Monday, March 15, 2010

Rich Creamy Paneer Peas Masala/Shahi Paneer





Ingredients:

1.Indian cottage cheese or paneer - 200 gms ( i used store bought)
2.Frozen peas - 5 tbsp
3.Low fat Cream - 5 tbsp
5.Cashews - 6 whole nuts.
6.Chopped Onion - 2 no's
7.Tomato puree - 5 tbsp
8.Kashmiri Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
9.Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
10.Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
11.Fried onions - 3 tsp ( for garnishing)
12.Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
13.Salt - to taste
14.Canola oil - 2 tbsp
13.Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
14.Ginger - small piece
15.Garlic - 5 pods
16.Kus kus/poppy seeds - 4 tsp

Preparation:

1.First fry the paneer cubes, i bought the paneer from Indian store and cut into cubes fry it in oil till light golden brown in medium fire.Keep it aside.
2.Heat oil in the pan, Fry the onions ( leave about 5 tbsp of onion for frying),ginger,garlic for a while. Then add the tomato puree ( i used canned puree) cook for a while.
3.Leave it to cool and grind to fine paste.
4.In separate pan fry the poppy seeds and cashew nuts in little bit of oil, allow it to cool and grind to fine powder.Keep it aside.
5.Again heat oil in the heavy bottom pan, season with cumin seeds  and add the remaining chopped onions fry for a while with red chilli powder.
6.Then add the grounded tomato n onion paste saute in a medium flame , after 5 mts add turmeric powder,coriander powder,garam masala ,cashew n poppy seeds powder.frozen peas and salt.
7.Allow it to cook in medium fire till the oil comes on the surface, close the pan with the lid.
8.Before transfer the gravy to the serving bowl add the low fat cream to this mixture. Stir it well and then add the fried paneer cubes.
10.Transfer the Shahi paneer to the serving bowl and garnish with Fried onions.
11.Now the Rich Creamy Shahi Paneer is ready to serve with roti or with biriyani.
12.We enjoyed this Rich Creamy and Yummy Shahi paneer with chicken biriyani for Lunch and For dinner with roti.

Note:

This Shahi paneer is rich in texture by adding cream and cashew paste, i tried to reduce by adding lot of fat ingredients for that i used canola oil instead of butter for frying, i used only 4 small cubes of paneer and i used low fat cream instead of heavy cream. Cashew nuts i used from my snacks roasted n salted nuts. I use to cook this rich creamy kuruma only once in a month, becoz it contains lot of rich ingredients. What soever it tasted yummy with Chicken biriyani.


This delicious Aappam is going to be a part of:
Jihva- Break fast  guest hosted by Veggie platter of suma started by Indira of Mahanandi

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Vanilla Cake with Lite Creme and Peaches







Ingredients:

1.Cake flour - 1 1/2 cup
2.Powdered sugar - 1 cup
3.Whole eggs - 2
4.Unsalted Butter - 4 tbsp
5.Baking powder - 1 tsp
6.Salt - a pinch
7.Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

For Topping:

1.Lite Creme - 1 tbsp
2.Peach slices in syrup - 1 slice

Preparation:

1.Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease the baking pan.
2.In one bowl sift the cake flour,baking powder and salt. Mix it well and keep it aside.
3.In another bowl beat the butter well with hand mixer ( butter should be in room temperature), add the powdered sugar little by little in butter and beat it again nicely.
4.The butter and sugar should blend together, now add the eggs one by one beat it nicely for 5 mts.
4.Follow with vanilla essence, now add the dry ingredients little by little into the egg bowl.
5.Mix it nicely till it incorporate with flour. Transfer the cake mixture to the greased pan and bake it for 20 - 25 mts.
6.Check the cake with tooth pick and allow it to cool.
7.Now cut the crust parts and slice the cake into your desired shapes.
8.Top the cake with lite creme and peach slice.
9.This looks delicious and yummy, easy to make at any time.
10.We enjoyed this yummy dessert after our yesterday's dinner.

Note:

Me n my Hubby don't like heavy cream icing, everytime we try the cake with jam or with lite creme. Sometimes with custard milk, it tastes delicious. Here, i used non-diary lite creme it's good for the health with low fat.You can also enjoy the cake soak with maple syrup, that tastes good.

Brinjal /Egg Plant/Aubergine Curry



Ingredients:

1.Brinjals - 12 no's ( i used slim brinjal, not round one)
2.Sliced onions - 1/2
3.Chopped Garlic - 3 pods
4.Curry Leaves - few
5.Tamarind Pulp - 2 tbsp
6.Salt - to taste
7.Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

For Seasoning:


1.Canola Oil - 1 tbsp
2.Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3.Cumin/Jeera Seeds - 1/2 tsp

To Roast and Grind to powder:

1.Sesame Seeds ( white or black) - 2 tsp
2.Peanuts - 1 tsp
3.Chana Dal - 1 tsp
4.Coriander Seeds - 1 tsp
5.Dry Red Chillies - 4 no's
6.Urad Dal - 1 tsp

Preparation:

1.Toast all the ingredients with 1/2 tsp of oil , leave it cool and grind to powder. Keep it aside.
2.Heat oil in the kadai or heavy bottom pan, season the items and add the curry leaves, Garlic and sliced onions. Saute for a while till turns translucent.
3.While sauting the onions cut the brinjals in length wise and add it to the onions.
4.Turn the brinjals gently have to stick with oil to all sides.Cook in medium fire and close the kadai with lid for 5 -10 mts turns half done.
5.Now add the turmeric powder,salt and ground powder, Stir it gently in medium flame or else it will burn at the bottom cos of powders.
6.Follow with tamarind pulp and add little bit of hot water to cook.
7.Close the kadai with lid and leave it to cook in medium flame. In between open the lid and turn the brinjals gently and add little bit oil around the edges.
8.After the gravy turns dark colour and oil came around the edges its done.
9.Now the Slurrping Brinjal Curry is ready to serve with plain rice and Rasam.
10.We enjoyed this delicious Brinjal curry with Rasam Rice for our Dinner.