TANDOORI PANEER TIKKA

I found this recipe on www.sanjeevkapoor.com presented by Chef Harpal Singh Sukhi. But here, I made some changes in it according to my tastebuds and it comes out awesome, lazaabab! I used my oven by making my tikkas, but really I missed that smokey flavour which comes out from the tandoor only. One thing you have to focus always by making tikka or kabab, the marination. Tikkas are generally made in tandoor or grilled in oven. But you may prepare it on stovetop too.

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb / 450 gm Cottage Cheese (paneer)
2 Medium Onions, cut in cubes
A Pinch of Carom seeds
1 Large Green Bell Pepper, cut in cubes
1 Medium tomato, cut in cubes
1/4 Cup Chickpea Flour (besan)
2 tbsps Clarified Butter (ghee)
1/2 Cup hanged curd / plain yogurt
1/3 tsp Red Chilli powder
1/4 tsp Black Pepper powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp freshly pounded Garam masala
1/3 tsp Dry Mango powder (amchur)
1 tsp Ginger paste
1 tsp Garlic paste
2 tsps fresh Lemon juice
3 tbsps Mustard Oil
Salt to taste
4 wooden skewers (soak in water for 3-4 hours)

METHOD:
Cut cottage cheese in 1&1/2" cubes. Set aside.

Heat clarified butter in a frying pan. Add carom seeds in it. Saute for 30-40 seconds, add chickpea flour now. Keep stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes, till a nice aroma comes out. Switch off the heat and pour chickpea flour in a large bowl.

Heat mustard oil in a pan, add turmeric in it. Immediately remove it from the pan.

Combine chickpea flour, mustard oil, curd, red chilli powder, black pepper powder, garam masala, dry mango powder, ginger paste, garlic paste, lemon juice, mustard oil and salt. Whisk nicely.

Add cottage cheese cubes, tomato cubes, green bell pepper cubes and onion cubes and mix with the batter nicely. Keep this marination aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Thread the cottage cheese / paneer into the skewers, alternating the paneer with cubes of vegetables as you wish (alternating, onion-paneer-bell pepper-tomato-onion-paneer-bell pepper-tomato like that). Arrange the skewers on the baking tray.

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Bake each side for 5-6 minutes. To achieve the sizzling effect, now put the oven to broil mode for 5 minutes. Switch off the oven. Take out the baking tray from the oven immediately.

Place the paneer tikka onto the plate, squeeze little lime juice and sprinkle chaat masala on the top. Serve immediately.

TIPS: If you don't have oven or tandoor, just cook it in gas oven. Heat a griddle, sprinkle little oil in it. Place skewers on it. Cook 5 minutes each side on medium flame.
Sending to:  Chandrani's Holiday Recipes

CHENNA PODA (RICOTTA CHEESE CAKE FROM ORISSA)

The Bright Sun Has Lighted

The Sky The Flavors of Pongal / Lohri / Bhogali

Is In the Air Soak Yourself

In Hearty Music & Rejoice

HAPPY MAKAR SANKRANTI TO ALL....:)

It's the begining of a festive week for several communities in India and every Indian wants to celebrate this festival in very traditional way with lots of mouth melting sweets. 'Chenna Poda' (burnt cheese) is the quintessential cottage cheese dessert from the state of Orissa in Eastern India. It is made of well kneaded ricotta cheese or chenna, sugar, cashew nuts and raisins; baked for several hours in earthen fire untill it browns. The burnt smell is amazing and it is very delicious in taste. It must be cooled down for hours before serving. Lord Jagannath, the lord of this universe's favorite dessert is to be said Chenna Poda. So friends, don't waste your time, tryout and relish this mouth melting Oriya dessert.

INGREDIENTS:

2&1/2 Cups Fresh Warm Chenna  / Ricotta Cheese / Fresh Paneer (hung chenna)

1&1/4 Cups Granulated Sugar

2 tsp Clarified Butter (ghee)

½ tsp Cardamom Powder

2 tbsp Rice Flour

Some Cashewnuts (chopped)

Some Raisins

METHOD:

Mash the chenna nicely by using your palms, this process will make the chenna soft.

Add Sugar little by little and mix it thoroughly.

Put clarified butter (desi ghee), rice flour and cardamom powder and mix well again. Now chenna mixture is ready.

Preheat oven to 200’C. Place a baking paper in a baking pan, grease with clarified butter (ghee) and pour the whole mixture into the pan.

Top with cashew nuts and raisins. Press lightly by using your palms. Now it is ready to insert in oven.

Bake for 40 minutes. Cool down completely.

Cut into desired shape and serve. 

Sending to: Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event

BESAN LADOO - MICROWAVE VERSION

Recipe Source & Acknowledgement: Homely Food

This is a very popular ladoo among North Indians. Besan ladoos are made from gently roasted gram flour or besan. My mom mostly prepared it at the time of Navratri, Holi and Diwali. She made it very perfectly and tasty. Anytime, without any occassion we can have it. Yummy and delicious, yet easy to make ladoos are loved by all!!!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup Gram Flour (besan)
3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar
8 tbsps Clarified Butter (ghee)
1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder

METHOD:
Heat clarified butter in a microwave safe bowl at 100% MW power for a minute.

Remove the bowl from microwave, add gram flour and mix it very well, there should not any lump.

Microwave at 100% MW power for 4 minutes, stirring it after every 1 minute. Again microwave at 50% MW power for 3 minutes, stirring it after each minute.

Remove from oven add sugar and cardamom powder in it. 

Mix it thoroughly. Let it cool. 

Divide into small portions and give them a shape of ladoos. Store it in air-tight container.

Sending to:  Chandrani's Holiday Recipes

PARMESAN CHICKEN

This heavenly & mouthwatering Italian chicken dish is so simple and easy to cook. I used to make this appetizing Parmesan Chicken was so delectable, we would fight for drippings, every last crumb. This chicken would cook in much faster way, buttery and crispy coated meat is really a fabulous one.

INGREDIENTS:
20 OZ / 600 gm Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
2 pods of Garlic (minced)
2 tbsps finely chopped fresh Parsley
4 OZ or 1/2 cup melted Unsalted Butter
1/2 tsp Salt
1 cup dried Italian Bread Crumbs
1/2 tsp Garlic Pepper
3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp freshly grounded Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning (herb mix)

METHOD:
Cut chicken in 2" X 1" pieces. Wash nicely. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towel.

Combine unsalted butter with minced garlic in a bowl. In a seperate bowl, mix Italian bread crumbs, fresh parsley, garlic pepper, grounded black pepper, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese and salt together.

Dip chicken pieces in garlic butter.

Then coat with bread crumbs-parmesan cheese mixture.

Now place chicken piece in 9" X 9" greased baking tray.

Keep little room in between the two pieces of chicken. Follow the same process for all chicken pieces. Sprinkle remaining garlic butter on the top.

Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Switch off the oven. Keep as it is for another 5 minutes.

After baking chicken will look golden brown colour and crispy.

Serve hot with 'hot and sweet' tomato ketchup.
Linking to:  Chandrani's Holiday Recipes

BAKED CHEESE CAKE (JAPANESE STYLE)

This is a basic baked version of a creamy classic dessert. The authentic creamy cheese cake will definitely add a taste to any dining table or Christmas party. A real rich, creamy and mouth melting cheese cake that always makes a great dinner party. It is a perfect combination of tangy and sweet with a smooth and rich texture, which is wonderful for entertaining. Just tryout, you will surely fall love in it!!!

INGREDIENTS:

FOR CRUST:

40 gm / 1.4 oz Butter (softened)
120 gm / 4.2 oz Vanilla Wafers

FOR CHEESECAKE:

226 gm / 8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
150 cc Whipping Cream or Fresh Cream
3 tbsp Self Raising Flour
70 gm / 2.5 oz Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tbsp Lemon Zest
1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
20 gm / 0.7 oz Butter (melted)

METHOD:

Line the pan with parchment paper / baking paper.
Place vanilla wafers in a ziploc bag. By using your hands smash it nicely.
Add 40 gm butter and mix it thoroughly.
Press firmly into the pan by using the bottom of a glass and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour or until set.
Preheat oven to 180 C. Beat softened cream cheese in a bowl. Add sugar in it. Blend again.
Add 2 beaten eggs little by little and whisk the mixture well.
Pour 150 cc whipped cream / fresh cream in it. Mix nicely.
Add lemon juice , lemon zest and shift flour in it.
Lastly, add 20 gm melted butter, fold well.

Pour the mixture onto the pan above crust. Bake for 40 minutes. Allow to cool to the room temperature and refrigerate for 3 hours.

Cut the cheese cake into bars and serve. May wrap each bar with plastic wrapper and refrigerate for a week.

For original recipe Click here....

Sending to:  Cook with Comfort Event,  Lets cook Christmas party food,  Favorite Recipes: Christmas Recipes 2013,  Lets Cook for Christmas, Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event

LITTI, MIXED CHOKHA WITH HARA DHANIYA CHUTNEY

"Litti-Chokha-Chutney" is a very delicious speciality of Bihar. Bihari cuisine is simple and wholesome. 'Litti' a baked salted wheat flour cake filled with sattu (roasted chickpea flour) and some special Indian spices. There are many versions of this dish. This is a delicacy which is liked by every group of people whether rich or poor. Litti-Chokha-Chutney is now making its presence internationally.

INGREDIENTS FOR LITTI:

FOR COVERING:
1&1/2 Cup Wheat Flour (atta)
1/2 Cup Self-Raising Flour (maida)
6 tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Melted Clarified Butter (desi ghee)

FOR STUFFING:
1 Cup Sattu (roasted bengal gram flour)
1 tsp Carom Seeds / ajwaan (roasted and crushed)
1 tsp Nigella Seeds / Kalonji (roasted and crushed)
1 tbsp Dried Mango / Amchur Powder
1 tbsp Mango pickle spice and its oil
6-8 Pods of Garlic (minced)
1/2" Ginger (minced)
2-3 Finely Chopped Green Chilies
2 tbsp Finely Chopped Coriander Powder
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
2 tsps Mustard Oil
Salt to taste

INGREDIENTS FOR MIXED CHOKHA:
1 Large Tomato
2 Medium Sized Potatoes (parboiled with skin)
1 Eggplant / Brinjal / Begun (500 gm approx)
1 Big Onion (finely chopped)
5-6 Pods of Garlic (minced)
2 tbsps Chopped Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
2-3 Chopped Green Chilies (or as per taste)
1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Mustard Oil
Salt to taste

INGREDIENTS FOR HARA DHANIYA CHUTNEY:
50 gm Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
2-3 Green Chilies
4 Pods Garlic
1/4" Ginger
2 tbsp Tamarind Pulp
1 tsp Mustard Oil
Salt to taste

METHOD FOR LITTI:

For making outer cover of litti, sieve wheat flour and self raising flour, add oil and salt. Knead a stiff dough by using water. Cover with a wet cloth and keep it aside.

Make lemon sized (approx 2.5" diameter) 10 balls out of it and set it aside.

In the mean time, combine all spices, sattu, coriander leaves, lemon juice, mustard oil, salt and pickle in a bowl. Mix them nicely by hand. Make sure all spices including pickle mixed very well. Now sattu filling is ready to stuff.

Preheat oven to 200 C. Put 1 tbsp sattu filling in the centre of each ball. Close it firmly from all sides.

Place all the littis on a baking tray.

Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the opposite sides of littis and grill for 10 minutes.

Take out and dip on pure desi ghee (clarified butter) and serve immediately with mixed chokha and chutney.

METHOD FOR MIXED CHOKHA:
Roast eggplant, tomato and parboiled potato over low heat.

Peel the skin of eggplant, tomato and potato nicely. Set aside.

Heat mustard oil in a pan or wok. Add minced garlic and green chilies in it.

Saute for 30-40 seconds followed by adding chopped onion. Fry for 2 minutes.

Add mashed tomato and salt in it. Fry for another minute.

Now add roughly mashed potato and eggplant. Fry for a minute and turn off heat now.

Add coriander leaves and lemon juice. Fold nicely.

Serve this chokha with litti.

METHOD FOR HARA DHANIYA CHUTNEY:

Grind coriander leaves, ginger, garlic, green chilies, tamarind pulp and salt for a minute to make a smooth homogenous paste. Add mustard oil in it. Yummy Hara Dhaniya Chutney is ready to serve with litti and chokha.

Enjoy your dinner with super delicious litti, mixed chokha and hara dhaniya chutney.

NOTE:

1. In cities, it is not possible to make 'litti' traditionally roasted over "chulha" or "angithi". But I baked it in electric oven, you may use  microoven for grilling it. If you don't have any oven, just heat a non stick pan on medium heat, arrange littis on it, cover it with a heavy lid and reduce the heat. Check after 10 minutes and turn over the other side of littis. Cook other side also for 10 minutes. Lastly, roast those littis on direct flame for giving that grilling effect.
2. Few people are allergetic on eggplant, if you don't like, just omit it. Potato-tomato chokha is also very delicious. May add 1 tsp mustard paste at the end and mix well, it is also be a great combo with litti.
3. Chutney can be stored in refrigerator upto an week.
4. I roasted parboiled potato to get its smokey flavor, which gave an authentic taste and flavor to chokha.

Sending to:  Cook with Comfort ~Blog Anniversary Event, Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event