Easy Indian Cooking

Vegetable Soup

2012-02-13T09:54:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Cauliflower (small flowerettes) - 1/4 cup

Carrot (chopped) - 1/4 cup

French Beans - 1/4 cup

Green Peas - 1/4 cup

Mushroom - 1/4 cup

Spring Onions - 1/2 cup

Cabbage - 1/4 cup

Veg Broth - 1 can / Veg Seasoning - 1 cube
Pepper Powder - 1 tsp.
Corn Starch - 2 tblsp.
Salt - to taste

(can also add baby corns/corn/capsicum to the vegetables)

Method :

1. Heat butter. Add all vegetables and stir fry for 2-3 minutes on high flame.
2. Add veg broth/seasoning cube, water (as required), pepper powder, salt and bring it to a boil.
3. Then reduce the heat & add corn starch paste. Keep stiring until the soup turns thick & creamy.

4. Remove from heat after 5 minutes. Serve hot.
(You can add a little hot sauce/soya sauce when having the soup)

Chicken Hot & Sour Soup

2012-02-12T07:30:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Cabbage - 1/2 cup (shredded)

Carrot - 1/2 cup (shredded)

French Beans - 1/4 cup (shredded)

Mushrooms - 1/4 cup (sliced)

Spring Onions - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Celery - 1 tsp. (chopped)
(can also add baby corns/corn to the vegetables)
Chicken Broth - (1 can) / Chicken Seasoning Cube - 1
Soya Sauce - 1 tblsp.
Red Chilli Sauce - 1 tblsp.
Vinegar - 1 tblsp.
Pepper Powder - ½ tsp.
Ajinomoto - ¼ tsp
Chicken - ½ cup (boiled & shredded)
Boiled Shrimps - ¼ cup (optional)
Corn Starch - 3 tblsp.
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan. Add all vegetables and stir fry for 2 minutes on high flame.
2. Add chicken broth/seasoning cube, water (as required), soya sauce, red chilli sauce, vinegar, pepper powder, ajinomoto, salt and chicken/shrimps and bring it to a boil.
3. Then reduce the heat & add corn starch paste. Keep stiring until the soup thickens a bit.
4. Remove from heat after 5 minutes. For garnishing use spring onions.

South Indian Chicken Soup

2012-02-11T05:54:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1/2 lb (bony pieces)
Shallot onions - 5-8 (chopped)
Tomato - 1 (chopped or mashed up with hands)
Green Chilly - 1
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chicken Masala - 1/2 tsp
Cilantro - 3 springs (chopped)

For tempering:

Oil - 2 tblsp
Peppercorns - 1 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Red chilly - 1
Garlic pods - 5 or 6
Curry Leaves - 5 leaves

Method:

1. In a pressure cooker add the bony chicken pieces, onion, green chilly and tomato.
2. Add about 5-6 cups of water, salt and turmeric powder.
3. Pressure cook for 7-8 whistles. We want the bones to break down and release all its essence.
4. In the meantime, coarsely grind the ingredients under 'For Tempering' using the pulse mode. You can also use a motar and pestle to crush the ingredients.
5. Heat oil in a small pan, add the coarsely ground masala and fry for a minute.
6. After the pressure goes down, open the cooker and turn on the heat.
7. Add the tempering, chicken masala and chopped cilantro to the rasam.
8. Bring it to a boil and switch off. Serve it piping hot.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

2012-02-10T05:50:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Mushrooms - 1.5 cup (very finely chopped)
Onion - 1 (very finely chopped)
Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
Oregano - 1/4 tsp
Milk - 1 cup
Heavy Cream/ Fresh Cream - 2 tblsp (optional)
Maida (All Purpose Flour) - 1 tblsp
Chicken/ Mushroom/ Vegetable Stock - 3 cups
Olive Oil/ Butter - 2 tblsp

Method:

1. Chop the onion and mushrooms very finely. You can also use a food processor or the pulse mode in mixie.
2. Melt the butter in a pan. Add the onions and mushroom and saute it till it is soft and cooked.
3. Add the flour (maida) and fry for a minute to get rid of its raw smell.
4. Add the milk, chicken stock, pepper powder and salt.
5. After it comes to a boil, reduce the flame and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. The soup will get thickened by now.
6. Add the oregano and cream. Mix and switch off.
( You can use italian seasoning instead of oregano. Health consious people can skip the cream.)
7. Garnish with parsley/cilantro leaf or some green onions or some grated cheese or some croutons. 8. Serve hot with some toasted bread. Its a easy to make, filling and satisfying meal for a cold or rainy day.

Capsicum Soup

2012-02-09T05:46:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Capsicum - 1 (red or green)
Onion - 1 small or 1/2 medium
Garlic - 2 cloves
Tomato - 1/2

Green Chillies - 2
Cilantro - handful
Chicken/ Veg Stock - 2 cups
Ground Pepper - as needed
Roasted Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - as needed
Olive Oil - 2 tsp
Cream - 1/2 cup (optional)

Method:

1. Heat Oil in a pan, saute the garlic and onion for a minute.
2. Add the capsicum (bell pepper), tomato, green chillies and Cilantro and cook till the capsicum becomes soft. Switch off.
3. Puree the mixture using a hand blender or a mixie. Strain the pureed mixture to remove the seeds and skin. (Some people like to continue without straining but the texture will be different. This step is a must to get a smooth and creamy soup.)
4. Add this strained soup back to the pot and add the chicken/ vegetable stock to it. Switch on the stove.
5. Add required salt, cumin powder and required pepper powder. Bring the soup to a boil.
6. Add the cream to the soup to thicken it. Alternatively, mix little corn flour with some water and add to the soup while boiling.
7. Simmer for another 5 -10 minutes and switch off.
7. Garnish with heavy cream, crutons, toasted bread piece, fresh herbs etc according to your taste and imagination. Serve hot.

Chicken Manchow Soup

2012-02-08T05:43:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Chicken (boiled & shredded) - 1/2 cup

Carrot (chopped) - 1/2 cup (chopped)
French Beans - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Capsicum - 1/4 cup (chopped)
Green Peas - 1/4 cup (chopped)
Mushroom - 1/4 cup (sliced)
Spring Onions - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Cabbage - 1/2 cup (shredded)
Celery - 1 tsp
Ajinomoto - 1/4 tsp
Ginger - 1 tblsp (finely chopped)
Garlic - 1 tblsp (finely chopped)
Green Chillies - 1 tsp (finely chopped)
Chicken Broth - 1 can / Chicken Seasoning - 1 cube
Soya Sauce - 2 tblsp
Pepper Powder - 1 tsp.
Corn Starch - 3 tblsp.
Shrimp (boiled) - 1/4 cup (optional)
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil. Fry chillies, celery, garlic & ginger for 2 minutes on high flame.
2. Add all vegetables and stir fry for another 2 minutes on high flame.
3. Add chicken broth/seasoning cube, water (as required), soya sauce, pepper powder, ajinomoto, salt and chicken/shrimps and bring it to a boil.
4. Then reduce the heat & add corn starch paste. Keep stiring until the soup thickens a bit.
5. Remove from heat after 5 minutes.Serve hot with fried noodles. For garnishing use spring onions.

Oats Soup

2012-02-07T05:40:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Oats - 1 cup
Onion - 1/2 (finely chopped)
Green Chilly - 1 (finely chopped)
Garlic - 1 clove (minced)
Salt - to taste
Pepper powder - a pinch
Water- 1 cup
Milk - 1 cup
Oil - 2 tsp
Cilantro - for garnish

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and saute the onions, green chilly and garlic till they begin to sweat.
2. Now add the oats and fry along with it for 2 minutes.
3. Add salt and water and let it come to a boil.
4. Now add the milk and pepper powder to it and bring to a boil.
5. Garnish the rich and creamy oats soup with cilantro or green onions. Serve piping hot with a slice of bread.

Baby corn soup

2012-02-06T02:19:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

5-6 pieces of baby corn
1 medium size potatoes
2 tsp butter
Salt to taste
Pepper powder
1 cup milk

Method:

Pressure cook the baby corn with a mix of water and milk. Grind it along with boiled potatoes.

Heat butter, add mixture, salt and pepper to it. To make the soup thinner, add milk. Allow it to come to a boil.Serve hot with croutons of your choice

Carrot Soup

2012-02-05T02:13:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

4 medium sized carrot cut into small pieces
1 small tomato
1/2 tsp red chilli sauce
2 tsp cornflour
Salt to taste
Pepper powder
2 tsp butter

Method:

Cook the carrot and tomato till tender. Cool and grind it to a fine paste.

Heat butter, add the carrot tomato paste into it. Add required water, salt, pepper, red chilli sauce and cook for a minute. Add cornflour paste and cook for another minute till slightly thick.

Beetroot Soup

2012-02-04T02:11:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

1 medium beetroot (grated)
2 small carrots (grated)
Salt to taste
2 tsp tomato ketchup
Pepper powder

Method:

Pressure cook the beets and carrots with less water. Cool and grind to a fine paste.

Heat it with some water, salt, pepper powder and tomato ketchup till it starts boiling.

Serve hot with toasted bread slices.

Palak Soup

2012-02-03T02:02:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

1 medium bunch spinach leaves
2 tsp butter
2 cloves
2 cardamoms
1/2 tsp ginger paste
A bit of cinnamon
1 tsp cumin seeds
Salt as per taste
Pepper powder
2 tsp corn flour

Method:

Sprinkle some water over spinach and cook for five minutes. Cool and grind it to a fine paste.

Heat butter and add cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom and some water. Allow it to boil for five minutes and then strain the water. Mix this water, palak paste and cornflour paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper as per taste and serve hot with toasted bread pieces.

Healthy Palak soup ready to serve

Tomato Soup

2012-02-02T01:59:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

2 medium sized tomatoes
2 tbsp butter
1 piece of cinnamon
2 cloves
Pepper powder
Salt to taste
1 tsp soya sauce
2 tsp cornflour

Method:

Heat butter, add cinnamon and cloves. Then add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft. Cool and grind to fine paste removing cinnamon and cloves before grinding.

Heat the paste with about 1 1/2 cups of water and add salt, pepper powder, soya sauce and finally add cornflour paste (mix cornflour with little water).

Heat for five to ten minutes. Add fried bread pieces just before serving.

Hot and tasty tomato soup ready ...

Sweet Corn Vegetable Soup

2012-02-01T23:40:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

1 cup corn
3 cups water
1 tbsp Corn flour
Salt to taste
Bit of Sugar (optional)

Boiled peas and small pieces of carrot, coriander leaves (optional)
1/2 tsp Soya sauce
1/2 tsp chilli sauce

Method:

Cook the corn and keep some seperately. Grind the remaining corn with little peas.

In a pan, add water, grinded corn and corn flour and mix well on low flame.

Add the remaining ingredients and when the soup becomes thick. Now add the boiled peas, small pieces of carrot and the corn kept seperately. Garnish with very few coriander leaves and serve.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE RECIPE

2012-01-12T23:31:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

For the Base:

2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (crushed) ¼ cup Butter (melted) 1 tsp Vanilla Extract ½ tsp Cinnamon Powder (Dalchini) 3 tbsp Cocoa Nonstick Spray

For the Cheesecake Layer:

950 g Cream Cheese 1 cup Sugar 1 tsp Vanilla ½ cup Sour Cream 4 Eggs 1½ cups mini Chocolate Chips

Method:

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

	Take graham crackers, along with butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cocoa in a bowl and mix well.
	Spray nonstick spray in a springform pan and put in graham cracker crumb mixture. Press the mixture to make a base.
	Beat cream cheese with an electric beater in a large bowl, until creamy.
	Stir in sugar, vanilla extract and sour cream. Blend.
	Mix in eggs one by one. Beat after each addition.
	Add chocolate chips and mix well.
	Transfer the mixture to the pan.
	Bake in the preheated oven at 300°F for 75 minnutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

2012-01-11T21:46:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

¾ cup White Sugar 1/3 cup All Purpose Flour 2 cups Milk 30 gm unsweetened Chocolate (chopped) Additional little Chocolate (grated) 3 Egg Yolks 2 tbsp Butter 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 19” Pie Shell (baked)

Method:

Take sugar with flour, milk, and chocolate in a saucepan and stir it continuously on medium flame until its bubbling. Then cook it stirring constantly for 2 min.

	Put egg yolks with little chocolate mixture in a bowl and beat quickly to ignore the egg yolks from getting cooked.
	Add it to the remaining chocolate mixture and cook it for 90 sec. Then take it from heat and mix in butter with vanilla extract.
	Fill the pie shell with the mixture and refrigerate until it is well set.
	Add on grated chocolate and serve it.

Fruit pizza recipe

2012-01-10T21:29:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

1 (18 oz) Sugar Cookie Dough (package refrigerated) 1 (8 oz) package Cream Cheese (softened) 1/3 cup Sugar ½ tsp Vanilla Extract 4 cups fresh Fruits (sliced) ¼ cup Orange Marmalade 1 tbsp Orange Juice

Method:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

	Slice the dough into 1/8-inch slices; line a (14-inch) pizza pan with slices and press to shape into a crust.
	Bake for 12 minutes until light brown. Let cool.
	Mix together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and spread over cookie crust. Arrange fruits over cream cheese mixture.
	Mix orange marmalade with orange juice and drizzle over fruits. Chill for 1 hour. Serve cool.

Corn Rolls

2012-01-09T21:11:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

2 cup boiled Corn Seeds ½ cup All-Purpose Flour 4 Green Chilies 3 tbsp Coriander Leaves (chopped) Salt and Pepper (to taste) ½ tsp Sugar 1 tbsp Lemon Juice 1/3 tsp Baking Soda Bread Crumbs (to coat) Ghee or Oil (for frying)

For Batter:

¼ cup Rice Flour ¼ Gram Flour ¼ tsp Baking Soda

Salt (to taste)

2 cups Water

Method:

Combine all the batter ingredients to obtain a thin batter. Keep aside.


	Grind corn seeds with green chilies, until smooth, adding little water.
	Transfer into a bowl and add flour, coriander leaves, baking soda, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.
	Add some water and mix to make smooth dough.
	Divide into balls and shape into cylinders.
	Dip each roll into the batter and then roll into bread crumbs.
	Heat oil/ghee in a frying pan.
	Fry the corn rolls, until golden brown on all sides.
	Remove and transfer on tissue paper to absorb excess oil.
	Serve hot with your favorite sauce.

Aloo Bonda

2012-01-08T19:20:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

1/2 kg boiled potatoes
1/2 tsp lemon syrup
2 tsp oil for cooking and more to fry
1 cup bengalgram flour (besan)
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
Few curry leaves
Green chillies as per taste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Finely chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 tbsp rice flour
Salt as per taste
Bit of asafoetida

Method:

Heat oil, add mustard. When it splutters, add green chillies, turmeric, curry leaves and boiled mashed potatoes. Add salt and cook for 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and finely chopped coriander leaves. Make balls of these.

Make a thick batter of bengalgram flour, rice flour, salt, asafoetida and red chilli powder. Heat oil, dip the potato balls in the batter and deep fry till golden brown all over.

BANANA BALLS

2012-01-07T15:51:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

½ kg fully ripe Bananas ½ cup Coconut 4 tbsp Sugar ½ tsp Cardamom Powder Few Cashew Nuts Few Raisins 4 tbsp Maida Corn Oil (for frying) 2 tbsp Ghee

Method:

	Place bananas in a pan and steam them. Remove and slice into round pieces.
	Heat ghee in a pan and add bananas, sugar, cardamom powder, coconut, cashew nuts, and raisins. Mix well and cook covered on low flame for 3 minutes.
	Remove from heat and mash the mixture finely.
	Shape into small round balls.
	Mix maida with little water in a bowl to make a smooth thin paste.
	Dip the banana balls into the maida mix.
	Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the balls until golden on all sides.
	Serve hot.

French Fries

2012-01-06T15:41:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

Potatoes
Salt to taste
2 tsp rice flour
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
Oil to fry

Method:

Cut potatoes into long slices and soak in cold water for 1/2 hr. Drain out the water and wipe the potato slices with a clean cloth. Mix all other ingredients except oil.

Deep fry the potato pieces in hot oil till golden brown.

Serve with sauce or chat masala.

Samosa

2012-01-05T02:11:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

For the dough-

1 cup Maida
Salt to taste
3 tsp oil
1/2 tsp thymol seeds

For the filling-

4 big boiled potatoes
1/2 cup boiled peas
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp chat masala powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds powder
1/2 tsp coriander seeds powder
Salt to taste
Few cashews
1/4 tsp lime juice
Finely chopped coriander leaves
1/2 tsp ginger paste
1/2 tsp cumin seeds

Method:

Add salt, thymol seeds and oil to the maida and mix well. Add very little water to get a stiff dough and keep it covered for 15 to 20 minutes.

Heat oil, add cumin seeds, dry masala powders, cashews, ginger paste, salt, potatoes and peas. Mix well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add finely chopped coriander leaves and lime juice.

Roll out the dough into medium sized chapatis and cut it into half. Apply little water on the sides and fold it into cone shape. Fill in the potato peas mixture and close the other ends as well. Ensure that it is closed well on all sides, else the filling will come out. Repeat for the rest of the dough.

Heat oil on a low flame and fry these samosas. When cooked on a low flame, the samosa get cooked well and also crispy.

Serve with green chutney or sweet chutney or tomato sauce.

Spring Roll

2012-01-04T21:26:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

1 cup steamed grated cabbage, carrot, capsicum, onions (optional)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp red chilli sauce
A bit of ajinomoto(optional)
Salt to taste
Soya Sauce
Maida
Oil to fry

Method:

Make a soft dough of maida, 2 tsp oil,salt and little water. Keep covered for 1/2 hr.

Squeeze out all the water from the vegetables and add pepper, red chilli sauce, salt, ajinomoto and soya sauce to it. Mix well.

Make small balls of the maida mixture and roll out into thin chapatis. Keep the filling in between and roll it completely using little water to close the edges so that the filling doesn't come out.

Deep fry them in hot oil till golden brown. Cut into small pieces and serve with sauce.

Bread manchurian

2012-01-03T21:20:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

2-3 bread slices
4 tbsp all purpose flour (maida)
4 tbsp corn flour
4 tbsp gram flour
Salt to taste
1 tsp red chilli paste
1 tsp soya sauce
1/2 tsp green chilli sauce
1 onion cut lengthwise
1 capsicum cut lengthwise
Oil to fry
Finely chopped coriander leaves

Method:

Make a thick batter of cornflour, all purpose flour, gram flour, 1/2 tsp red chilli sauce and a bit of salt. Cut the bread into small pieces, dip in the batter and fry them in hot oil till golden brown. Drain out the excess oil using a tissue paper.

Heat 1 tsp oil, add onions and fry them for a minute. Add capsicum and fry it as well for another minute. Add soya sauce, red chilli sauce,green chilli sauce and a pinch of salt. Add the fried bread pieces and mix well to coat it with the sauce.

Garnish with coriander leaves and serve immediately.

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Raw banana chips

2012-01-02T21:06:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

2 Raw bananas
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
Oil to fry

Method:

Peel the skin of the raw bananas and using the slicer for chips, slice the bananas directly into hot oil.

Add a little water to the salt and just before the raw bananas turn brown in colour, add a drop of the salted water to the oil. Once the sound settles down, transfer to a kitchen napkin and drain excess oil.

Add black pepper powder and mix well. Tasty banana chips ready

Pav Bhaji

2012-01-01T03:10:00.002-08:00

Ingredients:

A packet of pav
1/4 kg boiled potatoes
2 tsp tomato puree
1/2 capsicum
2 tsp oil
3 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp pav bhaji masala powder
Salt to taste
Finely chopped coriander leaves to garnish
Butter to toast the pav

Method:

Heat oil, add cumin seeds. (I have not used onions, if you would like to - you should add it at this stage and saute till it turns pinkish in colour). Add the tomato paste, ginger paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, pav bhaji masala powder, salt and 1/4 cup water. Allow it to cook for five minutes.

Add finely chopped capsicum and mashed potatoes. Cook for two minutes, add butter and cook for another three minutes. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

Toast the pav on both sides using butter as per taste.

Serve pav and bhaji with a piece of lemon and finely chopped onions (optional).