Rainbow rice with chicken and sesame seeds

In Indian cuisine rice had been a staple food among various regions for centuries.The white rice is popular than the brown rice.Until recently where people have   become more conscious about what goes into their system.That is where the brown rice has evolved into prominence.Brown rice is basically a whole grain rice which is a better substitute of white rice.
Often when on a strict diet our palate demands for something which is tasty and healthy at the same time.This recipe is best of both worlds.Moreover,it can be made in a jiffy once you have all your ingredients ready.As the name suggests it has various vegetables added to it which makes it colorful like a rainbow.Additionally it even has chicken which has a good source of protein and sesame seeds which fights cancer.It's a win win situation.

Ingredients  Serves-2 people

• 3 cups of cooked brown rice
• 1/4th cup of diced green,yellow and red bell peppers
• 1/4th cup of broccoli cut into florets
• 1 medium sized onion sliced
• 4 cloves of garlic chopped
• 5 cherry tomatoes cut into two pieces
• 2 tbsp of sweet corn
• 100 gram boneless chicken cut into small cubes
• 3 tsp of white toasted sesame seeds
• 3 tsp of sesame oil/olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of crushed black pepper
• 1 tsp of soy sauce
• 1/4th tsp of green chilly sauce
• 1/2 tsp of vinegar
• salt to taste

Method

1. Heat up oil in a pan.Once hot add in the garlic and onions.Saute till the color changes.
   
   
   
2. Add in the chicken cubes and stir properly.
   
3. Once the chicken gets almost cooked toss in the bell peppers,broccoli and sweet corn.Saute it for 1 minute or 2.I like a bit crunch in my veggies.Thus i don't blanch it.But if you are more into a softer texture then you might as well blanch them before adding it in the pan.
   
4. Add in the cherry tomatoes.Give a quick stir.
   
5. Add in the toasted sesame seeds.It gives depth as well as a nutty flavor to the dish.
   
6. Pour the soy sauce,vinegar,chilly sauce and salt to taste.
   
7. Toss in the cooked brown rice.Blend everything properly and your Rainbow rice with chicken and sesame is ready to be served.Serve it with your favorite green salad and Eat it up!:)
   

Tips:-

1. To make it more colorful you can toss in red cabbage or any vegetable of your choice.
2. When you toast the sesame seeds make sure to keep a check over the heat because once it turns golden it takes only few seconds to burn and turn into dark brown.If turned it becomes bitter in taste and will be of no use.

Quick Banana Coffee Smoothie

There are some people that i know who crinkle their nose on seeing a banana.And i am one of them.There is something about the smell of a banana that puts me off.But somehow i like banana shakes and smoothies(i know this might sound weird but i am sure there are people like me).This unusual banana coffee smoothie is a smasher.All it takes are two easy steps.I would call this as a "jugadu" banana coffee smoothie as the ingredients used in it are basically things that where left in my pantry and freezer.You can substitute few ingredients for something else and make your own version or you could even omit it all together.

 Ingredients Serves-1-2 glasses

• 3/4th cup of milk
• 1/4th cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1/3rd cup of condensed milk
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 tsp of sugar or as preferred
• 1/2 tsp of strong coffee or as per taste
• Few ice cubes
• 1/4th tsp of vanilla essence

Method

1. Mash the bananas with the back of your fork into a thick paste.
   
2. Pour all the ingredients into the mixer and blend everything well.Your smoothie is ready.Chill it in the fridge for a while and serve it with choc or vanilla ice-cream and Drink it up!:)
   
   
   

Gluten free homemade pasta in 3 simple steps

Have you ever felt the satisfaction of making pasta at home?it's similar to baking your first cake.The feeling is amazing when you see the pasta merrily swimming in the boiling water.Mixing and mingling with the pasta sauce like they were having an intimate moment.It's not only quick but it's very simple,too.Pasta is usually made with all purpose flour or wheat flour.But there are people who are allergic to gluten or who suffers from diseases such as Celiac disease.Where one is not allowed to consume pasta made of grains like wheat,barley etc.But this gluten free pasta is an easy quick fix solution for this.

Ingredients serves-1-2 people

• 1 cup of chickpea flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp of oil(olive oil is preferred)
• pinch of salt

Method

1. Mix everything in a bowl and forma dough.The dough should be neither very stiff of very soft.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Dust chickpea flour generously on the rolling board and roll out the dough.(At times there are chances that it might break while rolling.Thus dust with enough flour or roll it between parchment paper.)
   
3. Roll the dough thinly or as you like and cut it into desired shapes (the chickpea flour pasta is quite delicate to handle.Thus,while cutting it into shapes make sure it can sustain the heat of the boiling water and does not break down.)Boil water with a little salt and oil.Once it comes to boil put the pasta in.Let the pasta cook for around a minute or two.It depends on the shape of the pasta.Once al dente take it out of the water quickly.As they are delicate they cook fast.Cook it in your desired pasta sauce and Eat it up!:)
   

Egg Dum Biriyani

What is that one pot dish that pops into your mind when i say these three words-rice,spices and chicken?Is it Biriyani?okay,so what comes now when i say-rice,spices and eggs?not a Biriyani?well,why not?As a matter of fact egg biriyani can be equally delicious and flavorsome like that of a chicken biriyani. Those who avoid chicken or any kind of meat this recipe can be a great substitute.This is not any kind of biriyani it's actually a dum biriyani.Now i can see a wrinkle forming on your forehead with the word "dum".Don't you worry it's not that complicated as it sounds.But one thing that you should note down is that while making this recipe you need to treat it like our own child by that i mean pour all your love and effort into this dish and you'll emerge as a winner.Let's go through the ingredients first.To make things simple i have divided the whole recipe into three parts-cooking the rice,cooking the egg curry and assembling the biriyani.

First part-cooking the rice
Ingredients Serves-2 people

• 1 and 1/2 cups of raw basmati rice(long grain rice)
• 3 pods of green cardamom
• 1 cinamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• At least 6 cups of water

Method

1. Take the rice wash it off properly.Boil it in a deep utensil with water,cardamom pods,bay leaf and cinnamon stick.I have mentioned the word "at-least" while mentioning the quantity of water because you can even add more but not less.As here the main agenda is to partially cook the rice you don't want the rice to soak up all the water and fluff up like it happens while making pulaos.Thus once you see your rice is 80-85% cooked i,e it's still a bit raw switch off the gas and drain the excess water from the rice and keep aside.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Second part-preparing the egg curry
For making the egg curry first the eggs are to be fried in spices.

Ingredients

• 4 hard boiled eggs cut into 2 pieces
• 1/2 tsp of turmeric
• 1/2 tsp of red chilly powder
• 1/4th tsp of salt
• 1 -2 tbsp of oil

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan.Add in the spices and salt.Mix well.
2. Add in the eggs with the yolk side down in the pan.Cook till it gets light golden and flip over.Cook the other side same way.(The eggs splutter in hot oil.Be careful)(i have kept 2 pieces of eggs for garnishing)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Now it's time to prepare the curry.
Ingredients

• Fried egg pieces
• 1 1/2 medium sized onion sliced
• 1 tbsp of chopped garlic
• 1 tbsp of grated garlic
• 1/4th cup of yogurt
• 1 tbsp of red chilly powder
• 1/2 tsp of turmeric
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds
• 3 green chilies chopped into big pieces
• Pinch of garam masala
• 2 tbsp of ghee or clarified butter
• salt to taste

Method

1. Place ghee in a kadhai.Once hot add in the jeera(cumin seeds).
   
2. Once it releases it's aroma add in the grated ginger and chopped garlic.Cook till the rawness of the garlic and ginger disappears.
   
3. Add in the sliced onions.Cook till it becomes translucent.
   
4. Add in the green chilies and spices.Mix very well.Cook for a while till the spices releases oil.
   
   
   
   
5. Pour in the yogurt.Keep the flame low or take it off the heat while you mix the yogurt.Else there remains a tendency that the yogurt might split.
   
6. Add in the salt and cook till everything gets combined and it forms a rich thick gravy.If you think the gravy is too dry you can add a little bit of water to dilute it.Ones the gravy starts to thicken add in the fried eggs.And stir gently without disturbing the shape of the eggs.At the end add in the garam masala and mix everything together.(i like my gravy a bit dry)
   

It's time to assemble the Biriyani now.

Ingredients

• Cooked rice
• 1 1/2 fried onions(take 1 and 1/2 large onions.Slice thinly and fry till golden brown)
• Egg curry
• Chopped mint and coriander leaves as needed
• Few saffron threads soaked in milk or yellow food color diluted in water
• Ghee or clarified butter as needed
• Salt to taste
• all purpouse flour dough to stick it around the rim of the kadhai.

Method

1.Take a deep kadhai.Add in half of the egg curry(this looks  less but it's enough)

2.On top of that add in half of the rice.Sprinkle chopped mint and coriander leaves.Spread a little salt(taste the curry first.Add in the salt accordingly.)Pour little ghee and sprinkle the saffron milk or diluted food color haphazardly so that half of the rice remains white and half of the rice gets stained with the yellow color.Repeat the process once again.

3.Throw in few drops of water on top for a bit of moisture.

4.Stick in the dough allover the rim of the kadhai.And press the lid on top so that  the steam does not escape.If there is any vent on the lid of the kadhai then place a bit of dough over the vent as well.

5.Place a heavy bottomed pan or tava on low flame.Add in some water.Once little ripples form in the water and it leaves steam add in the kadhai.What we are basically trying to do is create a double boiler so that the kadhai does not come in direct contact with the heat,Usually with dum biriyani people face a common problem is that the rice gets burned quickly.But here there are very less chances of the rice to burn.Make sure that the water on the tava does not dry out.

6.Keep it on dum for 20-25 minutes.(the time varies on certain elements like the intensity of the flame.So at times it might take a bit longer.Trial and errors will make you perfect eventually.)

7.Take it out of the heat.Your egg dum biriyani is ready.Serve it with your favourite raita and Eat it up!:)

Daal tadka (tempered lentils)

Lentils and rice has always been an inevitable part of Indian cuisine.There are various types of lentils and every one has an individual identity and taste of it's own.lentils are a rich source of protein and it's very good for health.This restaurant style daal tadka is not only mouth watering but it's also dead simple. Daal tadka or tempered lentils is a hugely popular dish served in various Indian restaurants all over the world.The spices or masala's used in this dish is usually readily available in every Indian Household.This dish compliments every kind of Indian flat breads like nan,roti,parathas and it also tastes amazing with rice.It is very similar to the recipe "dal fry" but with little variations here and there.Daal tadka can be prepared in various ways but this is my take on it.

Ingredients Serves-2 people

For the gravy:-

• 1/4th cup of yellow pigeon peas(arhar daal) soaked in water for atleast 2 hours
• 1/4th cup of gram daal(chana daal) soaked in water for atleast 2 hours
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes finely chopped
• An inch of ginger grated
• 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp of red chilly powder
• 1 tsp of coriander chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp of oil
• salt to taste

For the tempering:-

• 2 tbsp of clarified butter (ghee) or oil
• 1/4th tsp of mustard seeds
• 1/4th tsp of cumin seeds
• 4 cloves of garlic chopped
• 2 dried read chillies

Method

1. Boil the lentils in a pressure cooker up to 2-3 whistles.
   
2. Heat oil in a pan.Once hot add in the mustard and cumin seeds.Let the mustard seeds crackle and the cumin seeds releases aroma.
   
3. Add in the onions.Cook till the onions start sweating a bit.
   
4. Add in the tomatoes.Cook till the tomatoes gets soft.
   
5. Once that done add in the coriander and grated ginger.Mix everything well and cook for a while.
   
6. Mix in the salt,red chilly and turmeric powder.Mix everything completely.
   
7. Add in the pressure cooked lentils.I have even added the water in which i had boiled the lentils.
   
8. Meanwhile,heat up another pan and add in the ghee.Once hot add in the mustard seeds,cumin seeds,red chilies and the garlic.Temper the spices(tempering or tadka is basically cooking the spices on hot oil to release its full flavours).
   
9. Once the mixture leaves the aroma quickly pour it into the daal.Give a quick stir.Add in the garam masala.Mix well and switch off the gas.Serve the daal with your favorite accompaniment (i like a dry version of this daal if you want you can keep the fluid consistency by adding more water) and Eat it up!:)
   
   
   

Bread Upma

Bread has always been an essential ingredient on the breakfast table.There are days when you laze around and don't feel like cooking elaborate meals for your family.You seek for something fast and simple.A simple bread and butter or jam can be an easy escape.But then the same taste of bread and butter can make your taste buds cry for something different.Here is where this bread upma takes the spotlight.It's quick,simple and tasty.You can experiment by adding various veggies and make it your signature dish.So let's see the ingredient's that you'll need.

Ingredients Serves-2 people

• 9 slices of white bread cut into cubes
• 1 large sized chopped tomato
• 1 medium sized chopped onion
• Handful of green peas (optional)
• 1/2 tsp of red chilly powder
• 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds
• 2 tbsp of tomato ketchup
• handful of coriander leaves chopped
• 1 tbsp of oil
• salt to taste

Method

1. Take a pan and heat up the oil.Pour in the mustard seeds and let it crackle.
   
2. Add in the onions and saute it for a while till the onions gets translucent.
   
3. Add in the tomatoes and mix everything well.Saute till the tomatoes gets half cooked.
   
4. Once the tomatoes become slightly soft add in the green peas,chilly powder,tomato sauce and mix everything completely.At this stage you can add the green chilies,too.But i have avoided it.
   
5. Add in the chopped coriander leaves and salt.
   
6. Mix the bread cubes in.Gently coat the bread pieces with the dry gravy.
   
7. And your bread upma is ready.Garnish it the way you like and Eat it up!:)
   
   
   

Tips:-
 1.The tomato ketchup that i used was already sweet.As it's homemade(recipe given on my blog).But if the one you use is not that sweet then you can add in a bit of sugar.

2.You can even add a bit of lemon juice.