Reader's Contributions: Page 2

       

      GHUGNI
      Priya Manohar
      
      INGREDIENTS
      Dry white peas - 1cup
      Ginger paste - 11/2 tbsp
      garlic pods(crushed)- 4
      green chillies - 4
      cinnamon - 1 small stick
      cardamom - 2 pods
      bay leaf - 1
      cumin seeds - 1tsp
      onions - 2
      tomatoes- 2
      tamarind paste - 1tsp
      chili powder-1tsp
      garam masala powder -2 tsp
      coriander leaves - a few to sprinkle on top
      coconut scrapings - 2 tbsp
      oil - 2tbsp
      salt to taste
      
      METHOD 
      Soak dry peas overnight. In the morning pressure cook it on sim for
      half an hour. Take a heavy bottomed vessel, add oil, splutter cumin
      seeds,then add cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf fry for a few
      seconds. Then add garlic, ginger, green chillies, fry for a minute and
      then add onions and fry. After the onions turn pink add the tomatoes
      and tamarind paste and saute for a minute.when the tomatoes turn soft
      and pulpy add chili powder and garam masala powder and salt. Also add
      the cooked dry peas and coconut shreds and simmer for five
      minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice or
      chappatis.
      

       

      Chicken Do-Pyaza  and   Microwave Mithai!
      Supratim and Ipshita Sanyal
      
      Chicken Do-Pyaza
      
      Cut the boneless chicken in small pieces and boil them in a pressure
      cooker for 3-4 whistles add little ginger while boiling the chicken in
      the pressure cooker for the smell.  Cut onions (number depends on the
      amount of chicken, onion is needed more in this preparation) in thin
      lengthwise pieces and ginger and garlic in absolute small pieces. Fry
      the cut onions till golden brown then add ginger and garlic fry it for
      sometime. After frying them properly add soya sauce (needed more
      comparatively), chili sauce tomato sauce (needed less
      comparatively) and a little vinegar. Fry this mixture for another 3-4
      min and then add the boiled chicken and fry the whole for around 15-20
      mins until the chicken has taken in the taste, and it is ready. You can
      garnish it with boiled egg.
      
      
      Sweets Prepared in a Microwave Oven
      
      Take a can of milkmaid (small) 8 ounce of milk powder and 1 stick of
      butter. Pour these in a microwavable container and microwave it for 2
      mins. Take it out of the microwave and stir this mixture with a spoon
      to mix everything properly and again microwave it for 5 mins. Take out
      the container and let it stand for 4-5 mins. If you want to mix grind
      pesta (pistachios) or almonds you can mix it with the mixture. You can
      just cut slices or make laddus (balls) out of it.
      

       

      Poor Man's Pilau
      Ainsley Williams
      
      INGREDIENTS:
      2 medium potatoes peeled, diced, washed, deep fried and kept aside
      1 small onion sliced finely
      2 medium tomatoes sliced finely
      2 cups basmati rice washed and kept aside
      250gms diced chicken
      half cup frozen peas
      half tsp turmeric powder
      2 tsp minced garlic
      2 tsp minced ginger
      chili (minced or powder) to taste
      3 cloves
      3 green cardamons
      half inch cinnamon stick
      4 whole black pepper.
      1 bay leaf
      salt to taste
      Sprig of fresh coriander chopped finely.
      3 tbsp clarified butter(ghee).
      4 cups water
      
      METHOD:
      Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan. Add sliced onion, bay leaf, cloves,
      cardamom, cinnamon stick and pepper.  Fry till onion is soft and
      brown.  Add turmeric, salt, garlic, ginger and chilly and and two
      tablespoons of water.  Stir well and fry till spice is golden and
      separates from oil. Add sliced tomatoes and cook till tomatoes are
      mashed and water has dried up. Add diced chicken and fry well.  Cover
      and let cook in own juices for ten minutes.  Add peas, mix well and
      cook for further five minutes.  Now add rice and mix well with
      chicken, peas and spices.  Add water.  Let simmer on a low flame
      stirring occasionally so that rice does not stick to bottom of pan.
      Cook rice till water dries up but do not add any additional water.
      When water in rice has evaporated and rice is cooked garnish with
      fried potatoes and coriander.  Remove pan from fire and keep covered
      for 15 minutes so that rice cooks in its own steam.  Serve with a
      salad.
      

       

      Chingrir Malaikari
      Anjana Mitra-Parker
      Chingrir MalaiKari tastes pretty good using canned coconut milk and
      simmered almost to dryness. Here is a quick way to make it, I think,
      for eating during the weeknights, after coming from work. It is good
      during Summertime, served on hot rice and a small Indian style salad
      on the side.
      
      Chingrir Malaikari
      
      2 Tbsp vegetable oil
      3/4 cup thinly sliced onion
      1 tsp crushed garlic
      1 tsp crushed ginger
      2 sliced green serrano Chili
      1 medium tomato, thinly sliced
      1 lb Shrimp (approx 30 ct), shelled and deveined
      1.5 Cup of coconut milk (canned)
      Salt to taste
      Fresh Cilantro to garnish
      
      
      Fry sliced onions in hot oil till they are golden and transparent. Add
      ginger and garlic and Chili and fry for 3 more minutes. Add sliced
      tomato and continue frying till mixture becomes like a paste. Add salt
      to taste and Coconut milk and simmer for a few minutes till mixture
      becomes thick. In a separate pan, using a little oil, fry the shrimp
      till they are pink on the outside. Add the shrimp to the coconut gravy
      and simmer covered for 10 minutes or till shrimps are cooked. Garnish
      with fresh Cilantro and green Chili. Serve immediately.
      
      *Note- "A taste of Thai" coconut milk works out well with this recipe.
      However you can change to other brands of coconut milk, and the taste
      may vary slightly.
      

       

      Enchorer Dalna and Enchorer Chop
      Jayeeta Chakraborty
      
                                      Enchorer Dalna
                                      _______________
           
           
           Ingredients:       1 medium jackfriut (raw)
                              2 medium potatoes 
                              2 bay leaves
                              whole cumin seeds
                              cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powder 
                              garam masala
                              ghee 
                              cooking oil
                              salt and sugar to taste
           
           Method: Cut the jackfriut and potatoes into small pieces. Boil
           the jackfriut pieces in salt water till they become soft (they
           should not be too soft). Put oil in a skillet over medium
           heat. When the oil becomes hot, put a teaspoonful of whole cumin
           seeds and bay leaves as phoron. When the cumin seeds begin to pop,
           put the potatoes and add salt. Fry them till they turn golden
           brown. Put 2 teaspoonfuls of cumin and coriander powder and a
           spoonful of chili powder and sugar.  Add the boiled jackfriut
           pieces now and fry till the spices and the vegetables are cooked
           properly. Add water and bring it to boil. When the gravy attains
           the desired consistency, add garam masala and ghee for the right
           flavor.
           
           
                                      Enchorer Chop
                                      ______________
           
           Ingredients: 1 medium raw jackfriut peeled and cut into pieces
                        2 or 3 large potatoes
                        Ginger 4 inch piece
                        2 medium Onions
                        Eggs
                        Breadcrumbs
                        Spices (Cumin, coriander, chili powder, garam masala) 
                        Cooking Oil
                        Salt and sugar to taste
           
           Method: Cut the potatoes into halves. Boil the jackfriut and
           potatoes till they are cooked. Mash the jackfriut and keep it
           aside. Make a paste with the onions and ginger. Put oil in the
           skillet over medium heat and fry the onion-ginger paste till the
           oil separates. Add cumin-coriander-chili powder, garam masala,
           salt and little bit of sugar and fry the mixture for
           sometime. Add the mashed jackfriut and fry the mixture till the
           water dries up. Keep this mixture aside. Now mash the potatoes
           and divide them equally and roll them into balls like how you
           would do while making chops. Put the jackfriut mixture into each
           of these balls and shape them like chops. Now dip them in beaten
           egg, roll in breadcrumbs and deep fry till golden brown. Serve
           hot with ketchup.
           
      

       

      ALOO CHAT
      Rakhi Ganguly
      
      INGREDIENTS:(For 4)
      
      Potato(3 big ones or 5 small ones)
      Cucumber 1
      Onion 1/2
      Tomato 1
      Peanuts (a handful)
      'Jhuribhaja' (optional)
      Tamarind pulp (1 teaspoon)
      Black Salt  (according to taste)
      Chat Masala or 'Bhaja moshla r guNro'
      Green chillies 4
      Cilantro
      
      
      
      Boil the potatoes, let it cool and then cut it into small pieces. Put
      it aside. Chop the cucumber, onion, green chillies, tomato into very
      small pieces. Take a tsp of tamarind pulp in a cup and add some water
      with it, add the black salt and stir till it is complete
      dissolved. Add this to the mixture of cucumber, onions tomatoes and
      chillies.  Add the potatoes now and sprinkle the Masala. Mix it lightly
      with the peanuts.  Garnish with cilantro and 'Jhuribhaja'.
      

       

      Nirjhonjhat Chicken
      Gargi Pal
      To make Nirjhonjhat Chicken:
      Cut chicken into small pieces (around two inches). Marinate with tomato
      ketchup, chili sauce, mustard, mayonnaise, vegetable oil, salt. Set
      aside for 3 -- 3.5 hours. Bake at 300 -- 350 degrees F for around 1 and
      half hours or till chicken is done.
      
      Note:
      1. The mustard is the one commonly used to make sandwiches.
      2. The chicken is to be baked in a baking dish, uncovered. It is to be
      baked in the oven that is commonly used in every household. The one that
      comes with the gas burners on top of it.
      3. This chicken can be served with rice.
      

       

      KAL FLOWER SHRIMP
      Kalyan Majumdar
      There are days when you don't feel like cooking, yet feel like eating
      a home made dinner.  On those days, consider cooking KAL FLOWER
      SHRIMP.  If you have the raw materials ready, you can cook within 1/2
      hr.
      
      With Rice or "Chapati/Puri", this is a delicious but complete meal !
      You may have this dish on a holiday morning at breakfast.
      
      Raw Materials:
      
      1 medium/large Cauliflower - chop to 1-1/2" pieces.
      1 lb package of frozen cocktail Shrimp - (any raw shrimp will do).
      2-3 Potatoes - chop to 1" sized pieces.
      1 medium Onion - chop to small pieces.
      1 large Tomato - chop to small pieces.
      1/3 cup of Vegetable Oil.
      1/2 cup water (optional - only if you prefer a little gravy)
      1/2 tea spoon of red chilli powder (optional - for hot taste)
      2 tea spoon of Salt.
      1 tea spoon of Sugar.
      1 tea spoon of powdered Cumin (Jira).
      3/4 tea spoon of Turmeric powder (Halud).
      1 tea spoon of powdered black pepper (Gol morich).
      
      Procedure
      
      1.  Take the Cauliflower & Potato pieces in a plastic/glass container
      with a cover and put in microwave for 5-6 mins at high heat.
      
      2.  Take a large non-stick pan and use medium heat to fry the onion
      till it is soft, then add shrimp, and fry till the shrimp changes
      color and shape. Add the chopped tomato and stir.  Tomato should
      provide moisture. If you prefer to see a little gravy, now is the time
      to add 1/2 water. Add chili if you want hot taste.
      
      3.  Add all the spices, and micro-waved cauliflower + potato and stir
      to mix up everything.
      
      4.  Put a cover to this pan and cook at a low heat for 5-6 mins or
      till the cauliflower & potatoes appear to be soft.
      
      5.  Turn off the heat.  Done.  From start to end, it takes less than
      30 mins - the secret is to fry the onion, shrimp & tomato while using
      microwave for cowliflower & potato.
      

       

      Recipe for Masala Dosa and Sambhar
      Padmasani Kumar
      DOSA
      
      Ingredients:
      
      Rice (lakshmi long grain,jasmine rice) 1 cup
      Urad dhaal 3/4 cup
      salt 1.5tsp.
      water
      cooking oil
      
      Method:
      
      Soak rice and urad dhaal in seperate vessels - (overnight) -
      6-8hrs. (outside fridge). Grind uraad dhaal in mixie until you get a
      fine paste. Take the paste into a vessel.
      
      Next grind the rice into a fine paste (you can add water). Add a lump
      of cooked rice. Grind that also.
      
      Now, pour the paste into the vessel which has urad daal paste. Add
      salt. Mix the batter as much as possible with your hand.
      
      Make sure that the paste is upto half the vessel. Then in a preheated
      oven (set to warm) warm it up for 3 minutes and switch it off. Leave
      it in the oven overnight.
      
      Now you have fermented batter. take a little batter into a smaller
      vessel and mix a little water until you get a good consistency. make
      sure that the batter does not become very thin.
      
      Take a pan, wait until it is heated, oil it (with very little oil
      spread evenly). Take 2 big spoons of the batter and pour it in the
      center and spread it slowly outwards (like making an omlette) until it
      is thin and even......then pour a half teaspoon of oil around the
      dosa. Wait for a few minutes until it is golden brown. Now carefully
      turn the dosa upside down. Wait for a few seconds....now your dosa is
      ready.
      
      Note: Sometimes it may help to cover the frypan with a lid while
      cooking the dosa.
      
      
      POTATO MASALA
      
      Ingredients:
      
      Boiled Potatoes
      Onions - chopped (1 big)
      green chillies - 4 (finely chopped)
      corriander leaves
      Mustards and jeera seeds
      Oil - 2tsp.
      
      Method:
      
      Pour oil, once the oil is heated add jeera and mustard seeds. Then add
      onions and chillies and fry them until they are brown. Now add the
      boiled potatoes (mash them and then add). Add salt to taste and a
      little turmeric powder. Add very little water so that it is a little
      soft/gravy. Now add the corriander leaves too and fry for a few
      minutes an then it's done.
      
      
      SAMBHAR
      
      Ingredients:
      
      Toor dhaal
      Onions
      Tomatoes
      Jeera and mustard seeds
      any vegetables (usually okra, eggplant, carrot or drumstick)
      Tamarind paste
      Sambhar masala powder
      Salt
      Turmeric powder
      Oil
      
      Cook the dhaal in a pressure cooker and keep it aside.
      
      Now in a vessel, add 3 tsps of oil. Add a few mustard or jeera
      seeds. Now add the onions and fry until they are brown. Now add the
      tomatoes. Add salt, turmeric powder and 2.5 tsps of sambhar powder.
      
      Now add the tamarind paste and add water also. Add the vegetables and
      allow to cook until the vegetables are cooked well. Allow it to boil
      for 10-15 minutes. Now add the dhaal and mix well so that you get a
      homogenous mixture. Allow it to boil for a few minutes. Check for salt
      and chilli (whether hot enough).
      
      Now you are done!! 
      
      Padma's mother sends her new recipes every day!
      Here are some for you to try out.

       

      Vegetable Charchari Recipe
      Jayeeta Chakraborty
      
           Ingredients: Radish 
                        Cauliflower Leaves (Stalks)
                        Cabbage Leaves (The ones which are on the outer side)
                        Pumpkin
                        Potatoes
                        Jhinghe
                        Potol
                        Eggplant
                        Tomatoes
                        Mustard paste 
                        Turmeric powder
                        Salt and sugar to taste.
          
      
      Method: 
      
      Cut all the vegetables into longish strips.  Put oil in a skillet over
      medium heat. When the oil becomes hot, put a teaspoonful of
      panch-phoron and dried red-chilli. When the seeds pops up, put all the
      vegetables. Add some salt and simmer covered. Stir occasionally.  When
      the vegetables are half done, add mustard paste and half teaspoonful
      of turmeric powder and a bit of sugar. Mix the spices thoroughly with
      the vegetables and cook till the vegetables are fully cooked. You may
      have to add very little water if needed but usually this should not
      have any gravy. So keep stirring till all the water dries up. Serve
      with rice and daal.
      

       

      Lau Moong
      Atish Ray
      Ingredients:
      
      Lauki(gourd) - 1Kg
      Ghee - 1 tbs
      Moong dal - 2tbs
      Cummin seeds - 1teaspoon
      Green chillies - 5
      BayLeaf - 1 (make a paste along with cummin seeds)
      Coconut grated (Optional) - 3teaspoon
      Bayleaves - 2
      Sugar to taste
      Flour - 1tbs
      Salt to taste
      Red chilli - 1
      Cummin seeds - quarter teaspoon
      Fenugreek(Methi) - quarter teaspoon
      Aniseeds(Mouri) - quarter teaspoon
      
      
      Method :
                    
      Peel lauki and shred it finely. Roast the dal in a karhai and wash
      it. Put 2 cups of hot water in a pan and boil the dal in it with a
      little salt till it is half cooked. Then add the shreded lauki,
      cummin-bayleaf paste, green chillies, bayleaves cut into 3/4 pieces,
      sugar and salt and mix well. Stir from time to time.When the Lauki is
      cooked and water dries, remove it from fire. Heat ghee in a karhai add
      the seeds mixture, 1 red chilli. When it crackles, pour the cooked
      lauki on it. Add the grated coconut. Mix the flour and stir well. Add
      chopped coriander leaves and cook for a minute.
      

       

      Kumro-r paat bhaaja
      Joyeeta Chakraborty
           Ingredients:
      
           Pumpkin
           Flour (Maida)
           Kalajeera 
           Baking Powder
           Oil
           Salt and sugar to taste
           
           Method:
           Cut a pumpkin into thin rectangular pieces and keep aside. Mix flour,  
           baking powder (about one spoon), kalajeera, salt, sugar and one 
           spoonful of oil and make a batter by adding some water to this 
           mixture. Dip the pumpkin pieces into this batter and fry them in low 
           heat till both sides become golden brown. Serve hot. This with arhaar 
           daal or chholaar daal is a terrific combination.
      

       

      Tuna Machher Chop
      Tina Basu
      Ingredients:
      
      Tuna fish cans,
      Onion,
      Ginger,
      Garlic,
      Potatoes,
      Red chili powder,
      Garam masala,
      Coriander powder,
      Salt,
      Oil for deep frying .
      
      Method:
      
      Boil potatoes, mash them and keep aside. Take small amount of oil in a
      karahi, add onion, when it will become brown, add ginger and
      garlic. Fry them for few minutes, add fish, again fry for few
      minutes. Add seasonings in it, at last add the mashed potato. Stir it
      nicely, check the taste, if you like hot then you can add couple of
      cut green chillies. Make it into balls or flat balls or oval shape,
      dip it into beaten egg and roll them in breadcrumbs. Deep fry them and
      serve hot with tomato sauce.
      
      

       

      Sorshe Diye Chingri-Kumro
      (Shrimp & Butternut Squash with mustard seed paste)
      Bharati Mitra
      Ingredients:
      
      1. 1 lb medium shrimp shelled, deveined, washed in hot water and
      marinated with a tsp each of turmeric powder, corn starch and salt.
      
      2. 1 butternut squash (about 8" long and 6" diameter)
      
      3. 2 medium potatoes (do not peel; scrub clean with a brush)
      
      4. A handful of green chilies washed & stemmed
      
      5. 1/2 cup mustard seeds (first dry grind, then add 1/2 cup water, 2
      cloves garlic and four green chilies and blend thoroughly in a blender)
      
      6. turmeric powder and 1 heaping tblsp of hot curry powder.
      
      7. panch-phoron (a mixture of 1/4 tsp each of mustard seeds,
      fenugreek, cumin, methi and kalonji)
      
      8. Salt and sugar to taste and vegetable oil for cooking.
      
      
      Procedure:
      
      Peel the butternut squash and cut into 1" cubes. Cut potatoes into
      3/4" cubes.
              
      Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a heavy bottomed, preferably non-stick
      fryingpan over high heat. Throw in the panch-phoron and four split
      green chilies. When the seeds stop spattering, carefully add the
      potatoes. Fry for about 3 minutes over high heat. Now add the squash
      and fry for another 5 to 7 minutes, taking care that the vegetables
      are stirred often to prevent burning. Put in the curry powder and one
      heaping tsp turmeric. Lower the heat to medium, stir and fry until the
      powdered spices lose their raw smell (about 2 minutes).
      
      Add salt to taste (normally I add 1 tablespoon to this amount).
      Sprinkle 1/2 cup hot tap water over vegetables and simmer, covered,
      over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
      
      In the mean time, in a separate frypan, heat 1 tablespoon oil, add
      the shirmp and fry very briefly over high heat. Add to vegetables, and
      cook, covered, for another 5 minutes.
      
      Now carefully stir to check if the vegetables are done. Add sugar to
      taste and pour in the blended mustard paste from the blender. Turn off
      heat immediately. Stir it in and keep covered until flavors mix. If
      you prefer hot food and the green chilies have failed to make the dish
      hot enough for you, you can add either a tsp of ground red chili
      powder or a handful of chopped green chilies.  
      
      Serve with hot steamed rice or parathas.

       

      Zucchini with Coconut
      Bharati Mitra
      Ingredients:
      
      1. 4 medium zucchini grated in a food processor 
      
      2. Handful of hot green chilies
      
      3. 1/2 a coconut grated.
      
      4. Handful of coriander leaves, chopped.
      
      5. turmeric and salt to taste.
      
      6. 1 tsp kalonji to sizzle
      
      
      Procedure:
      
      On a large, deep, non-stick saucepan heat oil (3 tblsps) and sizzle
      kalonji and 4/5 split green chilies.
      
      Pour in all of the grated zucchini at once and start stirring.  After
      about 5 minutes on high fire, sprinkle salt and turmeric and stir and
      fry for a while longer taking care not to burn vegetable.
            
      Now cover tightly, lower heat, and steam for at least 8 minutes. No
      need to add water as zucchini releases enough water.
      
      Lift cover, stir, taste for doneness and add 1 tblsp sugar (or more if
      desired; this dish is supposed to be sweetish). Now turn heat to
      medium high, throw in the grated coconut and stir and fry until oil
      floats up to the top and almost all of the water evaporates. This may
      take 5 minutes or more.
      
      Sprinkle with chopped coriander leaves. Serve with hot rice.
      

       

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