Paneer Tikka - Easy Method

Hi... I was in a hurry to pack my bags to chennai for a week long vacation... clearing out things from my refridgerator.. there I saw a big block of paneer in my quick chill.. So I thought of making paneer tikka for that day's lunch...

Ingredients:

Paneer - 250 gms (cut into 1.5 inch square pieces)
Onion - 1 medium sized cut into squares like paneer
Capsicum - 1 medium sized cut into squares like paneer
Oil - 2 tbsp

To Marinate:

Hung Curd - 1 cup
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Kasuri Methi - 1 tsp (crushed)
Dhania powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Chaat Masala - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Mix all ingredients from "To Marinate" and add paneer, onion & capsicum pieces
2. Leave it for 2 to 3 hrs
3. Pre-heat oven for 10 mins at 200 degrees
4. Arrange the pieces (paneer, onion & capsicum) on a aluminium foil on baking tray
5. Drizzle oil on all pieces
6. Roast it for 30 to 35 mins at 200 degrees

Tips:

• For those who do not have OTG, you can use tawa on gas stove to roast the paneer, onion, capsicum pieces with oil. Then, use tongs to pick each piece & roast it directly on fire of gas to give it a tandoori taste..
• Sprinkle chaat masala for that extra zing
• You can use baby potatoes as well

 

Oven Roasted Okra - Bhendi Fry

Hi.. How many times it has been that there was no Gas to cook.. Oven is the best solution for that.. I made this Oven Roasted Okra - Bhendi Fry.. It came out as good as cooking on gas.. This was very easy to make in 3 steps

Ingrediets:

Okra(Bhendi) - 250 gms (cut into long slits)
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt taste
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Jeera Powder - 1 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Dhania Powder - 1 tsp
Chaat Masala - 1/2 tsp
Fresh Lemon Juice - 1/2

Method:

1. Pre heat Oven at 180 degrees. Mix all the ingrediets in a big bowl except Lemon Juice
2. Spread the Mixed okra on Oven tray with an Aluminium Foil
3. Cook it for 40 mins in Oven. Add Lemon Juice to roasted Okra & Serve

Tips:

• It can be served as Starter as well as a Main Course to go with Rice or Roti.
• Cooking time might be long but you can do other work while Okra is getting roasted.

 

Diet Chocolate Cake - Eggless

After seeing my previous chocolate cake.... loads of people told me that it is for slim people... who want to put on weight.... What about an eggless cake which is low on calories as well. I made it today.. It tastes good... but is very soft compared to other one;) I was not able to click good pics of these.. :(

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour - 1.5 cups

Thick Yoghurt (Fat free)  - 1 cup
Sugar Free Natura - 2 cups (Powdered)

Baking powder - 1 tsp

Baking soda - 1 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1.5 tsp
Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp
Oil (Cholestrol Free) - 1/2 cup
Salt - a pinch
Skimmed Milk - approx 1/2 cup (if required)

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven for 5 mins at 200 degrees
2. Sift the flour twice and keep aside. In a medium size bowl, add cocoa powder and about 3 tbsp milk, mix well without lumps and keep aside .
3. Grease a cake pan and keep ready.
4. In a bowl, add Sugar, salt & yoghurt mix till it dissolves. Add baking powder and baking soda, mix and leave it for 2-3 minutes. The yoghurt slightly bubbles and becomes frothy. Add oil and vanilla extract and mix gently.
5. Add the flour little by little and fold it over. Do not mix vigorously. The cake batter is ready now and it will be very thick.
6. Add Cocoa & Milk mixture to the batter. If the batter is too thick add 2 to 4 tblsp of Milk (if required)
7. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 180 degrees. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted at the centre comes out clean. Once baked, leave it in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Remove gently from the pan and cool the cake completely.

Tips:

• Add Milk seeing the consistency of the batter
• Do not mix rigorously once the bubbles & froth are formed
• People who are not diet conscience can use regular sugar as well. It tastes the same. 
   

 

Virgin Mojito

Hey.. I once went to KFC.. to order Mojito... I saw the guy making it.. it was so simple to make.. yet very tasty.. I made it the same way at home.... My Daughter loves it.. A Mojito is generally alchoholic drink with mint & lemons. A Virgin Mojito is sans alchohol.

Ingredients:

Lemon juice - 1/2 tsp
Lemon - 1 (1/2 sliced & 1/2 wedged)
Mint Leaves - 10 to 12 (crushed)
Sprite/7up - 300 ML
Ice Cubes - 3 to 4

Method:

1. Take a glass, add lemon juice & mint leaves (crushed)
2. Add lemon wedges, Sprite/7up & Ice Cubes
3. Serve with Sliced lemon

Tips:

• Make sure you crush mint leave well before adding to the glass
• A good drink to go with Pizza or Burger

 

Masala Chaas (Neer More)

Hi.. It is just April 1st week.. and Summer is at its peak.. Our body needs loads of liquids to beat the Heat.. I usually make Masala Chaas or Neer More to drink. It is very simple & can be made in a jiffy...

Ingredients:

Curd - 1 cup
Ice cubes - 3 to 4
Chilled water -  2 cups

To Grind Coarsely:

Coriander leaves - small bunch
Curry Leaves -  10 to 12
Green Chilli - 1/2 (optional)
Ginger - 1/2 inch (optional)
Salt to taste
Jeera powder - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a generous pinch
Chaat Masala - 1/2 tsp
Kala Namak - a pinch

Method:

1. Add all ingredients in a mixer from "To Grind Coarsely" with 2 tbsp of curd & grind it coarsely
2. Mix the above with curd chilled water.
3. Blend it with hand blender or Traditional "Mathni"
4. Add Ice cubes & Serve Chilled

Tips:

• You can make it in the morning & keep it in fridge. It will fresh for entire day
• For Kids, You can strain it & avoid Green Chillies & Ginger

Vetthai Kozhambhu (TamBram Style)

Hi... Today I made Vetthai Kozhambhu.. It is spicy..tangy sides for Rice... My friend Gunjan calls it "Vetthai Coimbatore" hehehe.. This recipe is my all time favourite.. I can have it even for my mid-nite hunger.. :)
 
 

 
Ingredients:
 
Drumstick - 1 cut into 2' pieces
Shallots (Sambar onions) - 10 to 12
Gingelly Oil - 5 tbsp
Sambar powder - 2 tbsp (Store bought or home-made)
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
Dry Red Chilli - 2 broken into 4
Tamarind extract - 1/2 cup liquified
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Salt to Taste
Jaggery - 1 tbsp
 
Method:

1. Heat Oil in Kadai, add Mustard seeds, Curry Leaves & dry red chillies
2. Once Mustard seeds starts spluttering, add shallots, drumstick pieces, turmeric powder,salt & sambar powder
3. Let it fry for 2 to 3 mins in medium flame
4. Add Tamarind water to it
5. Let it cook for 10 mins till Oil separates (add more water if required)
6. Add Jaggery & give it a boil.
7. Remove from flame & serve with Hot Rice & Ghee

Tips:

• Use home made sambar powder, gives good taste
• It can be stored for one week if kept in fridge

 
 

Rich Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing

Yes... Yes... It was a Chocolate Friday for us.... I made this Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing.. I came across this recipe from MilkMaid Recipes and Anyone can drool for it.. My husband & daughter loved it

Ingredients :

Sweetened Condensed Milk- ½ tin (200 g)
Milk- ½ cup (75 ml)
Fresh Curd - 100g
Butter- 100 g
All purpose Flour- 1 cup (100g)
Cocoa - 50 g
Baking Soda- 1 tsp
Walnuts , chopped- ½ cup

For Chocolate Icing:

Sweetened Condensed Milk- ½ tin (200 g)

Butter- 50 g
Cocoa- 4 tbsp

Method:

1. Grease and dust an 8” baking tin and preheat oven to 180 degrees. Sieve together maida, cocoa & baking soda.
2. Beat butter and curd until light and creamy. Fold in the sieved ingredients, alternating with milk and sweetened condensed Milk. Fold in the chopped walnuts & pour into greased tin.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes till tooth pick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in tin for 5 minutes and remove onto a wire rack.

For Chocolate Icing:

1. Mix together butter, cocoa and milkmaid and beat well. Microwave for 20 seconds. Mix thoroughly.
2. Spread over cake & leave to set.
3. Slice & Serve with chocolate balls & Walnut.

 Tips:

•  Chill the cake completely before spreading the Chocolate Icing
• You can slice the cake horizontally & spread the Icing in the middle of the cake & sandwich it for extra taste
• Tastes best with Vanilla Ice-cream :)