Achari Began

Achari Began
Ingredients
1/2 kg small Brinjals cut into 4 pieces
1 Tomato cut into strips
1 tsp Ginger Paste
Few Curry leaves
1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
1/4 tsp Coriander seeds
1/4 tsp Fennel Seeds
1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds
1/4 tsp Nigella Seeds
1 tsp Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Fennel powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 tsp Dry Mango Powder
1/4 tsp Asafoetida
1/4 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil

Method
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds and nigella seeds. When the seeds crackle, add hing and curry leaves.  Add ginger paste and sauté it for few seconds. Add in turmeric, coriander powder, fennel powder, garam masala powder, chilli powder and fry the spices for half a minute. Add the brinjals. Stir it well. Add the tomato. Add about 1/4 cup of water and cover the pan with lid. Let it cook till the water has dried up.  Open the lid and add salt to taste. Cover and let it cook for another 3-4 minutes on medium flame, stirring it occasionally. Add sugar and amchur powder and stir it  well. Let it cook uncovered for few more minutes till the brinjals are cooked.

Jamaican Fried Red Snapper

Jamaican Fried Red Snapper

Must try... The pickled Vegetable and the fish combination is awesome..

For Marinating the Fish and Frying the Fish

Ingredients

4 Red snapper, cleaned, scaled, washed and give 3 cuts 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Pepper powder 

Oil for frying shallow 

Method 

Rub salt and pepper on both side of the fish. Heat oil in a pan over. Fry the fish until browned and crisp.  Remove fish and place on a paper towel.

For the VegetableTopping 

Ingredients 

2 medium Onions sliced

1/2 large carrot, peeled and cut into thin strips

1 tsp Garlic minced

1 Chilli minced 

1 sprig fresh Thyme leaves

1/4 cup Vinegar

1 tbsp Water

1/2 tsp All spice powder (1 small stick Cinnamon, 2 Cloves, small piece Nutmeg and 4 Pepper corn)

Salt to taste 

1/4 tsp Brown Sugar

1 tsp Oil retained from the fish fry. 

Method 

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a pan. Stir onion, garlic and carrot into the pan; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes. Add thyme, allspice, chilli, vinegar, water, salt, and sugar and continue cooking until onions have softened and liquid has reduced, about 5 minutes .Serve fish with this topping...

Eggplant Lasagna

Eggplant Lasagna
Ingredients
2 big Eggplants  cut into halves
2 Onions chopped
4 Tomato purée
1/4 cup Yellow Capsicum cut into cubes
1/4 cup Green Capsicum cut into cubes
2 tbsp Garlic crushed
Salt to taste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cup Mozzarella cheese grated
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese powder
1 tbsp Olive oil
Parsley chopped
4 home made whole wheat  Lasagna sheets

Method
Preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise. Rub the eggplants with salt. Place eggplant halves, cut sides down on a baking tray. Bake at 200 degrees celcius for 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Scrape inside of the eggplant with a spoon gently, so that the skin remains intact. Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add oil to pan. Add garlic and onions, sauté till light brown in colour. Add capsicums and  cook for 3 minutes. Add the tomato purée and cook till the juices have reduce. Add the salt, Italian seasoning and the scooped eggplant. Mix Parmesan cheese powder. Remove from heat. Add the filling evenly into each eggplant half. Cover the top with lasagna sheets. Sprinkle evenly with grated mozzarella cheese. Bake at 200 degrees celcius for 20 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Remove from oven... Garnish with parsley.

P.S. Lasagna sheet, extra Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella cheese can be added after the first filling and then the second layer of filling can be added and the process can be repeated. I wanted to avoid cheese so just added it on the top...

Italian Fried Rice

Italian Fried Rice 

Ingredients 

2 cups of Cooked Rice 

1 Onion chopped 

1/4 cup Green and Yellow Capsicum chopped 

1/4 cup Red Cabbage chopped 

2 tsp Red Pickled Chilles sliced 

1 tsp Garlic cloves minced

2 tbsp Sliced Green Olives 

1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Italian Seasoning 

1/2 tsp Pepper powder 

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 tbsp Parmesan cheese powder 

2 tbsp Olive oil 

Baby Parsley for garnishing  or chopped Parsley 

Method 

In a large nonstick pan, add oil. Add the garlic and onion, saute till light brown in colour. Add the cabbage, capsicum, olives and red chillies. Stir it and cook for 3 minutes. Add salt, pepper powder, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and vinegar. Stir in the rice. Cook and stir for 3 minutes. Garnish with parsley.

P. S. Vegetables like Mushrooms, Zucchini, Broccoli, Carrot can be added..

Mix Vegetables and Cottage Cheese in White Gravy Su's Style

Mix Vegetables and Cottage Cheese in White Gravy Su's Style
Ingredients
1 cup Green Peas
1 cup Cauliflower cut into small florest
1 cup Carrot cut into pieces
1 cup Potatoes cut into small cubes
1 cup French Beans cut into pieces
1/2 cup Black Grapes cut into pieces
2 Green Chillies slit
1/2 tsp Ginger Grated
2 cups Cottage cheese cut into pieces
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
2 Bay leaves
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
Salt to taste
1/4 cup Cashwenuts
1/2 cup Curd
1/4 cup Fresh Cream
2 tbsp Ghee

Method
Take a pot, add ghee, heat it. Add cumin seeds and bay leaves. Let the cumin seeds crackle, add all the vegetables and ginger. Saute the vegetables for 3 minutes, add salt, cumin powder and  garam masala powder. Stir fry for 2 minutes, add the grapes.. Mean while add the curd and the Cashwenuts in a grinder and grind it. Add the paste to the vegetables. Add 1/2 cup water, let it cook till the vegetables are almost tender, add the cottage cheese and fresh cream. Let it cook till the vegetables are done.