Punjabi Style Eggplant Tomato Curry

Punjabi Style eggplant Tomato curry

Growing up I remember eggplant was available in my home region only during certain seasons but now days all fruits and vegetables are available year round. My mom often use to make this simple Punjabi style eggplant tomato curry ( sometimes with peas, sometimes with potatoes) as a shortcut for Baingan bhartha. I liked it either way. Hope you will give this recipe a try and will share it with friends and family too.

Ingredients/Method

2 large Aubergines/ eggplants/ brinjal
4 tomatoes
1 tsp salt ( adjust per taste)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
2 -4 tbsp oil
1 large ( or 2 medium size onions)
1 tsp cumin seeds/ Jeera
1 tsp coriander seeds- crushed
2-3 cloves of minced garlic
1 small piece of ginger chopped
1 small green chilli chopped ( optional)
Cilantro for garnish
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp dried fenugreek leaves/Kasoori methi
1 cup green peas

Method:
Prep the curry base ( cut onions, ginger, crush garlic, green chillies)
Peel and chop Eggplant into bite size pieces.
Heat oil and fry cumin and coriander seeds. After 30 secs, add onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies. Mix well and add salt and turmeric.
After 7-8 mins once masala is golden brown, add eggplant and 3-4 tbsp water. Cook for 15 or so mins. Once 70-80 % done, add tomatoes, green peas and curry powder and chilli flakes. Mix well and cook until done. Add garam masala, dried fenugreek leaves and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve hot with roti or parantha.

If you like Eggplant, you can also try our:

Eggplant Chutney, Stuffed Eggplant Curry or Achari Baingan

New Delhi Tofu Peas Curry Recipe – Indian Vegetarian Food

Tofu Peas Curry Recipe

 

Simple, Healthy and Flavourful, this Tofu Peas curry is easy to prepare and is gluten free. Enjoy it with Roti, Rice or naan. Tofu is a great substitute for Paneer and more nutritious. While Paneer is Dairy, Tofu is protein so another great reason to try this dish.

Ingredients:

350 gms Firm Tofu
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 onions(small) or 1 large
1 tsp coriander seeds ( we crush and use them in our recipe to get maximun flavour)
2 tbsp julienned ginger
2-3 cloves of garlic finely chopped or minced
1 tsp fennel seeds ( i cursh it with coriander seeds and add it in the wok)
3-4 medium size chopped tomatoes
1 tsp red chilli flakes (optional)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric
1 cup peas
1/2 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1 cup peas
1-2 cups water
2-3 tbsp oil for cooking and some for sauteeing Tofu
4-5 stalks of cilantro leaves( coriander chopped) for garnish

Method:

1. Cut Tofu into bite size pieces and saute in some oil until golden brown. Set aside.
2. Heat 2-3 tbsp oil in a wok. Fry cumin, fennel and coriander for 30 secs and add onions, ginger and garlic. Mix well and add salt, turmeric and red chilli flakes.
3. Cook until onions are golden brown. Once masala looks ready, add tomatoes and peas. Cook until tomatoes are tender.( would be another 4-5 mins)
4. Add water and bring it to boil. Add tofu pieces and let them simmer in the curry for 3-4 mins. Add Garam masala and top off with Cilantro leaves.

Serve with Roti, Paratha, Naan or Rice.

 

Cold Tofu Noodle Salad Recipe ( Potluck Recipe ideas)

Cold Tofu Noddle Salad

I Love summer. Picnics and pot luck get togethers with friends, Long drives with family and splash parks with kids, so much fun. Here I am sharing an exciting healthy and easy summer salad recipe with you: Cold Tofu Noodle Salad, hope you like it.

Ingredients/Method

1 Pack of Somen Noodles (Thin Wheat noodles, you can use any kind of noodles you like)
350 gms of Firm Tofu
(Cut Tofu into cubes and Marinade it with 1 tbsp Soy Sauce and 1 tbsp Lemon Juice)

Veggies of your choice but here’s what works well:
1/2 cup matchstix carrots (Or thinly sliced )
Small thinly sliced piece of Red Pepper (about 1/2 to 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup Green Onion

For dressing
1/2 tsp Red Chilli flakes
1 tbsp grated ginger
3 tbsp Vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
Few drops of Fish sauce

(If you require, you can add salt and pepper, although I find that salt content in Soy sauce is good enough for me)

Garnish with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Peanuts (optional- some raisins)

– Cook Noddles per package instructions. Run them in cold water and then put them in a large bowl.
– Add in marinated tofu. I like to marinade tofu atleast overnight for best taste/flavour but if you are short of time, half an hr is good too)
– Add in all the veggies and dressing. ( For dressing, mix grated ginger, red chilli flakes, vinegar, soy sauce and few drops of fish sauce)
– Mix well and garnish with peanuts. Let it chill and then serve.

 

Easy Instant snack Recipe- Mushroom Upma

Easy Indian Snacks

Here is an easy recipe for Mushroom Upma which is a popular South Indian breakfast dish. Upma is traditionally made out of Semolina (sooji) and here I have used Cream of Wheat (breakfast cereal) for this dish. It’s quick and tasty. Give it a try if you are craving something savory in the morning or looking for healthy snack ideas. 

Ingredients/ Method
2 tbsp cream of wheat ( finer version of sooji/semolina)
1-2 tbsp oil ( or clarified butter)
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
4-5 cashews
1 tbsp chana dal (split yellow lentil)
2 tbsp chopped onions
4-5 chopped mushrooms
3-4 dried crushed curry leaves ( fresh work wonderful but dried ones are a good substitute)
1/2 tsp salt ( or as per taste)
1 cup of water

Method: 
Begin by dry roasting sooji/cream of wheat. Once it starts turning brown, take it off the heat. 
In the same pan, add 1-2 tbsp oil and fry mustard and cumin seeds. Remember oil needs to be hot. Give seeds 30 secs and then add cashews and chana dal, followed by onions and mushrooms. Give them 2-3 misn and then add salt and 1 cup of water. Add cream of wheat and cook until water dries up or semolina puffs up and is tender enough to eat. Serve warm with a cup of chai tea.

If you like Indian Snacks, here are few other ideas for you to try .  Enjoy 🙂

Indian Snack Ideas

Quick Carrot Halwa Recipe

Easy and Quick Carrot Halwa
Easy and Quick Carrot Halwa

 

Want to make delicious and easy Indian dessert within 30 mins? Well, here is an easy version of Gajar Ka halwa ( Carrot Halwa recipe) popularly known as Gajrela in India, it is quite tasty and is a really popular Indian dessert. We have flavoured it here with Cardamom powder and coconut flakes and then topped it with dry fruit of our choice. Traditionally when Halwa was made, carrot were cooked in milk for hours and hours, we have made the whole process easy by using condensed milk (which is already sweetned)
Try this recipe and I promise that you will not be disappointed.

Ingredients/ Method

3 cups of carrots (grated)
1 can of condensed milk ( 300 ml)
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsp coconut oil ( or Clarified butter- desi ghee)
1/2 cup unsweetened dry coconut flakes
12-15 pieces of dry fruit (chopped) – I use raisins, cashews and almonds

Heat oil (ghee) in a pan. Once melted or hot, add carrots and cook them for 15-20 mins until soft and tender on medium low heat. Keep stirring them so that nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan. add coconut flakes and further cook for 3-4 mins. Add condensed milk and mix well. Let carrots soak in the milk and rest of the milk will evaporate ( about 3-4 mins) add cardamom powder and sprinkle your fav. dry fruit on top. Serve it cold or warm. Enjoy 🙂

If you have a sweet tooth, you might like some of these other desserts as well.

Delicious and Super Easy Desserts

2014 FIFA World Cup Eats (9 Snack Ideas for a World Cup Party)

Spicy Baked Chicken Nuggets

Today, world cup fans will see a match up between Australia and Netherlands, Spain and Chile as well as Cameroon and Croatia. If you are like millions of other fans, who couldn’t go to Brazil to watch these matches in person then you are actually in luck because you can enjoy these matches from the comfort of your own home, office or even your favourite sports bar.

Now, if you do decide to catch the action from your own tv, then why not make the experience really awesome by having these snacks on hand to eat. Better yet, invite your friends over and have an ultimate soccer party. Here are few snack ideas, you can try :

1. Baked Chicken Nuggets

2. Ultimate Chicken Wings

3. Spicy Indian style Bhuna Masala Chicken – Spicy Indian Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

4. Tandoori chicken

5. Ultimate Nachos Platter

6. Ultimate Spicy Pizza

7. Punjabi Fish Pakoras

8. Chicken Tikka Recipe

9. Fried Chicken Recipe

Hope you will try some of these recipes and will make your next world cup soccer party a great success.

2014 FIFA World Cup Eats – World Cup Food Ideas

World Cup Eats

So far 2014 FIFA World Cup has been pretty exciting. Today we’ll see battle between Germany and Portugal, Iran and Nigeria, Ghana and United States. GermanyVSPortugal is/was a big one. Thomas Muller’s second goal had all Germany fans rejoicing. Do you know this is the fourth straight World Cup in which at least one Portugal player is sent off (6 red cards total.) If you are/were watching the match, you would know Raul Meireles wasn’t happy with Müller or the referee.

Well, it’s almost lunch time here and guess what I am craving for lunch..some German street food. I hear the Doner Kebap Sandwich’s are quite popular over their. Although Germany is well known for their variety of delicious sausages, kebab sandwiches are loved all over the world.  Other German street foods include Bavarian Fleischkase (also called Leberkase) which is similar to meatloaf sliced to the thickness of a finger and generally served with either hot mustard or sweet mustard in a roll. In recent years, their is increased popularity of  hybrid curry-sausage, Currywurst. Yes, who doesn’t love some hint of curry. Oh and let’s not forget about french fries and beer. Turkish-influenced street foods popular in Germany include include shawarma and doner. North African stalls can be seen selling shawarma, falafel and halumi. Who Knew?

Here, I am sharing with you a simple recipe of pork Kebabs which you can prepare and fill in any sandwich and enjoy a tasty lunch while watching your favourite teams fight for FIFA World Cup 2014.

 

How to make Jeera Rice? Cumin Flavoured Basmati Rice

Simple Jeera Rice

Learn to transform simple plain rice into flavourful side dish by adding cumin – Jeera in the preparation. One of the simplest rice dishes Jeera rice are popular Indian food and are usually paired with variety of curries, chutneys and pickles.

Ingredients and Method
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1-2 tbsp Oil
1 cup Basmati Rice (or any other variety)
2 cups of water

Method: Wash and drain the rice. Depending on the variety you may or may not need to soak them. Basmati rice usually doesn’t require any pre soaking. Heat oil in a pot and add cumin seeds. Let seeds sizzle for 30 secs and then add rice. Mix well. Add water and cook covered until water evaporates. Serve with curry of your choice.

 

Like Rice, also try our other rice recipes like veg pilaf, meethe chawal, Idlis etc

How to make Curried Sweet Potato Chips? Healthy Snack Ideas

Curried Sweet potato chips

Hey Foodies, here’s a recipe for a healthy snack- Curried Sweet Potato Chips and these are baked not fried so you can munch on them guilt free. They are easy to prepare and are ok to store in an airtight container for couple of days (once they are completely cool)

Ingredients and Method:

1 Small Sweet Potato ( or 1/2 of one large one)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 to 1 tsp curry powder
1-2 tbsp olive oil ( or other vegetable oils)

Thinly slice the sweet potato. You can use good old knife and if you have one of those fancy kitchen gadgets like Mandolin Slicer, even better. Mix the above ingredients thoroughly and then spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put in a preheated oven ( 250 F) to cook for 2 hours. Turn them half way through to ensure even cooking. Let cool and then serve and enjoy!

Having a ladies night at your place, why not prepare this tasty snack for your girlfriends.

 

How to make an easy Lamb Curry? (Fathers Day Recipe)

Easy Lamb Curry

Here is another exciting recipe that you can make for dad, this Father’s Day. Flavourful and Delicious Lamb Curry with Mushrooms Peppers.

Ingredients and Method:

650 gms of Cubed Lamb (We used Boned In)
2-3 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 large chopped onions
4-5 garlic cloves
2 inch piece of ginger
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp Paprika
1 green chilli ( or half)
(skip if you can’t handle spice or adjust to your taste)
1 tsp Curry Powder
3 chopped fresh tomatoes
1/2 tsp garam masala
cup of mushrooms and peppers chopped
1-2 cups of water and Cilantro for garnish

Method:

Fry Lamb until brown and then set aside. Make paste out of onions, ginger garlic and green chilli.
Heat Oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let them sizzle for 30 secs and add onion paste. Mix well and add salt, paprika and turmeric. Cover and cook for 4-5 mins.
Once masala is done, add veggies. Mix well. Add tomatoes and curry powder. Let them become tender ( within 3-4 mins) .
Add meat and cook until done. ( I would suggest simmering – on low heat at least 30 mins. Add water as required. 1-2 cups is sufficient.
Garnish with cilantro leaves and Serve with fresh rotis, naan or over rice.