Home cooking

Mutton Masala


Mutton Masala

The best mutton masala! Requires little preparation and is my go to dish if I have to cook abundantly for a party or festive occasion as it can be marinated the previous day and refrigerated. Next day, just put it on the fire and continue with your other preparations! So one of your main dishes gets out of the way leaving you time to concentrate on other food preparation.

Depending on the occasion, your can manage the consistency of the gravy. If it is for a regular family meal where you need just one curry with a vegetable or some side, keep the gravy fairly thin to serve over steamed rice. For a party menu where the spread would include several dishes, keep the gravy thick. Both taste awesome!!

Mutton Masala

Ingredients

  • 1 Kg. Mutton/Lamb
  • 4 large tomatoes
  • 6 green cardamoms
  • 6 Cloves
  • 2”Cinnamon
  • 6 flakes garlic
  • 1.5” pc. Ginger
  • 4 medium Onions
  • 4 Kashmiri chillis or 2 tsp. Kashmiri chilli powder or to taste
  • 1 tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp. ghee
  • 1 cup green peas
  • 2 tbsp. Chopped coriander
  • 3 Boiled eggs for garnish
  1. Clean and wash mutton and chop into cubes.
  2. Grind all the ingredients from cardamom to cumin seeds to a paste with salt.
  3. Rub the mutton with the masala paste and let it stand for half an hour.
  4. Blanch and chop tomatoes.
  5. Heat ghee and add the mutton together with all the masala.
  6. Fry for 5 minutes, then add tomatoes and ½ cup water. (Add an additional cup of water if thinner gravy is desired)
  7. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover tightly and let it simmer 1 hour or until is mutton is done.
  8. Add green peas and cook further 10 minutes till ghee separates.
  9. Add chopped coriander leaves, save some for garnish.
  10. Serve hot garnished with green coriander and sliced boiled eggs.

P.S.: To Blanch Tomatoes, wash tomatoes and make a small cross-cut on the top of the tomato and immerse in hot water for 10 mintues.  Drain and peel off the skin. Chop and use as desired.

Cabbage Paneer Parathas


Cabbage Paneer Parathas

Healthy, nutritious, cabbage and paneer stuffed parathas. Enjoy them hot for breakfast or brunch or as a quick meal. Satisfy those hunger pangs and have as a snack!! Try the Aloo Parathas too…

CABBAGE PANEER PARATHAS

Ingredients

  • 2 cups wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp. melted ghee or oil
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • ½ to 1 tsp. Ajwain (Carom seeds)
  • 2 cups cabbage, shredded fine
  • 1 cup paneer, crumbled
  • ½ cup coriander, chopped
  • 2 green chillies, chopped fine

Method

  1. Wash, drain and sprinkle salt over the cabbage and keep aside for 10 minutes. 
  2. Sieve flour with salt. 
  3. Add the melted ghee/oil and mix well.
  4. Add water and knead well to a soft dough.
  5. Cover with wet cloth and set aside.
  6. Squeeze out the water from the cabbage and add the paneer, coriander, green chillies, salt (if required) and mix well.
  7. Keep aside.
  8. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions.
  9. Roll out each portion into circle of about 4” diameter.
  10. Spread 2 heaped tbsp. stuffing over the entire circle and cover with another circle.
  11. Roll the paratha lightly to compact it and seal the edges.
  12. Heat a tawa and fry till done on both sides. 
  13. Spread little ghee and remove. 
  14. Serve hot with yogurt and pickle or with butter.

Sprouted Moong and Jackfruit Seeds Curry


Sprouted Moong (Green Gram) and Jackfruit Seeds (Bikna) Curry

A super easy, quick, delicious and highly nutritious curry.

When I last prepared the sprouted moong bhaji (check  out  the video recipe) I had saved the excess sprouts in the freezer.  The Biknas I had frozen a large batch of boiled jackfruit seeds.  These proved handy when I had to rustle up a quick nutritious meal before rushing to work!

All you need is some steamed rice or chapatis any bread of your choice, with your favorite pickle (aachar).

For a more elaborate meal, serve with fried fish or fish cutlets!!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sprouted moong (green gram)
  • 1 cup boiled jackfruit seeds (Bikna)
  • 1 medium to large Potato (optional), cubed
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 flakes garlic, sliced
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • 2 tbsp. Bafat masala, or to taste
  • 4 tbsp. coconut powder
  • 1 tbsp. tamarind pulp
  • 1 tsp. Salt, or to taste
  • 1 tbsp. Oil

Method

  1. Rinse the sprouts and drain.   
  2. In a vessel add oil, when hot add the mustard seeds, when they splutter, add the curry leaves, garlic and onion and saute till onions are light brown. 
  3. Add the bafat masala and fry for ½  a minute. 
  4. Add the moong and and potatoes, if using, and more water, salt and bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes till potatoes are cooked. 
  5. Add the boiled bikna and tamarind pulp and cook 5 minutes. 
  6. Meanwhile dilute the coconut powder with some water and add to the curry, adjust gravy by adding sufficient water. 
  7. Bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes or till fat suraces. 
  8. Serve hot.

Kashmiri Roti


Kashmiri Roti

Kashmiri Roti

Ingredients

  • 2 cups wheat flour (Atta)
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp. fennel seeds (Saunf)
  • 1 tsp. Ajwain (Carom seeds)
  • ½ tsp. black pepper powder
  • A pinch asafoetida
  • ¾ to 1 cup warm milk, for kneading
  • 1 tsp. Salt, or to taste
  • Ghee for frying the rotis

Method

  1. Sieve the flour and add cumin, fennel, ajwain, Pepper, asafoetida, salt and mix. 
  2. Make a well in the centre, add some milk and bring the dough together, adding milk a little at a time. 
  3. Knead the dough for 10 minutes till soft and smooth. 
  4. Cover with a damp cloth and leave aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Divide into 10 to 12 balls. 
  6. Roll each ball into a thin disc dusting with flour. 
  7. Roast on a hot tava, till brown spots appear on both sides
  8. Apply ghee and serve hot with Kashmiri Dum Aloo or any of your favorite curry or bhaji.
  9. Also serve Kashmiri Saag, for  complete meal

Kashmiri Dum Aloo


Kashmiri Dum Aloo

Ingredients

  • 15 Baby Potatoes, boiled and peeled
  • ½ tsp. chilli powder
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • 2 tbsp. ghee
  • ½ cup curd, mixed with ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup tomato puree
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp. coriander powder
  • ½ tsp. garam masala powder
  • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp. dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) (Optional)
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • ½ cup coriander leaves, chopped

To prepare Onion Paste, roast & grind

  • 2 medium onions
  • 1/2″ pc. Ginger, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 2 green chillies
  • 3 red dry chillies, preferably Kashmiri
  • 2 cloves
  • 1” pc cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp. oil

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a pan, add the cloves, cinnamon, ginger, garlic red and green chillies and fry for a minute. 
  2. Add the sliced onions and fry further 1 minute. 
  3. Take off fire and let cool, then grind to a paste adding some water.  Keep aside.
  4. Heat a vessel and add 2 tbsp  ghee. 
  5. Add the boiled potatoes, chilli powder and salt and fry on medium heat for 5 minutes till golden. 
  6. Remove the potatoes and set aside. 
  7. To the same oil add 1 tsp. cumin seeds and saute for few seconds. 
  8. Add the onion paste, rinse the jar and add the water. 
  9. Add the coriander, turmeric and garam masala powder, stir and cook 5 minutes. 
  10. Add the tomato pulp, ¼ cup water if required and taste and add salt, cook 2 minutes. 
  11. Take off heat and add the yogurt mixture, 1 tsp. sugar, kasuri methi and mix.  Crush the kasuri methi lightly before adding,
  12. Place on heat and add the potatoes and cook 2 minutes. 
  13. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with Kashmiri rotis or puris or pulao.
  14. Serve alongwith Kashmiri Saag for a complete meal.

Tambdi Bhaji Tel Piyav


Tambdi Bhaji Tel Piyav (Red Amaranth Vegetable)

Ingredients

  • 4 bunches Tambdi Bhaji
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 red dry chillies
  • 4 flakes garlic
  • ¼ cup fresh coconut
  • 1 tbsp. oil
  • ½ tsp. salt or to taste

Method

  1. Clean the tambdi bhaji, discarding the damaged and insect eaten leaves. 
  2. Save only the clean and complete leaves and the tender stalks.  To find out if the stalks are tender, they should snap easily on breaking. 
  3. Immerse in plenty of salted water and leave for 10 to 15 minutes to loosen the dirt and kill insects if any. 
  4. Slice the onion, crush the garlic, break the red chillies into 2 to 3 pieces and transfer to a cooking vessel.
  5. Wash the soaked bhaji well, drain and chop roughly.
  6. Add the vegetable to the vessel, add salt and oil and 1/4 cup water if desired and place on heat and cook 10 minutes till vegetable is tender.  Stir in between.
  7. Add the fresh coconut, mix and cook further 5 minutes. 
  8. Take off the fire and serve hot.

Hot and Sour Sardines Curry


Hot and Sour Sardines Curry

Hot and Sour Sardines Curry

Tarle Amotik curry (Tallyanchi Kodi)

Ingredients

  • 3 large sardines or 8 to 10 small
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 green chillies
  • 6 kokum petals (dried mangosteen)
  • 10 to 12 Tefla (Indian Prickly Ash)
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste

Grind to a Paste

  • 8 Kashmiri Chillies
  • 2 tbsp. coconut powder (optional)
  • ¼ tsp. cumin seeds
  • ¼ tsp. peppercorns
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder
  • 6 flakes garlic
  • A small ball tamarind

Method

  1. Descale the fish, cut off head and tail and remove and discard the intestine, etc. 
  2. Clean and wash well. 
  3. ½ tsp. salt and set aside. 
  4. I have taken 3 large sardines and cut each into half.
  5. Grind the masala to a smooth paste. 
  6. Slice the onion and slit the green chillies. 
  7. Crush the tefla lightly to release the flavor and set aside. 
  8. Take a vessel and add the onion and green chillies.  
  9. No oil is required for this curry. 
  10. Add the masala with the masala water and adjust consistency of the curry (we like it thin). 
  11. Add 1 tsp. salt or to taste.
  12. Place on heat and bring to a boil. 
  13. Add the tefla and kokum pieces.
  14. The tefla add flavor to the curry and not to be consumed.
  15. Reduce flame and simmer 5 minutes. 
  16. Add the fish.  Do not stir to avoid breaking the fish.  Shake the vessel so the fish pieces settle and do not overlap each other. 
  17. Increase flame, bring to a boil, reduce flame and simmer 10 minutes till oil appears on the surface and the curry appears glossy. 
  18. Switch off and serve hot with steamed rice. 

Spanish Rice


Spanish Rice

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (500 gms.) Basmati Rice
  • 4 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 medium onions, chopped (or green onions)
  • 2 tbsp. Vindaloo paste*
  • ¼ cup Oil, preferably olive oil
  • 1 large capsicums, green or any colour of your choice, chopped
  • 1 tin corn or 6 fresh corn cobs or green peas
  • 1 cup prawns, shelled and deveined
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste
  • To make vindaloo paste:
  • Mix the following in 2 tbsp. vinegar
  • 2 tsp. Kashmiri chilli powder
  • 1 tsp. ginger paste
  • 1 tsp. garlic paste
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric powder (or a pinch saffron)
  • ½ tsp. cumin powder
  • The above may also be ground to a paste using 3 whole red kashmiri chillies

Method

  1. Wash and soak rice for 15 minutes. 
  2. To cook, bring water to a boil, add the rice and cook 5 minutes (after it starts boiling) till grains are still firm and slightly undercooked.
  3. Leave aside to cook.
  4. Heat 2 to 3 tbsp. oil and fry the chopped onions lightly.
  5. Add the vindaloo paste and saute for a minut
  6. Then add the prawns and fry well. 
  7. Add chopped tomatoes (I have used two tbsp tomato paste instead),
  8. Slit capsicums, salt and ½ cup water and let the capsicums cook for 2 minutes. 
  9. Add the corn and the parboiled rice.  Mix well. 
  10. Add the remaining oil over the rice and place in the oven for ½ an hour or on a stove top for 15 minutes. 
  11. When rice is cooked remove, and serve hot.
  12. Garnish with green onions.

Surnali


Surnali or Surnoli

Surnali (Surnoli)

Buttermilk Dosa, Sponge Dosa, Sweet Dosa, Konkani Pancake, Mangalorean Surnoli, Udupi Surnali, Sweet Surnoli, Plain Surnoli

A Soft and fluffy mangalorean pancake you can make in two ways – Sweet & Plain (Savory) which can be enjoyed for breakfast, as a snack or as an accompaniment with your favorite curry for lunch and dinner.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Idli or basmati Rice
  • 2 cups Buttermilk
  • 1 cup poha
  • ¼ tsp. fenugreek seeds
  • ½ cup coconut
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. Soda bicarb

For sweet version

  • ½ tsp. turmeric
  • ¼ cup jaggery powdered (for half the above quantity of batter)

Method

  1. Wash the rice and fenugreek seeds and soak in buttermilk for atleast 4 hours. 
  2. Soak the poha in water for 15 minutes. 
  3. Grind the rice, poha, coconut to a thick paste. 
  4. As far as possible do not add more water when grinding. 
  5. Add salt to the batter and divide into two. 
  6. To one half, add turmeric powder and jaggery and mix well till jaggery is dissolved.
  7. Leave both the batters to ferment 8 hours or overnight. 
  8. Before frying you may add a pinch or ¼ tsp. soda bicarb to the batter (If the batter has not fermented well) and mix.  This is optional.
  9. You may thin down the batter slightly, if required by adding little water if batter is too thick.
  10. To fry, heat a dosa pan very hot, smear with oil using an onion, put two ladles of batter (3/4 cup), do not spread. 
  11. Cover and cook till it is covered with holes, becomes opaque and light brown on the edges.  (Suruli for holes in Konkani).
  12. Remove and serve the sweet Surnalis with butter
  13. And the plain or savory ones with chutney.
  14. Also enjoy them with your favorite curry for lunch or dinner.

Karela Bitter Gourd Stir Fry


Karela Bitter Gourd Stir Fry

Karela Bitter Gourd Stir Fry, is usually cooked at home on a weekly basis. This is the only way we enjoy it besides is easy and quick to prepare.

Ingredients

  • 3 Large Karelas (Bitter Gourd)
  • 2 to 3 tbsp. Coconut or Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp. chilli powder, or to taste
  • ½ sp. Turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp. Amchur (Dry mango powder)
  • 1 tsp. salt, or to taste

Method

  1. Wash the Karelas. 
  2. Chop the head and tail and slit vertically (lengthwise) in half. 
  3. Scoop out the seeds. 
  4. Cut the vegetable horizontally into thin slices.
  5. Add the salt to the sliced Karela, mix well and set aside 10 minutes.  Then squeeze out the karela to remove the excess juice (this removes some of the bitterness, but this step is optional). 
  6. Transfer the karela to a vessel. 
  7. Add the oil, chilli powder, turmeric powder, amchur and mix well. 
  8. If you skip step 5 then , set aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
  9. Cook on medium flame and stir fry till karela is cooked and lightly fried, but do not burn. 
  10. Serve with rotis or as an accompaniment with any meal.

Raw Banana and Yam Curry with Jackfruit seeds


Raw Banana and Yam Curry with Jackfruit seeds

This is a satvick preparation, no oil,  onion, garlic, chillies.  Can be had as a fastiing food as well.

Ingredients

  • 2 Raw green bananas
  • ¼ kg. yam (suran, soorn, elephants foot)
  • ½ to 1 cup boiled and peeled bikna (jackfruit seeds) or substitute with boiled red kidney beans
  • 1 cup fresh grated coconut
  • ½ tsp. cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp. pepper corns
  • 2 tsp. turmeric powder (1 tsp when boiling the vegetable & one tsp to add when grinding)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 tsp. salt

Method

  1. Clean and cut the raw bananas and yam into cubes and immerse in water until required.
  2. Boil with water, 1 tsp. turmeric, salt and curry leaves, till tender.
  3. Boil the jackfruit seed, cool and peel, boil red kidney beans if using.
  4. Add to the yam and plantains.
  5. Grind the coconut, cumin, pepper corns, turmeric powder to a smooth paste. 
  6. When the vegetables are tender, add the curry paste, mix well and heat through. 
  7. The curry paste is not to be cooked too much just heated through, so make sure the vegetables are cooked well before adding the curry paste. 
  8. You may mash some yam pieces against the sides of the pan to thicken the gravy if you must. 
  9. Serve hot.

Dudhi and Chana Dal Bhaji


Dudhi and Chana Dal Bhaji

Dudhi and Chana Dal bhaji

(White pumpkin & split chick peas vegetable)

We love this vegetable gravy. Only turmeric powder is added as a spice in addition to the fresh ingredients. So even though it is cooked with minimum spices yet turns out delicious, light & nutritious.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chana dal
  • 1 medium pumpkin
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 green chillies, chopped
  • 2 lakes garlic, sliced
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 2 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves to garnish.

Method

  1. Wash and boil the dal in 2 cups water. 
  2. Peel the pumpkin, cut into cubes, wash and drain. 
  3. When the dal is half cooked add the pumpkin cubes and salt and cook till dal and pumpkin are tender.  Don’t overcook the dal, should be tender yet whole.
  4. Set aside.
  5. Take another vessel and add oil. 
  6. When hot add the chopped onion and garlic and green chillies. 
  7. Fry till onion is translucent
  8. Then add the chopped tomatoes and cook till tomatoes are soft. 
  9. Add turmeric powder, mix and add the cooked dal and pumpkin, sufficient water for gravy and bring to boil. 
  10. Lower flame and simmer for 10 minutes or till oil surfaces. 
  11. Adjust seasoning and add the chopped coriander leaves, mix.
  12. Serve hot with any Indian bread or steamed rice.

Yam and Moong Curry


Yam and Moong Curry

Yam (Suran, Elephants foot) and Moong (Green Gram) Curry

Ingredients

  • ½ cup whole moong (green gram)
  • ½ kg. Yam (elephants foot)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 4 flakes garlic
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • ½ tsp. mustard seeds
  • 1 tbsp. Bafat masala, or to taste
  • ½ cup fresh coconut
  • 1 tsp. tamarind pulp
  • 1 tsp. jaggery (optional)
  • 1 tbsp. Oil

Method

  1. Clean the yam and cut into cubes, wash and drain.  Use gloves to prevent hands itching. 
  2. Pick and wash the moong and boil with 2 cups water. 
  3. When half done, add the yam pieces and cook till moong and yam are tender. 
  4. Add salt. 
  5. Take off flame. 
  6. In another vessel, add oil, when hot add the mustard seeds
  7. When they splutter, add the curry leaves, crushed garlic and onion and saute till onions are light brown. 
  8. Add the bafat masala and fry for a minute. 
  9. Add the moong and yam vegetable alongwith the stock and add more water for curry if required.
  10. Bring to a boil and simmer till oil surfaces. 
  11. Add the tamarind and jaggery and fresh coconut and adjust seasoning. 
  12. Cook for 5 minutes and take off the heat.  Serve hot.

Sprouted Moong Bhaji


Sprouted Moong Bhaji

Sprouted Moong (Green Gram) Bhaji

Ingredients

  • 2 to 4 cups sprouted moong
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 to 3 flakes garlic, sliced
  • 1” pc ginger, chopped
  • 2  tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 green chillies, chopped
  • 1 tbsp. Bafat Masala
  • 1 tsp. Salt, or to taste
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • Few curry leaves
  • ½ tsp. mustard seeds
  • 2 tbsp. Coriander leaves, chopped to garnish

Method

  1. Wash and pick the sprouted moong, drain. 
  2. Heat a pan, add oil.  When hot, add the mustard seeds. 
  3. When they splutter, add the curry leaves, garlic, ginger, chillies and saute for ½ a minute. 
  4. Then add the onion and fry till translucent. 
  5. Then add the tomatoes and fry till soft. 
  6. Add the bafat masala.  You may add more or less according to taste and saute for  a minute. 
  7. Then add the sprouted moong, salt and one cup water, mix, bring to a boil and cook 10 to 15 minutes until the moong is cooked. 
  8. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

Methi Bhaji with Prawns


  • Methu Bhaji with Prawns
  • Methi Bhaji with Prawns served with rotis

Methi Bhaji with Prawns

Ingredients

  • 8 to 10 bunches Methi leaves
  • 1 Cup prawns
  • 2 medium Onions, chopped
  • 2 medium potatoes, chopped
  • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 green chillies, chopped
  • ½ tsp. ginger garlic paste (optional)
  • 1 heaped tbsp. mixed masala (Sunday/Bafat/East Indian, etc.
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste
  • 2 tbsp. Oil

Method

  1. Chop off the roots of the methi and cut each bunch into two or three pieces.
  2. Immerse in plenty of water so that the sand settles to the bottom.
  3. For methi grown at home without soil, there is no sand or soil but do soak in water to remove as much of the husks as possible.
  4. Wash in two to three changes of water and drain well.
  5. Clean, devein and wash prawns.
  6. Dain and set aside.
  7. Heat a pan, add oil, then add the onions and saute till translucent.
  8. Add the chillies and the tomatoes and fry till tomatoes turn soft.
  9. Add the masala powder, salt and stir.
  10. Add the methi bhaji, a cup of water, mix and cook for 10 minutes covered.
  11. Then add the potatoes and mix, cook for 10 minutes covered.
  12. Then add the prawns, ½ cup of water if required, mix and cook for further 10 minutes.
  13. Open the lid, check seasonings and cook further 2 to 3 minutes till oil appears on the surface.
  14. Serve hot with rotis, chapatis, phulkas, etc.

Check out how to grow Methi indoors

https://cooklikececilia.com/Growing-Methi-indoors-without-soil

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