Yogurt Eggplant

This is something I tried for the first time... It's a great side dish...:)

ALL YOU NEED:

1 Eggplant
2 cups curd (plain yogurt)
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp fennel poder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
2 pinches of turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2-3 tsp olive oil

METHOD:

Cut the eggplant into round shape...

In a flat/ grill pan heat 2 tsp oil and cook the eggplant..

It should look something like this once done...

Keep them aside and in a bowl add curd (plain yogurt), ginger powder, fennel powder and mix it well...

In another pan heat oil and add red chili powder and few drops of water as soon as possible (for the color)

Add the yogurt and boil it...

Once it starts to boil add salt...

Now add the cooked/ grilled eggplant & turmeric powder...

Boil it and cook for another few mins (10-15 min) and it's ready to be served..:D

Serve with Dal and roti/rice...:D

SERVES:4

Tandoori Roti...

All You Need:

2 cups wheat flour (Aata)

1 packet Active dry yeast

1 tsp honey

2 pinches of salt

2 tsp plain yogurt (curd)

3-4 tsp olive oil

METHOD:

In a bowl take 1 cup warm water and add the yeast packet mix it with a fork...

Add honey...

Wait for 10-15 min...This mixture will start getting frothy...

In a big mixing bowl add flour and make a well in the center (it's easier for me that way)

Add the salt to the flour and then add yogurt, olive oil...

Now if mix the yeast mixture to this flour...

Kneed it until it becomes a soft dough...

Cover it with a wet cloth/tissue...and keep it aside in a warm place for an hour or more....

After few hours remove the cloth and you'll see the dough has doubled in it's volume... 

Poke it with your fingers and it'll come to it's original shape...

Preheat the oven to Broil...
Take a small portion of this dough and roll it in whatever shape you like with the help of a littledry flour...

I place 2 Roti's at a time in the oven for 30-40 seconds each side or until golden brown from each side...

It means you would have to check the roti's frequently else they'll burn... 

Put melted butter on the top and enjoy it with anything you want...:D

You can also add garlic pieces to the melted butter...

Sun Dried Pesto Chicken

All You Need:

2 Chicken Breast cut into 2 inch bog pieces
1 chopped onion
1 tsp Pesto paste
1 tsp sun dried tomato paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
2 green chilies chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp oil

METHOD:

With 2 tsp of oil add cumin seeds, when it gets hazy add onions, cook until brown...:)

Add the chicken pieces...

Cook them well...

Add the Pesto and sun dried pesto paste...

Add Garlic and ginger with green chilies...

Cook for another 5-7 min and tadddaaaaa.... ready to be served..:D

Garnish it with Cilantro leaves...:D

Pretty Simple and really quick...:D 

Gulab Jamun

These are my favorite specially the one's my Mom used to make...

All You Need:

1 1/2  cup water
2 cups Sugar
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup khoya/ 1 cup instant dry milk powder (if khoya is not available)
1/2 tsp or less baking powder
frying oil

Method:

Combine sugar, cinnamon and water in a pot and let it boil on a low flame until the sugar is completely dissolved and let it form a syrup (it'll take a while so let it boil on low flame till then)

In a bowl/ plate take all purpose flour and khoya/milk powder and kneed it to form a dough with milk (you can also use water but milk gives a better taste)

Once the dough is made form very tiny balls out of that dough...
(Make sure these circles are tiny coz they will enlarge when you'll add them to the syrup)

In a kadhai / pan add oil for frying and heat it.. Then add these circles to it...
Turn the heat to low so that these Gulab jamuns are well cooked from the inside as well...

Once they start turning golden brown after a while turn the heat to medium high and take them out on a tissue (Make sure you take the gulab jamuns at medium high heat else they'll soak loads of oil inside it)

Now add them to the hot syrup we made for atleast 2 hours (for the best taste soak them overnight or for 4-5 hrs) 

Warm them up a little before serving...

Chicken Parmesan with Tomato Basil Sauce

All You Need:

For the Sauce:

3 minced cloves of Garlic
1/2 tsp Roasted cumin powder (optional)
1 Bay leaf
1 onion chopped
2 cups tomato puree
1 cup water
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 tsp Basil or freshly chopped Basil leaves

For the Chicken:

2 Chicken Breasts
Salt & Pepper to taste
Red chili powder (optional)
3 eggs
2 tsp milk
Bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Fresh Cilantro leaves for garnishing

METHOD:

For The Sauce:

In a pan add 2 tsp olive oil when oil gets hazy add garlic, bay leaf and roasted cumin powder (optional). Saute Onions until soft...

Add tomato puree and water to it and season it with salt, pepper, basil, sugar italian herbs (optional)...

Let it boil on medium heat until the liquid is thickened and keep it on low heat & warm...

For The Chicken:

Wash the chicken really well and cut it horizontally (making 2 of 1 chicken breast) 

Cut the chicken to make 4 pieces of these 2 slices..:D

So you'll have 8 small chicken pieces hammer them to flatten them... and then season them with Salt, Pepper and red chili powder (optional)

Mix it and keep it aside...

In another bowl mix eggs and milk...

In another bowl take the bread crumbs...

In a pan heat 2-3 tsp oil. Taking 1 piece at a time dip the chicken in the egg mixture, both sides..

Now, dip this chicken piece into the bread crumbs both sides...

Place it in the pan...

Do the same for all the other pieces and cook them for 4 mins each side (don't bother to cook them totally coz we'll bake them in a while)

Oil the baking dish and spread some tomato sauce...

Place the chicken...

Now pour the tomato sauce over the chicken...

Spread Parmesan Cheese..

Cover it with a foil and Bake it for half and hour at 350 degrees fahrenheit...

Take it out uncover it, spread some mozzarella and bake it for 5 min Garnish fresh Cilantro leaves...

Best when had with spaghetti but I loved it with Green salad as well...:D 

Bon Apetite

SERVES:4 or More