Poha (Flattened rice flakes)

This is a popular breakfast dish in India. Many alterations are there, I'll be making a healthy yet tasty one. Quick and easy to make. Do try out. :)

Preparation time- 5 minutes
Cooking time- 5-7 minutes
Serves- 6

Ingredients-
Flatten rice flakes- 250 gms
Onion- 1 big(chopped)
Peanuts- handful
Green chili- 2 chopped
Curry leaves- 2 stems
Turmeric powder- 2 pinch
Red chili powder- 2 pinch
Whole red chili- 2
Mustard seeds- 1 table spoon
Coriander leaves- finely chopped (amount as per your taste)
Salt- as per taste
Vegetable oil- 4-5 table spoon

Prep- Wash the flattened rice under running water. Lose the water using a strainer.


Lets cook.. :)

1)  Heat oil in a wok/ pan. Add the whole red chilies, mustard seeds and half curry leaves stem.
2) Add the onions and green chilies immediately. Stir fry for 2 minutes.
3)  Add the washed flattened rice. And stir for sometime.
4) Add the turmeric, red chili powder and salt.
5) On high flame, fry it for 3 minutes.
6) Add rest of the curry leaves. and peanuts(fried). Stir again a little.
7) Serve hot.

For garnishing- Use the coriander leaves and Aloo bhujiya .

Light chicken curry

This is a tasty dish usually eaten at lunch/dinner. East and south Indians prefer to eat this with rice and north Indians prefer the same with Roti/Bread. This particular dish is cooked light, hence not very rich and has a liquid-ish curry.


Preparation time- 15 minutes(1 hour of marination of chicken excluded)
Cooking time- 15 or 20 minutes
Serves- 4

Ingredients-
Chicken- 1 kg
Onion- 2 medium(finely chopped)
Bay leaves - 2
Mustard oil- 1 table spoon
Boiled potato- 2 medium(Optional)

For Marination-
Ginger garlic paste- 2 table spoon
Yogurt- 2 table spoon
Vinegar- 2 table spoon
Red chili powder- 1 table spoon
Garam masala powder - 1 tea spoon
Turmeric- half tea spoon
Salt- as per taste
Mustard oil- 2 table spoon


Lets cook :)
1) Take a big bowl, Add the chicken, and all the marination ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2)Heat mustard oil in a pan/wok. Add the bay leaves and onions. Fry till light pink.
3) Add the marinated chicken. Stir once for about 5 to 7 minutes. Let it fry a little.
4) Add warm water according to how soupy you want your stew to be. I added 3 glasses.
5)Let it cook on medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes.
6) Serve hot with rice or roti or bread.

Tip- Add potatoes cut in medium sized pieces and add them when the chicken is half fried(3)

Egg Chicken roll

A very tasty snack, also, filling! Can be eaten either in lunch, dinner or even breakfast! Tastes yum and also, you can add anything you want in it.. That's the best part :D

Preparation time- 15 minute

Cooking time- 5 minutes

Serves- As many as you make(one each)

Ingredients(for one roll)- 

Tortilla

OR

Refined flour ( to make tortilla)

Egg- 1(large) or 2(small)  per roll

Cucumber - 1/2(Sliced julienne)

Onion- 1/2 (Sliced)

Bell peppers( any color )- 1/4th portion(sliced)

Seekh Kebab/Any other kebab/shredded chicken(tandoori/boiled)- As per your taste

Tomato ketchup- 1 table spoon

Black pepper powder- 2 or 3 pinch

White oil- 2 table spoon

Salt- as per taste

Optional-

Prawn or any other meat- as per your taste

Mayo- 1 tea spoon(or your wish)

Mustard sauce- 1 tea spoon

Cheese(Cheddar or Parmesan) - Accordingly

Sweet corn- Accordingly

Chili flakes- 1 pinch

Roll away!

1) Use the tortilla, microwave them for 30 seconds or

Make a dough using the refined flour and water. Make tortilla out of it. 

2) Heat oil in a large pan. 

3) Beat the eggs, black pepper powder and salt. Add the beaten egg in the oil and immediately put the tortilla on the egg surface. 

4) Fry both sides on simmer for about 2 minutes.

5) Take a food wrapping butter paper, Keep the fried egg-tortilla on it. Add the cucumber, onion, bell peppers, your choice of meat, and pour some ketchup over it.

6) Additionally you can add, anything else you like or from the optional ingredients. 

7) Serve hot! 

Steamed garlic Fish (Basa/White fish)

This dish can be included in lunch/dinner or even for snacks. Very easy to cook, so go ahead and make it just about whenever you want :) Ingredients may vary according to your taste. Else, amazing taste.. and looks great.. :)

Preparation time- 10 minute
Cooking time- 10 minute
Serves- 4

Ingredients-
Basa fish- 3 fillets (Cut into 3/4 pieces each)
Mustard oil- 2 table spoon
Mustard sauce- 2 tea spoon

Spice to grind-
Garlic- 6 or 7 cloves
Kashmiri red chili(Whole)- 4 or 5 (previously soaked in warm water)
Cumin powder- 1/2 tea spoon
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tea spoon(Optional)
Salt- to taste



Lets cook :)
1) Take a bowl, Add the fish and the mixed spices(ground). Mix it well. Marinate for 2 minutes.
2) Add the mustard sauce and oil in the marinated fish.
3) Put the marinated fish in a steamer. Let it steam for 7/8 minutes.
4) Serve hot!

To garnish-
Serve it with a side salad or even rice.

Mochar Ghonkto( Minced banana flower dish)

This is an impeccable dish from the West Bengal. Tastes yum when prepared well.. Although try to get your hands on ripe banana flower, because this will be sweet, on the other hand, raw banana flower tastes bitter.

Preparation time- 10-15 minutes
Cooking time- 30 minutes
Serves- 4

Ingredients-
Banana flower- 1 big or 2 small
Bay leaves- 2
Whole cumin- 1 tea spoon
Dry red chili-2
Cumin powder- 1 tea spoon
Garam masala powder(Check previous recipes)- 2 tea spoon
Turmeric powder- Half tea spoon
Ginger garlic paste- one and half table spoon
Green chili- 2 (chopped)
Coconut- half(grated)
Mustard Oil- 5 table spoon
Salt- to taste
Sugar- half tea spoon
Ghee- 1 table spoon
Boiled potato- 1(optional)


Lets cook! :)
1) Look at the picture below

Remove all the florets in the banana flower. Then remove the scale and the pistil of each of the florets. Wash them.

a) Take 4 or 5 at a time and mince these.

b) Add some salt and turmeric powder to it.Boil them for 15 minutes

c) After they are soft enough, drain the water using a strainer.

2) Heat oil in a pan. Add bay leaves, whole cumin, dry red chilies(split in half) and 1 tea spoon of garam masala. Add the potatoes. Saute till light fried.

3) Add the boiled minced florets(1).

4) Add the ginger garlic paste, green chilies, cumin powder and salt. Saute & slow cook for 10  minutes.

5) After it looks a little fried and ready, add part of the grated coconut, the rest of the garam masala and sugar. Saute for 5 minutes.

6) Add the ghee.

7) Serve hot. Garnish with the rest of the grated coconut.

Chicken Stew(without oil)

This is a popular dish usually eaten when healthy food is needed.. or just for light eating. It's filling , wholesome and can be eaten anytime.

Preparation time- 5 minutes
Cooking time- 10 minutes
Serve- 2 or 3 people

Ingredients-
Chicken- 250 gms
Baby potato - 6/7
Large carrot - 1 (Sliced)
French beans- 150 gms (Sliced)
Onion- 1 large(Sliced)
Garlic - 6/ 7 cloves(Crushed)
Ginger- 2 inches (Crushed)
Bay leaves- 2
Green papaya - 1, small(sliced)
Yogurt- half cup
Lemon - 1
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Cloves- 4/5
Black peppercorn- 10 or 12(whole)
Salt- As per taste.

Lets cook! :)
1) Heat the pressure cooker for a minute.
2) Add all the ingredients one by one.
3) Add 3 large glasses of water into it.
4) Pressure cook for 10 minutes.

To garnish- Put sliced lemon and chopped coriander leaves on top of it
You can also add butter to enhance the taste(Optional)

Saabudana upma(Tapioca Sago)

This is a snack dish I prepare during fasting days or for light eating. Good, healthy and very tasty. Definitely a must try for all! :)

Preparation time- 5 minutes(Excluding one hour of pre-soaking the sago)
Cooking time- 7 minutes
Serves- 4

Ingredients-
Saabudana, big pearls(Tapioca Sago)- 200 gms
Onions- 2 large
Garlic- 4 cloves(finely chopped)
Ginger- 1 inch(finely chopped)
Cumin - 1/2 tea spoon
Potato- 1, boiled(cut in cubes)
Curry leaves- handful
Green chilies- 2(chopped)
Peanuts- handful
Lemon- 1, cut in half
Cooking oil- 3 table spoons
Salt- As per taste

Cook away!!
1) Heat oil in a pan/ wok.
2) Add the cumin and curry leaves. After few seconds, add the onion, garlic, ginger and green chilies. Saute for a minute
3) After the onions appear transparent, Add the potato. Saute for 2 minutes
4) Add the salt and the sago. Fry for some time. Sprinkle some water if needed.
5) Switch off the heat, squeeze half a lemon over it  and serve it hot.

To garnish- Add a stem of curry leaf, any fruit, one half of the lemon.
Also, Fry some peanuts in oil and add it on the top. Peanuts enhance the taste of sago.

Optional- You can also use, Carrots, French beans, Spinach, Cauliflower, Zucchini Etc.
Can also be cooked without garlic.