Happy 1416

Shubho Nababarsho.....

The start of the Bengali New year was always fun time back at home.
But here in 'Phoren' land nothing like that. Weather wise it is much better though. The sun shines bright,the trees are leafing and there is a nip in the air still.

C wants a special dinner today with all his favorite goodies(read: alu bhaja and muger dal).

So dinner will be a tad more elaborate as I plan to include a few more dishes.

Will post about it soon!

Till then have a great time!

Baked Salmon

C always likes his fish baked..... and since here we do not get many fresh water fishes and the only salt water ones that I can eat is salmon..... I too prefer the baked variety. It is incredibly healthy,mouth watering and amazingly easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

Salmon -1 lb
yogurt-1 cup
coriander- a handful
coriander powder-1/2 tsp
cumin powder-1/2 tsp
onion paste-1 tbsp
ginger garlic paste -1/2 tbsp
salt- according to taste
lime juice- 4-5 tbsp
oil for basting
lime wedges

Marinate the salmon pieces with salt and lime juice for 1 hour.
Whip the yogurt until it is a smooth paste. Chop the coriander fine and add it to the yogurt.
Next add the spice powders with the onion and ginger garlic paste to the yogurt.
Add salt to the yogurt .
Coat the fish pieces with the marinade and keep it aside for 2-3 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350F and bake for 30-40 minutes on each side.
From time to time bast with oil.
Serve with lime wedges and enjoy!

Bottle gourd curry or simply.... lau ghonto

OK! A simple vegetarian curry was what we were craving for.... it was chilly outside..... and C was home for lunch and I had half of a bottle gourd at my disposal..... so the genius me thought ...why not try "lau bori" for a change....!!!
Till now everything was fine.... and then the idea struck....So here is the little "tweaked" recipe of my version of lau ghonto...!

Ingredients:(for 3-4)

half a bottle gourd- shredded fine
bengal gram lentil-1/4 of a cup(cholar dal) boiled and almost cooked with no turmeric
bori (small ones)-a handful
shredded coconut-3 -4 tbsp
cumin (whole)-a pinch
panchphoron-a pinch
ginger paste-1 tsp
black mustard (whole)-a pinch
dry red chili- 1
Ghee-1/2 tsp
cooking oil- 1 tbsp
Coriander sprig
Sugar
Salt



Fry the boris till they are brown and crispy and set aside.
Now heat 1 tbsp oil and add the red chili, panchphoron, cumin and mustard. Let them sizzle.
Next add the gourd , coat with the spice , put the gas on medium , sprinkle little salt, cover and let the gourd cook in its own water. It takes around 10-15 minutes. Check from time to time and stir.
Now add the ginger paste and the boris. Cover and cook for another 4-5 minutes.
Next add the shredded coconut and adjust the salt and sugar according to taste.
Finally sprinkle a handful of coriander and stir in the ghee.
Serve with white rice and voila!!!

Happy Holi...... and a yummy dessert....

Its been 4 days since I returned.... Surprisingly enough there is no jet lag and I feel totally fresh and perky in the morning... Yesterday being Holi I decided to cook a proper dinner for C who had been surviving on take -aways for the last 1 month.....

I cooked paneer khichuri, Chicken keema and this yummy dessert....... I will post the recipes for the former two later...... today its 'Shrikhand' time..... Learnt this form my Sister who stays in Delhi and thanks to her I gathered the recipe for an easy dessert....

Ingredients:(for two)

Unsweetened curd-2 cups
A clean white muslin cloth
Sugar-4tbsp or according to taste
Chopped pistachios-a handful
Black cardamom powder-a pinch

Hang the curd in the white cloth for 3-4 hours till all the water drains out.
Next transfer the curd in a serving bowl(not steel) and add the sugar.
Beat the curd until the sugar melts and the curd is thick and creamy.
Sprinkle the cardamom powder and the pistachios.
Refrigerate until you serve.
Serve chilled.

Homeward bound .....ghugni and a little magic!!!

I am ecstatic these days..... going home after a loooooong time....... its not about going back to my parents or in-laws so much as it is going back to Calcutta ......our parents visit us on and off..... but it is me visiting Calcutta that is so important this time!!!!
In winter its all about that morning fog that hangs around in the air ,the warmth of the blanket, the smell of 'patali gur' er payesh ,the frying of 'koraishuti r kochuri',the steaming cup of hot milk tea, the hot 'jilipi' s dripping with syrup and so many fond memories.....
Calcutta also brings back memories of ghugni that is cooked at home. It took me 1 and 1/2 years to figure out the exact recipe but now I can proudly say I have mastered the art of a perfect vegetarian dish.

Ingradientes:

Ghugnir matar or garbanjo beans- 1 cup
potatoes-2 medium diced
tomato-1 large sliced fine
ginger-1 tbsp paste
cloves-1-2
green cardamom-1
cinammon-1"roll
whole jeera-1 tbsp
turmeric-1/2 tsp
kasuri methi-1/2 tsp
green chillies-2-3 slit
asafoetida-a pinch(optional)
coriander leaves-a sprig
cooking oil-3 tbsp
salt

Pressure cook the garbanjo beans until they are soft but not mushy.
Boil the potatoes and keep aside.
In the cooking vessel heat oil and sizzle the whole jeera and the whole garam masala.
If you are using asafoetida add it now and let the smell come out.
Next add the ginger and the tomatoes and turmeric.
Put the flame on low medium and let the mix cook.
Now add the matar and the potatoes and coat properly with the masala.
Add salt and 1/2 cup water and let it cook.Add the slit green chillies.
When you have the correct consistency of the gravy add the kasuri methi and mix.
Garnish with sprigs of coriander and serve with hot rice.

Fun times....Desserts and all that!!

I love desserts... what is a meal without one? Be it ice creams or cakes or sweets or the typically bengali amshottwer chutney or doi or ... oh god... I could go on and on and on.....So for New Year I baked a simple chocolate cake and it was heavenly.....
Here's how I did it...

Baking tray
Milk Chocolate chunk-150 gm
Cocoa powder-4-5 tbsp
All purpose flour-1cup
Baking powder-2-3tsp
Eggs-2 large
Sugar-1 and 1/2 cup
Margarine or low fat butter-5 tbsp

In a shallow pan heat the butter/margarine and just as it melts away add the chocolate chunk. All this while keep the flame on low. Be careful not to burn the mix.As the chocolate melts and the syrup thickens slowly add the sugar and the cocoa powder and let it melt away .
Grease the baking pan and preheat the oven to 180C.
In a separate bowl sift the flour and baking powder.
Beat the eggs and slowly fold the flour mix in it. Mix thoroughly.
Meanwhile take the chocolate syrup off the flame and let it cool.
Then mix the syrup in the flour-egg mix and beat for 2-3 minutes.
Pour the mix in the baking tray and set it into the oven for 40 -45 minutes.
Bake until the cake is set and test with a knife or tooth pick.
Cut and serve with a hot cup of coffee or just like that!!!!

Mug Chingri....A perfect start to New Year!!!

Hey!!!! Happy New Year to all and sundry!!!!!
We had a quiet New year.... we had had a long day on New Year's eve
and so we stayed at home and cooked and ate and made merry.... and caught up on all those movies...
I had bought a bag of shrimps(kucho chingri) which were too small to be put in a gravy.... so I decided to cook 'Mug Chingri 'or prawns in Mung Dal..... its a yummy simple dish which i had in Belgium last year at a friend's place.
It was absolutely delicious and so I decided to give US a special treat this New Year!!! So here it is:

Ingradients:

Shrimps-1 small cup
Mung Dal-1cup
cauliflower florets-half of a medium cauliflower cut into small florets
frozen peas-a handful
Onion-1 medium made into a paste
tomato-1 large diced
ginger garlic paste-1 tbsp
whole cumin-1 tbsp
cloves-2-3
green cardamom-1-2
garam masala powder-1/2tsp
turmeric-1/2tsp
lime juice-3-4tbsp
oil- 6 tbsp
sugar
salt

Marinate the shrimps in lime juice for 20-30 minutes.
Boil the lentils with a pinch of turmeric and set it aside. Do not overboil the lentils and do not put excess water.
Boil the cauliflower florets(in boiling water for 4-5 minutes) but do not let them soften. Drain the water and set them aside.
Heat oil and fry the shrimps till they are golden on all sides. Set them aside and soak the excess oil in kitchen towel.
In the remaining oil sizzle the cumin seeds , cloves and green cardamom.
Next add the onion and the ginger garlic paste.Put the flame on medium low and cook until the raw smell goes.Next add the tomatoes and turmericand cook until oil starts separating.
Add the boiled caulilflower florets and the peas.
Cook until the florets and peas are coated with the spices and let the mix cook in medium low flame.
Next add the shrimps and the lentils. Mix properly.
Add water according to the consistency you want.
Add salt and sugar according to taste.
Let the lentils come to rolling boil .
Sprinkle garam masala powder.
Serve with hot rice and have a great lunch!!