Spiced Lemon Rice

Rice can at times be the most convenient and at other times quite a job to prepare. Some rice preparations like a Biryani made the correct traditional way can be quite time consuming. Don't get me wrong, I love to make and enjoy the biryani - worth every bit of the effort that goes in to it - but more often than not you just do not have the time. Even your plain simple boiled rice can be some work if you add up the dal and curry that needs to go with it. That is when a quick but extremely flavorful rice preparation that can be totally enjoyed with a simple side like a raita is a real blessing. I have a few such tricks up my sleeve that I use quite often to put together a quick lunch. This classic rice dish is one of my favorites. The first spoonful gives you that kick of lemon together with the nutty flavor that grows on you with the sweetness of the rice as you chew on it. Whats more is if you notice the quick two step method below, once you have the boiled rice, this flavorful preparation can be on the table within as much as five minutes! If you love this rice do let me know and I promise I will let you in on some of the other ones from my bag of tricks.

Read more »

Gobhi Masala / Caulifower cooked with cashew and spices

"What to make for dinner tonight?" A thought which haunts me immediately after having finished with lunch. Asking hubby usually is returned with "just make anything" or "can we order some takeout" (he is sweet I know)! Hmmm... I usually know I will make rotis but what do I make to go with it. I do try to come up with something new every now and then but being a vegetarian sometimes limits your choices. I face a similar situation when I find myself deciding on what to take for a potluck, or a  get-together which  should be  different and not the same old paneer and regular veg preparations.
Now cauliflower is everyone's favorite but how many times can you make and serve the same aloo gobhi, bhaji or parathas for that matter. So in my quest for making something different yet elegant, simple yet exotic and of course quick 'n easy, I tried to glamorize the cauliflower here a little.. hubby was pleasantly surprised and I was more than pleased with the results and a new find :)

Read more »

Paneer Mushroom Masala

This dish is a  heavenly combination of paneer and mushrooms and is my hubby's favorite curry. As he tells me, during his bachelor days when he was in Pune, India he always had this at a local restaurant (practically for every meal!). Hubby is an mushroom lover and me a paneer fanatic so this is a total win win :) especially when  simmered in a spicy tomato based creamy gravy with the earthy mushrooms and the big chunks of fried paneer. Truly, there is a unique burst of flavor in every single bite and your taste buds just sing... The problem with these dishes with creamy gravies when served in a restaurant is that they serve them loaded with butter and cream which tastes delicious but we all know is not very good for health. So I wanted to make it without all the these fattening ingredients... No cream no butter no loads of cashews... and came up with this recipe. Do give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
Read more »

Kashmiri Dum Aloo/Baby potatoes in yogurt gravy

on't you think potato is a very forgiving vegetable... no matter how you make it, what 
spices you put in it, it is almost always edible and satisfying. It is a staple in my home also, whenever I find myself staring at the refrigerator wondering what to cook, the humble potato always comes to the rescue. Also, it is very versatile and goes well with either rice or roti.
Of all the different kinds, baby potatoes are my favorite. I find them extremely cute (a big pain to peel but still love 'em). Of all the recipes I make from these cuties this aloo dum (the bihari version) is my hubby's most favorite thing in the world. Looking for a new dum aloo recipe I came across this recipe from our very own Vah Chef's cooking videos and bookmarked it. Made it a few days ago and now it is my hubby's second most fav aloo dish. How can you not like it when its baby potatoes simmered in creamy and an aromatic gravy made with yogurt, cashews flavored with traditional kashmiri spices like ginger and fennel powder.

Dum Aloo is named so because it is cooked under 'dum' or pressure. In this cooking method, the food is cooked under pressure in its own juices! 

Read more »

Shahi Paneer with Cumin rice

Shahi Paneer literally means ‘Royal Paneer’, a dish fit for kings. It is of Mughlai origin. It is very widely popular and served in almost every Indian restaurant. The exotic cashew based sweet and spicy white gravy is a nice variation from the usual red and cream based gravies that are usually associated with paneer. Typical dishes require paneer to be fried in advance, but for this recipe there is no need to do that. Adding milk and cashew paste enhances the taste. This dish is indeed one of those easy ones that is exotic yet can be prepared in virtually no time. Some like to add tomato in the gravy but I don't to make it a little different from paneer butter masala otherwise they will look and taste almost the same. When served in restaurants, it is loaded with ghee and cream as well. I do not like to use cream in my version. 

It is often classically paired with cumin rice and optionally some tadka daal. Jeera rice is one of the simplest yet the most flavorful rice preparations. It is basically basmati rice seasoned with cumin, ghee and onions and goes very well with quite a few Indian curries.

Read more »

Whole Wheat Stuffed Buns

ince the past few days I was craving those spicy veg stuffed buns which we used to always eat from our local fav bakeries back home. These are basically soft buns stuffed with a spicy veg filling. Also the fact that Mr. Yeast  and I are now on good terms... in fact we are now friends :) gave me some added courage to try it for myself. Let me tell you, if you are yeast skeptic as I was before, once you start getting comfortable with yeast you will want to use in everything... they are addictive. After making the pav buns a few weeks ago I thought to give this a try and boy I was glad I did as these turned out fantabulous... and so perfect we loved it. They were tasty to the last bite and very very addictive.  Smelled heavenly while baking and were gone in no time once they came out of the oven. A super hit!!!! The best part my hubby said these are the best buns he has ever eaten and they tasted better than the store bought ones ;D

I tried  to make them little healthier by using whole wheat  flour... so that I can continuously convince myself while gobbling them up that these are healthy and so ok to eat and not feel guilty afterwards... he he which I did!!

Read more »

Malai kofta - healthier version!

alai kofta is an exotic and another classic dish from the northern parts of India.
The cuisine in north India very much reflects the wonderful fusion of Indian, middle eastern and Mughlai styles of cooking and is characterized by its fragrant rich sauces, aromatic spices, saffron, milk and fresh cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, ghee (clarified butter), dry fruits and nuts. 

Malai Kofta is all of the above and more, a delightful vegetarian alternative to meatballs or meat koftas. Malai is hindi for cream and koftas are dumplings made with paneer/Indian cheese, stuffed with nuts and raisins and simmered in a buttery, creamy fragrant sauce. A sinful indulgence and a must have on every Indian restaurant's menu around the world!

I like eating this dish but don't like all the deep frying and cream involved in the recipe. Earlier I used to make it at home often but stopped making it for a long time. My (kofta deprived) hubby used to ask me to make it and I just used to ignore him ;) then one day he was finally able to convince me to make it again but then me being me I tried to make it a little healthier.
So, this 'malai kofta' is sans all the malai and sans the deep frying. I make the koftas in my oven and they turn out very good a big hit without feeling guilty afterwards! Both hubby and I are happy. I now make it almost regularly and he gets to eat his fav malai kofta. For some special occasions I still revert back to the old method, but on a regular basis this one works great. If you like the fried kofta better you can always fry them. But if you are into healthy but tasty eating do try this and you will not be disappointed and see your taste buds falling head over heels in love with this tempting curry!

Read more »

Paneer tikka masala

 love paneer. I mean I really really love it in all the different ways it can be made. So does hubby and my little princess. I can have it every single day and for every single meal. Infact, I am yet to come across someone who hates paneer. I love eating it as well as making different and new recipes using it. Any restaurant visit is just incomplete for me without having atleast one paneer dish :) A great substitute for vegetarian protein and a very versatile ingredient, can be used in different preparations like rice, bread, curries, desserts etc. It is regular in our house, very easy to make and always tastes good. I just can't write enough about my love for paneer.

The world famous "Paneer tikka masala " is something I absolutely love among all the recipes of paneer. The rich and creamy sauce, subtle tandoori flavors and spicy roasted paneer is something absolutely scrumptious and can have you drooling just by thinking about it. You just can not go wrong with this. Try this delectable and flavorful paneer dish and you will know what I am talking about!

Read more »