Spicy Rustic Chicken Curry with Khada Masala for a Snowy weather.

Mother nature blessed NC with 7 inches of snow over weekend. Cold temperatures and beautiful atmosphere around home temped me to cook something spicy and rustic. This chicken curry is out come of those temptations. I didn't use any Masala powder except turmeric powder but used Combination of Khada Masala (whole spices), also avoided any grinding process..all ingredients are either cut/chopped or diced. Curry was spicy, comforting and made us feel cozy on cold snow day.

Ingredients :-

• 4 Chicken thighs - cut into medium size pieces and marinate with salt. (alternatively-use 1 1/2 lb. chicken of your choice preferably with bones.)
• 2 Large onions - cut lengthwise.
• 2 Extra large Tomatoes - diced.
• 2 inch piece of ginger -cut into 1/2 inch size slivers.
  
• 8-10 garlic cloves - cut lengthwise.
• 1 Cup pressed - chopped fresh cilantro.
• 2 Tb.spoon cooking oil.
• 1/2 T.spoon turmeric powder.

List of Whole spices (Khada Masala) :-

• 2 Bay leaf - 2 inch long.
  
• 10-12 whole cloves.
• 4 Cardamom.
• 1 Star anise.
• 4-5 Nagkesar (optional)
  
• 1 Tb.spoon whole peppercorns.
• 3 inch long piece of cinnamon.
• 6-7 whole red chilies.
• 1 T.spoon Fennel seeds.
• 1 T.spoon Shahijeera.

Method of Cooking :-

1. Heat 2 tb.spoon oil in a heavy gauge pot. Avoid heating oil to smoking hot temperature, it should be hot enough to mildly sizzle spices. Drop first eight listed whole spices and saute for 1 minute.
2. Add chopped onions and saute for 2 minutes on high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Add fennel seeds and Shahjeera. Mix well, continue sauteing onions till they turn soft and transparent - another 3-4 minutes.
3. Add chopped ginger and garlic pieces and stir-fry with onions for one minute.
4. Add chicken pieces and turmeric powder. Mix all well and let it cook on high heat for 3-4 minutes till chicken turns white. Keep stirring with wooden spoon.
5. Reduce heat to medium low, cover pot with lid and let chicken cook for 6-7 minutes. At regular interval do stir. At this stage inside steam will generate little gravy.
6. Add half quantity of chopped tomato and little cilantro, little salt. Mix well and saute chicken on high heat for 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and let it cook for 7-8 minutes in covered pot.
7. Now add remaining diced tomatoes. Let chicken curry simmer uncovered on low heat for another 8-10 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy hot with rice and roti.

Enjoy the Glorious snow scene around my home.

Tindora / Tondali with Coconut & Cilantro coarse paste (Green Masala)

Today made Tindora/Todli subzi for dinner with little variation to routine stir-fry method. I used ginger+garlic+green chilies for zest and coated tindora with thick coarse gravy of fresh coconut and cilantro.This method retained light green color of tindora and subzi tasted delicious.

Ingredients:

• Tindora - 25-30, Cut each tindora lengthwise into 4 pieces.
• 1 medium size onion finely chopped.
• 1 inch piece ginger - finely crushed.
• 3-4 fresh garlic cloves - finely crushed.
• 4-5 green chilies - finely chopped.
• 8-10 curry leaves.
• 1 1/2 cup fresh cilantro - finely chopped.
• 1 Cup fresh grated coconut.
• 1 Tb.spoon cooking oil.
  

Method Of Cooking :-

1. Combine 1 Cup fresh chopped cilantro and grated coconut in blender jar, add half cup warm water and make coarse paste.Keep it aside.
   
2. Heat 1tb.spoon oil in thick bottom pot.Add chopped onions and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
   
3. Add Crushed ginger,garlic, green chilies . - saute for 1 minute.
4. Add Tindora ,curry leaves and stir-fry with wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes on high heat.
5. Reduce heat to medium . Add 1 cup water and little salt. Cook tindora for 7-8 minutes with covered lid. Make sure all water gets evaporated and tindora is enough tender.
   
6. Add coarsely ground paste of coconut and cilantro. Adjust salt and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with rice or roti.
   

Tomatillo Stir-Fry with Lima beans.

Tomatillos look like raw green Tomatoes. It is popularly used in Mexican cuisine for making salsa and sauces.They are covered with thin paper like skin and has sweet and sour taste. I made this simple Tomatillo stir-fry by adding some lima beans.This is quick and yummy recipe for routine cooking.

Ingredients :-

• 5-6 Tomatillos cut in 1/2 inch pieces. (2 cups)
• 1/2 cup frozen lima beans.
  
• 1 medium size onion - finely chopped.
  
• 1 inch piece of ginger - finely crushed.
• 2-3 Garlic cloves - finely crushed.
• 2-3 Green chilies - finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cilantro - finely chopped
• 1/2 T.spoon turmeric.
• 1 Tb.spoon oil.

Method Of Cooking :-

1. Heat 1 tb.spoon oil in open pan/skillet. Add chopped onion and stir-fry till they turn soft and translucent.
2. Add crushed garlic,ginger ,chopped chilies and turmeric powder - saute for a minute.
3. Add Tomatillos , Lima beans - Mix all well , add some salt and let it cook uncovered for 5-6 minutes on medium heat. Tomatillos have very high water content so you will notice increased liquid while cooking. Increase heat and stir-fry little more till liquid evaporates.
4. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with rice/roti.
   

Sesame Walnut Brittles / Chikki for Makar Sankranti.

Wishing all my readers/visitors a Very Happy Makar Sankranti....May the rays of Sun fill your life with Good fortune, Happiness and Health.

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup Sesame seeds.
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts.
• 1 cup grated jaggery.
• 2 Tb.spoon honey.
• 1 Tb.spoon butter/ghee.

Method of making chikki :-

1. Heat heavy bottom pot. Add 1/2 tb.spoon butter..as butter melts add Sesame seeds and walnut.. roast on medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Spread it on paper towel and let it cool.
2. Add jaggery in the same pot and stir..as it melts and bubble, quickly add roasted sesame, walnut and 2 tb.spoon honey. Maintain low heat. Mix well with wooden spoon. You may have to apply good pressure to stir and mix sesame and jaggery well, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Take any rectangle shape tray/baking sheet (I used griddle - see picture). Coat it with butter. Quickly pour and spread mixture on to tray. Take greased rolling pin, roll with good pressure and flatten mixture to one centimeter thickness. For final fineness I took greased stainless steel measuring cup, pressed it over mixture surface and leveled it evenly.
4. Mark square cuts with knife and let it cool for some time... separate them before they completely cool down. Store them in Jar or zip lock bag.
   

Mushroom & Matar in Spicy-Creamy Gravy.

Mushrooms have great nutritional value, they are rich in vitamins,minerals and protein.I enjoy them lot because of juicy texture and an earthy taste.Mushrooms adapt very well with different Indian dishes.Matar (green peas) and mushoom is very popular combination in Indian cooking. This mushroom curry has nice blend of Masala and Cream.

Ingredients :-

• 12-15 white button mushrooms - cut each lengthwise in four pieces.
• 1 Cup frozen green peas
  
• 1 medium size onion - finely chopped ( little more than one cup yield)
• 4 roma tomatoes - diced
• 1 inch piece of ginger - finely crushed
• 5 garlic cloves - finely crushed
• 1/2 cup - fresh chopped cilantro
• 1 Tb.spoon red chili powder
• 1 Tb.spoon heavy cream
• 2 Tb.spoon sour cream ( In absence of sour cream use 2tb.spoon strained yogurt)

Spice Blend

• 1 Tb.spoon fennel seeds
• 1 Tb.spoon kasuri methi
• 1 Bay leaf - 2 inch long
• 6 cloves
• 2 cardamom
• 1 inch cinnamon stick

Make fine powder of above spices.

Cooking Method :-

1. Heat 2 tb.spoon oil in heavy gauge pot. Add chopped onions and saute for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
2. Add finely crushed ginger and galic - Saute for 1 minute.
3. Add powdered spice-blend along with red chili powder - saute for 1 minute on low flame.
4. Add diced tomatoes - Mix with spices and onions. stir-fry for 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
5. Add mushrooms and 1/4 cup water. Mix well and let it cook with covered lid for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
6. Add 1 cup frozen green peas and little chopped cilantro - cook it without lid for another 2-3 minutes.Increase heat to high and reduce excess liquid and create thick gravy.
   
7. Beat sour cream and heavy cream - pour it in the pot..Combine everything and after one minute shut off the heat. Garnish with remaining cilantro and enjoy with warm nan/roti/rice.