Dec 4
Veg Cheese Sandwich in 10 minutes

A very easy and quick recipe for vegetable and cheese sandwiches that can be prepared in less than 10 minutes. Kids love these sandwiches and is a healthy option to go in their lunchbox. A sumptous breakfast for all.

Ingredients:
4 slices of multigrain or brown bread,
1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese, (or any other that is available)
2 tbsp chopped red or white onion,
3-4 tbsp chopped red,yellow and green peppers (or whichever is available),
6-7 black or green olives; sliced,
2 tbsp chopped tomatoes,
Few leaves of spinach; blanched,
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes,
1/2 tsp dry mixed herbs.

Method:
Heat a griddle or choose to grill you sandwich. Butter the bread if you like, else use as it is. Mix together all the other ingredients and divide into two equal portions to prepare two sandwiches. Stuff the cheese mixture in between two bread slices, press and place on the griddle or on the grill. Roast or grill on both sides till crisp and brown. Cut each sandwich into two pieces diagonally and serve hot as breakfast with juice or milk.
TIPS:
1. Veg Cheese Balls: Use the same filling to prepare cheese balls. Prepare the filling, make small balls, coat them with bread crumbs, egg, again with bread crumbs and bake or deep fry them.

2. Veg Cheese Nuggets: Add little mashed potatoes to the cheese mixture, make small flat balls, coat with bread crumbs and fry. You can add more vegetables to the mixture.

3. You can use this filling in parathas too.

Dec 2
Shrimp Tempura

Ingredients:
500gms shrimps or prawns, shelled, deveined,

For the marinade-
1 tsp garlic paste,
1 tsp chilli sauce,
1 tsp soy sauce,
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce,
1 tsp vinegar,
1/4 tsp white pepper,
1/4 tsp salt or as per taste.

For the batter-
1 cup all-purpose flour,
1 egg,
Salt to taste,
1/4 tsp baking powder,
1 cup ice cold water.

For the dip-
1/2 cup soy sauce,
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar,
2 scallions; sliced,
1 tbsp ginger, grated

Other-
Vegetable oil.

Shrimp Tempura 

Method:
Beat the egg in a bowl and add cold water to it, whisk well. Fold it flour and keep whisking only till the batter is smooth. Do not over whisk.
Mix together all the other ingredients and dip the shrimps into it, let them marinate for few hours, overnight for best results.
Heat vegetable oil for deep frying. Turn the flame to medium, dip each shrimp into the batter and drop into the hot oil. Fry all the shrimps in batches till they turn golden brown and crisp.
Drain on paper towels. Serve with dipping sauce.

Dipping sauce-
Combine all ingredients for the dipping sauce in bowl and stir well.

Nov 29
Chinese Chicken Wings

Ingredients:
2 pound chicken wings 10
1 1/2 tsp garlic; minced,
1/4 cup soy sauce,
1/4 cup white wine,
1 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice powder,
1 1/4 tsp salt,
3-4 tbsp oil.

Method:
Mix together all the ingredients and marinate the wings in a container, seal with plastic wrap or marinate the wings in a resealable bag. Refrigerate for few hours or overnight for best results. Either grill the wings till they are cooked and nice brown. Or bake at 350° F (175° C) for till chicken is done. Brush with remaining marinade at intervals.

Nov 26
Prawns (Shrimps) Masala

This is a traditional Maharashtrian (Konkan) recipe. I learnt it from my mother, she is an awesome cook and just like her other recipes, this recipe too is out of the world. I have been eating this delicious preparation since my childhood and even today whenever I visit her, I ask her to prepare this for me. A quick and finger-licking recipe.

Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
500 gms prawns or shrimps; peeled and deveined,
1 onion; diced,
1/2 cup dessicated coconut,
6 cloves of garlic; crushed,
1/4 tsp turmeric powder,
1 tsp red chilli powder,
Salt to taste,
Oil for frying,
Water,
Chopped coriander leaves to garnish.

Method:
Dry roast the coconut till it turns brown stirring occasionally (do not burn) and grind with little water to a paste.
Meanwhile heat oil in a kadhai (wok), add garlic and roast it till it turns light brown. Then add onion and saute till onion becomes transparent. Then add turmeric and red chilli powder and cook for a minute. Now add the ground coconut paste, stir well, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Uncover, add the prawns, mix, add water to form gravy and again cover with the lid. Pour some water on the lid. Cook on medium-high flame for 5-6 minutes or till prawns are cooked. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with chapatis (Indian bread).

Nov 25
Roast Potatoes and Carrots

Ingredients:
1 kg potatoes,
250 gms carrots,
80 gms Olive oil or fat,
Salt to taste,
Pepper to taste,
Kasuri Methi (Dry fenugreek leaves - optional).

Method:
Peel the potatoes and cut in big pieces. Take care to check that all the potatoes are equal in size. Peel the carrots and slice them into medium thick slices. Lightly blanch the carrots and boil potatoes for 7-10 minutes. Do not overcook the potatoes. Strain the carrot and potatoes and transfer them to a bowl and shake them a little to have rough edges. Season them with salt and pepper.
In the mean time, preheat the oven to ‘Gas Mark 7′ or 220 degrees C. Prepare the roasting tray. Add olive oil or any other fat to the tray
and keep the tray for heating in the oven on the upper shelf. After few minutes take out the tray from oven. Make sure the fat is pipping hot when you add the potatoes and carrots. With the help of a spoon transfer the potatoes and carrots from the bowl to the tray. Crush and sprinkle some kasuri methi over them to give it an indian taste.
Keep it in the oven for 45 mins. Take out the tray from the oven and turn over the potatoes and carrots keep them back till potatoes turn golden brown. Trasfer to serving dish and serve hot. Enjoy!

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