Bhapa Dimmer Malai Curry (Steamed Egg Curry with Coconut Milk)

Malai Curry is an authentic Bengali delicacy and is made on occasions. It's a gravy dish. It’s made with big size prawns. Here I have twisted the recipe with steamed eggs. You can enjoy this dish with hot steaming rice. 

For Steamed Egg

Ingredients

8 Eggs 

1 Onion chopped 

1 Green chilli or as per your requirement chopped

1/2 tsp Ginger paste

Salt to taste

2 tbsp Milk

2 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped 

Method

Break the eggs in a bowl. Add the salt, onions, green chilli, ginger, coriander and milk. Beat the eggs. Grease a plate or idli moulds. Pour the beaten egg on the plate or in idli moulds. Steam the beaten egg. Once done cool it down and cut the steamed egg into cubes, if you have steamed it in a plate or remove the dim bhapa from the idli moulds. Keep it aside while making the gravy. 

For the Gravy

Ingredients 

Dim Bhapa

1 big size Onion paste

1 big size Tomato paste

1 tbsp Garlic - Ginger paste 

2 Green Chillies slit

1/4 tsp Garam Masala powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder 

1/2 tsp Chilli powder 

3/4 tsp Cumin powder 

1 tsp Sugar 

Salt to taste

2 Cloves 

2 Green Cardamom 

1 small piece of Cinnamon 

2 Bay leaves

1 Dabur Coconut Milk pack

1/4 cup Mustard Oil 

1 tsp Ghee

Method 

Take oil in a wok, heat it up to a smoking point. Reduce the flame. Add the bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom. Let it crackle. Add the ginger - garlic paste, stir for a minute. Add the onion paste, continue to stir, add the green chillies, continue to sauté, add the sugar and salt. Sauté the onion till it changes it's colour. Add the tomato paste, stir and add the turmeric powder, chilli powder and cumin powder.  Continue to sauté till the oil releases from the paste. Adjust and add water as per your requirement for the gravy, as I wanted thin gravy, I added 2 cups of water and stirred it. Let the gravy simmer for 2 minutes. Add the dim bhapa and cover the wok. Cook it for 2 minute. Remove the lid. Add the coconut milk, stir and cover the wok and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the lid. Add the  ghee and sprinkle the garam masala powder. Switch of the flame. Serve the Bhapa Dimmer Malai Curry with hot steaming rice.

Macher Kochuri

Since it is rainy season .... normally we feel like having fried stuff... and we associate fried dishes with this season... it was long in my bucket list to make Macher Kochuri... In Bengal since fish is the staple food.. we make various types of dishes with fish. My Ma use to make this... but since she is no more... I am making this after many years.. Here I have just rolled the dough and made simple kachoris, but my mother use to make 2 small disc out of the dough balls, then place the stuffing in the center of one disc. Then take the other rolled disc and place it over the other rolled disc. Then curl the edges of the disc, sealing both the disc together and then deep fry it. You can use prawns for stuffing too .... 

For the Stuffing

Ingredients 

• 250 grams of Rohu / Bhetki Fish -  Boil the fish with little salt, debone the fish and mash the  fish....
• 2 medium size Onion chopped 
• 5 Garlic Cloves minced 
• 1 inch Ginger minced
• 2 Green Chillies minced 
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp Bengali Garam Masala powder 
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Red Chilli powder
• Salt to taste 
• 1/4 tsp Sugar
• 2 tbsp Mustard Oil

Method 

Take oil in a pan, heat the oil. Add the cumin seeds and bay leaf. Let the cumin seeds crackle. Add the onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies. Stir and cook for a minute. Add the sugar and continue to cook till the onions have become light brown in colour. Add the fish, salt, turmeric powder and chilli powder. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garam masala powder and stir for few more seconds. Switch off the flame. Let the stuffing cool down. 

For the Kochuri

Ingredients 

• 3 cups All Purpose Flour / Maida
• Salt to taste 
• 3 tbps Ghee
• Stuffing 
• Oil for deep Frying 

Method 

To make the dough for the Kochuri, take all purpose flour in a bowl. Add salt and ghee. Rub and mix the flour together. Add little water at a time and make a semi hard dough. Knead it well. Cover and let it rest for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into big lime sized balls. With the help of your palms flatten the dough and create a cavity in between the center of the dough. Add 1 tbsp of the stuffing in between the cavity.  Seal the sides of the dough together, make a ball and roll the ball into a medium size round disc. Heat oil in a wok, deep fry the kachoris one at a time. Once done remove the Kochuris on a paper towel. Serve it hot with aloor tarkari or enjoy it just like that... 

Fried Whole Pomfret served with Steamed Vegetables and Creamy MangoGarlic Sauce....

This time I wanted to try some quick vedesi khaana for my friend who came over for dinner at my place. This is a wholesome dish and is easy to make. The Creamy Mango Garlic Sauce an be made a day in advance and can be kept in the fridge. 

For the Creamy Mango Garlic Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 cup Ripe Mango Pulp
• Juice of one Lime 
• 5 Garlic Cloves
• 1/2 tsp Roasted Cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp Chilli Flakes
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1/4 cup Grapeseed Oil or Olive Oil

Method

Add all the above ingredients into a blender. Blend the ingredients until smooth and creamy.

For the Fried Pomfrets

Ingredients

• 8 medium size Pomfrets
• 2 tbsp Lime Juice
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Oil

Method

Marinate the Pomfrets with salt and lime juice. Keep it aside for 30 minutes. Add little salt into the all purpose flour and mix it. Take some all purpose flour on a plate. Take a fish and coat the fish with all purpose flour. Repeat the process with other fish. Take a pan, add oil. Let the oil heat up. On a medium flame fry the fish until golden brown from both the sides. Remove the fried fish on a paper towel. 

To Assemble the Dish

Ingredients

• Pan fried Pomfrets
• Creamy Mango Garlic Sauce
• Steamed Vegetables (Cut into long thick strips and steamed and toss it with a cube of Butter, Salt and Pepper - Carrots, French Beans and Potatoes)
• Parsley or Cilantro chopped
• Slice of Lime

Method

Take a serving plate. Place a fried Pomfret on the plate. Add some assorted steamed vegetables on the sides. Drizzle the Creamy Mango Garlic Sauce on the fish, sprinkle some parsley or cilantro leaves and garnish with a slice of lime. Serve it hot. 

Fresh Homemade Sausages without Casing

I love the Kolkata fresh sausages that my friend’s parents get for me, but unfortunately it’s not available in Mumbai. I had some boneless mutton in the fridge, so thought of experimenting  with mutton and  it turned out to be delicious. These fresh homemade sausages are quick and easy to make and satisfies your urge of  having sausages.  You can use boneless chicken or pork or mutton. Here I have used mutton.

Ingredients 

250 grams Boneless cold Mutton cut into small pieces 

30 grams Mutton Fat 

1 big Onion coarsely ground and water squeezed out

1 small Garlic pod finely minced 

1 small Ginger piece finely minced

1 Green Chilli finely minced 

1/2 cup Coriander leaves chopped 

1/2 cup Mint leaves chopped 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Cumin powder

1/2 to 1 tsp Red Chilli powder 

1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder

3 tbsp Oil

Method 

Take a electric chopper or a food processor. Add the Mutton pieces, finely mince it. Add the fat and mince it once more. Remove it into a bowl. Add the onion, mint, coriander, garlic, ginger, green chilli, garam masala, cumin powder, red chilli powder and salt. Mix it very well for 5 minutes until the fat and the meat binds very well. Grease the steamer plate. Take a steamer and heat up the water. Take a plastic sheet and spread it on the platform. Now apply oil on your palm and on the sheet. Take a big lemon size portion. Roll the mince meat on the sheet and give it a longish sausage shape. Place the sausages into the steamer plate. Steam the sausages in batches for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the sausages from the steamer. Keep the sausages in the fridge for 30 minutes. If you are in a hurry then you can keep it in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove it and now the sausages are ready to be fried. Take a pan add 1 tsp of oil, heat it. Add the sausages and toss the sausages till brown in colour. Serve them for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I prefer having it with hot dal and rice. 

P. S. The meat pieces has to be cold so that it is easy to mince. 

The meat has to be finely minced and not paste. 

You can add 30 grams more fat if you want as I have used less fat. 

It is very important that the meat and the fat binds very well. 

Vegetable Gateau

The vegetable gateau is layered with vegetables, savoury custard and cheese which after baking becomes soft, fluffy and creamy in texture. 

This dish can be served for breakfast or dinner with bread...

It is made with vegetables, cheese, egg and sour cream. 

For the Sautéed Vegetables 

Ingredients 

2 small size Potatoes cut into cubes 

4 tsp of Garlic finely minced 

1 Carrot cut into cubes

1 medium size Egg plant cut into small cubes

1 medium Broccoli cut into small florets  

1 medium bunch of Spinach chopped 

1/2 cup of Green peas 

1 of each colour ( yellow, red and green ) medium size Capsicum cut into cubes 

Salt to taste 

1 tsp Pepper powder

2 cubes / 2 tbsp of Butter

Method

Take a pan, add a cube of butter, let it melt, add 2 tsp of garlic, sauté it for few seconds. Add the 1/2 of the onion chopped, potato, carrot, broccoli, egg plant and green peas. Stir and sauté it for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of water, stir and cover the pan with a lid. Let it cook for 5 minute on low flame. After 5 minuets, open the lid. Season the vegetables with salt and 1/2 tsp pepper powder and stir it. Add the capsicum and stir it again. Remove it in a bowl and keep it aside. 

In the same pan, add the remaining butter and melt it. Add the remaining garlic and onions, sauté it till the onions are light pink in colour. Add the spinach and stir it for a minute. Sprinkle salt and remaining pepper powder. Stir and cook it till the water from the spinach evaporates. Remove and keep it in a bowl. 

P. S. You can also  add cauliflower, mushrooms, French beans too... 

For the Savoury Custard

Ingredients 

1 packet of Sour Cream

4 Egg Whites

4 Egg yolks

Salt to taste 

1/2 tsp Black Pepper powder

Method 

Beat the egg whites till stiff. Separately beat the cream cheese till fluffy. Add salt, pepper and egg yolks. Beat it well. Fold in the egg white and that goes with the vegetables for baking. 

To Assemble 

Ingredients 

Savoury Custard 

Sautéed Vegetables 

1 cup Cheddar cheese grated

Method 

Take a greased baking pan,  pour in 3 to 4 ladles of the custard and spread it. Now add 1/2 of the sautéed mix vegetables and spread it. Pour 2 to 3 ladles of custard over the vegetables and spread it. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cheese on the vegetables. Bake it in a preheated oven for 10 minutes at 180 degree celsius. Remove the baking pan from the oven. Add the sautéed spinach and spread it. Pour 2 ladles of the custard over the spinach. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese. Bake for 10 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degree celsius. Remove the baking pan from the oven. Now add the remaining vegetables and spread it. Pour the remaining custard over the vegetables. Sprinkle the remaining cheese. Now bake it for 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degree celsius. Serve and enjoy this dish with garlic bread...

Neer Dosa

Neer dosa literally meaning water dosa in Tulu. This dosa is prepared from rice. Neer dosa is a delicacy from Tulu Nadu region and a part of Mangalorean cuisine. This can be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is served with Chutney or any gravy dish. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Raw Idli Rice 

1/2 cup Fresh or Desiccated Coconut

Salt to taste

Method

Soak the rice at least for 2 hours. Grind the rice along with coconut and 1 cup water into a smooth batter. Do not add excess water while grinding. 

Transfer the batter from the grinder into a bowl. Now add 2 cups of water and salt into the batter. The batter should be watery. Add more water if required. Take a skillet or pan. Spread some water over the pan, the water should sizzle and then pour a ladle full of batter over the hot pan. Rotate the pan and spread the batter. Cover the dosa with a lid and allow to cook on medium flame. Fold the dosa into a triangular shape. Serve the Neer dosa with chutney or any curry or fried dish. 

Hotchpotch Sandwich Casserole

This scrumptious dish is excellent for breakfast or dinner time served with a hot bowl of soup. This is an experiment in my kitchen. Here I have not added fruits as I did not have any, but usually slices of pineapple or papaya or strawberry goes very well. You can add any vegetables with leftover keema or any types of cold cuts... I have used home made sweet potato whole wheat bread here. For eggetarian cooked soya keema or cooked rajma beans and paneer can go well with the other ingredients mentioned in the recipe...

Ingredients

1 Bread Loaf cut into medium slices

1 medium size Potato sliced and par boiled

2 Tomatoes sliced

2 Onions sliced

1 small size Zucchini sliced

6 Chicken Salami

1 Canned Tuna

3 Cheese sliced

1/2 cup Green Leafy purée ( Handful Coriander leaves + Spinach leaves + 3 Garlic cloves + Salt to taste )

3 Eggs

1/4 cup Butter melted

Method

Take a baking dish. Grease the base with butter. Arrange the bread slices at the base. Take the green leafy purée and mix it with the melted butter. In a bowl break the eggs and mix the green leafy mixture with eggs. Pour 1/2 of the green leafy and egg mixture on the bread slices. Arrange the sliced tomatoes, zucchini, onions, chicken salama and  potatoes in the baking dish one after the other. Spread the canned tuna over the vegetables. Arrange the cheese slices. Cover up the cheese slices with the bread slices. Pour the remaining mixture of green leafy purée and egg. Bake it for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degrees. Remove it from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving it.

Egg - Tuna and Veggie Sandwich....

My daughter is a very picky eater. She avoids most of the vegetables, not because she does not like them but she just forms an opinion about the taste in her mind, where as she does not even know the taste of it. When I had served her this sandwich, she ate not one but three slices of it. After she finished eating, I told her that she ate mushrooms, the vegetable she hates the most. This is the story in most houses with kids. 

This sandwich is a complete meal filled with eggs, fish and vegetables. I have used canned tuna, but even fresh boiled tuna can be used. I prefer making bread at home, but try to use fresh bread bought the same day from the store. 

This can be served for breakfast, with evening cup of tea or even for dinner with a bowl of soup. 

Ingredients

1 Loaf of Brown or White Bread slices 

4 Eggs

1/2 canned Tuna 

1 small size Onion chopped 

2 Green Chillies chopped

1/4 cup of Red and Yellow Capsicum chopped 

2 tbsp Sweet Corn

2 big Garlic cloves chopped

1 or 2 big size Mushroom chopped

Few Spinach leaves chopped 

2 tbsp Cheddar Cheese 

2 tbsp Butter 

Salt to taste 

1/4 tsp Pepper powder

P. S. Grated carrots and beetroot can also be added. 

Method

To make the filling for the sandwich, take a pan, add the butter and let it melt. Add garlic, chillies and onion. Sauté it till translucent. Add the capsicum. Stir and cook it for a minute. Add the corn and mushroom, stir it for another minute. Add the spinach and stir it for another minute. Break the eggs and add it in the pan, sprinkle salt and pepper powder. Stir the eggs until it is cooked. Add the cheese and the canned tuna. Stir it and remove it from the flame. Let it cool a bit. Take 2 slices of bread. Take 2 to 3 tbsp of the filling and spread it on one slice of the bread. Cover the filling with another slice of bread. Cut it into triangle. Repeat the process with the remaining bread. Serve it with hot cup of tea or a bowl of hot soup.