Chicken Mandi

 Mandi is a traditional dish originated from Yemen, it many consist of  meat and rice cooked with Yemeni spice blend called Hawaji. It is cooked in a underground pit. It's extremely popular in most areas of the Arabian Peninsula. 

There are many ways one can make this dish. Mainly the meat has to be moist. The meat is marinated and cooked separately with the rice in a steamer and then the chicken is grilled in a tandoor.. The dish has a smoky flavour. This dish is served with Tomato Chutney called Salata Hara.. 

Here is how I have made the Chicken Mandi inspired from Yummy O Yummy. 

Spice Blend 

Ingredients 

1 tbsp Coriander seeds

1 tbsp cumin seeds

1 tsp Peppercorns

6 Green Cardamom 

6 Cloves 

2 inch Cinnamon 

1 small piece of Nutmeg 

2 Bay leaves 

1 tsp Paprika (used Kashmiri chilli powder here)

1 tsp Turmeric powder 

Method 

Dry roast all the whole spices for few seconds, let the spices cool down. Add the turmeric powder and paprika / Kashmiri chilli powder and grind all the ingredients together into a fine paste. 

Marinate the Chicken 

Ingredients 

2 pieces of the Chicken thighs

1/2 tsp Garlic paste 

1 1/2 tbsp Spice blend

Salt to taste 

1 tbsp Lemon juice 

Few strands of Saffron in 3 tbsp of hot water 

2 tbsp Olive Oil 

Method 

Take a bowl, add the spice blend, salt, 3 tbsp saffron water, 2 tbsp oil,garlic paste, lemon juice and salt. Mix all the ingredients together. Give few slits on the chicken pieces. Rub the spices on to the chicken pieces. Keep the chicken pieces aside for an hour or more. 

For the Mandi 

Ingredients 

250 grams / 1 cup of Basmati Rice 

1 medium size Onion sliced 

2 Green chillies slit 

1 tbsp chopped Garlic cloves 

1 Dried Lime

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

Marinated Chicken 

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 

2 Green Cardamom 

2 Cloves 

1 inch Cinnamon 

2 Bay leaves 

Salt to taste 

1 Chicken cube seasoning 

Few Raisins and Almond Flakes for garnishing 

Few Saffron strands in 4 tbsp of hot water 

1 tsp + 1/2 tsp Butter

1 tbsp  + 1 tsp Ghee

1 small piece of Charcoal 

Method 

Wash the rice and keep it aside. Take a steamer pot, add 1 tbsp ghee and 1 tsp butter, once the ghee and butter melts add the whole garam masala spices, cumin seeds and bay leaves. Let the spices crackle, add the onion, green chillies, dried lemon and garlic, sauté until the onion slices are translucent. Add the rice, chicken cube seasoning and salt. Stir and sauté the rice for a minute. Add 2 cups of hot water and saffron water into the pot.  Cover the lower steamer pot with the casserole pot of the steamer. Place the marinated chicken in the casserole. Cover the casserole pot and cook the rice until done. Remove the chicken, brush the chicken with butter. and grill the chicken for 15 minutes, until golden brown in colour. 

Add the almond flakes, raisins and chopped coriander leaves into the rice. Stir the rice gently. Place the chicken over the rice. Place a small bowl in the center of the pot. Burn a charcoal, place the charcoal into the bowl, pour 1 tsp ghee. Immediately cover the pot and wait until the smoky flavour has infused into the rice and chicken. Once done remove the charcoal out. Serve the Chicken Mandi with Tomato Chutney called Salata Hara..  

Salata Hara 

Ingredients 

1 Big size Tomato chopped 

2 tbsp Tomato Purée 

1 Green Chilli

2 Garlic Cloves 

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

1 tsp Lime juice 

Salt to taste 

Method 

Take a blender, add the tomato, green chilli, coriander leaves, garlic, salt, lime juice and tomato purée. Blend all the ingredients together into a paste. Serve this Chutney with Chicken Mandi. 

Chicken Tikka Pulao with Cranberries and Dry fruits

 An easy peasy Chicken Tikka Pulao with Cranberries and Dry fruits for dinner. This recipe is inspired from the Persian Pilaf. 

For Chicken Tikka 

Ingredients 

500 grams Boneless Chicken cubes

1/2 cup Curd

1 tsp Garlic paste 

1 tsp Ginger paste 

1/2 tsp Chilli paste 

1 tsp Lemon juice 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Kashmiri Chilli powder 

1 tsp Cumin powder 

1/2 tsp Pepper powder 

1 tbsp Olive Oil 

1 cube Butter 

Method 

Marinate the chicken cubes with all the above ingredients except butter for 5 to 6 hours. Take a grill pan, apply butter in the pan. Place the chicken cubes into the pan. Cook the chicken from both the sides until the chicken cubes are brown in colour and has cooked well. 

The chicken cubes can be grilled in the pre heated oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes after applying butter, then turn the chicken cubes, apply butter and grill for another 15 minutes until the chicken cubes are cooked. Remove and keep it aside. 

For the Pulao 

Ingredients 

Chicken Tikka cubes

250 grams Basmati Rice

1 big Onion thinly sliced 

1 Red Dry Chilli 

2 tbsp Dried Cranberries

1 tbsp Almond Flakes

1 tbsp Raisins 

1 tsp Dried Rose Petals 

1/4 cup Hot Milk with a pinch of Saffron 

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Cumin powder 

1 tbsp Sugar

1 tbsp Butter

1 tbsp Olive Oil 

Method 

Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes. Take a pot, boil 2 cups water. Add little salt and 1/2 tsp oil, once the water boils, add the rice and cook the rice until it’s 75 percent cooked. Drain the water out and keep it aside. Take another pot, add remaining oil and butter, let the butter melt, add sugar, stir until the sugar melts, add the onion and dry red chilli, stir fry the onions until brown in colour. Add the salt to taste and cumin powder, stir for few seconds. Add 1/4 cup water. Stir and let it cook for a few seconds. Add the chicken and the rice. Gently stir, add the saffron milk, cranberries, raisins, rose petals and almond flakes on top, cover the pot. Cook the rice until it’s completely done. Remove the cover of the pot and let it stand for 10 minutes before serving. 

Spicy Jhat - Pat Jhinga Masala Rice

Here is a quick meal to end the day...with leftover rice and some Prawns.. it’s simple, yet delicious. 

Ingredients 

Handful of Prawns - devined and cleaned

2 cups of Cooked Rice

1 small Onion coarsely ground 

2 to 3 Green Chillies coarsely ground 

1 tsp Garlic and Ginger coarsely ground 

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

2 Bayleaves

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 

1 tsp Cumin powder 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder 

1 tbsp Desiccated Coconut 

1 tsp Sugar

Salt to taste 

4 tbsp Oil

1 tsp Ghee

Method 

Take a pot, add oil, let the oil heat up, until then marinate the prawns with little salt and turmeric. Once the oil heats up, add the prawns and stir fry the prawns until it changes its colour. Remove the prawns and keep it aside. In the same oil, add the cumin seeds and bay leaves. Let the cumin seeds crackle. Add all the ground paste into the pot and sauté the paste for a minute, add the salt, sugar, cumin powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and coconut. Continue to sauté until the oil releases from the masala. Add the prawns, stir and add around 1/2 cup of water. Let the masala simmer for few seconds, add the prawns and continue to simmer for another few seconds. Add the cooked rice and ghee,  on a full flame stir the rice well with the masala. Switch off the flame. Add the coriander leaves, stir and close the pot and keep it aside for 5 minutes before serving. 

#prawns #rice #masalarice #jhatpatrecipe #quickmeals #gharkakhana #homechef #homecooking #cookingwithlove #delicious #foodie #simplemeals #gharelukhana #recipe #foodpic

Dudhauri

Dudhari is a simple sweet dish from Jharkhand. It’s made during festivals, but its also made otherwise at home too. It’s very easy to make, you should take care that the dough is mashed and no liquid should remain... otherwise while frying it will break up. It’s absolutely yummy.. 

For the Syrup 

1/2 cup Sugar 

1/2 cup Water 

1 Cardamom 

1/2 tsp Lime Juice 

Method 

Take the sugar, water and a crushed Cardamom in a vessel. Boil and the simmer unti you get a one string consistency. Once done add the lime juice and leave it aside. 

For the Dudhauri 

Ingredients 

1/2 cup Rice

1 1/2 cup Milk 

Oil for Frying 

Method 

Wash the rice well, soak the rice in 1/2 cup milk for 15 to 30 minutes. Take 1 cup milk in a pot, heat the milk, add the soaked rice along with the milk and cook the rice until the rice has soaked up all the milk. No liquid should remain. Mash the rice well until it forms a sticky dough. Make small portions of the rice dough, shape it into oval or round. Take a wok, add oil, let the oil heat up. On a medium flame fry the balls until golden brown in colour. It takes time to become brown, so don’t get disheartened. Once done soak the dudhauri in the sugar syrup. Let it soak for at least 25 to 30 minutes before serving it. It taste awesome.

Home style Chicken Biryani made in Pressure Cooker

This is one of the way I make Chicken Biryani at home. A quick easy way to enjoy, when you crave for home cooked Chicken Biryani. This is a Bengali style Chicken Biryani.

Chicken Marination 

Ingredients 

750 grams Chicken pieces cleaned and washed 

1 small Onion paste 

3 to 4 Green Chilli paste

8 medium size Garlic Cloves paste

1 small piece of Ginger paste 

1 tsp Coriander powder 

1 tsp Cumin seeds

1 tsp Bengali Garam Masala powder

( 3 Green Cardamom, 3 Cloves and 1 medium size Cinnamon stick ground into powder)

1 tsp Turmeric powder 

1 tsp Red Chilli powder 

Salt to taste 

1/2 cup Curd

2 tbsp Mustard Oil 

Method 

Mix onion, garlic, ginger and chilli paste together. Take a bowl, added a curd, ground paste, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, salt and mustard oil. Mix all the ingredients together. Add the chicken pieces and marinate the chicken for minimum one hour. 

To cook the Rice 

Ingredients 

1 1/4 cup of Basmati Rice washed and soaked in water for 30 minutes 

4 cups of Water

Salt to taste 

6 Pepper Corn

3 Cloves 

3 Green Cardamom 

1 small stick Cinnamon 

2 Bay leaves 

Method 

Take a pot, add water, salt, whole Garam masala and bay leaves. Let the water boil. Add the soaked rice. Let the the rice cook till it’s 50 percent done. Strain the water and leave the rice in the strainer. 

To make the Chicken Dum Biryani 

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken 

Half cooked Rice 

2 big size Potatoes cut into big chunks 

1 medium size Onion sliced 

2 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped 

2 tbsp Biriyani Masala 

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder 

Salt to taste 

1/2 cup Lukewarm Milk

2 Pinch of Saffron 

1 tsp Kewra water

2 to 3 Drops of Mitha Attar

1/2 cup Mustard Oil

3 tbsp Melted Ghee 

Method 

Add the saffron into the milk and keep it aside. Take a pressure cooker, add oil. Let the oil heat. Rub salt on the potato chunks. Add the potatoes into the oil, add turmeric powder. Fry the potatoes till light brown in colour. Remove and keep it aside. Add the onion and stir fry on low flame until golden brown in colour. Remove half the fried onion and keep it aside. In the same oil, add the marinated chicken. Stir occasionally and cook the chicken for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Add the Biriyani masala. Stir and cook for another minute. Add 1 cup of water. Let the chicken simmer for 5 minutes. Switch of the flame. Add the rice and spread the rice well. Drizzle the saffron milk on the rice. Drizzle the ghee. Sprinkle the fried onion and coriander leaves. Drizzle the kewra water and mitha attar. Put the cooker lid on. On a very low flame, let the Biriyani cook on Dum for 15 minutes , switch off the flame just before the first whistle. Let the pressure release. Open the lid and serve the Chicken Dum Biryani with mint Raita or any raita of your choice. 

Chicken and Vegetable Pulao

 

When minimal assorted vegetables and a small quantity of boneless chicken are left in the fridge then this recipe is absolutely an ideal recipe for a quick lunch on a lazy hot day. 

Ingredients

100 grams of Boneless Chicken cut into cubes
1 medium size Onion cut into cubes
1 small carrot cut into oblique.
1 medium size Potato cut into oblique.
4 to 5 medium size Cauliflower florets
5 to 6 French Beans cut into 1/2 inches
1 small size Capsicum cut into cubes
2 Green Chillies silt
5 to 6 Mushrooms cut into halves
1 tbsp Ginger and Garlic Paste
Salt to taste
1 tsp Sugar
1 tbsp Kitchen king masala or Pulao masala or Curry powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Bengali Garam masala - 2 Green Cardamom, 2 Cloves and 1 small stick Cinnamon ground 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
2 tbsp Curd beaten
1/2 cup Basmati Rice soaked in hot water for 10 minutes and drained
2 whole Cardamom
2 whole Cloves
1 small stick Cinnamon
6 to 8 Pepper Corns
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1 Star anise
1 Bay Leaf
2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 tbsp Ghee

Method
Take a pot. Add oil and ghee. Let the oil heat. Add the whole spices - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, star anise, cumin and bay leaf. Sauté it and let the spices crackle. Add the chicken. Sauté it for a minute. Add the ginger - garlic paste. On a low flame continue to sauté for another minute. Add the onion. Sauté it for another minute.  Add the carrot, potato, cauliflower and french beans. Stir for a minute and let it cook on a low flame for 2 minutes. Add the capsicum and stir, add the green chillies and mushroom. Stir and let it cook for few seconds. Add the salt and sugar, stir it once. Now add the powdered spices - Kitchen Kitchen Masala,  coriander powder, cumin powder, Bengali garam masala,  turmeric powder and curd. Stir and let it continue to cook on low flame for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir. Add a cup of water. Stir and cover the pot. Let it simmer and cook till the water has dried up. Open the lid. Stir and switch off the flame. Cover the pot and let it stand for 10 minutes. All the excess water or moisture with dry up. Open the lid, garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve the hot chicken and vegetable pulao with the salad. 

Bhetki Maacher Pulao / Bhetki Fish Pulao

Made this home style Bhetki Pulao which is very quick and easy to cook. This can be made with any boneless fish left in your freezer. 

Ingredients 

500 grams of Bhetki fish boneless cut into small chunks 

1 1/2 cup Basmati Rice washed and  soaked 

1 Big size Onion sliced 

1 tbsp Ginger and Garlic Paste

2 Green Chillies cut lengthwise 

Few Coriander leaves chopped 

2 Bay leaves 

2 Cloves 

2 Green Cardamoms 

1 small stick Cinnamon 

5 to 6 Pepper Corns

1/2 cup Whisked Curd 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp Chilli powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder

1 tsp Cumin powder 

1 tsp Sugar

Salt to taste

3 tbsp Ghee 

Method 

Take a pot. Add ghee, let it heat up. Add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper corns and bay leaves. Let it crackle. Add the sliced onion and sauté till the onions are translucent. Add the ginger - garlic paste. Continue to sauté for a minute more. Add the curd, salt, sugar, turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin power and garam masala powder. Stir and cook for 2 minutes, add the fish pieces and the green chillies, continue to cook for 2 minutes more. Remove the fish pieces from the masala and keep it aside. Add 4 cups of water. Let it simmer. Add the rice. Let it continue to cook until the rice is almost done. Place the fish on the rice, gently stir the rice, cover and cook for another 2 minutes. Switch off the flame. Open the lid and gently stir it again. Garnish with coriander leaves.  Let the pulao stand for 15 minutes before serving, so that the excess vapour will evaporate. It goes well with salad and  curd.

Neer Dosa

Neer dosa literally meaning water dosa in Tulu. This dosa is prepared from rice. Neer dosa is a delicacy from Tulu Nadu region and a part of Mangalorean cuisine. This can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is served with Chutney or any gravy dish. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Raw Idli Rice 

1/2 cup Fresh or Desiccated Coconut

Salt to taste

Method

Soak the rice at least for 2 hours. Grind the rice along with coconut and 1 cup water into a smooth batter. Do not add excess water while grinding. 

Transfer the batter from the grinder into a bowl. Now add 2 cups of water and salt into the batter. The batter should be watery. Add more water if required. Take a skillet or pan. Spread some water over the pan, the water should sizzle and then pour a ladle full of batter over the hot pan. Rotate the pan and spread the batter. Cover the dosa with a lid and allow to cook on medium flame. Fold the dosa into a triangular shape. Serve the Neer dosa with chutney or any curry or fried dish. 

Murg Moti Pulao

The name Moti which is in Hindi means Pearl, is basically tiny meat or paneer balls cooked with rice and is covered in silver varq - edible silver leaves. 

This recipe is very easy to make and flavorful. I have not fried the meat ball, instead boiled them and then cooked it with rice.I personally don't like silver varq, since it is not good for health. Hence I have just applied little varq for show. 

For Murg Moti

Ingredients

250 grams of ground Chicken mince

1 Onion paste

1 tsp Ginger - Garlic - Chilli paste

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder

1/2 tsp Cumin powder

1/2 tsp Coriander powder

1/2 tsp Chilli powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Method

To make the moti balls, in a mixing bowl add the ground chicken,onion, ginger - garlic - chilli paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, chilli power, turmeric powder and salt. Mix all the ingredients very well till the fat releases from the meat. Make small size balls, keep it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Boil 3 cups of water, add the chicken balls and let it cook for 10 minutes. Remove the balls and keep it aside. Retain the chicken stock for cooking.

For Pulao

Ingredients

250 grams Basmati Rice washed and soaked in water

Chicken meat balls

1 medium size Onion sliced

1 medium size Tomato sliced

1 tsp Ginger - Garlic - Chilli paste

2 tbsp Coriander Leaves chopped

1 tbsp Mint Leaves chopped

1 cup Curd

2 Bay leaves

2 Cloves

2 Cardamom

1 small piece Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1/2 tsp Coriander powder

1/2 tsp Cumin powder

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder

2 1/2 cup Chicken stock

Salt to taste

1/4 cup Ghee

Silver Varq 

Method

Take a pot, add ghee. Let it melt. Add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaves. Let it crackle. Add the ginger - garlic and chilli paste, sauté it for a minute. Add the onion and sauté it till the onion is changes its colour. Add the curd and stir it for some time. Add turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala and salt. Stir occasionally and cook for 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup Water and cook till the oil releases. Add the tomato coriander leaves and mint leaves. Stir and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Drain the water from the rice. Add the rice, stir for a minute and then add chicken stock. Cover and cook till the rice is almost 80 percent done. Add the  moti balls and keep 6 to 8 moti balls aside for garnishing. Stir, cover and cook further till done. Garnish with the remaining moti balls and mint leaves. Apply little silver varq on the balls. Serve it hot.

Dhuska

Since it's raining continuously here for last 2 days, I was craving for something fried, but at the same time, lazy me wanted to be a couch potato. So here is a simple recipe to satisfy my soul....

It's a traditional dish of Jharkhand. It's made during festivals and can be had for breakfast and snacks. It's a fried savoury pancake. Easy to make with few ingredients. Rice and lentils are soaked in water and made into a smooth batter with garlic and ginger.  Cumin seeds, chopped chillies, green peas, coriander leaves, salt and turmeric powder are added to the batter and it is deep fried. It's serve with ghugni or aloo rassa. 

Ingredients

1 cup Rice 

1/2 cup Split Black Gram / Urid dal 

1/4 cup Split Bengal Gram / Chana dal

2 tbsp Green Peas - optional 

2 Green Chillies chopped 

1 tbsp Coriander Leaves Chopped 

2 to 3 Garlic cloves 

1 small piece of Ginger 

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/4 tsp Cumin seeds

Oil to fry 

Method 

Wash and soak the rice and the lentils separately for 5 to 6 hours or overnight. Grind the rice and the lentils along with the garlic and ginger in a grinder into a smooth batter. The batter should be of thick dropping consistency. Add the salt, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, chopped chillies and coriander leaves. Mix the batter well, for the air to incorporate well, let is stand for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan, add a ladle of batter and fry it till golden brown on both the sides. Serve it hot with Aloo Rassa..

Incase if you don’t want to fry, add little oil on the skillet and pour the batter on the skillet. Spread it a little and cook it until done.

Aloo Rassa...

You can follow the recipe here 👇🏼

http://www.suskitchenbysumitra.com/2017/06/aloo-rassa_28.html?m=0

Mutton Zaffrani Pilaf

Pilaf or Pulao is a dish in which rice is cooked in a seasoned broth. Sautéed onion, spices, vegetables, fish, meat and dry fruits are added depending upon the local cuisine. It is a common dish made in India, Bangladesh, Middle East and many other countries. 

This is an easy recipe. The dish has a mild flavor and taste of the spices and saffron. This dish can be made in various ways. This dish can be served with raita.

Ingredients

1 kg Mutton pieces

500 grams Basmati Rice

2 big size Onions sliced

1 tbsp Ginger - Garlic crushed

1 tsp Ginger - Garlic paste

2 Green Chillies cut into half

1 tsp Coriander leaves chopped

2 Bay leaves

6 Apricots

2 tsp Almond Flakes

1 tsp Raisins

1/4 tsp Saffron

1/4 cup hot Milk

Juice of 1 Lime

1/2 tsp Nutmeg powder

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Fennel seeds

1 Star Anise

1 medium Cinnamon stick

4 Cloves

2 Green Cardomom

1 Mace

2 tbsp Ghee

Method

Wash and soak the rice and keep it aside. Soak the Saffron and turmeric powder in hot milk, keep it aside. Take a big pot, add a tbsp of ghee and let it melt. Add the green cardomom, cinnamon stick, cloves and fennel seeds. Let it splatter. Add 1/2 the quality of the sliced onions, saute till pink in colour. Add the mutton pieces, salt, sugar and bay leaves, stir and cook for 10 minutes. Add 2 liters of water, stir, cover and cook till the mutton has become tender. Remove the excess mutton broth if any and keep it aside and can be enjoyed as soup, as when we add the rice, it will cook in the broth, so the broth should be just enough to cook the rice. To be precise, there should be 4 1/2 cups of the broth. 

Take a wok, add the remaining ghee, let it melt. Add the remaining onion slices, fry the onions till golden brown in colour. Remove a tbsp of onion and keep it aside for garnishing. Add the 1 tsp almond flakes and raisins into the remaining fried onion slices. Stir for another minute. Add the ginger - garlic paste. Sauté for a minute. Add the fried onions, apricot, lime juice and nutmeg powder into the mutton broth. Adjust the salt. Drain the excess water from soaked rice. Add the rice, stir and let it cooked till 80 percent of the rice is cooked. Add the saffron milk. Stir the rice gently. Cover and cook till done. Before serving garnish with fried onions, pinch of saffron, 1 tsp almond flakes and coriander leaves. Serve it hot with raita.

Mangsher Bhuna Khichudi....

This dish is a popular dish of Bangladesh. It is a richer variation of Khichudi cooked with Mutton.  Khichudi or Khichadi know all over India is normally is cooked with vegetables, rice, dal and spices. The cooking style varies depending upon the state. This is a one pot meal... very easy to make.

Ingredients 

200 grams Mutton pieces 

1 cup Rice 

1/4 cup Moong Dal 

1/4 cup Masoor Dal

1 Onion sliced 

1 Tomato chopped 

6 to 7 French Beans cut into big pieces 

6 to 8  Cauliflower florets 

1 big size Potato cut into cubes 

1 Carrot cut into long thick pieces 

2 tsp Ginger - Garlic - Chilli paste 

2 Bay Leaves 

2 Cardamom 

2 Cloves 

1 Cinnamon stick 

 6 Pepper corns 

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp Chilli powder 

1 tsp Cumin powder 

1 tsp Coriander powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Sugar 

1 tbsp Ghee

3 tbsp Mustard oil 

Method 

Take a pan, add the rice and dal. Roast it till it is light brown in colour. Wash the rice and dal. Soak it in water and keep it aside. 

Take a pressure cooker. Add the oil. Heat the oil to a smoking point. Reduce the flame,  add the whole garam masala and bay leaves. Let it crackle. Add the green chillies. Let it sauté for few seconds. Add the onion and stir fry till light brown in colour. Add the vegetables except tomato. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic - ginger - chilli paste and sugar. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the mutton, stir and cook it for 3 to 4  minutes. Drain the dal and rice. Add it into the cooker. Stir and cook for 5 minutes. Add the salt and dry spice powder. Stir and cook for a minute. Add 3 cups of water. Close the lid and give 4 whistles. Once the pressure releases then open the lid. Stir it. Add 1/2 cup of water and ghee. Stir and serve hot. 

Home Style Kacchi Chicken Biriyani....

This Biriyani is very simple to make with all the ingredients easily available at home. It is cooked in a cast iron pot with marinated chicken and half cooked rice. The chicken is infused with smoky flavour by burning a charcoal piece and placing it over the chicken and covering the lid. Once the biriyani is made, cover the pot and let it stand for an hour before serving. Serve it with raita. 

For Marinating the Chicken

Ingredients

500 grams Chicken pieces 

1 medium size Onion paste 

3 tbsp Ginger - Garlic - Chilli - Coriander leaves and Mint Leaves paste

3 tbsp Fried Onion crushed 

Salt to taste 

1/4 tsp Cinnamon powder 

1/ 4 tsp Cloves powder 

1/4 tsp Cardomom powder

1/8 tsp Nutmeg powder 

1/2 tsp Cumin powder 

1/2 tsp Coriander powder

3/4 tsp Chilli powder 

1/4 tsp Pepper powder 

3/4 cup Curd

1/4 cup Saffron Water mixed with pinch of Saffron colour 

Method 

Add all the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix all the ingredients together. Keep it aside atleast for 2 hours or more. 

To make the Rice

Ingredients

250 grams Basmati Rice washed and soaked for 30 minutes 

2 Bay Leaves 

1 small piece Cinnamon 

2 Cloves 

2 Cardomom 

Salt to taste 

Method 

Take a deep bottom pot. Add half liter of water let it simmer. Add salt, cloves, cinnamon , cardamom and bay leaves. Let it simmer for a minute. Add the rice and let it cook till it is 50 % done. Drain out the excess water. 

To make the Biriyani 

Ingredients 

Marinated Chicken pieces 

Rice

2 Big size Potatoes cut into big chunks and fried 

2 tbsp Onion fried 

1 tbsp Almond flakes 

1 tbsp Raisins 

6 Apricots

3/4 cup Ghee 

3/4 cup Milk 

1/2 cup Hot water 

1/4 cup Saffron water 

Few drops of Kewda essence (Optional) 

1 Charcoal piece

Method 

Take a cast iron pot. Add the marinated chicken. Lay the fried potatoes and apricot over the marinated chicken. Sprinkle almond flakes and raisins. Take a bowl. Add milk, hot water, half of the ghee, remaining saffron water and kewda essence. Keep it aside. Smoke the charcoal piece. Put it on a small plate. Place the plate over the chicken and add a tsp of ghee. Quickly cover the pot for 2 minutes. Remove the cover. Remove the charcoal plate. Drizzle the remaining ghee over the chicken. Spread the rice over the chicken. Pour the milk over the rice. Garnish with fried onions. Cover the pot. Place the pot on a low flame. Cook it for 45 minutes to an hour. Check if the chicken is cooked. Let it stand for an hour before serving. Serve it hot with raita. 

P. S. If you don't have cast iron pot then use normal pots. The cooking is done evenly and the bottom does not burn in the cast iron pot. 

Cơm Chiên / Vietnamese Prawns Fried Rice....

Fried rice is one of the very popular dish originated from China, it is very commonly sold on the streets of Asia. In some Asian countries, there are some small restaurants, street vendors and cart hawkers that only serves fried rice. To make the fried rice, leftover rice is generally used as the moisture in freshly cooked rice will cause it to steam instead of fry. It is stir-fried in a wok with oil to prevent sticking. The oil is seasoned with garlic and onion for flavouring before adding the rice and other ingredients to it, which is then stir-fried together in a wok. Other ingredients like egg, meat,seafood, vegetables, salt, pepper, different types of sauces are added as per the choice. It is popularly eaten either as an accompaniment to another dish, or as a course by itself. Popular garnishes that are added into the Fried rice are sliced cucumber, tomato or sliced chilli sprinkled on top of the rice.

Here is my adaptation to the recipe. I have added some green sorrel leaves to it along with other vegetables for a change.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups of Cooked Rice

1 Onion chopped

1 small size Carrot chopped

1 small Capsicum chopped

1/4 cup Green Sorrel Leaves

2 Green Chillies chopped

1 tsp Ginger minced

1 tsp Garlic minced

1 tbsp Red Chilli sliced

2 Eggs

10 medium sized Prawns cleaned

3 tbsp Fish sauce

2 tbsp Rice Vinegar

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp Pepper powder

1/2 tsp Sugar

4 tbsp Sesame Oil

Method

Break the eggs in a bowl. Sprinkle salt and pepper and beat it. Take a wok, add  1/2 tbsp oil, heat it. Add the egg,cook it and make a fried scramble egg. Remove it and keep it aside. Add another tbsp of oil in the same wok. Let it heat. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on the prawns,mix it. Fry it till it is cooked. Remove and keep it aside. Add the remaining oil in the same wok, heat the oil. Add the chopped onion, garlic and ginger mince. Stir fry for a minute on high flame. Add the capsicum, carrot, red chilli and the green chillies. Stir fry it for 2 minutes. Add the green sorrel leaves and stir it for few seconds. Add the rice, stir fry it for a minute on medium flame. Add the salt, pepper powder, sugar, fish sauce and the rice vinegar. Stir it for another minute. Leaving few pieces of prawns and fried eggs for garnishing, add the rest of the prawns and fried egg pieces in other wok. Stir for it for another minute or 2 until all the ingredients are well co-operated. Garish with the remaining fried egg pieces and prawns. Serve it hot.

Chilli Garlicky Cheese Rice -Potato Pops

Chilli Garlicky Cheesy Rice - Potato Pops...

These can be served as tea time snacks or starters. These are vegetarian pops. I love the taste of the melted mozzarella. These are easy to make. Must serve it hot.. 

For the Stuffing

Ingredients

1/2 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese

1 cup Mozarella grated  

1/2 cup Cottage Cheese crumbles or grated 

1 tsp to 2 tsp Green Chillies minced as required 

1 tsp Garlic minced 

Salt to taste 

Method

Mix all the above ingredients together and keep it aside. 

For the Potato - Rice Pops 

Ingredients 

1 cup cooked Rice mashed 

2 Large Potatoes boiled grated

1 cup or 3 to 4 end slice of the Fresh Bread crumbs

1/4 cup Spinach Puree 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Oil

Method

Mix all the above ingredients together well and make a dough. If you feel the dough is too sticky to handle then add some more bread crumbs. Add a tsp oil and knead it well. 

To Fry the Pops 

Ingredients 

Stuffing

Dough

1 cup Fine Semolina 

Oil to fry 

Method

Take a small portion of the dough, flatten it.Place some stuffing in between the dough. Press the stuffing in the center and close the edges of the dough. Roll it into a ball. Repeat the process till all the pops are ready. Toss them in semolina. Heat the oil in a fry pan. Fry the pops till golden brown on full flame. Remove it on an absorbent paper. Serve it hot with tomato ketchup... 

P.S. Take Fresh Bread and grind it to make fresh bread crumbs. 

The dough is a bit sticky, to handle the dough apply oil on the palms. 

Please roll the pops well after the stuffing is done, or else it can break and the cheese can ooze out. 

Masala Akki Rotti with leftover Rice

Masala Akki Rotti with leftover Rice....

Akki rotti is a rice-based dish, extremely popular from the state of Karnataka.It is made of rice flour which is mixed with salt and water and kneaded well to make a soft dough. Sliced onions and carrots, chopped dill leaves, chopped coriander, cumin seeds and sesame seeds can also be added while kneading the dough.Traditionally some oil is spread on the skillet and a small amount of the dough is place on the skillet and spread to a thin sheet. Oil is then drizzled on the the Rotti. It is cooked until the Rotti is brown on both the sides. It is served hot and is eaten along with chutney. Another way of making akki rotti is to spread the dough over a plantainleaf or a plastic sheet and then cooked on the skillet. The dough should be made just when you are making the rottis.

Here I have made it with leftover rice and rice flour with onion, green chill, coriander leaves and spices. 

Ingredients 

2 cups Left over cooked Rice

1 1/2 cups Rice flour

1 Onion chopped

2 Green chillies chopped

1 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped 

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp Garam Masala

1/2 tsp Red Chilli powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 

4 tbsp Oil 

Method 

Mix all the above ingredients except oil well and form a dough. Add a tbsp of oil and knead it well. If the dough is sticky add more rice flour. Take a lime size portion of the dough. Roll it into a ball. Take a plastic sheet. Apply water on the sheet. Place the ball on the sheet and with the help of the finger start pressing the ball and spreading it. It will be sticky, apply water on the fingers. Heat a skillet, very gently left up the plastic sheet, turn it upside down and with the other hand remove the plastic sheet out. The Rotti may crack. Place the the Rotti on the skillet and seal the cracks. Cook the Rotti for 2 minutes. Trun it. Drizzle it with oil. Cook it till brown on both the sides. Serve hot with chutney.

Dal Khichadi

Dal Khichadi.... 

It's raining from morning... finally.....
It's a bliss to have hot Khichadi during monsoon....It is made with different types of dal, rice and vegetables. Khichadi is made all over India, with some variations.
As a side dish some Chicken pokora which is very quick and easy...
 http://suskitchenbysumitra.blogspot.com/2016/06/kur-kure-chicken-pakora.html
 Some fried some papads.... adding on to it my home made non veg pickle made the dish complete... Absolutely soul food...

Ingredients
2 cups Rice washed and soaked
1/2  cup Tur Dal washed and soaked
1/2 cup Moong Dal washed and soaked
1 Onion chopped
1 Tomato chopped
3 Garlic cloves chopped
2 Green chillies chopped
Few Green Peas
1/4 cup of each Vegetables chopped  (Carrot, Capsicum, French beans, Cauliflower and Potato)
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1 tbsp Coriander Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
Few Curry leaves
1 tbsp Oil
2 tbsp Ghee
Few Coriander Leaves chopped

Method
Take a heavy bottom pot. Add oil, let it heat. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, chillies, garlic and onion. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the vegetables. Stir it and cook for 2 minutes. Add the rice and the dals. Stir it. Add the spices and salt. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add 6 cups of water. Stir and let it cook. If required add more water and spices. Cook till all the ingredients have well blended. Add ghee and garnish with coriander leaves.

Maqluba

Maqluba 

It is a traditional dish of Jordan and Palestine. The dish includes meat, rice, and fried vegetables placed in a pot, which is then flipped upside down when served, hence the name maqluba, which translates literally as "upside-down".When the casserole is inverted, the top is bright red colour from the tomatoes  and rest covered with other vegetables. It is usually served with either Yogurt or simple Arabic salad...

Net Source
 
Today I have made Veg Maqluba..and have adapted the recipe as per the availability of the ingredients in my kitchen...
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Basmati Rice washed and soaked for 30 minutes
2 big size Potatoes peeled and cut into thick rounds
2 Eggplants cut into thick round
1 Cauliflower cut into medium florets
3 Tomatoes cut into thick rounds
1 Onion chopped
2 Garlic Clove chopped
1 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp Cumin powder
1 1/2 tbsp Baharat powder
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
1/2 tsp Allspice powder
Or
***1/2 tsp Cloves powder
     1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder
     1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder***
2 Bay Leaves
Salt to taste
4 1/2 cups of Vegetable stock or water
2 tbsp Oil
Oil to fry the Vegetables
1 tbsp Butter, melted
1 tbsp Almond and Pistachio flakes
Few Raisins and dry Berries  for garnishing

Method
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pot, add bay leaves, onions and garlic, stir for 2 minutes.  Add salt, pepper, turmeric powder, cumin powder, allspices powder and baharat powder. Add 4 1/2 cups vegetable stock and let simmer for 10 minutes. Keep it aside.
Take another pan, heat the oil for frying. Add the  eggplant slices and fry it from both sides until golden brown. Take it out and on an absorbent paper, keep it aside. Fry the cauliflower florets and keep it aside. Fry the potatoes and keep it aside.
Take a heavy bottom pot. Grease it with butter. Arrange the tomato, eggplant, potatoes and cauliflower in layers. Pour 1/2 the stock, add the rice and then pour the remaining stock. Cover it and cook it on a low flame. Till the rice is cooked. Let it cool a bit, then carefully flip it up-side down on a serving platter. Garnish it with raisins, berries, almond and pistachio flakes. Serve hot with fresh yogurt or Arabic salad.

Baharat Spice powder
Ingredients
1 tbsp Coriander seeds
2 tbsp Cumin seeds
2 tbsp Pepper Corns
1 tbsp Cloves
2 to 3 sticks of Cinnamon
4 Cardomom
2 tbsp paprika / chill powder
1 small Nutmeg

Method
Blend all the above spices in a blender. Store it in a dry glass container.