Sunday, 15 May 2016

Murg aur Baigan ka Achar...

Murg aur Baigan ka Achar...

At times when we are lazy to cook, that is the time this pickle comes handy with simple hot dal, rice and papads or fish fry. 
This dish is an experiment in my kitchen. Try it out and I am sure you will love it.
This is my winning recipe from #PlatterShare

For the Chicken Marination 
Ingredients
1 cup Boneless Chicken cut into small pieces 
1 tbsp Garlic and Ginger minced 
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder 
1/4 tsp Garam Masala powder 
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
Salt to taste 
2 tbsp Vinegar

Method 
Mix all the above ingredients and marinate it for 6 hours.

For the Spice powder 
Ingredients
1 tbsp Coriander seeds 
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds 
1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds 
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds 
1/2 tsp Carom seeds 
1/4 tsp  Asafoetida powder 
8 Red Dry Chillies

Method 
Grind all the above ingredients into a fine powder and keep this aside.

For the Pickle 
Ingredients
Marinated chicken pieces
1 medium  size long Brinjals cut into small cubes or 2 cups of cubed Brinjal 
6 Whole Garlic cloves crushed 
Few Curry leaves 
Spice powder
1/4 tsp Mustard seeds 
1/4 tsp Coriander seeds 
1/4 tsp Fennel seed 
2 Pinches of Fenugreek seeds 
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder 
Salt to taste 
1 tbsp Sugar 
1/2 cup Vinegar 
1 cup Sesame Oil


Method 
Add oil to a wok. When the oil is hot, add the brinjals and fry it. Remove it and keep it aside. In the same oil, add the mustard seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds and fennel seeds. Let it crackle. Add the curry leaves and garlic. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the marinated chicken. Cook it for 10 minutes or till done. Add the brinjals, the spice powder, turmeric powder,  chilli powder  and sugar. Stir it. Cook it for 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and salt. Stir and cook for 1 minute.  Remove from the fire and let it cool. Keep it in a glass container and store in the refrigerator. It stays for 6 month.

Dim Aloor Chochori....

It's too hot today to go into the kitchen and make breakfast. I thought in my mine. While in my thoughts, my husband opted to make the breakfast and give me a break from making the breakfast.... oh.. wow... what can I ask for more... It's a morning  bliss, when husband and daughter made Dim Aloor Chochori and Luchi, while I enjoy eating it. 

Dim Aloor Chochori....  

This is a Bengali dish made with Eggs and Potatoes and best to have it with luchi (Poories) and Parathas.... 
Ingredients 
4 Eggs Beaten
4 Potatoes cut into small size strips 
1 Onion chopped
1 Tomato Chopped 
2 Green chillies broken
1 tsp Ginger minced
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1/4 tsp Garam masala powder
1 tsp Cumin Coriander powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil
Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing 

Method 
Take a wok, heat the oil. Add the onion and green chillies, fry till light brown in colour. Add the ginger, sauté for 2 minutes, add the potatoes, stir fry for 2 minutes, add the turmeric, chilli, garam masala and coriander - cumin powder. Stir for another 3 minutes. Add the tomato and salt, stir for 1 minute. Add 1 1/4 cup water, simmer on low heat till the potatoes are done. Add the beaten egg and cook  it till semi dry. Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Kothamalli Mangai Thokku (Green Mango and Coriander Chutney)

Kothamalli Mangai Thokku
Green Mango and Coriander Chutney


Thokku is in between vegetable dish and a pickle. It is made in South Indian homes.  In thokku water content is reduced and it can be kept for longer period.  Thokku can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 months in a clean dry glass bottle. Thokku can be made with other veggies too.  It can be eaten as a dip, spread, or as pickle. You can eat it with Bread, dosa, chapati and curd rice or eat it mixed with steamed rice. 

Ingredients
8 small Raw Mangoes cut into pieces 
1 medium size bunch Coriander leaves with stems chopped 
8 Green Chillies cut into pieces 
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp Chana dal 
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds 
Few Curry leaves 
1/4 tsp Asafoetida powder 
Salt to taste 
3/4 cup Sesame Oil

Method
Heat the 1 tbsp oil and add the mangoes, green chillies and coriander leaves. Stir fry till all the water dries up. Remove from the heat and let it cool. Put the mangoes,  green chillies and coriander leaves into a grinder. Grind the ingredients into a smooth paste. Heat the remaining oil in a wok. Add the urid and chana dal. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the mustard seeds and fenugreek seed. Let it crackle. Add the curry leaves and asafoetida. Sauté it for few seconds. Add the paste and salt, cook it for 10 to 15 minutes on low flame, stirring it occasionally, till the oil releases from the paste. Remove it from the flame and let it cool. It can be stored in a clean and dry glass bottle for 2 months in the fridge. Serve this with sandwich, dosa, chapati or curd rice.

Chicken and Ripe Mango Curry...

Chicken and Ripe Mango Curry.... 
I love the flavour of the coconut and the tangy sweet taste of the mango in this recipe. It has the rich creamy texture due to the coconut milk added to the dish.  This dish can be eaten with rice, Chappati or paratha..

Ingredients 
750 grams Chicken pieces 
1 Onions chopped 
1 Tomato chopped 
1 Ripe Mango cut into cubes 
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste 
2 Green chillies broken into pieces 
2 tbsp Madras Curry powder 
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 
1/2 tsp Chilli powder 
Salt to taste 
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
Few Curry leaves 
1 tetra pack Coconut milk 
2 tbsp Oil 
Few Coriander leaves chopped 
Method 

Take a wok, add oil. Let it heat. Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Let the mustard seeds crackle. Add the onions. Sauté it till it is light brown in colour. Add the green chillies, garlic and ginger paste. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the chicken. Stir it, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring it occasionally. Add the tomatoes, curry powder, salt and turmeric powder. Stir it and cook for 5 minutes. Add the coconut milk. Cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Add the chopped mango. Stir it. Cook for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame. Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Madras Curry Powder 
Ingredients 
2 tbsp Coriander seeds
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
1/2 tbsp Fenugreek seeds 
2 tsp Mustard seeds 
2 tsp Fennel seeds 
1 tbsp Poppy seeds 
1 tbsp Sesame seeds 
4 small pieces of Cinnamon stick
10 Cardamom 
1 tsp Cloves 
1 tsp Pepper Corns 
8 Red Dry Spicy Chillies 
2 sprigs Curry leaves 
2 tbsp Turmeric powder 
1 tsp Nutmeg powder 

Method
Take a pan, add all the spices except for the curry leaves, turmeric powder and nutmeg powder. Roast the spices for a minute. Remove it and keep aside. Roast the curry leaves. Let the spices cool down. Add the turmeric powder, nutmeg powder  and all the other ingredients in the grinder, and grind it into a fine powder. Store it in a dry and clean bottle.

Friday, 13 May 2016

Chingri Macher Bhorta

Chingri Macher Bhorta 
Prawn Bharta 

This is  a very popular Bangladeshi dish. It is spicy mashed prawns dish flavoured with garlic, ginger, fried dry chillies and mustard oil. It is eaten with steamed hot rice. You can actually finish all the rice with this dish.. 
Ingredients
1 cup medium size Prawns deshelled and cleaned
2 Onions sliced
4 Garlic cloves minced
1/2 tsp Ginger minced
2 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped
3 Dry Red chillies
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Mustard oil

Method
Take a pan, add 1 tbsp oil. Heat it till smoking hot. Lower the flame, fry the red chillies till brown in colour, remove and keep it aside. In the same pan, add the garlic and ginger. Sauté it for 2 minutes. Add the prawns and sauté it till it is cooked. Remove it from the pan and cool it. Add it into the grinder and roughly grind it... some pieces of the prawns should be seen or the prawns can be chopped into small pieces. Take a mixing bowl, crush 2 chillies and add it in the bowl. Add the onions, coriander leaves, salt and mustard oil. Mix it well. Add the prawns and mix again. Garnish with some more coriander leaves and the remaining chilli. Serve it with hot steaming rice.
P. S. Instead of sautéing the prawns, boiled prawns can be also used. Fresh green chillies can also be used instead of dry red chillies.