VEGETABLE BESARA-- VEGETABLES COOKED WITH MUSTARD & GARLIC PASTE

This is  a mixed vegetable recipe from the land of Odisha ( a State in India). It is cooked with mustard paste over slow fire.It tastes best when served with rice!!

Ingredients:

• Mixed vegetables-2cups(brinjal, potato ,plantain,drumsticks ,desi alloo(yam))
• Mustard paste-2tspn (Soak 3 tspn of mustard seed in water ,3 garlic pods and 1 chilli for 1/2hr and the grind  into a smooth paste )
• Oil-1tspn
• Tomato-1 medium(chopped)
• Salt-To taste
• Turmeric powder(haldi)-A pinch
• Water-1 cup

Method:

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard paste and saute till the raw smell goes.Add the chopped tomato. When done, add the vegetables and 1 cup of water .Add salt to taste, haldi powder and cover the lid and let the vegetables cook on low flame till they are cooked well. Serve it hot with steamed white rice. Enjoy!!!

EGG CAPSICUM MASALA

Ingredients :
Hard boiled eggs-3  (slice then into half)
Capsicum-1large (Sliced)
Onion-1medium (sliced)
Tomato-1medium (sliced)
Garam masala powder-1tspn
Green chillies -2 (whole)
Garlic pods-1large (chopped)
Corn flour -1tbspn
Oil-1tbspn
Water-3tbspn
Coriander leaves -To garnish


Method:
In a pan take oil; to it add cumin seeds. Let it splutter, add the sliced garlic and green  chillies, sauté   till the raw smell goes. Add sliced onion and sauté till brown. Add the sliced tomatoes. Fry till done . Then add the sliced capsicum and mix well till done. Add  salt to taste, haldi powder, garam masala powder and mix well. Keep aside.
In a pan heat a little oil. .In a bowl take the corn starch,  add water and make a smooth paste. Add a pinch of salt to the corn starch paste and mix well .Now take a sliced egg ,dip it in the paste and sauté in the pan from both sides .Do the same with all sliced eggs. (By doing so the yolks will remain intact and will look colorful in the masala). Then add the fried eggs in the masala and mix well .Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with chappati/roti!

FISH CUTLET

Ingredients:

Fish-1kg (boiled in salt and turmeric (haldi) powder

Ginger & garlic paste-1tbspn

Garam masala- 1tbspn (mixture of cloves ,cardamon ,bay leaves ,pepper ,cinnamon sticks)

Boiled potato-1 medium

Mint leaves (pudina) -1tbsp (chopped)

Bread crumbs- For coating the cutlets

Salt- To taste

Oil- To fry the cutlets

Method :

In a bowl take the boiled fish pieces ,remove the bones and mash the boiled fish. Add ginger & garlic paste ,garam masala, salt to taste ,boiled mashed potato ,mint leaves and mix well. Take a portion in hand and make into small cutlets. Roll them in bread crumbs and shallow fry in oil till the cutlets become golden brown. Serve hot with tomato ketchup or any sauce of your choice.

Enjoy !!!

Dal makhni

This is a lentil (Dal) dish, popular in the Indian state of Punjab. This is prepared by using two lentils-- split black gram (urad dal) and kidney beans (rajma)

Ingredients:
Split black gram /urad dal – 1/2 cup
Kidney beans/rajma - handful
Whole garam  masala –1 cardamom  (elaichi), 2 cloves (laung) , 3 small cardamoms (small elaichi) ,
1 bay leaf (tej pata)
Onion-  1small (chopped)
Salt -To taste
Turmeric ( Haldi) powder – 1/2 tea spoon
Coriander( Dhania) powder –1 Tea spoon
Green chillies –2 (chopped)
Ginger/garlic paste –11/2 tea spoon
Tomatoes- Two medium  (puréed)
Cream –3 tea spoon
Oil – 2 table spoon
Butter- 2 table spoon
Coriander leaves -To garnish

 Method:

1. Soak the dal in water for Two hours .Then pressure cook the dal with two cups of water and a little salt till done. Keep aside .  
2. Heat the oil and butter well in a pan ,then lower the flame and add the whole garam masalas .Fry a little; add the chopped onion and fry till done .
3. Add the ginger /garlic paste and sauté till the raw flavor vanishes .Add the pureéd tomatoes and fry till the oil separates from the masala . 
4. Then add the boiled dal , salt to taste, turmeric powder ,dhaniya powder,  coriander powder and mix well .Cover the pan for  five minutes .
5. Switch off the stove ,add cream ,mix well and garnish with coriander leaves .
6. Goes well with Naan, Kulcha, Roti or Rice. 
7. Serve hot!!!

SALSA SANDWICH

 This is a great recipe of bread which can be taken at any time of the day !!


Ingredients:
Salsa-1/4cup
Bread-6slices
Onion -1small (sliced)
Potato-2(boiled and sliced )
Butter-To apply in the breads
Cheese slice -1(Britannia /Amul)

Method :

1. Apply butter to both the sides of the bread .Keep 3slices of bread in the sandwich maker ,on each piece of bread,  arrange the sliced boiled potatoes , the salsa ,sliced onions  &1/6 of the cheese slice in that order .
2. Place a piece of bread on each of the3 pieces over the potatoes,onion,salsa etc.  and close the sandwich maker. Take them  out from the oven  when done.
3. Serve hot with tomato ketchup .

SALSA

This is a Mexican recipe which is very much like the various chutneys we make  in India .

Ingredients:

Tomatoes -2cups(chopped)
Tomatoes-2cups(puréed)
Onion-1cup(chopped).
Cilantro/coriander leaves  -1cup(chopped)
Jalapeño /Green  chili-3(chopped)
Garlic2pods(chopped)
Salt to taste
Pepper powder to taste

Method :
In a bowl mix all the ingredients and serve it, either chilled or at room temperature, with chips .But you can also serve it with  snacks of your choice .You can make the salsa beforehand and keep in your refrigerator for 10days and make use of it as and when necessary .

FISH DO PYAZZA

Ingredients
Fish-1kg
Turmeric (Haldi) powder -2tspn
Salt-To taste
Oil - 3tbspn
Lemon juice- 2tbspn
Pepper powder- 2tspn
Onion - 2 large(Sliced)
Green Chilli - 3(whole)
Garlic pods- 2(crushed)
Capsicum- 1/2(Sliced)
Tomatoes – 1 large(chopped)
Garam  masala powder -1tspn
Coriander leaves- To garnish
Method:

1. Wash the fish pieces well ,marinate them with salt ,haldi powder ,1tspn pepper powder and 1tbspn lemon juice .Leave it  for 30minutes.
2. Heat 2 tbspn of oil in a pan ,lower the flame and fry both sides of the marinated fish pieces..Keep them aside. 
3. Heat 1 tbspn oil in the pan  ,lower the flame and sauté the onions till brown .Add the chopped garlic and green chilies and saute them till done .
4. Add the chopped tomatoes and sauté till done .Add the  sliced capsicum and sauté till they become tender. 
5. Add the fried fish pieces and mix well taking care that the fish pieces do not break. Add garam masala, 1tpspn lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves .
6. Serve hot with chappati /roti !