Kerala Beef Curry

Beef Curry is quite popular in the Indian state of Kerala, this spicy curry tastes best with Kerala Porotta. This is a very tasty and easy to make.

Ingredients
250 gms Beef – cubed
1 Medium Tomato – chopped
1 Large Onion – sliced
2 Green chillies – slit
3 Cardamoms
3 Cloves
4 Black Peppercorns
1 Bay leaves
1 Stick Cinnamon
1/2 Star anise
1 Teaspoon Ginger - Garlic paste
2 Tablespoons Oil -
1 Teaspoon Chilli powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander powder
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric powder

A sprig Curry leaves 

Coriander leaves – for garnishing 

Method
Roast the bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, star anise lightly and powder it.

Heat oil in a pan add onion, curry leaves and saute till brown.
Now add the ginger- garlic paste, saute till oil leaves the sides. To this add chilli , coriander and turmeric powder, again saute for 2 minutes, add water a little to cook the masala and then add the tomatoes, green chillies and beef. Fry the beef till the water is all absorbed, and the beef is brown in color.

Transfer this to a cooker and add water till the level of the meat and mix. Pressure-cook it till on high flame for a whistle reduce, keep it on slow flame and cook till done. Now add the garam masala (the ground powder) and salt , check if the meat is cooked properly, if the meat is not cooked add a little water if necessary and cook till it becomes tender. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve it with rice, porotta or chapattis.

Labels: Beef, Kerala, Main course, Pressure Cooker

Egg White Cake (Munavalgekook)

This is an an Estonian recipe, also known as "Egg White Cake". Light and baked in a tube pan, like traditional Angel Food cakes.I made mousakka on two days and was left with four egg whites. These egg whites were lying in the fridge for a week. I was thinking what to do with these egg whites. Googled and found this recipe here. I halved this recipe but used four egg whites. This cake turned out delicious and soft. My daughter Loved the texture and flavor. I just add two extra ingredients, pineapple essence and yellow food color.

Ingredients
3 Egg whites
125 grams Sugar - powdered
80 Grams All-purpose flour
1/2 Tablespoon Cornflour
1/2 Teaspoon Baking powder
50 Grams melted butter - slightly cooled

1/4 Teaspoon Pineapple essence
1/4 Teaspoon Yellow food color

Method
Whisk the egg whites with 2 Tbsp of sugar until thick and pale and very foamy. 

Mix the rest of the sugar with flour, cornflour and baking powder, then sift into the egg mixture and fold in gently.
Finally fold in cool melted butter.

Pour the batter into a buttered bundt-form and bake in a pre-heated 180 C oven for 20 minutes. Test for doneness with a wooden toothpick.

Cool slightly before turning out of the cake tin.

Labels: Cakes, Continental Cuisine, Bake a thon, Estonain

Bake-a-thon 2014

An InLinkz Link-up

Italian Chicken Pot Pie

Had a small packet of chicken in the deep freezer and only 4 puff pastry sheets remaining, since there was Bechamel Sauce too in the refrigerator I decided to make this pot pie for our evening meal.  I got only two pot pies.    In this pot pie I used different type of spices, dill and steak pepper.

Earlier I used to never like the smell of dill but after using the dry dill, started to like the flavour of the same.  In this pot pie even the  steak pepper gives a very awesome.  If you do not have this do not hesitate to prepare this pie you can use pepper powder.  This was very filling and complete meal with veggies too.  We enjoyed this for our dinner.   So here goes the recipe.

Ingredients

4 Sheets Puff pastry - square sheet
1 Egg - beaten
1 Cup Chicken – cut into small pieces
½ Teaspoon Ginger- Garlic paste
½ Teaspoon Black pepper powder
1 Teaspoon Lime juice
1 Tablespoon Oil
1/2 Medium size Onion - minced
1 Tablespoon frozen Green peas,
1 Tablespoon chopped carrots- chopped in small cubes
2 Tablespoons Red, yellow and green capsicum – chopped in small cubes
Pinch  grated Nutmeg
A pinch dried Celery
A pinch dried Dill
A pinch dried Mint

 A pinch Steakpepper
A pinch White pepper powder
Salt to taste
½ Cup Bechamel Sauce
1 Cheese cube

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Season chicken with ginger – garlic paste, lime juice, salt and pepper. Heat oil in a pan add onion and all the vegetables saute for a minute then chicken and all the spices and saute add water a little cover and cook. Check if cooked then on high flame dry all the moisture and add the béchamel sauce cheese and mix well add nutmeg and mix well. Remove from heat and cool.

Roll out the puff pastry sheet. Brush the bowl with the oil, then place the dough.  Add the filling in the centre.  Crimp the dough to fold over the side, pressing it to make it stick cover it a another piece of dough. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in the top. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Bake until the crust is puffed and golden brown and the filling is bubbly, another 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes before serving. 

Labels: Chicken, Continental Cuisine, Bake a thon,Pie & Quiche, Italy

Bake-a-thon 2014

An InLinkz Link-up

Rich Plum Cake / Christmas Cake

This is one cake that I only prepare for Christmas and it gets over in a day or two in distributing and friends coming over.  I double this recipe and make it.  This is a moist and yummy cake.  I also soak the fruits  2 - 3 months before in rum and store it  a glass jar.

Ingredients

200 Grams Butter - I used salted
200 Grams All Purpose Flour
1/8 Teaspoon Soda-bi-carb
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
200 Grams Sugar - powdered
5 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
300 Grams Kismis/Raisins - chopped
150 Grams Mixed Preserves - chopped
25 Grams Nuts - sliced
100 Grams Tea Sugar for the caramel
1 Small Nutmeg
Rum for the soaking the fruits

Method

Grease and line the baking pan and keep aside.

Preheat the oven to 160 degree, then start preparing the cake batter.

Sieve the Flour, soda-bicarb and baking powder thrice and keep aside.

Strain the soaked fruits and keep aside

Beat the sugar and butter till light and fluffy.  Then add the eggs one by one and continue beating.  Add the essence and little by little add the flour and lightly fold it into the mixture.  Then add the fruits and gently fold it into the mixture.  Pour this into the prepared pan and bake for 20 - 25 minutes.   
As soon you remove the cake from the oven sprinkle a tablespoon or two of rum on top.

When cooled slice the cake.  Enjoy and share it with your loved ones.

Labels : Cakes, Bake a thon

Bake-a-thon 2014

An InLinkz Link-up

Gajar ki Kalakand

I saw the recipe on you tube and had written it down. Wanted to make it long back, but since red carrots are in the market only during winter had to wait to make this. I have made some changes to suit my taste. This recipe is not very tiresome. I made this on high flame, only see that you keep stirring and use a heavy bottom pan.

Ingredients

200 Grams Khoya
1 Kg Carrots - peeled and grated
1. 1/2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Ghee
1/4 Teaspoon Orange color
1 Teaspoon Green cardamom powder
3 Tablespoon Almonds and pistachio or cashewnuts sliced
Silver waraq as required

Method
Peel and grate carrots, blanched in half cup water, add orange color till carrots just soft for 10 minutes, dry up all the water then in the same pan add ghee, fry for 5 minutes on high flame then add the sugar and fry well for 10 minutes on high flame stirring continuously till syrup is thick and then nearly dries. Add khoya, keep frying till absolutely dry, then add green cardamom powder, fry well till it leaves the sides of the pan and comes in the center like a ball, add almonds and pistachio, remove in a greased platter, top with some more almonds and pistachios, leave to set until firm.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doingBM#47.

Labels : Sweets & Desserts, Blogging Marathon