Deccani chicken Fry

The title of this recipe sounds fancy but, it's easy as piece of cake.It tastes great and goes well as a side for any kind of roti's,pratha's,pulao.
It's little spicy but,one can adjust spices to their tastebuds if someone can't take it.I generally use chicken thighs or legs for this which works well this kind of meat preparation.you can even use boneless chicken if you want.

Here is the recipe

Chiken thighs - 1lb
Ginger & garlic paste - 2tbs
Yogurt(thick & no water) -4tbs
coriender powder -2tsp
Red chilli powder -1tsp
Turmeric -1/2 tsp
garam masala powder -1tsp
Jeera powder -1tsp
black pepper -1/2tsp
Lemon juice -2 tbs
salt to taste & oil for frying

Clean chicken and marinate with all the spices along with yogurt for about 1/2hr.Heat a thick based skillet(non-stick is good) and pour some oil about 2-3 tbs enough to coat the chicken.once the oil is heated put the marinated chicken peices in to the oil, stir and mix well and close the lid.Keep stirring in between untill the chicken becomes dry and all the spices gets well coated and turn brown and slightly crispy outside.The chicken oozes out some water due to steam in the begining but it will dry up soon after sometime.

Banana & Apple smoothie

This smoothie is one of my favourite breakfast drink.The colour turns out quite good too.





Here is the recepie.This can server two people.
Banana -1
Apple(Gala variety) -1
Vanilla extract -1tsp
Milk -2& 1/2 cup
sugar -4 tbs
some water to balance the consistency.
Peel banana and apple and cut into small pieces.put them in a blender with sugar,milk,vanilla extract and little water to adjust the consistency and blend it untill it forms a smooth texture and your smoothie is ready.
Its healthy,figure friendly and very simple!

Tomato basil Cheese sandwich

This one is a quick and healthy breakfast item.All you need is

2bread slices
3 tomato slices
2basil leaves
cheese slices(Pepper jack tastes good or any kind)
Butter
salt and pepper

Take a slice of bread and layer with first cheese slice and then tomato slice sprinkle salt and pepper and then finsh with basil leaves.Cover this with the second bread slice.
In a small skilett heat butter and fry the sandwich untill golden brown on bothsides.Cut it accross the diagonal before serving as it makes easier to eat.
Enjoy it with tomato sauce...easy & quick just like that.

Boneless spicy Lamb stir fry

This recipe is can be made very quickly with few ingridients that are always available in your pantry.I usually cook this with Dal and rice.It can even be seved as an appetizer.




Thinly sliced Bone Lamb 1/2lb
Chopped Green Chillies -2/3
Half finely chopped white onion
Ginger & Garlic paste -1Tbs
Coriender powder -1tsp
Garam Masala -1/2 tsp
Red chilly powder -1tsp
Turmeric powder -1/2tsp
Fenugreek leaves powder -1/2 tsp
Cardamon powder -1/2 tsp
Thick yogurt -2tbs
Salt to taste
Finely chopped Coriender leaves for garnish and oil to fry

Marinade Lamb pieces in meat tenderizer for 1hr without salt and then marinade the lamb meat with all the spices along with yogurt,onions,chillies and let it rest for about 1/2 hr in refrigrator.
Heat around one and half tbs spoon of cooking oil on frying pan.Put the lamb mixture into the pan, mix and cover with lid.Keep stirring in between untill all the meat gets browned up. The lamb is perfectly done and little carmalized ouside and soft inside.Garnish with Coriender leaves and serve with hot naan or side dish along with any rice.

Enjoy!

Coriender Almond Pesto Pasta

This Recipe is little unconventional as there is no Basil & Pine nuts in it where as the Basil is a must in pesto sauce.Its's more economical as its not as expensive as Basil leaves and Pine nuts.Very easy to make.

Here is the recepie...

1cup Coriender leaves
1 Lemon Juice & the Zest of it
1/4 cup rosted/fried skinless Almonds
Crushed black pepper
5cloves of Garlic
1cup olive olive
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
salt to taste
Pasta -Penne/Fussilli/shells/Sphagetti(anykind)

Pesto:Blend all the ingredients Coriender,Black pepper,salt,Almonds,Cheese,Lemon Juice,Oilive oil together in a coarse paste.

Bring water to a rolling boil along with salt for pasta to cook.Cook pasta al-dente or welldone as you like.Then on side slight heat the on a pan pesto sauce on very low flame for few second until it is hot to touch.Drain the pasta and before that save some pastawater if you feel you pasta is dry you can add water in the to create some sauce.
Mix the pasta and the pesto sauce and finish it grated parmesan cheese.
Tip: If you make extra pesto sauce save it in a air tight container for next time.you can make pasta in few minutes.

Chana Halwa Samosa ( sweet split chickpea lentils filled pillows)

This recipe is a very traditional one is made just once a year on a very holy occasion.I still remember my mom use to start prepping up one day before the ospicious day like soaking the lentils overnight.All the three of us me, my sister and mom will each take incharge of a each step of the process.This way it makes the whole process very easy and enjoyable.

Here is the recipe.

Halwa(sweet filling)
1cup of chanadal
1cup sugar
1/2tsp cardamom powder
1tbs Ghee(Clarified butter)
few chopped/sliced almonds
samosa
1cup all purpose flour
1/2cup clarified butter
A pinch of salt
some water

Heat the clarified butter and Mix it with the flour with hands carefully without burning your fingers.Once all the flour particles gets coated with the butter then, add the salt and start sprinkling water little by little until you get a workable soft dough.Keep it for rest for at least 3-4 hrs at room temprature.

cook chana dal by adding water to it.Make sure that the water is completely evaporated.Now,blend this in a blender or food processor until you get a smooth and silky paste.
Heat a skillet and add tablespoon of clarified butter then add the Chanadal mixture to it and start stirring it continuously until the mixture starts heating up.Add the sugar and cardamom and keep stirring to avoid lumps.Continue stirring until you get a thick consistency.Sprinkle the chopped almonds on the top.Make sure take off the stove leaving it little loose as it gets thicker when you let it cool.
Start rolling the samosas by diving the dough in equal parts little smaller than the ping-pong balls.Roll it in circles by sprinkling little flour to avoid sticking on the rolling pad and then place the Halwa on the bottom half of the circle and fold the upper half so that it makes a half moon shape.Press on the edges with a fork or hand so that it is sealed tightly.Heat oil in a deep frying pan approx 350 degree Farenhiet and start frying it on a medium heat until golden brown and crispy.

These will just melt in your mouth while they are hot.You can even store them in air-tight containers for a week without refrigeration.It's a rich snack which can subside your hunger with a jiffy.

Enjoy cooking this and please feel free to write me how did it came.

Cucumber Raita

This recipe goes very well with any kind of Paratha's,Pulao,Biryani or just as side dish with plain roti.Its has such a soothing and velvety texture that you feel like eating the entire bowl.

Here's the recepie.

Cucumber
Yogurt
Coriender leaves
Roasted Cumin
Chat masala or Balck salt
Mint leaves
Green Chillies
salt to taste

Grate the Cucumber with a fine grater.Finely chop Coriender leaves,Mint leaves and Green chillies.The finer you chop the better it tastes.Powder the rosted Cumin in a pestle.Beat the plain yogurt and mix grated cucumber,chopped Coriender,Mint,Chillies and Cumin powder and a pinch of store bought Chat masala.One can buy Chat masala in any Indian or Pakistani grocers or even can substitute with a pinch of finely powdered black salt.Refrigrate until you serve.I certainly know you all will like it and might want to make it more often.

Tip - Don't put everything in blender and grind it.It makes it frothy and watery and guys I eyeballed all the measurements and you can finetune to your tastebuds.

Enjoy!