Honey lemon chicken with sesame seeds

Hi friends another yummy dish for you all which you can have with schezwan fried rice or steaming hot white rice too. I got the impetus to make it again when one of my school friends asked me for this recipe. I realised that it's been long time since I made this, As it needs frying. These days we are all health conscious (we must consider our lifestyles) that we get worried over deep fried snacks or fritters. 

But trust me this dish, tastes delicious only when you dip the chicken pieces in batter and deep fry it and coat it with the rich & savoury sauce.

Ingredients

• Boneless chicken(cut into 1 inch pieces): 500 grams

    

• Sesame oil for cooking
• White sunflower oil for frying
• Cloves of Garlic

• 4-5 dry red chilli
• Roasted sesame seeds: 3 tbsp
• 2 lemons

For frying Batter

• 3/4th cup of all purpose flour 
• 1 egg (if you want better results use egg white only)

• 1/2 cup of cornflour
• 1/2 cup of cold water
• 1/2 tsp of baking powder
• 1 tbsp of sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp of salt

For Sauce

• 1 cup of honey
• 1 tbsp of chilly vinegar
• 1 tsp of tomato ketchup
• 2 tsp of lemon juice
• 1 tbsp of sesame oil
• 1 tsp of cornflour 
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp of salt

Method:

1.  Marinate the chicken pieces with salt, pepper and lemon juice for an hour.

 

  2. Whisk the batter with all the batter ingredients (mentioned above) until it is neither too runny or too thick.

  

   

3. Heat enough sesame oil in a wok (for deep frying chicken)

4.When the oil is hot, dip the marinated chicken pieces one by one into the batter and then drop them in the oil for deep frying. While frying just keep it mind that you spread the chicken pieces properly to prevent them from sticking together.

5. Dish out the fried chicken and drain the excess oil on paper towels.

6. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce as mentioned above and keep it ready.

7. Now the final part:

• Take another pan or wok and heat 2 tbsp of sesame oi.

• Stir fry the garlic pieces and the red chilly pieces.

 

• Once a nice aroma starts coming add the sauce which you have prepared and kept ready.
  

 

• Stir it properly and cook in low flame till the sauce gets thickened.

 

• Now add the fried chicken to the sauce and stir fry for another few minutes till all the chicken are covered with the sauce.

 

• Turn off the stove/gas and add the roasted sesame seeds and stir it nicely.

~Serve hot with Chinese fried rice~

Enjoy.

PS: Recipe for fried Rice: http://aspectflife.blogspot.in/2015/08/schezwan-fried-rice.html

Schezwan fried Rice

I was planning to make schezwan fried rice for a long time but was unable to find the authentic Chinese spices in stores which gives it the flavor. But One day while I was shopping I suddenly spot this ready-made spice mix of "Ching's Secret masala" (+Ching's Secret ) for schezwan fried rice!! & I thought why not give this packet a try & If there are any shortcomings in the taste then I can just add the required sauces and fulfill the taste.  

Trust me friends I made the right decision. Always remember one thing, that schezwan fried rice should always be smoking hot and spicy, So cook it in high flame.

It's quick and easy to make! Do try it out :)

Ingredients:

• Vegetables -500 grams : 

1. Shredded cabbage
2. 1 capsicum (or) green bell peppers 
3. 1 carrot (sliced)
4. 1/2 a yellow bell pepper (chopped)
5. One medium sized onion sliced

• 6-7 cloves of garlic
• 10 -12 frozen/fresh peas
• 2 cups of boiled rice
• Butter for fry
• 1 Tbsp of soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp of chilly sauce 
• 2 Tbsp of tomato sauce.
• 1/2 a tsp of vinegar
• Salt and pepper According to your taste 
• Scrambled eggs (for adding as a topping) 
• Schezwan Fried Rice Masala mix packet (As in pic)

Method:

• Boil the rice and keep it aside. Then add 1 Tsp of oil in the cooked rice so that it does not get sticky.
• I have taken the ready-made schezwan masala (spice mix packet) and mixed the contents of the pack with vinegar  to make the schezwan sauce and kept it aside.
• Heat 3 Tablespoons of butter or oil in a wok. First stir the chopped onions and garlic for a few minutes.Then add the shredded cabbage, carrot, bell peppers and peas.( I have used peas instead of chopped beans which is usually used).

• When the vegetables are adequately fried add the schezwan sauce along with soy sauce, chilly sauce and tomato sauce as mentioned in the ingredients.

• Mix the sauces thoroughly and add the cooked rice.

• Cook the dish in high flame to get a smoky and fried flavor. Now our fried rice is done 

~Serve hot with freshly chopped spring onions on the top!~ 

~I have added scrambled eggs as a topping instead of shallots~ 

You can use any topping of your choice.

This dish can be accompanied with vegetarian or chicken Manchurian balls

~Enjoy~

Baingan ka bharta (Indian baba ghanoush)

This dish is quite famous amongst Bengalis. We call it "Begun-pora"- (burnt brinjal). Also called as "Baingan ka bharta" in Hindi. It is cooked through out the country and can be eaten anytime .
In olden times these eggplant were roasted on charcoal or open fires, I have heard from my grannies that they used to cook this religiously on Tuesdays and Saturdays to ward of evil (It is just a believe).

My grandma would take it out from the "chullah" (earthen stove filled with charcoal), & peel the roasted eggplants and smash it, mix the spices, add some mustard oil just before everyone sat for dinner.

I tried my best to recreate that taste using my gas stove. Wish my grandma was alive to taste this. The process is somewhat similar to our slow cooking in medium-heat method. 

Video Recipe

                           

Ingredients

• 2 big brinjals (eggplants, as shown in pic)
• 10 cloves of garlic
• 2 green chillies (chopped)
• 1 big onion or 2 medium ones (chopped)
• 2 tsp of mustard oil
• Coriander leaves chopped
• Salt according to your taste

Procedure

• Make puncture holes on the brinjals (using a knife, by poking the eggplant) as shown in the picture and insert the garlics as illustrated in the pics

                                    

                                 

• Insert 5 garlic cloves in each eggplant

• Then roast the brinjals thoroughly on your gas stove (if you dont want to dirty your stove use a frying pan), so that the inside gets cooked well and is not raw and hard.

• There will be juices coming out from your eggplant as you roast it.( it will spill on your stove, you can clean it later)
• Now peel the burnt cover slowly as it's very hot.
• Then add few drops of mustard oil, chopped onion, chilli, coriander leaves and salt.
• Smash and mix the whole thing together.
• If you think it needs to be heated again, you can just microwave t for 2 minutes before serving

~Enjoy~

P.S. : What is baba ghanoush? 

Wikipedia: Baba ghanoush

Penne Pasta in White sauce.

Friends this is a shortcut for making yummy pasta quickly with very few easy steps! Perfect for Novice cooks out there! Hope this helps you all out.
I was not keeping well yesterday and was in no mood to chop any vegetables nor did I feel like boiling chicken chunks.

So, this is how I made my pasta which my daughter loved it so much that she compared it with the pasta we eat out in restaurants. It was really simple. But tasted quite nice.

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of penne pasta
• 2 cups of milk (toned milk)
• 3 tsp of cornflour
• 1 tbsp of basil (dried)
• 1 tbsp of homemade pepper powder
• 8-9 cloves of garlic
• Salt to taste
• Butter 
• Olive oil 

Procedure:

• Boil the pasta well but Don't boil it too much that it becomes soggy and breaks when u saute them, but they shouldn't be very chewy either. Mix some olive oil into the pasta so that the pasta does not stick together & keep it aside.
• Now take a bowl and mix 3 tsp of cornflour and milk. Make a smooth paste so that no lumps are formed.
• Then warm up 3 tbsp of butter in a wok/sauce pan and fry the chopped garlic for a few minutes, then add the powdered basil and pepper powder.
• Saute them for another minute and then add the cornflour and milk mixture into the pan.
• After a while when you feel the consistency is getting thicker add another cup of milk to the sauce.
• Bring it to boil and then add the boiled pasta to the sauce. Mix it properly.
• Add salt according to your taste at this point.

Note: Depending on the type of your milk you are using you can increase the quantity (more if toned/skimmed milk, less if its creamy already)

                                                              ~Serve hot~

I have not used cheese in this pasta dish but you can add grated cheese, of your liking from the top with some chilly flakes too.

Tomato Basil Penne Pasta

Tomato Basil pasta is an Italian dish.
Youngsters love pasta. So do many adults of course :D

Ingredients needed are:

• Penne pasta- 250 grams
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 capsicum
• 6-7 garlic pods
• 2 tsp of basil (dry) or you can use fresh basil leaves as a topping
• 1 tsp of thyme 
• 1 tsp of onion powder
• 1 tsp of oregano
• 1/2cup of Parmesan cheese 
• Salt and pepper according to your taste.
• 3 tsp of butter
• Olive oil 3 tsp

Procedure:

• Boil the pasta, drain the water and keep it aside, Mix olive oil into the pasta so that they don't stick to each other.

• Take a pan and heat 3 tbsp of butter, to that first add the chopped garlic, & then add the tomatoes and cook them well. Cook for 15 minutes in medium flame.

• Then add dry basil, thyme, oregano, onion powder and chopped capsicum (bell peppers) and cook it for another 5 minutes.

• Now add the cheese and let it melt completely.

• Now at this point add the boiled pasta to the tomato gravy and toss it thoroughly.

• Make sure the sauce and cheese spread uniformly and no lumps are formed anywhere.

• Add 2 tsp of oil from the top and toss it all together.

• Garnish with chilly flakes and basil from top and serve hot.

Optional: You can grate any cheese of your choice and add it on the top to make it more yummy.

Bird in A nest

Hi everyone!!
This is one of my most interesting creations. It is great for a get together or brunch with friends or kid's parties! 
It's especially for those mothers who want to make their kids party interesting. Kids are generally difficult to satisfy when it comes to food, But when you present simple food in a cute and attractive way kids love it and eat without any hassle.

This bird's Nest is nothing but:

• 1 Packet of hakka egg noodles
• 3 big potatoes (boiled)
• 100 grams boiled peas
• Butter: 2 tbsp
• Salt and pepper according to your taste
• Oil for frying
• Some carrot for decoration

Procedure:

1) First boil the noodles properly adding salt and little oil.

Note: Don't over oil it otherwise it will become soggy.

2) Drain the water properly.

 

3) Mix salt and add 3 tsp of oil thoroughly and keep it the noodles aside ready for preparing the basket.

   

4) Follow this very carefully, as this is the trickiest part. Take a medium sized strainer like the above one, put some boilers noodles in it, then in the middle put a small bowl and press it hard to set it right.

5) Now fry the noodles in this position in hot oil making sure the position of the bowl stays intact, otherwise the shape of the basket won't come right. Fry it for minimum 10 min in medium flame or till the whole basket is fried crispy.

I am giving a video demo for your convenience       

                            

                                      

6)The crispy basket is ready!!

7) Now let's prepare the mashed potatoes!
Ready to give it a shape of a bird or a duck or may be a swan too (if you have patience), you can give it whatever shape you desire. 
Mix butter, salt, pepper and oregano in the potatoes while mashing it properly. If you want you can add a bit of cornflour for binding. 
Take a tablespoon of butter in a pan and fry the mashed potatoes for 5-6 minutes.
Now keep this aside and let it cool down.

 

8) Now give the potato mash the shape you want it to be (in my case a bird).

9) Place these birdies in the crispy noodle baskets and decorate the birds with vegetables or candies to make it colorful.

10) Serve it with some boiled and tossed veggies as healthy topping.

I wanted to keep it simple, and healthy so I used carrots for making the bird's wings and beak.

You can get more creative and use different kinds of spices or even chocolate gems for making the bird's eyes! :)

Kids who don't like vegetables will gladly eat these cute birdies in crispy noodle nests! (you can stuff and put in more vegetables for kids)