Roasted Chicken - Indian/Nepali Appetizer

Category: Appetizer

Serves: 2 people

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs(Bone or Boneless) - 1 lb
• Cumin powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander powder - tsp
• Chili powder - a pinch
• Meat Masala (Indian store) - 1 tsp
• Turmeric - a pinch
• Pepper powder - a pinch
• Salt - as per taste
• Oil - 1-2 tsp (your choice)
• Onion - 1 medium size
• Lemon - half

Directions:

1. Cut chicken thighs into small pieces
2. Prepare marinade by mixing cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powder, meat masala, turmeric, pepper powder, salt and oil
3. Now mix chicken and marinade and keep aside for 10 minutes
4. Meanwhile cut onion into long strips and fry till golden brown
5. Bake this chicken at 355 F for 20 mins in oven, then flip pieces and bake for another 10-15 mins (till turns golden brown and cooked)
6. Serve roasted chicken in a plate and then garnish with fried onions.
7. Sprinkle some pepper powder and squeeze half a lemon(optional)

Notes:

• Use silicon baking sheet on baking tray instead of regular aluminium foil. Silicon sheet is  nonstick and easy to clean.
• Serve with coriander chutney or tomato ketchup or sriracha or just a glass of red wine.

Enjoy
-Ani

Spinach Khichdi

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/4 cup
• Moong Daal - 1/8 cup
• Spinach (finely chopped ) - 1/2 cup
• Onion (finely chopped) - 1/4 cup
• Peas - 1/4 cup (optional)
• Green Bean - 1/4 cup (optional)
• Dry Red Chili -1
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder - a pinch
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Salt - as per taste
• Water - 2 cup

Directions:

1. Put pressure cooker on medium flame.
2. Add oil and let it warm
3. Add cumin seed and dry red chili
4. As soon as it starts to splutter, add onion, spinach, peas (optional) and beans (optional) 
5. Stir it well for a minute and then add rice, moong daal, turmeric powder and salt
6. Let this cook for 3-4 mintues and then add water
7. Pressure cook this for 10 minutes or 3-4 whistles which ever is early
8. Mix well and then serve Spinach khichdi with papad and mango pickle.

Tips:

• I used frozen spinach, peas and beans and Khichdi tastes same as the one cooked with fresh vegetables. Try fresh vegetables or frozen ones, whichever is convenient for you.
• I used Basmati rice, you can use any rice.

Enjoy
Ani

Plain Rice - traditional style

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Water - 1 cup
• Oil - 1/2 tsp

Direction:

1. Take rice and water in a deep bottom vessel
2. Add oil and mix well
3. Put this on medium-high flame(4-5) for 5 mins
4. Once it starts to boil, reduce the flame, and cover it with lid
5. Allow it to cook on slow flame(2-3) for 10 mins (Don't stir at all!)
6. You will see rice is fully cooked (see image below)
7. Serve hot.

Tips:

• I personally feel this is quick and tastes better than the ones cooked in rice cooker. Try this once.

Kadhi Chawal

Ingredients:

• Besan -  2 tsp
• Curd(sour) - 6 tsp
• Panch Phoran - 1 tsp
• Onion (finely chopped) - 1/8 cup
• Garlic (finely chopped) - 1 pod 
• Ginger (finely chopped) - 1/2 tsp  
• Green chili - 1
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Turmeric - a pinch
• Salt - as per taste
• Water - 1 cup

Directions:

1. Heat pan on medium flame, add oil.
2. When oil gets warm, add green chili and panch phoran.
3. As soon as it starts to splutter, add finely chopped ginger and garlic.
4. After a minute, add onion and stir well.
5. Cover it with a lid and let it cook for 5-7 minutes or until it turns translucent.
6. Meanwhile, prepare besan-curd mix by adding besan, yogurt, water, turmeric and salt in a bowl and mix well.
7. Once onion is nicely cooked, pour this mix in the pan and let it cook for another 5 mins.
8. Serve hot with plain rice.

Tips:

• If Kadhi becomes thick, add more water to have a flowing consistency.
• Add 1/2 tsp tamarind paste or tamarind in the besan-curd mix to give a sour taste, if you don't have sour curd.

Enjoy Kadhi Chawal!
Ani

Rooh Afza - refreshing drink

Ingredients:

• Rooh Afza - 1.5 tsp (Indian store)
• Ice cubes - 4-5
• Water - 1 cup
• Sugar - 2 tsp

Directions:

1. Take chilled water in a jar
2. Add Rooh Afza and sugar (adjust as per your taste)
3. Mix well with a spoon and pour it to serving glass
4. Add ice cubes

voila...Relax and Enjoy :-)

Ani

Ghee - easy and homemade

Ingredients:

Unsalted Butter - 2 sticks

Direction:

1. Take a thick bottom pan
2. Add unsalted butter stick
3. Turn on the burner to medium flame and let it boil for 5-7 minutes
4. As soon as it starts turning golden brown, remove pan from flame and let it settle down
5. Transfer ghee into storage jar.

Note: You can make Ghee rice with the residue. See ghee rice recipe for more details

Khichdi - healthy meal

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/4 cup
• Moong daal - 1/8 cup
• Green chili - 1
• Onion - 1/4 cup
• Eggplant - 1/4 cup
• Tomato - 1 small
• Carrot - 1/8 cup
• Cauliflower - 1/4 cup
• Bean - 1/8 cup
• Peas - 1/8 cup
• Potato - 1

Spices:

• Black mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Bay leaf - 2
• Turmeric powder - a pinch
• Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp (adjust as per taste)
• Garam Masala powder - a pinch

Directions:

1. Add 2 tsp oil in a cooker.
2. Once oil gets warm add all black mustard, cumin seeds, bay leaf and green chili
3. As soon as spices start to splutter add all vegetables
4. Add turmeric powder, cumin powder and salt 
5. Now add rice and moong daal
6. Stir it for 5-6 mins and add garam masala
7. Add 2 cup water and pressure cook for  3-4 whistles (or 10-15 mins)
8. Once done, add 1/2 tsp ghee and serve hot with papad, mango pickle and yougurt

Note:

• Add vegetables as per your taste, Generally, I add all vegetables from above list
• While serving make sure its not dry, if so just add some water and stir well