Himalayan Saag Paneer | Himalayan Saag (greens)

I watched this food show which had recipes from the himalaya,they looked so tasty and full of goodness.
I could not wait to try it,and last night i tried the saag they had shown,me and hubby loved it,i plan to make it a lot more for the winter....you must too
Any green veg can be used for this...I have used half bunch spinach and half a bunch fenugreek leaf...
Mustard greens or radish greens can also be used...



in a pan saute 4/6 crushed garlic pods and green chili with cumin seeds in ghee or butter
then add the greens which have been washed and chopped cook this on a low heat and add
a pinch garam masala and cook on a low heat...
add paneer and cover with a lid so the paneer absorbs all the flavour and turns soft
TIP- DO NOT FRY THE PANEER

 


cooking this on a low heat brings out a great flavour...
serve with parathas



Kichidi for Winters | Rice Dishes for Winters | Indian Winter Recipes

This dish will keep you warm and full on a cold day or night,its not the regular kichidi with lentil and rice,this recipe has veggies cooked in a pressure cooker till soft and then mashed with rice.

Indian Comfort Food at its best...tastes best steaming hot...

Indian Kichidi for Winters

cauliflower 1 cup
peas half cup
potato cut 1 cup
tomato half
onion 1/4th
cooked rice 2 cups
to cook-use a pressure cooker

spices
garam masala 1tsp
garlic5 cloves
green chili 2 crushes

saute the onion,tomato and the spices,add the garam masala later

add in the veggies and saute 5 min,then add 1/2 cup water,cover the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles

add cooked rice and garam masala,cook till semi dry

you may leave it dry or a bit with gravy...


so simple and comforting



Yam Fry Kerala Style | Veg Starters from Kerala | Yam Fry with Coconut

I made Tasty Yam Fry for the first time and loved the taste & if your on a non veg food break try making this,you wont miss chicken.

Yam Fry or Yam Roast is a popular Kerala Starter and is made when you wish to skip non veg food.

It tastes great and the tempering for this Spicy Yam Fry is mouthwatering.

you need
yam cut in big squares--marinate with ginger garlic,salt, turmeric and gram flour

tempering--mustard seeds,curry leaf,green chili,chana daal and coconut

method

after marinating the yam for 20 min,deep fry them till crispy..keep aside..
in a pan add all the tempering spices with a pinch of salt  and add the yam pieces,toss and garnish with coconut...now your done ! Serve Hot...





delish !!



Paneer Shaslik with Peppers | Cottage Cheese Shaslik | Grilled Paneer Shaslik

This starter is a must have for any party,it tastes amazing and it looks fab too...You can add any spice of your choice to the marination ,but this recipe has the basic shaslik marinade....Do try it...




i never cook it too much...the paneer stays soft like that

 

you need
cut all the peppers in squares,yellow and green
onion cut in squares
tomato cut in squares(remove the pitt)

paneer cut in squares

spices for the marinade
garam masala half tsp
chaat masala 1 tsp
red chili pwd half tsp
corriander pwd half tsp
1 pinch chili flakes
1 tsp fenugreek leaves
salt

half cup yogurt
ginger/garlic/green chili paste
mix all the ingredients

and the most imp 3 tsp of gram flour
this helps  the marinade stick to the paneer
marinate the veggies and panner in the yogurt mix for 2 hrs

use wooden skewers and insert the paneer and peppers

in a non stick pan cook the paneer till light brown
then your done...serve hot with onions and green chutney !

Kidney Bean Salad (Rajma Salad)

This is a simple yet very filling Kidney Bean Salad,more toppings can be added to your taste but i kept it low key and dint go all the way.

This salad can also be made into a Complete Meal by adding more veggies and then topping it with mayo,lettuce,mushrooms or chicken.Adding these toppings can fill you up and your meal is done.

The choice is yours just be creative and toss up something yum.

Check out the Simple and Easy Version.



it tasted really fresh and tangy



you need
rajma boiled with salt and turmeric
garlic 1 tsp
ginger 1 tsp
lemon juice
corriander leaves
tomato half chooped
onions half choped
chaat masala (optional)
in a pan saute garlic,ginger with the rajma adding a bit of oil,
remove from flame then mix in the other ingredients and add lots of lemon juice in the end ,now your done !!
Always make this salad fresh

Easy Gulab Jamun Recipe | Simple and Easy Gulab Jamun

I can never eat gulab jamun if its not made by my mama,not from a shop,not from any one's house and honestly not even my own.I have no reason for this.It sure is very strange.

Now you are wondering why i posted Gulab Jamuns in my post,so here's what happened.
My hubby never asks me to make anything special and today when he did for the first time, he asked me for Gulab Jamuns.I was not sure but then thinking of him i did.I had to.

Shockingly it turned out great,all thanks to this recipe.It is really easy and plz note,this is not my mamas recipe...I shall post her amazing recipe soon!
MY TRIAL RECIPE ! And what a success.


looks ok???

 So for making Soft Gulab Jamuns you need

This recipe makes 10 balls

milk pwd 1/2 cup
rawa(semolina) 1 tsp
flour 2/3 tsp
baking soda 1 tsp
milk to bind

mix everything
and also make the sugar syrup

for sugar syrup
2 cups water ,
1 1/2 cup sugar,cardamon 2/3 crushed
and rose water
boil for 10/15 min

the dough must be mixed with gentle strokes and must not be sticky
then make rounds,cover with a napkin so they dont dry out

fry on a low heat so the inside is cooked well

be patient,keep moving them so they brown evenly



this is the colour we want..now remove from flame and cool for 5 min(IMP)
then add them to the syrup and allow to soak for 2 hrs



Easy Homemade Khoya/Mawa Recipe | Steps to make khoya at home

Diwali is around the corner and its time to make sweets, as you all know most of our Indian sweets need Khoya to add to the richness,and i feel its best to make it at home.

Trust me it tastes better too..In just 10 min your homemade khoya is ready.
Please try it.You will be glad.
 

To make homemade khoya in easy steps keep reading.

There are 3 types of Khoya
1.Grainy Khoya
2.Smooth Khoya
3.Wet Khoya

I will show you 3 ways you can make khoya/mawa very easily in your own kitchen.
It is really simple and you will never bother getting Khoya from the store again.

Check out my recipe below !
 
1. For Grainy Khoya / Mawa Recipe ( No Cook Khoya)

Mix 1 cup full cream milk powder and 1/2 cup warm milk with a spoon of butter till it forms a paste,not too runny,then strain through a fine sieve.Make sure you add the milk little at a time.
This is the easiest way to get Grainy or Crumbly Khoya / Mawa

Grainy Khoya / Mawa is used for Gujia / Paratha / Gravy Dishes /Rich Koftas / Cakes and Sweets

2. Microwave Khoya / Mawa - Wet Khoya (easy microwave khoya recipe)
Mix 1 cup milk powder and 1/2 cup thick cream in a microwave safe bowl.Mix it till well combined.
It must look like cake batter.
Microwave the mix for 1 min,remove and mix again.Once again microwave for 2 min.It is ready now !
Once it is cool it will get thick and ready to use.
Microwave Khoya / Mawa is an easy way to make a milk dessert called Barfi in no time.

3. For Smooth Creamy Khoya (Homemade Khoya made in a pan)
step by step recipe below


this is how the smooth khoya looks like




all you need is
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup milk powder



add the cream in a pan then mix in the milk pwd

stir till everything is combined and no lumps are formed
it gets thick in a few min



cook7/10 min..and remove from flame
it gets thick once cooled....

Homemade Curry Leaf Powder | Healthy Curry Leaf Powder

Most of you know the wonderful benefits of curry leaf,for those who dont, please do google it...in short its great for your system !
These powders are really tasty and can be strored for a month in the fridge...They can be eaten with idlis,dosas,rice and can also be added in gravys and dry side dishes !

There are 2 ways to make Curry Leaf Powder...one with spices and 1 with just cumin....
lets start with version 1


goes best with steamed rice and ghee



for 2 cups curry leaf
1 red dried chili
pepper corns 1/2tsp
1 tsp chana daal
3/4 garlic pods
1/2 tsp tamrind paste



tempering spices
cumin 1tsp
hing 1/2 tsp
less than a tsp fenugreek seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds



in a bit of oil saute all the spices and the garlic

after the spices are sauted for 5/7 min,remove it and in the same pan toast the curry leaf till crispy

after the curry leaf gets a crispy texture set aside with the spices to cool
add a pinch of salt too

after its cool,grind to a fine or coarse powder and store in a glass jar
keep refrigerated ..

                                       now lets see how to make version2

the second way to make this powder is to saute curry leaf and cumn powder and dry roast it 

   



then grind and store in a glass jar....best to keep it in the refrigerator



Best Masala Fried Fish | Spicy Fried Fish | Indian Fish Fried with Spices

This is a very different marinade to your fish fry,if you want a complete change of taste from your regular masala try this recipe...your gonna love it !



serve hot




i took a tiny piece to taste...it was perfect

 Marinade ~
in a bowl mix ~

2 tsp red chili
turmeric 1 tsp
garam masala 1 tsp
cumin pwd 1 tsp
kasuri methi 1 tsp
1/2 tsp brown sugar
ginger/garlic 2 tsp
lime juice 1 tsp
salt to taste
pepper a pinch
mix all this adding a few drops of oil and rub the marinade to any fish fillet of your choice....keep for 20 min
and fry till brown...
    you may add coriander leaves for garnish.
This Masala Fried Fish can be served along with lentils and rice and can also be served as an appetiser.

Dassera Breakfast Thali | Dassera Recipes | Diwali Dishes

Happy Dassera everyone,to make my Dassera a bit more special i made a simple breakfast for Dassera today,i always believe in starting the day with great breakfast,and on festivals a simple and tasty platter is always welcome.

You may add more dishes,but i felt 3 is enough for breakfast.




So these are the dishes i made ~

Panch Phoran Alu

Methi puri

Suji Halwa

Almond Saffron Milk.

Not that this Indian Breakfast Thali Meal has to be eaten only on Dassera,you can make this for any festival and enjoy this tasty meal anytime.

Make sure to Chill the Saffron Milk a few hours before serving and the Suji Halwa has to be eaten hot.

Do try this Wonderful and Special Dassera Meal,you will love it.

Special Suji/Sooji Hawla for Festivals 
Worlds Best Sooji Halwa Recipe


How to make Panch Phoran Alu / Aloo?

All you do is add ghee in a pan,then splutter panch phoran,hing and salt and add boiled potatoes cook till half mashed and add 1 pinch sugar....cook 5 min more and your done.

No masala goes in this dish !!!!

Almond Saffron Milk Recipe

 For 2 glasses milk-crush 6 almonds 3 cardamom pods and 6 tsp sugar and add this to the milk also add in saffron strands....stir well and chill for 1 hr ...

Tasty Methi Puri / Poori Recipe

In a bowl add methi leaves (chopped),1/2 cup white flour,1/2 cup besan ,1/2 cup wheat flour ,1 tsp hing,pinch turmeric and 1/2 tsp red chili and salt to taste.

Bind all this making a stiff dough...stand time 20 min...then roll out puris.

All this takes less than an hour to make,many of you might wonder that the potato sabzi has no seasonings except the paanch phoran,but you have to try it.It is a lovely change from the usual sabzis we make.

Have a Great Dassera !!

Coffee Cheese Cake ' no baking

This recipe is a frozen cheese cake recipe,if you like the texture soft  dont freeze it ,allow to set in the refrigerator. Instead of coffee any berry ,cherry ,chocolate or lemon can be added to your taste,it tastes great with just plain vanilla too...This recipe is really quick and the results are amazing...Must try for sure

whipping cream
any brand cream cheese

for biscuit base ,mix together~
mild salted cracker biscuit(crushed fine)
butter 4 tsp
sugar 4 tsp...

vanilla essence 1/2 tsp
lemon essence 1/2 tsp

whisk cream cheese, essence sugar and whipping cream together till stiff..then add 1 pinch coffee



the biscuit base mix must be pressed into a dish and then let to set in the freezer for 30 min



then top with the cream cheese mix,sprinkle coffee on top

allow to set in the freezer or refrigerator overnight...
cut and serve !!!! damn easy right !