Carrot salad

Carrots are not just healthy but also delicious. If you are not fond of sticks and dips, this refreshing juicy yet tender grated carrot salad with the sourness of lime and the heat of green chilies might electrify your taste buds.

Serving size : 2
Total preparation time : 5 mins

Ingredients :
2 medium sized carrots, finely grated
1 green chili, finely grated
1 tbspn finely chopped cucumber
1 tbspn finely chopped fresh coriander leaves
1 tspn roasted groundnut powder
1 tbspn lime juice
1/2 tspn sugar
1/2 tspn salt
A pinch of rock salt

Method :
Mix all the ingredients well. Serve immediately.

Goan style semolina coated potato fries

Soft and melt in the mouth potatoes with an aromatic spicy flavor surrounded by a crispy semolina layer on the outside that makes it even more delicious. If you love potatoes, this spicy and cripsy hot potato slices will be difficult to resist. As a part of Goan Hindu vegetarian meal, these fries are so vital in a lunch plate that without these the food is difficult to gulp they say. Easy to prepare and ready in minutes yet will vanish in seconds. No one can have just one.

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

Ingredients :
2 large russet potatoes, sliced in 1/2 cm thickness
1/4 tspn turmeric powder
1/2 tspn cumin and coriander powder
1/4 tspn black pepper powder
1 tspn chili powder
1/2 tspn ginger garlic paste
3-4 tbspn semolina
1 tbspn oil
Salt to taste

Method :
Marinate the potato slices with the spices and salt. Heat a skillet on medium heat. Coat the slices in semolina one by one and place on the skillet . Sprinkle some oil over the pieces and fry the potato sliced on both the sides till golden brown and crispy. Serve hot with tomato sauce, tamarind chutney or mint and coriander chutney.

Tips :
Marination can be altered by adding garam masala, black pepper, tamarind pulp or lime juice.

Chinese Sweet corn vegetable soup

Serving size : 4
Total Preparation time : 15 mins
Cooking Time : 10-12 minutes.

Ingredients :

1.5 cup corn kernels
2 tbsp finely chopped carrot
1 tbspn chopped white onion (white part of green onion/scallions)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tspn ginger paste
1 tbspn chopped celery.
2 tbspn finely chopped green onion.
4 cups vegetable stock. ( see recipe)
1 tbspn chopped coriander leaves
1 tbspn oil
1 tspn salt
1/2 tspn sugar
1.5 tspn freshly ground black pepper powder
1/2 tspn corn flour (optional )
1 tspn soy sauce (optional)
1/2 tspn Rice vinegar (optional)

Method :
Coarsely grind 1 cup corn kernels in a blender till its creamy and pulpy. Keep some mashed/broken corn pieces and do not make a paste. Now heat oil in a saucepan, and saute the garlic and ginger. Add the onion and saute till transparent. Add the salt, black pepper. Add the celery, carrot, corn kernels, mashed cream of corn and part of the green onion and saute for a minute. Add vegetable stock and bring it to a boil. Simmer covered on medium for 5 mins till all the added veggies are cooked. Add the coriander leaves. Mix corn flour, rice vinegar and soy sauce separately in a bowl with sugar and stir in the simmering soup. Turn the heat on low and stir to get the desired consistency. Add water or stock if required. Check for taste and adjust salt, and black pepper. Serve hot garnished with chopped green onions.

Herby Mahi Mahi pan seared in white wine

Serving size : 4-8
Total preparation time : 30 mins
Cooking time : 8 mins.

Ingredients :

For the marination :
8 Mahi mahi boneless pieces
1 tspn Salt
1 tspn Black pepper
1 tbpn lime juice
1tspn paprika
1.5 tspn finely chopped italian herbs (basil, parsley and oregano)

For the frying :
1.5 tspn  white wine
1.5 tspn olive oil
1/2 tspn garlic powder
1/2 tspn paprika mixed with vinegar.

Method :
Marinate the fish with the marinating ingredients for 30 mins under refrigeration.
Heat a non stick pan on medium heat, Put some olive oil and place the marinated fish pieces on the pan.Once the fish starts cooking, sprinkle the white wine over the fish and cook on high heat for 2 mins.Turn the fish on each side in the white wine and cook on medium heat for 5 mins.Sprinkle  Pan sear for another 2 mins until cooked evenly and browned on all sides. drizzle the paprika mixed with vinegar and sprinkle the garlic power over the fish. Once done, turn off the heat and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with herbs and lemon wedges. Best served as a side with pasta, rice or any other entree.

Pomegranate and tomato raita/ Flavored Yoghurt with pomegranate and tomatoes.

Serving size : 3-4
Total preparation time : 5-6 mins

Ingredients :

1.5 cup thick yoghurt
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup finely chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup pomegrante seeds
1 tbspn finely chopped onion
1 tbpn finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tspn chat masala
1 tspn roasted groundnut powder
1/4 tspn rock salt.
1/2 tspn black pepper
1/4 tspn sugar
A pinch of salt to taste

Method :

Whip the yoghurt well with water. Add in all the powdered spices and salt and mix well. Add in the tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, coriander leaves and roasted groundnut powder. Do a taste of flavors.Add more sugar/ black pepper if required.

Best served with biryani/ pilafs or any spicy curry/ entree.

Spicy Cottage cheese and bell pepper stir fry/ Paneer and capsicum stir fry

Serving size : 4
Total Preparation time : 20 mins
Cooking time :10 mins.

Ingredients :
2 cups cottage cheese/paneer cubes
1 cup sliced purple onion.
1 cup green bell pepper cut into cubes
1/2 cup finely chopped tomato
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch ginger, finely grated
1 inch cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 star aniseed
1 tspn shahi jeera
2 red chilies
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2  tspn roasted cumin powder
1 tspn roasted coriander powder
1 tspn kashmiri red chilli powder
1 tspn garam masala  ( Everest brand or any home made)
2 tbspn oil
salt to taste

Method :
Heat oil in a wide casserole on medium heat. Once the oil is heated, add the whole chilies and spices one by one and temper. Saute the ginger and garlic for a minute and mix in the chopped onions. Add salt and saute them till transparent. Add the the powdered spices one by one. Once the spices are well cooked for a minute, add in the tomatoes and bell peppers and saute for 2 mins on medium- high heat. Add the paneer cubes and stir well gently taking care not to break the pieces. Turn the heat to low- medium and let it simmer covered for another 2- 3 mins. Turn the heat off. mix well and serve hot. Best served with naan or rotis.

Tips :
You could marinate the paneer with 2 tspn of heavy cream, 1 tspn of ginger garlic paste and red chilli powder before adding to the the pan.
You can also use colored bell peppers in this recipe.
Make sure the bell peppers are not cooked too much and are tender yet crispy.

Peach Phirni/ Pudding

Smooth and flavorful rice pudding with the subtle aroma of peaches and the creaminess of rice and milk. Soothing and refreshing for the throat and the taste buds.

Serving size : 8
Total Preparation time : 40 mins
Cooking time : 35- 40 mins

Ingredients :
3 cups milk for cooking
1- tbspn milk for blending
1/4 cup rice
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tspn cardamom powder
1.5 cups of fresh peach pulp ( around 2 peaches)
1/2 tspn corn starch
4 peaches, sliced
4-5 mint leaves
1 tbspn of sliced almonds

Method :
Wash, drain and pre-soak the rice for 15- 30 mins. Drain the water out and blend in a mixer to a fine texture with just enough milk. Keep aside. Now take a bowl with a little milk, add corn starch and make a mix. Mix this well with the peach pulp and keep aside. Heat a non stick heavy bottom pan and boil the milk on medium high heat. Simmer for around 8 mins until the milk comes to a boil and reduces to 2 cups. Now turn the heat to low, and take 1/4 cup milk from this pan into a bowl and mix it with the smooth rice paste. Now with the heat still on low, add the rice concoction into the milk slowly, stirring continuously to make sure no lumps are formed. Cook on low- medium heat till the rice is cooked, stirring to avoid the rice and milk from getting burnt and simmering until milk is reduced to half its quantity.When the mixture becomes thick and smooth, add sugar and cardamom and simmer for another 3-4 mins. Turn off the heat and pour in the peach pulp into this cooked rice. Mix well and transfer gently to a serving bowl. Garnish with almonds and let it cool. Refrigerate and serve chilled garnished with mint leaves and peach slices.

Tips
You can use 2 cups evaporated milk instead of using 3 cups milk.
Instead of peaches, you can use mango, passion fruit, chickoo, custard apple, guava, strawberry etc.
If not fresh fruit, you can use canned fruit by draining the syrup.

Masala Papad

Serving size : 3
Total Preparation time 10 mins
Cooking time : 3 mins

Ingredients :
3 Urad dal papads
1 cup finely chopped tomatoes ( seeded)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 finely chopped green chili
1.5 tbspn of finely chopped coriander leaves
1 tspn lime juice
1/2 tspn chat masala
1/2 tspn chili powder
1/4 tspn rock salt
Salt to taste
2-3 tbspn nylon sev (optional)
1 tbspn pomegrante seeds (optional)

Method :
Deep fry the papad on by one in oil or microwave each side for 30 seconds.
Place them on a large plate. Now mix the lime juice, tomato, onion, coriander leaves, salt and rock salt in a bowl. Sprinkle the chat masala, chilli powder, and green chillies over the papad evenly. Now just before serving, sprinkle the tomato onion mix all over quickly spreading evenly, followed by the pomegranate seeds and sev (optional). Serve immediately.

Tip :
You can add the spices and keep. Sprinkle the veggies directly at the dinner table to avoid the papad becoming soggy.
Use tight and fresh tomatoes without too much pulp, remove the seeds and the juice if any while chopping.

Spinach and green peas in creamy sauce /Matar palak malai

Serving size : 3

Total preparation time : 10 mins

Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients :

4 cups Spinach,washed and blanched

1 cup Green peas

1/2 tspn ginger paste

A pinch of asafetida

2 cloves

1 inch cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1 tspn chili powder

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp besan/ gram flour

Salt to taste

2 tspn oil

1 tspn heavy cream

Method :

Heat oil in a pan on medium heat and temper the asafetida, cloves, cinnamon and ginger. Add the spinach and the green peas with turmeric and salt. Let it simmer for 6-8 mins on low heat till the natural water from the spinach evaporates. Now add the chili powder and mix well. Cook for another 6 mins on medium heat until the spinach and peas are well cooked.Take the milk in a bowl and mix in the gram flour well. Add this to the veggies and mix well.Add the whipped heavy cream at this point and mix well. Bring it to a boil till it becomes creamy and thick and serve immediately.

Best served with rotis or phulkas

Potato mushroom and corn stuffed green bell peppers

Serving size : 4- 6
Total Preparation time :30 mins
Cooking time : 15 mins

Ingredients :

3 large medium sized green peppers,washed, seeded and cut into halves.
1 cup potato mash
1/2 cup corn kernels.
1 cup finely chopped portabello mushrooms
1/4 cup finely chopped onion.
3 finely chopped green chilies
4 cloves of garlic minced
1/2 tsp ginger paste
1/2 cup finely chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp paprika
 1/4 tsp black pepper powder
Salt to taste
1.5 tbspn oil
1-2 tbspn Cheddar or any choice of grated cheese.
5-6 Coriander leaves for garnish

Method :
Marinate the bell pepper pieces with salt and set aside for 10 mins.
Heat oil in a non stick saucepan on medium heat. Add the green chillies, ginger and garlic and saute well. Then add the onion and cook till transparent for 1 min.Now add the mushrooms and corn kernels and cook on high heat for 2 mins. Turn the heat to low and add the potato mash,coriander leaves, followed by all the spices and salt. mix well and turn off the heat.

Let this mix cool, and then grease a baking tray with oil. Preheat the oven at 350*F. Take the bell peppers one by one and stuff the mixed vegetable mix into it. Arrange all stuffed bell peppers neatly on the tray, load the tray into the oven and bake for 8-10 mins till the outer bell peppers skin looks wrinkly and roasted. Once done remove these pieces carefully on a serving plate and serve topped with grated cheese and coriander leaves.

Tip : These bell peppers can be microwaved for 5 mins prior to stuffing the mix and cooked covered on a large skillet instead of using the oven.

Goan style Pomfret rava Fry

Serving size :2
Total Preparation time :20 mins
Cooking time : 8-10 mins

Ingredients :

4 pieces of pomfret,washed, and cleaned
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
1tspn tamarind pulp
Salt to taste
1/2 cup Semolina
1 tbspn oil

Method :
Marinate the Pomfret pieces in the spices, tamrind pulp and salt for set aside for 10 mins.
Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat. Roll the fish pieces over the semolina on a plate making sure the fish is well coated. Place the pieces one by one on the heated pan. Fry the pieces evenly on all four side by turning with the help of tongs. Sprinkle some more oil while turning. Cook on medium- high heat till outside layer is crispy and golden brown for about 6-8mins. Do not burn. Once done, remove these pieces carefully on a serving plate and serve with freshly sliced onion rings and lemon wedges.

Tip :
You could add garam masala, cumin and coriander powder to the spices and use lime juice instead of tamarind pulp.Tamarind pulp adds a different flavor compared to lime juice.
Other variations of marinating the same are using vinegar, paprika for color and garlic paste.