Butter garlic Masala Shrimp

Serving size : 3-4
Total preparation time : 10 mins
Cooking time : 8 mins

Ingredients :
12 headless and cleaned shrimps
1 tspn paprika
1/8 tspn turmeric
1/2 tspn cumin powder
1/2 tspn coriander powder
1 tspn lime juice
1 tbspn butter
1 tspn garlic paste
Salt to taste.

Method:
Marinate the shrimp with the lime juice, spices and salt for about 20 mins under refrigeration.
Grease a foil on a baking sheet and preheat the oven at 350*F. Arrange the marinated shrimp on the tray over the foil. Sprinkle some butter over it and bake for 5-6 minutes. Once cooked serve hot with lemon wedges.

Tips :
You could also pan sear these shrimps on a non stick pan on medium heat with butter instead of using the oven
Make sure the coat of the spices is thick enough and doesn't drip.
You could also use ghee/clarified butter/oil instead of unsalted butter.

Jeera Aloo mutter/ Potato green peas stir fry with cumin

Serving size : 4
Total preparation time : 5 mins
Cooking time : 12 -15 mins

Ingredients:
2 medium size russet potatoes ,cut into cubes
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
2 tspn cumin leaves
A pinch of asafetida
1 tspn garlic paste
1 tspn ginger paste (Optional)
1/4 tspn turmeric powder
1 tspn chili powder
1 tspn roasted cumin and coriander powder
2 tspn oil
1 tspn salt

Method :
Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them crackle. Then add the asafetida followed by ginger and garlic. Saute for a minute and add the potato cubes. Season with chili powder, cumin and coriander powder, turmeric and salt and mix well. Simmer covered on low heat for 5-6 mins until potatoes are partly cooked. Now add the green peas and cook for another 3 mins. Cook for another 2 mins on medium heat stirring at intervals making sure the potatoes dont stick at the bottom of the pan. Once the potatoes are cooked, turn off the heat and garnish with coriander leaves. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve hot with rotis/ phulkas.

Tips :
Use a heavy bottom non stick pan so that you can use less oil
You can skip the garlic and asafetida to make it a pure vegetarian recipe.

Chicken Drumsticks in yogurt and coconut cream gravy

Serving size :4
Total preparation time : 4-8 hours for marination,
Cooking time : 10 mins

Ingredients :
For the marination
8 skinless chicken drumsticks
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbspn yogurt
1 tspn salt
1 tspn oil
1/2 tspn turmeric
1 tspn paprika
1 tspn tandoori chicken masala
1 tbspn dried kasoori methi leaves
1 tspn home made extra spicy garam masala
1 tspn roasted cumin and coriander powder

For the gravy :
1 tbspn ghee
1 bay leaf
3 black pepper corns
2 cloves
1 inch cinnamon
1 star anise
2 red chilies (bedagi chilies)
1 black cardamom
7 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch freshly grated ginger
1/2 can coconut milk

For garnish :
2 tbspn finely chopped coriander leaves

Method :
Heat ghee in a large saucepan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the whole spices one by one and saute till brown. Add the ginger and garlic and saute for 1 min. Now add the marinated chicken along with the residual marinade paste and cook covered for 5 mins on low - medium heat. Once the drumsticks are cooked, add the coconut milk along with more salt if required. Cook covered for another 3 mins on medium heat and bring the curry to a boil. Turn off the heat and serve hot garnished with coriander leaves. Best served with roti/naan or rice.

Tip :
Add more sour cream and less yogurt for  a creamy mild spicy gravy.
The coconut milk should be thick and not watery.
Cooking in ghee along with the whole spices adds to the flavor for this recipe.
Note that this recipe doesn't use onion and tomato and thus is quick to prepare and ready in minutes if you already have the chicken marinated.
You could also use boneless chicken thigh pieces or chicken breasts with rib meat instead of drumsticks.

Peas pulav

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

Ingredients :
1 cup basmati rice, presoaked for 10 mins
1 cup fresh/frozen green peas
2 cups water
1 cube maggi vegetable stock cube
1 tbpsn ghee
1 tspn ginger paste
1 tspn garlic paste

For the spice mixture :
1/2 inch cinnamon stick
1 green cardamom
2 black pepper corns
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 red chili
1 tspn shahi jeera/ black cumin seeds

Method :
Heat ghee on medium heat in a pressure cooker. Add the freshly ground spice mixture once the oil is hot and stir fry for 1 min. Now add the ginger garlic. Add the strained presoaked rice and fry the rice in the oil and spices for about 2 mins. Add the water followed by the mashed vegetable stock cube. Mix well and close the lid. Cook in the pressure cooker on medium heat  for about 2 whistles or about 8 mins. Turn off the heat, transfer to a serving bowl. Serve hot with any spicy Indian curry.

Tips :
Making a freshly ground mixture with the whole spices gives a better flavor without pieces/ chunks of spices coming into the mouth while eating.
Roasting the basmati rice in the ghee infused with the spices gives it a good flavor and length upon cooking.

Bell peppers and parmesan cheese stuffed Mushroom

Serving size : 4
Total preparation time : 5 mins
Cooking time : 8 mins

Ingredients :
15 medium sized mushrooms, washed and dried
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
4 garlic cloves. minced
2 tspn olive oil
1/2 tspn salt
1/2 tspn black pepper
1/2 tspn oregano
1 tspn dried parsley leaves

For baking :
1 tspn butter.

For garnish.
Grated cheese
1 tspn freshly chopped parsley leaves

Method :
Remove the stems of the mushroom and chop them. Heat 1 tspn oil in a pan and saute the garlic. Add the red bell peppers and the chopped mushroom stems and saute for a min. Add salt, parsley, black pepper and oregano.Turn off the heat and add the grated cheese. Mix well and set aside.
Preheat the oven at 350*F and line a baking sheet with oil or parchment paper. Now stuff each of the mushrooms with the stuffing and line them on the baking sheet. Sprinkle some butter over each of the mushrooms and bake for 5-6 mins until cooked. Remove from the oven, top each of the mushrooms with some more grated cheese as preferred and a dash of chopped parsley. You could again transfer these into the switched off still hot oven for the cheese to melt. Serve hot as an appetizer.

Tips :
You could use sweet corn kernels, chicken, tofu, potato, green peas as the stuffing or a veg mix of your choice.
You could use butter for extra extra and skip the olive oil totally
You could use 1 tbpsn bread crumbs for preparing the stuffing of this recipes to give a crunchy topping.
You can prepare the stuffin,stuff the mushrooms and keep in the refrigerator and bake just mins before your guests arrive.

Cilantro lime rice

Serving size :4
Total preparation time : 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins

Ingredients :
1 cup white rice, washed and pre soaked for 10 mins
1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup freshly cilantro leaves
1 bay leaf
1.5 tspn salt.
2-3 cilantro leaves to garnish

Method :
Puree the cilantro leaves.
Cook the rice with 3 cups water and a little salt, strain the water and keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan on medium heat, add the bay leaf. Add the pureed cilantro paste and simmer for 2 mins on low heat. Add the rice,lime juice and mix well. Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve hot. Best served with black beans or with seafood or chicken on the side.

Tips :
You could add a cinnamon stick and use chopped coriander leaves instead of puree.

Whole brown lentils with potatoes/ Aloo masoor dal

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

Ingredients :

1 cup sabut masoor/ whole brown lentils
4 garlic cloves, minced.
1/2 inch ginger, minced
5 curry leaves
4 green chilies, finely chopped
2 small tomatoes, finely chopped
2 potatoes, cut into wedges.
1/2 cup coriander leaves, finely chopped
1 tspn cumin seeds
1 tspn mustard seeds
A pinch of  asafetida
1/2 tspn coriander powder
1/4 tspn turmeric
1 tspn salt
1 tbsp ghee/ oil


Method :
Wash and pressure cook the lentils with 3 cups water for 2-3 whistles. Heat oil/ghee in a saucepan on medium heat and temper with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafetida, and curry leaves. Add the ginger, garlic green chilies and turmeric and cook for a minute. Add the tomatoes and potatoes along with salt. Let it simmer for 2 mins and then add 1 cup water and cook on high heat for around 5 mins until the tomatoes are mushy and the potatoes are soft forming a tangy tomato gravy. Add coriander powder followed by the boiled lentils at this stage. Stir well and then top it up with coriander leaves. Simmer for another 2 mins on medium heat and turn off the heat. Serve hot topped with ghee with white steamed rice or roti.


Tip :
You can add chopped onions to this or avoid garlic as well to make it a pure veg recipe.
You can use presoaked sprouted lentils instead of directly pressure cooking whole unsoaked lentils.
This recipe can be prepared with green gram (moong), turkish gram (moth) or a combination of various lentils.
You can add garam masala to this to give it a spicy flavor.

Cucumber and mint raita/ Cucumber and mint Yoghurt

Cucumber mint raita gives a soothing feeling on the throat with its refreshing yet cooling effect. This is a mild raita recipe that only has the astringent tingling flavor of ground fresh black pepper balancing with the sweetness of sugar and the sour and salty hint given by rock salt.

Serving size : 4
Total preparation time : 8 mins

Ingredients :

1 cup thick yoghurt
1 cup water
1/2 cup shredded cucumber
2 tbspn finely chopped mint leaves
1 tspn sugar
1/2 tspn freshly ground black pepper powder
1/8 tspn rock salt
Salt to taste.

Method :
Whip the yoghurt and water together with a whisk. Add all the spices and seasoning and mix well. Lastly add the cucumber and mint and stir. Serve chilled.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.