Ingredients: 2 cups basmati rice (long grain rice), 2 cups chopped vegetables (capsicum, carrots, french beans, cauliflower florets,etc) 1/2 cup shelled green peas, 3-4 tej patta, 8-10 black peppercorns, 4-5 dalchini sticks (1 inch long), 3-4 laung, 1 tsp haldi, 1-2 tsp red chilli powder, 4 tsp garam masala powder/biryani masala, 2 tbsp cashewnuts, broken… Continue reading Quick Vegetable Pulao

Ingredients: 1 kg boneless, skinless chicken pieces, 1 egg, 3/4 cup bottled fat-free creamy Italian salad dressing, 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning, 2 cups crushed reduced-fat butter crackers or Italian bread crumbs, 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp chopped parsley. Method: In a bowl beat… Continue reading Crackling Chicken

1 cup fine sooji, 1 cup khoya, 1 cup fresh grated coconut, 1 cup fine sugar, 2-3 tbsp ghee (homemade unsalted butter), 1 tsp elaichi powder (green cardamom powder), Raisins or chopped dry fruits as per choice Desicated coconut to coat. Method: Heat a non-stick pan, add ghee and when it melts add sooji. Roast… Continue reading Sooji Nariyal Laddu (Semolina Coconut Laddu)

2 slices of brown or white bread, 20-25 shrimps or prawns, 40gms cornflour, 1 green chilli, finely chopped, 2 tbsp chopped greens of spring onion, 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves, 1 tbsp red chilli paste, (or use red chilli powder), 1 egg, Salt and pepper to taste, Sesame seeds for coating, Oil for frying. Method:… Continue reading Spicy Shrimp Toast

Ingredients: 2 cups coconut milk, 1/2 cup rice flour, 2-3 tbsp cornflour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla essence, 1 tsp orange food color. Method: Heat coconut milk in a saucepan. Then add sugar and stir continously with a whisk and cook till sugar is dissolved and coconut milk is hot, do not boil. In… Continue reading Coconut and Rice Pudding

Tondli or Tendli as its called in Maharashtra, is a vegetable that looks like small dark green cucumbers but are stubby and grow aggressively on vines. They are also known as Tindora or Tindla in Hindi, Goli in Rajasthani, Tondakayi in Kannada, Dondakaya in Telugu and Ivy Gourd or Gentleman’s Toes or Gherkins in English.… Continue reading Stir Fry Tondli or Tindla (Stir Fry Ivy Gourd or Gherkins)

Ingredients: 250 gms boneless chicken breasts, boiled and diced, 1 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated, 1 tbsp creamy Caesar salad dressing (optional), 1 tsp garlic, finely chopped, 2 tsp lemon juice, 5 Romaine or Iceburg Lettuce leaves, Black olives, sliced (as per your taste), 2 tbsp chopped greens of spring onions (scallions), Salt… Continue reading Caesar Chicken Salad

Ingredients: 250 gms paneer, cut into cubes, 2 small onions, chopped, 2 small tomatoes, chopped, 2 small green chillies, finely chopped, 3 dry red chillies, broken into flakes, 8-10 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 2″ ginger pieces, finely chopped, 3 tsp cumin seeds (jeera), 1 1/2 tsp coriander seeds (dhania), 1 tsp peppercorns, 1 tbsp kasoori… Continue reading Kadhai Paneer (Stir Fried Cottage Cheese)

Ingredients: (Prepares 2 tall glasses of coffee) 3 cups milk, 1 cup thick cream, 2 tsp coffee powder, 3-4 tbsp sugar. Method: Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed for 15 minutes or till the coffee is nice creamy and thick.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp honey, 1 tsp lime juice, 1 tbsp fish sauce, (optional) 1 tbsp red chilli sauce, 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic. Method: Mix all the ingredients and let it rest for some time, so that all the flavors blend well with each other.