Monday 21 December 2009

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori chicken, the name itself makes many peoples mouth water....Hmmmmmmmmmm , including me. Its one of my very very fav dish. When my mom came to UK, i prepared this for her. With no doubt she was so pleased and impressed by the taste. And accepted me to be a real good cook. Hahaha, from then, she started to tell all her friends and relatives about my cooking talent. Hahhaaa, one of the dish that took my name a one step forward. Very glad about that. Well, the recipe is very simple, yet very very tasty. I had the step by step pictures, but i think i missed it during the data transfer from my old Laptop to the new. But hope it should be somewhere in the memory stick. But never mind, will find it soon and post the pictures for you. But today i am here to give you the recipe..........So, here is the recipe just for you..........

Ingredients :

Chicken - 5 ( Leg pieces)
Chilly powder - 3 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - To taste
Ginger and garlic paste - 5 tsp
Tandoori Powder - 2 tsp ( Optional ), but if you dont manage to get, then dont worry, add 2 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp cumin powder , and 1/2 tsp garam masala, and little bit of extra chilly powder for the spice.
Rice flour - 3 tsp
Corn flour - 5 tsp
Red colouring powder - 1/4 tsp
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Oil - to coat.

Preparation :

* First take the chicken pieces, and remove the skin if you perfer ( But i prefer to have it)and wash it.
* Make some cuts on to the chicken flesh ( This is just for the masala to get in.
* Noe except chicken mix all the other ingredients and make into a paste. Make it a thick paste. If it becomes watery, then add little of corn flour to make it thick paste
* Make sure the paste is sufficient to coat all the leg pieces, ( Check for spice and salt).
* Now coat each chicken leg pieces with the masala paste,making sure you apply generously , and also apply into the cuts you made on to the chicken.
* Keep it in the fridge for atleast 30 mins. ( The more time you leave is good) ( I also do this a day before my friends arrive home, and keep it in the fridge for overnight , so that the masala gets in very well)
*Now preheat the Oven at 200 degree Cel for 25 - 30 mins.
* Take the marinated chicken, keep it on the grilling tray, and keep it inside the oven and cook for 15 mins.( turning the chicken inbetween)
* Take out and coat the chicken with oil ( Using brush) and keep it in the oven for 20 mins, also turning the grill. Set the grill for high. ( Make sure you turn the chicken in between and coat it again with the oil.)
* It would take approx 30- 45 mins for the chicken to be cooked. ( But make sure you check )

Hmmmmmmmmm yummy Tandoori chicken is ready to be served hot with some fries and chilly sauce.

The red colour of the chicken is very inviting, so always make sure you make enough and store few for yourself. Hahahah.........ENJOY....

Friday 11 December 2009

Madras Chicken

Hi friends, i know it has been very long time, Its all because of my little princess, who always keep me busy all the time. And particularlly with the christmas nearing , she is having a great time participating in the pre-school production. She was a little snow man. Hooo...just bless her. Well, coming back to the recipe, Madras chicken is one of Chef Dhamodharan's recipe. I just made few alteration to suit my taste. In this recipe chicken is cooked with spices, which really gives a fantastic taste. The spices really worked very well here. The garlic just brings out the fantastic flavour, which in turn pushes us to eat more......( Hmmmm......be aware if you are on diet). hehehehehe. Well.....here is the recipe just for you.

Ingredients :

Chicken - 500grms ( Boneless , chopped in small pieces)
Big onion - 1 ( Chopped finely chopped)
Tomato - 1 and half ( Chopped finely)
Dry Red Chilly - 5
Pepper - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Garlic - 10 pallu
Ginger - small piece
Curry leaves - 1 stem ( Optional )
Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup
Oil - to fry
Cashew nuts - 5
cloves - 1
cinnamon stick - 1 small piece
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Salt - To taste

Preparation :

* Clean the chicken , cut into small pieces, and then marinate with salt and turmeric powder and keep it in the fridge for atleast 1 hrs.

* In the mean time, add dry red chilly, mustard seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, garlic and ginger in the mixer grinder and grind it into fine taste by adding some water.

* Now take the marinated chicken, and fry it in the oil. Keep it aside.


*Now in the same oil, add the chopped onion and fry well. If you are using the curry leaves, then add it now.

* Then Add the grinded masala to the onion, and fry for few mins till the raw smell disappears.
* Then add the chopped tomatoes, fried chicken and coriander leaves and mix well.
* Grind the cashew nuts into paste by adding water, and add it now.

* Then add the water to it. ( The water i added in the pictures looks white, its just beacause i poured it in the cup in which the cashew paste for kept....Not to waste the rest you see.........( Just what our mom's do ).....), So dont get confused with it please.

* Add the salt, and cook.


* Cook until the chicken comes out dry, and the oil starts to come out.


Hmmmmmm.........what else you are waiting, just garnish some coriander leaves and serve hot.


Enjoy..........

Saturday 28 November 2009

Capsicum Soup ( Microwave cooking)

Hi friends, How are you doing. I am dam sure you would rocking asusual. Well today, i am going to post the recipe of capsicum soup. Honestly speaking, i am not a great fan of this, but i often do this for the daughter who loves it, so i prepare it with less ingredients in microwave, because its more easy and quick. So, here comes the microwave version of the simple capsicum soup.

Ingredients :

Capsicum - 4 ( Medium sized) Washed and cut into small pieces
Tomatoes - 2 ( chopped)
Water - 2 cups
Pepper - 1/2 or 1 tsp (according to spice you prefer)
Butter - 1 tsp
Cheese spread - 2 tsp

Preparation :

* Take a microwave bowl, add capsicum, tomatoes and 1 cup of water and microwave for 5 mins.

* Then allow it to cool.
* Then grind it mixer by adding some more water.
* Filter it, for any chunks.


* Then add the rest of the ingredients ( Milk, pepper, salt, cheese spread and butter), and microwave it for another 6- 8 mins.

The simple aned quick capsicum soup is ready. Serve hot.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Eggplant fry / Aubergine fry

Hi friends, today i am posting the recipe of eggplant fry. Once of the most easiest, tastiest, simple and yummy recipe. I always make this, when i come home late, and dont like to take a take-away or go to restaurant. In those busy and unusual days, i find eggplant in my fridge, then i prepared a simple dhal and do this fry. Because its so simple and very quick to make.

Ingredients :

Eggplant - 1 ( Big)
Chilly powder - 1 and half tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - To taste
Ginger and garlic paste - 3 tsp (Optional)
Red food colouring - a pinch
Cornflour - 3 tsp
Rice Flour - 2 tsp
Oil - To fry

Preparation :

* First clean the eggplant, then cut it in thin slices as shown below.

* Then mix all other ingredients except oil and make it a paste using using.


* Then apply the prepared masala to each and every eggplant generously.

* You need not keep this in the fridge, just fry it immedietly.

* Take a pan, add oil and heat it. When the oil is hot, add the eggplant and deep fry it.


* The keep it in a plate covered with tissue to observe excess oil.

The yummy and simple eggplant fry is ready, serve hot and crispy. ( It make a good alternative for a fish fry....ahahaha). Enjoy.....

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Kadai / Kadhai Chicken

Hi freinds, Today i am going to post the recipe for Kadai /kadhai chicken. Its one of my hubbies fav. He loves to have it with rice or roti or chappati. When ever i prepare this dish, its always not sufficient for that day. Once again, this dish is prepared in different ways by different people, but what i post here is the method that i use. So here is the recipe just for you.

Ingredients :

Chicken - 1 kg ( With bone) ( Washed and cleaned , and chopped in medium sized piece)
Big Onion - 2 ( Chopped )
Tomatoes - 3 - 4 ( Chopped )
Chilly powder - 1 and half tsp
Salt - To taste
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 3 - 5 tsp
Coriander leaves - To garnish
Ginger and Garlic paste - 3 -4 tsp
Green Capsicum - 1/2 ( cut into small squares ) ( Optional)

Masala items :

Cloves - 2
Green Cardamons - 3
Cinnamon sticks - 2 - 3 ( small pieces )

Preparation :

* First clean the chicken, cut it into small medium pieces.

* Marinate the chicken with 1/4 chilly powder, pinch of turmeric, and 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste, and 1/4 tsp of salt. Now tranfer it in a pressure cooker and add 1/2 cup of water and pressur cook it . ( Remember , don't add lot of water). Pressure cook it for 2 whistles.

* In the mean time, take a pan, add oil, add chopped onion and fry till golden brown.

* Add the tomatoes and fry well, and then add the ginger and garlic paste.

* Now grind the mixtrue to paste ( Dont grind it to very fine paste thou)

* Then take a another kadai, add oil , and add the masala items.
* If you are adding capsicum then add it now and cook for 3 -5 mins, till they become soft.Then add the grinded mixture , and mix well.

* Now add the chilly powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and cook for few mins.

* Now add the steam cooked chicken pieces. ( If you have any water left in the pressure cooker, then add that water also to the mixture, it will really add up the taste)

* Now check for salt and add some more if needed.

* Keep cooking , by carefully mixing gently.

* Cook until all the oil starts to come out.

* At this stage add the garam masala.

Finally add the coriander leaves and serve hot..........Your Kadai chicken is ready now....Enjoy yours.

( If you prefer, then you could make it more gravy by adding more onion and tomatoes).

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Gobi Manchurian

Hi friends, Today i am going to post the recipe for Gopi Manchurian. I was requested by Mrs Arthi Vijay. A busy mom who really started to explore cooking to impress her 1 and half year old kid. Its so nice to see people contacting me, and asking for more n more different recipe. I really feel happy for it...well, coming back to this gobi manchurian - I have made it bit dry to suit my day. You could always make more gravy. Well, an extra water would do all the magic. So here is the recipe just for you....

Ingredients :

Cauliflower - 1/2 ( Broken into small florets)
Big Onion - 1 ( Chopped lenth wise)
Green Chilly -2 ( chopped lengthwise)
Garlic - 2 ( Chopped into small pieces)
Ginger - small piece chopped finely
Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp ( Optional , You can add it if you wish it to be bit more spicy)
Salt - To taste
Oil - To fry
Corn flour water - ( 1 tsp of cornflour mixed with 1/2 cup water, if you need more gravy, then mix more accordingly)
Lime Juice - 2 - 5 drops
Soya Sauce - 1/2 tsp
Ajinomoto - a pinch
Pepper - 1/2 tsp
Plain flour - 5 tsp
Cornflour - 6 -7 tsp
Red food Colouring - 2 pinch

Preparation :

* First cut the cauliflower into small pieces.
* Then put it in a vessel, add water and pinch of salt and cook it for 5 - 7 mins.
* Drain the water, allow it to cool.
* Then take a vessel add the plain flour, cornflour, pepper and salt, mix everything together and make it into a paste adding some water. Then add the cauliflowers in it and mix well, making sure you geenrously coat cauliflower with the mixture.
* keep it aside.
Now take a heavy bottomed pan/kadai, then add oil, add the chopped garlic and ginger pieces and fry it.
* Then add the onion and fry till golden brown.
* Now add the green chillies and fry for few mins.

* Then add the chilly powder ( optional)
* Add soya sauce, ajinomoto and cook for few more mins.
* Then add the cornflour water, and salt and cook until the mixture is thick. If you want more gravy, then add more water to it.

* Now add the food coloruing. Mix well keep it aside.
* Finally deep fry the cauliflower, and add it to the prepared mixture . ( I prefer frying the caulifower finally and adding it , just to retain its crispness)

* Then finally squeece some lime juice , and serve hot.....

Your Yummy, spicy Gobi Manchurian is ready to be served, Enjoy...

Friday 23 October 2009

Saag Paneer

Saag paneer is one of the famous dish in all Indian Takeway. Its almost a fav dish of many. It is a very simple dish is cook, when you have all Ingridents handy. Here is the recipe just for you.

Ingredients :

Saag : 2 bunch
Paneer : 250 grms ( Cut into cubes)
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Garlic : 2 ( Crushed)
Ginger and garlic paste : 2 tsp
Big Onions : 1 ( medium size) ( Chopped finely)
Green chilly : 1 ( Sliced lenth wise)
Tomato : 1 ( Chopped finely)
Chilly powder : 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala : 1 tsp
Salt : To taste
Oil : To fry ( 2 -3 tsp)
Yogurt : 3 tsp
Water : !/4 cup

Preparation :

* First clean the saag leaves, and cut the bottom stem.

* Chop the leaves and keep it in a vessel, with very less water and cook for few mins. * Cover the vessel and cook. The saag leaves will shrink and at becomes soft. At this time, take out squeece the water from it firmly pressing it with your hands. Try to take out as much as water as possible. * Now take a pan, add oil and add the mustard seeds.
* Then add the crushed garlic and green chilly and fry for few mins. * Then add the chopped onions and fry till golden brown.
* Now add the ginger and garlic paste, and fry till the raw smell disappears.

* Then add the chopped tomato and fry till they are soft.
* Now add the chilly powder, garam masala and salt. * Then add the cooked saag leaves to the pan and mix well.
* Then take 1/4 water and add the yogurt and beat well. Add this mixture to it.
* Finally add the chopped paneer pieces to it. Mix everrything well, and cook for another 3 - 5 mins. Hmmmmmmm the yummy saag paneer is ready to e served. You could make it dry of little bit greasy. Well, have your way. It would really taste great anyway. It goes very well with plain rice or any Indian bread like Naan, capathi, Roti etc. ENJOY....

Thursday 15 October 2009

Chilli Chicken

Hi friends, Here is the recipe for chilli chicken with step by step pictures. One of the visitor named Mrs Hema Balakrishnan, got married recently and moved to Florida asked me for the recipe with step by step images. Well, she also mentioned she is very new to the cooking. Well Hema , i would love to wish you a happy married life, and also would like to say, that i was also the same when i got married.....but now i learnt cooking is such a fun and easy task when we know what we are up to. Friends, my first recipe on spice-india was chilli chicken, but i did not start it with step by step pictures. So here i am glad to re post my first fav recipe with step by step instruction and pictures. I am really happy and glad to see people posting me and asking for recipes. Well, here is the recipe just for you..........

Ingredients :

Chicken - 500grm ( Skinless and boneless. Chop into small pieces)
Corn flour - 10 tsp
Plain flour - 10 tsp
ginger - very small ( skin out, and chop into very small pieces...because we are going to use it directly to our recipe without grinding)
Garlic - 4 piece ( Chopped into small pieces)
Onion - 1 ( Chopped into length wise)
Green chilly - 3 ( Chopped length wise)
Cornflour paste - 1/4 cup ( Add 2 tsp corn flour with 1/4 cup of water and mix well)
water - 1/4 tsp
Ajinomoto - a pinch
Salt - To taste
Food colouring - orange ( 2 pinch)
Oil - To fry
Viniger - 1 tsp
Soya sauce - 1/2 tsp
Green Capsicum - 1/2 ( Chopped into small squares)

Preparation :

* First take the chicken , clean it and skinout. Chop it into small pieces.
* Then add the cornflour and plain flour to it and mix well, sprinkling some water. Make sure you marinate it generously.
* Then heat oil in a pan, and fry the chicken ( Remember - There is no need to add salt , you could marinate and fry it immedietly)

* Keep the fried chicken aside. If you are very concern about the oil, then place it on a plate with few tissues on it. * Now take a pan, add 3 -5 tsp of oil. Then add the chopped ginger and garlic and fry till the raw smell disappears.

* Then add the chopped onion and fry till golden brown. * Add the green chillies and the capsicums and fry till the capsicums are soft
* Then add 1/4 cup of water and 1 tsp of viniger and allow it to boil for 5 mins.
* Then add the soya sauce, ajinomoto and cook for 2 more mins.
* Now add the corn flour water to it and allow it to boil for another 3 - 5 mins. You can see the sauce to thinken. * Now add the food colour and salt and mix well. Now the sauce is ready and when it starts to boil, the chicken is ready to be added.
* So what are you waiting for , add the chicken.
* Mix well. Check for the salt.


Hmmmmm the yummy chilli chicken is ready to be served...........make sure you reserve yours...hmmmmm yummmmmmm........

Saturday 3 October 2009

Pav Bhaji

Hi friends, i know i am bit late this time too to post the recipe. But i do have a valid reason, for which you should really forgive me. Well , its all because of my little princess Trisa's 3rd birthday party. The party went very well. All our friends and kutti's really had great time. Just can't belive that she is 3. Time runs so fast. Think i have a valid reason for my delay. Well no more delay, here is the recipe of Pav Bhaji. Pav bhaji is one of the fav dish of many. Pav means the bun, and Bhaji means "The mixed vegetables flavoured with spices" which makes any one feel hungry and grab their piece. Well, you can have it has a snack or even few like to have it for dinner. Just have it your way, and enjoy......SO....here is the recipe just for you....

Ingredients :
Bun ( Pav ) - 6 - 7 or even more.
Big Onion - 2 ( medium size ) ( Chopped finely)
Tomatoes - 2 ( chopped)
Potato - 1-2
Carrots - 1 ( Peeled and chopped)
Cabbage - 1/2 cup ( Chopped)
Cauliflower - 1/2 cup ( Chopped)
Green peas - 1/4 cup ( If you are using frozen then you can use it directly)
Butter - 5 tsp
Ginger and garlic paste - 2 tsp
pav bhaji masala - 2 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Coriander leaves- 2 tsp ( Chopped)
Salt - To taste

Preparation :

* First take the potato and steam cook ( Then peel and mash it ) . Keep it aside.
* Then take a vessel add the carrots, peas ( If you are using fresh peas), cauliflower, cabbage together, add water and steam cook it. ( mash it roughtly) . Do not make it into paste, but mash well.
* Now take a pan, add oil and add the chopped onions and fry till golden brown. * Then add the ginger and garlic paste, pav bhaji masala and turmeric powder, mix well and fry for new more mins. ( If you could not get pav bhaji masala, but still wish to do it, then add the instead add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala....but remember do this if you really could not get pav bhaji masala at you place. It may not taste as pav bhaji masala, but could really do a good alternative) * Add the tomatoes and fry for few mins.
* Now add the mashed potatoes and the vegetables to the onion.( If you are using the frozen peas, then add it now along with the mashed vegetables) * Mix well, add 1 tsp of butter and salt to taste and mix well, and cook for 5 mins.
* Now the bhaji is ready add the chopped coriander leaves, and keep it aside in a bowl.
* Then cut all the pav( Bun) into two (horizondally). * Take another flat pan heat it and add 1 tsp butter , and now rub the buns not more than 1/2 mins. ( This is just to make the surface crisp). * Do the same for all the buns that are cut. ( Rub to the side which is cut).
* Now apply a thin layer of the bhaji to the crispy part of the bun and place the other piece to the top.
Hmmmmmm...............ENJOY yours......