Paneer Makkanwala

Ingredients:

Paneer - 250 gms;
Butter - 2 1/2 tbsp;
Oil- for deep frying;

To be grinded:
Onions - 2
Tomatoes - 4
Garlic - 6 flakes
Grated coconut - 1 1/2 tbsp
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Red chillies - 3
Coriander(finely chopped) - 2 tbsp
Curry leaves - a few
Cardamoms - 2
Cloves - 3
Dhania powder - 2 tsps
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste.

Preparation:

• Cut the paneer into cubes and deep fry them in the oil.
• Heat half of the butter and one little oil, add the grounded masala and fry them well.
• When the ghee starts to separate, add the fried paneer cubes and rest of the butter, with enough water.
• Cook the dish in a low flame covered with a lid.
• Stir carefull in between.
• Remove from the fire and garnish with the corainder leaves.
• This dish goes well with chappattis and puris.

Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients:
Large Stiff tomatoes - 5;
Onion - 1;
Green Chillies - 3Chopped finely);
Boiled peas - 2 tbsp;
Paneer or cottage cheese - 200 gm;
Chopped coriander - 1 tbsp;
Chat masala - 1/2 tsp;
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp;
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp;
Salt to tast.
Oil - 1 tsp.


Preparation:

• Wash the tomatoes, cut the top of the tomato, scoop the pulp and keep aside.
• In a microwave safe bowl add oil, green chillies, dry masalas and scooped tomato pulp and microwave at 100% for about 2 mins.
• Add the mashed paneer and the finely chopped coriander to it and mix well.
• Microwave at 80% power for about 2-3 mins. Stir in between. Mix it well.
• Fill the stuff in the scooped tomatoes. Brush with little oil and grill for about 8-10 mins.
• Serve hot.

Strawberry Milkshake

Strawberry is a delicious fruit taken fresh in several ways. It also makes excellent ice cream and Jam on account of its rich aroma, and is also a good source of vitamin C. Strawberry pie is also a popular recipe. It is a soft and a highly perishable fruit, often shipped in frozen condition in Western countries. One cup(144g) of strawberries constitute approximately 45 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin C and flavonoids. Strawberry pigment extract can be used as a natural acid/base indicator due to the different colour of the conjugate base of the pigment. The strawberries are used for whitening teeth. They can be crushed and made into exfoliant for skin.


Here, we can see a very simple recipe out of these colourful strawberries, the Strawberry Milkshake.


Ingredients:
Strawberry - 1 cup;
Milk - 3 cups;
Sugar - 1 cup;


Preparation:

• Put the strawberry, 1 cup of milk, sugar in a mixer jar.
• Blend it into a smooth paste.
• Add the rest of the milk and blend it once again.
• Then using the mesh strain the extract.
• Place it in the refrigertaor for about one hour.
• Serve the milkshake on cups with the sliced strawberries.
• To make it more rich, serve them topped with a scoop of icecreams.

Cauliflower Gravy

Ingredients:
Onions - 3
Tomatoes - 3
Cauliflower - 1 big
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Ginger, garlic paste - 2 tsp
Aniseeds - 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Green Chillies - 2
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tbsp.

To grinded:
Scraped coconut - 2tbsp
Cashews - 10
Poppy seeds - 2 tsp

Preparation:

• Cut the onions and tomatoes into small pieces.
• Separate the cauliflower into big flowerettes and soak them in hot water with a pinch of salt for about 10 mins.
• Wash them well and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan, add the aniseeds, when it starts spluttering add the onions and fry till brown.
• Add the tomatoes and saute them well until it becomes soft.
• Then add the cauliflower and fry till tender.

• Mix the ground paste, salt, turmeric paste and chilli powder with enough water.
• Cook on the medium, covered with a lid, till the cauliflower is soft and the gravy thickens.
• Add the garam masala, mix well and let the mixture be in the heat for 3 mins.

• Garnish with corainder leaves.
• This gravy goes well with chappatti, poori and plain rice.

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 1 cup;
Onion - 2;
Tomato(big) - 3;
Cauliflower 1;
Boiled Peas - 1/2 cup;
Lemon - 1;
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp;
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp;
Coriander(finely chopped) - 1 tbsp;
Salt to taste;
Fried cashews - 1 tbsp;
Refined oil.

To be grinded:
Small onions - 8;
Green chillies -2;
Ginger - i/2 inch piece;
(The above items to be sauted with little oil and then grinded)

Preparation:

• Cook the rice with with 2 cups of water and let them cool.
• Blanch the tomatoes in the hot water for about 10 min, then grind it and keep it separately.
• Cut the onions into small pieces.
• Separate the cauliflower into small pieces and soak them in the hot water with salt and turmeric powder for about 5 min.

• Drain of the water from the cauliflower and deep fry them till they are crispy and keep it separately.
• Place a big kadai(pan) in the heat with 2 tbsp of oil and add the onions and saute them until they are golden brown.
• Then add the grounded paste and fry for about 4 min.
• Add the tomato paste, boiled peas, chilli powder, garam masala with enough salt and mix well.
• Then add the cooled rice and half of the fried cauliflower and mix thoroughly.
• Place in the heat for about 3 min.

• Lastly, add the fried cashews, rest of the cauliflower, corainder, grated coconut and lemon juice on top of it and mix well.
• Serve hot with onion raida and potato chips.

Masal Vadai

Ingredients:
Bengal gram - 1 cup;
Finely chopped onions - 1/4 cup;
Ginger(grated) - 1 tsp;
Green Chillies - 5 or 6;
Garlic - 6 pods(crushed);
Aniseed - 1 tsp;
Finely chopped coriander and pudina - 2 tbsp;
Salt to taste;
Refined oil - to deep fry.

Preparation:

• Soak the dhal with enough water for atleast 2 hours.
• Drain the water and grind the dhal, green chillies and the aniseed coarsely in a mixer.
• Add the onion, ginger, crushed garlic, finely chopped coriander and mint leaves with enough salt and mix well.
• Make small balls out of the mixture and press them with your fingers.
• Deep fry them. The masal vadai is ready.

• Serve them with sauce or corainder chutney.

Mushroom Fried Rice

My kids and hubby like mushrooms very much, that they take in any dish made out of the mushrooms. So, i try out various dishes with mushrooms. Once I tried out the mushroom fried rice, with varying ingredients and it really worked out well. This recipe is a favourite of my family.

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 1 cup;
Button Mushrooms - 1 cup;
Onion - 2 (big);
Tomato - 2;
Green Chillies - 2;
Coriander (chopped)- 1 tbsp;
Oil - 1 tbsp;
Salt to tast.

To be grinded:
Coconut(scraped) - 2 tbsp;
Cashews - 10;
Green Chillies - 3;
Cloves - 2;
Cardamom - 2;
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece.

Preparation:

• Cut the mushrooms into thin strips , put them in a hot water for 5 min and drain the water.

• Cook the rice with two cups of water and allow it to cool.
• Chop the onions, tomato and chilli into thin long pieces.

• Heat oil in a Kadai and add the jeera seeds, when it splutters add the onions and saute it.
• When the onions are golden brown in colour add the tomatoes and chillies and saute them.
• Then, add the grounded paste and mix them well, cook it until the raw smell goes out.

• Now, add the mushrooms, saute them for 3 min.
• Add the rice with enough salt and mix well.
• Let the contents be in the heat for atleast 5 min, taking care to mix in between, so that it does get burnt.

• Garnish with the finely chopped corainder leaves and serve hot with tomato sauce or any raidas.