Rohu Matar ( Fish curry with Peas)

March 13, 2022 Leave a comment

No matter how much you grow up and age, the childhood memory of your mom’s cooking is bound to have an influence on you and one could never match up to the same. And my story is no different with her being a great influence in my food journey. Her ability to cook the simplest food tastes best, something I look forward to inheriting from her. Rohu matar is my mom’s recipe, easy to make yet tastes amazing. A healthy recipe with the combination of seasonal vegetable and fish is a perfect treat for a winter brunch.

Ingredients

Rohu fish: ½ kg

Green peas : 100 gms

Onion : 2

Tomato : 1

Curd : 4 tsp

Coriander powder : 2 tsp

Turmeric powder : 1 tsp

Red chilli powder : 1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tsp

Green chilli : 2

Mustard oil : for frying

Salt as per taste

Step 1

Grind onion and tomato into a smooth paste. In a bowl take a spoon full of water and add the ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder and mix well to make a smooth paste.

Step 2

Marinate the fish with garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt along with a tsp mustard oil and ground masala.

Step 3

Heat mustard oil in a pan and shallow fry the fish.

Step 4

Rohu matar is my mom’s recipe, easy to make yet tastes amazing. A healthy recipe with the combination of seasonal vegetable and fish is a perfect treat for a winter brunch.

Once done take it out in an absorbent paper.

Step 5

Heat oil in a pan and add the onion tomato paste along with prepared masala paste and saute until the oil leaves the side of the pan.

Step 6

Add the peas and cook it along with masala for about four to five minutes.

Step 7

Next add the curd and stir them all together for a couple of minutes.

Step 8

Add the required amount of water and let it come to a boil.

Step 9

Gradually add the fried fish into the gravy and cook on high flame for about five minutes. Add the slit green chilli and switch off the gas.

Step 10

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve it along with steamed rice.

Tip

Fried cauliflower florets and peas is a match made in heaven that combines well with rohu.

Strawberry Smoothie

February 15, 2022 Leave a comment

One of the easiest ways to include seasonal fruits and nuts to my children’s diet in their growing up years was to make them drink smoothies and shakes. And to my surprise although they did not relish fruits and nuts on a daily basis, these nutritious drinks became their all time favourite. Come January and the market gets flooded with the bright red coloured sweet and tart flavoured strawberry. Since it’s Loaded with health benefits I try my level best to feed my boys with the fresh seasonal strawberry and this is the easiest way to do so.

Ingredients

Strawberry : 8

Milk : 2 cups

Curd : ½ cup

Almonds : 10 soaked overnight

Powdered sugar : 4 tsp

Step 1

Rinse the fresh strawberries and discard the leaves.

Step 2

Put it in a blender jar along with sugar and soaked almonds and blend and puree them.

Step 3

Next add milk and curd to the pureed strawberry and blend them together until it has a smooth texture.

Step 4

Pour it into a serving glass and enjoy the nutritious creamy drink.

Tip

Use honey for a healthier version.

Add ice cubes for a slushy smoothie.

Keema pav

January 26, 2022 Leave a comment

Keema pav has gradually become an iconic street food of Mumbai that initially originated from the famous Mumbai’s Irani restaurant. Keema in any form has been my favourite childhood indulgence and my mom would often cook it for me. My love for keema has been genetically passed on to my foodie ” chota beta” who just loves it in any possible way. As a result my experiment with keema has always been an integral part of my culinary journey. Keema along with pav tastes absolutely amazing and is a combination to die for. It is normally cooked with mutton keema but I have tried with chicken keema and believe me it tastes equally amazing.

Ingredients

Chicken keema : ½ kg

Onion : 2

Tomatoes : 2

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tsp

Coriander seed : 2 tsp

Turmeric powder : ½ tsp

Red chilli powder : 1 tsp

Garam masala powder : ½ tsp

Apricot paste : 1 tsp

Green chilli : 2

Cinnamon stick : 1

Cardamom : 1

Coriander leaves : 4 tsp

Salt as per taste

Oil : 3 tsp

Step 1

Wash the keema in a stainer.

Step 2

Grind together coriander seed, onion, cinnamon, cardamom, green chilli and coriander leaves.

Step 3

Heat oil in a pan and fry onion until golden brown. Add the diced tomatoes and saute them together until the tomatoes are soft.

Step 4

Add the ground masala along with ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt and saute until the oil leaves the side of the pan.

Step 5

Put the keema and combine it together with the rest of the masala.

Step 6

When the oil leaves the side, add apricot paste along with a cup of water and cook it for another ten minutes until the gravy reaches the desired consistency.

Step 7

Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon wedges and serve it along with pav.

Tip

The apricot paste adds a sweet and tangy flavour to the keema.

Pani puri ( Ghup Chup )

January 5, 2022January 26, 2022 Leave a comment

Pani puri ( Ghup Chup)

Pani puri does not need any introduction since it tops the chart among the Indian street food. The crunchy Puri’s along with flavourful stuffing and sweet chutney filled with spicy Pani is to die for. Believe me the burst of flavor in your mouth is so heavenly that you want to eat unstoppably and eyes become bigger than the stomach. A perfect balance of sweet, tangy and spicy, trust me pani puri can never go wrong. Although it is found in almost every nook and corner of Indian streets but due to unhygienic ways it eventually puts you at health risk. So here is a mouth watering recipe that can be easily prepared at your home so that it could be enjoyed within your comfort zone. The puri is easily available throughout the length and width of the country.

For the pani

Mint leaves : 1 cup

Coriander leaves : ½ cup

Green chilli : 4

Garlic : 4 pods

Cumin seed : 1 tsp

Tamarind pulp : 2 tsp

Chat masala : 2 tsp

Black salt : 2 tsp

Chutney

Tamarind : 100 gms soaked and deseeded

Jaggery : 100 gms

Chili powder : 1 tsp

Salt : ½ tsp

Stuffing

yellow peas : 250 gms soaked overnight

Potato : 2 large

Turmeric powder : 1 tsp

Red chili powder : 2 tsp

Coriander powder : 2 tsp

Cumin powder : 1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tsp

Salt as per taste

Step 1

Pressure cook the soaked peas along with turmeric powder, salt and water for about 5 whistles. Separately boil the potatoes.

Step 2

Heat oil in a kadai and add the ginger garlic paste and saute until the raw smell disappears. Next add the coriander powder, cumin powder, chili powder and chat masala and salt and cook them all together.
Add the boiled peas and stir till it comes to the boil, put the boiled and mashed potatoes and cook them together for a couple of minutes. Ragra is ready for the stuffing.

Step 3

Make the tamarind chutney by cooking together tamarind with jaggery, chili powder salt and chat masala. Cook them all together until the chutney reaches the desired consistency. Once done, keep it aside and let it cool.

Step 4

For the pani, grind together mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chili, garlic, cumin seed, tamarind paste, salt and chat masala.

Step 5

Transfer it in a large bowl and add about 3 to 4 cups of water whisk it together with the help of a spoon. The pani is ready. Put it in the fridge for some time before serving it.

Step 6

Stuff The puri with ragda , chutney and pani and enjoy the blast of flavor.

Tip

Boiled and mashed potatoes thickens the consistency of the ragda.

Minty Chicken Kebab

November 29, 2021 Leave a comment

Getting back to what you are at best after a much needed break is like a breath of fresh air. In my recent travel spree, I got a chance to taste a few amazing dishes and so couldn’t stop myself from trying one such recipe of scrumptious kebab. It’s my take on the chicken kebab along with the refreshing flavour of mint and coriander topped with butter and cream dressing. The mildly flavoured Minty chicken kebab is worth a try.

Ingredients

Boneless chicken : ½ kg ( cut into medium sized cubes)

Hung curd : 4 tsp

Cream : 6 tsp

Mint leaves : ½ cup

Coriander leaves : ¼ cup

Green chilli : 6

Lemon juice : 1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tsp

Kasuri methi : 1 tsp

Roasted besan : 2 tsp

Chat masala : 1 tsp

Garam masala : 1 tsp

Cinnamon powder : ¼ tsp

Mustard oil : 1 tsp

Butter : 50 gms

Salt as per taste

Step 1

Marinate the chicken with lemon juice and salt for about fifteen minutes.

Step 2

Grind together mint, coriander leaves and green chilli.Transfer it into a bowl and mix it together with four tsp of cream.

Step 3

In a separate bowl mix the other marinade consisting of ginger garlic paste, chat masala, salt, garam masala powder, kasuri methi, roasted besan and mustard oil.

Step 4

Squeeze the excess water from the chicken pieces and marinate it with the second marinade. Keep it aside for half an hour.

Step 5

Lastly add the green chutney and cream mix and hung curd.let it rest for at least five to six hours.

Step 6

Thread it in the skewers and grill it for about 20 minutes at 160 degrees or place it in the airfryer for about fifteen minutes. Flip it and brush with oil or butter.

Step 7

Once done, dish out the kebab and sprinkle the butter and cream dressing and enjoy it with lemon wedges and mint chutney.

Tip

One can pan fry the chicken by adding little oil in the pan and cooking on medium flame for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the kebab is tender and charred.

Khubani ka meetha with rabri (apricot delight)

September 22, 2021 Leave a comment

Khubani or apricot sweet is a classic Hyderabadi dessert that tastes amazing when topped with lusciously creamy rabri making it a purely delightful sweet. I had recently bought a packet of Apricot and used it just a couple of times while the rest lay unnoticed in my fridge. Yesterday while organizing it , the packet caught my attention and therefore came up With this awesome recipe. I served it along with rabri and chopped nuts and this sweet and tangy dessert was an instant hit. Simple and easy to prepare, this Indian traditional sweet recipe is a must try where the apricot is slow cooked to jam -like consistency.

Ingredients

Apricot : 8 to 10

Sugar : 4 tsp

Kesar : 7 to 8 strand

Rose water : 1 tsp

For rabri

Full cream milk : 1 litre

Sugar : 2 tsp

Dry fruits : 1 tsp

Step 1

Soak the apricot overnight with enough water.

Step 2

After soaking it overnight,the apricot will become soft and double in size.

Step 3

In a thick bottom pan cook the apricot in the same soaked water on medium flame for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 4

Once soft, mash the apricot with the help of a masher but also keep a few pulpy ones. Next add the sugar.

Step 5

Cook it for another fifteen minutes with the saffron. Finally add the rose water and give it all a good mix.

Step 6

Make rabri by reducing milk and sugar to the desired consistency.

Step 7

Serve the khubani ka meetha with rabri and garnish with dry fruits.

Tip

Use the same soaked water to cook the apricot.

Adjust the sweetness as per your taste.

Paneer Pasanda

August 26, 2021 Leave a comment

Gauri, a close pal of mine, is the Only vegetarian friend in the close circle of my friends. For an ardent meat lover it becomes a herculean task to to lay out an equally exotic and impressive vegetarian spread for a loved one. So this time when we decided to meet over dinner, I tried my hand on the delectable paneer pasanda for the very first time and to my surprise it turned out to be good enough to eat. Paneer slices sandwiched with dry fruits and served in tomato gravy, paneer pasanda is a must try dish. Serve it with lachcha paratha since they compliment each other really well. This dish involves extensive preparation and could be made for special occasions.

Ingredients

Paneer : 250 gms

Onion : 1

Tomato : 3

Cashew nut : 8 to 10 pieces

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tsp

Kasuri methi : 1 tsp

Red chilli powder : 2 tsp

Turmeric powder : ¼ tsp

Salt as required

Oil for frying

Cornflour : 4 tsp

Butter : 2 tsp

For stuffing

Green chilli coriander chutney : 1 tsp

Cashew nut : 2

Cheese : grated 2 tsp

Apricot : diced 2 tsp

Step 1

Cut a thick slice of paneer into two pieces with the thickness of half inch.

Step 2

Mix together the grated cheese, apricot, green chilli coriander chutney and diced cashews .

Step 3

Place a spoon full of stuffing on a paneer slice and top with the other slice. Repeat the same with the rest of the paneer .

Step 4

Dip in a cornflour slurry.

Step 5

Carefully fry the sandwiched paneer from both the sides.

Once done take it out in an absorbent paper.

Step 6

In a pan heat 2 tsp of butter and saute onion for a couple of minutes. Add cashew nut, sliced tomatoes and kasuri methi and fry them together for another three to four minutes. Next add half a cup of water and allow to cook for about ten minutes on medium heat.

Step 7

Let it cool down and grind into a smooth paste. Heat two tsp oil in a pan and add ginger garlic paste. Saute it and then add the ground paste along with red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. Cook them all together until the oil leaves the side of the pan. Add a cup of water and let it come to a boil.

Step 8

Gently place the paneer pasanda on the gravy and let it come to one boil.

Step 9

Top it with cream and serve the pasanda with paratha or naan.

Tip

Apricot gives a sweet kick to the stuffing. You can even substitute it with raisins.

Pomfret fry

August 1, 2021 1 Comment

White pomfret is known for its amazing taste that is full of flavour and a perfect side dish for any meal. The fish is marinated with a spicy paste and eventually coated with semolina and fried to perfection. Indeed pomfret or paplet fry in the local dialect is extremely popular in the coastal belt of Maharashtra region. My family simply loves it because of its melt in mouth texture with crispy and crunchy crust. At the end of the day what matters most to me is to see my loved ones relishing the dish together. Try this incredible dish to experience the smile of your dear ones.

Ingredients

Pomfret fish : 4

Ginger paste : 2 tsp

Garlic paste : 1 tsp

Red chilli powder : 2 tsp

Coriander powder : 2 tsp

Turmeric powder : 1 tsp

Lemon juice : 1 tsp

Rice Flour : 100 gms

Semolina : 100 gms

Salt as required

Oil for frying

Step 1

Wash the fish and make slits on both sides.

Marinate the fish with ¼ tsp salt and lemon juice and leave it aside for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2

In a bowl mix together the above mentioned masala.

Step 3

apply it to the fish and make sure to put inside the slit.

Step 4

In a separate plate mix together rice flour, rava along with a pinch of salt.

Step 5

Coat the marinated fish with the rice flour and rava mix.

Step 6

Pat the excess flour from the fish. In a thick bottom frying pan shallow fry the pomfret from each side until golden brown .

Step 7

Serve hot along with onion rings and lemon wedges.

Tip

Lemon juice and salt reduces the fishy smell of pomfret.

Arbi Tacos ( taroo root tacos)

July 18, 2021 Leave a comment

Being grown up in a big joint family, we were not fussy eaters and relished everything that was served to us. But it is not so with today’s generation since most of them live in a nuclear family with options of eating as per their taste and choice. Nevertheless as a mother, I keep planning an interesting menu with the lesser known vegetables so that my boys could be familiar with their unusual taste as well. Arbi is one such vegetable that grows Underground and has a complex taste. Children dislike its taste because of its starchy texture. As such I tried a new recipe with arbi and to my utter surprise the dish turned out to be so exotic that my boys could not relate to its original flavour and enjoyed it . Try the recipe as it is a perfect one for all the fussy eaters out there.

Ingredients

Arbi : 250 gms

Coriander powder : 1 tsp

Amchur powder : ¼ tsp

Red chilli powder : 1 tsp

Garam masala powder : ½ tsp

Rice flour : 1 tsp

Oil for frying

Salt as per taste

For the filling

Cabbage : shredded 4 tsp

Onion : 2 thinly sliced

Cheese : 2 cubes

Lemon juice : 2 tsp

Mayo mix : mayonnaise, Tomato sauce and chilli sauce.

Leftover chapati

Step 1

Pressure cook arbi for three whistles or until soft.

Step 2

Once cool, peel and flatten it by pressing with the palm.

Step 3

In a bowl mix together rice flour, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, amchur and Salt.

Step 4

Roll the flattened arbi into the masala mix and shallow fry them until golden brown.

Step 5

Roll out the half cooked lachha paratha or the leftover roti.

Step 6

Evenly spread the mayo mix on the roti and place the fried arbi over it. Finally place the shredded cabbage, sliced onion and cheese over it along with lemon juice and a dash of salt.

Step 7

Fold the roti into half like a taco.

Step 8

Gently place it on a frying pan and add a tsp of oil. Press with the spatula and cook on a low heat until it is crispy. Flip over gently and repeat the process on the other side.

Step 9

Serve hot.

Tip

Rice flour adds crunch to the fritter.

Mutton Chaap

June 27, 2021 Leave a comment

A delicious and scrumptious recipe from my mom’s kitchen, mutton chaap is yet another most loved recipe. The tender and juicy mutton chaap has a crispy crust with a blast of flavour in every bite that can be served as a starter or an appetizer. It is indeed a welcome change from the regular mutton gravy and kebab recipe that my family enjoys and relishes it heartily. Follow the easy step by step recipe for an amazing and flavourful mutton chaap recipe.

Ingredients

Mutton chaap: 8 pieces

Onion: 1

Ginger garlic paste: 1 tsp

Coriander powder : 1 tsp

Red chilli powder : 2 tsp

Turmeric powder : ½ tsp

Garam masala powder : ½ tsp

Curd : 2 tsp

Salt : as required

Bread crumbs : ½ cup

Oil for frying

Step 1

Wash the mutton chaap and pat them dry.

Step 2

Marinate with sliced onion, ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, salt curd and 1 tsp of oil. Cover and keep it aside for at least half an hour.

Step 3

Transfer the chaap into a cooker and let it cook for one whistle . Reduce the heat and let it further cook for about eight to ten minutes.