Short Break.........

On vacation to Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego, will be back to blogging after vacation.

Adieu and take care everyone.

Cajun Spiced Chicken with Soy Infused Vegetables

Ingredients for Cajun Spiced Chicken

Chicken breasts-3( Clean and make several slits on the chicken).

Olive oil-3tbsp

Lemon Juice-1tbsp

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp( optional)

Salt required

Cajun Spice Blend( Courtesy- 125 best indoor grilled recipes- Ilana simon) 

Paprika-1tbsp

Cayenne Pepper-1tsp

Dried thyme-1tsp

Garlic powder-1tsp

Onion powder-1tsp

Ground white pepper-1/2tsp

Ground black pepper-1/2tsp

Dried oregano-1/2tsp

Salt-1/2tsp

Method

In a large bowl add the Cajun spice blend ingredients, olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well to smooth paste, add the chicken breasts to the bowl and rub well with the spice paste. Set aside to marinade for 4 hours. Meanwhile preheat oven 400°F, place the chicken breasts on a baking tray in the center of oven rack and cook till the chicken are golden brown and fully cooked.

Ingredients for Soy Infused Vegetables

Cauliflower tiny florets( blanched)-3cups

Green beans cut 1"length( blanched)-2cups

Garlic cloves sliced-2

Light soy sauce-1tbsp

Salt and Pepper to taste

Olive oil-1tbsp

Method

Heat oil in a wok, add sliced garlic and stir fry for few seconds, then add the blanched vegetables, season with light soy sauce, salt and pepper. Toss well for few minutes and set aside.

While serving- Place Cajun spiced chicken above the Soy infused vegetables on a plate.

Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken.

Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken breast-500gms

Celery thickly sliced-200gms

Onion thickly sliced-200gms

Tsang Ginger soy sauce-4tbsp( Or you can use juice of 1" ginger piece mixed with light soy sauce.)

Chili vinegar-1tbsp

Cornflour-3tbsp

Black pepper( coarsely ground)-2tbsp( +/-)

Salt to taste

Oil-4 to 5tbsp

Black Pepper Chicken Recipe

Method

Shred the chicken breast and set aside. Marinade the shredded chicken with 2 tbsp ginger soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp vinegar, 3tbsp cornflour and salt, set aside for 15 mins. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok, when its smoking hot add the marinaded chicken and stir fry until the chicken is cooked, set aside. In the same wok add 2 tbsp oil, when the oil is hot add the sliced onions, sliced celery and stir fry for 2 mins( make sure the onions and celery are crunchier). Next add the stir fried chicken to the onions, season with 2 tbsp ginger soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp chili vinegar, 2 tbsp ground black pepper and required salt. Toss well until the sauce are well coated on chicken. Serve hot with Fried rice or Lo mein of your choice. 

Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

Unsalted butter-250gms

Cream cheese-250gms

Powdered sugar-400gms

Pure vanilla extract-2tsp

Cake Batter Ingredients:

Maida/ All purpose flour-4cups

Unsweetened cocoa powder-2tsp

Baking soda-1 1/2tsp

Sugar-3 1/2cups

Salt-1tsp

Red food color- required

Eggs-3

Vegetable oil-1 3/4cups

Buttermilk-1 1/2cups

Pure vanilla extract-2tsp

Vinegar-1tsp

Method

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place the cupcake cups inside the muffin tray.

Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl beat sugar, oil and buttermilk together with a electric mixer, gradually add eggs, vanilla extract, vinegar, food color and beat well. Next gradually add the sifted flour mixture and beat at low speed or fold it with spatula until well combined( do not over mix). Fill the muffin cups 3/4th with the cake batter. Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cup cakes and place on wire rack until they are cooled. To make cream cheese frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese to a smooth paste with electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth and thick. Place a spoonful of frosting on a cupcake and smooth it to cover the top or add frosting to a piping bag and pipe frosting on cupcake to cover the top.

(Optional: I have decorated with dried Cranberry on top.)

Adapted from Bobby Flay Throwdown.

Tangdi Kabab.

Boneless Chicken pieces-500gms( you can also use Chicken Drumsticks)

Olive oil/ Butter/ Ghee for basting

First marinade ingredients

Ginger and Garlic paste-4tbsp

Red Chili powder-1tbsp( +/-)

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp

Hung curd/ Thick curd-1/4cup

Second marinade ingredients

Roasted Besan flour/ Chickpea flour-1tbsp

Lime juice-2tsp

Olive oil-5tbsp

Onion powder-2tbsp

Garlic powder-2tbsp

Ground black pepper-1/2tsp

Salt to taste

Method

In a medium sized bowl add the first marinade ingredients and mix well, to this marinade add the chicken pieces and marinate for 4 hours( overnight marinade is preferable). Next in another bowl add the second marinade ingredients and mix well until the besan flour is well blended to a smooth paste. Add the marinaded chicken pieces to the second marinade and marinate for another 4 hour( for the second marinade overnight marinade is not required). Preheat oven/ grill to 400°F, thread the marinaded chicken pieces onto wooden skewers. Place the skewers in the center grill rack of your oven. Roast the chicken for 20 mins until cooked and golden brown on all sides( if required you can also brush the chicken pieces with oil/butter).

Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Salad.

Step 1.

Ingredients for Grilled Chicken

( I used McCormick-Garlic Lime Chicken Fajitas recipe.)

Chicken tenderloins-400gms

Lime juice-3tbsp

Olive oil-2tbsp

Salt required

McCormick minced garlic-1tsp

McCormick minced onion-1tsp

McCormick ground cumin-3/4tsp

McCormick oregano leaves-3/4tsp

McCormick cilantro leaves-1/2tsp

McCormick coarse ground black pepper-1/2tsp

Method for preparing Grilled Chicken

In a small bowl mix the above said marinate ingredients along with chicken, In ziplock freezer bag add the chicken along with marination and keep in refrigerator for atleast 4 hours( overnight marination is preferable). Preheat the oven at 400 F and place the chicken strips in the center of rack and cook for 20 mins or until chicken is well done.( This is a basic grilled chicken recipe, you can use these grilled chicken while preparing salad, chicken rolls, fried rice or in noodles.

Step 2.

Ingredients for Caesar Dressing

( Courtesy: Paula Deen's Family cookbook)

Olive oil-1/2cup

Anchovy fillets, rinse and dried-4

Lemon Juice-2tbsp

Garlic cloves-2

Dijon mustard-1tsp

Worcestershire sauce-1/2tsp

Salt-3/4tsp

Pepper to taste

Method for preparing Caesar Dressing

In a blender combine the Caesar dressing ingredients and blend until smooth.

Step 3.

Ingredients for Salad

Broccoli florets-3cups

Pasta-1cup( I used tri-color Rotini)

Grilled chicken( cut into bite size pieces)-2cups

Caesar dressing-1/4cup

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Method for preparing Salad

Cook the pasta in boiling water with salt, when cooked drain them and set aside.

Blanch broccoli florets in boiling water for 3min, when they are 3/4th cooked drain them and add the broccoli florets to ice cold water. Allow them to rest for 5 mins, after 5 mins again drain the florets and set aside.

Next in a large salad bowl add the pasta, broccoli and grilled chicken pieces. Add the prepared caesar dressing and toss everything well, if required season with salt and pepper and serve.

Sourashtrian Special Loula Puri.

This is a popular Sourashtrian snack, we prepare this snack very often and my hubby( being Sourashtrian) enjoys this snack a lot. These Loula puri has crispy outside, soft and spongy inside and sure to melt in mouth

Ingredients

Maida/ All purpose flour-1 1/2cup

Sugar-1/2cup

Cardamom crushed-2

Fried Cashew nuts-15( broken into small pieces)

Baking soda-pinch

Water required

Oil to deep fry

Method

In a medium size bowl add maida, sugar, cardamom, baking soda and required water, mix well to make a smooth and thin batter of pouring consistency. Add fried cashew nuts to the batter. Heat oil in a pan to deep fry, when oil is smoking hot take a tablespoon full of batter and drop into hot oil. Depending on the size of pan you can add about maximum of 3 to 5 puris. Reduce the heat and cook the puris on both sides till golden brown and crisp.

Kozhi Kuzhambu( Simple Chicken Curry.)

Ingredients

Chicken pieces( with bone)-500gms

Onion large chopped-2

Tomato large chopped-1

Curry leaves-3sprigs

Coriander powder-4tbsp

Red chili powder-2tsp( +/-)

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp

Salt to taste

Oil required

For Masala paste( grind the below ingredients to a smooth paste adding little water)

Coconut shredded-1/4cup

Ginger-2"piece

Garlic cloves-10

Cinnamon stick-1"piece

Cardamom-1

Cloves-4

Method

Heat oil in a pressure pan, when oil is hot add the chopped onion and curry leaves. Fry onions until they turn pink, next add the chicken pieces and fry for few more mins until the chicken pieces turn white. Add the tomatoes and cook till they are mashed. Now add the coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, ground masala paste and salt. Fry for 2 mins and add a 2cups water to the chicken mixture, cover pan with a lid and pressure cook for 10 mins until chicken is tender and cooked. After the pressure is released, check the gravy for seasoning, return pan to heat and boil until the gravy thickens to required consistency. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice or Biryani. This Chicken curry is best side dish for Biryani.

Coriander Chicken/ Dhania Kozhi Varuval.

Ingredients

Chicken pieces( with bone)-500gms

Onion large chopped-1

Curry leaves-2 sprigs

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp

Oil-5tbsp( +/-)

Salt to taste

For Masala( grind the below ingredients to a smooth paste by adding little water)

Ginger-2" piece

Garlic cloves-8

Green chili-8( +/-)

Roasted Coriander/ Dhania seeds-2tbsp

Roasted Fennel/ Sombu seeds-1tbsp

Method

In a pressure pan add the chicken pieces, chopped onion, curry leaves, ground masala paste, turmeric powder, salt and oil. Pressure cook chicken along with other ingredients for 10 mins or until chicken is tender. When the pressure is released uncover the pan, return to heat and fry the chicken until gravy thickens and dry. Serve hot with steamed rice or Roti.

Era Karuvadu Thokku( Dried Prawns/ Shrimp Chutney).

Ingredients

Dried Prawns-200gms

Eggs-6( Hard boiled and shelled)

Onion large minced-1

Tomato large chopped-1

Garlic cloves chopped-6

Green chili broken into 2 piece-4

Curry leaves-2sprigs

Tamarind paste-1tbsp( if using tamarind pulp-1/4cup)

Red chili powder-1tsp( +/-)

Turmeric powder-1/4tsp

Salt to taste

Oil required

Vadagam/ South indian seasoning-1tsp(optional) <----Click here for recipe

Method

Clean the dried prawns, soak in water for 3 mins, drain well and squeeze excess water and set aside. Heat oil in a pan when hot add the vadagam( using vadagam is optional, click vadagam for the vadagam recipe). Next add onions, garlic, green chili and curry leaves, fry for few mins till onion turns brown. Add tomatoes and cook till they are mashed, add tamarind paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt and 1cup water. Bring the gravy to boil and cook for 5 mins. Check the seasoning, add the dried prawns and cook for another 5 mins until the gravy thickens. Eggs are best combination for Dried prawns chutney, add the eggs to the dried prawn chutney and serve with hot steamed rice.