Sunday 13 December 2015

Dish #422 - Lemon Butter Lamb Chops with Pumpkin puree


For the last couple of weeks I have been trying to create some dishes which are simple to cook, tastes delicious, is healthy, look very beautiful, .and a complete meal in itself...
This is the first of them...

Pumpkin is a very low calorie vegetable. 100 g provides just 26 calories and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, it is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins. The vegetable is one of the food items recommended for controlling cholesterol and reducing weight.

Dish # 421 --- My Granny's Malai Kofta curry ( Cheese filled potato balls in Creamy Tomato Gravy)






This is the first dish, I learnt to cook from none other than my "Mamama" or maternal grand mom.

This dish has awesome memories of us being in the kitchen on Sunday afternoons, with a little bit of help from my lil bro..
Malai means fresh Cream. Kofta means small balls.
In this dish the koftas are made from Aloo/Potato and Stuffed with Paneer/cottage cheese preferably home made, and then simmered in creamy tomato gravy.
Those days we used to eat the dish all by itself.
Today I serve it with fresh hot Rotis/Indian Bread.

Ingredients:

For the Kofta (Cottage cheese filled Potato balls):
Potatoes - 500 gms - boiled, peeled and mashed

Cottage cheese - 200 gms
Garlic - 4 cloves - finely chopped
Chat masala - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Kashmiri red chilly powder - 2 tsp (Optional)

For the Gravy (Cream Tomato Gravy/Sauce):
Tomatoes - 1/2 kg - Puree'd
Onions - 2 large - finely chopped
Butter - 2 tbsp
Cream - 100 gms
Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Red chilli powdee - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander - 1 handful - chopped

Method: 


For the Kofta (Cottage cheese filled Potato balls):

Mix the mashed potatoes with chopped garlic, chat masala, red chilly powder and salt.
Grease your palms with oil and divide mixture into 6-8 equal portions. Divide the cottage cheese/paneer into the same number of portions.
Give each of mashed potato portion a shape of ball.
Take one ball and press a little between your palms and flatten it like patty.. put one portion of the paneer in the centre. Wrap them in from all sides and give round shape of ball. Prepare remaining stuffed kofta balls in similar way.
Deep fry these koftas in hot oil under golden and crispy and keep aside.

For the Gravy (Cream Tomato Gravy/Sauce):

Take a heavy bottomed pan, keep on medium heat, add butter and fry the onions, ginger garlic paste till golden brown. Then add cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and red chilly powder and fry for 2 mins. Then add the tomato puree and salt allow to cool till raw smell goes away and curry begins to boil. Then simmer and add the cream, allow to simmer for few more minutes before switching off the heat.

To serve:
Arrange the koftas in the serving dish, pour the gravy evenly on the kofta and garnish with fresh chopped coriander and extra cream (if required).

Dish #420 - "Chila" - A Quick n Easy Gujarati Snack


"Chila" a yummy and quick Gujrati snack...I make this quite often...it does not require any planning...all ingredients are normally always available in the kitchen.
This is nothing but an instant dosa made of gram flour.

Sunday 6 December 2015

Dish #419 - Prawn Saganaki - My lil Twist on the Greek delicacy



Another of my favorite prawn starter, is the "Prawn Saganaki" a Greek delicacy...
Have not been to Greece, but had this several times in some authentic Greek restaurants in Goa.
Though traditionally the Greek Ouzo (Greek drink) is added to it, but after a little bit of research I realized it smells/tastes of aniseed so added ground aniseed.
Anyway with or without Ouzo this dish tastes great...

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