugar and let it boil for another 2-3 mins.
6. Serve piping hot with Kerala Parota or Jeera Rice.

Independence Day Special Veggies in Burnt Garlic Lemon butter

Happy Independence Day Folks!!

Was thinking of having something light and vegetarian of course.  So decided upon carrots cauliflower and beans. Chopped them up and boiled them. And little did I know that I would end up having colours of the Indian Flag.  So decided to place them in the Indian Flag order. Simple fast and a delicious recipe with very few ingredients.

Ingredients :

1. Cauliflower , carrots , beans- 1 cup each ( cooked)
2. Garlic - 5-6 finely chopped.
3. Salted Butter : 1 Tbsp
4. Lemon juice : 1 Tbsp
5. Chilli flakes : as per requirement
6. Oregano : 1/2 tsp

Method:

1. Cook the Cauli florets carrots and beans.
2. In a pan add butter and garlic till it roasts nicely add chilli flakes oregano and immediately add lemin juice and the veggies.
3. Toss them for a minute or two and Voilà.  Your dish is ready.
4. Now this dish can be used as a side dish with pasta or pizza or eat it just as it is.
5. And its Independence Day so I did a little bit of plating fun.
Enjoy Folks!

Macaroni in Spinach Béchamel Sauce

I believe pasta/macaroni is my take on comfort food. Something that goes with any kind of weather.  But my personal favorite is to have it during rainy cold days with a piece of  Foccacia. Béchamel sauce is a big hit at home. I like my sauce freshly made. A connoisseur of Italian food would always make his sauces fresh. So here's my favorite sauce with a little twist

Ingredients :

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour(maida or wheat flour)
1 1/4 cups milk, heated
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup blanched spinach

Method :

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan add blanched spinach. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture cooks and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown. Add the hot milk, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens. Bring it to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more. Add cooked pasta and cook for 2 - 3 mins. Serve immediately with bread of your choice.

Throw in everything

Its a very gloomy evening and I am so full with lunch but now I am feeling hungry again!!!!. As the name goes this salad is literally a game its like a party. You just have to throw in ingredients that u catch hold of. But u need to keep in mind not to overpower the flavor and keep it light fresh and simple.  The idea behind this was to come with a salad that has the crunch the zing the tang and sweetness. With minimalistic ingredients heres presenting to you  Throw in everything salad. All you need is :

Ingredients :

1. Tomato : 1 cup finely sliced
2. Onion : 1 ( roasted whole and the finely sliced)
3. Garlic : 2-3 ( roasted and then mashed)
4. Vinegar : 1/2 tsp
5. Salt and pepper to taste
6. Gherkins : 4-5
7. Chives, mint and basil : 1/3 cup.
8. Date molasses : 1 Tbsp
9. Olive Oil : 1 Tbsp
10. French baguette : 1 cup

Method :
1. In a bowl mix in vinegar olive oil salt and pepper date molasses and garlic and make a dressing.
2. Add the roasted onion tomato and gherkins toss.
3. Pop in chunks of baguettes and drizzle some more olive oil.  Serve immediately :)

Grow Your Own Herbs.

Lets look into a new topic today. Growing your own little garden is such a wonderful feeling.  I have been growing my small garden with the most essential herbs that we need all the time in a kitchen. So whenever you are out of coriander all you gotta do is hop skip and jump and get freshly plucked herbs.
And its way too easy to grow one.
Lets begin with Coriander.
All you need is :

1. medium sized clay pot or a plastic pot.
2. Soil. Depending upon the size of the pot
3. Coriander seeds. 1 Tbsp
4. Water.

Method.

Day 1

1. You will have to soak the seed in water overnight.

Day 2

2. Drain the seeds.  Fill the pot with soil. Drop these seeds randomly.  Again fill in a thin layer of soil and water them.

You will have to keep this in a warm and sunny place where the plants gets enough sun.

Too much of sun may cause harm  therefore place the pot accordingly.

Make sure the plant is watered every day.
On the 3rd week, you'll be able to see small buds.

And by the 5th week you'll have lovely baby coriander.