The Evergreen Good Food Bytes New Year Resolution!

Crispy Open Veggie

Cut & Toast two halves of a Hot Dog/regular Bun on both sides till brown.

Meanwhile, in a pan add a teaspoon of oil, stir fry the veggies (diced capsicum, onion, tomato and mushrooms) for about 3-4 minutes.

Add the herbs(Sage, Rosemary, Roasted Garlic) and salt. 

Once the veggies soften, grate a block of cheese & mix. Turn off the heat. 

Spread over each half of the toasted bun & serve.

Rustic Roasted Garlic

This is the most aromatic ingredient that any kitchen should have! Garlic. 

And what better than roasted garlic that is super easy to make,store and use!

Take a cup of peeled garlic

Spread peeled garlic cloves on a microwave safe baking dish. Microwave for about 20-25 minutes. 

Then bake these at 180 degree for about 15-20 minutes or till they start turning brown.

Take them out and let them cool. 

Once cooled they will become hard. 

Store as is or crush into powder. 

You can add salt to make your own garlic salt seasoning.

Its tastes great and a lovely seasoning for snacks, garlic bread, soups & more!

The Perfect Curry

Craving for that restaurant-ish 'Satin Smooth' curry??? Well curry made at home either goes too runny or too chunky or simply horrible...Isn't that the case with one you made too? But making a delicious smooth curry is really simple! Here it goes:

1) Add 2 diced onions, 5 garlic cloves, 1 inch ginger along with 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok

2) Fry till fragrant

3) Add 2 diced tomatoes & a handful of cashews. Fry again till tomatoes are soft

4) Turn off the heat and let it cool

5) Now grind this till you get a consistently smooth mixture. Add salt while grinding

6) Now heat up the wok again, add a teaspoon of oil

7) Add cumin, 1 chopped red chilly, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 tablespoon of garam masala (or you can add any of the following - Egg curry masala, kitchen king masala, meat masala etc)

8) Add the smooth mixture and a tablespoon of dry kasoori methi leaves (fenugreek)

9) Add whatever you like (Paneer, boiled Eggs, Meat etc) to the mixture. Let the curry cook on slow heat for about 15-20 mins. Stir occasionally

10) You are ready to serve hot yummy curry with Rotis/Naans/Parathas etc **

**You can choose to add 2 tablespoons of butter/fresh cream/smooth yogurt in order to make creamier and smooth as satin ....Just count the calories before you do so! ;)

Tell me how how it was :)

Big on Breakfast: Garlic Potatoes and Egg Yolk Sandwiches

Breakfast is the most important and most beautiful part of a weekend - You sit on the dining table in anticipation of some splendid and mouth watering delights that will last long and relax your senses for a lazy afternoon siesta. Big on Breakfast series is just about that

• Take two boiled potatoes and cut out semicircular slices from both.
• In a small pan, add butter & freshly grated garlic. Heat till garlic begins to get a golden hue. Add some chilly flakes to it now.
• Take a pan, add a teaspoon of oil and add the potato slices. Let the slices get a golden brown color. Add the garlic butter mixture over the slices. Fry for 5 minutes. Add fresh Oregano leaves and mix into the slices.
• Transfer them to a dish.

• Boil 2 eggs. Separate the egg white and yolk by making a neat slit along the egg.
• You could pan fry the egg white slices or just serve them along (as you like)
• To a bowl add the egg yolk balls, 2 tablespoons of Mayonnaise, salt and half a cup sliced onion. Mix them well.
• Add the following herbs: Dill, Mint,Coriander
• Spread the mixture on two toasted slices.
• Serve with Garlic Potatoes and egg white slices.

Tell me how you liked it...

Tofu Falafel with Pita

You can grab it any time of the day... Great for a heavy breakfast or lunch on the go or just a lazy light little dinner...

• Coarsely grate braised (baiyen) Tofu**, half a carrot. Put the mixture in a pan and fry in just about a tablespoon of oil. Let the carrot soften.
• Add fresh tender peas (defrost the peas, if frozen) and fry for 5 minutes.
• Add salt, chilly powder and seasoning as desired.
• Now transfer this to a bowl to cool the mixture. Form patties of the mixture and place in a pan with just a teaspoon oil. (Mashed potato can be added to give binding strength to the mixture).
• Fry till they have a golden brown color on either sides (The patties don't need deep frying)
• Alongside, toast the Pita breads till they have a brownish hue.
• Cut into halves and make a slit along the diameter to form pockets.
• Wrap a lettuce leaf around the patty and insert it into the pocket.
• Make a tangy dip with some fresh mint, salt and two tablespoons of fresh curds in a bowl.

Just what you need when you crave for something different...

**You could use cottage cheese or minced meat (as per availability and taste)

Try and tell me how you liked it...

Fried Melange

A light snack that goes with almost everything and most of the times

alone...

You need: Frozen french fries, frozen corn, paneer(cottage cheese)/braised baiyen tofu

• Take a frying pan
• Add about two tablespoons of oil
• Add a bowl full of thawed French fries, 3 tablespoons thawed corns, 8-10 pieces of paneer cubes
• Once everything is golden brown, take it off the pan into a dish
• Add salt, pepper & oregano and mix gently
• Serve hot
• Goes amazingly well with pasta, noodles etc and of course without anything too....

Try and tell me how you liked it....

Colorful Capsicum Boats

A colorful appetizer...

You need - 3 large Capsicums (red, yellow, green), a cupful of paneer or mashed potatoes, 1 peeled n diced onion, cheese, coriander leaves, salt, oil, spices to taste.

*Wash n cut capsicums into large slices (enuf to accomodate filling)..

*In a pan add 2 tablespoon oil n fry onion till golden. Add paneer or mashed potato, spices n salt.

*Fry the mixture till there's aroma of spices

*On a flat pan add 1 tablespoon oil and let the capsicum slices soften a bit.

*Once done, top the slices with the filling, grate some cheese on top & sprinkle some coriander. Serve hot!

*Arrange the 3 colors alternatively to create a colorful look.... Enjoy!

Good Food - Yummy Chole

This is one mouth watering recipe that I love to gobble up any day! : )

• Soak Choley (Chick Peas) overnight
• Once they have become soaked and soft, boil them in a pressure cooker so as to soften them. Take care not to over pressure cook, as that may cause them to mash
• In a frying pan add one tea spoon oil, let it heat. Add cumin seeds, chopped onions, ginger-garlic paste & a pinch of asefotida powder. Let all this fry a little.
• Now add coriander powder, salt, turmeric, a pinch of red chilly powder & choley masala. Let it heat up for one minute.
• Now boil some tea water (half a cup) and add it to the above mixture.
• Add the boiled Chick Peas (Choley) and let it cook for some time, till the tea water dries off
• If you don't want it to be dry, cook the above only for five minutes taking care the tea water does not completely dry up.
• Serve hot with Bhaturey / Naan / Roti / Puri - along with some onion rings, lemon slices and green chillies!

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )

Eat good, stay happy and healthy!

Good Food - Sabudana Khichdi

Light & Tasty - This is a dish you can savour anytime of the day!

• Soak Sabudana in hot water for about 20-30 mins
• Meanwhile, take a teaspoon of Oil in a Pan, add some cumin seeds, curry leaves, chopped chillies, asoeftida. Heat all these for a minute.
• Add crushed peanuts, 1/2 teaspoon sugar and very little salt to the above.
• Add two spoons of grated coconut to it.
• Lastly add sabudana (drain all the water)
• You can either choose to fry all the above in a pan or microwave it at 80% power for 5-6 minutes
• Serve hot with Chai (Can be served for Breakfast / Lunch / Snacks)

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )
Eat good, stay happy and healthy!

Good Food - Gajar Ka Halwa

This is truly Heaven's Delight - Looks difficult to make, but is as easy as gulping a bowl full of it! : )

• Take 5-6 Carrots (Gaajar). Scrap them well, wash and keep aside
• Now grate it finely through a grater
• Take a pan (Kadhai), and put grated carrot into it. Let it dry off the excess water for 5 mins.
• Add milk (3-4 cups) or (2.5 cups milk and 1.5 cup Milkmaid).
• Let the milk boil, while cooking up the carrots.
• Add powdered Cardamom (Elaichi) and dry fruits (cashew, almonds, raisins)
• In last 10 mins (when the mixture almost absorbs milk), add sugar to your taste
• Let the milk be completely absorbed
  
• When fully made (it should become deep orange in colour)
• Serve it hot or after cooling in fridge for sometime!

Ain't this as simple and quick as your desire for a bowl full of Gajar ka Halwa!!!

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )

Eat good, stay happy and healthy!

Good Food - Daal Makhani

This is one recipe that I can gorge on any day / anytime !!!

• Take a small bowl of Lentils (Kaali Daal) and half bowl of Kidney Beans ( Rajma) and soak them overnight.
• Chop an Onion, 2 Garlic cloves, 1 Ginger piece, 1 Green Chilly together
• In a cooker, heat some oil and fry the above ingredients, along with a piece of cinnamon, 1 brown cardamom, a bay leaf & a teaspoon of cumin seeds
• Once the contents turn alight brown, add a teaspoon of turmeric powder( haldi), salt, half teaspoon coriander powder (dhaniya powder) & half teaspoon garam masala
• Add Daal , Rajma & close the cooker now and let daal boil
• Once boiled completely (both daal and rajma become very soft), add a small bowl full of whipped cream
• Blend with a laddle and let it cook for another 2 mins.
• Serve hot

Combines best with: Naan, Tandoori Roti, Roomali Roti, Rice

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )

Eat good, stay happy and healthy!

Good Food - Masala Chai

This is one beverage, that most of us can't live without, yet many don't make a good one...

For two cups of tea:

• Take 1.5 cup of water, add to it tea leaves, Cinnamon (Dal chini), Elaichi (Cardamom), a pinch of pepper & a tea spoon of fresh crushed ginger & sugar to taste
• Boil the mix
• Add 1 cup milk
• Let it brew well

Enjoy a hot cup of "Masala" tea!

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )
** A soothing home remedy for common cold

Eat good, stay happy and healthy!

Good Food - Jhatpat Chatpat Chutney

• Take 2 handful of fresh & washed coriander & mint leaves, 1/2 sliced onion, 1 tomato, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 small ginger piece, 2 green chillies, a teaspoon of cumin seeds (Jeera), a teaspoon salt, a pinch of garam masala, one teaspoon lemon juice
• Grind in a mixer
• Chatpati Chutney is ready to eat!

Combines Best with: Virtually everything: snacks, meals, chips etc.

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )

Eat good, stay happy and healthy!

Good Food - Methi Paratha

You can call it Thepla too (in Gujarati). Or leave the name...just relish it...after all what's in a name! : )

• Take four handfuls of Wheat Flour in a wide bowl.
• Put a handful of fresh washed Methi Leaves (Don't forget to remove those stems!)
• Put a teaspoon of salt, half teaspoon haldi (turmeric), a pinch of Garam Masala, a pinch of Dhaniya powder (coriander powder), a tea spoon of vegetable oil, two teaspoon of sesame seeds (Til seeds)
• Make a dough with milk and little water (Once the dough is ready, just Dab a little oil to make it non-sticky)
• Make small balls out of this dough and flatten it to make good round shaped roti
• While this roti heats up, dab a little oil on it to make parathas.

Combines Best with : Eat it plain, with sabji, vegetables, Ketchup... Can be eaten any time of the day!!!

Try and Tell me how you liked it.... : )

Eat good, stay happy and healthy!