Tilapia Kenyaja- a wonder to culinary delight!

Tilapia Kenyatta is a delicious wonder available in Kenyan restaurants. Every creed has it's own style of preparing a patricular dish.Tilapia is a very commonly available fish in Kenya.This particular methodology of preparation was learnt from a chef , who revealed the cuisine secret to me and let me share the same with you.

Ingredients: Tilapia fillet (300 gms.), grated capsicum (big 1 ), grated onion(big 1), grated tomato(2 big), Spring onion(chopped-1 small), tomato sauce(3 teaspoons), chilli sauce (3 teaspoon), garlic paste( 1 teaspoon), soya sauce (2 teaspoon), vinegar(3 teaspoon), egg ( 1 battered) , carrot( 1 big size chopped)salt acc. to taste.

Procedure: Cut the vegetables into long pieces.Carrots ,capsicum should be cut into long pieces , as it should be prominently seen in the dish. Tomatoes and onions can be cut into small pieces.Spring onions should be cut into small round pieces.The tilapia fish should be cut into small pieces of say 2-2 diamension, which is an ideal size for frying evenly. The fish pieces should be marinated in battered egg, vinegar, soya sauce, salt for about 30 mins. Heat oil in a container and deep fry the fish pieces.The fish pieces should be evenly fried from both  sides.The pieces should be fried till it attains a golden brown color.Remove the fishes and keep aside.The fishes will attain a firm contour.Heat oil in a container and add vegetables to it .Carrots , tomatoes, onions , spring onions should be cooked for 2 mins till they become soft enough.Add tomato sauce, chilli sauce, soya sauce, vinegar , salt to it.When the sauce is ready it will take beautiful dark color.The essence of garlic will dominate the overall attitude of the dish but should not smell too strong even, the desired percentage should be maintained.Add the fishes to the sauce.You may add battered egg, vinegar, soya sauce and cornflower in very minute percentage for giving it a thick gravy appearance.With the help of a spatula mix the fish with the sauce and cook for about 1minute.Can decorate with chopped celery.

Fish cooked in this way is quite innovative and a quite new experience to me. The taste was tantalizing  and interesting. We as a family enjoyed to a large extend. I hope friends if you try this procedure, I am sure you will enjoy the adventure of experiencing this 'never before' sort of dish.After all variety is the spice of life.

Doi Ilish - the pride of East Bengal!

Ilish (Hilsa) is called the king of all fish for it's wonderful taste and 'never to forget' essence.Hilsa are of many varieties , best type is available in Dacca of Bangladesh.Cooking Hilsa is simple and this is a recipe which can be prepared in no time by any cook who's a fresher.

Ingredients: Hilsa fish (big size laterally sized equally),kalo jeera/black cumin(minute amt.), turmeric powder(1 teaspoon), mustard oil , green chilli(3-4 pcs.), Curd (unsalted about 200 gms.)salt acc. to taste.


Procedure: Clean the fish and cut into equal pieces starting from the head side.Care should be taken while cleaning ,that the bile duct should not be tampered.Else it will give the entire fish a very bitter taste. Expert fishermen/vendors can successfully chop the fish into equal pieces without tampering the bile duct.Clean the fish and marinate with salt and turmeric powder.Hilsa fish has it's own essence and a good fish is identified by fresh smell.Keep in mind that unlike other fishes , Hilsa never gives a fishy smell.Heat oil in a container . Take the delicate fish and carefully release them in the heated oil.Hilsa being a very soft fish, care should be taken that the fish should not break from in between.After releasing slowly , cook it for about 1 minute on both sides of the fish.Hilsa fish should always be deep fried but should not wait for the color to change to brownish as it has it's own beautiful color.Remove the pieces and keep aside.Dash a little kalo jeera(black cumin ) seed in the oil and fry for about 1 min till a nice smell emits out.Take the pot of curd and batter it nicely with the help of a spoon or whipper.Pour the entire content of the batter in the oil.You will hear cracking sound till the curd settles down in the oil.Use a spatula to make an even mixture with the curd.Add chillis sliced from the middle and salt to it. Add the fish to it.Allow to cook for about 1 minute and then put off the gas.Remove the entire content in a nice serving bowl.Serve your guests Hilsa fish along with basmati rice. I guarantee that they will be bewildered  and enjoy to their ultimate.

Hilsa is an item which is used in festivals of Bengal.In occasions like marriage Hilsa is an essential item.During jamai sasthi (a festival meant for the son in laws) or pujas Hilsa is not only a must but reaches the peak of price as the demand is always high.A fresh Hilsa will emit a mind boggling smell whenever it is served hot.To non vegetarians , it's my request never miss Hilsa!!

Rajma Curry ......Lajawab!!

Rajma is a very easily available lentil in India Preparing rajma is very easy.Very much proteinaceous in nature, rajma curry along with roti makes a very palatible dish.Very much popular in northern India,rajma chawal wins the heart of everybody.Lets see the easy process of preparation.

Ingredients: Rajma dal 200 gms to be soaked in water overnight ,coriander powder(3 teaspoons), cumin powder( 3 teaspoons), dry mango powder(1 teaspoon), red chilli powder(1 teaspoon), garlic ginger paste(1 teaspoon), salt acc. to taste, grated onions( 2 big size), grated tomato(2 big size), dhania leaves for decoration, lime extract (1/2 teaspoon).


Procedure: Boil the soaked lentil for 20 mins and allow it to be soft. With the help of a spatula check it's softness.Keep it aside.Heat oil in a container till hot.Add the chopped onion, tomato and cook till the vegetables get soft. Add ginger garlic paste and mix with the vegetables. The mixture starts emitting nice smell.Add the spices coriander powder, cumin powder, dry mango powder, chilli powder and stirr with the main mixture.Add salt according to taste.The mixture attains an attractive brownish red color. The red color of the tomato dominates the color of the entire content.Cook the entire content untill it becomes a thick gravy and the vegetables mix nicely with the lentils to give a prefect result. When it is about to completion, pour 1/2 teaspoon of lime extract to it. I guarantee the taste will tantalise your tastebuds, leave your mouth lingering for sometime. For a choice you may decorate the rajma with dhania patta and chopped green chillis before transferring in  a serving bowl.

Rajma tastes wow with chapati/nun/rice.For a best result serve rajma with basmati rice.Just take your plate and imagine Punjab.

Tofu - A snacks of chinese origin

Tofu 

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Tofu is a snacks which is very popular in China. The methodology is quite simple.One day I was watching a chinese movie where I had the idea of making this food item with all things available in my house.Stories apart, but this can be a very good food for your children or any guest who gives you a surprise visit.

Ingredients: White flour (300gms.), cottage cheese (100gms) ,Capsicum(1 big  chopped finely), Onion ( 1 big chopped finely) , tomato( 1 medium chopped), spring onion (4-5 pieces chopped, boiled corn (20 gms ), soya sauce( 2 teaspoons) , garlic paste(1 teaspoon) ,tomato sauce( 2 teaspoon), chilli sauce(2 teaspoon), vinegar(1 teaspoon), cheddar cheese (20 gms.shredded with the help of a shredder)), salt acc. to taste.

Procedure: Make a dough of  white flour with water and salt. Apply 1/2 teaspoon of yeast and keep it aside for 1 hour.Take about a little oil (about 4-5 teaspoon) in a container and heat it.Add the above mentioned vegetables onion, tomato, spring onion, corn and cook till the vegetables are soft.Add tomato sauce , chilli sauce , soya sauce , garlic paste to the mixture for a nice flavour and taste.It will give an attractive dark brown color.Add salt according to taste.Cut the cottage cheese (paneer) to medium pieces and keep aside.Allow the vegetables in the container to cool down.Take the dough and divide it into 14 equal balls . Little pores start coming up in the dough because of the presence of yeast. Yeast makes the dough fluffy.Now take a chapati roller and roll the balls to make equal round shapes.With the help of a spoon put 1 pc. of chunked paneer along with one scoop of the cooked vegatables and  1 scoop of shredded cheese in the rounded shapes .Fold the other side of the ball. Adjust it from four sides so that it takes a square shape as it is shown in the above picture.Make the item firm enough and care should be taken that the content inside should not break the covering and burst outside.Do not stuff vegetables in such a way that it compels the covering to burst.Heat oil in a kadhai untill hot. Leave the stuffed items in the kadhai and cook until it becomes golden brownish .It should be fried till 2 mins maximum. Serve it with tomato sauce or sauce of your choice.

This is a nice choice of a filling wholesome snacks.It has proteinaceous values, vitamins and other essential nutrients.

Delicious Dal Vada(lentil fry)

Dal Vada is a special snacks of indian origin.Even it is a very popular street food in all metros.Easy to prepare and quite 'stomach-filling' , let me share the secret of this recipe with you .

Ingredients:  Mung dal (300 gms to be soaked overnight), kari patta (1-2 leaves). onion (1 small size finely chopped), tomatoes(1 finely chopped),chilli (1 small nicely chopped) salt acc. to tast.

Procedure: Take the soaked mung dal and make to a paste with the help of grinder.Keep the content for some time.Take little oil in a pan and dash kari patta, onion , tomatoes in it.Add the mung dal mixture in the pan and mix properly.add slat for taste.This process will give a very good essence.The vegetable mix(onion, tomatoes, chilli) should not be cooked to brown color, it should be just slightly cooked till it becomes soft.Remove the entire content into a plate and allow it to cool down.Make small balls with your hand and keep it to solidify a little so that it may take a shape.The percentage of chilli depends on one's taste buds.But in case if you are serving to the children it's advisable not to use much chillis.When the oil is ready then deep fry each small ball for 2 mins until it is nicely cooked and has taken a handsome golden brown color.
When Mc. Donals, Pizza hut was not famous ,these were the form of evening snacks people used to enjoy.Filled with proteinaceous values, this is a very healthy substitute to have with tea/ coffee.Very good for fussy toddlers and ever to be remembered for it's delicious taste.These sort of preparation are an attempt to switch to 'healthy lifestyle'.

Paneer Malai - A tasty treat !

Malai Paneer is a typical North Indian dish. Quite easy to prepare , with this quick recipe hand.Paneer is the ultimate source of protein specially for vegetarian people.Very useful recipe for people who are freshers as cook, or for bachelor, forced bachelor people.

Ingredients: Paneer (350 gms cut into small chunks.), Onion grated ( 2-3 pcs.), Tomato grated(2 pcs.),green peas (20gms.) , green chilli (1-2 pcs.), cumin powder(2 teaspoons), coriander powder(2 teaspoon) , red chilli powder(1 teaspoon), ginger garlic paste(1 teaspoon), curd ( 20 gms battered) , milk cream(10 gms battered), garam masala powder(1 teaspoon), salt as per taste.

Procedure: Heat oil in a container and add the grated tomatoes ,onions to it.Saute it till it's nicely cooked and becomes reddish brown in color.Add ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder till it mixes well and emits flavour.Add the nicely cut chunked paneer to it.Add salt according to your taste.Mix the entire content nicely , so that it gives a nice royal look. Take the mixture of battered curd and milk and add to the mixture from the top.This will give a very thick , gravy appearance to the dish. Add green peas and cook for 1/2 minute.Add chillis to give it a perfect look. Remove the entire content in a nice serving bowl.Before serving to your guests or family members you may add coriander leaves to give it a nice , 'mind boggling' professional look.
Paneer is a magic item. Whatever you cook turns 'wow' with the addition of a little bit of paneer. To your surprise you may get the admiration of a '5 star chef' with such a royal preparation.
I will say that cooking is never difficult nor it is hazardous and messy. Only you need to have is the inner eye to make it beautiful.

Day out in a Rose farm in Nakuru

 Nakuru is a fastest growing town in East Africa about 100 kms from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.Nakuru has many industries and rose farms, which fetches huge revenue to the country.One fine Sunday we were invited by the Indian executives of a flower farm and were very glad to spend a day amidst nature. About 35 kms drive from Nakuru town , there lies a huge tract of land where millions of flowers are grown.


Rose being a very delicate progeny, green house is constructed to save these plants from the direct contact of sunlight.Also a green house blocks the ultra violet lights to come in direct contact with the plants.Around 1 lac flowers are being plucked and packed everyday . the entire operation is being carried out in a special chamber where a temperature of 4-8 degrees is maintained as an average.



Hundreds of workers are involved in the farm who are engaged in sowing plants, shedding extra leaves, spreading insecticides. The managers in charge of the farm are mainly Indians who are quite experienced .The entire process of work seemed to be very disciplined and accuracy was the main key word.

We could see many new green houses were being constructed . The land was being ploughed and then baby plant cuttings were grafted in the soil.The end products or the harvested rose stems were transferred to the packing house with the help of trolleys.Thousand of pretty flowers on a trolley was a beautiful sight.These flowers are transported in special arrangements are sent to the airports where they are sent to Europe by special cargo planes.



The executives of the farm lives in special guest houses which had all amenities. We had a nice day .