CHINGRI DOPEYAJA

Ingredients:

1 bag of Shrimps

1 Bay leaf

2-3 onions/ shallots chopped

1 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

3-4 cloves of garlic

2-3 green chillies

Cilantro/Corriander chopped for garnishing

In a heated pan add oil and add the bay leaf. Fry the onions/shallots in the hot oil. Fry them until golden brown. You can remove half the onions from the pan. In the other half of the onion in the pan add turmeric and red chilli powder. Fry the dry spices for a while. Then add the shrimps in the pan. You can add a little bit of boiled water if you do not want the shrimps to be too dry. After 4-5 mins of adding the water AND cooking the shrimps you can turn the stove off.

Before serving, you can garnish the dish with chopped corriander or cilantro. Wallah, your Chingri Dopeyaja is ready for the feast.

Green Mango Salad (Desi Style)

Green Mango Salad during a summer day taste so amazing and heavenly, its unbelievable.

Ingredients:

~Green Mango- 1-2 (as many you like)

~Olive Oil- 1-2 drops

~Red Onion- half of it chopped

~Green Chilli- 1-2 (accoring to the heat you need)

~Salt- to taste

~Pepper- crushed pepper

~Mustard Oil (Shorishar Tel)

~Kashondi

~Lime zest

~Lime Juice- Half of the lime

~Cilantro-for garnishing

Direction:

Add alll the ingredients together in a bowl and Mix well. Serve Cold and sprinkle a little bit of Cilantro before serving.

Mamu's Indian Spiced Chicken Baked

During the Victoria Day Long Weekend on 21st May 2011, my beloved hubby baked some amazing Indian spiced chicken. He marinated the chicken with his secret ingredients while I made some Raitas and fried some Khulchas to go with our yummy spicy baked Chicken. Unfortunately, we were too hungry to take the picture of the Raita and the Khulcha later but here is a picture of the chicken to enjoy. Hope Mamu dearest makes this amazing chicken for me again :D

Finally, I just want to mention, My Love and Understanding for Food and Music have evolved and grown cause of you Mishu. You have become my inspiration, my muse for music and food. Love you always Mamu xoxo.

Smurf Mushroom

Real life cartoon looking mushroom. A mushroom where you can imagine the Smurfs living in.

Indian Dhokla with Tomatoe Chutney

Dhokla (Suji - Semolina)

Recipe for 4 side servings:

Ingredients:

350gms Gram flour (Besan)
1cup Curd (Stirred)
1tsp Green Chilies (paste)
1tsp Ginger (paste)
Salt to taste
1tsp Soda bi-carb / Eno fruit salt
1 Lemon juice
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1tbsp Oil
For Tampering
Few Curry leaves
1tsp Mustard Seeds
2tsp Oil
Coriander leaves (chopped)
2-3 green chilies (vertically slit)

Preparation:

• In a bowl add gram flour (besan), Curd and water.
• Mix well and make a smooth batter. The batter should be of thick consistency.
• Add salt and set aside for 4 hours covered with a lid.
• Take the ginger and green chili paste and add to the batter. Also add turmeric powder and mix well.
• Keep the steamer or cooker ready on gas.
• Grease a baking dish (it should fit in the steamer or cooker).
• Now in small bowl take a tsp. of soda bi-carb or eno, 1tsp oil and lemon juice and mix well.
• Add this to the batter and mix well.
• Pour the batter into the greased pan and steam for 10-12 minutes or till done.
• Cool for sometime and cut into big cubes.
• Heat little oil in a small pan and add mustard seeds and curry leaves allow to splutter. Remove and pour it over dhoklas.
• Garnish the besan dhokla with coriander and slited green chilies.
• Serve with hari chutney.

Spring Salad

Salad inspired by the spring weather. Here is the recipe for my Green Spring Salad:

Ingredients:

~Arugula

~Avocado

~Tomatoe

~Cheddar cheese shredded

~Lemon Juice- 2 Tblspn

~Salt

~Crushed Pepper

~Crushed Garlic (according to taste)

~Olive Oil

~Balsamic Vinegar- 3-4 drops

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together with Olive oil.

Season well with salt and pepper.

Before serving sprinkle the Balsamic vinegar and cheddar cheese for garnishing.

Mulligatawny Soup

This delicious Anglo-Indian soup is a product of the British Raj in India. Mulligatawny is chicken soup flavored with Indian spices. Serve it with Basmati rice or with a chunk of crusty bread!

Ingredients:

• 500 gms boneless chicken diced or cut into 1" thick strips
• 3 tbsps vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 large onions chopped very fine
• 8 cloves garlic minced very fine
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1 tsp garam masala (to make your own see recipe below)
• 1 cup Toor/ Arhar Daal (Split Yellow Pigeon Peas)
• 2 cups frozen chopped mixed vegetables - carrots, beans peas (optional)
• 2 liters chicken stock
• 1 cup canned coconut milk
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Preparation:

• Heat the oil on a medium flame in a deep pan/ pot. Add the bay leaf and fry for 30 seconds.
• Add the onion and fry till transparent.
• Add the garlic and fry for a minute. Add all the powdered spices and fry for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the chicken and fry till sealed/ lightly browned.
• Add the Toor Daal and fry for a minute.
• If you're using the mixed vegetables, add them now.
• Add the chicken stock and simmer the flame. Cook till the Daal is soft.
• When Daal is cooked/ soft, add the coconut milk. Mix well.
• Turn off fire, add lemon juice and mix.
• Serve hot in individual bowls, poured over a bed of cooked Basmati rice. Garnish with chopped fresh coriander.

Delicacies from a Dhaka-ite: Biryani Recipe by Chef Khadijah

Delicacies from a Dhaka-ite: Biryani Recipe by Chef Khadijah: "Dear bloggers. This is a post about one of THE best biryani's I've ever had in my life, in competition with Fakruddin. (I'm not exaggerating..."

Lunch out @ Udupi Palace once Again !

This time we went there for lunch with my brother in law Sohel Bhaia. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and we were out to enjoy the first summer weather of the year.

For lunch I ordered the South Indian Thali while, Mamu & Sohel bhai ordered two Masala Dosas and one Chana Bhatura. They shared the chana bhaturas after they enjoyed their masala dosas. All in all we three had a wonderful time over lunch @ Udupi Palace my, uncounted time being there.