Tag: new recipes

Tilapia in Paprica Sauce

Tilapia in Paprika Sauce

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking2 Comments

Please keep supporting us with the amazing response we have had to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo 

https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha

Tilapia is a wonderful friend of all time. It’s there across the shelf in all seasons, it has less bones to chew off and is friendly for the kids as well. With a sufficiently meaty mass, tilapia or the jalebi fish as it is sometimes called locally is a fish in need for all seasons.

Here I share a near magical and yummy recipe of tilapia. Do prepare this and enjoy the treat, I can promise you the cooking time is short but the fish will last on your platter for an even shorter time !! 

Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Ingredients for Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Tilapia in Paprica Sauce
Tilapia in Paprica Sauce

 

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : 2 can enjoy 1 fish.
  • Preparation time : 25 minutes
  • Serving size : Be primitive, fight for your share 🙂

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Tilapia, 1 whole, cleaned, about 400 grams : Tilapia is a very popular fish in Asia and Africa though is also common near the Caribbeans. It’s not the most tasty of fishes but is chunky, pretty looking decently good for immunity. Remember that unlike most expectations, this fish is not rich in omega 3 and is a low fat fish.
  • Salt, 1/3rd teaspoon : Use the sea salt salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
  • Oil, 2 tablespoons, to pan fry : Use light vegetable oil here to tingle those taste buds and let the taste of the treat go deep in them.
  • Ginger Garlic paste, 1 teaspoon : An amazing herb mix to cure all sickness, pains etc. and providing the pungency and earthiness to the dish.
  • Paprika powder, 2 teaspoon : Light and bitter with good amount of vitamin e and a strong antioxidant.
  • Tomato puree, 250 grams : Puree would be somewhat sour and sweet but more intense than tomato ketchup. Cooking it gives a great sauce for my dish.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Wash, clean and dry the fish and make slanting slits. Make the cuts deep. It will help in cooking and deepening of the flavour.
  • Coat the fish with salt. Keep aside for at least 30 minutes. Now wash gently.
  • Make a mix of the ginger garlic paste and the coarsely ground paprika.
  • Marinate the fish with the paste (ginger garlic mixed with paprika powder) and keep further for around ten minutes.
  • Now heat oil in a non stick pan. Keep on medium, wait till you start seeing vapours.
  • Place the fish in the pan and fry it for 5 minutes turning twice.
  • Now take out the fish and pour the tomato puree in the pan.
  • While you keep the fish aside, cook the tomato puree for about 5 minutes, stirring well.
  • Now place the fish in the cooked sauce and mix well but delicately. Be carefully not to break the fish while turning. Cook the fish covered on slow heat for next 5 minutes or as pr the softness you require.
  • I cook it such that the sauce thickens well.
  • Garnish and serve hot !

Storage : Honestly, I did wrap it in a banana leaf and refrigerate it for a day. But don’t stretch your timelines please.

Missing Something ? : You can dust your fish with mild pepper powder. It will enhance the pepper zing !!

Anchovy Fillet in Basil & Tamarind Sauce

Anchovy Fillet in Basil & Tamarind Sauce

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban CookingLeave a comment

Thanx a lot for the amazing response we have to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo 

https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha

Here’s another anchovy recipe which just dished itself out from whatever I could manage on one summer evening. As I state, I had some half plateful of anchovy fillet with me and most of my kitchen replenishment pending. So I chopped some fresh basil from my garden and squeezed some tamarind from an almost over pouch and dished this yummy snack. Just used pinch or teaspoonfuls of other spices so as to not to take the thrill out of the crunchy fried fillets.

Try these and prepare a blockbuster snack for yourself !!

Ingredients of Anchovy Fillet in Basil & Tamarind Sauce
Ingredients of Anchovy Fillet in Basil & Tamarind Sauce
Anchovy Fillet in Basil & Tamarind Sauce
Anchovy Fillet in Basil & Tamarind Sauce

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : 3 to 4.
  • Preparation time : 30 minutes
  • Serving size : 5 to 6 forkful each.

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Anchovy fillet, 500 grams : These are extremely pungent on their own so need good cooking. It’s rich in proteins and Omega 3 fatty acids as well. 
  • Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : Use the coarse sea salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
  • Oil, 2 tablespoons, to pan fry : I do not mind mustard oil here due to it’s pungency. Works well with these fries.
  • Raw Mango Powder (Amchoor), 1 teaspoon : Amchoor is a sour, fruity spice which is a good antacid and antioxidant. I add it here since the kids would love anything with amchoor in it.
  • Nigela seeds, 1/3rd teaspoon : It’s called kalonji in Indian kitchens and is packed with antibacterials, antioxidants, anti inflammatory. It has a slight bitter, onion like flavor.
  • Mustard seeds, yellow, 1 teaspoon : Mustard tastes from sweet to sour, bitter to steaming hot. But it’s great for digestion and respiration and strengthens bones and teeth. I use it here for the bitter sour essence.
  • Tamarind paste, 1 & 1/2 teaspoon : Tamarind manages body heat well and helps in weight loss and heart regulation. It boosts digestion and immunity. Tamarind brings tanginess in the dish.
  • Coriander seeds, 3/4 teaspoon : With a warm, nutty and orange essence the coriander seeds are great for eyes, digestion, joints, skin and abdomen.
  • Star Shaped Anise, 2 : It has a strong licorice essence and helps in digestion.
  • Sweet Basil, 1 bunch : In this I used sweet or Genovese basil leaves which I pluck-wash at my garden. Basil is the “King of Herbs” for many reasons. It is a strong anti oxidant. It fights virus, bacteria and other microbes in the body. I grow 4 to 5 types of basil in my garden and am always looking for new things to do with it.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Wash the anchovy (really well) x 2 . Means twice at least. Else you might feel the mud in your fries.
  • Roast all the dry spices ( mustard, coriander seeds, anise, raw mango powder and nigela) and grind them dry in a mortar pestle.
  • Coat the fillet with this powder.
  • Now heat a pan and put oil in it to vaporizing stage.
  • Add the roughly chopped basil in it and cook for about 2 minutes on medium flame.
  • Lay in your coated fish fillet now.
  • Cook for a further 5 minutes on medium heat. Do turn the fillet twice but gently. As they cook, they turn vulnerable to breaking as well.
  • When they feel almost cooked, splatter your panned fish with tamarind paste and salt and cook further for 4 minutes till absolutely well done.
  • Take off and serve hot.
  • Serve with some refrigerated cherries or litchis to get a tropical kick !

Storage : No Way, Jose !! Storing will make it loose the crunch.

Missing Something ? : I would allow you to grind in some curry leaves and mix the in the tamarind paste !!

Cobia in Celery & Tangerine Butter

Cobia in Celery & Tangerine Butter

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking1 Comment

We are overwhelmed by the amazing response to the new intiatives (links given below). Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here .. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo 

https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha

Since long have I fancied using these pretty looking citrus fruits in my kitchen. Tangerines have often been relegated to dish washing levels only in my household. So I tend to leave them alone on their twigs, at least they sit pretty like little round perennial flowers.

This is my attempt to conjure a fillet recipe with handful of my garden harvest in late winters. You will have to cook it and enjoy it to believe in it’s amazing lingering taste. Happy Cooking !!

Tangerine in our garden
Cobia Fillet in Celery & Tangerine Butter
Cobia Fillet in Celery & Tangerine Butter
Cobia in Celery & Tangerine Butter

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : 2 will do.
  • Preparation time : 20 minutes.
  • Serving size : 1 to 2 fillet each.

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Cobia (motha) fillet, 500 grams : This is a delicious fish indeed however (like most marine fishes) has a lot of mercury content hence moderate offering to kids is suggested. It is a pleasure to eat since it has little or no bones and just one central bone running across like surmai. It is white and flaky and good for fillets since it’s not very oily. Cobia is rich in Omega 3, vitamins and minerals.
  • Sea Salt, 1/2 teaspoon : Use coarse sea salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
  • Table Butter, 1 tablespoon : Regular table butter would be in this.
  • Tangerines, 8 to 10 : A tangerine is a hybrid between orange and a mandarin. But I guess the poor guy never really took off in size 🙂 . But it is high in Vitamin C and is great for skin and fighting arthritis and healing cuts and bruises. They look very pretty since even a potted one can give loads of fruits in winters and a grounded one gives scores of them in season.
  • Celery, small bunch of about 100 grams : I grow celery for around 5 months in a year and they grow well in tubs, bags and small planters. They have one of the healthiest foliage & excellent antioxidant. It gives good bitter pungency to the stock. 
  • Sesame Oil, 1 teaspoon : Sesame improves blood pressure, burns fats and is a good source of iron. It enhances the nutty flavor in the dish.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Harvest some tangerines. Must be all orange and ripened. Peel off and squeeze juice into a small bowl. Seeds are large and the fruit is small. DO NOT get frustrated with your attempts 🙂  .
  • Melt the butter and mix the tangerine juice in it well.
  • Lay the cobia fillets in an aluminium foil.
  • Drench the fillet very well with the tangy butter mix now. If required then poke and puncture the fillets with a fork well to make the butter go well inside the fish.
  • Wash well and chop the celery in 1 inch stalks and sprinkle over the fillets. The butter will make them stick on.
  • Cover wrap the fillets with aluminium foil.
  • Heat the sesame oil in a non stick pan and heat on medium flame till it starts fuming.
  • Place the fillets (wrapped in foil) in it and cook covered for 15 minutes turning twice thrice.
  • Serve hot and steaming.

Storage : You cannot store them, they’ll loose their texture !

Missing Something ? : You can serve some rinds alongwith the fillets. They’ll add to the tangy essence !!

Honey Glazed Turkey Platter

Honey Glazed Turkey Platter

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking10 Comments

Thanx a lot for the amazing response we have to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo 

https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha

This was my first foray into cooking a turkey dish. Quite tangibly so, I was unaware of the outcome and had my fingers crossed. While being used to the extremes of a soft seafood bite to hard red mutton, turkey was quite a compromise. Roasting it in my oven was a safe bet, but I did manage to conjure up a recipe which was lip smacking and quite a treat for a chilly winter evening. Read on and enjoy the journey to a gourmet delight !! 

Ingredients of Honey Glazed Turkey
Honey Glazed Turkey Platter

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : 3 to 4.
  • Preparation time : 2 1/2 hours.
  • Serving size : 2 to 3 chunky roasts are a great treat.

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Turkey pieces, 500 grams : Turkey has a thicker and firmer meat than chicken. It stronger flavor and a darker meat. Turkey is rich in proteins, amino acids and minerals like zinc. Not many find connoisseurs in India but can be sought and bought whenever required.
  • Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : Use the Himalayan pink salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
  • Butter, 1 tablespoon : Butter is the best grease for a grill. While some oils also do the trick but nothing separates the meat from the bones like butter and gives it a perfect browning.
  • Dried Herb Mix, 3 teaspoon (Ground Mustard, Paprika, Pepper Black, Sage, Thyme) : All herbs are a fantastic essence. Dried herbs differ largely from the original harvest by the fact that they are more earthy and the fresh ones are moist and strong.
  • Chopped Garlic, 1 teaspoon : Very few of my dishes skip garlic 1. due to its amazing health benefits & 2. because it provides the right amount of pungency with almost every veggie and meat. All hail the ‘King Pungent’ !
  • Onion chopped, 1 medium : As in Red Onions for us Indians, strong, acidic and bitter. That’s what a good red onion is supposed to be. They are also good sources of Vitamin C and Iron and are good for hair, skin and help in weight-loss. 

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Mix all the dried spices well in 1/3rd of the salt. Pound lightly in a mortar and shake to mix well. Do not grind in a mixer. That makes the spices hot and loose their flavor. Classical is the best in this case.
  • Now melt the butter and mix with honey. Warmth of butter will easily dissolve the honey at room temperature. Do not use refrigerated honey.
  • Apply this butter honey mix well on the turkey. Since turkey is best enjoyed with skin so you need to lift the skin lightly and apply the butter honey mix there too.
  • Take the spice mix and sprinkle well on all the turkey pieces. Cover well. Dried spice mix will stick well to the honey butter mix as well.
  • Wrap the turkey in an aluminium foil and place it in a baking plate.
  • Now pre heat the microwave for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
  • Place your tray inside the microwave at a raised level. This allows for a more uniform roasting.
  • Grill the turkey for 2 hours at 400 degrees.
  • Serve hot with your favorite ketchups or chutneys as have been listed in the previous menus.

Storage : No way Jose !!!!

Missing Something ? : Only thing that can be added here would be freshly chopped rosemary if available !!

Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip

Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking16 Comments

Thanx a lot for the tremendous support  this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here .. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7n9nuI85fuaZZiblobDOA

https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha/

I have always confessed the satisfaction of preparing ketchups, dips, pickles etc. since they make flavors last beyond their seasons and last several treats as well. . This one is slightly different from the Basil Pesto I shared earlier by way of the green dominance of broccoli stems/stalks. This is a uniqueness that I am proud to preserve (i.e. the broccoli stems). Recall the recipe of Cream of Celery Broccoli Stalks . Here, I just use the same power packed, nutritious stems of broccoli to prepare this fritter (pakora) accompaniment common at our place, just like the ajwain chutney recipe. Read on and enjoy the treat !!

Ingredients of Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip
Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip

…need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : dip along and dip a long !!
  • Preparation time : 15 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Basil, sweet or Thai, 3 cupfuls : In this I used sweet or Genovese basil leaves which I pluck-wash at my garden. Basil is the “King of Herbs” for many reasons. It is a strong anti oxidant. It fights virus, bacteria and other microbes in the body. I grow 4 to 5 types of basil in my garden and am always looking for new things to do with it.
  • Olive Oil, 1/3rd cup : Keep the oil light so as not to interfere with the flavor of your dish either in odor or in taste. Besides, olive oil is a great antioxidant, anti inflammatory, is good for heart and weight management.
  • Garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon : You will hardly find any of my recipes missing garlic. Pungency is the reason why we use this allicin rich clove which combats sickness and common cold.
  • Pink Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : I prefer coarse Himalayan pink salt here since it is extremely healthy.
  • Cheese cube, 100 grams : With all the calcium and protein benefits, cheese here is added for it’s creamy texture and nutty essence.
  • Walnuts, 1/2 cup : Walnuts have a good amount of good fats called polyunsaturated fats or PUFA. They have Omega 3 and decent amount of minerals like iron, zinc, calcium and Vitamins like E & B loaded in them. In taste they add a distinct earthiness and nutty essence.
  • Broccoli stems, shaved, 250 grams : Broccoli’s health benefits and earthy flavors are amazing, esp. for kids. I use a rather peculier portion of the plant. The stems. I use the insides of the soft broccoli stems by peeling off the hard outer skin. It tastes like cucumber. you may also use it in salads and many other preparations.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Wash well and break the basil. Breaking works better than chopping the basil. Chopping is said to be detrimental to the flavor.
  • Wash and dry the walnuts since they are quite dusty when fresh.
  • Grate the cheese and mix with olive oil loosely.
  • Shave off the broccoli stems using only the inner less fibrous meaty part. It would seem quite like a cucumber.
  • Now add all ingredients in a kitchen grinder and make a paste of it. I would prefer not to add water to loosen it to your requirement, instead ad 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
  •  There you are !!

Storage : Good for storage for upto 3 months at optimum temperature .

Missing Something ? : You can replace the walnuts for groundnuts and even better with pine nuts for max authenticity.

Fish Rechiado / Roopchand

Fish Rechiado

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking11 Comments

Thanx a lot for the amazing response we have to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo  https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha

Rupchand or Roopchand is a medium to big size fish which occupies your platter well. I always need courage to cook it, not because it is not tasty (which it certainly is plentifully), rather due to its hefty size. I like to cook fish whole, especially good looking ones and this is a pretty fish indeed. However, cooking whole means no leftovers. And that makes for a really big treat 😀  !  So here’s the one which I absolutely love when there’s a good couple of hours of eating strength left in me.

And the recipe, well, Rechiado is an amazing concoction which I first came across during a binge with friends in Goa. I was absolutely led by it’s umami essence and a fragrance that would fill a shackk or a room for hours.

So, here’s my treat !! Read on ….

Recipe by Ingredients Fish Rechiado
Roopchand Fish
Roopchand Fish
Fish Rechiado
Fish Rechiado / Roopchand

 

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : This is a 4 guest fish for sure.
  • Preparation time : 30 minutes
  • Serving size : Half platefuls would be a great treat.

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Roopchand fish, 1 full, cleaned and slit, 1400 grams approx. : Roopchand is sometimes called the Indian piranha, quite unfairly though. It is white and sweet and has chunky meat portions and bones that are easily separable. It is good in omega acid and proteins as well. It looks so pink and pretty and hence the nomenclature. Some also call it the fake pomfret or the chinese pomfret. 
  • Vinegar, 2 tablespoon : Vinegar preserves the flavors in my dishes very well, so I don’t mind frequenting it. Prime reason for it’s preservative qualities are the amounts of acetic acid and anti bacterial present in it. And yes of course, the sour essence is brought out very well with vinegar. It is an amazing preservative.
  • Curry Leaves, 1 tablespoon : There isn’t a household in India which does not have a curry leaves plant. They have high amount of calcium, carbohydrates, fibre, iron, phosphorus, Vitamin E, B, C and A hence helping heart, hair, skin and fighting infections. Here I add them for their extreme spicy aroma. One old friend from Bangalore once told me, if the South Indians would have their way, they would even add curry patta in Chinese food 🙂 
  • Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : Use the sea salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
  • Sugar, 1 teaspoon : Gets necessary sweetness to the dish adding fibre and aiding digestion too.
  • Lemon juice, 1 teaspoon or from 1 average sized lemon : Sour and acidic, with a good amount of citric acid, we add lemon here not just to enhance the sour essence but also to use it’s hydrating and digestive qualities.
  • Dried Red Chilies, 6 : Dried red chillies have a sharper, earthier essence then the fresh green ones. They are a good source of Vitamin C, A and E hence beneficial for skin and hair.
  • Turmeric Powder, 1/3rd teaspoon : Turmeric gives a great orange color and a mild bitter taste to the pickle here. It is a wonderful antioxidant and anti inflammatory. I grow them in tubs in my backyard. They test your patience coming up, but they are amazingly pretty as a plant.
  • Cumin seeds, 1/3rd teaspoon : Cumin has the classical earthy and nutty essence. Cumin is also extremely popular due to it’s aid to digestion, immune system, respiratory system and being a source of iron.
  • Garlic, 10 cloves : The King Pungent. Pungency is the reason why we use this allicin rich clove which combats sickness and common cold.
  • Black peppercorns, 8 : Good proportion of salt and pepper are great anti oxidants too.
  • Ginger, 1 inch : Unmistakably earthy, the ginger adds the heat quotient in the dish. The gingerol in ginger is a strong anti nausea and anti inflammatory agent.
  • Cloves, 4 to 5 : Cloves is extremely beneficial for it being anti cancer, anti diabetic, pain killing and breath cleansing properties. It has a distinct pungent, bitter essence.
  • Cinnamon, 1 inch : Again an amazing sweet taste and flavor enhancer, cinnamon is also an anti oxidant, anti inflammatory and sugar controlling ingredient which I often use in meats.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Pick a cleaned fish from the market, the guys will slit it for you too. It’s a medium to big fish with medium to thick bones. Cleaning at home will make a you clean a lot more than you expect.
  • Rub it with sea salt, turmeric powder and lemon juice and set aside for 30 minutes. Make sure that the salt mix gets deep in its  cuts.
  • While that’s been done, grind the red chilies, cumin seeds, garlic cloves, peppercorns, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, vinegar, sugar and salt into a coarse paste. Using a mortar and pestle would be better since that would be cold grinding and wouldn’t evaporate the essence. Grinding it this way will also require any additional water. Apply this paste well to the fish.
  • Preheat the microwave for 5 minutes and then place your fish on a grilling tray. Grill your fish for 20 minutes on medium heat (about 180 degrees), turning 3 to 4 times.
  • Served smoking. Again as I always say, keep checking your fish to keep it soft and edible. Too much cooking and you’ll give it a funeral 😦   🙂

Storage : Since it’s a big fish and cooked with vinegar, you may refrigerate for 2 days reheating once. Thereon, it’s texture will start getting leathery.

Missing Something ? : Dress them up with basil, I did so !!

Beet Stalks Pickle With Ginger Garlic

Beet Stalks Pickle With Ginger Garlic / Chukandar Ka Achaar

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking5 Comments

Let me introduce you all to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here .. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7n9nuI85fuaZZiblobDOA?  https://www.facebook.com/gunnmaymarwaha/

This one is another of my indigenous garden to kitchen experiments that created the “MCMH Original Recipe” . Read on and try to believe it. You know that I am an avid gardner too. The effort that takes to create vegetables and flowers out of dry seeds is only next to parenting a child. So when it’s the time for fruitation, you would want your produce to be used to it’s maximum and respect every element edible or otherwise usable. This is exactly what made me use beet stalks in many ways. remember the beet stalk fries

Do try this one and I promise you’ll stand out unique when you discuss about it in a group. Enjoy !

Ingredients of Beet Stalks Pickle With Ginger Garlic
Beet Stalks Pickle With Ginger Garlic
Beet Stalks Pickle With Ginger Garlic

…need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : Several happy lip smacking faces 🙂
  • Preparation time : 15 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Beet Stalks (stalks + leaves) chopped, 2 cups : Amazing earthly tasting veggie with high level of immunity boosting Vitamin C and with other benefits to bones, liver, kidneys etc. So what are the stalks that i use here. Pluck a beetroot plant off the ground. Most popularly used is the bulbous root, then there are the leaves which are a great alternative to spinach. Finally there are 1/4th to 1/2 inch thick stems which may vary from 4 to 7 inches in length which lie between the root and the leaves. I am using that here. I know we use to throw them away forever long back as we knew. But it is the healthiest and tastiest part of the plant as i have discovered. 
  • Garlic chopped, 1/2 cup : You will hardly find any of my recipes missing garlic. Pungency is the reason why we use this allicin rich clove which combats sickness and common cold.
  • Green Chilies, 3-4 large, slit & deseeded : Fresh green chilies from my garden add to the fresh heat and mild bitter component while adding benefits of eyes and skin.
  • Coarse Salt, 1 tablespoon : Use a rough pink salt, it is a good sodium and magnesium provider. Also aids in digestion and dissolution of food particles.
  • Peppercorns, 1/2 teaspoon : Hot and mildly pungent, black pepper is good for digestion, skin, respiration and is a good antioxidant too. On tables across the world salt n pepper are partners in relation.
  • Yellow Mustard Seeds, 1 teaspoon : Mustard tastes from sweet to sour, bitter to steaming hot. But it’s great for digestion and respiration and strengthens bones and teeth. I use it here for the bitter sour essence.
  • Cloves, 4 to 5 : Cloves is extremely beneficial for it being anti cancer, anti diabetic, pain killing and breath cleansing properties. It has a distinct pungent, bitter essence.
  • Bay Leaf, 2 : Bay leaf is great for joints and skin and are packed with Vitamin A & C and many other minerals like iron, potassium and manganese. They are pungent and bitter in taste. I grow bay leaves in my garden so I can tell you that the fresh ones and dried ones are quite different. Use the dried ones only please. Bay leaves can grow into small trees giving lifetime supply 🙂
  • Star Anise, 1 : It has a strong licorice essence and helps in digestion.
  • Red Chili Powder, 1/2 teaspoon : Dried red chilies have a sharper, earthier essence then the fresh green ones. They are a good source of Vitamin C, A and E hence beneficial for skin and hair.
  • Vinegar, White, 1/2 cup : Vinegar preserves the flavors in my dishes very well, so I don’t mind frequenting it. Prime reason for it’s preservative qualities are the amounts of acetic acid and anti bacterial present in it. And yes of course, the sour essence is brought out very well with vinegar. It is an amazing preservative.
  • Heeng, Asafoetida, 1 pinch : Heeng controls blood flow and sugar level and further adds pungency.
  • Jaggery, 100 grams : Jaggery is an amazing anti oxidant and helps the body fight against infections. It is like a buttery liquid sugar and is good to mix in food in powder or liquid forms.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • In a hard bottomed pan or a skillet, heat the Jaggery Vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon Salt and cook for 3 minutes on medium till it gets dissolved into a solution. You may take a couple of more minutes if required. Now set this aside for cooling.
  • Now in another pan, heat some oil (2 tablespoon of any vegetable oil would do).
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and mustard to it on medium. Stir till it sputters.
  • Add veggies to it one by one starting with chilies and cook for 2 progressive minute each.
  • Add all the dry and whole spices now and cook till the spices are well immersed.
  • Now set down and bottle once cold.
  • In this bottle, now pour the vinegar solution made earlier.
  • Secure the bottle cap well and shake hard to mix everything inside well.
  • Place this bottle in sun for 10 days to sun bake well, while remembering to shake it before every sunbath 🙂
  • You have your most unique pickle ready !

Storage : You can enjoy this for around 12 months for sure, if you do not gobble it all before so.

Missing Something ? : You may add some whole curry leaves to the pickle to give an amazing South Indian recall.

Cheesy Island Floats

Cheesy Island Floats

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking8 Comments

This one was long overdue. One of the most exciting moments for me was when a couple of years ago, my kiddo decided that he wanted to make some treat by his own for his visiting friends. Believe me, this little treat when offered by him to me was the tastiest morsel that I could ever have had. The magical ingredient ( aka LOVE ) was oozing from this. His creativity went beyond the dish or the recipe, it went as far as naming his dish too. He named it the Cheesy Island Floats since they certainly looked so. Read on, be inspired and enjoy !!!

Cheesy Island Floats
Cheesy Island Floats
Cheesy Island Floats

…need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : Amongst a bunch of hungry kids, No Limits 🙂
  • Preparation time : 10 minutes

….and we need (ingredients)

  • Mozzarella cheese, 1 tablespoon : Soft and creamy, mozzarella is a hit with the kids. It is high in calcium hence great for the bones of kids.
  • Sweet corn kernels, 2 tablespoon : Rich with iron, folic acid, vitamin b12 etc. sweet corn kernels are great for women and kids and generally beneficial in diabetes, energy and vision. Monsoons are a great time to make your kids have a lot of kernels in any form. I grow baby corns which start giving cobs just before monsoons and till late falls. 
  • Tomato pulp, 2 tablespoon : Wonderful anti oxidant and full of beta carotene, tomatoes are amazing and tangy and the favorites of kids. These too come from my garden 🙂 , so easy peasy to use.
  • Coriander sprigs, with soft stems, 8 – 10 : Rich with iron, manganese, magnesium and fiber, coriander has a sweet orangey zest. Kids love this garnishing too.
  • Monaco salted biscuits, 6 to 8 : A very popular salty biscuit which is omni present at our place 🙂

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Mash and mix tomato pulp, sweet corn kernels and the cheese. Heat mildly and cook if you want for 2 mins on medium flame.
  • Allow it to cool then spread generously over the single biscuits in a row.
  • Top these with another biscuit to form crispy small sandwiches.
  • Punch the coriander sprigs within the upright biscuit sandwiches to make them appear like small round islands with a groove of trees over it.
  • Do not wait. Serve quickly and enjoy !!

Storage : No way Jose 🙂

Missing Something ? : Change your cheese, add some pepper. This is an Original MCMH Treat 😀  !!

Rock Lobster in Garlic Sauce

Rock Lobster in Garlic Butter Sauce

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking13 Comments

I am self-confessed seafood fanatic. Based out of a location in India which may be one of the furthest points in the country away from sea, this can be sometimes challenging. So when ever I decide to conjure up a seafood dish, I make sure it counts. Seafood cooking doesn’t take much time, what is expended is the process of cooking and the right flavors for it. This dish is downright spectacular in taste and you’ll find forks scooping out every bit of it and scaling off the platter in minutes after you serve it ! So cook on !!

How to clean a lobster
preparing a lobster
cutting and splitting a lobster tail
cooking a rock lobster
dressing a rock lobster
how to dress a rock lobster
Rock Lobster in Garlic Sauce

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : 2 to 3
  • Preparation time : 30 minutes

…..and we need (ingredients)

  • Rock lobster 1 (about 500 to 750 grams) : The rock lobster is a very light food and hence good to help weight loss. It is also readily available around the year in the local fish market.
  • Lemon juice of 1 lemon : Besides the Vitamin C benefits to the hair and skin the lemon juice takes away the brackish smell off the seafood.
  • Olive oil 4 tablespoon : Light, odourless, this is the best drizzle oil for most sea and tropical foods. Believe me it’s not so light in benefits. Olive oil is a great antioxidant, helps the heart and is anti inflammatory too.
  • Kosher salt or Sea salt 1/3rd teaspoon : Away from the table salt, these salts are good with meats and bring out the flavors best.
  • Garlic chopped cloves 5 to 6 : Very few of my dishes skip garlic 1. due to its amazing health benefits & 2. because it provides the right amount of pungency with almost every veggie and meat. All hail the ‘King Pungent’ !
  • Black pepper crushed 1/4th teaspoon : Hot and mildly pungent, black pepper is good for digestion, skin, respiration and is a good antioxidant too. On tables across the world salt n pepper are partners in relation.
  • Butter 6 to 7 tablespoons : Butter is the best grease for a grill. While some oils also do the trick but nothing separates the meat from the bones like butter.
  • Chopped parsley and tomatoes 4 tablespoon : Parsley is the best mouth freshener and tomato is the right natural condiment with seafood.

….let’s cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

  • Every step in this dish is a chef’s delight. Starting with the buying of a lobster and preparing it for cooking.
  • When you have a lobster at hand, start with splitting open the lobster through its head to its tail and scooping out the tomally (i.e. the greenish-yellow stuff inside). I have a full blog on how to cut and prepare a lobster for cooking. That blog will tell you the specifics on splitting and preparing a lobster.
  • Now place the lobster open side up on a platter and sprinkle sea salt and ground pepper on it. Drizzle olive oil over it and place inside a preheated microwave oven.
  • Move the lobster in the grill (microwave) for 2 minutes only and then take out the platter.
  • Now dress the lobster with butter and garlic and place the platter back in the grill.
  • Move the lobster in the grill for 7 to 10 minutes more. By then the butter would be well melted and greased within the lobster.
  • Take out now and dress with tomatoes and parsley and serve hot.

Storage : Naaaaaah !!

Missing Something ? : You can’t miss anything here. There are just 3-4 primary ingredients. 1 iteration that can be done is that during the final minute of grilling you can dress and garnish the platter with tomatoes and parsley to make them mildly cooked.

cooking the leek and coriander cream soup

Leek & Coriander Cream Soup

On By mencanmakehomesIn quick and easy recipes, Urban Cooking8 Comments

Soup is a constant evening mini meal in our household. Though sufficient has been said about the benefits of eating your soup before your meal but same cannot be said about the practice. We simply do not eat enough of this health loaded food means. In many countries and many races a soup or an iteration of a soup is often a complete meal. Traditionally soups are bracketed in 4 classifications. 1st would be red and hot looking soups with tomato as it’s base. 2nd would be the white base soup which is the cream of the main ingredient soup. The 3rd one is a mixed soup loaded with ingredients called a broth. Finally, the last type would be the clear soup with near transparent look. 

recipes by ingredients of cream of leek and coriander soup
cooking the leek and coriander cream soup
cream of leek and coriander soup

….need to know (food details)

  • Number of people served : 2
  • Preparation time : 40 minutes
  • Serving size : 1 cupfull each

….and we need (ingredient)

  • Leek 4 inches piece : Amazingly tasty onion family veggie. It grows super easily in any garden and requires minimum taking care. They are milder and more flavored than an onion. It is also very healthy for blood vessels, bones, heart, digestion, vision etc.
  • Coriander 1 bunch : Again, this comes straight from my garden. Gives an orangy zest, coriander is again a blood regulator.
  • Extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon : Extra virgin oil ensures that there is no inherent flavor in this oil.
  • Butter 1 tablespoon : Mild brackish taste of butter adding to the body building benefits.
  • Maida (Fine Wheat Flour) 2 tablespoon : Fine flour adds to the viscosity of the soup without disturbing its flavor and fragrance. This just impacts the texture of the soup.
  • Milk 2 cups : The cream base and the base of the healthiness of the soup too. It gives white color and mild sour flavor as well. Eating this soup will also make a kid get the calcium, protein and potassium of the milk in a very different way.
  • Salt & Pepper to taste : as always 🙂

….time to cook ‘n roll (cooking instructions)

  • Heat a pan and melt butter in it. Add the oil in it. Heat on medium flame for 1 minute.
  • Add chopped leek and coriander to it and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the maida in it and keep moving so as not to form any lumps. While doing so gradually pour 1 cup water. Stir properly so as not to form lumps.
  • Add salt and pepper to it as per your taste and mix well. Keep cooking for 2 minutes further.
  • Take off the flame when the water has reduced to half of original either by cooking or by soaking in the flour.
  • Take this and add milk to it and grind coarsely. Grinding intensity is your choice. you can grind finer for thicker soups or grind very coarsely to enjoy the bits of veggies in your mouth while eating your soup. I prefer the 2nd option.
  • Now take this ground mixture and cook 3 to 4 minutes further and serve hot and steaming to all the eager ones waiting !!

Storage : Dont store, the cream might get sour.

Missing Something ? : Light cream can be used instead of milk. But milk is obviously easier to lay hands upon.