CHAAP CURRY

 

 

Chaap Curry

An interesting twist to regular champ recipes. Not only it tastes good but is healthy too. Restaurant like food at comfort of your home is easy to make and this interesting innovation will be equally liked by non-vegetarians itself. Its recommended to add champ to your daily diet specially if you are a vegetarian as it’s a good source of protein and low in calories.

Ingredients:-

3 onions chopped

500 grams champ

2 potatoes cut in cubes

Salt to taste

1tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp. turmeric powder

1tsp coriander powder

1tsp garam masala powder

2 tbsp. yoghurt

1 tsp. Kasoori methi

1 tbsp. oil

200 ml water

Method:-

• Heat oil in cooker. Saute onions till colour changes to brown. Add chaap and cook on medium flame for 15-20 minute till its almost fully cooked.

• Add turmeric powder, salt and mix all spices except garam masala add 2 tbsp. yoghurt. Add potato cubes and stir it well. Add water.

• Pressure cook on high flame for 2 whistles and low flame for 2 whistles. Add kasoori methi and garam masala.

• Serve hot with rice or lachcha parantha.

RED SAUCE PASTA

 

Spiral Pasta In Red Tomato-Basil Sauce

This is a classic pasta dish. The tomatoes and fresh basil add an extra zing to the dish. This is an absolutely amazing recipe with which you can make the delicious tomato base sauce at home and after that you will never buy the readymade one. The same sauce can be used for pizza topping too. The homemade pasta sauce is not only easy but high in nutrients too. Tomatoes are rich source of beta carotene which has anti-cancer properties. Fresh veggies tossed in olive oil and pasta made of semolina or durum wheat make it a completely healthy and hearty meal.it is liked by all age groups.

Ingredients:-

2 cups pasta boiled (any shape)

2 onions sliced

1 cup vegetables of choice (mixed bell peppers, baby corn, broccoli)

2 tbsp. olive oil

5-6 basil leaves/holy basil leaves

6-7 tomatoes peeled

Salt to taste

½ tsp. Italian seasoning/mixed herbs

1 tsp. white pepper powder

1 tsp. sugar

1 tbsp. tomato ketchup

1 tbsp. grated cheese (mozzarella)

Method:-

• Blend peeled tomatoes into a fine puree. Heat oil in pan and simmer tomato puree in it.Cook it till it thickens to half. Add salt, sugar and fresh basil leaves. Add pepper powder. Keep aside.

• Take some oil in wok and stir fry sliced onions and veggies for 4-5 minutes. Add boiled pasta. Stir in the tomato-basil sauce and sauté for 2 minutes.

• Add Italian seasoning, tomato ketchup and stir well.

• Serve hot and top it up with grated mozzarella.

STREETS OF KASHMIR

Walk On The Streets Of Kashmir

The people of Kashmir are known for their hospitality and food cuture.The majority of people are Hindus while the valley has majority of Muslims. The people are simple and smiling. I walked around the streets of Dal Lake and noticed small tea shops around. Unlike metropolitans, they serve you a portion of what they have without you ordering, along with tea in a very respectable manner.

Their humble way of portraying their gesture was when they saw me walking till hotel premises they walked at a distance and made sure that I reached there safely.

 

 

We can find a nice aroma filling up the air at local bakery shops and you can find some amazing breads like sheermal, baqerkhani or meetha kulchas. Freshly made and aromatic these are mostly eaten as breakfast or with tea or their favourite kehwa.

 

 

The noon chai/gulabi chai is traditional tea beverage from Kashmir.it is a salty preparation made from special tea leaves, pistachios, almonds and is had during winter season or weddings there.

The rich heritage of Kashmir or the Kashmiri people can’t be explained in few words here.But each time I recall my strolls over there and the warmness of people I feel rejunevated.With the food as medium I would like you all to think and pause for a moment when you see a Kashmiri shawl dweller around in area and some neighborhood aunty whispers in your ears that he’s is going to fool us all. May we open our senses and admire the richness offered there. I hope to extend this further with more food and variety.

MALAI KOFTA

 

 

 Malai Kofta

Malai kofta is a rich north Indian dish which is inspired from mughlai cuisine.it has rich creamy gravy which has cottage cheese dumplings and dry fruits are also used to make it royal. This malai kofta can be prepared at home and I have tried using bottle guard instead of potato along with cottage cheese and it gave awesome results.so this dish has this healthy variation, is easy to make as koftas bind better with it and has a royal appeal as we use cashews in gravy.

Ingredients:-

1 bottle guard 500 grams, peeled and grated

200 grams cottage cheese

4 tomatoes

3 tbsp. Fresh cream

2 tbsp. brown onions (fried)      

2 tbsp. mustard oil

3 tbsp. cream

Salt to taste

1 tsp. red chilli powder (Kashmiri)

1 tsp. coriander powder

½ tsp. garam masala

6-8 cashews, soaked

1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste

4-5 mint leaves

1 tbsp. corn flour

2 tbsp. gram flour

Oil for deep frying Garnishing

Coriander leaves and cream

Method:-

• Squeeze water from grated bottle guard. Add cottage cheese, salt, corn flour and gram flour and spices.

 

• Make round balls of equal shape and fry them till golden brown. Keep aside on absorbent paper.

•  Blend onions, cashews, mint leaves and tomatoes into a paste.

• Heat oil in a thick base handi and add onions. Saute then for 4-5 minutes till they turn golden brown.

• Add ginger garlic paste and tomato-onion paste made earlier.

• Add salt and all spices and mix well.

• Cook it on low flame till fat separates. Add few drops of water if required and stir occasionally.

• Add cream. Simmer on low flame for 15 minutes

• Add fried koftas and simmer for 5 more minutes

• Garnish with coriander leaves and fresh cream and serve.it tastes best with naan or lachcha parantha.

WHITE SAUCE PASTA

White Sauce Pasta

Pasta is a staple and basic food of Italian cuisine. We get a variety of pasta and its recipes but macaroni pasta and white sauce are most common ones. When we add vegetables to it, it becomes a one pot meal. Made from semolina or durum wheat it’s a healthier substitute. The cheesy macaroni is healthy as a cheese slice has the calcium of a glass of milk. It’s not a diet food though but tastes yummy. Here’s a change in everyday breakfast routine. Presenting easy-cheesy Italian pasta with grilled garlic bread.

Ingredients:-

2 cups macaroni (boiled)

Salt to taste

¼ tsp. white pepper powder

½ tbsp. whole wheat flour(Maida)

200ml milk

½ tsp. oregano powder

Chilli flakes-optional

1 tsp. butter

Garlic Bread:-

4 garlic bread slices

1 tbsp. Butter

Oregano (fresh or dried)

Method:-

• Heat olive oil in pan add butter and let it be melt.

• Add whole wheat flour saute for 3-4 minutes and while stirring slowly add cold milk making sure no lumps are formed.

• Lower the flame and add salt, pepper powder and oregano. Mix in along with boiled macaroni.

• Add chilli flakes if desired.

• Serve hot or at normal temperature. 

Garlic Bread:-

• Grill garlic bread on both sides while applying butter.

• Sprinkle oregano and serve with pasta.