Homemade Chilli Oil#AlphabetChallenge

Chili oil is a fragrant, spicy condiment, staple of Chinese cuisine, particularly Sichuan cuisine. This is an addictive oil tha can be used as a topping for dumplings, noodles and stir-fries, this chilli oil carries aromas and flavours of Asian chilli powder, garlic plus toasted spices . The flavor is dynamite and taste of this oil is divine. It's so delicious.

This is my take on Chilli Oil, you can always add or minus the spice level according to your taste.
Ingredients
6 Big Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Tablespoons White Sesame seeds - lightly toasted
2 Tablespoons Korean Gochugaru or Red Pepper Flakes
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
1 Whole Star Anise
1" Stick Cinnamon
1 Bay Leaf
1 Teaspoon Sichuan Peppercorns
2½ Tablespoon Kashmiri Red Chilly Powder
2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

Method

In a pan, toast the star anise, sesame seeds. cinnamon stick, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns over medium low heat until just starting to release a fragrance.

Heat the oil in a seperate pan, when the oil is just warm add all the toasted spices. Let this oil heat up to medium low flame till the spices start to gently sizzle. Cook at a gentle sizzle for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame and let it cool for 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. 

Place the gochugaru flakes, garlic and salt in a heat-proof jar or bowl. Pour the oil over this mixture. Add the vinegar, soy sauce, chilli powder, gently stir. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight jar. Refrigerate, use within six months to a year.

This is an addictive oil tha can be used as a topping for dumplings, noodles and stir-fries etc.

Labels: Asian Cuisine, Chilly, Homemade, Condiments, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "H"

• Blogghetti: 3 Ingredient Hot Fudge Sauce
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Creamy Cilantro Herb Caribbean Potato Salad 
• A Messy Kitchen: Harissa and Brie No Knead Focaccia 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Haluski
• Food Lust People Love: Hazelnut Vodka 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Homemade Chilli Oil 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Honeynut Squash Soup with Apple and Bacon 
• Magical Ingredients: Hot Chocolate Rolls
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Vegetable Hariyali 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Whipped Honey 

Keto Baked Chicken Legs In Buffalo Sauce#SundayFunday

These Buffalo Chicken Legs are baked in the oven and coated in a delicious sauce. This is so delicious and juicy chicken, you will definitely enjoy it! 
Ingredients
4 Chicken Legs 
For The Marination
1 Teaspoon Salt
2½ Teaspoons Red Chilly Flakes
1½ Teaspoon Cumin powder
2 Fresh Green Chillies - chopped
1½ Teaspoon Dried Mixed Herbs
2 Teaspoons Onion powder
2 Teaspoon Garlic powder
2 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
5 Tablespoon Olive Oil
½ Cup Homemade Buffalo Sauce
For Keto Hot Maple Sauce
1/3 Cup Buffalo Sauce
¼ Cup Keto Sugar Free Maple Syrup
1 Tablespoon Red Chilly Flakes
2 Tablespoon Chopped Coriander leaves
1 Tablespoon Butter
Method

Give cuts to the chicken for the marination to penetrate.

Marinate the chicken in the given ingredients for at least an hour or better still overnight.

Then arrange them in a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C with both elements on for it in 30 minutes, Turning the sides half way through the baking time. 
To Make Keto Hot Maple Sauce 

In a pan heat butter add rest of the ingredients and mix well, when it starts to boil add the chicken and coat them well. 

Garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy!!
Labels: Homemade, Buffalo Sauce, Chicken , Mexican, Keto, Side Dish, Appetizer, Sunday Funday

For Sunday Funday we are sharing recipes with "Maple Syrup"

• French Toast by Mayuri's Jikoni
• Karawya with a Maple Syrup Drizzle by Culinary Cam
• Keto Baked Chicken Legs In Buffalo Sauceby Sneha's Recipe
• Maple Bacon Candied Walnuts by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Maple Bourbon Smashby A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Maple Dijon Bacon Green Beansby Making Miracles
• Maple Mousseby A Messy Kitchen
• Maple Pecan Glaze for Scones by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Maple Thyme Hasselback Yams by Food Lust People Love

Armenian Apple Chunk Cake#EatTheWorld

 

Armenian Apple Chunk cake is full of diced apples, pumpkin spice and is ready within an hour. This is a dessert cake, dust it with icing sugar, serve with caramel sauce or ice cream. This cake does not have baking powder but baking soda is used.

Recipe Adapted from here  

Square Pan 8" x 8"
Ingredients
402 Grams/3 Apples - not peeled, diced into small pieces
3 Eggs
280 Grams All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
½ Cup (125 Ml Cup) Vegetable Oil
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon - I added Homemade Pumpkin Spice
71 Grams Chopped Walnuts
190 Grams Caster Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/8 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C. Grease and line a 8x8 square baking pan or spring form pan with parchment paper.

Add the pumpkin spice, half the sugar together in a bowl. 
As you are dicing the apples, toss them in the bowl with the pumpkin spice and sugar to coat them and prevent browning. The add the flour and baking soda to the apples and toss.

In another bowl cream the oil, eggs, remaining sugar and vanilla extract till light and creamy.

Pour this into the apple mixture and fold it well with a spatula till no dry spots are seen. 

Now add the walnuts and lightly mix it. 

Pour this batter into the prepared baking tin. Tap it once or twice on the counter to remove any air bubbles.

Bake in a preheat oven for 25 minutes after that place a foil on top ( to avoid more browning) and bake it for additional 5 - 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center. Let the cake cool in the pan completely. 

Then dust it icing sugar on top. Slice and enjoy the cake is so delicious you will love it.

Labels: Armenia, Apple, Dessert, Cakes, Eat the World, Homemade, Pumpkin Spice

Check out all the wonderful Armenian recipes prepared by fellow Eat the World members. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!
For Eat The World we are sharing recipes of "Armenia"

• Amy's Cooking Adventures: Lavash Crackers
• Sneha's Recipe: Armenian Apple Chunk Cake
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Tourshi 
• Cam of Culinary Cam served up Khorovats    

Punjabi Style Chitra Rajma Masala With Homemade Rajma Masala#SundayFunday

Chitra Rajma is called Pinto Beans in English. These kidney beans are so creamy delicious naturally when cooked! There is a certain creaminess that comes from making this bean from its dried form which means you really don't need to add that much cooking oil when preparing it. This is real comfort food, can be had with steamed rice, roti or crusty bread. Perfect for lunch or dinner. My daughter and her hubby loves kidney beans in any form and this Homemade Rajma Masala elevates this dish to the next level. Chitra Rajma cooks also very quickly.

Cup Measurement = 200Ml
Ingredients
To Cook The Rajma In Pressure Cooker
1½ Cup Dried Chitra Rajma
1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
2 Bay Leaves
2 Brown Cardamoms
1 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
1 Teaspoon Kashmiri Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Oil
For The Gravy
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
A Pinch Asafoetida
1 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Garlic
2 Medium Onions - finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Heaped Ginger Garlic Paste
4 Medium Tomatoes - blended
2 - 3 Green Chillies - finely chopped
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder 
½ Teaspoon Cumin powder
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Kashmiri Chilly powder
3 Tablespoons Oil
1 Teaspoon Homemade Rajma Masala
1 Teaspoon Desi Ghee
3 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Coriander leaves
For The Homemade Rajma Masala Powder

Makes 475 grams
Ingredients
120 Grams Coriander seeds
70 Grams Cumin seeds
60 Grams Whole Red Chillies
35 Grams Dry Ginger powder
15 Grams Bay Leaves
25 Grams Black Cardamoms
5 Grams Cloves
1 Nutmeg -  broken
70 Grams Dry Pomegranate seeds
50 Grams Amchur powder / Dry Mango powder
Method
For The Homemade Rajma Masala Powder

Dry roast each ingredient separately. Except the ginger and amchur powder. Cool it  then grind all the roasted ingredients together except the ginger and amchur powder. When all ingredients are finely powdered, add the ginger and amchur powder and mix well store in a air tight container. To preserve the color and flavor, store this in the refrigerator.
For Cooking The Rajma

Wash and soak the rajma for at least 7 hours. Then again wash it well. Place this in the pressure cooker with water enough to cover the rajma and all the given ingredients. Cook on medium high flame for one whistle then reduce the flame to low and cook it for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes switch off the flame and let the pressure get released naturally.
For The Gravy

In large kadai/pan heat oil, add the cumin seeds when they start to brown add the asafoetida, then the garlic and sauté till it starts to brown. Now add the onion and fry till it turns golden, the add the ginger garlic paste and sauté till the raw aroma vanishes. Add the blended tomatoes and cook for a 2 minutes then add coriander, chilly, turmeric , cumin powder, homemade rajma masala and salt to taste. Sauté till oil surfaces then add 2 big spoons of the cooked rajma and mash it well so that we get a thick gravy and sauté for a 2 minutes. Now add the remaining cooked rajma and sauté for 2 minutes. Check for gravy consistency if needed add more hot water accordingly to make a nice thick gravy. Cover and cook for 10 minutes on low flame stirring in between. When cooked then add the desi ghee and switch off the flame mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves. 

Enjoy with rice, we enjoyed this with Jeera Rice
Labels: Pinto Beans, Rajma, Kidney Beans, Homemade, Masala, Vegetarian, Gluten free, Indian, Main course, Sunday Funday 

For Sunday Funday we are sharing recipes with "Dried Beans"

Check all the other recipes below

• Black-eyed Peas with Bacon from Food Lust People Love
• Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans from Making Miracles
• Instant Pot 13 Bean Soup with Ham from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Indian Style Bean Salad from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Meatless Shepherd's Pie from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Protein Rich Devil's Food Muffins from A Messy Kitchen
• Punjabi Style Chitra Rajma Masala With Homemade Rajma Masala from Sneha’s Recipe
• Rajma Pulav Kidney Beans Pulav from Sizzling Tastebuds
• Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Soup from Our Good Life
• Vegan Butter Bean Beetroot Salad from Cook with Renu

Colorful Peppers Pulao#AlphabetChallenge

Colorful Peppers Pulao is an easy, quick and delicious one-pot meal rice made with 3 different bell peppers/capsicum, aromatics and herbs. The best thing about this recipe is that you can use leftover rice too. Perfect for lunch box or kid's tiffin.

Ingredients
½ Each of Red, Yellow, Orange & Green Bell Peppers
½ medium sized Red/ purple Onion
3 Green Chilies - thinly sliced
1 Teaspoon Urad Dal
1 Tablespoon Homemade Curry Powder
1½ Cups  Rice 
2-3 Tablespoons Oil 
2½ Cups Water 
Method  

Dice into little cubes all the colored bell peppers
Heat a frying pan with a tablespoon of oil and sauté the peppers, sliced green chillies and with a pinch salt, and a teaspoon of curry powder. Remove and keep aside.

In the same pressure cooker heat 2 tablespoons of oil, add the urad dal, when it starts to brown add in the rice and sauté it for a minute lightly stirring it or else the rice will break. Then add in the curry powder and sauté again for a minute, add salt to taste and give a good mix. Add in the water and bring this to a rolling boil. Close the cooker and take 2 whistles on high flame. After 2 whistles switch off the flame. 

Let the pressure release on it's own. Open the cooker and stir in the sautéed bell peppers and green chillies lightly fluff the rice with a fork so that the bell pepper as incorporated and the rice is loosen nicely. Serve warm, garnished with chopped coriander leaves.

Enjoy this simple yet completely healthy and wholesome one pot meal! 
Labels: Colored Bell Peppers, Capsicum, Pulao, Pressure Cooker, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free,  Main course, Curry powder, Homemade, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "C" 

• Blogghetti: Chai Spice Mix 
• Culinary Cam: Chicken Thigh Schnitzel + Chenin Blanc 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Chocolate Chip Crescent Roll Cookies 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni : Chora Nu Shaak,Gujarati Style 
• Magical Ingredients: Coconut Rolls 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Colorful Peppers Pulao 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Corn Saute with Pancetta, Potatoes, and Peppers 
• A Messy Kitchen: Cranberry Pistachio Pull-apart Rolls 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Dill Pickle & Mustard Seed Cream Cheese Spread
• Food Lust People Love: Traditional Cullen Skink
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: White Chicken Chili  

Vangi Bath Masala - Homemade#AlphabetChallenge

This is a recipe from Karnataka. This spice blend is so flavorful and fragrant, easy to make and a versatile masala, can use this to make other masala bath with the veggies you like. This masala has no preservative or added color.

Try this flavorful masala and you too will love it.
Ingredients
¼ Cup Chana dal
¼ Cup Urad dal
12 Bedki Red chillies or Adjust according to your taste
1 Tablespoon Heaped Coriander seeds
1 Tablespoon Heaped Poppy seeds
1 Tablespoon Heaped Dry Coconut grated or 8 - 10 slices
1 Stick Cinnamon
6 Cloves
1 Cardamom
A Sprig Curry Leaves
Method

Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and fry each of these ingredients - chana dal, urad dal, poppy seeds, coriander seeds, dry coconut, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, curry leaves and red chillies, separately on low flame until they release an aroma and turn red. Remove from pan and keep aside.

Once they cool down, grind all the ingredients into a fine powder. Ta daa.. Vangi Bath Masala is ready .
Store the powder in an air tight container and use it for making Vangi Bath or any other masale bath / rice with the vegetable of your choice.

Check this Vangi Bath Recipe

Labels: Homemade, Masala, Karnataka, South Indian, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "V"

• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Cranberry Orange Vinaigrette 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Instagram - Sweet Tea Vodka Vegetable Couscous Soup
• Food Lust People Love: Mirabelle Plum Vodka 
• Blogghetti: Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Salata De Varza Rosie 
• Culinary Cam: Summer Rolls and Nước Chấm, a Ubiquitous Vietnamese Dipping Sauce
• Sneha’s Recipe: Vangi Bath Masala - Homemade
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Vanilla Bean Sable Cookies 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Vaquero Chicken
• A Messy Kitchen: Vichy Carrots  

Vegetarian Rice Roni With Homemade Rice Roni Mix#SundayFunday

This Homemade Rice Roni is a blend of rice and pasta which then cooked in butter, chicken/vegetable stock and seasonings until light and fluffy. A quick easy dish that tastes so good. This Homemade Rice-A-Roni has no artificial ingredients and is absolutely delicious.

I had this Rice Roni many times when abroad. I loved it , but, here it's not available so made my own. This is a basic mix, you can have many add ons/flavorful spices to it when you are cooking this as a meal.

This Homemade Rice Roni is the perfect accompaniment to make a complete and delicious meal with chicken, fish, steak or shrimp. 
Ingredients
200 Grams Spaghetti - broken into pieces
2 Cups Basmati Rice
1 Tablespoon Oil
Method
Wash the rice with a wet cloth and let it dry for some time. In the meantime in a pan heat a tablespoon of oil and fry the spaghetti for a minute or two only. Cool and mix it with the rice.

Homemade Rice Roni Mix is ready.

Made a vegetarian version of this for our lunch.
Vegetarian Rice Roni

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Dried Chives
1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning Mix
1 Bay Leaf
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper Powder or to taste
1 Vegetable Stock Cube
1 Scallion/Spring Onion - chopped
1 Medium Onion - chopped
1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic
5 - 6 Broccoli Florets
¼ Cup Diced Carrots
¼ Cup French Beans - chopped
½ Cup Colored Bell Peppers - chopped
1 Small Tomatoes - chopped
1½ Cups Rice Roni
3½ Cups Water
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Tablespoon Oil

Method

Heat oil and butter in a large pot/pan, fry the onion, till translucent, add all the veggies, chives, seasoning , bay leaf and sauté for a minute.  

Add the stock cube, water , give it a light mix and bring this to a rolling boil.

Now add the Rice Roni , give it a light stir. Cover, let it be on high flame for a minute then reduce the flame to low and let it cook for 12 -15 minutes giving it a light stir after 5 minutes. Check for taste and seasoning, add black pepper powder to your taste ( this is optional).

When liquid has been absorbed, take a test bite to see if rice is cooked through. Add hot water if necessary and continue cooking if it needs a bit more time.

Delicious Rice Roni is ready to enjoy.

Serve this with Egg And Cauliflower Salad.
Labels: Broccoli, Carrot, Vegetarian, Pasta, International Cuisine, Capsicum, Rice Roni, Pasta & Noodles, Homemade, Rice, Sunday Funday

Check this recipe made with Rice Roni Mix  

• A Voyage into the Pasta Universe with Gluten-Free Pestazzule. Mafaldine. and Stringozzi by Culinary Cam
• Pasta alla Norcina Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Pumpkin Gnocchi by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Spaetzle by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Vegetarian Rice Roni With Homemade Rice Roni Mix by Sneha's Recipe