Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Khatta Meetha Tikha Baingan

Does the title give you an idea about the dish?? Its such a long name for a simple dish, but nothing else can describe this dish!!

I have no clue about the origin of the dish. I mean is it maharashtrian, punjabi or from somewhere else. The only thing I know about its origin is... Mom's kitchen!!! I totally LOVE this dish. It has all the tastes packed in it.. spicy, sweet and sour!!

Ingredients:
4 small brinjal
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tbspn shredded jaggery
1 1/2 tbsp tamrind paste
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Salt to taste
2 cups of water

Method:
  • Slit the brinjal like a "+" shape on one end.
  • Mix all the other ingredients and squeeze together with fingers and mix well.
  • Set aside for 10 mins.
  • Stuff the mixture in the baingan. Some mixture will remain.
  • In a hot pan, add about 2 tbspn of oil.
  • When hot, add the brinjals one by one.
  • Add the remaining mixture.
  • Add about 1 cup of water.
  • Cover and cook on high heat till it starts boiling, then lower the heat to medium.
  • Keep on changing the brinjal's position.
  • Let cook till the brinjals are thoroughly cooked on all sides.
  • Check in between, and add the remaining water little by little so that the gravy doesn't become too dry.
  • Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving.
Enjoy with phulkas or rotis or steamed rice!

Friday, March 2, 2007

Garlic Methi Paneer

I had some leftover paneer in the fridge. Thought of making paneer makhani, but then thought... nahhh too heavy!!! Then I remembered I had methi lying in the fridge, and I had to make something out of it. Would have made methi paneer pulav, but then thought NOT making rice as we already had biryani last night... rice 2 days in a row.. not healthy!

So thought of making methi paneer. Had never made this before. Though of googling, but thought otherwise and decided to go with my mood and come up with something.

And it sure did turn good. What a healthy meal... methi paneer, dahi kadhi and rotis!

Ingredients:
4 cups, washed n chopped methi leaves
1 cup cubed paneer
5-6 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 green chillies, chopped
1 tbsp dhania-jeera powder
1/4 tspn chilli powder
A pinch of sugar
Salt to taste

Method:
  • In a tbsp of hot oil, add the garlic and saute till fragrant.
  • Add the onions and green chillies and saute till the onions are translucent.
  • Now add the paneer and fry till they turn golden brown on some sides.
  • Add the sugar, turmeric powder, dhania-jeera powder, salt and methi leaves.
  • Cover and cook till the leaves become a little limp.
  • Enjoy with rotis!

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Prawn Biryani

Prawn or shrimp biryani.. yummmy!! Thats just about it you can say about this dish!! Prawn biryani is something one can make in a jiffy and still taste like heaven!! I usually make this with malwani masala. But sometimes use normal chilli powder too. Malawan is a coastal area in maharashtra and is know for its seafood and spicyyyy food :)

Ingredients:
20-25 shrimps
3-4 cloves
1 small stick of cinnamon
1 elaichi (cardamom), crushed
1-2 bay leaves
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 onion, chopped
2 tbspn ginger, chopped
1 1/2 tbspn garlic, chopped
2 tbspn chilli powder
1 tspn turmeric powder
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 cups basmati rice, washed and soaked
3 3/4 cup water
2-3 tbspn Oil
Salt to taste

Method:
  • Heat oil in a saucepan.
  • Add the whole masala (cloves, elachi, cinnamon, bay leaves).
  • As it starts to splutter, add the ginger garlic and saute.
  • Add the onions and fry it on medium heat till it turns pink and translucent.
  • Now add the tomatoes, chilli powder and turmeric and fry continuously for 3-4 minutes.
  • Cover and simmer till the mixture releases oil.
  • Now add the shrimp, 1/2 cup cilantro and the soaked rice.
  • Mix well, add salt and water.
  • Cover and cook on high heat till the rice comes to a boil.
  • Now lower the heat and cook till well cooked.
  • Garnish with cilantro and enjoy as it is or with raita.

Fried Shrimps


Last night was a shrimp fiesta! Made some prawn biryani and prawn fry alongwith some raita and sat in front of the TV and had a lovely dinner! Well I mention TV specifically coz after almost a gap of 2 yrs, we got the cable! Yeah we had decided to get of the hook as we were slowly turning into couch potatoes! So we got it out and started taking some classes such as language and swimming and stuff.

Anywayz back to food :)

I am not a great fish eater. But when it comes to prawns/shrimps, I can have a lot of it :) Love the way my mom makes shrimp biryani, shrimp curry, fried shrimps, shrimp masala.. etc etc!! Will post these recipes hopefully soon :)

Ingredients:
15-16 mid-sized prawns
Salt to taste
1 tbspn chilli powder
1/2 tspn turmeric powder
1/2 tspn tamrind paste
3-4 tbspn suji (rava)
Oil for frying

Method:
  • Mix all the ingredients, except the rava.
  • Keep aside for 15-20 mins.
  • Heat a pan with some oil.
  • Pat the shrimps one by one on the rava, and place on the pan.
  • Cover and cook for 2-3 mins on medium heat.
  • Uncover and let it cook for another minute tehn turn.
  • Let cook on teh other side.
  • Serve hot as a side dish.