Wednesday 15 July 2015

Mutton and Yam Curry

Mutton and Yam Curry
Ingredients
250 grams mutton pieces
250 grams Yam - Peeled and cut into cubes 
1 big Onion chopped 
1 Tomato chopped 
2 Green chillies slit lengthwise
1 tsp Garlic Paste
1 tsp Ginger Paste
1 cup Coconut milk
1/2  tsp Chilli powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
1 tsp Cumin powder
1 tsp Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Fennel seed powder
1 Bay leaf
Salt to taste 
1 tbsp Mint leaves chopped 
1 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped 
1 tbsp Oil 

Method 
Heat oil in a pressure cooker,add bay leaf. Add ginger-garlic paste. Sauté it for few seconds, add onion and sauté it for 3 minutes add the tomatoes and continue to sauté for 3 mins more. Add the mutton pieces,red chilli powder, pepper powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder,cumin powder,garam masala, fennel seed powder,1/2 tbsp mint and 1/2 tbsp coriander leaves and salt. Stir it, cover and cook for 5 mins. Add green chillies,yam pieces,sauté it for 2 minutes and add coconut milk + 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook till 4 whistles. Turn off the flame, open the cooker after the pressure releases. Garnish with coriander and mint leaves, serve it with hot Rice or Roti or Paratha... 

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Italian Tomato Mozzarella Crostini made with Ciabatta Bread....

Italian Tomato Mozzarella Crostini made with Ciabatta Bread.... 
Ingredients
12 Ciabatta bread slices
12 strips Of fresh Mozzarella
2 Tomatoes cut into half and sliced
2 Onion cut into half and sliced
Olive oil
Dry Orageno for seasoning 
Sprinkle of Pepper
Salt as per taste

Optional- 2 slices Ham cut into long strips 

Method 
Place bread slices on a baking sheet. Bake until toasted for about 6-8 minutes at 200 degrees in a preheated oven.. Remove and add ham (Optional), tomato and onion. Sprinkle with pepper.
Add mozzarella. Top with seasoning and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for about 8-10 minutes at 200 degrees or till the cheese melts. When done, place crostini on serving plate and serve immediately.




Ciabatta

Ciabatta 

It means slipper bread is an Italian white bread made from wheat flour, water, salt, olive oil and yeast. Ciabatta is somewhat elongated, broad and flat and is baked in many variations.

Ingredients
3 1/2 + 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 cups Lukewarm Water
1½ tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp Dry a Yeast
1 tbsp Olive Oil

Method
Take a mixing bowl. Add in 3 1/2 cups of flour, make a well in the centre. Add yeast and water. Mix the flour with the help of a wooden spoon. The dough will be quite sticky.  Leave the dough covered for 6 hours or over night if possible.  Add salt and 1/2 tbsp oil to the dough and mix it.Add 1/2 cup of flour on the dough and mix the dough for few minutes. Add 1/2 tbsp oil and cover the dough and and let it rest for 2 hours. Sprinkle some more flour, take the dough and divide the dough in to 2 portions. Grease a baking tray. Apply oil on the palms as the dough is a soft dough. Take one portion of the dough flatten and stretch the dough and give it a longish cylindrical shape. Give folds from all the sides. Turn the dough. Then with the help of the knuckles, press it to flatten the dough a bit. Do the same for the other dough. Cover and let the dough to rise for a hour. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. During baking, spritz loaves with water every 5 to 10 minutes for a crispier crust.They sound hollow when you tap the bread. Cool the bread completely before cutting.



Monday 13 July 2015

Vegetable Sweet and Sour Pasta with Olives , Dill and Parmesan cheese

Vegetable Sweet and Sour Pasta with Olives , Dill and Parmesan cheese
Ingredients 
1 packet of Pasta (Farfella)
1/2 cup diced Carrot
1/2 cup diced Onion
1/2 cup diced Capsicum 
1 cup diced Tomato
2 tbsp Dill chopped 
1/4 cup Black Olives chopped 
1/2 cup Tomato purée
6 Garlic crushed 
1/2 cup Vegetable  stock 
1/2 cup starchy water for the boiled Pasta
Salt to taste 
1/2 tsp Pepper powder
2 tbsp  Sugar
2 tbsp Parmesan grated or powder
1 tbsp Oilve oil

Method 
Take a pan. Add oil. Let it heat. Add garlic. Sauté it for few minutes. Add the onions. Stir it and cook the onions till translucent. Add capsicum and carrots. Stir it and cook for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add the tomato purée and the vegetable stock. Cover the pan and let it simmer for few minutes till the vegetables are half cooked. Add the sugar, salt and pepper powder. Cover and keep on simmer for 5 minutes. Switch off the flame. Keep it aside.  Meanwhile take the pasta, follow the packet instructions and cook the pasta. Drain the pasta... Retain 1/2 cup of the water while draining the pasta. Add the pasta to the gravy. Add the pasta water and dill leaves. Mix the pasta with the gravy on medium flame till the gravy has mixed with the pasta well. Add black olives and Parmesan cheese on top for garnishing. Sprinkle with some dill leaves. Serve it hot. 

Option for non vegetarian... Add any boneless fish pieces, prawns, squids, chicken pieces....while cooking the gravy. 

Mutton OR Chicken Liver Pâté

Mutton OR Chicken Liver Pâté

Ingredients
250 grams  Liver (Mutton Or Chicken) cut into pieces
1 large Onion sliced
2 tbsp Oil 
2 Garlic cloves crushed 
1 tsp  All Spice Powder OR
2 Pinches of each Cinnamon powder, Clove powder and Nutmeg powder
Salt to taste 
1/2 tsp Pepper

Method 
Take a pan. Add oil. Add onions, fry the onion till light brown, add the crushed garlic and sauté it for few minutes.Add the liver and sauté it for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and cook the liver till tender. Add salt, pepper powder and all spiced powder. Mix it. Let the liver cool down a bit. Add the liver and the juices of the liver into the food processor. Blend it until smooth. Eat it fresh... Spread it on bread or chill it... Or to make it into big cubes and slice it... Add the pâté in to a cubed greased container. Chill it, slice it and use it for sandwiches.