Summer Specials: Dahi Kebabs

With the sweltering heat outside, we develop a tendency to savor cold and less spicy food, that is actually good for your stomach. We should cut down on rich and spicy food during summers and eat light and non-greasy food as much as possible. Here's a simple summer recipe that's a special treat for the veggie lovers! The main ingredient here is yogurt or dahi, which is rich in calcium, vitamin B-2, B-12, potassium, and magnesium. It is easy to digest and is prepared without much hassle.

Ingredients: Gram flour(besan) 100gms, Cottage cheese(paneer) 50 gms, Cheese 25 gms, Yogurt 100 gms, Green chillies 5 gms, Ginger 5 gms, Garam masala(spices) 5 gms, Refined oil 100 gms, Raisins and Cashew nuts 25 gms, Salt to taste.

Procedure: Lightly fry the gram flour in a dry container and keep aside. Heat oil in a shallow fry pan or kadai and add ginger and green chilli pieces. Saute for a while. Now add grated cottage cheese(paneer), cheese, raisins, cashew nuts, gram flour(besan), and yogurt to it and make a thick paste. Make small cubes or chunks of kebab with this paste and grill/roast on a skewer. You can even prepare it on a microwave. Serve it hot with tomato/chilli /coriander sauce!

How To Make Pineapple Fruit Punch

Few weeks before, I tasted one of the most favorite drinks of summer--Pineapple fruit punch, in the cool ambience of a popular city restaurant. Believe me, this summer specialty really cools me down and keeps me asking for more. For those of you who are wondering how to prepare it at home, here's an easy recipe. So while summer sizzles outside, you can still sip your favorite fruit punch at home and feel the chill!

You will need: 1 can of fresh pineapple juice(alternatively, you can make fresh juice from pineapple slices by putting them in juicer), 2 packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, 1 can of fresh and frozen orange juice concentrate(thawed), 1/4 cup lemon juice, 3 quarts water, 2/3 cups of sugar, 2 packages of frozen strawberries(thawed), strawberry ice cream, 1 quart ginger ale(chilled).

Preparation: Combine and mix together pineapple juice, orange juice, strawberries, lemon juice, water, 1 pint of ice cream. Blend until smooth. Add sugar and stir, until it dissolves. Now add water. Chill for 3/4 hours. Now add chilled lemonade mix. Stir in ginger ale. Serve by adding remaining ice cream on top.

Famous Indian Chefs: Sanjeev Kapoor

Sanjeev Kapoor--The name is known to young and old, who love to eat. This celebrated and most popular Indian chef is extremely popular among food lovers, cooks, and all those who have a liking for Indian cuisine. He has given Indian food a completely new meaning and popularity by being a host in the long running cookery program on television titled, "Khana Khazana." He is one of the top chefs in India today and has written many books on Indian cuisine. His recipes are easy to prepare, tastes great and looks wonderful! No wonder he is so popular among housewives.

"Khana Khazana" won the award for the Best Cookery Show given by the Indian Television Academy (ITA) in 2001. Sanjeev Kapoor is also the recipient of the Best Executive Chef of World Award by H & FS and the Mercury Gold Award at Geneva, Switzerland by IFCA. His recipes stress on low calorie and healthy food, that is prepared in the shortest possible time. Food lovers can easily select and prepare from Sanjeev Kapoor's wide range of vegetarian and non-veg food, soups, salads, starters and sandwiches, that are available in his cookbooks and CD-ROMs.

How To Make Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji is a popular breakfast and snack in India, especially in the North and West. It has become quite popular in Kolkata too. Watch this video that will teach you to prepare Pav Bhaji at home. Enjoy!


How To Make Pav Bhaji

Famous Chinese Restaurants in Kolkata

One of my friends insisted that I write about a popular Chinese restaurant "Haka", which is located at City Center, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Frankly, I have heard a lot about this eatery, but never been there. So I'm planning to go there and find out the recipes in demand. I am a big time lover of Chinese food.

I have been to a lot of Chinese restaurants in the past. Based on that experience, I have compiled a list of Chinese restaurants in Kolkata, that are my favorites.

1. Beijing ( the food is simply yummy and unforgettable, though the ambience might not impress you) 2. Hatari 3. Krystal Chopstick( good food with cosy ambience) 4. Mandarin 5. Mainland China 6. Peiping 7. Trincas(Ming Room) 8. Waldorf 9. Tung Fong 10. Marco Polo in China 11. Jimmy's Kitchen 12. Flavors of China 13. China Bowl 14. Chung Wah 15. Golden Dragon 16. Jong's 17. Red Hot Chilli Pepper

Try these, if you are crazy about Chinese food. Some of them might be expensive, but are sure to satisfy your taste buds.

How To Make Vegetable Stew

Now with the onset of summers, we all love eating veggies. I am slowly becoming a lover of vegetarian food. It is good for your stomach and easy to digest, especially during the sweltering heat of summers. More and more people are turning toward veg food and coming up with exciting new recipes. We all love eating stews and soups throughout the year. Here's an easy to prepare and delicious recipe for a stew that you'll love!

You will need: 1 cauliflower(small), potato 2/3, carrots 2, beans 10-12, onions 2/3, tomato 2, cardamom, clove, bay leaves, cinnamon(few), white cooking oil 2 tsp, ginger 1 inch(chopped), butter 1 big tsp, milk 1 and half cup, black pepper 10-12, sugar 2 tsp, 1 lemon.

Procedure: Wash cauliflower and all other vegetables and chop them in cubes. Heat oil in a shallow pan or kadai and saute the vegetables lightly. Keep them aside. Now heat the butter in the pan and add cardamom, clove, cinnamon, bay leaves, black peppers, and tomato slices. Stir for a while and sprinkle some white flour. Add milk and mix everything well and add 3 to 4 cups of water in it. When it comes to a boil, add salt, sugar, and sauted vegetables. Cover with a lid. When the stew thickens, add some lemon juice and serve hot.

Junk food Lovers!

Who doesn't love to gorge on those yummy roadside food once in a while? Though due to health reasons we tend to keep away from those delicious junk food, there is no harm if we tease our taste buds occasionally. I guess, those fast foods and snacks are supposed to be great appetizers!

I have seen that North Americans simply love junk food! Every month nearly 90 percent of the children in America eat at McDonald's! In the United States, the food industry spends more than $33 billion a year to advertise products rich in fat, sugar and salt. Despite all those risks of obesity and cancer, average Americans consume more food rich in fat and sugar, than their European or Oriental counterparts. Aerated soft drinks, milkshakes and smoothies contain twice as much fat as hamburgers. However, these are a huge craze among school, college and even office goers.
Speaking of India, the fast food craze is rising among youngsters every day. People now consume more roadside junks and snacks than they did before, not considering the health factors or the quality of ingredients that are used in preparing them. Rather than eating homemade food, working people and school children prefer eating fast foods, that are tasty and pocket-friendly at the same time. How many of them know about the risk factors involved? In America, popular fast foods are French fries, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, tacos, pizzas, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, along with ice creams, soft drinks and milkshakes. Fish and chips are popular in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Fish is battered and then deep fried.In India people have great fondness for kebabs, rolls, fries, pizzas, bhelpuri, chaat, panipuri or phuchkas, samosas, dosas, dahi vadas, dhokla, and many others. One will get awestruck with the smorgasbord of fast foods and snacks that India has to offer!

So if you are visiting India for the first time, you should taste these yummy snacks to discover the true spirit of India! Forget about the health factors and indulge in those mouthwatering snacks. I'm sure they will leave you craving for more!