Shrimps and Hot Peppers

Shrimps and hot peppers make a quick and yummy side dish.

Shrimps and Hot Peppers

Marinate 1/2 lb shrimps with:
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp black pepper powder
1 tsp grated garlic
1 tsp oil and salt

Heat oil in a shallow frying pan. Add the shrimps and fry for about 3-4 mins on each side till the shrimps are golden-brown. Add the hot peppers and toss for few more minutes. Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves.

Chicken and green peppers in creamy sauce and peanut salad

Happy Father's Day!

For our special father's day lunch, I made chicken with green peppers. Chicken and green peppers are awesome together and one of my favorite combinations. These days I make all my chicken dishes in my cast iron pot. The difference in taste and flavor is amazing.

Chicken and green peppers in creamy sauce

Ingredients

3 large finely chopped onions
2 finely chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp grated garlic
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tbsp red chili powder
1 green pepper, chopped
1 tsp sugar
3 chicken breasts cut in to medium size pieces
Salt
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup fresh coriander for garnish


Heat oil and add the onions and sugar. Cook on medium heat till the onions are soft and light brown. Add the green peppers and grated ginger and garlic. Cover and cook for few more minutes. Add rest of the ingredients (except the heavy cream), chicken and salt. Cover and cook on low to medium heat for 45 mins. Stir in the heavy whipping cream and simmer for few more minutes. Garnish with coriander.


A simple peanuts and cucumber salad goes well with this chicken and green peppers gravy.

Peanuts and cucumber salad

Toss together 1 cup peanuts, 1/2 cup onions, 1 chopped salad cucumber, juice of 1 key lime, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander, about 10 grape tomatoes and some salt.

Kale with beans

I made kale with beans last weekend. This was the first time that I ever ate kale! The recipe uses mild masalas and I added beans because I am not too fond of greens on their own :D

Kale with beans

Ingredients

1 bunch of Kale, cleaned and chopped
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp cumin/jeera seeds
1 tsp garam masala
2 red chilies
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp grated garlic
1 chopped tomato
1 tbsp oil
2 cups cooked beans (I used kidney beans and black-eyed peas)
Salt

Heat oil and add the cumin seeds and red chilies. Add the kale and cook covered on low heat till the kale is cooked. Add all the above masalas and grated ginger and garlic. Add the beans, tomato and salt. Cook on low heat for 10 mins.

I soaked the beans overnight and steam cooked them in a pressure cooker with a little salt.

Potato Pancakes

Today we had potato pancakes for breakfast. Super yummy and super quick. Will definately make them again.

Potato Pancakes

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Ingredients

1 cup Aunt Jemima's Complete Pancake mix (or any other pancake mix where all you need to do is add water)
1/2 cup finely shredded potato
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup water
Salt

Mix all the above ingredients to a thin paste (add more water if needed). Heat oil in a pan. Add 1/2 cup of the pancake mixture and spread thin. Cook on low to medium heat for about 3 mins on each side.

Kaleless / Chayote and Radish Sabzi

Pronunciation: Kale less
Function: Vegetable

1. Clueless about kale

I picked up a bunch of Kale while grocery shopping on Saturday. Plan to tackle it for today'’s dinner. I have never cooked it before but I read in one of my mommie magazines that kale is a supper veggie. Got to try it out.

I also picked up chayote and radish. Made a quick and simple sabzi with the chayote for Sunday'’s dinner. The chayote plus radish got the stamp of approval from my toddler.

Sunday's dinner: Rice, Chayote and radish sabzi & Shrimp and green peppers sabzi

Chayote and Radish sabzi

Ingredients

2 chayotes chopped
5 round radishes finely chopped
2 red chilies
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp grated garlic
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tbs cummin/jeera seeds
1 tbsp oil
1 cup water
Salt


Heat oil. Add the cummin seeds and red chilies. When the chilies turn dark add all the other ingredients. Simmer on low heat till the chayote is cooked.

Potato Avocado Paratha

Potato Avocado Paratha

Ingredients for dough

2 cups wheat flour
1 cup warm water (add more as required)
2 tbsps oil
1 tbsp salt


Ingredients for filling

1 large potato boiled mashed and cooled
1/4 of ripe avocado mashed
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup grated mild cheddar cheese
Optional: Add ¼ cup finely chopped onions, 1 finely chopped greenchiliess and 1 grated clove of garlic, sauteed in 1 tbsp of oil


Make the dough and keep it covered for an hour. Mix together the ingredients for the filling. Roll out the parathas. (Lessons on rolling out parathas, some other day!)

Kadhi with Pakoras

Kadhi with Pakoras

Ingredients for the kadhi

2 cups buttermilk or yogurt
1 cup water
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp grated ginger
2 tbsps besan (gram flour)
Salt

Ingredients for Pakora

1 cup besan
1 cup finely chopped onion greens or chives
½ cup finely chopped onion
1 finely chopped green chilli
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cummin powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper powder
1 tsp baking powder
½ cup water

Ingredients for seasoning
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp Cummin (Jeera)
1 tsp Mustard seeds (rai)
4 red chillies
1 tsp asafoetida (hing)

Mix all the ingredients for the kadhi till the besan is well blended. Simmer over medium heat. Heat oil for the seasoning (tadka) and add the seasoning ingredients. Remove from the heat once the mustard seed start sputtering. Add to the kadhi and simmer for few more minutes.
Mix all the pakora ingredients. Drop medium size balls of the pakora mix in heated oil. Remove the pakoras when golden brown and drop in the kadhi.

Serve over rice or moong daal khichadi.

Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken and Shrimp Fajita

Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken and Shrimp Fajita

Ingredients

6 Chicken Tenders
12 Large Shrimps
1 chopped avocado sprinked with lime juice and salt
1 sliced onion
1 sliced red pepper
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded mild cheddar
3 Tortillas


For the marinade
3 tbsp peanut butter
1/4 cup warm water
2 tbsp soya sauce
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup chopped coriander
2 chopped green chillies
Mix all the ingredients to make the marinade.

Marinade chicken and shrimps in the peanut butter marinade for 2-4 hrs. Either grill or pan fry the chicken tenders and marinade. Assemble the fajita and enjoy!

Make this a toddler-friendly recipe by leaving out the shrimps.

McCormick's Garam Masala

I use this McCormick's Garam Masala in all my cooking these days . Pleasantly surprised that it is "not bad" at all. Love it so far!

ShrimpFried Rice

Shrimp Fried Rice

Ingredients
1/2 lb Shrimps
1/2 cup Peas
1/2 cup Corn
8 oz sliced Portabella Mushroom
1 large onion sliced
2 cups cooked and cooled basmati rice.
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
Pinch of black pepper
Salt to taste.

Cook rice with 1 tbs oil and pinch of salt. Keep aside.

Heat oil in a large wok and fry shrimps, peas, corn, onions and mushrooms. Add garam masala, chilli powder, coriander powder and salt. Add the rice and stir till well blended.