Palak Paneer

Paneer 1 block -250g
frozen spinach- 1 bag
1 large - tomato
1 tsp turmeric
1 medium finely chopped onion
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
4 cloves garlic chopped finely
1" piece ginger grated
2 green chillis chopped
2 dried red chillis
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
cilantro chopped - 1/2 cup
salt
butter -1 to 2tsp
oil
Heat oil in a pan and cook spinach. Add tomato and cook until soft. Add garam masala, cumin and coriander powders. When the mixture becomes thick, cool and blend in a food processor. Cut paneer into 1" cubes. Fry in little oil and keep them aside. Heat some oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, red chillis and turmeric. Add chopped green chillis, garlic and ginger and saute for a minute. Add onion and fry until golden brown. Add spinach paste and cook for about 5min. Add salt and mix. Add paneer and cook for few more minutes. Add cilantro and butter on the top and serve.

Egg in Tamarind Gravy

Egg Curry (Boiled Eggs in Tamarind Gravy)
Eggs - 6
Tamarind paste - 2 tbsp
2 medium tomatoes chopped
3 medium onions chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds few curry leaves
1 tsp ginger and garlic paste
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
2 tbsp peanuts
2 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp grated coconut
chopped cilantro (coriander leaves) - 1/2 cup
cinnamon stick -1
cloves -2
Salt
Sugar -1/2 tsp
Oil

Boil the eggs and remove the shell out. Make some slits on the eggs so that the gravy and seep through and keep them aside.
Roast peanuts, sesame seeds, grated coconut and keep them aside.
Heat oil in a pan add onions and fry until golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste, and fry for a minute. Add tomatoes and tamarind paste. Fry until tomatoes are cooked. In a blender/grinder grind the cooked mixture with roasted peanuts , sesame seeds, grated coconut, red chilli powder, salt, sugar, coriander powder, cumin powder, and make a paste. Heat little oil in a pan and add cinnamon stick, cloves, cumin seeds, curry leaves. Add the onion-tomato paste. Cook for 10min. Add about 1 to 2 cups of water to it and bring it to boil. Add the eggs and simmer for 10min. If the gravy is getting too thick add more water and boil. Add cilantro and turn off the heat. Serve with rice.

Paneer Tikka

Paneer - 250 gms cut into 1" pieces.
Yogurt (Strain the liquid out of it using a cheese cloth) - 1/2 cup
Fresh ginger garlic paste - 2tsp
1 red onion
1 Red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 Tomato
1 big carrot
1 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves
Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Tandoori Masala - 1 tsp
Chaat Masala - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powdeer- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Chop all the vegetables into 1" pieces and keep them aside.
Add red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, tandoori masala, salt, sugar, ginger garlic paste, coriander leaves, mint leaves in the yogurt. Mix well. Add this mixture to paneer and vegetables. Mix gently to coat all the paneer and vegetables well. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hrs. Thread the marinated paneer and vegetable pieces onto skewers. Place the paneer skewers on a oven safe flat dish. Brush with a little oil. Put it in the oven till paneer is golden brown and the vegetables are soft. (or grill it on outdoor grill) Remove the paneer and vegetables onto a plate and sprinkle Chaat Masala. Squeeze some lemon juice. Serve hot.

Paneer Makhani and Vegetable Jaipuri

Paneer Butter Masala (Paneer Makhani)
1 block Paneer (Cut into cubes) - 250 gms
1 big onion chopped
1 big tomato chopped
1 to 2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
1 tsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
2 tbp cream
8 to 10 cashews
1/2 tsp butter
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt to taste
Heat oil in a pan. Add onions and fry till golden brown. Add gingergarlic paste and fry for a minute. Add tomatoes and tomato puree and cook until tomatoes get soft. Add Garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, red chilli powder, kasoori methi , mint leaves,cashews and simmer for 5min. Cool and grind this into a paste. Put this paste back in the pan cook for 5 min. Add paneer and cook for 5 more minutes. Turn the flame to low and add cream and some water. Simmer for few minutes. Add butter and cilantro. Turn off the stove and serve hot with rotis.

Vegetable Jaipuri
1/2 cup Cauliflower chopped
1/2 cup Broccoli chopped
1 big Carrot chopped
1/2 cup Green Beans chopped
1/2 cup Peas
1/2 cup Green or Red bell peppers chopped
1 big onion chopped
1 big tomato chopped
1 to 2 tbsp tomato puree 2 tbsp raisins
2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder 1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 tbsp cream
8 to 10 cashews
1/2 tsp butter
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt to taste Steam all the chopped vegetables(Cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, carrots, green peppers) and keep them aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Add onions and fry till golden brown. Add gingergarlic paste and fry for a minute. Add tomatoes and tomato puree and cook until tomatoes get soft. Add Garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric, red chilli powder, cashews and simmer for 5min. Cool and grind this into a paste. Put this paste back in the pan cook for 5 min. Add steamed vegetables and raisins. Cook for 5 more minutes. Turn the flame to low and add cream and some water. Simmer for few minutes. Add cilantro. Turn off the stove and serve hot with rotis.

Eggplant Chutney

This recipe is from my friend Sirisha. She made this chutney for a party at her house and I loved it.
Long eggplants ( skin peeled and cut into cubes)-2
sesame seeds - 2 tbsp
tamarind paste - 1 tbsp
oil
green chillies chopped - 3
turmeric - 1/2tsp
finely chopped onions - 1 small
finely chopped garlic - 3 cloves
finely chopped cilantro - 1/2 bunch
hing
Tadka(urad dal, mustard, jeera, red chillis, curry leaves & channa dal)
salt to taste and sugar 1/2tsp
Peel and and cut the eggplant into cubes. Heat oil in a pan and add sesame seeds. When starting to brown, add the cubed eggplant, green chillies, cilantro, turmeric, tamarind, sugar and salt. Cook until the eggplant is cooked. Allow to cool before grinding into a paste.
Heat oil and add tadka, when crackling add chopped garlic and onions. Once they are cooked add hing. Stir well for couple of minutes. Add this to the eggplant paste. Enjoy!!!!!

Aaloo Mutter, and Mutter Paneer

These are my mom's recipes.
Aaloo Mutter (potato and peas curry) / Mutter Paneer (paneer and peas curry)
For 6-8 medium sized aaloos
Chop and Fry 2-3 medium sized onions in little oil until they get translucent and keep them aside.
Chop 2 tomatoes
handful of grated or dessicated coconut
Boil potatoes and cut them into 1" pieces
Frozen Peas thawed-1 cup
chopped cilantro (coriander leaves) - 1/2 cup
In a Grinder...grind onions, coconut, Shaan's veg curry masala powder (or dhaniya, jeera powders), chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, salt.
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pan. Add tadka(Cumin seeds, mustard seeds, red chillis, curry leaves, Turmeric). Add the masala/onion paste and fry for 5 minutes. add chopped tomatoes. and cook for some more time. Add a cup of water and when it starts boiling add chopped potatoes and peas . Simmer for 10 minutes. Add chopped cilantro. Serve with Roti or Rice. Similarly make Mutter Paneer with cubed and fried paneer instead of aaloo.

Lamb and Turkey Burgers

My husband makes good turkey and lamb burgers. Here are his recipes.

Lamb Burgers:

minced lamb 1 lb
finely chopped cilantro(coriander leaves) - 1 bunch
finely chopped garlic - 4 to 5 cloves
cumin powder - 1 tsp
coriander powder - 1 tsp
garam masala -1/4 tsp
red pepper flakes or red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
1 medium Red Onion finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper finely chopped
2 jalapeños finely chopped
3tbsp of bread crumbs
salsa 2tbsp
1 egg
mint paste -1tsp (optional)
pepper
salt
whole wheat pocket pitas - 2
shredded lettuce -2 cups
feta cheese - 1 cup
Tzatziki sauce - 1 cup
Preheat grill. Mix all the ingredients and make 4 patties. Grill burgers 5 minutes on each side, or until well done.
Cut pita into halfs and tuck each lamb burger inside a pita pocket. Top with a lettuce, onions, feta cheese and Tzatziki sauce and enjoy.

Mini Turkey Burgers:

minced turkey 1 lb
finely chopped cilantro(coriander leaves) - 1 bunch
finely chopped garlic - 4 to 5 cloves
cumin powder - 1 tsp
coriander powder - 1 tsp
red pepper flakes - 1/2 tsp
3tbsp of bread crumbs
1 egg
pepper
salt
whole wheat pocket pitas - 2
shredded lettuce -2 cups
feta cheese - 1 cup
Tzatziki sauce - 1 cup
Preheat grill. Mix all the ingredients and make 2" patties. Grill burgers until well done.
Cut pita into halfs and tuck 2 to 3 mini turkey burgers inside a pita pocket. Top with a lettuce, onions, feta cheese and Tzatziki sauce and enjoy.

Mango Kulfi Icecream...Yummy

Here is a yummy mango kulfi recipe. I got it from my son's school teacher. It is very simple to make and kids will love it.
Evaporated Milk: 12 oz
Condensed Milk: 14 oz
Cool Whipping Cream: 8 oz
1/2 to 1 cup Mango Pulp
Mix all the ingredients together (preferably with electric mixer) until completely blended. Pour mixture into small cups and freeze.

Blackbean Salsa

Today is Saturday. I am home relaxing and watching movies with my family. Today I am planning to make Blackbean salsa and serve it with tortilla chips for afternoon snack. It is a very healthy and tasty salsa. Even my little boy likes it.

Here are the ingredients we need:
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 finely chopped green pepper
1/2 finely chopped red pepper
1/2 finely chopped yellow pepper
2 finely chopped tomatoes, discard the seeds
1 cup of frozen corn , thawed
few finely chopped Jalapeños
Lime juice
few cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 big onion finely chopped (I like red onion)
1 bunch of cilantro (coriander leaves) finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
salt
pepper
cumin powder
coriander powder
red chilli powder

Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl and serve it with tortilla chips as a snack. You can also serve it with chopped lettuce. Adjust the lemon juice, salt and spices as per your taste.

Quinoa- The Supergrain

I have been looking for some healthy and tasty alternatives to rice as rice is full of refined carbs. Whole grains that have not been refined are considered complex carbohydrates, and are heathy to eat. "QUINOA" is called a supergrain. It is a great alternative to rice for rice lovers like me. It is very nutritious and can supply us with all of the body's requirements: carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

Last week I made Lemon Quinoa. My husband and I loved it. I am going to try more recipes.

Lemon Quinoa Recipe:
Cook 1cup of Quinoa as per instructions on the box and let it cool. Fluff it with a fork and keep it aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add cumin and mustard seeds. when they start spluttering add 2 green chillis, 1tbsp urad dal, 1tbsp chana dal, 1/2tsp turmeric, 1tbsp peanuts/cashews, few curry leaves, few cloves of garlic chopped. After frying for some time add this mixture to cooled Quinoa. Add lemon juice and salt. Garnish with corriander leaves and serve at room temperature.