Bhindi Masala

Sauteed Okra with Indian Spices

Ingredients:-
Bhindi/Okra - 250 gms
Onion chopped - 1
Green chilli chopped - 2
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Amchur powder(Dry mango powder) - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
Salt Oil

Method:-
Wash and pat dry the Bhindi/Okra and cut into long pieces.Heat Oil in a pan and add cumin seeds
and fry it for a minute.
Add chopped onions and saute till they are soft and add chopped green chillies and fry for another
two minutes.
Add chilli, coriander and turmeric powders and toss well.
Stir in the chopped Okra pieces and combine it well.Cook covered on a medium flame , stirring occassionally.
Add salt and Amchur powder. When the Okra is cooked and raw smell goes, remove the lid and
saute well for 4-5 minutes. Remove and serve warm

Recipe Source:- Sanjeev Kapoor
Cheers!!!!!

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Vanpayar Oolarthiyathu

Red Beans With Spices and Coconut 

Ingredients:-

Vanpayar/Red Beans  - 1 cup

Onion/Shallots finely chopped - 1/4 cup

Crushed garlic - 2 tsp

Crushed pepper - 1/2 tsp

Chili flakes - 1/2 tsp

Coconut cuts - 1/4 cup

Curry leaves

Mustard seeds

Salt 

Oil

Method:-

Soak the Vanpayar /Red beans overnight, drain and cook it with 1 cup of water till it is done(not mushy)
Heat Oil in a pan and add mustard seeds.When they pop up add chopped onion and saute till they are soft- 3-4 minutes.
Add coconut cuts and fry till they are brown.Add curry leaves,garlic and pepper and toss it well for 2 minutes.Add chili flakes , mix well .
Add the cooked Red beans with cooking liquid if there is any , salt to taste and stir gently so that it wont get mashed.
Let it dry on a  low flame and Remove from fire and Serve warm .

Goes excellent with Kanji and Pickle.

Cheers!!!!!

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Chicken curry with Coconut milk and 'm Back

Hi All, I am back from an exciting vacation in India.All the weddings went well and we had a mellow time shopping n njoying and spoiled by all the pampering from parents..The only unbearable thing was the summer heat there, and it occasionally made both of us sick...Though  we are back, physically, our hearts are still in India,the kitchen is still closed and i m not sure when i m gonna resume cooking ;).So i thought i ll first play around with some drafts that i have, get inspiration and start cooking :)..

Hope you all are having a beautiful time in the summer...

Ingredients:-

Chicken - 1/2 kg

Onion chopped - 2 medium

Green chili chopped - 2

Ginger chopped - 1 tsp

garlic chopped - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Garam masala - 1/2 tsp

crushed pepper corns- 1/2 tsp

Thick coconut milk - 1 cup

Lime juice - 1 tsp

Cardamom - 5-6

Cloves - 4

Star anise - 2

Bay leaves

Curry leaves

Method

Heat oil in a thick bottomed cooking pan and saute cardamom, cloves, star anise and bay leaves.

When sauteed well add chopped onion, green chili,ginger and garlic and saute till the raw 

smell disappears and the it turns light brown. Stir in the chicken pieces and toss well for 2-3 minutes.

Pour in half cup of hot water( add 1 cup if you want more gravy) and cook this covered for 20 

minutes on a low flame.

Make a paste with turmeric powder, and garam masala, by adding 3 tspns of water and add 

to the curry.mix well and add salt , crushed peppercorns and curry leaves and let it stand for 2 minutes. 

Add 1 cup of thick coconut milk , stir well and remove from fire as soon as the gravy thickens.

Pour 1 tsp of lime juice before serving .

Cheers!!!!

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