Rose Garden / Grilled Cauliflower

Like all my recipe, each one being relished several times over in my home, this one stands out in the category where my kid son prepared this one for his friends for their visit. I guess some of the “surrender to the pallet” also rubbed upon him. With the kids, the 1st preference is not taste but the looks of what they are offered to eat. This one has very catchy looks and great taste and it took an eye wink to prepare it. You will love the roses concept offered here and it’s a name you would want to chant while serving !! Finally, need I mention ? There is no rose in the dish 🙂 

Grilled cauliflower

quick meals

…..need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 2 to 3 sparkling eyed toddlers or 2 grown ups
• Preparation time : 1 hour to marinate + 30 minutes to prepare
• Serving size : It will be a race as to who can gobble more

….and we need (ingredients)

• Cauliflower florets 8 to 10 medium to small (would be around 500 grams) : I would introduce cauliflower as an undergraduate cousin of the post graduated broccoli. Cauliflower is a very nutritious vegetable which helps fight cancer, heart diseases, inflammation & excessive weight. 
• Beetroot juice 1 cup : With a unique and strong flavor anything of beetroot catches the eye of the kids due to it’s rosy accent. This juice is also a power packed cup of health. It’s a strong detox, manages blood pressure and sugar and is good for digestion.
• Potatoes boiled and chopped in halves, 4 to 5 : With virtually no sodium, no fats and no cholesterols and packed with potassium and Vitamin C  this fibre rich tuber veggie is undoubtedly one of the most famous ones across the globe.
• Salt ‘n pepper : Ask your taste buds for their saline history 🙂
• Chaat masala 1/2 teaspoon : Blend of spices, this masala by name is meant to tingle your taste buds sour. Favorite with the kids.
• Coriander chopped 2 teaspoon : It’s the most famous garnish in India. No one in the race clearly.

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

• Wash and pat dry the cauliflower florets. Dry them well else the the color would not come out as pretty as expected.
• Warm the beetroot juice for 2 minutes and then decant it into a small mixing bowl.
• Add salt and pepper to it and mix well.
• Put the cauliflower florets into this juice such that they drench well.
• Keep them covered & soaked for 1 hour, preferably under refrigeration.
• Get some toothpicks to stake. Pierce and stake the cauliflower florets with the toothpicks from one side and further stake them over the semi cut boiled potatoes.
• Place the platter in a well heated grill and grill them for 20 minutes. Check midway to confirm the softness of the florets. I like mine a bit crunchy so 20 minutes were good enough. Do not overcook else the potatoes below will get spoiled.
• Serve hot after sprinkling chaat masala and further garnishing with chopped coriander.
• Prepare to collect the toothpicks from the empty platter after 10 minutes 🙂

Storage : Small helping won’t need storage. Do not plan to store please.

Missing Something ? : You can change the garnish from coriander to parsley and from chaat masala to garam masala for a mature gathering.

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Thums Up Chicken / Cola Chicken

This is a sure shot winner when it would come down to turning heads. If the name won’t entice them then unique flavor will not make them fake it anymore. You’ll surely get hmmms and ohhhhs for a response here. With least of trouble and a handful of ingredients, this recipe is a candy eating, chicken drooling, unconventional junkie’s alms. Prepared with the iconic, undefeated cola soda of India aka Thums Up, this can be used as a great brunch, evening snack and even a light luncheon or dinner routine. Oooogle on !

tasty easy recipes

tasty easy recipes

tasty easy recipes

kid friendly recipes

….need to know (food details)

• Number of people served : 2 gobblers
• Preparation time : 30 mins marinate + 20 minutes cooking
• Serving size : 2 pieces each

….and we need (ingredients)

• Chicken pieces 4 to 6 : Chicken is easily the most popular non vegetarian food and it brings with itself health benefits like essential proteins, vitamins and minerals. That helps in weight loss, regulating cholesterol. However every second you over cook a food, you are losing some nutrition off it.
• Thums Up 500 ml pet bottle would do : Acknowledgements to Coca Cola India to continue Thums Up even despite Coke being their flagship. Thums Up has a fizz and flavor which makes it the number 1 preference in India.
• Salt 1/2 teaspoon : Need this to sour the dish and also from not letting go foul soon.
• Basil leaves roughly broken (not chopped), I used lime basil here : Basil fragrance bring freshness to the otherwise sweet and sour flavor.
• Lemon juice 1/3 teaspoon : It rings the zesty sour flavor and helps in digestion of the dish too. 

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

• Wash and dry well the chicken pieces.Now use rub half the salt and half the lemon juice on them and keep aside, preferably cold and covered for 30 mins.
• Now mild heat a shallow pan (meaning short of crackling on dropping drops of water) and pour the Thums Up in the same.
• Cook well for 5 mins on high flame now till it reduces to 75% of original.
• Add the chicken pieces to this and continue cooking for 10 minutes more. Bring the flame to medium heat and add remaining salt. Cook for further 10 minutes approximately or till the broth thickens considerably. How thick you’d like your broth would depend on the type of meal you want to have the dish for. In a snacking hour you can bring it to near dry, whereas during main meals you need to leave some fluidity there.In either case make sure that the chicken is cooked thoroughly.
• Good way to check whether your chicken is cooked or not is by poking and fiddling around near the bones. The eat and the bones should separate easily for a well done cooking.
• Now put this on a platter, sprinkle the remaining lemon juice and garnish with broken basil leaves.

Storage : Dont store please. Eat hot and immediately. It hasn’t taken any cumbersome time or ingredients, so you can do it again next time, don’t cook to store.

Missing Something ? : You can flip the lime basil with cinnamon or even thai basil. Remember to break the leaves and garnish and not chop. It matters, really !St