Kerala Kadala curry / Kadala curry

There are a few dishes which are etched in my mind mainly because those dishes frequented our dinner tables quite often when I was a kid. We are not from Kerala but the influence of Kerala is a bit more in my place. We cook a lot with coconut oil and kappa puzhukku with meen kuzhambu is still my favorite. And then there is kadala curry and puttu, an all time favorite. Though I don't make the duo a lot, I make kadala curry often to go with our chapathis.

~*What U Need*~ Black chenna/Chickpeas - 3/4 cup, soaked overnight For grinding: Coconut - 1/2 cup Water - 1/4 cup to grind to a smooth paste For the masala: Onions - 1, medium chopped Tomato - 1/2 medium, chopped Ginger garlic paste - 2 tsp Green chilli - 1 Curry leaves - 1 sprig Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Red chilli powder - 1 tsp Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp Corinder powder - 1 tsp Coconut oil - 2 tbsp Water, salt How I Made it: Grind the coconut to a smooth paste and set aside. Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil in a pan. Temper with mustard seeds and half the amount of curry leaves. Add the chilli and saute for a min. Add the onions and saute till golden brown. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell leaves. Add the tomatoes and saute till soft. Add the soaked chenna, enough water and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles or till soft. Once done. Add the spice powders and mix and cook for 3-4 mins. Add the ground coconut paste. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes on a low flame. Add enough water to bring to the desired consistency. Season with salt. Let the curry come to a boil and you see oil separate from the curry. Add the curry leaves and remove from the flame.

Serve kadala curry hot with puttu or appam or steamed rice or rotis.
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Baked Lahori Chargha | Easy Chicken Recipes

There are days when all I need is a flavor packed piece of chicken with a side salad or some baked sweet potato fries. While I am okay with that kind of food, the huss is totally opposite. He needs dosas or idlis or biryanis to keep him and his tummy happy. But one thing that we both agree on is tandoori chicken. We love it to the core and with a side dip of mint yogurt it is just the best dinner in the whole world. I follow this food group in FB and I saw this recipe there. Was totally hooked up with the flavor profile and added my own twist by baking it. This my friend is a bomb and you should definitely give this a try.

~*What U Need*~ Chicken legs - 4-5, 1 lb, with skin Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp Garam masala powder - 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp Mint leaves - 1/4 cup, packed Chilli flakes - 1 tsp Lemon juice - 1/2 of a lemon Salt Eggs - 1 How I Made it Grind everything in a mixie from coriander seeds to chilli flakes. Marinate this with the chicken, lemon juice, salt and egg with 2 tbsp oil. Marinate for atleast 2 hrs - overnight. Preheat oven to 400F. Bake in a foil lined pan for 30 mins. Turn over and bake for another 20 mins. Broil for few mints till you get the crust on the chicken.

Serve with mint chutney.

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Chicken Puffs

I mostly sip on some loaded green smoothie for my lunch and so by the time the huss returns from work, I become extremely hungry and start rampaging the kitchen snack cabinet. I try my level best to stick to fruits but sometimes I give in and make some hot hot bhajis or chicken puffs for our tea time. Thanks to the readymade puff pastries available here, making puffs at home is a breeze and more economical than the Indian store bought-ones. The filling is a breeze to make and highly customizable, you can skip the chicken if you are a vegetarian or you could replace the chicken with gobi. The sky is your limit here, my friend.

~*What U Need*~ Chicken - 1 cup, cooked and shredded Oil - 1 tbsp Onion - 1 cup, finely sliced Tomato - 1, chopped Coriander - a handful, chopped Curry leaves - 1 sprig Green chilli - 1, sliced Beans - 4-5, chopped Carrot - 1, chopped Ginger garlic paste -1 tsp Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Cumin powder - 1/8 tsp Salt Puff pastry sheets - 1 full sheet, thawed and cut into squares. How I Made it: Heat oil in a nonstick pan, add chilli and saute for a min. Add onions and stir-fry till cooked down and brown. Add ginger–garlic paste, and curry leaves and cook for 1 minute. Add and cook the tomatoes until soft and mushy. Add carrot and bean and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the spice powders and a splash of water and cook for 2-3 mins. Add the cooked meat and stir everything and cook for 3-4 mins. Remove from heat, add the coriander leaves. Preheat oven to 350F. Roll the puff pastry to flatten it a bit. Spoon 1 tbsp of filling in the middle. Close the puff pastry using water to stick it. Egg wash it once and bake for 15 to 20 mins till golden brown and puffy. Serve warm with some ketchup!!!

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Palak Tofu

Just like avocado, the huss has an aversion for tofu. Paneer is welcome in his book but tofu is a strict no-no for him. But I buy it occasionally as in once a month because I like to include it in our diet atleast once a month for the sake of pappu. While I am still experimenting with tofu recipes, I have decided to give the basics a try first, like this palak tofu, tofu masala, kadai tofu etc.

Making palak paneer or palak tofu is a breeze. Blanch, grind and simmer ~ and the sauce is ready to go. And its a healthy way to use all your greens. Spinach is widely used but you can experiment with different greens like baby kale or baby collards. This makes a perfect side dish for chapathis and even better ~ jeera rice. You can add cream at the end to make it more rich or you can replace the milk with cream to give at even more richer taste and use butter or ghee to give at a restaurant style makeover.

~*What U Need*~ Tofu - 10 oz, cubed, extra firm Salt - a pinch Oil - 1 tsp Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp Garam masala - 1/2 tsp Chilli powder - 1 tsp For the sauce/ curry: Spinach - 2 cups, washed Water - 1/4 cup (I used the water that I blached the spinach in) Milk - 1/4 cup Almonds - a handful, soaked in warm water for 10 mins Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Green chilli - 1 Tomato - 1 Onion - 1, small, chopped Garam masala - 1/4 tsp How I Made it: In a pan, heat oil to medium heat. Add the chopped tofu and saute for 2 mins. Add the spice powders and salt and toss to coat. Cook for 8-10 mins. Meanwhile, boil water in a large pan, put the spinach and blanch for 2 mins. Remove and let cool. Add this to the blender with the water, milk, almonds, ginger garlic paste and blend well. Heat oil in a pan and add 1 tsp cumin seeds and allow to sizzle, add onions and fry till brown. Add the spinach puree and bring it to a boil, add the sauteed tofu and mix gently. Add garam masala and cook in medium heat for 10-15 mins. Taste and season as desired. Add 2 tbsp cream and remove from flame.

Serve hot with Naan or chapathis.

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Chicken Salna / Chicken Chalna | Side dish for parottas

I have always been a big fan of parottas in any form. Be it the plain one with a simple kada salna or the jazzed up kothu parottas, I devour the whole plate when it comes to parotta. The parottas that we got in our hometown were much better than the ones that I had eaten in Chennai. Was it the method or the ingredients or the final touch that the masters gave to the parottas, I dont know but something about the parottas from Nagercoil made it stand out. Parottas were always a weekly occasion when I was a kid. And amma makes this copycat kada chalna version at home which pairs perfectly. So here's my moms version.

~*What U Need*~ Chicken - 1 lb, with bones Onion - 1, large, finely chopped Tomato - 1, medium finely chopped Ginger garlic paste - 1 1/2 tsp Curry leaves - 1 sprig Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp, finely chopped Cinnamon(1 inch), Cardamom(2), Cloves(2) Salt, Oil - 2 tbsp To roast and grind: Chilli powder - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 1 tbsp Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Garam masala - 1/2 tsp Chicken curry powder - 1 tsp Coconut - 1/2 cup How I Made it: In a pan, dry roast the coconut till brown, add the spice powders and roast for 2-3 mins. Cool and grind to a smooth paste. Heat oil in a pan. When hot add the cinnamon, cardamom and cloves and fry. Add the onions and fry till nicely browned. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off. Add the tomatoes and mix well. Fry till the tomatoes are cooked. Add the cleaned chicken and cook till the chicken leaves water and is half cooked. Add the ground masala and cook adding water till the chicken is fully cooked and the curry is reduced. Simmer for another 5 mins at low till oil separates. Garnish with chopped coriander and curry leaves.

Serve hot with parotta.

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Chicken Kothu Parotta

One thing that I miss the most about Chennai is the food. Be it our simple bakery-style puffs or our newly evolved shawarmas or our authentic chettinadu cuisine everything about Chennai smells good when it comes to food. I am totally missing the hot food that we get in Namma chennai. The only option that we have here is making them at home. Be it parottas or biryanis or a simple comforting sambar saadam, all has to be done at home. Last week we had this sudden craving for kothu parottas, like the ones you get from the roadsides back in Chennai, filled with eggs and chicken. I tried replicating it at home and it was a big hit with the huss.

~*What U Need*~ Parottas - 5, shredded Onion - 1, large, chopped Tomato - 1 medium, chopped Eggs - 2 Cooked Chicken - 3/4 cup Fennel or saunf seeds - 1/2 tsp Curry leaves - 2 sprigs Green chilli - 2, chopped Chilli powder - 1 tsp Coriander powder - 2 tsp Garam masala - 1/2 tsp Chicken curry powder - 1 tsp Oil, salt How I Made it: Shred the parotta finely. Heat oil in a kadai, add the fennel seeds and allow to brown. Add onions and saute. Add the green chilli and curry leaves and fry till onions turn soft. Add the tomatoes and saute till oil separates. Move this to the side of the pan and scramble the eggs at high heat. Once scrambled, mix the egg with the onion mixture. Next add the shredded chilli chicken pieces and mix well. Add the spice powders and some water and mix till you get a masala. Set the flame to high, add the parotta pieces and keep folding till the parotta is coated with the masala and the mixture dries a bit. Remove from flame. Serve hot with onion raitha!!!

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Channa Biryani / Chickpea Biryani

Did you know that my facebook id got hacked? Like really. Yes it actually got hacked and it was one hell of a day for me when I had to reply to all the messages asking if it really was me, changing my privacy settings to make it all the more private and breaking my head over how it actually happened. So let me warn you that if you are connected with me via FB and you get a second friend request from me, then DONOT accept or give your personal information at any cost. And many thanks to all my dear friends who stood by me and who felt sorry for me and who helped me in blocking that *!&*T@$%&.

Moving on to the recipe, its been a long time that I have posted a biryani recipe here or to be more specific a vegetarian biryani recipe. I like to take a break from chicken biryanis at times. And when I seek that break and something different I make this channa biryani most of the time. Completely nutritious and tummy filling this is best served with some raitha. I had to make something non-veg for the huss and so made some chicken liver fry for the side. Recipe for the same coming soon.

~*What U Need*~ Serves - 2 Basmati Rice - 1 1/4 cup Water - 1 3/4 cups Onions - 2, chopped Tomato - 1, chopped Green chilli - 1 Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Channa/Chickpea - 1 1/2 cup, ur choice, soaked overnight Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp Coriander powder - 2 tsp Garam masala - 1/2 tsp Biryani masala - 1 tsp, optional Curd - 1/4 cup Cinnamon - 1" Cloves - 2 Cardamom - 2 Coriander leaves - a handful, chopped Mint leaves - a handful, chopped Salt, oil How I Made it: Clean and soak the rice. Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom and fry. Throw in the onions and when brown add the slit green chilli, ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell leaves. Add the tomatoes and fry well. Add the spice powders and when oil starts to separate, add the curd and mix well. Add the chickpeas and saute for 2 mins. Add chopped coriander and mint leaves and then water and rice. Stir well without breaking the rice. Cover and cook for 2 whistles. After the pressure has completely released, uncover and fluff with fork.

Serve hot with raitha or any side dish of choice...

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Palak Paneer

Palak paneer has been in my to-do list for a very long time but the huss has never been a big fan of spinach based gravies. Spinach to him is meant for keerai masiyal and nothing more than that. I have been doing a lot of experimenting for the past three weeks since I have an extra new guinea pig at hand and this one is not as picky as the huss. He happily gorges on anything that comes out from my kitchen with a happy grin and it-tastes-awesome look.

Coming to the recipe, palak paneer is a very famous north Indian gravy that has been adapted by many all over the world. You could make the dish as rich as possible or you could make it skinny if you are so health conscious. Rich is when you make it all-butter or ghee and adding a healthy dollop of cream at the end. And skinny is when you cheat by using oil and milk. Both ways it tastes good and makes a perfect side dish for chapathis or naans.

Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 20 mins; Serves - 3-4 ~*What U Need*~ For the palak puree: Fresh spinach - 1 bunch Green chillies - 2 Onion - 1, medium, finely chopped Tomato - 1, medium, pureed Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp Kasuri methi - 1 tsp, crushed Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp Bay leaf - 1 Paneer - 1 cup, cubed Ghee - 2 tbsp, divided Salt, water How I Made it: Rinse the spinach in water. Boil water with some salt. Add the spinach leaves and allow to sit for 2-3 mins. Drain and immediately immerse in cold water. Reserve one cup of water. Drain and then puree the spinach in a blender with 1 green chili into a smooth puree. Heat ghee in a pan and fry cumin and bayleaf and slit green chilli. Add the onions and fry till brown. Add ginger garlic paste and fry till raw smell goes off. Grind the tomato and add this to the masala. Fry till oil separates. Add the turmeric powder, red chili powder and garam masala and fry for 2 mins. Add the spinach puree and some water and cook in medium flame for 6-7 mins. Fry the paneer cubes in remaining ghee till evenly browned and add this to the spinach gravy. Add kasuri methi leaves and mix well.

Serve warm with rotis or naan or jeera rice. You can top with some butter or cream also.

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Garam Masala Fried Rice

I am a true lover of garam masala. Not the ones that we get prepacked from the store. I am talking about the one that amma roasts at home and grinds fresh. Its got a unique flavor and aroma which the store bought ones can never acquire. Without doubt the first thing that I asked her when I started preparations to leave to the US was half kgs each of her homemade masala powders and an extra half kg of her garam masala. Now whenever I grab the garam masala powder from my pantry to flavor my curries, I always remember her and her varutharacha kozhi kuzhambu. It always tops my list of favorites and it can be made right by no-one else other than amma.

My love for garam masala is what made me to add the flavor to this fried rice and we totally loved it. If you are not in deep love with the spices then you can reduce the amount to 1/2 teaspoon or you could totally skip it. But then it would just be another regular fried rice.

Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 15 mins; Serves: 2-3 ~*What U Need*~ Cooked Basmati rice - 2 cups Onions - 1/2 cup, finely chopped Carrots - 1, finely chopped Beans - 6-7, finely chopped Cabbage - 1/2 cup, finely chopped Spring onions - a handful, chopped Salt, Pepper Oil - 1 tsp Low sodium soy sauce - 1 tsp Garam masala - 1 tsp How I Made it: Heat oil in a pan. Add the onions and saute till brown. Add in the chopped vegtables and saute till tender but crisp. Season with salt and pepper. Add the soy sauce followed by the garam masala. Once the raw smell goes off, add the spring onions and fry for 1 minute. Add the cooled rice and mix well.

Serve warm with any indo-chinese starters!!!

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Mushroom Spinach Pulao

As much as I love mushrooms, the huss detests it. I had tried many ways to feed him mushrooms some examples being this and this with no successful results. He never took a liking to the fungi until I made a simple garlic saute with butter and served it with some focaccia and soup. It became an instant hit and these days whenever we go grocery shopping, he never forgets to grab a pack of mushrooms. The other day I saw some beautiful bella mushrooms on sale and so we grabbed 4 BOXES. While I sauted most of them for breakfast, I saved some to make this flavorful pulao for lunch.

~*What U Need*~ Basmati rice - 1 cup Water - 1 1/2 cup Mushrooms - 1 cup, sliced Baby spinach - 1 cup, packed Onions - 1, sliced Tomato - 1, medium, chopped Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or replace with 1 green chilli Garam masala - 1 tsp Salt, Oil Cinnamon - 1" Cloves - 2 Cardamom - 1, crushed Bayleaf - 1, optional Coriander leaves - to garnish How I Made it: Heat oil in a pressure cooker and temper with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and bayleaf. Add onions and cook till soft. Add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off. Add the tomatoes and mix well. Once soft and mushy, add the spice powders and mix well. Add the mushrooms and spinach and saute well. Add the rice followed by the water, add a tbsp of ghee and chopped coriander leaves and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Remove and fluff with a fork.

Serve with raitha.

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Chicken Kheema Biryani

Biryani is what Sundays are for us. It might be something as simple as my easy peasy pressure cooker biryani or when amma comes by then it might be something as rich and exotic as the dum biryani, but it has to be biryani Sunday. We take a break once in a while and keep it simple with some whole wheat naan and pepper chicken but you get the thing right, we need chicken on Sundays. This kheema biryani happened, yes happened just like that when the huss was asking for something spicy for a weeknight dinner and all I had was a pack of ground chicken in the freezer.

When he says spicy he needs something really hot and I can quench that thirst only with a plate of piping 'hot' biryani and some onion raitha. I took my base biryani recipe and replaced the chicken chunks with ground chicken. Infact the ground chicken blended well with the spices and added more flavor and texture to the rice. I served it with plain raitha and the huss was totally impressed with the flavors. That impressed that he asked me to repeat it for that Sunday. This time I served it up with some Chicken roast.

~*What U Need*~ Basmatic rice - 1 1/2 cup Water - 2 cups, scant Chicken kheema - 1 lb or 1/2 kg Onions - 1 cup, sliced Tomatoes - 3/4 cup, chopped Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp Coriander powder - 1 tsp Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp Biryani masala powder - 1 tsp or more Ghee - 3-4 tbsp Salt To temper: Cinnamon - 1" stick Cloves - 2 Cardamom - 2, crushed Bay leaf - 1 To grind Coconut - 1/4 cup Cashews - 3-4 Green chilli - 1, or to taste Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup Mint leaves - 1/2 cup How I Made it: Soak the rice in water for 20 mins. Take all the ingredients under 'to grind' and grind to a paste. Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pressure cook and when hot add the tempering items. When fried, add the onions and fry till soft and brown. Add ginger garlic paste once done. Add the tomatoes and cook till mushy. Add the spice powders and after 2 mins of cooking add the ground chicken. Once the chicken is half cooked, add the ground paste and cook for another 2 mins. Add water and the soaked drained rice and then top with chopped coriander leaves, mint leaves and the remaining ghee. Cook for 2 whistles. Once the pressure is released fluff with fork.

Serve warm with raitha or side dish of choice.

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