Started my blog this same day, a year ago on my late brother A s birthday.Remembering him with fond memories and the fun times we had together,I hereby dedicate this recipe to him,for all the kindness and love that he has shown towards me.Well if you have read my first blog(introduction to me)you would know that he was a brilliant cook and the one who got me on to my cooking trails.So here's to you brother, thinking of you and missing you...
Ingredients:
2 cups Flour
3 Tbs Sugar
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tbs Baking Powder
1 Tbs Dried Herbs
1 1/2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Small Onion Minced
2 Tsp Crushed Garlic
1 Egg Beaten
1 Cup Butter melted
1 Cup Milk
Method :
Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C)Grease Muffin cups sprinkle them with some cornmeal.
In a large bowl stir together flour,sugar,salt,baking powder and the mixed herbs.Mix in the rest of the ingredients (cheese,onion and garlic)
In another bowl whisk together the egg and melted butter until mixed well, add milk.
Make a well in the flour and add in the milk mixture.Gradually draw in the flour until just incorporated,at this point do not over mix.
Bake the muffins in preheated oven till brown,roughly 20-25 mts depending on your oven.Cool in pan for about 5 mts before removing from cups.
A few notes on theses muffins
I did not have both the cheese, so used shredded cheese slices instead.I also added chopped skinless chicken sausages and this gave the muffins a whole new taste,you could probably try it with different variants of meat,just to give it an extra zing.
Hope you like this recipe,I did.
Please do share your food and serve with love and kindness.
This ones for you.....
Starting a new page on Facebook taught me a couple of new things.First and foremost(like every normal person) it gives you a feel good feeling when you see the number of likes on your page,secondly it brings you a lot closer to like minded people with the same passion for food as you have.Thirdly and most importantly you have the opportunity of sharing recipes and holding discussions with all of them.
One such discussion, on different combinations of a particular dish led to the culmination of this dish.A good friend had suggested the combination of Drumsthick Leaves with Crab.Interestingly this was a new and a rather unusual combination at my household.Nevertheless decided to try it and no mistake,it turned out just brilliant.So here goes,paying my allegiance to you my friend (Nagarajan Natarajan)the recipe for Crab with Drumstick Leaves.
Ingredients:
1 kg Sea Crabs
1 bunch fresh and tender drumstick leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Onions chopped fine
1 large tomato roughly pureed (I smash it by hand)
1 tbsp ginger/garlic paste
1 small ball tamarind soaked in half cup warm water and strained
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander powder
salt to taste
Roast and grind to a coarse powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp pepper
4 dried red chillies or more if you like it spicy
5 cloves
Method:
Take a heavy bottom kadai/vessel and add 1/4 cup oil.Add onions and saute till light brown,add the ginger/garlic paste and saute well.Mix in the powdered masala and saute well adding spoonfuls of water if you find it burning(at this point I lower the heat to low)add all the dry powders and the tomato and keep stirring well till it turns a deep red.Add the crabs and the greens and saute well.
After a couple of minutes turn the heat on to a higher level and add the tamarind water and mix well.Close the dish and allow it to simmer for 10 mts or so.Do keep checking to see that the crabs are coated well with all the spices.Once done remove and serve hot along with pepper rasam or sambhar.
Some tips on making this: Do not use more water than actually required.Crabs and most sea foods require very little water to cook.
Pluck the tender leaves of the drumstick tree.Don't use yellow ones.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did in making it.
Please do remember to share and serve with love and kindness.
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| paniyaram chutti |
There are innumerable ways of making kofta curry,this is my version of a less oily and easy to make recipe.
You will need a paniyaram pan(easily available here,you get it in most of the stores that sell utensils)in case you don't find it please use a pan to shallow fry the koftas.
Ingredients :
1/2 kg Minced Mutton with just a little bit of fat.
3 large onions chopped fine
3 red tomatoes chopped fine
1 tbsp chopped ginger and garlic
1 green chilli minced
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp ginger/garlic paste
1 tbsp methi leaves,you can use the dried kasuri methi too if you don't have fresh,just soak them in some warm water before using.
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp dhania powder
1/2 tsp homemade garam masala powder
1 large cup curd, well beaten
2 tsp coriander leaves
1 tsp mint leaves
1 cube Amul cheese
1 fresh egg
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tsp fresh cream mixed with a bit of milk
salt to taste
Method:
Wash the mince and drain well,squeeze out as much water as possible,place in a food processor and grind it further,add the cheese cube,pepper,a little salt and the egg and continue to grind,remember not to overdo it,keep it mixed well but not too fine. Place in the fridge for 1/2 an hour. Remove,shape into balls and put it into the paniyaram pan (don't know it by any other name) and fry them till well done.
Take a heavy bottom pan with lid and pour oil into it,add the chopped ginger/garlic,chopped green chill and the methi leaves,saute well till the ginger and garlic start changing colour,add the chopped onions and fry well till they change to a light pink.As the onions change colour (keep stirring constantly)add the ginger garlic paste and fry well,add chopped tomatoes,sprinkle some salt and keep stirring well,gradually keep adding the dry powders,one at a time sauteing well with each addition and sprinkling some water from time to time.
Once you see that all the masala has mixed well,add a teaspoon of curd and keep sauteing well...finish the curds a teaspoonful at a time,sauteing well between each addition....Do not let the gravy become too dry, add 1/2 or 1 cup water and simmer gently...Add the meatballs and mix gently,allow a lot of gravy to remain as the meatballs absorb some gravy.
Remove and garnish with julienned ginger,methi leaves and a drizzle of beaten cream...
Some tips on the kofta: Do not grind the mince too fine,let it remain a little grainy...Brush the paniyaram pan with a little oil before putting the koftas in it...Keep sauteing well once you add all the masalas,sprinkling generously with water...
Please do try and make this recipe and do tell me how it tasted...remember to share food and serve with love and kindness...
Ever since I had been to a friends place and had the humble samosa,I have been waiting patiently to make it.Now what better moment to make it than when you have guests for tea .Its an easy to make light snack,often had during tea time(well some have it for breakfast too).You can add any stuffing you like,just remember to keep it dry,half cooked and with as less oil as possible.
Ingredients:
2 cups Maida/Flour
2 Tsp fine Semolina/Sooji/Rawa
A pinch of salt
Knead all together with water to form a soft pliable dough.
Allow to rest till you get your stuffing ready.
Ingredients for stuffing:
1/2 cup shelled Peas
1/2 cup thickly grated Cabbage
1/2 cup button Mushrooms chopped
2 medium sized onion finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp finely chopped ginger
1 green chillie finely chopped
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp chillie powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
2 cups oil for frying
salt to taste
Method :
Add 2 tsp of oil in a pan and saute cumin seeds,ginger, green chilli and chopped coriander till they change colour.(Ensure you do this on a slow flame)Once they change colour add the onions and saute well,till they change to a light golden brown.Add the peas first and saute well,let the peas cook for a while...Add mushrooms and all the dry powders and mix well.Cover and allow the vegetables to cook for a while.Remove lid and add the grated cabbage,mix well,place lid and after a minute, switch of the stove.Allow it to cool partially without removing the lid.Once its sufficiently cool,open the lid and allow it to cool completely.Do check if any liquid remains in the vegetable,if there is, return to heat and saute till dry,but do remember the vegetables need to have a crunch to them.Cool completely.
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To make samosas take sufficient amount of dough and roll out into thin large disks.Divide them into halves as shown in the picture,add the stuffing,wet the ends all around the disks and form into samosas.Heat oil and fry samosas gently on medium flame turning them once.
Some tips on samosas,do keep the dough wrapped till you get your stuffing ready.Always ensure that you fry the samosas on medium heat and if you have a four burner gas stove,the one further away from you(it makes sense,less splashing or sputtering)Do not over cook your vegetables at any cost,they need to be half cooked and crunchy.During the process of sauteing the vegetables do not be tempted to add any water to it.The stuffing should be dry.Do not saute on high heat,keep it on low/medium so that the moisture from the vegetables are released and they cook in their own steam.As much as possible cover the vegetables while cooking.
Hope you enjoyed this recipe,as much as I did while making it.
Do remember to share your food,and serve with love and kindness.
I don't like what Crimson Chakra (Gandhi Nagar,Chennai) has done to me,not only has it got me addicted to their fabulous food,but it has got me hooked on to Gourmet Market,( a food store located within their premises) its every cook/chefs, food paradise.A small u shaped store,it has the capacity to hold all the exotic food delicacies your heart desires.On one of my sojourns to CC,I picked up a wasabi paste ( a horse radish inspired sauce) to make its namesake, wasabi prawns.I had the good fortune to enjoy this dish at a fine restaurant named Chao,since then have always wanted to try this at home.
Now the flavours for this need to be delicate,so just don't go overboard with the wasabi paste.
For this you would need
Ingredients:
400 gms shelled,deveined
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sugar
1 egg white
2 tbs cornflour
salt to taste
Marinate the prawns in the above mixture adding the cornflour just before frying.
Fry in piping hot oil,(do remember to stay away from the sputtering pan) till brown and crisp.
The sauce:
1 cup good mayonnaise
1/2 cup fresh cream
1 tsp Wasabi paste (increase if you want more spice)
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp onion seeds
Mix all the ingredients except the oil and onion seeds, together till its smooth,add the fried prawns to it and mix well.Heat the oil add onion seeds and fry for a few seconds,pour over the prawns and serve immediately.
Hope you liked this recipe,remember to share and serve with love and kindness....
