Cauliflower Stir-fry

This is a typical cauliflower stir-fry recipe and is a very common one too.

Here is the ingredient list:

1 medium cauliflower head,chopped

1 small onion,finely chopped

Green Chillies/jalapenos - to taste

1 spoon,kitchen king masala

ginger-garlic paste- 1 spoon(I used store bought)

cooking oil,for the saute

Cilantro leaves for garnishing

Ingredients for tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1/2 spoon
Curry leaves - few
asafoetida- a pinch(optional)

Soak the chopped cauliflower florets for 10-15 minutes in water to which turmeric powder has been added. This ensures faster cooking of the florets and also removes any germs that might be present.

Heat cooking oil(I used 2 tbsp) in a pan and add the temepring ingredients one after the other. Next add chillies/jalapenos followed by onions. Saute for a couple of minutes till onion is partially cooked. In the meanwhile,drain the water from the cauliflower peices. Add the pieces to the pan.Let it cook for about 10 minutes. Now add salt,kitchen king masala and mix well. the florets tend to give out water while cooking, hence wait till all the water has been absorbed.Switch off the stove. Serve as a side to rice/dal or rotis.

Paneer recipes

This dish is my own and tried out in my kitchen. It did come out pretty well and does taste similar to paneer makhani(or is it paneer makhani???!!! :) ). I love paneer and I am a little lazy to sometimes chop other vegetables for paneer dishes like Kadai paneer or Palak paneer. This dish of mine just needs onion and tomatoes. I am yet to name this dish. May be, one of you reading this recipe could suggest a name :)

Here is the list of ingredients:

2 cups paneer,diced into small cubes

1 medium onion,chopped

2 medium tomatoes,chopped

About 1 cup,milk or water

Chilli powder,to taste

1 spoon,Corriander powder

Salt to taste

1 spoon,Cumin seeds

cooking oil

cilantro leaves,for the garnish

In a skillet,heat 1 spoon oil and saute the chopped onions and tomatoes. Allow it cool and blend it to a smooth paste in a blender without any water.

Next, add 1-2 spoons oil in the same skillet. Once hot,add cumin seeds followed by the onion and tomato paste. Let it cook for about 4-5 mins. Next, add salt,chilli powder,corriander powder and mix well. Let it cook for a couple of minutes(This paste tends to burn if left unattended).

Now, add milk or water. Once it comes to a boil, add the chopped paneer pieces and give it one final mix taking care that the paneer pieces do not break. I do not generally fry paneer. But, if you wish then you can fry paneer in a teaspoon of oil in a separate pan and add it to the dish. Switch off the stove. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Serve hot with rotis,parathas or rice.

I served this with methi parathas.

Strawberry Smoothie

This is a strawberry smoothie that I just tried and am now blogging it. I wanted to have some refreshing fruit juice or smoothie and with strawberries lying in my refrigerator I made a strawberry smoothie. I faintly recollect reading somewhere that orange juice gives a nice zesty taste when added to fruits like strawberry. I wanted to verify this too :)

Toss in 3-4 medium sized chopped strawberries, a little orange juice and a couple of spoons of yogurt with sugar in a blender jar. Blend till smooth. Enjoy chilled.

                                                   I am sending this entry to this event

Also, I am sending this recipe to Divya for the event hosted at Dil Se here

Corn rice

I had a packet of frozen corn lying in my refrigerator for a long time. I was in no mood to preapre soup as it is already peak of summer. I did not know any other dish either. Finally, I discovered a recipe! Here is the link to the original recipe . I was delighted to find this. I have altered the recipe a little to suit the spices and ingredients that were available with me. To my pleasant surprise it turned out good. This is a simple dish and can be even cooked in the morning to pack up a quick lunch. Thanks to Divya

You will need:

1.5-2 cups cooked rice

1 cup corn, frozen or fresh

1/2 medium onion ,chopped lengthwise

2 spoons pulao masala(Store-bought)

1/2 cup,Grated Cheese

cooking oil for saute

In a skillet, add oil and then add the pulao masala. The pulao masala has a tendency to burn and we need to be quick to keep stirring it into the oil. In the next 2 minutes, add the onions, followed by corn. All the ingredients to get flavored in the oil with the pulao masala,about 3-4 minutes.Switch off the flame. Add the rice and grated cheese. The cheese will melt in the heat and give a wonderful taste to the dish.

Serve with pickle and/or raita.

Watermelon milkshake

This drink is extremely refreshing in hot summers. It makes us feel completely recharged after having it. Apart from this it has many health benefits as well. Watermelons are a good source of anti oxidants and many vitamins. This is a fat-free fruit full of energy.
This smoothie recipe is a very simple one and needs just watermelon,milk and sugar.

Watermelon - 2 cups
Milk - 1 cup
ice cubes - 1
sugar - 2 spoons
Mint leaves - 3 or 4,optional
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend to a smooth consistency. Serve Chilled.

I am sending this recipe to this event hosted at Dil se
and
sizzling summer contest. Here is the link to this event .

Red Capsicum chutney/Red Bell Pepper dip

2 medium sized bell peppers ,chopped
1/2 medium onion,chopped
4-5 red chillies
3 spoons cooking oil
1/2 spoon mustard seeds
1/2 spoon urad dal


In a skillet,add oil and then add the chopped vegetables and red chillies. Cook on oil till the vegetables get soft. This will take about 5 minutes. Once cooked, allow it cool.
Grind it in a blender without water(you will most likely not need any water).
now,make the tempering ready. Heat 1 spoon oil and add mustard seeds. Allow it to splutter and add urad dal. Add this to the ground chutney.Ready to serve!!! It tastes best with dosas. But, can also be had with rice or rotis.

Capsicum Chutney/Thuvaiyal

I just tried this chutney recipe that I got from my mom. It turned out yummy. It is pretty simple and straight forward.

You will need:
1 medium to large green capsicum(Bell pepper),chopped roughly
3 spoons urad dal
3-4 red chillies
Cooking oil
salt to taste

For tempering,
Oil - 1 spoon
mustard seeds -1/2 spoon
a few curry leaves

In a skillet, heat oil and add urad dal. After 2 minutes add the red chillies followed by chopped bell peppers and salt. Saute untill bell peppers are almost cooked. Take care not to over-do it.
Let this cool. Grind this into a smooth paste in a blender/food processor.

Now, make the tempering ready. Again,heat oil and add mustard seeds and allow them to pop. Add curry leaves and switch off the stove. This tempering is added to the paste.

I love to have this chutney with dosas. But, it tastes great as a side to any Indian dish.