White Chicken - Mughlai Cuisine

This  is a chicken dish  in white gravy, hence it is called White chicken. It can be made with boneless or  with bones,  it will still taste delicious.  I, have used chicken with bones and this dish was too  yummy. Its a very rich gravy made of yogurt, poppy seeds, cashewnuts and cream.  It's a  Mughlai cuisine and makes a fantastic  party dish and mildly spiced.

Ingredients

1/2 kg Chicken - cut into medium pieces
2  Medium Onions  - sliced
4 Tablespoons Heaped Yogurt - beaten
3 Long Green chillies
2 Tablespoons Ginger Garlic paste
Salt
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cream
12 Whole cashewnuts
1 Tablespoons Poppy seeds / Khus Khus

1/4 Cup Warm Milk
Whole  Spices

1 Bay leaf

1 Big Brown Cardamom 

2 Green Cardamoms

2 Cloves 

2 Black peppercorns 

1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds 

1 Stick Cinnamon
Oil as required

Method

Marinate chicken in yogurt, ginger garlic paste, salt and keep aside for 1/2 hour.

Soak the cashewnuts and poppy seeds in 1/4 cup warm milk for at least 1/2 hour.  Then grind this to a fine paste with the milk.  Keep aside.

Saute  the onions in 2 tablespoons  oil,  till then turn light pink then add all the whole spices and green chillies saute till the spices release an aroma ( do not brown the onions or else the color of the dish will change). Let this cool completely then grind it to a fine paste with little water.

Saute the marinated chicken with 2 tablespoons oil on high heat till chicken becomes soft for 10 mins. Add the ground  onion and spice paste and saute till oil surfaces. Add  the cashew and poppy seeds paste and stir till well incorporated and on low flame let it simmer for 10 minutes or till oil surfaces and chicken is done.  

Keep giving it a stir after every 2 minutes or else it will burn at the bottom of the pan.   Drizzle a little cream. 

 Garnish with sprigs of mint leaves and  serve it with Hyderabadi Parathas or naan or any crusty bread.  

Enjoy...

Labels : Chicken, Mughlai Cuisine, Cashewnuts, Poppy seeds, White Chicken

Cherry Tomatoes & Lentil Feta Cheese Salad

This is a healthy salad, packed with proteins and fiber.  A great and delicious summer salad that is vibrant in color, crunchy and tangy. This is my hubby's favorite salad.   I made a bowl full for us for  dinner, but he asked me prepare another helping for him again.  He loves this salad.  You too try it may become your favorite, because it so simple, easy and filling too.

Ingredients
12 -15 Cherry Tomatoes - halved
1 Cup Boiled Sabut Masoor Dal / Brown lentils
1 Red onion - thinly sliced
100 Grams Feta Cheese or more according to your liking
1 Tablespoon Chopped Coriander Or Parsley Leaves

10 -12 Basil leaves - torn
A Pinch of Sugar
Salt and Black Pepper to taste

For the Dressing - mix together

1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

Method

Slice the tomatoes In a large  mixing  bowl add the cherry tomatoes, lentils, onion,  coriander and  basil leaves  and season with salt, pepper and dressing (olive oil and balsamic vinegar) mix well then crumble the feta over it.

Serve.

My Notes

Feel free to add more tomatoes or lentils or feta cheese if you are making a bigger salad.

Labels : French Cuisine, Salads, Healthy, Sabut Masoor,  Lentils, Feta Cheese

Vegetarian Mulligatawny#SoupSwappers

Mulligatawny is prounced as Mulli ga towny. This is a classic Anglo-Indian soup, the name of which means pepper water.  This is an English interpretation of an Indian dish.  It's a curry soup, full of nutrients, a mouthful of goodness in every spoon. Simply delicious and comforting soup.

"Let's Go Meatless" Event for Soup Saturday Swappers was the theme given to us by our hosted Paula Begley.   Made this Vegetarian Mulligatawny soup for the event.

Serves 4
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Onion - chopped
1 Big Carrot - finely diced
1 Fresh Red Chilli - chopped
3 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Teaspoon Ginger - minced
2 Apples- skinned and finely diced
2 Big Tomatoes - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
1 Teaspoon Roasted Cumin powder 
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika powder
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/4 Teaspoon Cardamom powder
1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper powder
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme
1/2 Cup Masoor Dal / Red Lentils - soaked
4 Cups Vegetable Stock
2/3 Cup Coconut Milk
Salt to taste
Black Pepper powder to taste
Roasted Cashews for garnish
Chopped Coriander for garnish
Spring Onions for garnish

Method

Melt butter in a large pan / pot,  add the onion, carrot, and red chili, then sauté until the onions have softened. Add the garlic, ginger, apples and diced tomatoes.  Add in all of the spices and toss to coat. Add in the lentils, stock and let come to a boil. Turn the flame to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. 

Puree about 75% of the soup in with a stick blender. Leave some of the chunks whole, as it gives a nice texture and consistency to the soup. Return the pot  back to flame,  stir in the coconut milk and just warm it( do not bring it to a boil). Taste and adjust for salt and black pepper as needed. 

Serve topped with cashew nuts and spring onions.

Labels : Vegetarian, Soup, Mulligatawny, Masoor dal, Soupswappers, Gluten free, Healthy Dinners, Coconut Milk

An InLinkz Link-up

Sub Style Tuna Fish Sandwich#FishFriday

Fish or Seafood Sandwiches is the theme for the event for Fish Friday Foodies this month our host is Sue Lau.  Baked a Long French Loaf With Seeds for Bread Bakers last week.   Made a Sub Style Tuna Fish Sandwich, delicious and yummy.

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 Long French Loaf With Seeds - can use any french loaf

1 Small Tin Tuna fish 

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise With Egg - Homemade

6 Lettuce Leaves 

Tomato Slices

Cucumber Slices

Olives - Green or Black - sliced

Other add-inns of your choice

Black Pepper powder as required

Sweet Chilly Sauce as required

Method

Drain the tuna in sieve. Flake it and keep aside

Cut the bread in two pieces.  Slice each piece in the center.

Spread Mayonnaise, then the lettuce leaves, tuna,  sprinkle black pepper powder.  

Arrange the cucumber,  tomato slices, add some olives ( forgot to add it) again top it with mayonnaise 

and sweet chilly sauce.  

Cover it and enjoy.

Labels : Sandwiches, Tuna, Sub Style Sandwich, French Loaf, Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber, Olives, Seafood/Fish

An InLinkz Link-up

Buttermilk Bundt Cake with Caramel Icing#BundtBakers

To day is our posting for Southern Cakes an Event for Bundt Bakers, hosted by Sue Lau.  Thanking you Sue for hosting this month's event.
Ingredients
100 Grams Butter 
160 Grams  Caster Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence 
200 Grams All Purpose Flour 
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder 
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda 
½ Cup Buttermilk
For The  Caramel Icing
25 Grams Butter 
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar 
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cream
½ Teaspoon Vanilla essence 
½ Cup Icing Sugar or as required
Method

Sieve together baking powder, flour and baking soda. 

Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Beating well after each addition. Add in vanilla. Add the  flour, alternating with butter milk. Beating well after each addition (batter will be thick). Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 to 12 inches ring pan. Bake on 180 degrees for 20 to 25 mins. Cool for 10 mins before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
For Caramel Icing

In a small sauce pan, combine the butter brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat. cool for 7 to 10 mins. Gradually add in the icing sugar until smooth and pourable icing is formed . 

Drizzle over cooled cake and leave to set, slice and enjoy!!

Labels : Buttermilk, Bundts, Southern Cakes, Bundt Bakers, Caramel, International Cuisine


Bundt Bakers - Theme  - Southern Bundt Cakes
Come see what we have baked up for you this month!

Bourbon Praline Bundt Cake from The Sweet Sensations
Bundt Cake Hummingbird from Merce`s Cake
Buttermilk Bundt Cake with Caramel Icing from Sneha's Recipe
Coconut Bundt Cake from Palatable Pastime
Cream of Coconut Bundt Cake with Chocolate-Coconut Glaze from katin špajz
Hot Milk Cake from Cookaholic Wife
Kentucky Butter Bundt Cake from All That's Left are The Crumbs
Key Lime Bundt Cake from I Love Bundt Cakes
Lemon Drizzle Pound Cake from Food Lust People Love
Peach Bundt with Cardamom Whipped Cream from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Peanut Butter Bundt Cake from Tartacadabra
Praline Bundt Cake with Praline Glaze and Praline Pecans from The Queen of Scones
Sweet Potato Bourbon Bundt Cake from Patty's Cake

Oats Crust Mango Cream Tart#BakingBloggers

A crust of oats  and creamy mango filling makes this tart a absolute sensation and a delightful dessert.  Took this tart as a dessert for a party at my brother's house.

Sending this to Baking Bloggers theme for the month is "
Fruit Tarts and Galettes"

For Crust

75 Grams Butter, softened
1/4 Cup Heaped Brown sugar
2 Tablespoons  Yogurt
2/3 Cups Oats - coarsely powdered
3/4 Cup Level All-purpose flour
A Pinch of Salt

Mango Cream 
2 Ripe Alphonso Mangoes
3 Eggs
1 Teaspoon  Orange zest
1/4 Cup Fresh Cream
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

For dusting - Icing sugar
Method
For crust

Beat butter, brown sugar and yogurt using an electric mixer. Add oats, flour,  salt mix again  until just combined.  Now   with your hands and lightly bring it together.

Grease a 10 inch tart pan with oil. Press crust into the tart pan right up the edges. Place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour to cool and set.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

Place a aluminum foil and keep pie weights over it . Bake for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes remove the foil along with pie weight and blind bake for 5 to 7 minutes.  Remove from the the oven and let cool completely.

For the Mango Topping

Lightly whip the cream and keep aside.

Peel and cut the mango,  cut the mango into pieces. With a blender puree the mango.

In another bowl, whisk the egg, sugar and orange zest together well, then fold in the pureed mango and cream.  Fold till well combined.

Pour the mango topping into the tart base, which has already cooled.  Place the Mango Tart back in the oven and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. The tart is ready when a knife inserted into the mango topping comes out clean.  Cool and dust it with icing sugar and serve.  

This a delicious tart, rich and creamy and  yum yum.

Lables : Oats Crust Tart, Mango, Cream, Tart/Pie/Quiche, Baked, Baking Bloggers, Sweets & Desserts

Baking Bloggers
Fruit Tarts and Galettes
Apple Amber Tart by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
Apple Tartlets with Almond Crunch by Karen's Kitchen Stories
Classic Key Lime Tart by Hardly A Goddess
Lemon Tart by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Oats Crust Mango Cream Tart by Sneha's Recipe
Strawberry Nutella Galette by Tara's Multicultural Table
Strawberry Rhubarb Galette by The Redhead Baker
Tarte Tatin by Palatable Pastime

Vegan & Gluten Free Thai Tofu Red Curry

Veganism is fast catching up with many.  My daughter, too has turned to veganism.  Whenever she is with us, I,  have to be careful as to what is used in preparing  food.  Now, very often you will find vegan recipes on my blog. 

Though me and my husband tried to reason out with her, we still support her becoming a vegan.  I, go out of my way to cook total vegan food her, we love her too much.

This tofu curry is so delicious, quick and easy.  Add more curry paste if you want it spicy.  This had just the right amount of spice

Ingredients

250 Grams Tofu - cut into big pieces

250 Grams Broccoli - cut into florets
100 Grams French beans - cut into long sticks
100 Grams Carrot - cut into long stcks
1 Small Green Capsicum - cut into big pieces
1 Small Red Capsicum - cut into big pieces
1 Small Yellow Capsicum - cut into big pieces
4 Small Shallots / Baby Red Onions - cut into two
5 -6 Kaffir Lime Leaves - chiffonade cut
5 -6 Basil leaves - torn
1 Teaspoon Palm Sugar
Salt to Taste
1 Can (400 ML) Coconut Milk
3  Tablespoons Thai Red Curry Paste
1 Teaspoon Heaped Corn Flour Slurry

3 Tablespoons Oil

Method

In oil in a deep pan or kadai, add the curry paste, beans, onion, broccoli and carrot, saute till the veggies are well coated with the paste for 3 minutes.  Then add 1 cup water and cover  with a lid, cook on medium low flame till the  veggies are cooked.  

When the veggies are cooked open the lid, add salt to taste and sugar, give it a quick stir, add the kaffir lime chiffonade and the basil leaves, stir again,  add the coconut milk , tofu and colored capsicums, bring it to a rolling boil stirring continuously.  Reduce the flame and check for gravy consistency.  Add more water if necessary, cover and cook for 2 minutes.  Then open the lid, add the cornflour slurry and stir it, let it cook so that it thickens the gravy a little.  Take off flame and serve hot with steamed noodles or rice.  

We enjoyed with steamed rice.  

Labels : Thailand, Thai,  Red Curry Paste, Tofu, Vegan, Gluten free, Healthy, Main course 

A Tangzhong Method French Loaf With Seeds#BreadBakers

The Tangzhong method involves cooking one part of  flour with five parts of water to form a roux. When the Tangzhong is added into other ingredients that go into a bread dough, it produces light, tender and soft bread.
This method of using Tangzhong is often seen in South Asian breads and  it seems to have created by a Chinese woman.

This bread was on my to do list from a long time, but, somehow making this was always not now.. next time.  This month I, just wanted to bake a french loaf to make a Sub Style Sandwich, thought why not make a seeded bread. Here is my soft and delicious Tangzhong method bread. 

Our Host for Bread Bakers this month is Mayuri Patel, the theme given to us by her is "Bread With Seeds".

Ingredients
For The Tangzhong (Flour-Water Roux)
1/4 Cup All Purpose Fllour
1.1/4 Cup Water

For The Dough
500 Grams All Purpose Flour - reserve 1/2 Cup for dusting
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Heaped Fresh Yeast
1/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Water
All of the Prepared Tanzhong
50 Grams Butter -cut into small pieces
Oil as required
1/4 Cup  Mixed Seeds

Method
The Tangzhong (Flour-Water Roux) 

Whisk together lightly the flour and water in a saucepan until smooth and there are no lumps. Place the saucepan on the stove, and over medium heat, let the roux cook till it starts thickening. 

Keep stirring/ whisking constantly so that no lumps form and the roux is smooth. 

The roux will turn pale and thicken, do not thicken it too much since when it cool is will thicken more. Let the roux/ tangzhong cool completely and rest for about 2 to 3 hours at least. I left it in the fridge and used it the next day.

The Bread Dough 

I made this dough in the food processor. This dough can be made by hand but the dough is a bit sticky and can take some time and effort to knead by hand. Do not add more flour to make it less sticky either!
Put the flour, salt, sugar, milk, water and yeast in the processor bowl and pulse a couple of times to mix. Then  add the tangzhong and run it till smooth , add the flour and run on slow speed until the dough comes together. Add the butter and process till you have a smooth and elastic dough which is just short of sticky dough.

Take this dough on to oiled work surface, oil your hands too. Sprinkle little four and start to knead the sticky dough using your bench scraper lift the dough and give it about 20 to 30 turns or till it's smooth.

Form the dough into a ball and place it in a well-oiled bowl turning it so it is well coated. Cover with a towel and let the dough rise for about 45 minutes or till almost double in volume. 

Once double in volume, place the dough on your work surface dusted with flour. Divide it into two parts. One part keep it bigger, to make a long 15 inch french loaf bread and one half of the size of what is made.

Pat the dough into a flat rectangle sprinkle the seeds(reserve a few for the top) and fold the dough to incorporate it well. Again pat it onto 15 inch long rectangle and roll the dough into a long long loaf. Brush the loaf with milk sprinkle the remaining seeds on top and press them lightly. Place the bread on to baking tray and brush it again with milk. 

Leave it to rise for another 45 minutes. In the meantime preheat the oven to 200 degrees and bake it for 30 minutes. Brush the loaf with butter and keep it to cool on a wire rack. Slice slather it butter or mayo and enjoy.  

Made a delicious Sub Style Sandwich  with this bread recipe to be posted on 18th of this month.

Labels :Seeds Bread, French Loaf, Bread Bakers, Breads, Tangzhong Method

Check out the Seeded Breads that our fellow Bread Bakers have baked this month:

Almond Poppyseed Bread from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Crunchy Seed Braid from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
Fennel and Poppy Seed Rolls from Mayuri’s Jikoni
Onion &amp Poppy Seed Bialys from Baking Sense
Savory Seeded Focaccia from Palatable Pastime
Seeded Ficelle Bread from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Siddu from The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen
Six-Seed Soda Bread from Food Lust People Love
Sugarless Multiseed Rye Bread from CookwithRenu
Tangzhong Method French Loaf With Seeds from Sneha’s Recipes
Vegan Seeded Challah Bread from Cook’s Hideout

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.