My 401st dish - "Tandoori Jhinge" or Grilled Prawns (North Indian style)

Tandoori Jhinge or Grilled prawns is our favorite weekend starter...as its not just simple to make, but also takes very less grilling time and yet its yummy... I have used a gas barbeque to grill the prawns, but you can you use any kind of barbeque or grill. The ingredients however remain the same. I mostly make it as a late evening snack, rather than a meal starter.

Peanut Masala or Spicy Peanut Salad

Delicious, crunchy, and nutty peanuts are one of the popular oil seeds known to humankind since ancient times. The nuts are enriched with many noteworthy health-benefiting nutrients that are essential for optimum health. They are actually legumes but have almost all the qualities that true nuts like almonds have. Peanuts have numerous health benefits, they Aid in Blood Sugar Regulation (Manganese), Helps Prevent Gallstones, Helps Fight Depression (Tryptophan), Boosts Memory Power (Vitamin B3), Helps Lower Cholesterol Levels (Copper), Lowers Risk of Heart Disease, Cancer Protection, Lowers Risk of Weight Gain.
Eating nuts regularly is associated with a lowered risk of weight gain. Research has shown that people who eat nuts at least twice weekly are much less likely to gain weight than those who almost never eat them.
"Peanut Masala" is another lovely easy to make starter and served in all Indian restaurants all over the world.Easy to make, healthy and quick....
Peanut masala is lovely snack that can be eaten any time of the day.
You can make peanut masala either with plain roasted peanuts or with a special type of peanuts called "Congress kadalekai/peanuts" that is very famous in Bangalore, Mysore and most parts of Karnataka.
These peanuts are spiced peanuts that are made and stored and can be used in various short eats.
I use the spiced peanuts to make masala peanuts, it barely takes 10 minutes to make these and am sure you will love it.

Fish Tikka

"Fish Tikka" is a lovely seafood starter which is easy to make, tasty and almost fat free (if you do not use any butter during grilling).
This starter is a big favorite among kids mainly because fish fillets are used, which are boneless, so easy to eat.
I know many people resist cooking fish at home as they either do not know to clean it or find it difficult to eat, but fish is something which is healthy enough to include in your daily diet.
You could use fillets of any fish, but the best fish fillet chunks can be got from fish like Salmon, Sea Bass and Basa since they are firm and can stand well on the grill/tandoor especially during baking/grilling.
You could even deep fry these fillets if you do not have an OTG/Grill, but "Fish Tikkas" are normally grilled on open fire/tandoor. I have used an electric oven (OTG) and grilled the fish.

Rajasthani Mirchi Vada - Deep fried stuffed green chillies

Monsoons are the perfect time to indulge in some fried food.
The weather is just so lovely here in Bangalore, that I think of making some snack for the evening.
Recently I learnt this variation of the regular "Mirchi Bajji", called Mirchi vada..which is a Rajasthani snack or dinner starter/accompaniment.
Made this today, and my family just loved it...

Prawn Ularthiyathu - Kerala Style prawns

"Prawn Ularthiyathu" is a Kerala Style prawn starter, that I learnt from a renowned Chef, during our recent kerala road trip vacation.
A simple yet mouthwatering starter that could just make any dinner truly yummy...!!!

Baked Soya Paneer Peppers

Here is a simple dish that I created last evening, for my daughter who likes to buy and eat Bell Peppers for their color but does not like the taste too much. So to make it appealing and nutritious I came upon this idea and called it "Baked Soya Paneer Peppers".
Whether red, orange, yellow or green, these Bell peppers yield the highest concentration of antioxidants . One small red, yellow or orange pepper provides three times the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C—way ahead of citrus. Red peppers stand out as one of the few foods that lowers the risk of various cancers.
Regardless of their exterior, all bell peppers share a healthy dose of fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and ward off colon cancer. They also have vitamin B6 and folic acid that protect blood vessels from damage. Plentiful A and C vitamins boost immunity and guard against a range of ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis.
Soya chunks are very high in protein and is good for overall health.
Cottage cheese or Paneer is also high in protein.
Here is a delicious snack/starter which is also very healthy.

Butter Garlic Mussels

Mussels are a high protein food source. Their low fat content makes them potentially healthier than other protein sources.
Mussels are also an excellent source of vitamin B12 and selenium, which is an essential micro-nutrient. Mussels are also good sources of other B vitamins (particularly folate), phosphorus, manganese and zinc. Mussels are a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids and are considered an excellent seafood choice.Mussels are a healthy and nutritious addition to most meals and can provide real benefits to health and well being. They are low in fat and high in nutrients like omega-3 and iron, and are also delicious and versatile.
Here is a simple starter made using mussels.
I have used frozen mussel meat (mussel meat removed from the shells) but the best way to make mussels is to cook them when live since mussels are prone to the same types of bacterial contamination as other seafood and should only be prepared if they are live, as dead mussels quickly deteriorate.

Cheesy Belado Canape'

This is a simple starter I make using the famous Indonesian "Belado paste". I have made this paste at home, but you could buy this paste in any super market too.
Easy to make and yummy... Try making it...Am sure you will love it...

Lemony Lamb n Peppers

Today I made a lamb starter, which is another dish inspired by South East Asian cuisine.
I had some boneless lamb/mutton pieces and thought of trying something new.
A yellow pepper/capsicum adds that little sweetness to the fiery red chillies and the lemon juice brings out the best of both these flavors.
And for the crunch you have the roasted peanuts.
All put together a truly lovely starter.

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori chicken is the most popular Indian Chicken dish in the entire world, next to Butter Chicken.
This dish is an all time favorite of not just Indians but all people fond of good food.
The traditional and authentic way of making this dish is by using a clay oven called "Tandoor" in which the chicken is grilled.
But you can also grill on a charcoal grill/outdoor barbeque or even on a Gas Grill or Electric Oven.
The marinade is very easy to make.... and the grilled Tandoori chicken is just mouth watering.

Lotus Root in Oyster Sauce

Crunchy, delicate flavored lotus root is an under-water edible rhizome of lotus plant. Since centuries, the lotus rhizome has held high esteem in oriental regions, especially in Chinese and Japanese cultures. Almost all the parts of the plant: root, young flower stalks, and seeds are being used in the cuisine.

The edible part of the Lotus root is sometimes called as "Lotus Stem" and known as Kamal kakri, Kamal kakdi, Bhein or Bheen in India.
The rhizomes grow underwater in mud. They are actually modified tubers storing energy in the form of starch. The rhizome develops into sausage-like three to five jointed nodes of about 2-4 feet length. Each rhizome segment features smooth, grey-white color and measure about 10-20 cm in length, 6-10 cm in diameter. Internally, the root has white, crunchy flesh with mild sweet, water chestnut like flavor. The cut sections reveal visually appealing display of symmetrically arranged air canals (holes) traversing along the length of the root.
Lotus rhizome is a very good source dietary fibers.
Lotus root is one of the excellent sources of vitamin C.
Further, the root provides healthy amounts of some important minerals like copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, and manganese.
The crunchy, sweet yet delicate flavor of root lotus is because of its optimum electrolyte balance.

Although Lotus root is widely used in Chinese/Japanese cuisine, there are lot of Indian delicacies too made with this root.

Today however, I made a Chinese dish with my own instincts and the ingredients which I had in my kitchen, 

and called it "Lotus Root in Oyster sauce".

We all loved it, and I'm sure you will love it too!!

Baby corn Chilly - Chinese Style

Baby corn Chilly is another lovely Chinese starter....
Very simple to make and yet very tasty...
Baby corn is easily available in all vegetable shops these days and that too throughout the year, so this is one starter which you could make quickly and enjoy anytime...

Deep Fried Crabs

"Deep fried crabs", truly mouth-watering in every way......

Thai Prawn Rolls

"Thai Prawn Rolls" a quick, easy and healthy roll which I often make on weekends.
The roll is full of flavor and freshness.
Try making it and am sure you will love it just the way we do...

Chana Salad or Chickpeas Salad

Whether you call it a chickpea or a garbanzo bean, there's no question that chickpeas are a healthy addition to any diet. Chickpeas are naturally low in fat, high in dietary fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals. Eating chickpeas regularly can help you manage your weight, boost intestinal health and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Tinned chickpeas are fine, but fresh boiled ones are slightly higher in vitamins and minerals. Both are equally good sources of fibre, including soluble fibre which can help to lower cholesterol.
Chickpeas Salad is one salad which we all love.
Easy and quick to make and yet so delicious.
I make this salad quite often and eat it just before dinner, as this salad keeps you feeling full so you will eat lesser quantities of the actual dinner and thus lose some weight.
I also make this salad as part of an elaborate meal when I invite friends/family and its always liked by all.
Hence I am sharing this with you all!

Mushroom Masala fry

Almost all of us are familiar with mushrooms and their miraculous and magical powers. Particularly those who have read or heard a lot of fairy-tales such as Alice in Wonderland, Three Bears and a Baby etc.
You have seen mushrooms making somebody big or playing shields against the dreaded monsters. Actually, these are just symbolic representations of the actual health benefits of mushrooms. 

Believe me! They can really make you big and protect you against diseases and infections, as they are full of proteins, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, anti biotic and anti oxidants.
Mushrooms themselves provide you with lean proteins as they have zero cholesterol, fats and very low carbohydrates. The fiber and certain enzymes in them also help lower cholesterol level. Moreover, the high lean protein content in mushrooms helps burn cholesterol when they are digested.
Mushrooms can be an ideal low energy diet for diabetics. They have no fats, no cholesterol, very low carbohydrates, high proteins, vitamins and minerals, a lot of water and fiber.

Mushroom Masala Fry is a simple, quick and easy to make dish. I make this quite often as mushrooms are very healthy.

For those who like dry dishes with rotis or phulkas, this dish is very good. 

I often pack this for my daughter's lunch box.

Dill Vada

Here is the perfect evening snack for winter...
What better way to start the holiday season, than with some hot vadas and tea...
I had some Dill leaves, so thought of making these vadas or deep fried snack....
Dill leaves are called as "Sabsige Soppu" in Kannada, and I was first introduced to this herb in Hassan during my engineering days.
There were several dishes which were made with Dill, like "Sabsige soppina saaru" or "Dill Dal", "Sabsige soppina Chitranna" or "Dill rice" etc, but I loved these vadas the most.
I always thought that this herb was native to that region, since I had never eaten or seen them in Mangalore.
Its only after I started working, and then traveled the world, I got to know that "Dill leaves" are used in various other cuisines like South American, Persian cuisine etc.

Southern Fried Chicken

Southern Fried Chicken is a mouth watering starter which is very popular all over the world.
This dish is very simple to make, but yes the ingredients may not be available in all grocery shops in India, you may have to go to big Supermarket to find the Creole seasoning and tarragon. But even without using these 2 ingredients the fried chicken still tastes yum!
You could however replace the Creole seasoning with 1 tbsp each of dried oregano and 1 tbsp of dried thyme.
Here is the recipe for the same..!!

Tandoori Mushroom Tikka or Grilled Mushrooms

Mushrooms provide you with lean proteins as they have zero cholesterol, fats and very low carbohydrates. The fiber and certain enzymes in them also help lower cholesterol level. Moreover, the high lean protein content in mushrooms helps burn cholesterol when they are digested.Tandoori Mushroom Tikka or Grilled Mushrooms, is a very delicious vegetarian starter.
There are many ways to make Tandoori Mushroom Tikka but this is my way of making mushroom tikka in the fastest possible way.
I have used a gas barbeque to grill the paneer.
But you can you use any kind of barbeque or grill.
The ingredients however remain the same.
You could grill capsicum, tomatoes or even pineapple chunks along with the mushrooms if you like.
I mostly make it as a late evening snack, rather than a meal starter.

Grilled Pepper Chicken

This starter which I call "Grilled Pepper Chicken" is my own creation, lovely dish for this winter...
You could use chicken pieces with or without bone, but from experience I have realized that grilling chicken pieces with bone is quicker, and the chicken still remains juicy and succulent.
The chicken can be grilled in an OTG or charcoal grill or a barbeque grill, either ways this is one starter I love to eat during cold winter evenings.