Monday, June 25, 2012

Lamb/Goat Biriyani


Biryani is a special rice dish that is prepared at festive occasions in India. It is a rice dish prepared with many different spices and can be prepared using meat (Chicken, Goat, Lamb) or Vegetables. It is a lengthy process but it is worth going through the elaborate process.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients

Basmati rice - 3 cups
Lamb/Goat - 2-3 pounds
Onion - 1 Big
Tomatoes - 2
Green chillies - 4
Coconut milk - 3/4 cup
Butter - 5-6 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Cilantro leaves
Mint
Salt

Biriyani Spices

Cinnamon - 3-4
Cardamom - 5-6
Big Black Cardamom - 2
Star Kist - 2
Cloves - 6
Bay leaves - 3
Method

Grind all the ingredients under Biriyani Spices into a fine powder and set it aside.  Soak the Basumathi rice for 15-20 minutes.

In a pressure cooker, cook the lamb/goat meat with the chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric powder, green chillies and cumin seeds.  Add required amount of water.


In a pan, heat the butter and when the butter melts, add the chopped onions, mint and cilantro leaves.  Add the ground biriyani spices and saute the onions for 2-3 minutes.  Add the garlic and ginger paste and saute until the onion becomes translucent.  Set the flame to medium and add the rice and stir until the rice is coated with the butter-onion mixture.

Add the broth from the goat mixture and the coconut milk (about 6 cups).  Add salt, chilli powder and coriander powder and mix well.  Cover the pan with a lid and let the rice cook well.


Switch off the stove when the liquid is absorbed by rice and the rice is cooked. 

Enjoy!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Orange cake


This cake was delicious and moist with lots of Orange flavor.  It tastes great with a scoop of Ice-cream or a cup of Indian Chai (Tea).  The original recipe is from Karen Cooks' Orange Bundt cake.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

Fresh Orange juice - 1/2 cup
Eggs - 4
Butter - 2 sticks
Sugar - 1 cup
Sour cream - 1 cup
All purpose Flour - 3 cups
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Baking soda - 1 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Zest from 4 Oranges


Method

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Grease the cake pan with butter. Sift the All-purpose flour and set them aside.

Beat together butter, sugar and Orange zest using an electric mixer.  Add eggs one at a time and keep beating until the mixture is fluffy and creamy.  Add sour cream and Orange juice and add the flour one cup at a time and add baking powder and soda.  Mix well until the cake batter is well combined.


Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.  Cool the cake before taking it out of the pan.  Enjoy!


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Easy Tandoori Chicken


Tandoori chicken is a perfect dinner that can be served with rice, cucumber salad, grilled veggies or roasted corn on the cob.  This is an easy recipe for Tandoori chicken that can be prepared using a ready made Masala.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients

Chicken legs - 10
Chicken Tikka Masala - 2-3 tbsp (depending on the spice level you like)
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Lime juice - 1 tsp
Oil 

Method

Remove skin from chicken pieces, and cut slits into them lengthwise. Place in a shallow dish. Mix the Chicken Tikka masala, garlic paste, ginger paste, lime juice and oil and apply the marinade on both side of the Chicken legs and refrigerate for overnight (the longer the better).

  
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat, and lightly oil grate. Cook chicken on grill until no longer pink and juices run clear. Garnish with cilantro and lemon wedges. 


Serve the chicken with Rice or any other vegetable side dish.  Enjoy!


Friday, June 8, 2012

Potato curry


Potato curry is a common delicious curry dish and it is easy to make.  Potato goes well with any rice dish, Indian breads, and stuffing for Masala Dosai.  Enjoy! 

Ingredients

Potatoes - 2 medium
Onion - 1 large
Green chillies - 2-3
Salt
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves
Cilantro leaves


Method

Boil potatoes until tender but not too soft.  Cut the boiled potatoes into cubes and set them aside. Heat 2-3 tbsps of oil in a pan.  Add 1/2 tsp of mustard and urad dhal.  When the mustard seeds splutter,  add the onions, green chillies and curry leaves.  

When the onions are translucent, add the cubed potatoes, salt and the spices.  On medium heat, keep stirring until the potatoes are tender and coated with spices.  

Garnish with Cilantro leaves. 

Enjoy!


 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Mango bread


This was a very moist and quite delicious bread.  It is an easy recipe and the bread tastes so good.  A wonderful summertime snack.  The original recipe is from allrecipes.com.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

All purpose Flour/Maida - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 1/4 cup
Mangoes - 2 1/2 cups
Vegetable Oil - 3/4 cup
Eggs - 2
Cinnamon powder - 2 tsp
Baking soda - 2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Vanilla - 1 tbsp
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Raisins - 1/4 cup
 Method  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Beat oil, eggs and sugar until smooth. Add flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and vanilla and keep stirring just until combined. Add mangoes, raisins and lemon juice and mix gently.


Pour into 2 greased 8 x 4 loaf or a 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 F for about an hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!