Black Channas with Masala

This is an Asian spicy dish popular in the subcontinent. I was introduced to this dish by one of my Indian neighbors while living in Nairobi. It can be a tea time treat served with fried pakoras or dry crisps depending on individual taste. The dry crisps choices are chewra or spicy chilli chips
which can be bought from any Indian store.

Serves: 6

Ingredients:
Black channas : 1 cup (pre soaked for atleast three hours and boiled with 1/4 teaspoon tumeric)
Potatoes: 3 medium sized boiled and cut into bite size cubes
Garlic paste : 1.5teaspoon
Ginger: 1/2 teaspoon
Green chilies : 4 - 5 sliced
Tomato paste : 2 table spoons
Turmeric powder : 1/2 teaspoon
Salt : To taste
Curry leaves : 6 - 7
Mustard seeds: 1/2 teaspoon
Tamarind paste : 3- 4 tblspoon or Raw mango 1 peeled, sliced and cut or juice of 2 lemons
Oil: 1.5 tblspoon
Chopped cilantro : 2 - 3 tblespoons

Method:
step 1- Heat oil in the pan, add in the mustard seed, and curry leaves. when the seeds start to splutter add in the sliced green chili, garlic ginger paste, turmeric powder and salt stir to combine and fry.
step 2- Remember to keep the flame on medium low. when the spices start clinging to the spoon add in the tomato paste stir to combine add in the boiled chickpeas, (save 2 tablespoons of chickpeas).
step 3- Add in the cubed potatoes but do not add all (save about 2 table spoons of potatoes). Stir to combine if need be add half a cup of warm water and cover the pan.
step 4- Blend the saved potatoes and chickpeas in a blender with little water and make a paste. then add it to the chickpeas curry.
step 5- now add in the tamarind paste or raw sliced mangoes or lemon juice (what ever is being used) covered cook a while on very low heat. This has some curry in it so do add water if needed.
step 6- add in the cilantro and close the flame and serve

Chicken in White Sauce

While living in Muscat this recipe was shared with me by my good friend Parin. She often used to make it while entertaining. My children specially enjoyed it. In the summers of Muscat it was a good change from oily spicy dishes, easy to prepare & was ready in no time. Its a nourishing wholesome dish and a complete meal. Can be served with bread crouton and garlic bread.

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

white sauce ingredients:
Oil: 1tsp
Butter: 2Tbsp
Flour: 2Tbsp
Water: 0.5cup; lukewarm
Milk: 4cups
Cheddar Cheese: 5Tbsp
Black Pepper: 0.25tsp
Mustard Powder: 0.25tsp
Salt: 0.5tsp

filling ingredients:
Oil: 1Tbsp
Onion: 1; cut into cubes
Bell Pepper Green: 1; cubed
Boneless Chicken: 1.5cup (Add small piece of ginger, 2-3 pepper corns, 2 cloves and a pinch of salt while boiling chicken)
Corn Kernel: 1cup; boiled (if using tinned, no need to boil)
Spring Onion: 4-5; finely sliced
Black Pepper Powder: 0.25tsp
Mustard: 0.25tsp
Salt: to taste
Flour: 1Tbsp
Chicken Stock: 0.5cup
Water: 0.25cup
Parsley: 1Tbsp; finely chopped

Spaghetti: 2cups (boiled)
Cheddar Cheese: 2 cups; grated

Method:
1. Preheat oven to gas mark 6, 350F.
2. Make white sauce: heat 1 tsp oil in a pan add in the butter and flour fry for a minute
or two. Add in the lukewarm water. Mix well so all the lumps are dissolved (using a whisk works wonders in getting rid of the lumps and getting a fine sauce). After the lumps turn to a smooth mixture, add in the milk and keep using a whisk to stir and cook till the sauce thickens. Remove from heat add in cheddar cheese, pepper, mustard and little salt (remember cheese is salty). The cheese
sauce is ready.
3. Take another pan, add in 1tbsp oil put in the chopped onion cook till it turns pink, then add the bell pepper and chicken. Stir to combine & add the corn & spring onions. Season with black pepper powder, mustard powder and little salt. Add the flour & keep stirring till flour turns golden brown. Add in the chicken stock and water. Stir & cook till all the stock and water are absorbed. Add the chopped parsley. turn off flame.
4. Assemble: take heatproof lasagna dish (about 10"by 5" size). Put 2-3Tbsp of white sauce, then the boiled and drained spaghetti; next add in 3-4Tbsp of white sauce, then the chicken & vegetable mixture. Cover with remaining white sauce. Finally, cover with grated cheese.
5. Bake in a preheated oven [what temperature] for 20- 25 minutes then place under the grill till the cheese turn golden brown.
6. Serve with garlic bread or croutons.

Qeema Karela - Bitter gourd with Mincemeat

Recipe requested by my nephew's wife, Kamila.

 

Bitter gourd (karela) lowers blood glucose levels, is a great source of Vitamin K; helps build immunity; encourages glowing skin if consumed regularly; lowers cholesterol. Endless benefits to this bitter tasting vegetable. The bitter taste can be offset & diminished (as demonstrated in this recipe) and enjoyed in different ways: fried, cooked with lentils, cooked with tomatoes & onions, or mixed in with meat.

 

This dish can be enjoyed with chappati, rice or mixed with freshly chopped salad & quinoa.

Serves: 6

 

Ingredients:

Bitter Gourd: 0.5kg

Oil: 3Tbsp

Onions: 5; medium; sliced

Mincemeat (Qeema) (mutton, beef or chicken): 0.5kg

Garlic Paste: 2tsp

Ginger Paste: 2tsp

Cayenne Pepper: 0.5tsp

Turmeric Powder: 0.5tsp

Coriander Powder: 1tsp
Cumin Powder: 0.5tsp

Tomatoes: 2

Aniseeds: 0.5tsp*

Coriander Seeds: 0.5tsp*

Cumin Seeds: 0.5tsp*
Yoghurt: 3Tbsp

Green Chilies: 2-3 chopped

Cilantro: 2Tbsp chopped

Lemon Juice: 2tsp

 

*crush coarsely

 

Directions:

1. Prepare the bitter gourd in the following manner:

1.1 After washing, scrape the skin; cut & remove the seeds. 

1.2 Slice the bitter gourd in medium size rings; add 0.5tsp turmeric powder, generous helping of salt and keep aside.

1.3 Squeeze the bitter gourd between your palms, wash well & squeeze out all the water.

 2. In a frying pan, add 1Tbsp oil & half of the sliced onions. Fry the onion till pink, add the sliced

    bitter gourd, & stir to combine. Keep frying for a further 10 minutes till the onions gourd turn
    golden brown. Close the flame and keep aside.

3. In another pan, add 2Tbsp oil & fry remaining onions to a golden brown color.

4. Add the mincemeat & fry till meat changes color.

5. While mince is cooking, in a small bowl add garlic paste, ginger paste, cayenne pepper, 

    turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder & salt. Mix with a little water to make a paste.

    When the mince turns color, add the spice mixture to the mince. Stir to combine & keep cooking ]

    for 15-20 minutes on very slow flame. 

6. Wash & chop the tomatoes & blend in a food processor (or finely chop & pound in a mortar &

    pestle). Add the blended tomatoes to the cooking mince.

7. When the water of the tomatoes dry add the fried bitter gourd, the coarsely ground cumin seeds,

    coriander seeds, & aniseeds & yoghurt. Turn the flame to very low and cook till bitter gourd

    softens & water of yoghurt dries.

8. Before turning off the flame, add the chopped green chilies, cilantro, lemon juice.

 

Moong Dal - Green Gram

If in the mood to give yourself a break from meat and get some protein into your meal, lentils are a perfect alternate. I like to throw in spinach into this to get a high intensity kick of good nutrients.  

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
Moong Dal: 1 cup
Turmeric Powder: 0.5tsp
Green Chillies: 2-3 (optional)
Salt: to taste
Cayenne Pepper: 0.25tsp (optional)
Ginger Paste: 0.5tsp
Garlic Paste: 0.5tsp
Cumin Seeds: 0.5tsp
Water: 2cups (more if you want it watery)

For tempering (tadka):
Oil: 2Tbsp
(Ghee: 1Tbsp. optional. If using Ghee, then reduce Oil to 1Tbsp.)
Chopped Onion: 1; medium size
Cumin: 0.5tsp
Ginger Paste: 0.5tsp

Directions:
1. Boil dal with water.
2. Remove froth with a spoon that will form from boiling.
3. Add green chilies and turmeric.
4. When lentils are mushy, add cumin, ginger & garlic paste, salt & cayenne pepper.
5. Prepare tadka in a separate small saucepan. When it's frying nicely, onions have changed colour and there's a beautiful spicy aroma wafting, pour over cooked dal.

If using spinach:
Add 2 cups of blanched & crushed spinach leaves blanched  into cooked dal. Do this before tempering. Finish off with a squeeze of lemon & dig in.

Fettuccine Salad

~ Recipe (as well as jargon, blurb & pic) submitted by Rabab

One fine, lazy morning, I happened by an Instagram post which prompted me (I was an inch short of licking my screen) to put together this salad. Pasta has been a recent additional source of carb comfort - it sits well in my tummy for a long time after consumption and stops me from reaching out for afternoon carb fixes (most times - some days I'm just on a carb roll). This recipe is versatile as you can throw in any kind of vegetable (steamed or raw), your favourite pasta (penne, spaghetti, fettuccine etc.), cook the egg (which is optional) any way you want, and spritz in any homemade salad dressing (non-creamy if you're planning to stay within health zone parameters). I found the citrusy dressing I used didn't bode too well with the poached egg, so will probably keep the egg on a separate plate next time. Also, you can go as low or high in quantity of ingredients, contingent on people eating. (See? Versatile.).

Serves: 2 (or 1 if feeding a super hungry person)

Ingredients:
Arugula Salad: handful, chopped (you can also use iceberg lettuce or any crunchy greens)
Baby Spinach: handful, chopped
Garlic Cloves: 1-2, finely chopped (this is optional; skip it if you don't like garlic. I love garlic & use more cloves if it's just me eating)
Onion: 0.25, finely chopped (optional)
Cucumbers: 2 small, finely chopped
Orange / Red / Yellow / Green Pepper: quarter of each, finely chopped (can use 1, 2 or all of the peppers)

Steamed vegetables: Cutting the vegetables before steaming saves on cooking time.
Carrots: 1, chopped to bite size pieces
Brussels Sprouts: 4-5, cut into quarters
Green Beans: handful, cut into 3" pieces

Fettuccine Pasta: 1.5" diameter bunch uncooked
Eggs: 2 (I stick to 1 egg per person)

Salad Dressing:
Lemon Juice: 0.5 lemon
Olive Oil: 2-3tsp
Turmeric Powder: generous pinch
Salt & Pepper: to taste
Paprika Powder: pinch

Directions:
1. Cook Fettuccine as per package directions.
2. Cook egg the way you like it. I generally poach it, or fry it on days I'm feeling naughty.
3. Toss in all vegetables in a large bowl.
4. Throw in salad dressing ingredients in a small glass bottle with lid. Close lid and shake well. Do a little jiggy while you're at it.
5. Pour dressing over vegetables and mix well.
6. In a serving dish, layer with pasta, dunk out all the salad, toss some more & serve with egg.

Sweet Potato Kheer - Sweet Potato Pudding

This was another favourite at my parent's home. It's often made with rice, but sweet potato is a tasty alternative, giving the dish a nice, custardy texture. You can use 1Tbsp of sugar instead of honey. Combines well with Meethi Tikya.

Serves: 6-8 (if eaten decently; otherwise for 1 greedy sugar lover)

Ingredients:
Milk: 1.5litre
Sweet Potatoes: 250g; peeled & cut into small pieces
Honey: 2Tbsp
Sugar: 0.5 Cup
Kewra Essence: 0.5tsp
Saffron Strands: few
Almond: 1Tbsp; peeled & slivered
Pistachio: 0.5Tbsp; peeled &cut into small pieces

Directions:
1. Boil milk on low heat for an hour or so
2. Add in chopped sweet potatoes
3. Once sweet potatoes are soft & tender, mash well with a hand blender.
4. Add sugar & cook till liquid texture thickens (usually takes about 15-20 mins).
5. When you get the thick consistency, add honey, kewra essence, almond, pistachios & saffron.
6. Serve chilled

Garam Masala

Garam masala gives a wonderful taste & aroma to South Asian dishes; used in most recipes. You can make a batch and store in an airtight container; suggested to keep in fridge if environment is intensely humid. Too much garam masala can cause heart burn so use sparingly; I always serve yogurt as a side dish for the less adventurous palettes on my table & also works well as an end to a mouth ripping, sweat pouring spicy meal.

Ingredients:
Cloves: 8
Peppercorn: 18
Big Cardamom: 5
Small Cardamom: 5
Cinnamon Stick: 3 sticks, each 2"
Cumin Seed: 2tsp
Coriander Seed: 2tsp

Directions:
1. Slightly roast all ingredients in a frying pan & in a coffee grinder, grind to powder form.
2. Store in airtight container away from direct sunlight.