My Creative Space: 2013

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Matar Paneer

Matar paneer is a very famous paneer dish.I love this version of paneer because it consumes less oil and it is very healthy as matarand tomatoes used in this dish are very good for health.I have adapted this version from youtube khana khazana show.It is loved by all of my family members.So I am sharing the recipe here.

Chocolate Cake for Birthday

Chocolate cake

Eid Mubaarak to all my readers.Finally after a long time I had got one holiday.The last holiday I got was in May for may day.I was tired and the eid holiday gave a so long cherished long weekend..Now I can happily blog :). I was so sick and tired of going to office and working everyday.The work pressure was so high and I was literally longing for a holiday.Last week was my dear hubby's birthday.Every birthday is special but this year the love of my life was turning 30! So I was excited and wanted to gift him something I never did before.I was inspired by the beautiful cakes made by my fellow bloggers and tried to give it a try! I always loved to bake tea cakes but I never made a cake with proper icing before.It is difficult to get whip cream in Bangalore which always discouraged me from making icing. So I decided to for a chocolate ganache cake with the easily available ingredients.Yet there is no compromise with the taste of the cake.Here goes the recipe.

Paneer Tikka Masala

This is again another recipe from the cookbook 660 curries by Raghavendra Iyer. Nothing to say much about this dish as it is not only quite popular among Indians but out of India as well. I have modified the recipe little bit according to my taste bud and made it.Here goes the recipe.

Chicken Korma

My father had just recovered from a bad flu and still he is very weak.The report said he has got a low platelets count and doctor has advised him to eat dry fruits.So I was going through the new recipe book of mine 660 curries by Raghavendra Iyer for a chicken recipe with dry fruit and I was stuck at the page - 130
which said Razia Syed's Chicken with an almond yogurt sauce(Murghi Korma).I fell in love with it at the first sight.Normally Mughlai cuisines are famous with lots of cream,butter and rich staffs.This recipe has used simple ingredients with a life saving almonds and still so authentic and tasty.It leaves the gravy super tasty and rich without using any unhealthy ingredients. I made this dish with some changes.As I understood that the measurements and ingredients are mostly as per american standard.So I just indianized it with some changes.Instead of canola oil I have used mustard oil and also I have used normal turmeric and chilly powder to get some color.So here goes the recipe.
Note : After making this dish I understood that this same dish can be made with paneer/potato or cauliflower instead of chicken.So my vegetarian friends can also try this out and let me know the result.

ABC Award

I am very happy to announce that I have received this lovely accolade from one of my fellow blogger Sangeetha from eat n eat little more.

She is a wonderful blogger and her blog is literally the treasure of good recipes.

I am sure to try out her jalebis :)

Thank you so much dear for this award! It keeps me motivated and inspired.

The award needs to be shared among my fellow bloggers and I have to write one word describing myself.

The word that describes me is hedonist.

The rules are simple:

Add the ABC logo to your new blog post.
Write one word or a phrase about yourself that begins with A, B, C, etc.
Nominate some blogs.
Leave a comment on those blogs to let them know!

Sharing the Award with the following Bloggers:

http://eshoboshoaahare.blogspot.in/

http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.in/

http://chattersmusings.blogspot.com/

http://pramithalovecooking.blogspot.in/

http://amateurscookingdiary.blogspot.in/

Cheers!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Paneer Makhani

This dish does not need any introduction in India.Any Punjabi/North Indian or Mughlai restaurant would serve this dish.The rich texture is surely not for the heart patients or the people who are in diet.The combination of cheese,butter and cream will surely take you to heaven with every bite of it! So don't think and loose yourself in this buttery creamy gravyMy friends and family love this dish prepared by me.So I am sharing my way of doing this.

Chicken Chaap

I am first introduced with the concept of having biriyani with raita in Bangalore.Back home in Kolkata I just could not imagine biriyani without chicken chaap. It used to be like an indispensable part with Biriyani like bread and butter like biriyani and chicken chaap. All the mughlai restaurants in kolkata like Aminia,Siraj,Nizam,Royal would serve this dish.My personal favorite among them was Royal's chicken chaap.The creamy gravy with rich aroma of the whole spices make this dish truly awesome.This is how I prepare this recipe at home which is quite popular among my family members.

Kadai Paneer

Kadai Paneer is a very favorite dish among Indians.It is very popular.The recipe is quite easy and quick.The taste is also heavenly.My friends and family members love this dish.The aroma of the freshly grounded spices and the creamy texture of paneer and capsicum makes it a delicious one.It goes very well with naan roti(for the recipe of naan roti click here).I am sharing the recipe here.

My first award

I am immensely happy to announce my first award from my fellow blogger Pari from foodelicious.She is quite popular for hosting events.Also her blog consists of mouth watering recipes.A big thank to Pari for choosing my recipe Aam Pora Sharbat as a winner for Cook Like Mom event.I have received the award on last Monday but I am posting it late as I was not keeping well for last few days.The award was a cookbook named 660 Curries from Raghavan Iyer. I must say that this is a complete khazana of recipes.Everyday I am exploring new recipes.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Alu Posto

We, the Bongs are famous for consuming potatoes.Most of the Bengali veg and even non veg recipes will include potato in its ingredient list.When it comes to only potatoes then undoubtedly Bong's favorite dish would me alu posto(potato cooked woth poppy seed). Alu posto, plain rice and dal is what every Bong desire in their daily lunch menu.It is quite easy to make.In my house it is a special favorite dish of my dad and husband.Specially I make it for them.Here I am sharing the recipe.

Veg Club Sandwich

This used to be my favorite snack in my childhood days prepared by my mom.In my school days my mom used to make this as afternoon snack.I have done little modification on the original recipe of mom to make it little more healthy.Mom used to spread mashed potatoes on the bottom side before topping it with vegetables.But currently when I make this I omit that mashed potatoes.But obviously mashed potatoes add more taste to it.So on some sinful days when I can't resist myself,I add mashed potatoes.Also mom always used chana(grated paneer) to make this dish and it has less calorie than normal cheese.So here goes the healthy and quick recipe.

Basanti Pulao

Basanti pulao is a typical Bengali dish mostly loved by all the Bongs.It was a staple food at my home for any special occasion or on Sundays.On my birthdays my mom used to make it in a special way.She used to add either paneer or prawn to this dish.The name basanti means yellow color.The beautiful yellow color of the pulao gave it the name basanti pulao. It is little sweet in taste with the aromas of ghee and roasted cashews make it perfect one to cherish! It goes equally good with any non-veg(specially spicy mutton gravy) or paneer gravy.For me I can eat it as it is without anything! huh! I just love it completely..It always reminds me of the occasions and invitations from others.Fish fry,Basanti Pulao,Mutton chaap,date mango chutney,papad,sweet curd(mishti doi) and roshogolla all those together used to be part of the occasion menu..I can close my eyes and still can feel the taste..all these reminds me of bengali wedding,annaprashan or any similar occasion.I am sharing the menu here.

Recipe Index

Salads and Soups

Tomato Soup
Prawn Salad

Starters

Chicken Pepper Fry
Spongy Egg Pakoda
Pomfret Rava fry
Fried Chicken Kebab
Fish Fry

Breakfast/snacks

Snow ball
Ghugni
Alu Tikki Chaat
Paneer Paratha
Egg Roll
Peyanji/ Onion fritters
Veg Club Sandwich

Vegetable

Niramish Alu Dum with Luchi
Doi Fulkopi
Dhokar Dalna
Lau Ghonto/Bori diye Lau
Dal Makhani
Palak Paneer
Kumror Chakka
Jhuri Alu Bhaja
Tel Potol
Chanar Dalna
Lal Shaker Data Chocchori
Potoler Korma
Baigan Bharta
Lal Shak Bhaja
Alu Posto
Kadai Paneer
Paneer Makhani
Paneer Tikka Masala
Matar Paneer

Non Veg

Prawn Malai Curry
Hariyali Murgh
Chicken Manchurian
easy Chilli Chicken
Begun diye Tangra macher jhol
Begun Ilish
Tomato diye Rui macher Jhol
Dhaniya Murgh
Spicy Chilly Chicken
Prawn Masala
Malabar Prawn Curry
Doi Mach
Fish Finger Fry
Macher Matha Diye Dal
Sorshe Narkel diye Dim/Egg in Coconut and mustard sauce
Potoler Dorma
Macher Dimer Bora Bhaja/ Fish Egg Fritters
Pabda Macher Sorshe Jhal
Chicken Chaap

Indian bread/rice

Naan Roti without tandoor/micro oven
Egg Biriyani
Koraishutir Kachuri/Green Peas Kachori
Basanti Pulao

sweets/desert

Labanga Latika
Rosogolla
Kolar Bora / Banana Fritters
Shahi Tukda

Cakes and Bakes

Chocolate Cake for Birthday

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mint and Cucumber Sharbat/Mint Cucumber Sorbet

Mint Cucumber Sorbet

Happy mothers day! and when it's a mother's day, I am here sharing my mom's favorite summer drink recipe.I am back with another summer quencher! I have never faced such a worst summer in Bangalore so far.So this year I am relying on these drinks.Back to my childhood days when I was in west Bengal, a hot and humid place, my mom used to make these summer drinks and I remember that this mint and cucumber sharbat used to be my childhood favorite drink.Sometimes I used to prepare it instead of mom as it is the super easy recipe.Even a kid can prepare this and its a fun!So I am sharing the recipe here.

Aam pora Sorbot/Roasted Mango Sorbet

In spite of the scorching heat, there are hundreds of reasons to love the summer.In my childhood days, summer used to come in a guise of blessing.Whole 2 months of summer vacation!There is no school!No pressure of study!Ice cream!Mangoes!oh when it comes to mango then how can I forget the aam pora sorbot? It used to be my favorite drink made by my mom for the entire summer vacation.It used to keep our body cool.It is said that roasting of mango takes all the heat out of the mango and it makes our body cool.It is my favorite summer cooler drink.Here I am sharing the recipe.

Giveaway event going on @Homely Food

Meena from homely food has completed 2 years of blogging and on this occasion she has hosted a nice giveaway event .I am sharing the news through this post.Also I am sharing it in my facebook page.Do participate and share the news.

Blog 2nd anniversary (event and giveaway)

Soya Manchurian

No one likes soya nuggets in my friens and family circle.I remember my college days when we friends used to plan for eating out when soya nuggets were on the menu.In my family too no one likes to eat this. But this recipe everyone from my family and friens love to eat.So sharing this recipe here.

Paneer Pasanda

Meena has completed 2 years of blogging and on this occasion she has hosted a nice giveaway event .I have taken the recipe from her blog.She has a very good collection of recipes.I have tried her paneer pasanda and it came out very nice.Everyone in my family loved it.This is the original recipe link.

Malpua

malpua

Suvo poila baisakh to all my bengali readers and happy Vishu to my tamil friends :) Today I have made malpua for this occasion. The recipe is taken from my mom. She makes two types of malpua out of which this one is my most favorite. It is next to impossible to get any recipe out of mom. She will always hide some secret part. That's the only reason my malpuas were never like her.So I decided to assist her one day. So after one full day of spying I got this recipe :P and today I made it.Yes now it is like mom's malpua. I am super happy. yaaaahoo!!I made almost 40 malpuas.So if you are making less then adjust the ingredients accordingly.

Corn Spinach Sandwich

I was looking for a healthy but low calorie snack to eat along with a cup of hot tea and I made this.
I am sharing the recipe here.

Pui Shaker Ghonto

pui shaker ghonto

This one is a typical bengali recipe.We bengali have a saying "macher raja rui ar shaker raja pui".
Pui shak is the most eaten leafy vegetable in any bengali household.I love the thick texture of these leave.But my favourite part is data or stem part of this leafy vegetable.Here in Bangalore it's not so easy to avail pui shak. But sometimes I manage to get it from Mangalorean shops.In Mangalore also it is a famous leafy vegetable.It is calles busley sappu there. But their way of making is so much different from ours.Here goes the bengali type recipe of pui shaker ghonto. For cooking ghonto we need lots of vegetable.But the taste of this dish is enhanced by 100 times with the pressence of prawns.

Paneer Navratan Korma

It does not happen so often that mom asks me to make a veg dish.It is so rare to see mom craving for a veg dish.When I heard that she is craving for navratan korma I was shocked and after the shock I run into kitchen to make it for her.No I could not make it immediately as half of the ratans(jewels) were missing in my kitchen.So I went to market and bought the ratnas required for this dish.Actually the main ingredients of this dish are called jewels or ratna and there should be 9 ratnas.It is oerfect combination of vegetables and dry fruits to be cooked along with the paneer(which seems to be the king).We all know about the great Mughal emperor Akbar and his 9 navratans. Well, here you can think of paneer as the emperor and 9 ratnas of your choice.My 9 ratnas are fresh veggies like potato,carrot,beans,capsicum,green peas,corn and dry fruits like cashew,raisin and almond.So go ahead to learn how those ratnas of mine ruled today's dinner menu.

Ingredients:
Paneer - 200 gms. cut into long 2" pieces and soaked in warm salt water for 30 mins.

Any 6 vegetables of your choice.I have used here one potato cut into cubed(1"),1 carrot cut into cube(1"),beans cut into 1 1/2 ", 1 capsicum cut into 1" square, green peas and corn.

Any 3 dry fruits.I have used cashew,raisins and almond a handful of.

boil 15 cashew nuts, 1 onion, 1 tbsp watermelon seeds(charmagaj) in water till the cashews are little soft and then make a paste of it.

cumin seeds 1 tsp
cloves - 3
cinnamon - 1"
cardamom - 3

ghee
refined oil

garam masala powder

salt and sugar to taste

Method:

I have boiled all the vegetables in salt and water. I have used microwave oven to boil them.I did not use cover.In micro oven the vegetables will retain their color and it will not be mushy as well.I have microwaved high for 10 mins.

Now take a pan and heat 1 tsp ghee.Fry all the chopped dry fruits and keep them aside.

here making the paste for the gravy.

boil 15 cashew nuts, 1 onion, 1 tbsp watermelon seeds(charmagaj) in water till the cashews are little soft and then make a paste of it.

heat 1 tbsp of oil.Add cumin seeds.When they splatter, add the whole garam masalas.

Fry for 1 min and then add the paste.Fry in simmer for 30 secs and then add little water.Stir for 2 mins and then add the vegetable stock(the remaining water of the boiled vegetables).Add salt.

Then add all the vegetables.

When the water starts boiling, add the paneer,dry fruits.Mix them well in the gravy.
Then add ghee and garam masala powder.Add sugar.Mix them well.

Cover and cook for 5 mins in simmer.

Paneer navratan korma

Now paneer navratna korma is ready to serve with naan roti .

I am linking it with Flavors of cuisines event hosted by shruti and organized by Julie

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Patisapta

I know sankranti is gone so far and its really funny that I am posting patisapta recipe now.I have made this patisapta on the day of sankranti and taken the pictures too.But blame my office and my husband's ill health that kept me so busy for past few days so that I could not write them down.

Ingredients:
For the batter

Maida - 2cups
Rava/Sooji - 1/2 cup
Rice flour - 2 heap tb sp
Sugar - 1 1/2 cup
Milk - 500 ml

For the filling

coconut - 1
khova - 200 gms

Sugar/Jaggery - 1 1/2 cup

Method:

Mix all the ingredients of batter except milk.Then add milk little by little and form a batter. Make sure that no lump is formed.

batter

Heat a kadai and add grated coconut and sugar/jaggery. Fry for 5 minutes.No need to add any oil.

Add khoya/khova and then fry for some more time till the mixture separates from kadai. It will not stick to the kadai when done.

Let it cool and then give little long shape to the filling with the help of hand.

Now take a flat tawa and graese it with 1 tsp of oil. When the tawa is hot,take the batter in a serving spoon and spread it over it like dosa or pancake.
Drizzle few drops of oil on the sides.
When it is cooked, place the filling on one side and roll it.

patisapta

Now the pati saptas are ready.Serve it with little condensed milk on top or as it is like me. :)

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Lal Shaker Data Chocchori

I have already blogged lal shak bhaja recipe.Now this recipe is with the stem part of lal shak.I donot want to waste any eatable part. :)
So try and enjoy eating the below dish.

Ingredients:

Potatoes - 2 cut into 1" cubes
Parwal(potol) - 3 cut into 1" cubes
Brinjal - 1/2 cut into cubes
Ridge gourd (Jhinge)- 1 cut into cubes
Green Chilly - 3-4 slit
Poppy seed paste - 1/2 cup
Mustard paste - 1/2 cup (I did not have mustard so I did not use it)
Lal shak data/stem - cut from 1 bunch and cut into 3" long pieces
Mustard oil - 2 tbsp
salt to taste
kalanjee - 1/2 tsp

Method:
Wash and clean the vegetables.Peel them except brinjal and cut into cubes.

Grind poppy seed and mustard into a paste with one green chilly and salt.I had only poppy seeds.

Wash and clean the lal shak data.Cut them into 3"long pieces.

Now heat oil in a bottom heavy pan.I have used pressure cooker to cook fast.Otherwise you can use a normal kadai.When the oil is hot, add kalanjee and green chilly.

Add potatoes and fry for 3-4 mins.Then add brinjal ,parwal and ridge gourd.Fry for another 2-3 min till they are little soft.

Now add the lal shak data.Add salt and cover with the lid.Do not add water because the lal shak data will remove lot of water.I have given two whistles and let it cool down.Otherwise if you are cooking in kadai then cover with lid and cook in slow flame till all the vegetables are cooked.