Chicken Makhan Malai - My 200th post

This is my 200th post and i wanted a special dish to commemorate this milestone. Was thinking of posting an authentic oriya curry/sweet for this post. But later decided to create a new recipe. This dish is my original creation and must say it turned out to be a delight. Named it as Chicken Makhan Malai not becoz its laden with these two fattening ingredients but coz of its melt-in-the-mouth kinda texture !!!!!

Cooking Time Required: 50 mins
Cost of Preparation: 100-120 Rupees

Ingredients:

For the tandoori chicken : medium sized chicken pieces (500 gm), salt, turmeric ( 1/5 tsp) , ginger garlic paste( 1 tsp ), curd ( 1 tbs ), tandoori masala ( 1/2 tsp).

For the gravy: Onion ( 1 large), tomato ( 1 1/ medium sized ), garlic cloves ( 6-7 nos ), ginger garlic ( 1 tsp ), coriander seeds ( 1 tsp ), cinnamon ( 1/2 inch ), cardamon ( 1 no ), kasuri methi ( 1/2 tsp ), oil.

During cooking: turmeric, kashmiri lal mirch ( 2/3 tsp ), garam masala ( 1/4 tsp ),
roasted cumin powder ( 1/3 tsp), butter ( 2 tsp ), cream ( 2 tsp ), capsicum ( 1
medium ), coriander leaves.

Preparation: Marinate the chicken pieces with salt, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste and curd for 2-3 hours. Add the tandoori masala and rub it all over the chicken pieces along with a little oil.

Skewer the chicken pieces and put inside a pre-heated oven. Bake for 20 mins at 200
degrees. Keep turning at intervals. Remove from oven and keep aside.
















Cooking: Heat 3 tsp oil in a wok. Add the chopped onion, tomato, garlic cloves,
coriander seeds, cloves, cinnamon and cardamon. Stir fry till onions turn translucent. Add the kasuri methi and a little salt at this stage .
















Remove from wok and transfer to a mixer jar. Grind into a smooth paste and keep aside.

Heat 1 oil in a wok. Add the turmeric powder followed by onion-tomato paste and stir
fry for 2 mins. Add ginger garlic paste and fry the masala for 5-6 mins.

Add the roasted chicken pieces along with Kashmiri lal mirch powder and cumin powder. Mix well and stir fry for 3-4 mins.

Add 2 1/2 cups water along with salt and bring to a boil. Cover with lid and allow to simmer for 10-15 mins. Add the garam masala, cream and butter along with the capsicum pieces.

Mix well. Cover with lid and cook for 4-5 mins on a low flame.
Remove from fire and garnish with coriander leaves.


Serve hot with Basmati rice/tandoori rotis/rumali rotis.

Spicy Coconut Rice

Cooking Time Required: 10 mins
Cost of Preparation: 20-25 rupees

Ingredients: Cooked Rice (1 1/2 cup), channa dal ( 2 tbs ), fresh coconut pieces ( 1/3 cup ), green chilli ( 1-2 nos ), jeera/cumin powder (2 pinch), coriander powder ( 2 pinch), red chilli powder ( 2 pinch ), pancha phutana ( 1/5 tso), curry leaves ( 1 sprig), salt, oil ( 1 tsp ).

Preparation: Grind the coconut into a fine powder without adding any water and keep
aside.

Cooking: Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan. Add the green chillis, pancha phutana, curry
leaves and saute for 30 secs. Add the channa dal and stir fry for 1-2 mins till it
starts turning reddish/brown.

Add the cooked rice and coconut and sprinkle salt, chilli powder, jeera powder &
coriander powder. Stir fry for 3-4 mins on a low flame.

Eat it hot or pack in a lunch box.

Note: This is one quick and easy to make breakfast/lunch box recipe. Usually i make it a bit more spicy if i have to pack it for lunch.

Instant Sabudana Kheeri

Cooking time required: 5-8 mins
Cost of preparation: 15-20 rupees

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Sabudana/Sagu
• 1 1/2 milk 
• 3 tsp raisins
• 2 tsp cashews 
• 3-4 tsp sugar 
• 1/2 tsp ghee 

Preparation: Soak the sabudana for 2-3 hours.

Cooking: Heat the ghee in a saucepan. Add 1 tsp sugar and allow it to turn brown.

Next add the raisins & cashews. Stir fry till the raisins swell.

Add the milk and soaked sabuadana.

Boil for 5-6 mins while stirring at short intervals as it tends to stick to the bottom of the pan.

Serve hot.

Note: One can also add a little cardamon/saffron for the flavouring.

Sending this recipe to :

Food Blog News

Tomato n Garlic Noodles

Cooking time required: 10-15 mins
Cost of preparation: 15-20 rupees

Ingredients: Maggie Noodles ( 1 packet, Masala/Tomato flavour ), ripe tomatoes ( 2 nos, large ), red chilli powder (1/2 tsp), garlic flakes ( 7-8 nos), onion powder (optional, 1/6 tsp), pepper powder ( 1/5 tsp), oil ( 2 tsp), butter ( 1 tsp ), salt to taste.

Preparation: Cut the tomatoes into small pieces.

Cooking: Heat the oil in a saucepan or any deep vessel.

Add the tomato pieces and sprinkle some salt. Stir fry till it softens. Crush the tomato pieces in the saucepan itself.

Add 3 1/2 cup water. Add the red chilli powder, pepper powder, onion powder and crushed garlic flakes . Bring to a boil.

Add the broken maggie noodles and the seasoning. Boil for 5 mins and add more salt if required.

Pour into soup bowls ( makes 3 ). Sprinkle a little pepper powder and add a little
butter on top.

Comforting soup is ready.

Note: One can add also finely cut onion pieces instead of onion powder. Add it before the tomato pieces and fry till translucent.

Kora Amba Achara ( Grated Mango chutney )

Cooking time required: 15-20 mins
Cost of preparation: 15-20 rupees

Ingredients: Raw Mango ( use ones that have just started ripening, 2 large ones), red chilli powder (1/2 tsp), turmeric powder ( a pinch), roasted cumin powder (1/4 tsp), pepper/cinnamon powder ( 1/5 tsp), oil ( 2 tsp), jaggery ( 4-5 tbs or according to taste), salt to taste.

Preparation: Wash and peel the mangoes. Grate them and keep aside.

Cooking: Heat 2 tsp oil in a wok. Add the turmeric, chilli powder, grated mangoes and jaggery. If the jaggery is in the forms of lumps ( not powdered ), it will melt with the heat.

The grated mango will leave a lot of water. Allow all the water to evaporate.

Sprinkle the salt, roasted cumin powder and pepper/cinnamon powder . Fry for 3-4
minutes and remove from the pan. Do not make it too fry.

Allow to cool down, then store in a air-tight container and keep in the fridge. It will stay fresh for 4-5 weeks.

Chinguri Cutlet (Prawn fritters)

Cooking Time Required: 10-15 mins
Cost of preparation: 70-80 rupees

Ingredients: large sized prawns ( 8 nos no.), cornflour (3 tsp), besan ( 2 tsp), bread crumbs ( 1 tsp ), cumin powder ( 1/6 tsp ), coriander powder ( 1/6 tsp), oil ( 4 tsp), turmeric ( 2 pinch), chilli powder ( 2 pinch ), lemon juice ( 6-7 drops ), ginger garlic paste ( 1/4 tsp), salt.

Sufficient bread-crumbs for rolling the prawns.

Preparation: Wash and clean the prawns. Make a deep cut through the back(outer side) of the prawns. Open out the prawns and beat then lightly to make a thin layer.

Add salt, turmeric, ginger garlic paste and lemon juice to the flattened prawns. Mix
well and marinate for 30 mins.

Cooking: Heat oil in a pan.

Make a thick paste out of the cornflour, besan, bread crumbs, cumin powder, coriander powder, chilli powder and salt by adding a little amount of water.

Dip each prawn in this paste and roll it over the bread crumbs.

Add to the frying pan. Repeat for each prawn. Cook on both sides till it turns to a brownish color.

Serve hot as a starter.

Idli with coconut-lentil chutney (Oriya Preparation)

Cooking Time Required: 20-25 mins
Cost of preparation: 30-35 rupees

Ingredients:

For Idli: Urad dal ( de-husked, 1 cup ), rice rawa ( 3 cups ).

For Chutney: Coconut pieces( 1 cup ), channa dal( 1/2 cup ), red chilli ( 3 nos ), green chilli ( 2 nos ), curry leaves ( 3-4 sprigs), asafoetida ( 2 pinches ), cumin seeds ( 1/5 tsp), coriander seeds ( 1/5 tsp), tamarind ball ( a tiny one or according to taste), oil ( 3 tsp ), salt to taste.

Preparation: Wash and soak the urad dal for 5 hours. Grind into a smooth paste.

Soak the rawa for about 1-2 hours. Wash and drain completely. Add to the urad dal paste along with salt and keep aside for 3-4 hours. Do not let it become sour.

Cooking: Heat a pan. Add 2 tsp oil followed with the green chilli, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, 2 sprigs curry leaves and green chilli. Add the coconut pieces and channa dal.
















Fry for 5 mins. Transfer to a mixer-grinder and add some water, salt and the tamarind. Grind into a little coarse paste. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

Heat the remaining oil in a pan. Add the broken red chillis, 1 tbs channa dal and curry leaves. At the asafoetida at last and pour the tempering over the contents of mixing bowl.

Delicious chutney is ready.

Bring water to a boil in the idli maker.

Grease the idli plates with a little oil. Pour a the batter into the holes. Put the idli plates inside the idli stand and steam for 12-15 minutes.

Remove the idlis from the idli plates using a spoon or a knife.

Serve the hot idlis with the chutney.


Note: I have reduced the fermentation time to 3-4 hours as the idlis in Orissa are generally made from fresh batter. They do not have the distinct ( not sure if i can call it a little sour ) taste which is found down South.

If one prefers the fluffy idlis from the South, then leave the batter overnight to ferment. Also add abt 1/3 tsp of fenugreek seeds while grinding the urad dal.

Check out the idlis made from the same batter after fermenting for 10 hours:

Piaji Tarkari ( Dal Vade ki subzi )

Cooking Time Required: 30-35 mins
Cost of preparation: 35-45 rupees

Ingredients: Piaji ( 8-10 nos), potato ( 1 large ), onion ( 1 medium ), tomato ( 1 large ), garlic flakes ( 3-4 nos ), ginger-garlic paste ( 1 tsp ), cumin seeds ( 1/2 tsp), coriander seeds ( 1 1/2 tsp), chilli powder ( 1/2 tsp), dry red chillis ( 3-4 nos), cardamon ( 2 nos ), bay leaves ( 1-2 nos), cloves ( 2 nos ), cinnamon ( 1 inch long ), fennel seeds ( 1/2 tsp), garam masala ( 2 pinches ), turmeric, salt, oil ( 6-7 tsp ).

Prepartion: Chop the potato into large chunks.

Dry roast the cumin seeds , coriander seeds, 2 whole red chillis, cardamon, cinnamon, and cloves.

Grind the all the whole spices without adding any water . Then add the chopped onion, tomato and garlic flakes along with water and grind into a smooth paste.

Cooking: Heat the oil in a wok. Add the potato pieces along with a pinch of turmeric. Fry for 5 mins, remove from wok and keep aside.

Add the red chillis and bay leaves followed by the ground onion-tomato-masala paste and turmeric, and stir fry for 4-5 mins. The add the ginger garlic paste. Fry till the raw smell goes off ( abt 5 mins). Add the red chilli powder and fried potatoes and stir fry for 2 mins.

Add 3 cups of water along with a little amount of salt. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 2-3 mins.

Add the piaji and simmer for another 8-10 mins or till the piaji softens. Do not stir vigourously so the piaji might break.

Serve with rice/roti.

Note: Refer to my earlier post for preparing the piaji :

Piaji ( Split Gram fritters )

Janhi Posta ( Ridge gourd cooked with poppy paste )

Cost of Preparation: 30-35 Rupees
Preparation Time: 10-15 mins

Ingredients: Ridge gourd ( cut into large chunks, 1 1/2 cups ), potato ( cut into thin slices, 1/3 cup ), onion ( 1 small ), red chillis ( 2 nos ), garlic cloves ( 1-2 nos ), poppy seeds ( 1 tsp ), coriander seeds ( 1/5 tsp ), fennel seeds ( 1/5 tsp ), turmeric ( 1 pinch ), oil ( 2-3 tsp), cumin seeds ( a pinch ), salt.

Preparation: Grind the poppy seeds without water to crush them. Add the garlic cloves along with a little water and grind for 5 secs to get into a coarse paste.

Cooking: Heat a pan. Add 1 tsp oil followed by the ridge gourd & potato pieces. Sprinkle some turmeric and stir for 4-5 mins. Remove from pan and keep aside.

Add the remaining oil to the pan. Add the coriander, fennel and cumin seeds along with the broken red chillis. Stir for 30-40 secs.

Add the chopped onion and cook till it turns translucent. Add the poppy seeds paste.
Cook for 2-3 mins. Add the fried ridge gourd and potato pieces along with 1/2 cup water and salt.

Bring to a boil and allow to simmer till all the water evaporates. Remove from pan and serve with white rice .

Note: The sweet taste of ridge gourd and potatoes is enhanced by the use of fennel, coriander & poppy seeds. Tastes heavenly when served with a spicy curry as it offsets the spiciness.

My Blog Turns 1 Today !!!!!

Its' been one whole year since i started this blog. My first post was published on 23rd June 2010. And ever since i have been been showered with lots of love and affection.

I take this opportunity to thanks everyone who has been visiting my blog and encouraging me with their comments. A special Thanks to Ushnish for posting the first comment on my blog.

I would have liked to mention each one of you but the list is getting endless. Also apologize for not be able to post any new recipes today as i am a little short of time.

Please do visit some of my most popular recipes till date if you have the time:

Dalma - dal cooked with vegetables

Chicken curry - oriya preparation

Mansa Kasa (Mutton kasa)

Gupchup - orissa style 'Pani-puri';

Maccha Patua ( Fish cooked in a mustard-garlic paste )

Poee Chenccheda

Badi-Palanga saaga

Gota Bhendi Bhaja ( Stuffed Okra )

Cost of Preparation: 30-35 Rupees
Preparation Time: 10-15 mins

Ingredients: Ladiesfinger/Okra/bhendi ( 8-10 nos ), green chillis ( 2 nos ), garlic
cloves ( 4-5 nos ), mustard seeds ( 1 tsp ), poppy (posta seeds, 1 tsp ), roasted cumin powder ( 1/5 tsp ), turmeric ( 1 pinch ), mustard oil ( 2-3 tsp), dry red chilli ( 2 nos ), salt.

Preparation: Wash the ladies finger and make slits along its length. Cut the green
chillis into small pieces.

Grind the mustard & poppy seeds, and garlic cloves into a smooth paste.

Cooking: Heat a pan. Add 1/2 tsp oil followed by the green chillis and turmeric. Stir for 30 seconds followed by the mustard-poppy-garlic paste and cumin powder.

Cook for 2-3 mins. Remove from pan and keep aside to cool down a bit.

Stuff the paste into the slit ladiesfinger. Keep aside for 10-15 mins.

Heat 1 1/2 oil in a pan. Add the red chillis followed by the ladiesfinger and stir fry for 8-10 mins.

Serve with white rice and dal.

Note: Usually the ladies finger is stuffed with a mustard-garlic paste, which can be a bit too spicy if one is not used to mustard paste. Hence i have added the poppy to reduce the spiciness.