Tuesday 13 July, 2010

Potato Salad

Ingredients
5 medium potatoes firm boiled
1 cup Mayonnaise or sour cream
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp mustered sauce
salt and black crushed pepper as per taste

Directions
peel and potato ,cut into small bit size pieces . add mayonnaise ,chopped onion and salt and black pepper . cover and refrigerate. if you find it dry before serving add little milk. Serve cold with chopped celery.

Pasta salad

Ingredients
1 cups penne pasta
1 small can Black bean
5 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/4 green bell pepper,finely chopped
1/4 red bell pepper,finely chopped
1/2 cucumber,finely chopped
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (Optional)
1/4 cup salad dressing ( olive and feta)
1/4 cup salad dressing ( cucumber or ranch)

Directions

1. Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the penne, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Rinse with cold water and drain well in a colander set in the sink.
2. Combine all the chopped vegetables and all the salad dressing and mix well.
3. drain black bean and rinse well and add to above mixture.
4. add pepper as per taste .
5. serve cold with crumbled cheese .

Baked Tofu Bites Recipe

Ingredients:
• 1 Tofu ,Firm(16 ounce)
• ¼ cup Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp Maple Syrupor 1tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp Ketchup
• 1 tbsp Vinegar
• A dash of Hot Sauce
• 1 tbsp Sesame Seeds
• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder or 1 tsp garlic paste /grated
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper (ground)
• 1 tsp Smoke Flavoring (liquid)/optional
How to make Baked Tofu Bites:
• Pre-heat the oven to 190 degree Celsius.
• Take a non-stick baking sheet and spread some oil on it.
• Cut ½-inch slices of tofu, and squeeze the extra water.
• Now, cut the sliced tofu into ½-inch cubes.
• Take a bowl and mix together soy sauce, maple syrup, ketchup, vinegar and hot sauce.
• Now, put sesame seeds, garlic powder, black pepper, and liquid smoke in that bowl. Mix well.
• Gently stir tofu cubes into the sauce, cover the lid and leave it to marinate for 5 minutes.
• Place the tofu on the baking sheet in a single layer.
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes.
• Turn the tofu to the other side and bake for another 15 minutes.
• Take it out from the oven and serve hot.

* This can be done in a pan also over stove.In a nonstick pan, spray some oil and place tofu and let it brown, turn gently and cook from other side. Do this in small batches for even cooking.

Baba Ghanoush Recipe

Ingredients:
• 2 big Aubergines (eggplant)
• 2 tbsp Tahini (sesame paste)
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Yogurt
• 1 crushed Garlic (optional)
• Salt & Pepper (to taste)
How to make Baba Ghanoush:
• Make a slit in the skin of aubergine. Place it under a hot grill and cook each side for a few minutes.If you are cooking on stove top apply oil and wrap in foil and cook.
• Allow it to cool down. Then, peel off the skin. Wash with cold water and place in a colander for a few minutes, to remove all the excess liquid.
• Run the aubergines and the other ingredients in a food processor and make a rough mix.
• Top with some olive oil and chopped parsley or fresh basil.
• Serve.

Bread Upma Recipe

Ingredients:
• 6-8 slices White/ Brown Bread
• 1 medium Potato (boiled and diced)
• 1 medium Onion (chopped)
• 2 Green Chillies (chopped)
• 1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• A pinch of Asafoetida (Hing)
• 2 tbsp Oil
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Fresh Coriander Leaves (chopped)
How to make Bread Upma:
• Break the bread slices into small cubes without crumbling them.
• In a wok (kadhai) heat oil and add a pinch of asafoetida, cumin seeds and mustard seeds and cook till it starts to splutter.
• Add onion to it and sauté for some time till pink. Add boiled potatoes to it and sauté again.
• Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and mix well. Toss in the bread and mix again without breaking them. Cook for 2 minutes. You can add a little water to it if required.
• Add lemon juice, green chillies and coriander leaves and toss.
• Serve hot.

Baby Corn Fritters Recipe

Ingredients:
• 500 g Baby Corn, long sliced
• 1 cup Gram Flour (besan)
• 1 cup All-purpose Flour (maida)
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
• 1 pinch Baking Soda
• Salt, as per taste
• Oil, for frying
How to make Baby Corn Fritters:
• Take a bowl and mix maida, besan, chili powder, baking soda and salt in it.
• Now, slowly add water to it and mix well, so that no lumps are formed.
• Keep stirring it and make sure that a thick and smooth paste is formed.
• Heat oil in a kadai for deep frying.
• Now, dip baby corn pieces in the paste and fry them on low-medium flame.
• Serve hot with tomato sauce.

Aloo Chana Chat Recipe

Ingredients:
• 1-1/2 Cups chick peas
• 2 Medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1-1/2 tsp Brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp Mild chili powder
• 2 tbsp Fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
• 1 Pinch salt
• 1 tbsp Tamarind paste
• 6 tbsp Water
• Chopped coriander leaves
• Chopped Onion
• Tomato julienne or pomegranate seeds
How to make Aloo Chana Chat:
• Rinse and drain garbanzo beans.
• Boil water in a pan, add the diced potatoes and cook till soft.
• Remove potatoes from heat, drain and set aside to cool.
• Mix the tamarind paste and water in a small bowl.
• Add chili powder, sugar and salt.
• Pour the tamarind mixture on the garbanzo beans.
• Combine the potatoes, chopped onions and cilantro.
• Mix them properly and add salt to taste.
• Serve in individual bowls.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.
• Use tomato julienne or pomegranate seeds, if desired.
• Aloo Chana Chaat is ready to serve.

Party Starter : Hummus

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:

* 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
* 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
* 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
* 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
* 2 cloves garlic, crushed
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:
Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.

Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Garnish with parsley (optional).

Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread, or cover and refrigerate.
Variations
For a spicier hummus, add a sliced red chile or a dash of cayenne pepper.