Spinach & Corn Curry

India has a wide variety of food and in all cuisines curry or subzis plays a vital role ,no meal is complete without different kind of curries .The subtely spiced curry accompanying the rotis is Spinach Corn prepared as the name suggests with spinach,corn,green chillis,ginger,mango powder and cream.The curry dish offsets the rich flavor of fresh cream  with the sweet-tangy flavour of corn and mango powder– creating a unique balance.In short,a healthy meal spiced with a myriad of flavors to enhance  your taste buds.

Ingredients-

Spinach - 1 big bunch

Onion- 1 big

tomato puree- 1/2 cup

1/2 cup corn kernels(boiled or frozen)

Green chilly- 1

Ginger - 1/2 inch piece

 1/2 tbsp cumin seeds

Fresh or sour cream - 1 tbsp

salt to taste

coriander powder- 1 tbsp

Red chilly powder-1/2 tsp

Garam masala- 1/2 tsp

Dry mango powder-1 tsp

Oil- 1 tbsp

Method-

1-Wash and blanch spinach in hot water.

2- puree onion,green chilly and ginger together in a blender.

3-Puree balanced spinach in blender too.

4-Heat oil and add cumin seeds and let it splutter.

5-Add pureed onion and chilly and saute for sometime,add salt.

6-Cook till oil separates and add tomato puree to it.

7-After 5 minutes add pureed spinach along with coriander powder,chilly powder ,bring it to boil.

8-Add corn kernels ,cook for some more time (uncovered),adjust consistency by adding some water.

9-Add dry mango powder ,garam masala and cream and serve hot.

I am sending it to Torview's Veggie fruit a month-Corn event started by priya.

Chokha (Eggplant & potato )

Today i am going to share a traditional recipe with you all.Simply speaking, chokha, as they call it in Bihar, is a rustic dish of veggies cooked and coarsely mashed, topped with fresh flavourings like green chillies and garlic, and a drizzle of mustard oil. It can be eaten hot or cold.Mainly Chokha of eggplant and potato use to serve as side with Litti,Very simlar to Baati in Rajasthan in India but littis are stuffed Baatis.It is easy and quick to make and it has distinguish flavor of its own.So try it with Litti ,baati or just as a part of your meal as side and give me your Feedback.......


Ingredients-

Eggplant -1 (big one)
Pototo-1 (Medium size ,boiled)
Onion - 1 (small) (Finely chopped)
Tomato-1/2 (small)(finely chopped) optional
Green chillies -1-2 (according to taste) (finely chopped)
Garlic cloves- 1-2 pods (Finely chopped or crushed)
Ginger -1/2 inch piece (Finely chopped)
salt to taste
Mustard oil 1 tbsp (must)
Red chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam masala- 1/4 tsp
Lemon juice -3-4 drops (optional)
Cilantro -(chopped)

Method-

1-Wash eggplant and wipe it ,prick it with the help of a fork and rub some oil on it.
2-Now there are two ways to cook eggplant for this recipe one is in Microwave which is quick and one is in conventional oven which will take little longer time ,i am giving both ways here ---

Microwave Method--Put the whole eggplant in a microwave safe dish and cook it for about 8-10 minutes or till tender.

Oven Method-Preheat the oven at 400 degrees ,put the eggplant in a shallow bowl or on cookie sheet and bake it for about 45-50 minutes ,turn often after every 10 minutes.

3-Let eggplant cool off slightly and peel off the skin and mash it well.
4-Peel and mash boiled potato and add it to eggplant.
5- Add all chopped vegetables excluding garlic.
6-Add salt ,red chilly and garam masala.
7-Heat mustard oil and let it come to smoking point,switch off the heat and add crushed garlic and add it to Chokha.
8-Add Lemon juice if required ,garnish it with chopped cilantro and serve.


I am sending it to Side Dish Showdown Event by Cinnamon Girl .

Easy Tacos

We love Mexican food,This is quick and easy to make and they use almost all the same ingredients which we use in Indian Cooking so always everything is ready to make Mexican food at home.

Last week I had some leftover Kidney beans so i decided to make tacos out of it ,i used tortilla in place of taco shells because i had tortilla in hand.It was very easy and delicious. The main thing is that use lots of tomatoes and it will taste good.

Ingredients-(For 2 servings)

Corn tortillas -4
Onion - 1 small (finely chopped)
tomato-1 big (finely chopped)
kidney beans -about 1/2 cup (soaked and boiled)(can use canned one too)
Corn kennels -about 1/4 cup (boiled)
Taco seasoning mix- 1 pack
Mozzarella cheese- for garnishing
Spring onion -for garnishing (finely chopped)
Cilantro- (finely chopped)
Little oil
Salt to taste

Few Nacho Chips and salsa on side.

Method-

1-Heat oil in pan add onion and salt ,saute for sometime.


2-Add half tomato and saute for some more time.


3-Add boiled kidney beans ,corn and entire pack of taco seasoning saute and turn off the heat.


4-Heat Tawa and palce one tortilla and flip it over after 30 seconds.


5-Arrange all tortilla into serving plate(as in the picture) and place kidney beans and corn mixture on it ,top it with chopped tomato,spring onion,cilantro,cheese and salsa.


6-Serve it hot with some chips and salsa on side.


NOTE- You can get taco seasoning mix in any Mexican or American grocery stores easily.




 

Naan Khatai

I think we all are aware of Naan khatai ,these sweet biscuits with butter and cardamom are divine.First of all these are eggless biscuits and tasty too.I was looking for traditional naan khatai recipe since so long and I found it in Manjulas kitchen .com .I followed her recipe as it is and it turned out awesome ,my whole kitchen filled with sweet aroma of butter and cardamom .I am giving written recipe here but if you want you can check out the video at Manjulas kitchen.com.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup fine  semolina
• 1/2 cup gram flour
• Pinch of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon green cardamom seeds 
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp almond silvers

Method-

1-Mix all purpose flour,gram flour,semolina ,baking powder and cardamom seeds (reserve some ) and set aside.

2-Beat sugar and butter in a bowl till creamy and light.

3-Preheat the oven at 375 degrees F.

4-Add flour mixer and sugar  mixer together and knead it gently to form a dough.

5-Grease the baking tray with little butter.

6-Divide the dough into equal size and garnish them with cardamom seeds and almond silvers.(press garnishing  a little bit so that it will stick)

7-Bake them in preheated oven for about 15-16 minutes (check every minute after 10 minutes) till lightly golden brown.

8-Let them cool down and enjoy...............