Sunday, August 28, 2005

Plantain Kofta Curry

From: http://www.bawarchi.com/contribution/contrib2015.html
For KOFTAS:
Green Plantains - 4
Besan - 1/2 cup (basically enough to bind the green plantain together when frying the koftas)
Bread - 2 slices
Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
Red Chilli Powder to taste
Salt to taste

For GRAVY:
Oil - 4 tbsp
Ginger - 2 inches long piece
Garlic - 4-5 cloves
Onion - 1 1/2 cups finely chopped
Tomatoes - 1 1/2 cups finely chopped
Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
Cinnamon - 1 inch long
Cardamom - 3-4
Clove - 5-6
Bay leaves - 2
Cumin Powder - 2 tbsp
Corriander Powder - 2 tbsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1 tbsp
Amchur - 1/2 tbsp
Red Chilli Powder & Salt to taste

Method:

For KOFTAS:
Boil the plantains with in salt water. Peel and mash to fine paste.
Add cumin seeds, 'besan', crumbled bread slices (i think they add to the crispness of the kofta), salt and chilli powder. The consistency should be such that the mix can retain a firm shape when dropped into the oil to deep fry. Let this mix set for maybe an hour or more.
Heat oil (like the way you would do to fry 'pakodas'). And then with a tbsp, scoop mix into the boiling oil and fry it into koftas.

For GRAVY:
Heat oil in deep pan.
Mildly fry bay leaves, cumin seeds, and crushed mix of the cinnamon, cloves & cardamom.
Add finely chopped ginger & garlic (or ginger garlic paste, which you can prepare in blender) to the oil. Once this turns brown, add chopped onions and cook till they turn transparent or brown.
Then add the tomatoes, cumin powder, corriander powder, garam masala powder, amchur, chilli powder and salt. And let cook till the tomatoes are tender.
Add 2 cups of water to this mix and let it cook for a while till everything blends well together. Adjust the spices at this time if you feel something is less or more.
Once the gravy is cooked, drop the koftas into it, and let them soak it in for atleast 2 hours.
Garnish with cilantro & serve hot.
You can make koftas substituting the plantain with grated 'lauki' or assorted vegetables (like boiled potatoes & peas), etc.
Serve hot with 'rotis' or rice.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Lauki with Coconut Milk

From Debarati!
1 onion slices
2 tomatoes chopped
1 lauki peeled + cut into thin, long strips

(Adjust tomatoes and onions depending on the size of the lauki!)

Add oil, then add some whole jeera and the onions
Fry onions till light brown then add tomatoes.
Cook until oil comes out
then add jeera pwder, chilli powder, turmeric and salt.
Add some water and the lauki; cover andcook till almost fully cooked
Add a little bit of cocunut milk and boil a few minutes

Shahi Paneer

Ingredients
1 block of paneer, grated
Blend to a paste, the following
2 medium onions
1" ginger piece
4 flakes garlic
2 green chillies

Powder together, the following
2" cinnamon stick
2-3 cardammoms
2-3 cloves
1 tbsp poppy seeds
2 tbsp cashewnuts(or almonds)

2 tomatoes pureed
2 tsp red-chilli pwd
A pinch of turmeric
2 tsp coriander pwd
1 tsp cumin pwd
1 cup of cream
Salt to taste
2 tbsp cooking oil

Method
Heat a little oil and fry the onion paste till it begins
to brown.
Mix in the poppy-cashew powder and the other dry powders.
Fry for a minute and then add the pureed tomatoes.
Add some water and bring to a boil.
Add salt to taste.
Add the cream and mix well.
Add the grated paneer,heat through and eat it hot
with chapathi/naan.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Cilantro Pesto Pasta

Cilantro Pesto
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups cilantro leaves
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Onion Mixture
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 cup chopped sweet onion, such as Vidalia
1 cup diced red bell pepper
4 1/2 oz. can mild green chilies
1/2 oz. dried orecchiette, gnocchi or medium shell pasta
1 cup grated Pepper Jack cheese (3 oz.)

Directions:
1. Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

2. Meanwhile, make pesto: In small dry skillet, toast almonds over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until light golden and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes.Transfer to small bowl and let cool.

3. In food processor, combine almonds, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, salt and pepper; process until finely chopped. With motor running, add 2 Tbs. oil and lime juice through the feed tube, processing until mixture forms paste and stopping to scrape down sides of work bowl as necessary. Transfer mixture to small bowl.

4. Add pasta to boiling water; stir to prevent sticking. Cook, stirring often, until just tender, 8 to 12 minutes. While pasta is cooking, in large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tsp. oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell
pepper; cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add green chilies and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

5. Just before pasta is cooked, scoop out 13 cup of pasta cooking water and add to pesto, stirring well. Drain pasta and transfer to large, warm bowl.Add onion mixture and cheese; toss to coat well. Serve immediately.

Orange, Mint and Asparagus Salad

Modified from vegetarian times
SERVES 8
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed
3 large navel oranges
1 cup chopped scallions
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
1 Tbs. white wine or cider vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions:


Bring large pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop asparagus in water, return to a boil and remove from heat. Let asparagus stand in water 1 minute, then drain and rinse under cold water. Cut asparagus on diagonal into 1-inch pieces.

Put in large bowl with asparagus, scallions and chopped mint. Toss well.

3. Juice one navel orange. Whisk together 2 Tbs. orange juice, vinegar, oil, salt and pepper in small bowl. Stir dressing into asparagus mixture.

Cut the remaining oranges and add it to the mixture. Gently toss to combine. Chill one hour, or overnight. Retoss before serving.

Chilled Cucumber Soup

From vegatarian times
SERVES 4 -- Egg-free

1 large English cucumber peeled, seeded and chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh dill
3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 cup vegetable stock
4 cups plain low- or nonfat yogurt
2 scallions, trimmed and chopped (white part only)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Lemon slices and dill sprigs for garnish

Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender and purée until fairly smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste. Cover tightly and chill at least 3 hours. Garnish with dill sprigs and lemon slices before serving.