Dish #426 - Green papaya prawn salad (Thai style)

Another of our favorite Thai dish is the "Green Papaya prawn salad"....its not just healthy but tasty too...vegetarians can skip adding prawns...

Green unripe papayas are rich in enzymes which are very good for the stomach. Green papayas benefits the health in many ways. For example, green papayas aid digestion, converts proteins into essential amino acids, cleanses the colon, fights nausea and constipation to name a few.

Dish #425 - Sweet Chilly Chicken Thighs

Another recipe which we all love is this "Sweet Chilly Chicken Thighs"...

Dish #424 - Kashmiri Khatte Baingan (Brinjal Delicacy)

A lip smacking vegetarian dish originating from Kashmir is the "Kashmiri Khatte Baigan"..
Made from Brinjal...its easy and quick to make....

Brinjal also known as Aubergine or Eggplant, has some amazing health benefits...

It helps to control diabetes, The cholesterol levels are brought down to a great extent by the eggplant.
Eggplant is considered to be high in water content yet low in calorie count. This feature makes it very ideal as a healthy diet for people who want to reduce weight.
The digestive system is kept healthy and safe because of the good content of fibre in brinjals. This prevents constipation as well. The risk of colon cancer is also eliminated.
The eggplant has good amounts of vitamin C which make it an effective anti-viral and anti- bacterial source.Also its good for skin and hair.

Hence cook one of these Brinjal dishes ( Ringna na Holla, Gulla Bajji,  Bharli Vangi, My granny's phuddi sagle, every week and avail its amazing health benefits...

Dish #423 - Apricot Chicken

Apricot Chicken...A dish inspired by Master Chef Australia.
Made a few changes by adding rosemary along with thyme....
Easy to make and lip smacking delicious...
perfect for home parties where it can be made a few hours prior to serving....and you can cook the same of thighs as the number of people in the party...

Ingredients:
Chicken thighs - 8 - skinless
olive oil - 80 ml
garlic cloves - 12 , peel on, smashed
dried oregano - 1 tablespoon
thyme - 10 sprigs
Rosemary - 10 sprigs
Dried apricots - 24
Green olives - 24
Orange rind - 1 strip
Bay leaves - 2
Sherry vinegar/red wine vinegar - 120 ml
White wine - 250 ml (Optional)
Sugar - 2 tbsp
parsley, chopped for garnish
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:
Combine chicken, oil, garlic, oregano, 8 thyme and 8 rosemary sprigs, apricots,olives, orange rind, bay leaves, sherry vinegar, salt and pepper in a ziplock bag. Seal bag and gently massage the flavors into the chicken. Set aside, to infuse, in the fridge for minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 180 degree C.
Transfer chicken and all marinade ingredients into a large baking dish. Add white wine and sprinkle over the sugar.
Place in the oven to roast until cooked through. Remove from oven and allow to rest 5-10 minutes.
Sprinkle with parsley and leaves of remaining sprigs thyme and rosemary.

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.