Russian Salad

Ingredients:

• Boiled Macaroni - 500gms
• Fresh cream - 350ml
• Mayonnaise - 1 cup
• Finely chopped onion - 1 (small)
• Boiled corn - 1 small cup
• Fruit Cocktail - 1 Tin
• Diced apple - 1
• Mixed herbs - 1tbsp
• Salt - Half tsp
• Sugar - Half tsp
• Black pepper powder - 1 tsp
• Red chilli flakes - Half tsp
• Lettuce - 300gms

Mix all the above ingredients in a large bowl. Refrigerate for minimum an hour before serving.

Lettuce is optional - you can skip it, if its not available.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Ingredients:

• All purpose flour - 120g
• White granulated sugar - 65g
• Light brown sugar - 140g
• Egg - 1 (room temperature)
• Unsated butter - 60g (room temperature)
• Rolled oats - 135g
• Baking soda - 3g
• Chocolate chips - 150g  
• Vanilla extract - 10ml
• Salt - half tsp
• Cinnamon powder - half tsp

Method:

1. In a bowl sieve the flour and baking soda, mix it with a spoon and keep it aside.
2. In a separate bowl cream butter and sugar using a hand mixer, add rest of the ingredients one after the another and mix it with a hand mixer until well combined.
3. At this point the dough will be sticky, use clean hands to form a dough.
4. Refrigerate the cookie dough for minimum an hour before baking.
5. Scoop out the cookie dough and shape them in balls, in a baking tray line the parchment paper and place the cookie balls leaving about 2 inches space between them.
6. In a pre heated oven bake them at 190 degree Celsius for 8 - 10 minutes.
7. After taking the cookie tray out of the oven, let it rest for 10 - 15 minutes before serving.

Chicken Wrap

Lets unwrap a wrap!!

Take boneless chicken and cook it with the following ingredients, 
Ginger garlic paste
Salt 
Red chili powder
Paprika powder
lemon juice 

Once cooked, saute it with little oil for 5 minutes

Take a tortilla wrap / roti , spread some cheese , arrange the chicken pieces and layer the below ingredients one by one.

Lettuce - roughly chopped
Tomato - de seeded and cut length wise
Onion  Sliced
Jalapenos
Tomato ketchup
Chili sauce (optional)
Mayonnaise
Bell pepper - cut lengthwise

Pepper powder

Roll the wrap firmly and its ready to relish!

Instant coconut ladoos

This is my quick version of our very own desi coconut ladoos.

 

Ingredients:

• Desiccated coconut - 3 cups
• sweetened condensed milk - 1 cup
• Cardamom powder - half tsp
• Almonds and cashews - 1 cup
• Raisins -  2 tbsp
• Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Chop and roast the nuts in medium to low flame for 5 minutes.
2. In a heavy bottom pan add ghee and 2 n half cups of desiccated coconut and saute this on low flame for 5 minutes.
3. Add milkmaid,cardamom powder, roasted nuts, raisins and fold this mixture well using a spatula.
4. Keep stirring this on low flame until the mixture leaves the side of the pan.
5. Turn off the flame n keep stirring for another 2 minutes.
6. Once the mixture cools down, apply ghee on your hands scoop out the mixture with a spoon and give a nice round shape to it.
7. Roll these ladoos in the remaining desiccated coconut and serve.    

Note:

The sweetness a be adjusted by adding more or less condensed milk.

Chicken Quesadilla

Quesadilla is  basically a Mexican dish  to which i gave a little desi touch to suit our taste buds.
 

Ingredients:

• Tortilla wraps / Rotis
• Boneless chicken - 500gms (finely chopped or shredded)
• Ginger and garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Papkrika powder - 1 tsp
• Red chili pwdr - 1 tsp
• Cumin powder - 1 tsp
• Oregano - 1 tbsp
• Toamto paste - 1 tsp
• Tomato ketchup - 2tbsp
• Onions - finely chopped
• Capsicum - finely chopped
• Corn - half a cup
• Cheddar/ Mozerella cheese
• Mayonese - optional
• Salt
• Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. In a cooking pot heat oil, add chicken and salt,mix well.Cover and cook this for 5 minutes on medium flame.
2. Add ginger garlic paste and the powders mentioned above, mix well.
3. After 5 minutes add oregano, tomato paste and ketchup. Cook this on high flame until the water has almost evaporated.
4. By now the chicken must be cooked, if not continue cooking until its done.
5. Lower the flame and add onion, capsicum, corn and cheese , give it a good mix.
6. Cover the pot and cook on simmer for 2 - 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
7. Heat tawa and just warm up the ready made wraps for a minute.
8. If you are using rotis , after rolling the rotis just half cook them on the tawa and keep it aside.
9. Lay the wrap on a flat surface, fill half the wrap/roti with the chicken filling and spread some mayonese on top of it and fold the wrap/roti.
10. On a hot tawa add butter and place the quesadilla and cook this on medium flame until you see the nice golden color.
11. while coking the quesadilla press the top with a spatula. Flip it carefully and repeat the same.

Cheesy hot quesadilla's are ready.

You can also toast the tortillas in a sandwich maker.

Quick Salad

Just tossed some lettuce, tomatoes,red pepper,olives, salt and pepper powder . My quick salad is ready to go.

Green Salad

A healthy and filling green salad.

 

Ingredients:

Lettuce
Baby spinach
Green olives
Avacado
Cucumber
Onion
Salt
Pepper powder
Olive oil

In a mixing bowl toss all the above ingredients, give it a good mix and enjoy!

Mutton Soup

My family loves this soup, especially my little one..the best feeling in the world is when your kids ask for more :)

Ingredients:

• Mutton soup bones - 500 gms
• Mutton shoulder curry pieces - 2 - 3
• Onion - 2 medium sized
• Tomatoes - 3 medium sized
• Mint leaves - 1 small cup
• Coriander leaves - half a cup
• Ginger garlic paste  -  1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - half tsp 
• Garam masala powder - half tsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Cumin powder - half tsp
• Red chili powder - half tsp
• Black pepper powder - 1 tsp
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add sliced onions and fry until golden in color, now add ginger garlic paste and mint leaves and saute for 2 minutes.
2. Add finely chopped tomatoes, salt, little coriander and all the powders, mix well.
3. Now cover the cooker with a plate and cook this on low flame for 5 minutes, once the oil separates from the masala, add the mutton and fry this in the masala for 2 minutes.
4. Add two big glasses of water and close the pressure cooker until 7 to 8 whistles.
5. The water added should be reduced to less than half the quantity.
6. Now take the strainer and separate the soup from the mutton.
7. Take out the mutton shoulder curry pieces, shred them and add it in the soup along with little chopped coriander.
8. Hot mutton soup is ready to sluurppp.... :)

Note:

While making this soup for kids you can skip red chili powder and use only black pepper powder as per your preference.

Tandoori Chicken Legs

I got this recipe from my sister Ruby and trust me if you make it once you will never stop making it again and again and moreover it consume less time and effort compared to other chicken dishes.

Ingredients:

• Chicken legs  - 6
• Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp
• Kasuri methi - 2 tbsp
• Red chilli powder - 1 Tsp
• Black pepper powder - half tsp
• Garam masala - half tsp
• Dhanya ( coriander) powder -  half tsp
• Cumin powder - half tsp
• Oil - 2 tbsps
• Red food color - optional
• Salt as per taste
• Chat masala - A generous pinch

Method:

1. Make deep slits on the chicken legs using a sharp knife.
2. In a bowl add all the ingredients and mix well. Make sure the chicken legs are nicely coated with the masala.
3. Cover the bowl and allow it to marinate overnight, if not minimum of 6 hours before cooking.
4. After removing the marination from fridge, give it  a good mix and place it on a high oven rack.
   
5. Pre heat the oven to 200 Degree Celsius.
6. Place it the oven and set the timer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove it from the oven and flip the chicken legs using a tong and again cook this for another 20 minutes at 200 degree celsius.
7. It is ready to be served. 
8. You can sprinkle little chat masala (optional) and garnish it with chopped coriander and onion rings before serving. 

Note:

The oven settings ,temperature and timing may vary depending on your oven model.

Instant Gulab Jamun

I always keep a instant MTR Gulab Jamun Mix at home for the instant sweet cravings ;)
The entire procedure is mentioned on the packet but i do few changes to it.

• I knead the mix with warm milk instead of water.
• Apply few drops of ghee and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes before cooking.

Follow the rest of the recipe as usual and in the end garnish it with sliced almonds and enjoy !!

Dal Ka meetha

Dal ka meetha is a traditional sweet which we make during weddings, eid and family gatherings.

The best dal ka meetha is made by my mom. :)

This is her recipe which i followed.

Ingredients:

• Chana dal - 1 cup
• Almonds - 2 cups
• Khova - 250gms
• Milk - half litre
• Sugar - 2 cups
• Kesar food colour - a pinch
• Vanilla essence - 2 - 3 drops
• Cardamom - 2
• Cinnamon stick - half inch
• Ghee - 2 tbsps
• Almonds - blanched & sliced (for garnish)
• Raisins

Method :

1. Soak almonds in enough water for 6 hours minimum. Peel and grind the almonds to a fine paste, use few tbsps of milk while grinding it. Do not add water.
2. In a cooking pot add the dal and one big glass of water and soak it for 2 hours.
3. Now keep the pot on the stove and cook it until the dal is soft and make sure the water dries up while cooking the dal. If needed you can add more water for the dal to cook but don't add too much water as it has to dry up during the cooking process of dal.
4. Grind the cooked dal, now add khova and milk and grind it again. The consistency should be slightly thick and not watery.
5. Take a thick bottom vessel, add the dal mixture, almond paste, sugar and food colour, give it a good mix , cover the vessel and cook it on medium to low flame for 20 minutes, keep stirring every 5 minutes, add vanilla essence in the last and keep it on simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Once it is cooked turn off the stove and keep aside.
7. Take a separate pan, add ghee and fry cardamom, cinnamon, raisins and almonds (blanched & sliced) on low flame and add it to the dal ka meetha and its ready to serve.
8. Tastes good hot and cold :)

Note: Adjust the consistency of the dal mixture with milk while grinding and cooking. Add more milk if the mixture is getting too thick while cooking. Also adjust the quantity of sugar as per taste.

Chicken Shashlik

My first attempt on pan fried Chicken Shashlik, must say this dish is worth cooking often :)

Ingredients:

  
For chicken marination:

• Boneless chicken cubes - 500gms
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Soya sauce - 2 tsp
• Vinegar - 2 tsp
• Red chili powder  - 1 tsp
• Tandoori chicken masala - 2 tsp
• Black pepper powder - half tsp
• Cumin powder - 1 tsp
• Garam masala - half tsp
• Chat masala - half tsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt as per taste

Marinate this chicken and refrigerate it for 6 hrs or overnight marination would be the best.

 

For veggies marination: 

• Onions cut in to cubes
• Capsicum cut in to cubes
• Tomatoes cut in to cubes
• Soya sauce - 1 tsp
• Red chili powder  - half tsp
• Tandoori chicken masala - 1 tsp
• Black pepper powder - half tsp
• Cumin powder - half tsp
• Garam masala - a generous pinch
• Chat masala -  a generous pinch
• Salt - half tsp
• Oil - 1 tsp

Marinate veggies and refrigerate it for an hour before cooking.

 

Method:

1. Take wooden skewers and soak it in water for 30 minutes.
2. Thread cubes of marinated capsicum,onion, tomato and chicken in the skewer, repeat the process depending upon on the length of the skewer. 
3. In a non stick pan add 4 - 5 tbsps of oil and shallow fry it, keep it covered and cook it on medium to low flame, keep turning it every 5 minutes until it is cooked.

Paneer Fry

My kids favorite paneer fry !!

A quick and tasty paneer recipe when you are in a hurry, also it needs only a few basic ingredients from your pantry :)

Ingredients:

• Paneer - 300 gms
• Olive oil - 2 tbsp
• Chat masala - 1 tsp
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - half a tsp 
• Cumin powder - half a tsp
• Garam masala powder - half a tsp
• Black pepper powder - half a tsp
• Salt as per taste 
• Oil for frying

Method:

1. In a bowl add olive oil and rest of the ingredients (except paneer) and mix well.
2. Now add paneer cubes to the above mixture and mix well.
3. Refrigerate this for one or two hours .
4. In a frying pan, add 3 - 4 tbsps of oil and shallow fry the paneer until golden in colour and its ready.

Sweets and more sweets :)

Veg Pasta

 This is what i call..Taste bhi Health bhi !!! :)

 

 

Ingredients:

• Pasta
• Carrot
• Capsicum
• Onions
• Broccoli
• Garlic - Finely cjopped 
• Soya sauce
• Mixed herbs 
• Olive oil
• Salt

Method:

1. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
2. In a wide pan, heat olive oil , add garlic and all the vegetables and saute this for 10 minutes, now add soya sauce, mixed herbs, salt and cook this for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the pasta and give it a good mix. Cover the pan and cook this for another 2 - 3 minutes.

Veg pasta is ready !!

Egg masala from chicken gravy

As the name says it all, i made this with leftover pepper chicken gravy which had no chicken pieces, so boiled few eggs , chopped them and mixed it in the gravy and garnished it with chopped coriander and voila awesome egg pepper masala is ready :)

Qubani ka Meetha

I use to always have qubani ka meetha in Hyderabadi restaurants , never thought i would end up making it one day, this is new addition to my dessert menu, as it involves less effort to make and yet it is delicious. 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

• Dried Apricots - 250 grams
• Sugar - 150 grams
• Chopped almonds
• Water - 3 cups
• Custard

Method:

1. Rinse the apricots and soak them in water overnight.
2. Make custard according to the packet instructions, let the custard be slightly thick in consistency.
3. Remove the apricots from the water and deseed them, do not throw the water.
4. Break the kernels which were deseeded, u will find almonds like nuts inside, keep it aside.
5. In a non stick pan, add the apricots and the water which it was soaked in and cook this on medium flame, once the water starts boiling add sugar and mix well.
6. Cover the pan and allow it cook for 25 to 30 minutes, in between u can take a masher and mash the apricots while its cooking.
7. U can add little more water if needed.
8. Once the mixture starts thickening add the almond like seeds removed from the kernels.
9. Take it out in a serving bowl and top it with few tablespoons of cold custard and chopped almonds and its ready to relish.

Note: 

• You can also top it up with some fresh cream or ice cream.
• My guest preferred the dessert without nuts so i haven't used almonds, as seen in the above pic.

Pepper Chicken Gravy

 Enjoy the super HoT chicken gravy.. !!

 

 

Ingredients:

• Chicken - 1 Kg
• Onions finely chopped - 4 medium sized
• Tomatoes finely chopped - 2 medium sized
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Green chillies finely chopped - 2 - 3
• Black pepper powder - 1 - 2 tbsp
• Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
• Dhanya powder - 1 tsp 
• Cumin powder - half tsp
• Coriander finely chopped - half a cup
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp 
• Water - 1 cup
• Salt as per taste
• Oil- 5- 6 tbsp

Method:

1. Heat oil in a cooking pot, add onions and cook them until slightly golden in color.
2. Add ginger garlic paste and green chilies fry this for a minute , add tomatoes and add all the powders, mix well , cover it up and cook this on low flame for 5 minutes.
3. Now add chicken to it and mix well. Cover it and cook this on medium to low flame for ten minutes.
4. Add water and finely chopped coriander and cook this until the chicken is cooked completely. 

Serve this with hot rotis, naans, phulkas...etc 
It also goes well with rice items like pulav, veg biryani.. :)

Paneer Tikka

No one can eat just one...!!

Ingredients:

• Paneer / Cottage cheese - 100gms
• Yogurt- 4 tbsp
• Ginger garlic paste - half tsp
• turmeric powder - quarter tsp
• Black pepper powder  -half tsp
• Garam masala powder - half tsp
• Coriander powder - half tsp
• Roasted cumin powder - half tsp
• Chat masala - half tsp
• Salt as per taste
• Oil for shallow frying- 4 tbsp

Method:

1. Cut paneer in to rectangle shapes and prick them all over using toothpick.
2. Mix rest of the ingredients and make a paste.
3. Now add the paneer and marinate it well, make sure all the pieces are nicely coated.
4. Allow this mixture to rest for minimum 2 hours in the refrigerator.
5. Heat oil in a non stick pan and shallow fry the marinated paneer pieces on medium flame and its ready to relish.

Note: U can also add red chili powder to spice it up a little, i skipped it because i was making it for my 2 yr old son.

Chicken Kabab #3

There are so many changes you can make to a single dish, here is one more such dish its called Chicken Kabab...i already have 2 types of it on my blog here is another one with just a little change.

Ingredients

• Chicken  - 1 kg
• Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp
• Red chili pwdr - 1 tbsp
• Cornflour - 4 tbsp 
• Lemon juice - 3 tbsp
• Egg - 2
• Red chili sauce - 3 tbsp
• Red food colour - a generous pinch- optional
• Salt
• Oil for frying

Marinate chicken with all the above ingredients.
Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the marinated chicken on medium flame for 10 - 15 mins. 
Chicken kabab is ready to eat.

Note: Marinate the chicken and keep it aside for minimum an hour, the longer the chicken is marinated the better the kababs are :)