Cauliflower Fritters/ Gobi pakodas

Serving size : 2
Total preparation time 20 mins
Cooking time :10 mins.

Ingredients :
1/2 tspn black pepper
1/4 turmeric powder
1 tspn red chili powder
1/2 tspn garam masala
1/2 tsp coriander and cumin powder
2 tbspn gram flour/besan/chickpea flour
1 cup water
Salt to taste
1.5 cups Oil for deep frying

Method ;
Make a batter with all the ingredients and mix in the cauliflower florets.
Heat oil in a deep frying non stick wok. While on high heat, add the batter coated cauliflower florets one by one and fry on either sides till golden brown. Remove excess oil on a paper towel and serve hot with tomato ketchup

Potatoes in yoghurt sauce/Dahi wale aloo

Serving size : 4-6
Total preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients :
4 medium potatoes, boiled and cut into wedges or cubes
3 small tomatoes, diced and pureed
3 cloves Garlic,minced
1/2 tspn ginger paste
1 tbspn oil
4-5 curry leaves
Pinch of Asafetida
1/4 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn cumin seeds
1.5  tspn of roasted coriander and cumin powder
1 tspn garam masala  ( Everest/Home made )
1 tspn red chili powder
1 tspn paprika
1.5 cups well beated yoghurt.
Salt to taste

Method :
Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan and temper the curry leaves, cumin and asafetida. Add the ginger and garlic and saute them for 1 min. Add turmeic followed by the tomato puree. Simmer on low heat and cook covered for 7-8 mins until saucy and well cooked. Add the remaining spices, the potato pieces, salt and simmer for another 2 mins. Lastly add the yoghurt and stir well making sure the potato pieces do not break and the gravy doesn't stick at the bottom. Simmer for another min on low heat and serve hot with rotis or rice. Garnish with Coriander leaves.

Daikon /Radish Spicy Stir fry/ Mooli Stir fry

Serving size  :4
Total Preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 15 mins

Ingredients ;
2 large Radishes, cut into cubes
1 sliced purple onion
5 curry leaves
Pinch of asafetida
1 tspn urad dal/ split black gram
1 tspn mustard seeds
1 tspn fennel seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tspn red chilli powder
1 tspn roasted cumin and coriander powder
1 tbpn roasted urad dal and mustard seed powder mix.
1 tspn sambhar masala
Salt to taste
3 tbspn water
1.5 tbpsn oil

Method :
Heat oil in a non stick or heavy botton pan. Temper the curry leaves, asafetida, urad dal, mustard and fennel seeds. Add the turmeric powder and saute the onion till transparent. Then add the radish pieces, and Salt. Add coriander cumin powder, chili powder, sambhar masala, urad dal and mustard seed powder along with some water. Simmer on medium heat covered for 15 mins till radish is tender and cooked stirring at intervals.

Best served with rotis/ Phulkas.

Creamy Asparagus Soup

Serving size : 3-4
Total preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 10 mins

Ingredients :
12 stems of asparagus, each cut into 3 pieces
2 tbspn butter
1 stalk of celery,chopped.
2 garlic cloves minced.
1/2 onion chopped.
2 cups vegetable/chicken stock.
1tspn freshly ground black pepper powder
Salt to taste
Steamed asparagus tops for garnish
1 tbspn whipped heavy Cream/ greek yoghurt

Method :
Heat butter in a pan, saute the garlic, onion and celery. Add salt along with the apsaragus pieces and cook covered for 5 mins. Once cooked, transfer the contents to a blender and make a smooth puree. Transfer this puree back into the pan, add the veg stock /chicken broth and simmer with black pepper for another 2 mins. Mix in whipped cream to make a thick creamy texture (optional). Serve hot garnished with asparagus and heavy cream.

Tips : You could sieve the vegetable puree to eliminate thread like consistency from the asparagus.
Adding whipped cream can be skipped.

Spicy chicken stuffed Poblano peppers

Serving size : 2-3
Total preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients :

For the peppers :
2 poblano peppers,washed, desseeded and cut into halves
1 tbspn lime juice
Salt to taste

For the stuffing :
1 cup Boneless chicken pieces
1 tbspn tabasco/ home made hot sauce
1/4 cup finely chopped purple onion
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tbspn grated jack pepper cheese.
1 tbspn cilantro/ coriander leaves for garnish
1 tbspn olive oil

Method :
Marinate the peppers with salt and lime juice and set aside.
Marinate the chicken with pepper sauce for 10 mins.
Heat oil in a pan and sautee the onion and garlic well and set aside. In the same pan fry the chicken pieces until cooked. Now mix the chicken, the onion garlic mixture along with grated jack pepper cheese. Stuff this mix into the marinated peppers. Grease a baking sheet, line these peppers  onto it and bake for 10 mins at 350*F

Best served hot as an appetizer garnished with cilantro leaves and cheese.

Spicy Plantain Fries/ Goan style Raw Banana Rava fry

Serving size : 4
Total Preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 10 mins

Ingredients :

For marinade :
1 large plantain, sliced into thin pieces.
1 tspn roasted cumin and coriander powder
1/2  tspn red chilli powder
1/4 tspn turmeric powder
1/2 tspn black pepper powder.
1 tbspn lime juice
1tspn  ginger garlic paste
Salt to taste

For frying :
4 tbspn semolina
1 tbspn oil

For garnish :
Green onion chopped.

Method :
Mix all the ingredients and marinate the plantain pieces for 10 mins.
Heat oil in a non stick skillet. Coat the plantain pieces in semolina and pan sear on medium-high heat. Turn the pieces with a pair of tongs and make sure both sides are evenly fried. Garnish with green onion and serve hot with tomato ketchup or lemon wedges.

Penne Broccoli with tomato basil creamy cheese sauce

Ingredients :
2 cups boiled and salted Penne pasta.
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

For the sauce :
3 large ripened roma tomatoes, pureed
1/2 cup chopped white onion
 3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup basil leaves finely chopped.
2 tbspn olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tbspn heavy cream.
1 tspn black pepper
salt to taste

Method :
Heat oil in a pan, and saute the garlic and onion. Once they become transparent, add the diced tomatoes and basil leaves and cook covered till mushy and soft. Transfer these contents to a blender and make a paste. Now transfer the same puree back in the pan,add salt, black pepper and simmer on low heat for 2 hours or until thick. Once the sauce is ready, add whipped cream and grated cheese into this and mix well. In a separate pan, heat butter and saute broccoli with salt for a minute. Add the cooked pasta and top with the tomato basil cheese sauce. Mix well without breaking the pasta and serve  hot immediately garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Tip : You could use canned tomatoes or home made tomato puree instead of whole tomatoes.
You can use the choice of your cheese for this recipe.

Galmyachi Kismoor/ Authentic Goan style dried baby prawns stir fry

Ingredients :

1.5 cups Dried baby shrimp
1/2 cup chopped purple onion.
4 green chillies finely chopped
1.5 tbspn lime juice.
1.5 tspn oil
Salt to taste.
1 tbpsn grated fresh coconut (optional)
3 kokum petals/Garcinia indica ( optional)

Method :
Wash and rinse the shrimps well with water and strain dry with the help of a sieve/ colander. Marinate with lime juice and set aside. Heat oil in a pan, once the oil is heated, fry the green chillies well and then saute the onion till brown.Then add the marinated shrimp, kokum, salt,and mix well. Stir fry on low-med heat for 5 mins and serve immediately garnished with grated coconut chopped coriander leaves.

Best served as a side with Goan fish curry and rice.

Shrimp red thai cury

Ingredients and method for thai red curry paste : Size 2-3 cups.
1 medium size purple onion, chopped
3 small tomatoes chopped
1 tbsp of chopped green coriander leaves
6 thai red chilies,
1/2 peel of a medium sized lemon/ Lemon zest chopped
1 tsp. paprika / cayenne pepper
4 cloves garlic
1 thumb-size piece ginger,
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder/ 1 small cinnamon stick
4 cloves
1 tsp. jeera/ cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp brown sugar/ white sugar
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Salt to taste
4-5 kafir lime leaves for garnishing
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1 stalk fresh lemongrass/ 3Tbsp. frozen prepared lemongrass
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
*1 tsp. shrimp paste, OR fish sauce

OR for veg: 1 Tbsp. Thai golden mountain sauce ( available in Asian stores)
* optional ingredients
Fry the coriander seeds, cumin seeds,red chillies over medium heat and then Blend with all above ingredients in a blender into a smooth paste. Don't add water at all for a thick paste. Paste will become redder after cooking.

Ingredients and method for curry :
1.5 Can thick creamy coconut milk
To make curry sauce add a 1.5 scoop of this curry paste to coconut milk in a wok/ deep sauce pan.add the chopped carrots and peas or choice or your veggies/protein/both and bring it to a boil till the veggies/protein are cooked stirring occasionally for 20 minutes or till the ingredients are cooked. Avoid Over cooking which will harden the meat and thicken the gravy.
Do a taste test for a balance of flavors:
too sour, add brown sugar.
too spicy,add more coconut milk.
too sweet,add cayenne pepper/paprika.
too salty,add fresh lime juice,
For a more stronger aroma,Add 1tbsp of curry paste.

Ingredients for garnish and accompaniments :
4-5 Basil leaves/ A bunch of coriander leaves & 1 tbsp roasted peanuts
Garnish as per choice and serve with steamed jasmine rice or plain white rice.

Tips :
Do not put too many vegetables, limit to 3-4 types for better taste.
You can experiment by adding the protein with vegetables, boneless chicken or other meat,
Tofu, or seafood like shrimp.

Indian style authentic maharastrian stuffed baby eggplant masala

Serving size :4

Total preparation time : 30 mins.

Ingredients:

12-14 - Green Baby Eggplant with stems washed and cleaned.

2 Cup or as needed - Water

For Tempering:

2 tbspn oil 

1 tspn cumin seeds

12 curry leaves 

For Stuffing:

1/2 Cup - Desiccated fresh Coconut

1/2 Cup - Roasted Peanut Powder

2 tbsp - Roasted White Sesame Seeds

1 1/2tsp - Reshampatti Red Chili Powder

2 tbsp - roasted Coriander Seeds Powder

1/2 tsp - Turmeric Powder

1 tsp - roasted Cumin Powder

1 tsp Goda Masala or Garam Masala

1 tbspn Powdered Jaggery

1 tbspn fresh garlic paste 

1 tspn ginger paste 

1 tbsp - Tamarind Pulp or 1 tspn tamarind concentrate. 

To Taste - Salt

For garnishing :

1 cup fresh chopped coriander leaves 

Method:

Wash and slit eggplants make a '+' or 'X' sign, make sure to keep the eggplant intact and it doesn't break into pieces. Soak  in water with salt. All all the stuffing ingredients except tamarind pulp and mix well to combine. Add tamarind pulp and mix again to get a wet sand like consistency.Stuff the eggplants with prepared masala, do it carefully with a knife and without opening it much such that eggplant doesn't break into pieces. Keep the remaining stuffing masala aside.In a wide heavy bottom pan, heat oil and temper with cumin seeds, asafetida and curry leaves. and arrange the stuffed eggplant, cover and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add salt and 1 cup water and cook covered for 12-15 minutes on med-low heat stirring at intervals gently. Add the remaining masala and stir gently with a spatula making sure the spices are not sticking at the bottom. Now add the remaining water, mix well and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Check for salt and spice and adjust if required. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until oil floats on top. 

Best served hot with Phulkas. 

This recipe will leave a lot of oil due to the additional coconut and groundnut added. Recipe not recommended for cholesterol patients. 

Pan seared semolina coated Shrimp / Prawn rava fry

Serving size :2
Total preparation time :15 mins

Ingredients :

8 headless skinned shrimp
1/4 tspn turmeic powder
1/2 tsp roasted coriander and cumin powder
1/2 tspn tamarind pulp
1/2 tspn Red chili powder
Salt to taste
Semolina 3-4 tbspn
1 tbpsn oil

Method:
Mix all the ingredients and marinate for 10 mins. Roll the marinated shrimp over the semolina until well coated.Take a non stick pan and  pan sear the shrimp on high heat for 5 mins. Serve hot with lemom wedges.

Sweet Corn cheese and onion stuffed roasted poblano peppers

Serving size : 2

Total prepartion time : 20 mins 

Ingredients :

2 poblano peppers, washed, deseeded and slit into 2 each, marinated with salt and apple cider vinegar.

1/2 sweet con kernels

1/2 cup finely chopped Roma tomatoes

1/2 cup finely chopped purple onion

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1/2 tspn ginger paste 

1//2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 cheese cubes ( cheddar/ any cheese) 

1 tspn black pepper powder

1 tspn finely chopped chillies

Salt to taste

2 tspn olive oil 

1 tbspn fresh chopped parsley

1/2 tspn basil and oregano 

Method: 

Heat olive oil in a a non stick pan and sauté ginger garlic,green chillies and onion. Once onion is transparent, add the tomatoes and corn kernels, salt and black pepper. Sprinkle some chopped parsley and turn off the heat. 

Now take the marinated poblano peppers, stuff a cheese cube in each of them, and too it up with the above sautéed corn stuffing. Line these stuffed peppers on a Greased baking tray and make at 375 for 10mins.

Top with shredded cheese, basil and oregano and serve immediately.

Black eyed peas in yoghurt sauce/ Lobia dhai curry

A soothing mild spicy gravy high in protein, folate and iron prepared in minutes.

Serving size: 2-3
Total Preparation time : 20 mins

Ingredients :
For cooking :
1 cup black eyed peas, pressured with salt
1/2 cup whipped yoghurt
1 tbpsn gram flour/besan/ chickpea flour
1 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn kasmiri red chili powder/ paprkia
2 tbpn water of as per required consistency
Salt to taste.

For Tempering :
1tbpsn oil
6-7 curry leaves
3 green chillies slit
1 tspn mustard seeds
1 tspn cumin seeds
Pinch of asafetida.

For Garnishing :
1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves

Method :
Heat oil in a pan and temper with curry leaves, green chilies,asafetida, mustard and cumin seeds. The add the cooked black eyed peas with the whipped yoghurt and 1 tbspn gram flour/besan and season turmeric, Kashmiri red chilli powder and salt to taste. Simmer for 5 mins on low heat while stirring.Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Best served with rice or Phulkas.

Tip :
Whip the yoghurt and besan together and add to the gravy, add water as per required consistency
Add the stock from the lentils if you need to add water.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Vegetarian burrito bowl copycat recipe

This is the home made from scratch copycat version of the Chipotle veggie burrito bowl.

See hot sauce and salsa recipes included.

Serving size : 2-3

Total Preparation time : 35- 40 mins

Cooking time :20 mins.

Ingredients and Method : 

Lime Cilantro Rice :  2.5 cups steamed white rice cooked with bay leaf, 5 tspn fresh lime juice, 1 tspn lemon juice, cilantro 1/2 cup, 1/2 tspn black pepper powder, kosher salt to taste

Black beans :  Pressure cooked 1/2 cup black beans with 1 cup water, oil, black pepper, salt, 1/2 tspn cumin powder and a bay leaf. Sauté 2 tbspn chopped Yellow Onion, garlic paste/ 2 chopped garlic cloves, and 1 Chipotle Chile/ jalapeño. Add the beans and mix with Oregano and lemon Juice. 

Green bell peppers Fajita : sauté 1 sliced red onion and 1 sliced green bell pepper on high heat in olive oil, add lime juice and kosher salt.

Tomato salsa( mild) : 1 cup chopped ripened Roma tomatoes, 1/2 finely chopped red onion, 1 finely chopped jalapeño, 2 tbspn chopped cilantro, 2 tspn lime/ lemon juice, and salt.

Roasted Chili-Corn salsa ( Medium) :  Mix 1 cup steamed sweet corn kernels, with 2tbspn chopped red onion, 1 japaleno finely chopped, 1 tbspn chopped and roasted large poblano pepper, 1 tbspn lime juice, 1 tbspn chopped cilantro, salt to taste.

Tomatillo-Green Chili salsa ( medium) : Grind together in a blender 1/2 fire-roasted large Tomato, 2 fire- roasted Tomatilloes, 1 roasted Jalapeño, Salt, 1 tbspn lime juice, 1/4 tspn toasted Cumin powder, 2 Garlic cloves, 1/2 tspn Black Pepper, 2 tbspn chopped Red Onion, 1 tbspn chopped Cilantro, a pinch of Mexican Oregano, vinegar and sugar (optional) 

Tomatillo-Red Chili salsa ( Hot) : Sauté 2 chopped Tomatillos with 2 cloves of garlic, 1/4 tspn cumin and Salt. Add 2 Chile de Arbol (chillies), 1/2 tspn Black Pepper, 1 tbspn Red Tabasco® Sauce and grind in a blender with 1 tbspn water. 

Guacamole : 1 mashed Avocado nicely whipped with salt, and 1 tspn lime juice. Mixed with 1 tbspn finely chopped Red Onion ,1/2 tspn finely chopped Jalapeño. 1 tspn Cilantro. 

Sour cream: whipped milk and cream or whipped ready sour cream

Cheese: Shredded  jack pepper cheese or Parmesan cheese

Lettuce : Blanched romaine lettuce

Sauces: Chiptole Tabasco red pepper sauce, Chiptole Tabasco green pepper sauce 

Spicy pumpkin triangles

Serving size : 3-4 

Total preparation time : 20 mins 

Tangy and sweet appetizers rich in vitamin A.

Method and Ingredients:

Pumpkin pieces cut into thin triangles and marinated for 20 mins with salt, turmeric, lime juice, paprika/ chilli powder, black pepper and cumin powder. Pan fried with ghee/ oil till crisp. Best served with green mint chutney or tomato ketchup. Can be had as a fasting food.( Garlic and ginger paste optional, Mango powder/ Amchoor can be added instead of lime juice) 

Chinese Vegetable egg fried rice

Serving 4-5

Total preparation time : 40 mins 

Ingredients :

1 cup raw rice, cook only 70% with salt and veg stock/ chicken broth. ( evenly separated grains and not sticky)  (See Homemade veg stock recipe)

4 eggs, well beaten, scramble with oil and set aside. 

Veggies to sauté: 

6 finely chopped green beans 

1/2 cup green peas

1 cup finely chopped carrots

1/2 cup finely chopped celery 

1 cup finely chopped green onion

1/2 cup white onion/ white part of green onion

3 tbspn finely chopped garlic

1 tbspn finely grated ginger

Seasoning :

1 tspn sugar 

2 tspn black pepper 

1 tbspn rice vinegar

1 tbspn chilli sauce 

2.5-3 tbspn dark soya sauce

Salt to taste 

Garnishing : 

3 tbspn finely chopped green onion

2 tbspn grated carrot

A few roasted peanuts deskinned. 

To cook :

Sesame oil  3 tbspn

2 cups water or 1 cup veg/ chicken stock to cook the rice 

Method 

Heat a nonstick large skillet/ pan on high heat with 1 tbspn oil, add ginger, garlic and black pepper. Then stir fry with white onions and set aside in the bowl with the scrambled egg. Now take another 1 tbspn oil in the same pan, add rest of the veggies one by one and stir fry on high heat till partly cooked.( don't overcook). Adjust the heat to low, add the rest of the seasoning and simmer for 2 mins. Add cooked rice, the egg and sautéed ginger, garlic and onion. Mix well without breaking the rice and cook covered for 3 mins. Mix well 2-3 times and garnish with green onion, carrots and peanuts. Serve immediately with your choice of stir fry/ curry. 

Tips:

-Rice should not be over cooked, use straining method if using water.

-Add easily cooking veggies like celery, bell peppers last while you sauté and cook veggies till crispy.

-Setting aside the sautéed onion garlic and ginger doesn't let it overcook along with the veggies.

- If adding chicken/ shrimp or tofu, marinate it with rice wine, rice vinegar, soya sauce black pepper and salt, sauté it and set aside before starting. 

Homemade Vegetable stock

Method and Ingredients :

Heat 2 tbspn butter or olive oil in a large stock pot, add 1 bay leaf, 1 clove,2 pepper corns and sauté freshly grated/chopped 1 inch ginger, 3 garlic cloves and 1/2 med sized onion. 

Then add finely chopped veggies - 

1/2 cup celery, 

1/4th cup carrots, 

1/4th cup green beans, 

1/4cup tomatoes,

1/4 cup green peas,

1/4 cup cabbage, 

1/4 cup cauliflower, 

1/4 cup capsicum.

2 tbspn cilantro 

Now add 2 cups water, salt and cook covered on high heat for 15mins. Check if all veggies have becomes mushy and that the water has changed it's color. Add more water if needed and simmer for another 5 minutes. Strain and use/refrigerate to store once cooled.

Tips:

You can also add cinnamon powder, Italian herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, parsley etc.

You can use the veggy residue after straining for making cutlets or purée it and use it in soups/sauces and gravies. Without straining it becomes a veg clear soup ready to serve.

Dont miss out on onion, celery, tomato, and cabbage as it's the essence of a good tasty stock

Add potatoes pieces if you want a thick stock. 

Pressure cooking will be fast but not nutritious and healthy, slow cooking and simmering is recommended for best taste.

Egg drop masala

Serving size : 4

Total preparation time : 5 mins 

Total cooking time : 30 mins

Ingredients :

2 medium sized onions, finely chopped 

2 large tomatoes, finely chopped 

2 jalapeños or 3 thai green chilies finely chopped

2 inch fresh ginger grated

8 garlic cloves finely chopped

2 tbspn oil 

Salt to taste 

3 tbspn water

1/2 cup coconut milk 

8 whole raw eggs 

1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves chopped 

1.5 tsp cumin seeds

1 tspn Everest garam masala

1/4 tspn black pepper powder

1 tspn coriander powder

1/2 tspn cumin powder

1/2 tspn cinnamon powder

1.5 tbspn paprika powder/ Kashmiri Degi mirch powder 

Method : 

Heat oil in large heavy bottom broad saucepan. Add cumin seeds and let them splatter. Add green chilies and ginger garlic. Once fried, add onions and little salt only for onions. Fry onions till golden brown and add tomatoes. Cook till tender. Add all the spice powders and cook covered on medium heat for 2 mins. Stir and add 3 tbspn water and cook covered on high eat for another 3 minutes till spices are well cooked making sure it doesn't get burnt at the bottom. Add coconut milk and simmer for another 2 minutes. Now on low heat, break the eggs one by one into the spice mix making sure the egg yolks are separated and not on top of each other. Once all eggs are added, sprinkle some salt over the eggs and immediately cover without stirring or disturbing the eggs. Simmer covered for 5 minutes. Top it with coriander leaves and cook covered for another 2 minutes. Take the spoon and carefully try to scoop each and every egg making sure it's not stuck at the bottom,and properly cook,  do not press/ stir but carefully try to separate all the eggs. Once all eggs are cooked, serve hot over steamed rice or with Phulkas. 

Tri color rotini with broccoli and fire roasted red bell pepper sauce.

Serving size : 2

Total preparation time : 30 mins 

Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients : 

3 cups boiled tri color rotini pasta with salt. 

3-4 large red bell peppers, fire roasted chopped or chopped and sautéed on high heat till slightly burnt on the sides and mushy. 

2 cups broccoli florets steamed with salt. 

1/2 white onion finely chopped

4 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 tbspn fresh parsley leaves

1 cup veg stock

Salt to taste

1 tbspn butter

1 tspn olive oil

1 tspn Black pepper powder

1 tspn dried/ fresh finely chopped basil 

Grated cheese as desired.

Method: 

Heat butter in a pan, add the garlic and onion with salt and sauté till transparent. Now add the chopped roasted bell peppers, and half of the parsley leaves. Mix well and blend into a purée. Now heat olive oil in the same pan, add the puréed red bell pepper mix, add veg stock, black pepper and simmer covered for 10mins. Add more water or stock for the desired thickness and consistency.Stir in intervals as the sauce leaves the sides of the pan, sprinkle fresh basil on top. Check salt and spice and adjust as desired. You can add the hot boiled pasta at this stage and mix it well in the sauce, add the steamed broccoli and serve topped with grated cheese. 

Tip : Use dark red peppers to get a deep red color. Fire roast the bell peppers on a flame and then blanch it for better aroma and taste. 

Caesar salad

Serving size: 2
Total Preparation time :10 mins

Ingredients : 

4-6 Romaine lettuce leaves blanched or torn by hand.

1/2 Stalk celery chopped 

3 baby carrots chopped

4 cherry tomatoes or 1 small chopped salad tomato 

1 sliced pink radish

1 cup butter garlic croutons

1 tbspn grated Parmesan cheese.

Dressing : 

1 tspn garlic powder

1 tspn freshly grounded black pepper powder 

1 tbspn Olive oil 

1 tbspn lime juice 

Salt to taste

1 Raw beaten egg white ( optional)

Method: 

Toss all the ingredients together and serve immediately. 

Minestrone soup with tri color rotini pasta, beans and vegetables

Serving size :4

Cooking time 15 mins.
Total Preparation time : 45- 60 mins

Ingredients :

1/4 cup pre soaked and boiled kidney beans 

1/4 cup pre soaked and boiled black eyed peas
1 cup boiled tri color rotini pasta

3-4 cups home made veg stock

1 tbspn tomato purée

1 zucchini chopped into cubes

3-4 baby carrots finely chopped

1/2 finely chopped med sized white onion

1 stalk of celery chopped

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

1 tspn finely chopped fresh basil leaves.

1 tspn black pepper powder

Salt to taste

1 tbspn butter

1 tspn olive oil

1/2 tspn oregano and thyme

Method:
Heat butter in a stock pot, add the garlic and  onion and sauté. Add the celery, zucchini and carrots with salt and black pepper and sauté for 1 min. Now add the veg stock and tomato purée and bring it to a boil. Add the boiled kidney beans and black eyed peas along with the pasta, the fresh parsley, basil, thyme and oregano and add more water/ stock if needed. Simmer for another 2 mins. Serve hot topped with grated cheese and fresh herbs. 

Methi Murg/ Fenugreek chicken drumsticks

Serving size :4-5

Cooking time : 30 mins.
Total preparation time : 60 mins
Marinade Time : 4-8 hours.

Ingredients :

For the marinade:

6 skinless chicken drumsticks

1 tbspn sour cream

2 tbspn yogurt

1 tspn oil 

1 tspn turmeric

1 tspn Reshampatti red chilli powder

1 tspn roasted coriander cumin powder

1 tspn home made garam masala

1 tspn salt 

2 tbspn kasoori methi 

For the fried masala paste : 

1 tbspn oil 

2 bay leaves

1 tspn shahi jeera

1 tbspn paprika/ Kashmiri red chilli powder 

2 purple onions finely chopped

2 small ripe tomatoes finely chopped

7 cloves of garlic finely chopped

1 inch ginger finely chopped

1-1.5 cups kasoori methi leaves

1 cup water.

Salt to taste

Method :
Marinade the chicken overnight or atleast for 4 hours. Heat oil in a wide saucepan and temper with shahi jeera and bay leaves. Sauté the ginger, garlic and onion one by one. Once transparent add the tomatoes, turmeric and salt  and simmer for 15mins on low heat  stiring at intervals till saucy. Grind this into a purée and set aside. Now in the same pan add more oil, and cook the marinated chicken along with the methi leaves for 5mins. Once the chicken is tender and oil starts to leave  the sides, mix in the masala paste and simmer for another 5mins. Add water if required to make a thick gravy. Stir in intervals and simmer for another 2 mins. Serve hot with roti/ Phulkas or garlic naan.