Video: How To Cook Chingri Maacher Malai Curry | Prawns in Coconut Milk

No one can deny the look, taste and aroma of authentic Bengali dishes! Many true-blue and traditional Bengali dishes are gradually getting lost as time goes by. There are many families who hold on to their traditional recipes, especially during pujas and celebration times. Among many such recipes, Chingri Maacher Malai Curry oe Prawns in Coconut Milk occupies a special place in the hearts of Bengali food lovers. Let's see how you can prepare this recipe easily...

Green Mango Chutney

Back after long and today, I'll post a simple yet refreshing recipe that's guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds!

Indian summer is hot, scorching and stifling, but in a way, it also has some positive sides to it. You get a pick of fresh summer veggies & fruits to choose from and prepare mouthwatering delicacies. Mango, to begin with, is an authentic summer fruit that's hard to stay away from! Be it green or the ripe orange ones, you can whip up a lot of dishes with this delicious fruit. Then there are strawberries, litchis, watermelons, pineapples and various other berries. Neem leaves are considered to be having antiseptic and healing properties; so is yogurt. So summer isn't all that bad :) You can make the most of summer, eat healthy and stay happy!

Read on for a simple and tasty easy-to-prepare summer recipe:

(Serves 4 people)

Ingredients: 2 green mangoes, sugar 500 grams, mustard oil - 1tsp, pinch of panch phoron (whole spice blend).

Recipe:

• Firstly, cut the green mangoes in small pieces without peeling. Then boil them a little.
• After draining the water, add 1 tsp oil into kadai & a pinch of panch phoron. When it heats, add the mango pieces. Add a pinch of salt.
• Add sugar & water as required.
• When it boils & thickens, turn off the flame & let it cool. 

P.S.: You can use sugar candy in place of plain sugar for a thicker consistency.

Kadhai Paneer

When it comes to delectable veg recipes, few things can compare to paneer or cottage cheese. There are so many yummy dishes to whip up with paneer. It's easy as well as healthy. Kadhai Paneer is one of them. Although a Punjabi dish, it's a favorite with all now. Try it at home and enjoy!

You will need: Paneer (cottage cheese) cut into 1 inch triangular pieces, 3 tablespoons of cooking oil, cloves 2, 2 bay leaves, 2 dried red chillies, crushed coriander seeds (2 tsp), 1 medium onion (sliced), 2 tsp ginger paste, 2 tsp garlic paste, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 5-6 tomatoes (chopped), cinnamon - 2 inch piece.

Recipe: Heat oil in a kadai and add bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, red chillies and half of the crushed coriander seeds. Then sauté for a minute. Adding onion, sauté for a while. Add ginger and garlic paste and sauté a little longer. Now add coriander powder, red chilli powder and tomatoes. Cook till the oil separates. Add paneer, salt and half cup of water. Cook with cover in low heat for five minutes. Serve hot, garnished with the remaining crushed coriander seeds.

Virgin Mojito

Yesterday got to taste Virgin Mojito at a local coffee joint. Must say...'twas superb! The zing, the refreshing mint and the tangy lime taste made me feel real good. For those who don't know, Virgin Mojito is a great healthy summer drink enlivening your mind and body within seconds! It's not necessarily alcoholic and can be prepared with ginger ale or just by blending fruit juices and club soda. I won't deny that Virgin Mojito has now become one of my favorite cocktails :)

If you wish to stir up Virgin Mojito at home and treat your friends and guests, below is a link to a simple, easy-to-prepare recipe. You can use ginger ale, sprite, apple juice, lemonade and club soda according to your preference. Just remember to serve it chilled!

http://allrecipes.co.in/recipe/13130/virgin-mojito.aspx

Egg-Tomato Pakora

This easy recipe's great for afternoon munch at home or a get together with friends. And when it's pouring outside, it makes for a wonderful snacking along with hot tea or coffee...

See what you'll need...

Serves 4 people -- 2 eggs, 2 tomatoes, 1 large onion, chopped coriander leaves, few green chillies (chopped), little rice dust, pinch of turmeric powder, salt to taste, oil for frying, pinch of baking powder.

Directions: Mix all ingredients together and make a thick paste. Heat oil in a shallow fry pan. Make small flat pakoras and fry them till they turn crispy golden brown. Serve hot with onion rings and tomato sauce!

Food Food Channel - A Wholesome Entertainment!

These days, my entire family is glued to food food channel and I'm no exception either! Being a foodie, how can I miss out on those yummy platters dished out by some of the most celebrated chefs of India? Our dinner times are a lot happier now thanks to all those mouthwatering recipes aired on the channel! Almost all the cookery shows in Food Food are fabulous and the recipes original and easy-to-prepare. My favorite is of course, Sanjeev Kapoor's Kitchen, followed by Turban Tadka and Roti, Rasta Aur India. No doubt, Food Food channel launched in January 2011 has a growing viewership today from homemakers to newbie cooks like me. Besides droolworthy recipes, you get to know food tips from top chefs, food trends, kitchen ideas and much more! For those looking to whip up delectable recipes in no time can well invest their time in Food Food.

This Indian food and food lifestyle channel having completed two years already is a joint venture between Astro All Asia Networks PLC (a Malaysian cross-media group) and Turmeric Vision Pvt Ltd (TVPL), a television company owned by master chef Sanjeev Kapoor.

Unquestionably, Food Food channel today has emerged as a one-of-a-kind destination for food lovers far and wide and has won several prestigious awards. Here's wishing a long and flourishing journey for Food Food in the years to come!

Durga Puja, Shubho Bijoya et al.

Durga Puja...the biggest extravaganza and festive grandeur of the Bengalis are finally over. And I guess, we are still drooling over pre and post-puja merrymaking, sumptuous luncheons and dinners! Vijaya Dashami - marking the closure of Durga Puja and the immersion of the Goddess, comes with its own splendor and color...not to forget the huge variety of sweet dishes and homemade delicacies that we get to enjoy each year! Bengalis prepare a whole lot of mouthwatering dishes on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, Vijaya Dashami and Lakshmi Puja. It is the time of mingling with near and dear ones and getting drenched in festive fervor. Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is another important event for most Bengali families in India and abroad, when the Goddess of wealth is worshipped with lavish 'bhog' offerings. The festive spirit continues up to Diwali and Kali Puja, when people engage in the festival of lights and bursting crackers. Deepavali sweets have their signature taste and color. People visit their dear ones and relatives with beautifully designed boxes of sweets. Diwali is followed by Bhai Phonta or Bhai Dooj, which is celebrated with many rituals along with a grand feast arranged for the brothers. So the gala treats just go on and on...

Hope you all had a fantastic Durga Puja! Here's wishing all of you a very happy Deepavali, Kali Puja and Bhai Phonta!

Ultimate Comfort Food n Fantasy!

Most food lovers would swear by the term "comfort food" any time of the day! These foods are easy-to-eat, easy-to-digest, being rich in calories, nutrients or both. Comfort foods have a nostalgic appeal either to an individual or a specific culture. Most comfort foods are high on taste and are easily eaten, having soft consistencies.

Here's a list of my favorite comfort foods:

• Hot Gulab Jamun with Vanilla Ice-cream
• Crispy Fried Chicken
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Chicken Fried Momo
• Dark Chocolates
• Grilled Chicken / Cheese Sandwich
• Brownies/Chocolate Cake
• Ice-creams, Pastries and Pudding
• Chicken Roll
• Chicken Pakora
• Chicken Kebabs
• Spaghetti
• Pizza
• Pani Puri
• Alu Paratha
• Chips and Dip
• Khichdi
• Biriyani

There are many more which I might have missed. Being a foodie, it becomes all the more difficult to differentiate between such mouthwatering dishes. Everyone has different idea about their favorite comfort food. Share your favorite and let me know why you love it...happy munching!

Sunday Brunch, Lazy Sunday Wishlist

The reason I call it 'brunch' is because of those late lunches I have on Sundays after having a fill of luchi, aloo bhaja or aloo tarkari for breakfast...and that too around 10.30 or 11 in the morning! So yeah...it's Sunday brunch for me...from breakfast to lunch :)


I generally get up late on Sundays after rolling lazily  on bed for quite sometime. After that, I relish the delicious luchi, aloo bhaja combo that Ma prepares at home. For all those who don't know...luchi-aloo bhaja or aloo tarkari is a traditional and perhaps the most popular breakfast on the Bengali platter on any given day. Most true-blue Bengalis would swear by this finger-licking treat. And yes, Bengali luchis are way softer, fluffier and tastier than pooris prepared in North and rest of India.

But hey...wait! Sundays wouldn't be over without a lavish lunch! So after those drool-worthy luchis, it's time for me to gorge on a delicious spread of authentic Bengali meal. Most Sundays it's bhat or gheebhat (fried rice), fries or machh bhaja (fried fish), dal, any kind of seasonal vegetable curry or aloo posto (another authentic Bengali dish), macher jhaal (fish curry) or any preparation of chicken, chutney or mishti doi (sweet yogurt) followed by meetha paan. On a rainy day, it's khichuri and ilish machh bhaja. Phew! Sumptuous Sundays, I must say!

It goes without a doubt that we all crave for the weekends, especially Sundays. It's a day when we let go of all our reservations, diets, rules and reservations and engage in unlimited masti - be it with friends, relatives or family. Sundays are lazy, crazy and meant for absolute fun without even an iota of glum. My idea and wishlist  of an ideal Sunday would be - mouthwatering breakfast, lunch, long hours of hang out with friends, family and loved ones, loads of music and movies, ice creams, shopping followed by a quiet candlelit dinner. Awesome...isn't it? But don't you think that 24 hours is little too short for all this? But I would be the happiest if it actually happens...so here's keeping my fingers crossed :)

Mango Kulfi

Summer and mango - I guess it's a deadly combo! Likewise with ice-cream. With scorching heat outside and never ending perspiration, we crave for cool treats. And kulfi is one of those yummy cold desserts that are perfect to combat the sweltering heat. Unlike ice-creams, kulfis are very simple to prepare and takes longer to melt.

I cannot help but recall the Kulfi wala screaming "Kulfi Ice Kulfi Ice" in summer afternoons with their kulfi carts during our childhood days. The call sent instant happy sensation in our hearts. That nostalgia still haunts me. All kids of our age would pester our parents to buy us those frozen delights.

With mangoes now flooding the markets, here's a recipe that'll be lapped up by young and old for sure...try it!

Ingredients:

    * 2½ cups milk
    * ¼ cup milk powder
    * ½ cup condensed milk (You can use sweetened condensed milk)
    * ¼ cup sugar
    * 1 cup sweet mango pulp

Procedure:

Mix everything properly except the mango pulp in a hollow non-stick container. Boil this mixture and then stir gently for 10 minutes till it thickens. Let it cool completely. Now add the mango pulp in the mixture and stir well. After the mixture cools off, pour it into kulfi moulds and freeze still completely set. For unmoulding the kulfi, you can place the frozen mould under running water for few seconds and it will come out. Your mango kulfi ice-cream is now ready to eat!

 

 

Basic Cooking Tips - 2

Some more essential tips on easy cooking...

• To slice meat into thin strips, especially for Chinese dishes, freeze meat for sometime to slice it easily.
• Add little milk to the water to keep cauliflower white while cooking.
• Microwave a lemon for 15 seconds and you will get double the juice when you squeeze it.In the same way, garlic cloves can be microwaved for 15 seconds to peel off skin easily.
• Bread will stay fresh longer if a celery rib is stored with it in the package.
• Pakodas will turn out crispier if a little corn flour is added to the gram flour (besan) while preparing the batter. 
• To get rid of the smell of prawns, apply salt and lemon juice to the prawns before cooking. Leave for 15-20 minutes, then wash off and proceed with the recipe. This is usually done with prawns, fish and all kinds of seafood.
• If you forget to soak chana/rajma overnight, just soak the chana/rajma in boiling water for an hour before cooking.
• For grinding poppy seeds, soak it in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes if you are grinding in a mixie. 
• While boiling milk, always add a little water at the base of the vessel to avoid the milk from sticking at the bottom.  

Basic Cooking Tips - 1

Cooking is no doubt an art which needs to be experimented often to keep your culinary skills up-to-date and innovative. Here are few pointers for easy and hassle-free cooking:

• Wash vegetables before peeling or cutting to preserve the water soluble vitamins.

• Peel vegetables as thinly as possible to preserve the minerals and vitamins.

• After peeling onions cut in half and soak in water for about 10 minutes before cutting to avoid crying.

• Soak almonds in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes .The skin will peel off easily.

• Chopping vegetables can be done in different ways using a sharp knife and a wooden chopping board. Cutting on a marble slab will blunt your knives.

• Heat a non-stick pan and add a little more butter than usual. Now beat the egg and stir briskly (even while frying) with a fork. This way more air goes in your omelet, making it light and fluffy. Fry till done and serve hot.

• Soak whole pulses overnight and other dals for one hour before cooking.

• If poppy seeds are used in grinding, soak it in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, if you are grinding it in a mixie.

• Always use heavy bottomed vessels to make desserts, in order to avoid burning.

• Immediately after boiling noodles put them in normal cold water to separate them each.  

Finger Licking Good!

Saint Valentines Day, commonly known throughout the world as "Valentines Day" has turned out to be a rage with people of all communities irrespective of colour, caste and creed.The "season of love" is not just about exchanging gifts and pleasantries, it is also about indulging in your favorite food and beverages.

Celebrate this Valentines Day with your loved one with heart-shaped chocolates, cookies, cakes and other confectioneries.Also,there are other mouthwatering foods to choose from, such as chocolate mousse, chocolate-dipped strawberries, pancakes, fondues, pastas and pizzas, steaks, cocktails, mocktails, salads and puddings.Just take your pick!

Here's a list of my top five Valentines Day delicacies:

Red Velvet Cake

Dark Chocolate Cake with Whipped Frosting

Strawberry Margarita

Spicy Chicken Wings

Chocolate Fondue

Enjoy and let me know what would you like to have with your loved and dear ones on this Valentines Day!

New Year Resolutions and Aspirations

These days, I don't make any resolution...I've seen they are hard to keep anyways! Hence, if I really wanna do something worthwhile this year...will be furthering my career to new heights. I guess, that's what I want now...I hope all my dreams to come true. Bless me O Lord!

Curious to know about your new year resolutions and aspirations...come on and share your thoughts!

Simple Homemade Christmas Cake

It's Christmas again and the most beautiful time of the year!

Cakes, pastries, chocolates, yummy desserts, ice creams and what not! Just wish upon your lucky star and enjoy the season...let Santa bring you joy, fun and happiness!!!

And what's Christmas without cakes, right? So spend this festive season indulging in your favorite delicacies and just give a miss to your calorie thoughts!

This time of the year, I rustle up a simple cake which basically requires zero effort and minimum time, yet tastes great! And anyone who's a busybee like me, can delight their family on Christmas by whipping up this simple cake at home :)

You'll need : Plain flour - 2 cups, Sugar - 1 and 1/2 cup, Egg - 2, Refined oil or plain butter - 1/2 cup
Baking soda - 1 tsp, Milk - 1 cup, Vanilla or any essence of your choice. For garnishing: Almonds, raisins, pistachio, cherry etc.

Preparation: In a hollow bowl, mix flour and sugar together. Then add egg, refined oil or butter, baking soda and blend properly. Add milk and vanilla essence to whip up a thick batter. Pour the batter in cake oven and top it with almonds, pistachio, cherries and raisins. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 or 20 minutes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!

How to Keep Cool in Summer?

While there are thousands of ways to beat the heat, here are a few quick suggestions to keep summer heat at bay:

• Stay indoors as much as you can. If you must go out, use an umbrella and shades to keep your eyes and skin safe from the scorching sun!
• Have food that is easy on your stomach and avoid oily stuff as much as you can. Don't forget to drink lots of water and other fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
• Wear comfortable cotton loose fitting clothes. Stick to natural fabrics and avoid synthetics.
• Have fruits and plenty of fresh fruit juices.
• Have plenty of herbal tea with a dash of lemon
• Consume food and vegetable with high water content like melons, pears and grapes and vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, bitter gourd, and zucchini. Avoid spicy dishes.
• Take lots of curd daily. Alternatively, you can have flavoured yogurts.
• Yoga, brisk walking and freehand exercises are great to refresh your mind and body. Daily exercise would cool you from inside and take away your tensions.

So even if you hate summers like me, try these simple tips to make the most of this sultry summer!

Tidbits of Weight Loss!

Try these simple steps to kick start your weight loss regime!

• Just maintain a healthy workout schedule each day. Be mobile. Simple brisk walks or using exercise bikes or treadmills can do wonders to your health!
• Check what you eat. Watch every morsel that goes into your stomach. That way, you can curb down calories and add more green and healthy food to your diet. Eat lots of fruits and green veggies.
• It's okay to let go once in a while. Don't be frantic and stop eating everything! Eat in good proportions and at regular intervals. Try to eat at least 5 servings of food per day. Drink plenty of water in between.
• Get plenty of sleep. Studies have shown that sleep and weight loss are interconnected.
• Keep stress out of your life! Stress is one of the key factors for being obese. When you are stressed, you feel hungry and can't control your eating, which adds to your weight.

Merry Christmas and New Year

Here's wishing all a fabulous Christmas, year end and a promising and rollicking new year ahead!

                       
                       Happy Holidays!!!

Where to Relish Delicious Chicken Pakoras in Calcutta

Calcutta is undoubtedly "The City of Joy"! Well...when it comes to taking pleasure in digging into mouthwatering delicacies, Calcutta or Kolkata is way ahead of other metro cities of India. I can go on and on with the essence of Kolkata fast foods, restaurants, where and what to eat and how to relish the magic and aroma of the mind boggling array of Kolkatan treats. I would start off with Chicken Pakora, which finds a special place in my heart, and I make no mistake to gorge on this blissfully delicious recipe once in a while! Although chicken pakora is a quintessential Indian recipe and available almost everywhere in India today, I really have no idea about its taste and way of preparation. I can only say that chicken pakoras in Kolkata are just out of this world and tastes heavenly!
                     
Here are my pick of some of the best chicken pakora outlets in Kolkata which are easy on your pocket:

• Bedwin
• Lazeez
• Bawarchi
• Kwality Restaurant
• Azad Hind Dhaba
• Bar B Q 
• Bedouin - Sher E Bengal
• Beijing
• Charcoal
• Charcoal Grill
• Chacha's Hotel
• Hatari
• New Punjabi Hotel & Restaurant
• Rahamania 
• Sabir  
• Sanjha Chula
• Canton

So go ahead and indulge in your favorite stop and gorge on their lip smacking chicken pakoras!

Monsoon Munchies

Now that the monsoons have finally set in, it's time to indulge in your favorite delicacies. Whether you love home cooked or street food, there are a whole lot of recipes to relish. This is the season to enjoy some of the yummiest of dishes: khichdi, fries, pakoras, rolls, kebabs, samosas, chats, roasted corns, momos and what not!  Prepare tasty dishes at home if you want to and enjoy with your dear ones on a rainy day. If you step outside and want to enjoy the fun, then gorge on pakoras, bhajis, pan-fried or deep-fried momos, vadas, pav bhajis, along with steaming cups of tea or coffee. Monsoon brings out our craving for having crispy treats and steaming hot and spicy food...so go ahead and make the most of this beautiful season!

Here's a nice video to set your taste buds rolling:)


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