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.

Cilantro-Dalia Chutney

When one thinks of chutney, one invariably thinks of idlis and dosas!! And its the same vice versa!! Thats exactly what I had for lunch today! Neer dosa with green cilantro chutney.

Mom used to make chutney with coconut as the main ingredient. But after I got married, I learnt this chutney from my MIL. What mom used to make is imprinted in my mind and soul... and I LOVE it. But for a healthier version, read using lesser coconut, I make this chutney on a regular basis at home now.

A simple chutney can be enhanced by giving it some tadka (tempering). It just changes the whole look and taste of a chutney.

Like most of my cooking, even the chutney I make, I NEVER measure ingredients. But have tried my best to make a note while I made it today.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup grated coconut OR About 2 1/2 sq. inch of coconut piece
1/2 cup Split Dalia
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
8-10 curry leaves
3-4 green chillies
3-4 garlic cloves
1 inch ginger
1/2 tspn sugar
1 inch tamrind ball
Salt as per taste

For tempering:
1 tbsp ghee
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
2 pinches of asofoetida (hing)
1 dry red chilli, broken into pieces
2-3 curry leaves

Method:

• For the chutney, grind all the ingredients with water.
  
• If required, add more water till you get the desired consistency.
• And then add the tempering/tadka of mustard seeds, hing, dry red chillies and curry leaves in ghee.

Shrimp Wontons

As said in the earlier post, I wanted to make something new and exotic. So I thought of making shrimp wontons. I went through a lot of recipes and mixed and matched to suit my palate. After I made them, I wondered why I had never made them before!! It was soooooo easy to make and so yummm!!! I could have deep fried them, but that wouldn't be an healthy option ofcourse! I could have steamed them too but I decided to boil them instead! :) I figure we can make this same dish vegetarian by simply eliminating the shrimps!! Will try that some other day. I have so many fillings in mind.. I will be tired trying them all... One at a time I say to myself :)

This makes about 18-20 wontons

Ingredients:
10 shrimps, chopped coarsely
1/4 cup cabbage, chopped finely
2 whole chestnuts, chopped
1 scallion, chopped
2 tbspn ginger, chopped
2 tbsp garlic, chopped
1/2 tspn green chillies, chopped
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbspn soya sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tspn sugar
18-20 wonton wrappers
Salt to taste (You can eliminate this, as the sauces will usually balance the saltiness)
1/2 cup water or 1 egg, beaten for sealing the wontons.

Method:

• Mix all the above and set aside for 10-15 mins for all the flavors to bind together.
• Fill each wonton wrapper with a teaspoon heap of the shrimp filling and seal them using water or egg.
• Boil them in boiling water till the wontons become transparent and start floating.
• Enjoy with some chilli garlic (I had this readymade) and ginger soy sauce (recipe given below).

Ginger Soy Sauce
1 1/2 tbsp ginger, chopped
2-3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp vinegar
1 scallion, chopped

Mix all the above and use as a dipping sauce.

Sauted Spinach

This is a quick n' healthy side dish which can be altered using other green vegetables like mustard leaves, kale etc. Its simple, yet very distinct and you would want to eat more n more :)

Ingredients:
Baby spinach, washed
1 tbspn Olive oil
3 tbspn minced garlic
1tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tspn red chilli flakes (optional)
1 pinch sugar
Salt & Pepper

Method:

• In a hot pan, add the chilli flakes and garlic and saute for a while.
• Add the spinach in batches and stir.
• Add the salt, pepper, soy sauce, sugar and saute till the spinach wilts.

Enjoy!

Stir Fried Bok Choy

I got some amazing baby bok choy from the chinese store. So, alongwith the soup I also made some stirfired bok choy. We have started having these stir fried greens a lot these days. The amazing aroma n flavor of the garlic is just enuf to start your mouth watering. And well greens are healthy too.

Ingredients:
8 Baby Bok Choy - seperate into leaves, & discard the thick bottom stalk.
2 tbspn Olive oil
3 tbspn minced garlic
1tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tsp chilli sauce
1 pinch sugar

Method:

• Mix the soy sauce, chilli sauce and sugar.

• Put the wok on high heat. When it is screaming hot, add olive oil and swirl it twice around the wok.
• Now add the garlic and saute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
• Immediately add the bok choy and stir on high heat till it starts releasing its juices and shrivels a bit.
• Add the paste, salt n fresh ground pepper.

Enjoy!!