HEAVEN SENDS US GOOD MEAT AND THE ANGEL SENDS US COOKS!!!


FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST PRIMITIVE FORM OF COMFORT.IN ONE WAY OR OTHER IT CONNECTS US.THERE IS NOT A SINGLE FACTOR I SUPPOSE WHICH DOES NOT FIND ITS INTERSECTION WITH FOOD.AND "WE ARE WHAT WE EAT".IN THIS BLOG I HOPE TO SHARE WITH YOU NOT ONLY RECIPES OF MY OWN AND FROM OTHERS BUT ALSO INFORMATION ON OTHER FACETS OF FOOD AND LIFE!!!

Monday 6 September 2010

NARGISI KABAB-MINCED MEAT PATTIES WITH EGG FILLING!!!




Nargisi kabab-made with minced meat of lamb,beef or chicken with various spices and herbs and lentils and then filled with whole eggs.It is basically prepared with SHAMI-KABAB mixture or normal KOFTA mixture and then covered on whole eggs and fried.
It is served as an appetizer or as a side dish in your main course meal.
Heres the recipe:

Cooking time:40-50mins
Preparation time:15mins
Yields: 6

Ingredients:
  • SHAMI-KABAB MIXTURE OR KOFTA MIXTURE (Click on the link for the recipe).
  • Eggs-8
  • Oil for shallow frying
Cooking method:
  • Make the kabab mixture(this recipe is made with shami-kabab mixture).
  • Hard-boil six eggs.
  • Cool and remove the egg shell.
  • Now cover each  whole egg with the kabab mixture neatly.keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan.
  • Beat the remaining two eggs well.
  • Dip the kababs in egg and then shallow fry on medium heat till golden brown evenly.
  • Cut the kababs in half.
  • Serve hot.
  • This goes to Mona's event.

SABUDANA WADA-SAGO AND POTATO DUMPLINGS WITH CRUNCHY PEANUTS!!!


Sabudana Wada a part of Maharashtrian cuisine,This snack is consumed for breakfast or at tea time.These light and puffy dumplings are very relished and served with Curd-cucumber dip.Sago also known as tapioca pearls is low in calories and high in carbohydrates to boost your energy and for this reason ,Sago dishes are very widely used to break the fasts.Heres the recipe:
Cooking Time: 15mins
Preparation time: 10mins
Yields: 6

Ingredients:
  • Sago/Sabudana- 1cup
  • Potatoes- 2(medium-size)
  • Ground-nuts- 1/4cup
  • Green chillies(chopped)- 2
  • Corn starch/Corn flour-2tsp
  • Black pepper powder- 1/2tsp
  • Whole Cumin/Zeera-1tsp
  • Curry leaves/Curry patta(chopped)- 5-6
  • Corriander leaves/dhanya(chopped)- 1/4cup
  • Sugar-1/4tsp.
  • Salt to taste
  • Cashewnuts/kaju- 6
  • Oil for deep frying.
Cooking Directions:
  •  Wash and soak the sabudana in water for just 5 minutes,then completely drain the water and keep it covered for atleast 4hrs or overnight maximum up to 8hrs.Sago will  nicely swell up after soaking in the water.
  •  Boil the potatoes till cooked.when cool,mash them and keep aside.
  •  Dry roast the Groundnuts for 5mins in a pan,remove the skin.and make a very coarse powder,there should be ground nut pieces.
  •  Now mix all the ingredients except oil,make balls and flatten them.Press a cashewnut lightly in centre.
  • Heat oil and deep fry them till golden brown.
  • Serve hot with ketchup or Curd-Cucumber.

Haleem-Blend of Meat slow cooked with wheat,lentils and spices!!!

This traditional dish is a blend of wheat, meat,lentils and spices and is slow cooked for atleast 7-8hours which results in a paste and sticky like consistency,It is especially prepared in the Muslim countries during Ramadan and Muharram months and relished by all.It is high on calories and therefore, is a nice way to break the month-long fast of Ramadan. Hyderabad is famous for its haleem,Be it parties,marriages and any get together,haleem is on the menu,haleem of  Pistahouse is very famous,with a dash of pure ghee n squeezed lemon it tastes divine.Its a complete meal but served as an appetizer. Many people have this with tandoor naan and boiled eggs.But with or without it,this dish is great in itself.So try it out ,I bet u all will love it!!Here is my version:



 Cooking time- approx 1 hr
 Preparation time-20 mins
 Serves- 4 to 5 persons




Ingredients:
  • Boneless pieces of chicken/lamb/beef-500gms
  • pounded wheat-250gms
  • Ginger-Garlic paste-4tsp
  • White lentils/urad daal-100gms
  • Split bengal gram/chana dal-50gms
  • Red Chilli powder-1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
  • Yoghurt-200gms
  • fried onions-1 cup
  • Garam Masala powder- 1 tsp
  • Black Pepper powder-1 tsp
  • Whole garam masala- 1" cinnamon stick,2 cloves,1/4 tsp shahjeera,2-3 cardamom
  • Ghee-1/2 cup
  • fresh coriander-1/2 cup
  • fresh mint-1/4 cup
  • green chillies-5-6
  • lemon juice-1tsp
  • Cooking oil-1/2 cup
  • medium-sized onion chopped-1
  • Salt to taste


Cooking Directions:


  • Clean the lamb/chicken/beef,trimming all the excess fat.Mix the lamb/chicken with chopped onion, 1tsp of Ginger-Garlic paste,salt,Red chilli powder,1/2 tsp Garam masala powder and 1/4 tsp tumeric n pressure cook it for atleast 25-30 mins,5 mins on high flame and rest on a slow flame.Cool and shred the meat.keep it aside.
  •  Boil the cracked wheat along with lentils,1tsp ginger-garlic paste,1/4 tsp turmeric powder,3-4 green chillies,1/2 tsp black pepper powder.when this mixture is cool mash it lightly with a hand blender for a few seconds. 
  •  Heat oil in another container add the whole spices,2 tsp ginger n garlic paste,the cooked and shredded lamb/chicken,remaining green chillies, fresh coriander n mint leaves and saute for few minutes.Add yoghurt and remaining garam masala powder and black pepper powder saute for another 10 min till oil starts to float on top.remove half of this oil n keep it aside.Add water and bring it to a boil.Add ghee and the cooked Wheat and mix well.Add salt to taste.let this simmer for 30 mins.keep stirring in between else it sticks to the bottom.
  •     Serve hot Garnished with fried onions, cashew nuts.And on top put little oil(the floating oil which was taken out)
This goes to Mona's event.

CHICKPEA SALAD-CHICKPEAS WITH ALL THE COLORED PEPPERS!!!

 
Salads-the basic requirement of any good salad is that the ingredients used are fresh and healthy and they should serve the main purpose that is  providing the nourishment in a healthy way,not making it too spicy and oily.Just toss in your favourite ingredients and have it that is the beauuty of salads.
This Chickpea salad is very filling as full of carbohydrates,fibre and proteins and the colored peppers excellent sources of vitamin C and vitamin A -both very powerful antioxidants.A great combination.
Heres the recipe:

Preparation time:10mins
Serves-2

Ingredients:
  • Chickpeas/Kabuli chana-1cup
  • Bell peppers(red,green,yellow-chopped)-1/2cup
  • Lime juice- 2tsp
  • Chat masala powder-1/2tsp
  • Tomato ketchup-1tsp
  • Black pepper powder- 1/2tsp
  • Olive oil- 1tsp
  • Salt to taste.
Method:
  • Soak the chickpeas in water overnight.
  • Pressure cook or cook them till soft.(Not very soft it should have a nutty texture to it).keep aside.
  • In a bowl mix all the ingredients well in a bowl.
  • Ready to serve.
This goes to Mona's event.

Haleemy Soup!!!


Soups are liquid food prepared with meat,chicken,beef,fish or vegetables with various seasonings.Soups are the first course of a meal but alternatively can be one wholesome and nutritious meal in itself.It adds the nutrition element to your general meal.They are commonly served hot but there are cold varieties too and are categorized in to "Thick Soups"and "Clear Soups".In "Thick Soups"a thickening agent like cornstarch,flour ,etc are used.They are plethora of benefits associated with soups:
  1. Easy for digestion.
  2. Low in saturated fats n cholesterol.
  3. It fills you up without the worry of adding extra calories to ur meal there by very good for weight-loss diets.
  4. It is usually given to people who are recovering from any illness because of its easy digestability and nutrition factor ex:Chicken soups are good for treating colds.
Make a Steaming bowl of soup part of your daily diet and see your nutrition quotient rise:
This soup recipe is one wholemeal in itself.give it a try!!


Cooking time: 20mins
Preparation time: 10mins
Serves:4-5




Ingredients:


  • Broken Wheat-1/2 cup
  • Tomatoes- 2(medium sized)
  • Carrots- 1
  • Ginger and Garlic paste- 1tsp
  • Black pepper powder- 1tsp
  • Cloves- 4
  • Cinnamon- 2"piece
  • Oil-1tsp
  • Corriander Leaves(chopped)- 1/4 cup
  • Lemon juice- 1tsp
  • Salt to taste
Cooking Method:
  • Soak the broken wheat for atleast an hour.
  • Grate the carrot.
  • Blend the tomatoes with little water
  • In a pressure cooker heat the oil and then add the ginger and garlic paste,stir it for a minute then add the cloves and the cinnamon.
  • Add the grated carrot and the blended tomatoes,pepper powder and salt.Cook for 3-4 mins.
  • Then add the broken wheat and 3 cups water cook for atleast 15mins on slow heat in the pressure cooker.After the steam is let out.check if the wheat is done,Check the consistency add water if too thick,add the corriander leaves and lemon juice,Cook for a minute.
  • Serve hot and enjoy.

This goes to Mona's event.

Hawaiian Salad!!!




Salads the "Protective Foods" are a combination of raw vegetables,fruits,greens,different kinds of meat,beans,nuts,etc along with various dressings  to add flavour.Its a variation of a cold starter in a menu alternatively a well prepared salad is complete meal in itself enhancing it by adding some lean cut meats and nuts.There can be many varieties of salads,just toss in your favourite ingredients and enjoy the innumerable benefits that comes along with them.We all need atleast 5 helpings of fruits and vegetables per day so what best way to meet these needs.It has become the choice food for the nutritionally conscious.They are loaded with vitamins,antioxidants,fibre,minerals,enzymes,etc.The volume it adds to your meal reduces the calorie intake excellent for weight watchers.. aids in digestion with its fibre content..super refreshing and super nutritious..A Very Heart Healthy dish!!




Preparation Time: 15 mins
Serves- 1-2persons


Ingredients:
  • Iceberb lettuce (shredded)-1 cup
  • Dark green lettuce(shredded)-1cup
  • Pineapple (chopped)- 1cup
  • Sweet Corn- 1/4 cup
  • Black Olives-4-5
  • Carrot(chopped)- 1/4 cup
  • Cucumber(chopped)- 1/4 cup
Dressing:
  • Olive Oil- 1tsp
  • Vinegar- 1tsp
  • Honey-1/2tsp
  • White Pepper powder-1/4tsp
  • Salt to taste
Method:
  •  Mix all the ingredients for dressing.Keep it aside
  • Take a serving plate or bowl mix all the salad ingredients in it well.
  • Drizzle the prepared dressing on top of it and keep it in the fridge for a 2-3 mins and serve chilled.
This goes to Mona's event.