Methi-Matar-Malai( Creamy Fenugreek leaves cooked with Peas)

Long time back I had this methi matar malai at my friend's house.Since then I always wanted to try this but never get chance.So this time when I opened my fridge and all the ingredients were there I decided to finally give it a try.In this recipe methi(fenugreek) leaves are cooked with green peas and cream.

Ingredients

Methi/Fenugreek Leaves 1 bunch

Green Peas 1 cup

Onion 1 small

Ginger 1/2 inch

Tomato Puree 1 tbsp

Heavy Whipping Cream 1/2 cup

Oil 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds 1 tsp

Turmeric pw 1/2 tsp

Garam Masala 1/2 tsp

Corriander pw 1 tsp

Red Chili pw 1 tsp

Salt

Method

1. Remove stems from methi leaves.Wash properly then chop them.

2. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.Let the seeds crackle then add chopped onions.Fry them for a minute.

3. Add grated ginger and cook till the onions are golden in colour.

4. Now add tomato puree,salt,coriander powder,turmeric powder,garam masala,red chili powder and cook till the masalas leave the oil.

5. Add peas and cover cook them for 2-3 minutes.

6. At this point add methi leaves,little salt and mix all the ingredients well.Cover it to cook for 5-6 minutes till the veggies are cooked.

7. Add cream and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

8. Serve hot with naan/chapati/poori.

Vrat(Fast) Special

I would like to wish all my friends a very Happy Maha Shivratri. It is basically a hindu festival celebrated every year to please lord Shiva by fasting all day.So today's post is dedicated to the recipes that we can take during fasts.



Mixture of Lotus Seeds and Peanuts
Ingredients
Lotus Seeds 1 cup
Peanuts 1 cup
Ghee/Clarified butter 1 tbsp
Sendha Namak(Salt used for fasting)


Method
1. Heat ghee in a pan/kadhayi and roast the lotus seeds and peanuts in it till golden in colour.
2. Take out and sprinkle salt over it.




Vrat Ke Aloo
Ingredients
Aloo/Potato 1 pound
Ghee/Clarified butter 1 tbsp
Sendha Namak(Salt used for fasting)
Green Coriander Leaves
Green Chili 1-2
Lemon Juice 1 tbsp


Method
1. Wash and boil potatoes till done.Peel off the skin and cut in small pieces.
2. Heat ghee in a pan/kadhayi and add chopped green chillies.Fry them for a few seconds.
3. Now add potatoes,salt.chopped green corriander leaves and toss them gently.Let them golden fry for 5-10 minutes from both sides.
4. Take out and pour lemon juice over it.

Sabudane(Sago) Ki Kichdi

Ingredients

Sabudana/Sago 1 cup

Potato(boiled and peeled) 1 Medium

Tomato 1

Green Chili 1-2

Ghee/Clarified butter 2 tbsp

Sendha Namak(Salt used for fasting)

Green Corriander Leaves

Method

1. Wash and soak sabudana in water (just enough to cover the sabudana) for 3-4 hours.Drain the water.

2. Heat ghee in a pan/kadhayi and add chopped green chillies in it.Fry them for a few seconds.

3. Now add chopped tomatoes in it and cook till they are done.

4. at this point add mashed potatoes ,sabudana,salt.Mix the ingredients together and cook for 5-10 minuthes till the sabudana is crispy.

5. Garnish with chopped green corriander leaves.

Other Fasting recipes that I posted earlier are Kuttu(buckwheat) ki poori and pakode,

Aloo Ka Halwa and Makhana(Lotus Seeds) kheer.

Happy Fasting!!!

Lauki-Raita

I am very happy and excited that I am writing my 101st post today.Last night I made this lauki/bottle gourd raita with sweet and sour karela.I just love this raita and can have it with anything.So here is the recipe.

Ingredients

Lauki/Bottle Gourd 1 Pound

Plain Curd/Yogurt 2 Cup

Cumin Seeds 1 tsp

Whole Red Chili 1

Asafetida 1 pinch

Mustard Oil 1 tbsp

Black Salt 1/2 tsp

Salt

Method

1. First peel off the skin from lauki and wash it.Now grate the lauki and cook it with a little water(you can pressure cook it if you want for 1 whistle) till it's done.

2. Let it cool down then squeeze all the water from lauki with your hands.

3. Beat curd in a bowl till it becomes smooth then add black salt,salt,boiled lauki in it.Mix all the ingredients together.

4. For tempering heat oil and add whole red chili,cumin seeds,asafetida in it.Let the seeds crackle then add it in the curd and cover it immediately.Lauki raita is ready to serve.

Note: Don't throw the water squeeze out from lauki.You can use it to knead your dough or use it make your dal/curry.

Prawn-Rice( My 100th Post)

Whenever I go out of choices and don't feel like doing much, I like to make something easy yet exciting.So here comes this prawn-rice recipe for seafood lovers with a desi tadka.So presenting my 100th post with this recipe.It's hard for me to believe that I have already reached the century.

Ingredients
Prawns 1 pound
Onion 1 Large
Rice(cooked) 2 cups
Bay Leaf 1
Cinnamon Stick 1 inch
Cardamom(green) 2-3
Black Peppercorns 6-7
Cloves 3-4
Lemon Juice 1 tbsp
Salt
Red Chili pw 1 tsp
Oil 2 tbsp

Method
1. In this recipe I am using cooked cocktail shrimps.But if you are using fresh ones then separate the heads,shell,devein and wash them well.
2. Now heat oil in a pan and add all the whole spices.Let them crackle then add sliced onion and fry till golden in colour.
3. Add prawns,salt,red chili powder,lemon juice and toss them in the spices.Let them cook for 1-2 minutes(more if using fresh ones till they are cooked).
4. At this point add cooked rice and little salt.Mix all the ingredients gently and cook for 2 minutes.Serve hot.

Mango-Shake

This is a very famous Indian summer drink which is made of Mango-the king of fruits.I always love this drink as I love mangoes with so many varieties to choose from.Weight-watchers can also enjoy it with low-fat milk.

Ingredients

Milk 2 Cup

Mango(Ripe) 2 or Mango Pulp 4 tbsp

Sugar 2-3 tbsp

Ice Cubes

Method

1. Peel,pitt and cut the mangoes in pieces.

2. Now blend all the ingredients in a blender.

3. Pour in glasses and decorate with your favourite fruit chunks.

Sending this to the event Serve Me Some-Juices,Shakes,Smoothies.

Healthy Chicken Salad

Recently I got too much chicken at my home so thought of making something other than curry.I made grilled chicken and gave this salad a try.Believe me simple to make and tasty too.

Ingredients

Lettuce (broken in bite-size pieces) 1 Head

Carrots (shredded) 1/2 cup

Purple Cabbage (shredded) 1/4 cup

Chicken Breast 2 pieces

Olive Oil 1 tbsp

Black Pepper 1 tsp

Salt

Ranch Dressing

Method

1. Apply salt,pepper,olive oil on both sides of chicken breast and grill it till done.Cut it into bite size pieces.

2. Take a bowl and add lettuce,carrots,purple cabbage,chicken in it.

3. Now pour ranch dressing and toss the salad.It is ready to serve.

Note: You can also use mayonnaise in place of Ranch dressing.

Kheer(Rice Pudding)

Firstly wishing you all my friends and well wishers a very happy new year 2010.May all your wishes and dreams come true in this year.To start this new year I am sharing this kheer recipe with you all which I made for our new year get-together and it was a great HIT.

Ingredients

Basmati rice(cooked) 1 1/2 cup

Milk 3 cup

Evaporated Milk 1 can(12 ounce)

Sugar 3/4 cup

Raisins 2 tbsp

Saffron (Few strands) (Optional)

Almonds 10-15

Cardamom 6

Coconut (grated) 3-4 tbsp

Heavy Cream 2 tbsp (Optional)

Method

1. Combine the rice and milk in a large microwave-safe bowl.Microwave it uncovered on HIGH heat for 12 minutes.Remove and give it a stir,scraping down the sides.

2. Now put it back in and repeat step 1.

3. Cook once more on HIGH heat for 5 minutes.

4. Take out and give it a quick stir.Add the evaporated milk,sugar in it.Cook on HIGH for 10 minutes.

5. Stir,scrape again then add the raisins,coconut,saffron in it.

6. Take out the seeds from the cardamom and powder them using a mortar and pestle or your rolling pin.Also roughly chop the almonds in a processor/mortar-pestle.

7. Add cardamom powder and chopped almonds in the kheer along with heavy cream.

8. Chill this kheer in your fridge for 2-3 hours before serving.

Sending this to the event "Food for 7 stages of life-In Love with DPI" by Radhika and Sudeshna.