Chicken bharta- deliberately delicious deal!

Chicken Bharta or mashed chicken curry is a typical non-vegetarian item which is very popular in the Northern part of India. It's a very special item and quite famous in the 'paratha walli galli' in Delhi. Nowadays  it's quite a delicious and popular food in all the metropolitan cities. You may get it in almost all the restaurants. I must say that as far as food is concerend 'India is the paradise'. Nowhere on the earth will you get so many varieties of food, condiments, spices and the combination of all to make wonders in culinary art. Let's see the method of preparation and what makes the dish so special.

Ingredients: ( for 4-6 people)

Chicken ( 500gms.)[ very much preffered is tandoori chicken or chicken boiled and separated from the bones],

Onion ( 2 medium pieces grated),

Tomatoes (2 medium pieces grated),

Ginger- garlic paste (2 teaspoons),

Cumin powder ( 1 teaspoon),

Coriander powder ( 1 teaspoon),

Turmeric powder ( 1/2 teaspoon),

Red chilli powder ( 1 teaspoon),

Garam masala ( 2 teapoons)[ blend of cardamon, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper],

Creme of milk ( 4-5 tablespoons),

Salt as per taste,

Ghee for frying.

Procedure: You need to take chicken grilled in tandoor/ microwave grilled chicken. Even you may boil chicken in a cooker at high temperature so that it separates form the bones. But as per my experience, I will say that a tandoor chicken makes better dish than the ordinary boiled one because the spice is spread evenly inside the chicken pieces also. Heat ghee in a container. Dash the vegetables (tomatoes, onions) to it. Add the ginger-garlic mixture and add the spices (coriander, cumin, chilli, turmeric, salt) to it. Add the preboiled/roasted chicken to it. Add the garam masala to the entire mixture. Mix well with the help of a spatula. Add 1/2 cup water to it. Then add the creme of milk to it. You will admire the color, texture and the yummy taste of the chicken dish so prepared.

Chicken bharta is best enjoyed with naan/tandori roti/chappati / kulcha. Even you may enjoy with jeera rice. So you can prepare mind bloggling dishes at home. enjoy with your family and friends. Enjoy the spice of life.

Upma- the delightful taste of Southern India

Upma is a yummy dish of South Indian origin. Evident in Tamil etymology the word is derived from 'uppu' means salt and 'maavu' means flour. Hence the term upma means salty flour as per the preparation is done. It is even known as 'Uppindi' in Telegu and 'Uppittu' in Kannada. Upma is a very popular food all over the world where South Indians have migrated. In USA, UK this is available in take away counters by the roadside. Once there was a news that an American cook won 1,00,000 Pounds in a Master Chef contest by cooking simple upma with semolina and mushroom toppings. Thereby upma was considered as a tasty, wholesome food by the Western population besides the minority Indians. Let's see the method of preparation of this simple yet wholesome food and how the magic of Semolina keeps everybody spellbound and lip smacking.

Ingredients: (for 4 people)

Semolina/rava/suji (250gms.),

Carrot ( 1 medium sized chopped into smaller pieces),

Green peas ( 30 gms. ),

Onion ( 1 medium size chopped nicely),

Tomato (1 medium sized chopped nicely),

Mustard seeds ( 1 pinch),

Kari patta /Murraya Koeniiji leaf ( 1 stream),

Cashew nuts,

Salt as per taste,

Oil for frying.

Procedure: Take a frying pan and heat it. Put the semolina in it and dry heat( roast) till it takes a slightly brownish color. Keep it aside. Put a little oil and heat it. Dash Kari patta and mustard leaves in it. You will smell the mind boggling flavor of kari patta. Dash the rest of the vegetables( carrot, green peas, onion, tomato) to it. Fry it for 5 minutes till the vegetables get soft. Then add the roasted semolina and 2 cups of water. Keep stirring the mixture till the water  is absorbed by the semolina. Care should be taken that the semolina should not be soggy/sticky but should reman light. Add salt and cashew nuts to upma. Remove it from the frying pan. Put in a serving plate and it's ready to serve.

You may prepare this wholesome dish and enjoy it as an evening snacks. For busy moms it's an ideal item to be prepared for kid's lunch box. This can be enjoyed in breakfast even. May keep in fridge and enjoy the following day just by putting in a microwave. Enjoy food, enjoy cooking and enhance your creative skills.

'Sweet bun'- a creative, home made sweet treat

Buns can be prepared at home with much ease and comfort. With tea/coffee specially you will love to have home made 'Sweet bun's. You can prepare and keep them for 1/2 days and enjoy. You need not be an expert baker to make sweet buns at home. In fact, you can treat guests nicely and cordially with your home made sweet buns and thereby save your pocket by avoiding buying stuffs from outside. Let's share the secret of preparing home made buns.

Ingredients: (for 10 buns)

Flour ( 400 gms.),

Dry yeast ( 2 teaspoons),

Baking powder ( 2 teaspoons),

Milk ( 1/4 ltr.),

Sugar ( 4 tablespoons).

Equipments required:

Baking oven/microwave with convection mode,

Rolling pin,

Brush for putting oil,

Butter paper,

Napkins for holding/gloves.

Procedure: It's a stepwise process which is represented schematically by pictorial support.

Step 1: Heat milk in a container and add white flour to it. Add yeast, baking powder, sugar and oil to the mixture and keep for about 2 hrs. The flour will rise, you have to press it and make an even dough.

Step 2: Cut into even rounded doughs and roll out like an elongated structure as shown in the picture.

Step 3: Make a rounded shape as shown in the picture. Put on a tray with butterpaper in it. Put some oil with the help of a brush. Place it inside the oven at 180 degree celsius and for 50 minutes.

Step 4: Remove the buns from the oven. They are hot, ready. Remove the buns by holding the tray with gloves/napkins.

Start enjoying the hot buns. You may have it with tea/coffee. Even you can use it as a tiffin item and pack for your kids at school. So, be an expert in making hot buns, but not necessary that  you have to be an expert baker.



Garlic chicken fry- yummy, lip smacking starter

Garlic chicken fry is an innovative,delicious and easy item. For meat lovers it's a real paradise. If you are expecting some guests at your home all of a sudden or may be in short time , then this will definitely serve your purpose of treating friends as well as save your unnecessary restaurant bills. With a little innovation , you may bring about a great difference to the very simple everyday item and your guests will simply remain bewildered by your creative skills. Let me share the secret of such a wonderful dish with all my readers.

Ingredients:

Boneless chicken ( 700 gms.),

Corn flour ( 4-5 table spoons),

Gramflour ( 2 teaspoons),

Crushed garlic paste ( teaspoons),

Eggs battered (3 pcs.),

Soya sauce ( 1 teaspoon),

Vinegar (2 teaspoons),

Green chillies( 2 nos. slit into smaller pieces),

Salt as per taste.

Procedure: Cut the boneless chicken into medium longitudinal pieces. Mix all the ingredients (corn flour, gram flour, garlic paste , eggs, soya sauce , vinegar , green chillies) with the chicken and keep in refrigerated condition for minimun 5-6 hours. Slicing and marinating of chicken is a very important criteria for this item. When you would like to fry them just remove from the fridge and allow to stand for 30 minutes minimum in order to bring to normal temperature. Heat oil in a container and release the battered chicken pieces in it. Watch the pieces sizzle and fry till it takes a golden brownish color. When the desired color is obtained then place on a serving dish and garnish with onion rings and chillies.

You and your guests will simply love this item. It tastes best as it smells a tinge of garlic in it. For ultimate taste serve with green chilli sauce. Invent food, cherish food and get the ultimate taste of life.

Home made doughnut- best for tea time

Doughnut has it's origin in England in the 18th century and it was considered a rich man's delight to have it with tea /during breakfast in mornings. Other theory says that it was introduced by the Dutch people in America where doughnut was getting popular as a snack besides apple pies, chocolate rolls. It's  wonderful filling , wholesome food and taste simply delicious with tea/coffee or other beverages. Presently it's a popular item around the world and quite easily available. It's available in any confectionery store/pattissiere. But if you can prepare at home , you will enjoy a lot with your family. Let's see the method of preparation of doughnuts at home.

Ingredients: ( for 12 pieces)

White flour( 500gms.),

Eggs ( 2 pcs.),

Milk ( 1/2 ltr.),

Essence of vanilla( 1 teaspoon),

Sugar ( 2 tablespoons),

Dry yeast ( 2 teaspoons),

Baking soda ( 2 teaspoons),

White flour for sprinkle,

Icing sugar for glazing,

Oil for frying.

Equipments used for this preparation

Small cutter,

Big cutter,

Rolling pin.

Procedure: The procedure is a bit lengthy. It's schematically depicted in a stepwise pictorical representation.

Step 1: Warm the milk in a container for 3-4 minutes and add the dry yeast, baking soda , eggs(battered), sugar , essence of vanilla and the flour to it. Keep mixing either with your hands or an automatic mixer to make an even dough.

Step 2: Cover the dough with a moist cloth and keep it standing for 2 hrs. After two hours you will see the flour to rise. Use your hands to press and make the dough even smoother.

Step 3: Sprinkle a little flour on rolling board. Roll the dough to make a chappati like structure.

Step 4: Use two cutter, big and small to make a hole structre like the above representation.

Step 5: Heat oil in a container and release the doughs in it. Watch it rise, get a fluffy appearance and then remove the same. When it cools down the sprinkle some icing sugar on it to obtain  a glazed appearance.

Place it on a tray to serve your friends, relatives. You may even store it in the fridge for a day or two , then pack  it for your child's tiffin. It's a wonderful snacks item and tastes the best with coffee/tea. Feel proud to prepare such lip smacking dishes at home.

Paneer masala khichdi- simple n delicious meal

Khichdi is a simple meal with all necessary ingredients. It's said that to be the most wholesome Indian food, easiest method of preparation and the least time consuming of all possible dishes. If you want you may bring about a difference to this meal by adding ingredients of your choice. Making it a little spicy and adding tasty ingredients , you will definitely observe a taste which differs from the normal daily meals. Let's see the method of preparing paneer masala khichdi.

Ingredients: (for 4-6 people):

Pishari Basmati rice ( 200 gms.)
Mung dal ( 50 gms.) [ a typical type of Indian lentil ]
Chana dal ( 50 gms.) [ a typical type of Indian lentil ]
Carrot ( 2 medium sized grated into smaller pieces)
Green peas ( 30 gms.)
Cauliflower ( half portion of a medium sized one cut into medium pieces)
Paneer chunks ( 100 gms. cut into medium pieces)
Ginger paste ( 1 teaspoon)
Jeera powder ( 1 teaspoon)
Bay leaf ( 2 nos.)
Cinnamom ( 2-3 pcs.)
Cardamom ( 2-3 sticks)
Coriander powder ( 1 teaspoon)
Black pepper ( 10 gms.)
Turmeric powder ( 1/2 teaspoon)
Ghee ( 7-8 tablespoons)
Salt as per taste.

Procedure: Take the rice and 2 types of dal in a conatiner and wash it, then keep it to dry. Heat ghee in a container and dash all the vegetables( carrot, green peas, cauliflower) into it. Add all the spices( jeera, coriander, turmeric powder,black pepper) to it. Add the ginger paste to it. Cook for 5 minutes till the spice emits a typical smell of the bay leaf. Add the cinnamom and cardamom to the mixture. Add the already washed dal and rice to the fried masala. Add the paneer chunks to it. Add 2 cups of water and allow it to simmer. Keep adding water as required by the mixture, but you must see that it does not get any burns. Slowly you will observe that all the vegetables, lentils take an even shape and it turns a nice color. Just use a spoon to test the softness of the rice and lentil. When you feel that the grains are soft and ready to eat then sprinkle some salt according to your choice. You may switch off the fire. For an ultimate taste you may add one dollop of butter on the top of the prepared khichdi.

You may serve it with fried brinjals ( egg plants), potatoes or bhindi's ( lady's finger). It's a wholesome meal and you are sure to give your family the right nutrition in the minimum time involved.

Paneer Mawa barfi- some more dhamaka for diwali

Diwali is a time when you consume loads of sweets. Various types of sweet, various colors, self prepared or bought from the market but sweet is a must. When it comes a question of mawa with paneer it's really sounds awesome. Let me share my recent experience of preparing this delicious sweet dish  at home.

Ingredients: ( for preparation of 30 pcs.)

Milk ( 4 lts.).

Sugar ( 1 and 1/4 th cup).

Food color ( yellow/orangish yellow).

Grated solidifies condensed milk(mawa)

Grated cashew nuts for garnishing.

Procedure: The procedure is depicted in a stepwise schematic fashion with the help of pictures. It has to be followed meticulously.

Step 1: Boil 4 lts. of milk in a container. When the milk is about to split in the high temperature then apply 2 tablespoons of vinegar/lime juice. The creme will be separated. You may take away the creme with a filter to separate from the water.

Step2: Prepare a sugar syrup in a container by mixing 1 and 1/4 th cup of sugar in half cup of water. Then heat on an oven till it becomes a thick syrup.

Step 3:  Mix the grated solidifies condensed milk or mawa with freshly prepared cottage cheese(shown in step 1) with the sugar syrup. Heat the entire mixture till it becomes a thick solidified substance.

Step 4: Spread the solidified substance on a tray coated with oil and butter paper. Spread it evenly till it takes a nice flattened surface. Allow it to solidify for 5mintes.

Step 5: Remove about 1/8th part of the mixture in a bowl. Mix well with 2 teaspoons food color ( ornage/orange yellowish ) and leave.

Step 6: Spread the colored part of the mixture on the already spread portion. See that they solidify in two layers. Try to spread the colored portion evenly on the white part.

Step 8: Sprinkle grated cashew nuts on the evenly spread dough. Keep it in refrigerated condition for 4 hours. Remove it and cut into pieces.

After cutting it into pieces you may serve it in a beautiful well decorated tray. Your visitors will be spell bound. So, this diwali enhance your savings by preparing home made sweets.