Showing posts with label Lunch / Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lunch / Dinner. Show all posts

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Tandoori Fish with Lemon & Lime

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Tandoori Fish with Lemon & Lime


Sea Bass (or any fish of your choice), marinated in Tandoori spice with lemon juice & melted butter and then baked  in oven with lemon & lime wedges. Yum!


Recipe:


Ingredients:
  • 2 whole Sea bass (or any single serving size fish of your choice), cleaned, scaled and gutted
  • 1 lime wedges (half moon shaped)
  • 1 lemon wedges (half moon shaped)
  • Juice of 1 large lemon
  • 2 - 3 tbsp Tandoori Masala (any brand) 
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • Oil for greasing 
  • Aluminium foil for wrapping the fishes

Method:
  • Pre-heat oven at 200'C.
  • Make diagonal slits on fishes, both sides.
  • Add melted butter in juice of 1 lemon and mix in Tandoori Masala to make marinade
  • Rub both sides of both fishes with the prepared marinade.
  • Rub the marinade in the cavities of the fishes and also fill the slits you made on the fish with this spice.
  • Wrap both fishes separately in greased aluminium foil (as shown in the video)
  • Marinade for 30 - 60 mins (or more in fridge).
  • Drizzle fishes lightly with oil (optional)
  • Wrap both fishes loosely on top too with aluminium foil.
  • Bake for 20-25 mins (or more depending on your oven) till done.
  • Serve with mint & tamarind chutney / chips / salad of your choice.


~ Bon Appétit!





Monday, 23 January 2017

Daleem (Haleem)

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Daleem (Haleem)

Arabic: دلیم‎‎, Urdu: دلیم‎, Persian: حلیم

Wonderfully yummy and spicy Daleem recipe by Flavour Essence! 

Daleem is a stew composed of meat, lentils and pounded wheat made into a thick paste. It is originally an Arabic dish which is very popular in Middle East, Central Asia and Indian Subcontinent.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 500 grams boneless meat cubes (beef / mutton / chicken)
  • 1/2 cup wheat
  • 2 tbsp barley
  • 2 tbsp white lentil
  • 2 tbsp gram lentil
  • 1.5 tbsp yellow lentil
  • 1.5 tbsp red lentil
  • 1.5 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala powder
  • 2 tbsp red chili powder
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 large pinches nutmeg & mace powder (jaifal javitri)
  • ½ tsp black pepper powder
  • ½ tsp white cumin powder
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ cup oil
  • 3 medium onions, fine julienned
  • Fine chopped green chilies, ginger, lemon wedges & chaat masala for serving

Method:
  • Soak all the grains for 3-4 hours or overnight if you have time.
  • Cook soaked grains on low-medium heat till tender.
  • Fry onions, stirring constantly till uniformly golden brown.
  • Separate half of the fried onions for garnishing and serving later on.
  • In the pot with remaining onions, add ginger garlic paste and stir.
  • Add boneless meat cubes and all the spices.
  • Cook and stir-fry well for five minutes.
  • Add plenty water (3-4) glasses and cook half covered till meat is very tender.
  • Now separately start mashing meat and grains in their own pots till well mashed like paste as desired.
  • Now add meat in grains pot, and mix and mash till well combined.
  • Serve with Naan and condiments (crispy fried onions, fine chopped green chilies, ginger, lemon wedges & chaat masala).

Happy Cooking & Bon Appétit!

Saturday, 7 January 2017

Chicken Tikka with Tamarind Chutney, Mint Raita & Puri Paratha

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Chicken Tikka

with Tamarind Chutney, Mint Raita & Puri Paratha


Ingredients:
  • 3-4 chicken quarters
  • 3-4 tbsp oil for drizzling
  • Marinade:
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper powder
  • Juice of 2 large lemons
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder / paprika (this chili powder is very mild in taste but impart a vibrant red colour to any dish)
  • 1/2 tsp chaat masala powder
  • Salt, to taste
  • A pinch or two of orange food color
  • 2 tbsp oil

Method:
  • Pre-heat oven at 180'C.
  • Make diagonal slits on chicken quarters.
  • Combine all marinade ingredients and coat the chicken pieces well in this marinade using your hand.
  • Leave for 2-3 hours so that meat is infused with spices.
  • Arrange chicken pieces on an oiled rack over a baking tray.

  • Drizzle with oil.
  • Bake in pre-heated oven for 40-45 minutes. (Flip the side after 30 minutes during baking if using leg quarter.)

~ Serve. 

Spicy Mint & Tamarind Chutney

Ingredients:
  • A handful of mint leaves
  • A handful of parsley / coriander
  • 4-5 green chilies
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tbsp red chili flakes
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2-3 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 1/4 cup water

Method:
  • Mix all ingredients together and blend until smooth.


Mint Raita:

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup yogurt
  • A handful of mint leaves
  • A handful of parsley / coriander
  • 4-5 green chilies
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 tbsp water

Method:
  • Mix all ingredients together and blend until smooth.


Special Puri Paratha:

My puri paratha recipe with step-by-step pics:

http://flavour-essence.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/special-puri-paratha.html



Saturday, 5 November 2016

Chicken Handi

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Chicken Handi

Recipe of traditional restaurant style delicious and aromatic 'Chicken Handi'.
Its called 'Handi' because it is cooked in a vessel called 'Handi' which is made up of clay / terracotta or sometimes metal. But it can be cooked in any kind of pan and for authentic look, usually served in a Handi.

Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 700 grams boneless chicken cubes
  • 2 Tomatoes, chopped
  • 3-4 green chilies, julliened
  • ½ cup oil
  • 1.5 tsp red chili powder
  • 3 cloves of garlic, fine chopped
  • 1 tbsp coarsely chopped coriander seeds
  • 1 tbsp coarsely chopped cumin
  • An inch piece of ginger, julienned
  • 1 onion, julienned and fried golden brown
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp ground fenugreek seeds / methi dana
  • 1 tsp garam masala  
  • 2 tbsp yogurt
  • 4 tbsp fresh cream
  • Salt to taste
  • a handful of chopped coriander
Method:

  • Heat oil in a wok (or handi).
  • Sauté garlic till tender.
  • Add tomatoes and fried onion and stir-fry.
  • Add salt, red chili powder, turmeric and mix well.
  • Add Chicken and stir-fry till chicken turns white.
  • Cover and cook till meat is tender.
  • Now add coarsely ground coriander and cumin and yogurt.
  • Stir-fry for few minutes.
  • Add green chilies, ginger, garam masala and fenugreek powder. Stir-fry.
  • Add in little water if it’s too thick and heat up a bit.
  • Stir in fresh cream and mix well till handi is heated through.
  • garnish with julienned ginger and chopped coriander.
  • Serve hot with naan and salad.
~ Enjoy! 


Saturday, 29 October 2016

Kadhi Pakora

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Kadhi Pakora

Kadhi Pakora is a classic Pakistani-Indian gram-flour curry with fried gram-flour & onion pakoras. It’s everyone’s all-time favourite comfort food, served with boiled / steamed rice or naans.

Recipe

Ingredients:

For Pakoras:
  • 1 cup sieved gram flour
  • 1 fine chopped onion
  • 2 tbsp fine chopped coriander / parsley
  • 1 tbsp yogurt
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala powder
  • Water, as required

For Kadhi Sauce:
  • 2 tbsp gram flour
  • 1 cup sour yogurt (if yogurt is not sour enough, add 1tbsp lemon juice)
  • 1.5 tsp or to taste red chili powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala powder
  • 1 tbsp turmeric powder
  • Salt, to taste
  • Water, as required

Other ingredients:
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • Few curry leaves
  • 4-5 dried red chilies whole
  • 1 tsp white cumin (zeera) whole
  • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi dana) whole
  • Chopped coriander
  • 1tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp black / yellow mustard seeds

Method:
  • Combine all pakora ingredients in some water till you get a thick paste.
  • Set aside for 15 minutes.
  • Fry small pakoras in hot oil and set aside.
  • Combine all kadhi sauce ingredient together and whisk well adding water till you get a semi-thick slurry.
  • In a pan, heat oil and sauté curry leaves, dry red chilies, methi dana and zeera till fragrant.
  • Add kadhi sauce and stir until gram-flour smell goes away.
  • Add water till sauce is thinned and bring to a rolling boil while constantly stirring.
  • After one boil, lower the flame and cover and cook until few more boils.
  • Turn the flame off and add fried pakoras and coriander.
  • Mix and cover the pan so that pakoras get soaked and soften.
  • In a small sauté pan, heat 1tbsp oil and crackle mustard seeds.
  • Pour over kadhi served in a bowl.
  • Serve with boiled / steamed white rice or naan bread.

~ Enjoy!


Saturday, 15 October 2016

Spicy Jalfrezi Pasta

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Spicy Jalfrezi Pasta

Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 300 gms chicken cubes
  • Salt, to taste
  • ¼ tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • ½ tsp ginger powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp white pepper powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • ½ large onion, cubed
  • 2-3 green chilies, fine chopped
  • 1-2 green / red / yellow capsicums, cubed
  • 2 medium tomatoes, cubed
  • A handful of fresh chopped coriander leaves
  • 2-3t tbsp oil
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • ½ cup tomato puree + tomato sauce
  • Boiled pasta – serving quantity for 2-3

Method:

  • Marinate chicken for 30 minutes in all the ground / powdered spices and ½ of the ground garam masala.
  • Heat oil in a wok and sauté garlic till it softens.
  • Add marinated chicken cubes and fry till cooked through.
  • Add tomato puree and red chili flakes and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add green chilies and all the vegetables and stir-fry for a couple of minutes.
  • Mix in boiled pasta and toss till well combined.
  • Just before you dish it up, sprinkle with chopped coriander leaves.
¬ Bon Appétit!



Saturday, 24 September 2016

Dhaba Style Chicken Karahi

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Dhaba Style Chicken Karahi

Being a Pakistani, we all love Chicken Karahi; a spicy and fragrant curry in which stir fried chicken pieces are cooked in large chunks of tomatoes, simple freshly ground spices and finished with green chilies and ginger. 'Karahi' is an Urdu term which means 'Wok". So mostly this dish is cooked and served in a wok, but any kind of pan / utensil is adequate.

Dhaba version is the typical roadside cafe version. This is cooked in simple roadside cafes (especially by Pathans) and you can find this amazingly flavourful dish being served in little hotels while going to hilly areas like Muree, Swat & Kaghan etc.

After eating this wonderful dish in several restaurants & hotels, I reckon that Dhaba version is the best! And in this video recipe, you'll see why!

Recipe:

Ingredients:
  • 3/4th cup oil
  • 500 gm Chicken pieces (with and / without bones)
  • 500 gm tomatoes, sliced in big chunks
  • 5-6 green chilies, slit in halves
  • A ½ inch piece of ginger, julienned
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp red chili flakes
  • 1 tbsp coriander seed, freshly crushed
  • 1tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp freshly ground white cumin
  • A dash of garam masala powder

Method:
  • Heat oil in a wok.
  • Add chicken and salt and stir fry till chicken in golden on medium-high flame.
  • Add ginger garlic paste and fry a bit more.
  • Add tomatoes, mix and cover the wok till tomatoes are tender. (after that you can remove their skin if you wish)
  • Remove the lid and add red chili flakes and mix well.
  • Add crushed coriander seeds, black pepper powder, white cumin powder and mix well.
  • Now add green chilies, ginger and a dash of garam masala and mix thoroughly.
  • Serve hot in a serving wok / bowl with Naan bread.

~ Enjoy!

Friday, 16 September 2016

Chicken Jalfrezi

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Chicken Jalfrezi

A flavourful recipe for a fresh tasting, homemade chicken jalfrezi; a spicy South-Asian curry dish in which marinated chicken is cooked in a tomato gravy, then stir-fried with big chunky onions & peppers and is finished with garam masala & chopped coriander.

Recipe:

Ingredients:
  • 2-3 chicken breasts, diced up
  • Salt, to taste
  • ½ tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • ½ tsp ginger powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp white pepper powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • ½ large onion, cubed
  • 2-3 green & red chili peppers, sliced
  • 1-2 green / red / yellow capsicums, cubed
  • 2 medium tomatoes, cubed
  • A handful of fresh chopped coriander leaves
  • 2-3tbsp oil
  • ½ cup of water
  • ½ cup tomato puree

Method:
  • Marinate chicken for 30 minutes in all the ground / powdered spices and ½ of the ground garam masala.

  • While chicken is marinating, dice your vegetables in cubes.

  • Heat oil in a wok and fry marinated chicken cubes in it for 2-3 minutes.


  • Add tomato puree and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.

  • Add 1/4 cup of water and cover the lid and let the chicken simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

  • Remove the lid and add all the vegetables.

  • Stir-fry for a couple of minutes.

  • Add in ½ cup water and let it simmer till vegetables soften a bit.

  • Just before you dish it up, stir in the garam masala & chopped coriander leaves.
  • Serve with boiled basmati rice / fried rice / naan bread.

¬ Bon Appétit!


Saturday, 3 September 2016

Thai Green Curry with Chicken

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Thai Green Curry with Chicken

Try this recipe of aromatic, creamy & delicious "Thai Green Chicken Curry" by #FlavourEssence and bring unique & authentic flavors of South East Asian cooking at home through your own kitchen.
(* Tips to replace hard to find ingredients in Pakistan are at the end of recipe.)  

Recipe

Ingredients:
  • 750 gm boneless chicken
  • Few tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 300 gm mixed oriental mushrooms
  • 1 x 400 ml tin light coconut milk
  • 1 chicken stock cube
  • 6 kaffir lime leaves
  • 200 gm  mangetout / green beans
  • ½ a bunch fresh Thai basil
  • 2 limes
  • 400 ml of boiling water
For curry paste:
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 shallots
  • 1 2 inches piece of ginger
  • 2 lemongrass stalks
  • 4 green chilies
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ bunch of fresh coriander
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce

Method:
  • To make the curry paste, grind / blitz all the given ingredients for paste until smooth.
  • Slice the chicken into strips / or cut into cubes and place into a large pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Fry for 5 to 7 minutes, or until just turning golden, then transfer to a plate.
  • Tear the mushrooms into even pieces. Return the pan to a medium heat, add the mushrooms and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon.
  • Saute garlic in the same wok till translucent.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the Thai green paste for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add chicken and crumbled chicken stock cube and mix.
  • Add mushrooms, green beans, lime leaves, green chilies and stir fry,
  • Pour in the coconut milk and 400 ml of boiling water.
  • Turn the heat up and bring gently to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, or until reduced slightly.
  • Season carefully to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Pick, roughly chop and stir through the basil leaves and remaining coriander leaves.
  • Serve with lime wedges and steamed rice.


For replacing hard to find ingredients in Pakistan, replace:

~ Oriental Mushrooms with simple edible mushrooms

~ Thai basil with simple basil

~ Kaffir lime leaves & lemon grass with lemon zest & lemon juice

~ Shallots with small pink onions
~ Fish sauce with few drops of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce

Enjoy! 




Thursday, 1 September 2016

Pasta Alfredo with Pan Fried Shrimps

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Pasta Alfredo with Pan Fried Shrimps

Recipe

Ingredients:

For Pasta:
  • 75 grams Penne pasta per serving (or more if you have a big appetite)
  • 200 mls of heavy cream per serving
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • A handful of basil leaves
  • A small cube of butter
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup shredded parmesan per serving

For Shrimps:
  • 1 cup cleaned shrimps
  • 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1/2 tsp Knorr Aromat Seasoning (it is a mixture of salt, garlic powder, turmeric, powdered cloves and bay leaves, celery seeds and mushroom powder. So if you don't find Aromat seasoning then combine the easily available given ingredients youcan find)
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper powder

Method:

For Pasta:
  • Finely chop garlic & basil leaves and set aside.
  • Boil penne as per directions on the packet.
  • Melt butter in a hot pan.
  • Saute’ garlic in butter till lightly browned / soft.
  • Add salt & pepper.
  • Add heavy cream and stir till simmering.
  • Add pasta and stir till coated.
  • Add Parmesan and stir till smooth.

For Shrimps:
  • Marinate shrimps in ginger garlic paste, Knorr Aromat All Purpose seasoning, paprika and black pepper for 15 minutes
  • Shallow fry while stirring in 1-2 tbsp oil in a frying pan till prawns are pinkish white, around 5-7 mins (do not over cook the shrimps else they turn hard & rubbery and lose their succulence).

~ Serve & Enjoy!

Saturday, 27 August 2016

Chicken Chili Dry

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Chicken Chili Dry

Recipe

Ingredients:

For Chicken Batter:
  • 250 gms chicken, cut in long thin strips
  • 2 tbsp fine white flour
  • 2 tbsp corn flour
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 egg
  • 1tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • Oil for deep frying
For Stir-fry:
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, fine chopped
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, julienned
  • ½ cup fine chopped celery
  • 6-7 green chilies, julienned
  • 1 green bell pepper / capsicum, julienned
  • ½ cup spring onion pieces (white part)
  • 1 tbsp chili sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp spoon corn flour mixed in 2tbsp water
Method:
  • Marinate chicken in all batter ingredients for 15-30 minutes.
  • Deep fry till golden brown and set aside.
  • Heat oil in a wok and add garlic & ginger.
  • Add chopped celery, green chilies, bell pepper and spring onions and stir-fry for 1 minute.
  • Add chili sauce, dark soy sauce, salt & pepper and mix well.
  • Pour in corn flour mixture and stir for few seconds till transparent.
  • Stir in your fried chicken pieces till they’re well coated with sauce.
  • Serve with fried rice or as an appetizer.
~ Bon Appétit!

Saturday, 20 August 2016

Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

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Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

A wonderfully rich, creamy and buttery chicken gravy.

Recipe 

Ingredients:

For Marinade:
  • 500 gm boneless chicken cubes
  • 1/2 cup yogurt 
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1/2 tbsp garam masala
  • 2 tbsp lime / lemon juice
  • A handful of coriander leaves, finely chopped
  • 2 green chilies, finely chopped 

For Gravy:
  • 50 gm salted butter
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 small green cardamoms
  • 4 cloves
  • 8 whole peppercorns 
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 green chilli, finely chopped
  • 200 gm tomato puree / if u don't have tomato puree boil tomatoes for 10 mins on high, remove the skin and make a paste. 
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 
  • 1 tbsp garam masala powder
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup heavy cream 
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Method:
  • Marinate boneless chicken cubes in yogurt, salt, red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, garam masala, lime juice and chopped coriander & green chillies for at least one hour. 
  • Pan grill / fry this chicken in a pan cook with some butter. 
  • In a pan add salted butter, then add cinnamon stick, green cardamoms, cloves, whole black peppers. 
  • Sauté and add ginger garlic paste and chopped green chilli. Cook this on medium for 2 mins. 
  • Then add tomato puree. Cook the tomato puree for 4 to 5 mins or until butter separates from the gravy. 
  • Add salt, red chilli powder and garam masala powder. 
  • Add water and cook for another 4 to 5 mins on low heat in covered pan. 
  • Add the cooked chicken pieces, heavy cream and butter.  
  • Cook for another 2 to 4 mins. See the consistency if its too thick add some water.  
  • If you want sweet flavour in your Butter Chicken add 1 tbsp of honey at this point (optional) and stir well.
  • Enjoy your butter chicken with plain rice or roti / naan.
~ Bon Appétit!


Friday, 12 August 2016

Chicken Paneer Tikka (Chicken Cheese Kebabs) with Mint Chutney

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Chicken Paneer Tikka (Chicken Cheese Kebabs) with Mint Chutney

Juicy & tender oven grilled chicken, cheese, bell peppers and onion cubes infused with tikka masala spices and served with golden fried potato chips and tangy homemade mint chutney.

Recipe

Chicken PaneerTikka (Chicken Cheese Kebabs)

Ingredients:

Marinade:
  • 1/3 cup thick yogurt / hung curd
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • 1tsp cumin powder
  • 1/4th tsp garam masala powder
  • 1 lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder (this chili powder is very mild in taste but impart a vibrant red colour to any dish)
  • 1/4th tsp chaat masala powder (optional)
  • Salt, to taste

Tikka:
  • 150 gms Paneer / Cheese (Cottage Cheese / Halloumi Cheese)
  • Bell peppers, red, green and yellow
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 chicken breast
  • Wooden / metal skewers

Method:
  • Cut all vegetables, chicken and cheese into cubes. (I used Halloumi Cheese which has a high melting point and its ideal for frying or grilling. Simple hard cottage cheese available in Pakistan serves the same purpose).
  • Combine all marinade spices and yogurt and marinade vegetables, cheese and chicken in it after gentle thorough mixing for 1-2 hours. The more time tikka ingredients are marinated, the more richly and evenly flavourful they are.
  • Meanwhile soak wooden skewers in cold water for 20-30 minutes (this will prevent them from charring in oven). If you’re using metal skewers, simply grease them with oil / ghee.
  • Preheat oven at 200’C.
  • Line a baking tray with aluminium foil and spray this foil with cooking spray / grease it with oil / ghee.
  • Skew marinated bell peppers, onions, chicken and cheese on skewer. Adapt any sequence, but keep cheese in between chicken and vegetables.
  • Arrange the skewers on aluminium foil lines baking tray. Spray them with cooking spray or brush them gently with oil / ghee.
  • Place this tray in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Then take it out and turn the skewers over and brush this side too with oil / ghee and put the tray back in oven for a further 10-15 minutes of baking.
  • I turned the grill mode on for last 5 minutes for desired level of charring.
  • Serve with mint cutney / chips / lemon wedges.

Mint Chutney

Ingredients
  • ½ cup mint leaves, separated from stems
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves (Cilantro), separated from stems
  • 1 red or green chili pepper chopped
  • 3 tbsp of lemon/lime juice
  • 2 tap of water and 1 tbsp of plain yogurt)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
  • Wash the greens in cold water, and pack the mint and coriander leaves into the measuring cups.
  • Blend all of the ingredients together on medium speed in a blender; blend until the mixture has a smooth consistency.
  • Pour the mixture into a bowl, and serve.

~Bon Appétit! 



Saturday, 23 July 2016

Fettuccine Alfredo

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Fettuccine Alfredo

Recipe

Ingredients:
  • 75 grams Fettuccine per serving (or more if you have a big appetite)
  • 200 mls of heavy cream per serving
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • A handful of basil leaves
  • A small cube of butter
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan per serving

Method:
  • Finely chop garlic & basil leaves and set aside.
  • Boil fettuccine as per directions on the packet.
  • Melt butter in a hot pan.
  • Saute’ garlic in butter till lightly browned / soft.
  • Add salt & pepper.
  • Stir in heavy cream till simmering.
  • Add pasta and stir till coated.
  • Add chopped basil & Parmesan and mix till smooth.

~ Serve & Enjoy!

Note: I served my Fettuccine Alfredo with pan grilled chicken breast. Method is simple. Made slits on chicken breast and marinated it in ginger garlic paste, Knorr Aromat All Purpose seasoning and white pepper to taste for 15 minutes. Then grilled on a grill pan, medium heat around 7-8 mins each side. 


Thursday, 14 July 2016

Italian-Seasoned Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce & Jacket Potato

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Italian-Seasoned Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce & Jacket Potato

Recipe

Italian-Seasoned Chicken

Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon combined fresh / dried rosemary, thyme & oregano
  • ½ teaspoon grated lemon rind
  • 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 chicken breast
  • Cooking spray

Method:
  • Pre-heat oven at 425’F / 220 ‘C / 200 'C fan.
  • Marinate chicken in dried spices, lemon rind & juice, minced garlic & olive oil for 30 minutes.
  • Heat a grill pan and fry chicken breasts, each side for 3-4 minutes until its nicely browned.
  • Now place these chicken breasts in a baking tray coated with cooking spray.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the breast registers 155°.
  • Remove chicken from pan; let stand for 10 minutes.
  • Serve with creamy mushroom sauce.

Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Ingredients:
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 15g/½oz butter
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 225g/8oz button mushrooms, wiped and sliced
  • 150ml/5fl oz crème fraîche
  • 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
  • Heat oil and butter in a frying pan and add onion.
  • Sauté onion until softened and transparent.
  • Add garlic & mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
  • Stir in crème fraîche and parsley and heat through.
  • Season to taste.
  • Serve with your Italian seasoned chicken.

Jacket Potatoes with Sour Cream & Chives

Ingredients:
  • 2 baking potatoes
  • 140ml sour cream
  • ¼ tsp whole-grain mustard
  • ½ tsp coarse salt
  • ¼ tsp white pepper powder
  • 40g freshly chopped chives
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Method:
  • Heat oven to 220 'C / 200 'C fan / gas 7.
  • Rub a little oil over each potato, poke the skin with fork and put on the top shelf of the oven.
  • Bake for 20 mins, then turn down the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for 45 mins-1 hr until the skin is crisp and the flesh soft.
  • Meanwhile add the sour cream to a bowl with the whole-grain mustard, salt, white pepper and chopped chives, reserving a teaspoon of chives to sprinkle on top.
  • Stir all the ingredients together.
  • Take the baked potatoes out of the oven and cut a cross in the top of each. Slightly squeeze each one so it opens out and place into the serving plates.
  • Fill the potatoes with sour cream sauce and sprinkle the remaining chives over the top.

¬ Bon Appétit!