Chicken Teriyaki

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So, I’ve been quite tied up with some assignments but I made it my pre-New Year resolution to get active at my recipe posts and do it today on the 31st of Dec.

To start with let me wish all of you a very Happy New Year and a Blessed 2020. Hope you all have a delicious year to come !

Now about the treat here. Well, it’s no wonder, Chicken Teriyaki is one of the most popular ways of eating white meat especially in the eastern hemisphere. It has it’s unique sweet and sticky yumm which is so hard to resist. Of course, it’s topped with the sesame seed, another thing so staple with east asian cuisines. I found it to be a yumm evening snack to usher 2020 in, let’s hope you try and enjoy as well.

Ingredients of Chicken Teriyaki

Preparation of Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Teriyaki

Teriyaki Chicken

….need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : It’s a 4 people dish.
• Preparation time : 35 minutes
• Serving size : 3 pcs per person would be right arithmetically, but fastest fingers wins this one !

….and we need (ingredients)

• Chicken cut into small pcs., 500 grams : The chicken is not my preferred meat but is welcomed with great recipes though. Being white and light it is versatile in kitchen. High in proteins and great for heart chicken also promotes bone development and skin damage repair. What I didn’t know was that it was an anti depressant as well. Well, all my recipes are as well 😉.
• Orange juice, 1/4th cup fresh : Besides the amazing Mediterranean citrus zest that the it brings to this dish, the orange juice is also a source of major benefits like immunity boost, anti ageing, reduction in cholesterol and inflammation. It is one of the healthiest beverages on this planet. Make it fresh at home for best results.

• Honey, 2 tablespoon : Honey is a good anti oxidant and controls cholesterol levels. It compliments the mustard very well, just like in a mustard sauce.
• Ginger paste, 3/4th teaspoon : Unmistakably earthy, the ginger adds the heat quotient in the dish. The gingerol in ginger is a strong anti nausea and anti inflammatory agent.
• Sesame oil, 3 teaspoon : Sesame improves blood pressure, burns fats and is a good source of iron. It enhances the nutty flavor in the dish.
• Butter, 1 tablespoon : The cheesy butter absorbs the basil’s herb flavor very well. Regular table butter is a good source of fats soluble vitamins and saturated fats. They are better in taste and health than margarine. 
• Roasted Sesame seeds, 1/2 teaspoon : Sesame improves blood pressure, burns fats and is a good source of iron. It enhances the nutty flavor in the dip.
• Soy Sauce, 3 tablespoon : It’s a low cal high antioxidant sauce with several good cholesterols. It has a fine salty taste and is widely prevalent in dishes across south east asia and China.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Wash well the chicken pieces and keep them tender by not refrigerating them.
• Take orange juice in a plastic bowl and add the sesame oil (1 tablespoon), honey, ginger and soy sauce. Whisk it all well to mix properly.
• Marinate the chicken with this and keep aside for 30 minutes. Do not discard the dripping extra marinade.
• Now heat a non stick pan. Add remaining sesame oil and heat till it fumes.
• Now add the chicken in it and cook on medium flame for about 8 minutes till it is done to your satisfaction.
• Take the chicken off and in the same pan melt the butter. To this add the leftover marinade and cook for 2 minutes on medium heat stirring well.
• Now add back the chicken  and cook it on medium heat till all marinade sticks to the chicken. It should take about 3-5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the sesame seeds and serve hot and fragrant !

Storage : Do not refrigerate, 1. it’s winters and hot chicken will be yummy, 2. honey will harden and spoil the chicken texture if allowed to cool.

Missing Something ? : You can replace chicken with a turkey and try with slightly firmer meat !!

 

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Deep Fried Anchovy

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I’ve always been intrigued by these so called surplus fish, relegated to side dishes and sauces only. My challenge has been to bring anchovy to the main platter. Yes, it’s a challenge to chew in the bones if you are/have a kid but not much so at all if the frying is appropriate.

Crossing my fingers I went ahead with this one, the fish being a mud sucker makes it a challenge to clean as well.

Trust me, it was all worth it. In a matter of minutes, was a very tasty, crunchy fish fritters there could be. Party On !

Ingredients of Deep Fried Anchovy

Deep Fried Anchovy

Deep Fried Anchovy

….need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 3 to 4.
• Preparation time : 20 minutes
• Serving size : Bowlfuls each.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Anchovy, 500 grams : These are extremely pungent on their own so need good cooking. It’s rich in proteins and Omega 3 fatty acids as well. 
• Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : Use the coarse sea salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
• Oil, 1 cup, to deep fry : I do not mind mustard oil here due to it’s pungency. Works well with these fries.
• Paprika, 1 teaspoon : Light and bitter with good amount of vitamin e and a strong antioxidant.
• Black Pepper Powder, 1/3rd teaspoon : Good proportion of salt and pepper are great anti oxidants too.
• White Flour, 1/2 cup : This is just clarified wheat flour. While it’s very friendly to cook with, it’s a zero benefit batter since it gets stripped of all it’s nutrients while it is being cleaned repeatedly.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Wash the anchovy (really well) x 2 . Means twice at least. Else you might feel the mud in your fries.
• Sprinkle the paprika, black pepper powder and the salt and mix well with the anchovies.
• Sprinkle the white flour (clarified wheat flour) over the fish and coat well so as to form a batter covering.
• Now heat the oil in a pan and bring to evaporation (i.e. till you see fumes).
• Put in the anchovies in the pan taking care that they do not stick to each other.
• Deep fry now till they look golden brown in color.
• Serve hot with your favorite ketchups or chutneys and enjoy the sumptuous treat.

Storage : Storing will make it loose the crunch.

Missing Something ? : You can add some dried basil to the flour. Squeezing a lemon would work wonders as well !!

Radish Beans Salad / Mongra Salad

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Summers are on while the spring is rapidly vanishing alongwith my veggie greens. So while it’s the time to bring in the beans and gourds in the garden, it’s the time for final harvesting of lettuce, radish etc. some of which have been purposely allowed to bolt. After the radish bolts into white flowers, they develop small beans or pods which are extremely yummy and pungent if harvested in proper time.

This salad is prepared with a handful of radish beans, some green chickpeas, some freshly harvested beetroot and some lettuce. It is so refreshing while I am dug up in my subjects and keeps my burning tummy cool and healthy. Very similar in yumm quotient as the sassy egg chaat which I shared sometime back. I have it for breakfast as well as a 4 pm meal and I bet you will not miss trying it at least once since it’s so simple. So read on, try on and party on 🙂 !!

Radish Beans Salad / Mongra Salad

Radish Beans Salad / Mongra Salad

Radish Beans Salad / Mongra Salad

Radish Beans Salad / Mongra Salad

 

…need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 1 to 2
• Preparation time : 5 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Radish Beans, Mongra, 1 cupful : Regular radish plants bolts after the root has ripened (i.e. it grows buds and generates flowers). These flowers then falls off giving way to the beans or pods (hindi : mongra). While it is cooked in dishes as a pungent veggie, I enjoy it well in my salad.
• Beetroot, 2 average sized, 3/4th cup : High in fiber, Vitamin C and manganese to help in immunity, bones, liver, kidney etc. We harvest a decent amount of beet from tubs and sacks in our garden every year. We use the leaves and the stalks as well besides the meaty root.
• Lettuce, Loose leaves, 1 plateful : Lettuce is amazing in summers (though hard to find in this season). It’s so hot in Delhi in summers that all my lettuce dries up (if any is left) by early march itself. It has over 90% water and very low fiber. It gives us Vitamin C, potassium, calcium to us adding the mild peppery and crunchy flavor to the salad.
• Green Chickpeas, 1 cupful : Green chickpea is less available as against it’s dried counterpart which  is a rather popular pulse in Indian kitchens. However, if you can get hold of green chickpeas you have better than peas fresh ones at hand. Raw, crunchy, and high in proteins, fibers and folate and anti-oxidants you would supplement them for peas any good day. 
• Chaat Masala, 1 teaspoon : Again, one of the most popular Indian seasoning for salads etc. Chat masala is typically made by dry grinding coriander seeds, cumin, carom seeds, rock salt, mint, mango powder and a few other things. Again, besides all the digestive and other heath benefits, the chat masala brings in the ‘Xing’ factor.
• Salt to taste : Regular table salt would do in this.
• Lime juice, 1 teaspoon : Sour and acidic, with a good amount of citric acid, we add lemon here not just to enhance the sour essence but also to use it’s hydrating and digestive qualities.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Get a large light bowl. Large to make space for all veggies and light, so it allows sufficient tossing.
• Line up the bowl with lettuce and sprinkle salt across.
• Add the veggies, mix them (beet, chopped in 1/2 inch cubes, radish beans and the green chickpeas) and toss them in the bowl.
• Squeeze the lemon juice and sprinkle the chaat masala. Toss the salad well to your satisfaction.
• There you go !!

Storage : Please do not. It looses the crunch .

Missing Something ? : You can grate some mild pepper like jalapeno if you so seek.

Potatoes in Chili Basil Chutney

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The festival of Navratras bring glitter in Indian atmosphere, especially so in North and Western India. This is the time when all meat culinary goes for a hibernation and out come the vegetarian conjures. 

This is one such moment  when the last burst of green were being harvested from my garden in the late springs. I came up with the idea of cooking up a chutney recipe with all the basic greens and throwing in some potatoes as well. Easy Peasy – Yummy Tummy !!

Potatoes in Chili Basil Chutney

Potatoes in Chili Basil Chutney

…need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 4 to 5
• Preparation time : 25 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Basil, sweet or Thai, 2 bowlfuls : In this I used sweet or Genovese basil leaves which I pluck-wash at my garden. Basil is the “King of Herbs” for many reasons. It is a strong anti oxidant. It fights virus, bacteria and other microbes in the body. I grow 4 to 5 types of basil in my garden and am always looking for new things to do with it.
• Olive Oil, 2 tablespoon : Keep the oil light so as not to interfere with the flavor of your dish either in odor or in taste. Besides, olive oil is a great antioxidant, anti inflammatory, is good for heart and weight management.
• Garlic Ginger paste , 1 tablespoon : You will hardly find any of my recipes missing garlic. Pungency is the reason why we use this allicin rich clove which combats sickness and common cold.
• Cheese cube, 2 100 gram cubes : With all the calcium and protein benefits, cheese here is added for it’s creamy texture and nutty essence.
• Green Chilies, 4 : Great for eyes and skin, green chilies are the healthiest ones to bring in the bitter zing in any dish. I used them here, freshly plucked from my garden to bring in their essence. I deseeded them well to ensure it being kids friendly.
• Mint, a handful, about 150 grams : Mint is chopped well from our garden since they are extremely easy to grow. They are slightly bitter and sour with an umami essence. It is great for digestion and is a great anti oxidant.
• Cumin seeds, 100 grams : Cumin has the classical earthy and nutty essence. Cumin is also extremely popular due to it’s aid to digestion, immune system, respiratory system and being a source of iron.
• Coriander, 100 grams : This comes straight from my garden. Gives an orangy zest, coriander is again a blood regulator.
• Salt to taste : Regular table salt would do in this.
• Onions, chopped, 1 medium : Strong, acidic and bitter. That’s what a good red onion is supposed to be. They are also good sources of Vitamin C and Iron and are good for hair, skin and help in weight-loss.
• Lime juice, 1 teaspoon : Sour and acidic, with a good amount of citric acid, we add lemon here not just to enhance the sour essence but also to use it’s hydrating and digestive qualities.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Grind the greens to a nice paste. You can wet grind it in a processor. There’s not much risk here to loose flavor but the coarseness should not be felt in the chutney later.
• Mix the cheese grated well and keep it aside.
• Boil the potatoes firm. Do not overboil else they’ll get mashed badly while cooking. We need to see them in the dish.
• Heat the oil in a pan at medium heat till it starts evaporating.
• Now add cumin in it and stir till it crackles.
• Add the onions and the lime juice and stir for a while. About 4 minutes on medium heat should be good.
• Now add the chilies (deseeded) and stir for about a minute.
• Add the green paste now and stir cook on medium to high heat for 8 minutes till well done.
• Add the boiled potatoes (chopped in an inch cubes). Cook further for 5 minutes. You may cover the pan now.
•  There you are !!

Storage : Good for storage for upto 3 days at optimum temperature .

Missing Something ? : You can use mustard seeds instead of cumin to cook.

Turkey in Piri Piri Sauce

Thanx a lot for the amazing response we have to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo 

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There are days when one wants to just give in to the desire of hogging and slurping yummy goodies. Such prevail more when you forsee a busy day ahead and have an inkling to prepare for spreading long on your couch at the end of it with a yum-gun platter on your lap. That would really crown the big busy day, won’t it.

Well, now that I’m friendly to the meat of turkey, I feel confident in curing the dishes as per the required degree of succulence, texture and aroma. This is dished out in my favorite sauce, the piri piri aka the favourite one of my kiddo as well !!

So, cook on ! dish on ! party on !!

Ingredients of Turkey in Piri Piri Sauce

Marinated Turkey

Preparation of Turkey in Piri Piri Sauce

Turkey in Piri Piri Sauce

Turkey in Piri Piri Sauce

….need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 3 to 4.
• Preparation time : 1 hour
• Serving size : 2 to 3 chunky roasts are a great treat.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Turkey pieces, 500 grams : Turkey has a thicker and firmer meat than chicken. It stronger flavor and a darker meat. Turkey is rich in proteins, amino acids and minerals like zinc. Not many find connoisseurs in India but can be sought and bought whenever required.
• Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : Use the Himalayan pink salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
• Butter, 1 tablespoon : Butter is the best grease for a grill. While some oils also do the trick but nothing separates the meat from the bones like butter and gives it a perfect browning.
• Piri piri spice chili mix, 2 teaspoon : Generally piri piri spice mix is a mix of something sour and red ground chilies and some pepper. Kids absolutely love this since the heat is under control and is well balanced with the citrus essence. 
• Lemon juice, 2 to 3 medium lemons : Sour and acidic, with a good amount of citric acid, we add lemon here not just to enhance the sour essence but also to use it’s hydrating and digestive qualities.
• Dried red chilies, 4 to 5 : Dried red chilies have a sharper, earthier essence then the fresh green ones. They are a good source of Vitamin C, A and E hence beneficial for skin and hair.
• Onion chopped, 1 medium : As in Red Onions for us Indians, strong, acidic and bitter. That’s what a good red onion is supposed to be. They are also good sources of Vitamin C and Iron and are good for hair, skin and help in weight-loss. 

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Mix the piri piri spice with half a teaspoon of molten butter (half) and squeeze all the lemon juice in it.
• Now poke the turkey in several place for the juice to seep in well. Marinate the turkey pieces with this sour chili mix for an hour or so. Whatever mix drips off should be carefully layered inside the turkey by carefully lifting the skin up with a spoon or a fork.
• Take a pan and melt remaining butter in it on medium heat.
• Layer the pan with crudely chopped onions and the red dried chilies. I also added some green chilies to add a veggie essence.
• Saute the same for 15 minutes on medium flame.
• Now add the turkey pieces to the pan and any surplus butter, lime juice, piri piri mix that is left over.
• Cook well and covered for 45 minutes straight so as to reach the texture and softness as per your suitability.
• Serve hot with your favorite ketchups or chutneys and enjoy the sumptuous treat.

Storage : Can refrigerate wrapped, but will tend to harden the texture.

Missing Something ? : Dress it up with some freshly chopped rosemary !!

Pinwheel Tiffins (Apple, Beetroot, Carrot Pinwheels)

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I have always admired the wisdom of the traditional homemakers due to their practical ability to churn out the right dishes for the right moods and within the handful of ingredients in the kitchen. They are the real goto folks who spare not a thought before getting their hands moving and with a confident smile on their faces clearly projecting “I know whatsup and I’ll take good care”. 

This little snack has been a treat for many a parties, gatherings and tea sittings and has never failed to win an applause. These are so quick and simple to prepare that you can almost make them while having tea with your guests. It uses the intrinsic flavors of the core ingredients and allows them to blend with any herb that can be dry mixed with it. These look so much like the Tricolor Tiffins  which I made earlier. Read on and have a great tea time snack recipe or a kids tiffin recipe ready !!

 

Pinwheel Tiffins (Apple, Carrot, Beetroot Pinwheels)

Pinwheel Tiffins (Apple, Beetroot, Carrot Pinwheels)

…need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 4 to 5 pinwheels each !!
• Preparation time : 15 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Carrot, grated, 1 cupful : Carrots are high source of iron and anti oxidants and have sweet and earthy flavor . Color of the carrots do not matter here. Just don’t let them be black ones.
• Cheese, grated, 1/3rd cup : With all the calcium and protein benefits, cheese here is added for it’s creamy texture and nutty essence.
• Table salt : Keep it low. I suggest less than a pinch per pinwheel. This would enhance the flavor of other seasoning.
• Pepper, ground : Good proportion of salt and pepper are great anti oxidants too.
• Oregano, dried : With .Bitter and pungent oregano is a great antioxidant and hence should be added to fried food. It also has anti fungal and antibacterial qualities. Interestingly, oregano when dried dose’nt loose much essence. 
• Bread slices, 6 to 8 : No specific reason why I chose wheat bread. It’s just the one that we use at our place and that was what I had with me then. BTW, wheat bead is said to have all the great nourishment of  whole wheat like fiber, protein, antioxidants and iron.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Combine the grated apple/ carrot/ beetroot with salt and keep aside overnight in a fridge. This will make the grated mix shed water which can then be squeezed off and drained.
• To the squeezed off grated mix, add the dried herb/ oregano.
• Trim the bread slices by their edges. Now roll them hard using a rolling pin such that it becomes a thin yet single pieces. Meaning, that single bread slices should not be broken while rolling.
• Now spread the grated cheese on this slice well to cover.
• Lay out and spread the grated mix on this slice well.
• Pick up one length of the slice and start rolling tightly. Some surplus mix might falls off. Let it fall.
• Once these slices have been rolled you may pin them with tooth picks to keep them together and prevent them from opening and falling apart.
• If your slices are big then you may want to chop the pinwheels into smaller width ones.
•  Enjoy !!

Storage : Nil . The bread will get stale if kept longer than an hour.

Missing Something ? : You may add dried parsley to the grated mix.

Cobia in Celery & Tangerine Butter

We are overwhelmed by the amazing response to the new intiatives (links given below). Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here .. 

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Since long have I fancied using these pretty looking citrus fruits in my kitchen. Tangerines have often been relegated to dish washing levels only in my household. So I tend to leave them alone on their twigs, at least they sit pretty like little round perennial flowers.

This is my attempt to conjure a fillet recipe with handful of my garden harvest in late winters. You will have to cook it and enjoy it to believe in it’s amazing lingering taste. Happy Cooking !!

Tangerine in our garden

Cobia Fillet in Celery & Tangerine Butter

Cobia Fillet in Celery & Tangerine Butter

Cobia in Celery & Tangerine Butter

….need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 2 will do.
• Preparation time : 20 minutes.
• Serving size : 1 to 2 fillet each.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Cobia (motha) fillet, 500 grams : This is a delicious fish indeed however (like most marine fishes) has a lot of mercury content hence moderate offering to kids is suggested. It is a pleasure to eat since it has little or no bones and just one central bone running across like surmai. It is white and flaky and good for fillets since it’s not very oily. Cobia is rich in Omega 3, vitamins and minerals.
• Sea Salt, 1/2 teaspoon : Use coarse sea salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
• Table Butter, 1 tablespoon : Regular table butter would be in this.
• Tangerines, 8 to 10 : A tangerine is a hybrid between orange and a mandarin. But I guess the poor guy never really took off in size 🙂 . But it is high in Vitamin C and is great for skin and fighting arthritis and healing cuts and bruises. They look very pretty since even a potted one can give loads of fruits in winters and a grounded one gives scores of them in season.
• Celery, small bunch of about 100 grams : I grow celery for around 5 months in a year and they grow well in tubs, bags and small planters. They have one of the healthiest foliage & excellent antioxidant. It gives good bitter pungency to the stock. 
• Sesame Oil, 1 teaspoon : Sesame improves blood pressure, burns fats and is a good source of iron. It enhances the nutty flavor in the dish.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Harvest some tangerines. Must be all orange and ripened. Peel off and squeeze juice into a small bowl. Seeds are large and the fruit is small. DO NOT get frustrated with your attempts 🙂  .
• Melt the butter and mix the tangerine juice in it well.
• Lay the cobia fillets in an aluminium foil.
• Drench the fillet very well with the tangy butter mix now. If required then poke and puncture the fillets with a fork well to make the butter go well inside the fish.
• Wash well and chop the celery in 1 inch stalks and sprinkle over the fillets. The butter will make them stick on.
• Cover wrap the fillets with aluminium foil.
• Heat the sesame oil in a non stick pan and heat on medium flame till it starts fuming.
• Place the fillets (wrapped in foil) in it and cook covered for 15 minutes turning twice thrice.
• Serve hot and steaming.

Storage : You cannot store them, they’ll loose their texture !

Missing Something ? : You can serve some rinds alongwith the fillets. They’ll add to the tangy essence !!

Honey Glazed Turkey Platter

Thanx a lot for the amazing response we have to this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here ..  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmtCkBgnsCo 

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This was my first foray into cooking a turkey dish. Quite tangibly so, I was unaware of the outcome and had my fingers crossed. While being used to the extremes of a soft seafood bite to hard red mutton, turkey was quite a compromise. Roasting it in my oven was a safe bet, but I did manage to conjure up a recipe which was lip smacking and quite a treat for a chilly winter evening. Read on and enjoy the journey to a gourmet delight !! 

Ingredients of Honey Glazed Turkey

Honey Glazed Turkey Platter

….need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 3 to 4.
• Preparation time : 2 1/2 hours.
• Serving size : 2 to 3 chunky roasts are a great treat.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Turkey pieces, 500 grams : Turkey has a thicker and firmer meat than chicken. It stronger flavor and a darker meat. Turkey is rich in proteins, amino acids and minerals like zinc. Not many find connoisseurs in India but can be sought and bought whenever required.
• Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : Use the Himalayan pink salt for authenticity and it’s minerals.
• Butter, 1 tablespoon : Butter is the best grease for a grill. While some oils also do the trick but nothing separates the meat from the bones like butter and gives it a perfect browning.
• Dried Herb Mix, 3 teaspoon (Ground Mustard, Paprika, Pepper Black, Sage, Thyme) : All herbs are a fantastic essence. Dried herbs differ largely from the original harvest by the fact that they are more earthy and the fresh ones are moist and strong.
• Chopped Garlic, 1 teaspoon : Very few of my dishes skip garlic 1. due to its amazing health benefits & 2. because it provides the right amount of pungency with almost every veggie and meat. All hail the ‘King Pungent’ !
• Onion chopped, 1 medium : As in Red Onions for us Indians, strong, acidic and bitter. That’s what a good red onion is supposed to be. They are also good sources of Vitamin C and Iron and are good for hair, skin and help in weight-loss. 

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Mix all the dried spices well in 1/3rd of the salt. Pound lightly in a mortar and shake to mix well. Do not grind in a mixer. That makes the spices hot and loose their flavor. Classical is the best in this case.
• Now melt the butter and mix with honey. Warmth of butter will easily dissolve the honey at room temperature. Do not use refrigerated honey.
• Apply this butter honey mix well on the turkey. Since turkey is best enjoyed with skin so you need to lift the skin lightly and apply the butter honey mix there too.
• Take the spice mix and sprinkle well on all the turkey pieces. Cover well. Dried spice mix will stick well to the honey butter mix as well.
• Wrap the turkey in an aluminium foil and place it in a baking plate.
• Now pre heat the microwave for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
• Place your tray inside the microwave at a raised level. This allows for a more uniform roasting.
• Grill the turkey for 2 hours at 400 degrees.
• Serve hot with your favorite ketchups or chutneys as have been listed in the previous menus.

Storage : No way Jose !!!!

Missing Something ? : Only thing that can be added here would be freshly chopped rosemary if available !!

Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip

Thanx a lot for the tremendous support  this wonderful new initiative from my loved one. Do check this out too and follow, there will surely be great posts rolling here .. 

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I have always confessed the satisfaction of preparing ketchups, dips, pickles etc. since they make flavors last beyond their seasons and last several treats as well. . This one is slightly different from the Basil Pesto I shared earlier by way of the green dominance of broccoli stems/stalks. This is a uniqueness that I am proud to preserve (i.e. the broccoli stems). Recall the recipe of Cream of Celery Broccoli Stalks . Here, I just use the same power packed, nutritious stems of broccoli to prepare this fritter (pakora) accompaniment common at our place, just like the ajwain chutney recipe. Read on and enjoy the treat !!

Ingredients of Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip

Broccoli Stalks Pesto Dip

…need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : dip along and dip a long !!
• Preparation time : 15 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Basil, sweet or Thai, 3 cupfuls : In this I used sweet or Genovese basil leaves which I pluck-wash at my garden. Basil is the “King of Herbs” for many reasons. It is a strong anti oxidant. It fights virus, bacteria and other microbes in the body. I grow 4 to 5 types of basil in my garden and am always looking for new things to do with it.
• Olive Oil, 1/3rd cup : Keep the oil light so as not to interfere with the flavor of your dish either in odor or in taste. Besides, olive oil is a great antioxidant, anti inflammatory, is good for heart and weight management.
• Garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon : You will hardly find any of my recipes missing garlic. Pungency is the reason why we use this allicin rich clove which combats sickness and common cold.
• Pink Salt, 3/4th teaspoon : I prefer coarse Himalayan pink salt here since it is extremely healthy.
• Cheese cube, 100 grams : With all the calcium and protein benefits, cheese here is added for it’s creamy texture and nutty essence.
• Walnuts, 1/2 cup : Walnuts have a good amount of good fats called polyunsaturated fats or PUFA. They have Omega 3 and decent amount of minerals like iron, zinc, calcium and Vitamins like E & B loaded in them. In taste they add a distinct earthiness and nutty essence.
• Broccoli stems, shaved, 250 grams : Broccoli’s health benefits and earthy flavors are amazing, esp. for kids. I use a rather peculier portion of the plant. The stems. I use the insides of the soft broccoli stems by peeling off the hard outer skin. It tastes like cucumber. you may also use it in salads and many other preparations.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Wash well and break the basil. Breaking works better than chopping the basil. Chopping is said to be detrimental to the flavor.
• Wash and dry the walnuts since they are quite dusty when fresh.
• Grate the cheese and mix with olive oil loosely.
• Shave off the broccoli stems using only the inner less fibrous meaty part. It would seem quite like a cucumber.
• Now add all ingredients in a kitchen grinder and make a paste of it. I would prefer not to add water to loosen it to your requirement, instead ad 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
•  There you are !!

Storage : Good for storage for upto 3 months at optimum temperature .

Missing Something ? : You can replace the walnuts for groundnuts and even better with pine nuts for max authenticity.

Cream of Celery in Broccoli Stalks

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Think of a family which loves its daily soup and think of me who loves to grow greens in my garden. There will be some creative combinations indeed. We would not like to throw away stuff in the composter (which we have recently placed in our backyard) as long as there is any chance of using its flavor and richness in our food. You remember how I use the beetroot stalks in Cranberry Pickle and Sweet Beet Stalks Pickle and also Fries . It’s almost winters here and the large elephant eared broccolis will be coming up if all goes well. Look in the pictures how they are a gardener’s delight with beautiful green flower heads. Also, around the same time the celery will also start getting tall and harvest ready.

With the same spirit of using all possible and stirring out kitchen creatives, I bring this cream soup to enjoy. 

Broccoli In My Garden

Fresh Celery In My Garden

Fresh Broccoli In My Garden

Ingredients Of Cream Of Celery In Broccoli Stalks

Cream of Celery in Broccoli Stalks

…need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 1 a bowl, let that be the rule
• Preparation time : 25 minutes max.

….and we need (ingredients)

• Celery chopped, handfull, about 5 to 6 stalks would be good : I grow celery for around 5 months in a year and they grow well in tubs, bags and small planters. They have one of the healthiest foliage & excellent antioxidant. It gives good bitter pungency to the stock. 
• Table Butter, 1 tablespoon : The cheesy butter absorbs the basil’s herb flavor very well. Regular table butter is a good source of fats soluble vitamins and saturated fats. They are better in taste and health than margarine. 
• Onions, diced, 1 : As in Red Onions for us Indians, strong, acidic and bitter. That’s what a good red onion is supposed to be. They are also good sources of Vitamin C and Iron and are good for hair, skin and help in weight-loss.
• Garlic minced, 3 to 4 cloves : The King Pungent. Pungency is the reason why we use this allicin rich clove which combats sickness and common cold.
• Broccoli stems, 500 grams : Broccoli’s health benefits and earthy flavors are amazing, esp. for kids. I use a rather peculier portion of the plant. The stems. I use the insides of the soft broccoli stems by peeling off the hard outer skin. It tastes like cucumber. you may also use it in salads and many other preparations. 
• Oregano, 1/2 teaspoon : Bitter and pungent oregano is a great antioxidant and hence should be added to fried food. It also has anti fungal and antibacterial qualities.
• Bay leaf, 1 : Bay leaf is great for joints and skin and are packed with Vitamin A & C and many other minerals like iron, potassium and manganese. They are pungent and bitter in taste. I grow bay leaves in my garden so I can tell you that the fresh ones and dried ones are quite different. Use the dried ones only please. Bay leaves can grow into small trees giving lifetime supply 🙂
• Milk / Cream, 1 cup : A cream bowl would be better since the texture of the soup would be more to your liking and would require less thickenning while cooking.
• Salt, to taste : Regular table salt would do good.
• Black Pepper Powder, 1/4th teaspoon : Good proportion of salt and pepper are great anti oxidants too.

….time to cook ‘n roll (preparing instructions)

• Take a pressure cooker and heat it on a medium flame with pen lid. Put the butter in it and melt well.
• Add onions to it and brown them well. To this add chopped celery and garlic minced and stir cook for 3 minutes.
• Add chopped broccoli stems and stir further for 2 miutes. Now add oregano, bay leaves and stir for a minute.
• Now add 3 cups water and shut the pressure cooker and cook on low flame for 10 to 12 minutes. Switch the gas off after this.
• Now open the lid after the steam has relaxed and switch the gas on to medium heat. To this add milk or cream and cook for 10 minutes further. This should reduce the broth to a nice creamy fluid about 40% of how you started earlier.
• All the while stirring it, add the salt and black pepper to it.
• Serve steaming now. Do not garnish.

Storage : Nopes, this is a cook and consume recipe. Holding it might sour the cream or thicken the butter.

Missing Something ? : This is an Orginal G-Man, MCMH recipe. This is my creativity, you may try yours 🙂