A Chef's Melody

Ingredients 1 cup 16 beans 1 cup tomato puree 1/2 cup celery, chopped 1/2 cup Carrots, chopped 1 small potato cubed 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 1 tsp freshly ground pepper Dash of hot sauce (optional ) Here's what you need Rinse the beans thoroughly and soak them in 3 cups of water overnight. Pressure cook the beans in the water it was soaked in until the beans are tender.Mine were done in 4 whistle. Transfer the content in a pot and add the remaining ingredients. Simmer till the desired consistency is reached. Serve hot with homemade bread. Bread Ingredients 1 cup Wheat flour (Atta) 2 cup All Purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1 packet active dry yeast 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter (room temp) 1/4 -1/2 cup low fat pizza ( I used a mixture of mozzarella and mild cheddar) Here's what you need to do Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of lukewarm water along with the sugar.Set it aside for 10 mins. until frothy. In a bowl mix together a...

Ingredients 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour/Atta 1/4 cup salted butter  1/4 cup creamy  peanut butter 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar Here's what you need to do Sift the wheat flour and sugar separately. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the peanut butter and mix. Add the flour to this mixture and combine it to form a ball.You might need to add a couple of tbsp of milk at this stage if the mixture is dry. Wrap the dough in a cling wrap and let it rest for 15 mins.in the meantime, preheat the oven to 350 deg F and spray a cookies sheet with a cooking spray. Make small balls of the dough and press them lightly between your palms and set them on the cookie sheet an inch apart from each other. Bake for 20  mins.Rotate the cookie sheet once by 180 deg at 17th min. Let them cool for 10 mins on the cookie sheet and then transfer them on a wire rack. Once cooled completely store in an airtight container. Makes: 12 bite-size cookies Note: All Ingredients must be at r...

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups All purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa (i used Hershey's) 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp vinegar 1/2 cup oil 2 tsp pure vanilla 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips 1 cup cold water (i stored a cup of water in refrigerator for 30 mins) Here's what you need to do: Grease and line 15 muffin cups and preheat the oven to 325 deg F. Sift the flour,cocoa,baking soda and salt thrice. In a bowl mix the water,oil and vanilla. Add 1 tbsp of the dry mix to the chocolate chips and mix till they are coated well.Set aside.This prevents the chips to sink at the bottom. Add the dry ingredients to the water mixture and gently fold until you get a smooth batter.If you want to store the batter for later use this is the perfect time.Drop the batter in a clean airtight container and store it up to a week. Add the vinegar and mix well.Fold in the chips. Pour the batter in the muffin cups until they are...

Ingredients 250 gms paneer cubed 1 large red onion,cubed (or 2 medium onions) 3 large tomatoes 4 garlic cloves 1 inch ginger 1 inch cinnamon stick 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp kitchen king masala 1 tbsp kasoori methi,crushed between your palms 5 cashews ,soaked for 30 mins 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp kashmiri mirch powder 2 tbsp oil 1/2 cup whole milk (or cream) 1 tbsp butter/ghee 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro Here's what you need to do Wash the tomatoes and make a not so deep + on one of their narrow side. Boil 1 1/2 cups of water in a sauce pan and drop the tomatoes . After 4 mins,switch off the heat cover the pan and set aside for 10 mins. Fish the tomatoes out.Peel the skin and chop them roughly.Reserve the juice they release while chopping. Put the sauce pan along with the  remaining water back on stove and let the water come to a boil. Now add the cubed onion and cook covered till they...

Ingredients For buns 3 cups All purpose flour 1 packet of  Active Dry Yeast 2 Tbsp Sugar 3 Tbsp Butter 1 tsp salt 1 1/4 cup warm milk 1/4 cup lukewarm water 2 tbsp milk for brushing 3 tbsp white sesame seeds 1 tbsp of oil For stuffing 1 cup boiled potato 1 cup cauliflower 1/2 cup green peas 1/2 cup carrot 1/2 cup green pepper 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tbsp kitchen king masala salt to taste 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp cilantro.finely chopped 1 small onion,finely chopped 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp cumin seeds Here what you need to do: For stuffing: Heat oil in a pan,when hot add cumin and when they change colour, add onion and saute till they turn translucent. Add the cauliflower,carrot ,peas and green pepper and cover and cook until they are almost done. Add the red chilli,turmeric,coriander powder,kitchen king masala and salt.Cover and cook for 2-3 mins. Add the potatoes and cov...

Ingredients 1 cup yellow moong dal 1 inch ginger 2 green chillis (adjust as per your taste) 3 tbsp curd/plain yogurt -preferrably sour 1 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp turmeric salt to taste 1 1/2 tsp eno fruit sat For tempering: 1 tbsp mustard seeds 1 tbsp sesame seeds 1/8 tsp hing 7-8 curry leaves 1 green chilli,finely chopped 1 tbsp oil 2 tbsp of finely chopped cilantro for ganishing What you need to do: Soak the dal in 4 cups for water for 4-5 hours. Drain and grind in along with the ginger,chillis and curd to a smooth batter ans set aside for 5-6 hours, preferably over night to ferment. Pour water in the steamer ,close the lid and let the water come to a rolling boil. Grease an 8 inch deep plate/thali with a tsp of oil. Add turmeric,salt and sugar to the batter and mix. When the steamer is ready ,add a mixture of 1 tbsp of water and eno to the batter and mix gently. Pour the batter in the thali. Place a wired rack or inverted plate at the...

Ingredients 1 cup soya nuggets (I used Nutrella brand) 2 tbsp curd/plain yogurt 2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric 2 medium red onions, finely chopped 1 large tomato, finely chopped 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp coriander powder 3 tbsp dessicated dry coconut-dry roated until light golden 1 tbsp crushed kasuri methi 5 whole cashew nuts 4 tbsp oil 2 cups hot water 1 tsp sugar 4 tbsp milk 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro salt to taste whole masala: 1" cinnamon stick,3 cloves,4 black peppers Lightly dry roast the above whole masala for a minutes. What you need to do: Add 1 tsp of salt to hot water and drop in the soya chunks.Set aside for 1/2 an hour. Gently squeeze the chunks to remove the water and cut them in half. In a bowl beat the curd with turmeric , a tsp of chilli powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Drop the soya chunks in this and gently mix till they are coated with the mixture.Set aside til...

Ingredients 2 cups fresh strawberry puree 3 tbsp +2 tbsp  sugar 14 oz can of condensed milk 8 oz tub of Any brand whipped topping such as CoolWhip 3 strawberries, finely chopped What you need to do In a glass bowl mix together strawberry puree,3tbsp sugar,condensed milk with a hand mixer for 3 mins on medium speed till well combined. Fold in the whipped topping and beat with a hand mixer for 2 mins on low speed. Don't overmix or else the whipped topping will fall flat. Pour in a airtight container,place the lid and freeze it for atleat 5-6 hours. In a small bowl, mix the chopped strawberries and 2 tbsp sugar and refrigerate for 2 hrs. Remove the ice cream from the freezer 5 mins before it needs to be served. For serving,scoop the icecream in a small glass bowl and drizzle the sugar strawberry mixture on the top. Have a wonderful dessert. Variation: You can add few chopped strawberry pieces in the ice cream itself. I have tried mango ice cream with the ...

Ingredients 1/2 lb tindora,ends snipped off and sliced into thin circles. 1 medium onion,finely chopped 1 small potato chopped into small cubes 1/2 tsp ginger,grated 1/2 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric salt to taste few curry leaves 1 tsp mustard seeds 1/8 tsp hing/asafoetida 2 tbsp oil What you need to do Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan,when hot drop in the sliced tindora and stir fry for 3-4 mins on medium heat.Add 1/2 tsp each of salt and turmeric.Mix. Cover and cook on low flame for 15 mins.Give them a couple of shakes so that they don't burn. After 15 mins remove them in a plate and in the same pan heat the remaining oil,when hot add hing,mustard seeds. When they splutter add curry leaves ,ginger and mix. Add the onion and cook till they are pink. Now drop in the potato,1/2 tsp  each of turmeric and salt. Saute for couple of mins and cover and cook for 2 mins. Add in the tindora ,coriander powder and chilli powder.Combine and c...

Ingredients: Dry ingredients 2 cups All purpose flour 1 cup milk powder 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp baking powder 1 cup sugar 1/8 tsp salt Wet ingredients 1/2 cup oil 1/2 cup yogurt 1 cup water 1 tsp vanilla What you need to do: Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.Grease the cake pan with oil and dust it lightly with flour. Mix and sieve the dry ingredients thrice. Cream the oil and sugar till smooth.Add rest of the wet ingredients and combine. Gentle fold in the flour a tbsp at a time into smooth batter. Pour out a cup of this batter in a bowl add 2 tbsp of cocoa powder and mix. In the cake pan add a tbsp of white batter then a tbsp of cocoa batter and continue in similar manner until both batters are finished.With a knife make random zig-zag patters a couple of times. Bake in a preheated oven for 40 mins or until the toothpick comes out clean. Variation Tricolor cake :  Just equally divide the batter in 3 bowls. Add 1 1/2 tbsp of cocoa powder to one and 1...

Ingredients 1 1/2 cup  sprouted vaal 1 medium potato,diced in 1" cubes 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp jaggery salt to taste 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 1/2 tsp hing 2 tbsp chopped cilantro Here's what you need to do Heat oil in a kadhi,when hot add hing ,mustard seeds and when they crackle add the potato and vaal,cover and cook for 5 mins. Add 1 1/2 cup of boiling water,chilli powder,turmeric,jaggery,salt. Cover and cook until the vaal are tender,about 15 mins. Uncover and cook till water evaporates. Transfer in a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro. Note: Sprouting process Soak 3/4 cup dry vaal in water for 10 -12 hours.Drain and wrapped them tighly in damp cloth and set aside for 18-24 hours.Transfer the sprouts in warm, water and set aside for 30 mins.With your thumb gently peel out the skin from the vaal.wash the vaal before use.

Ingredients 2 cups green beans,ends trimmed and chopped 3/4 cm long. 1 large potato,washed peeled and cubed 1 1/2  tsp chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp mustard seeds 1/2  tsp hing 2 tbsp oil salt to taste Here's what you need to do In a heavy bottom pan,heat oil when hot add hing,mustard seeds and when they crackle add potato, beans,chilli powder and turmeric. Saute for couple of mins.Cover and cook for 5 mins. Add salt and garam masala saute and cooked covered until done.

Sol kadhi is paired with a non veg meal in maharshtra and Goa especially when the meal comprises of fish.Sol kadhi is drank at the end of meal to aid digestion. Ingredients 1 coconut grated 7-8 sol/kokum 8 cloves garlic 4-5 black peppers 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp cilantro,finely chopped Here's what you need to do Boil 2 cups of water.Add the kokum to it and set aside for 1 hour. Grind coconut,black peppers,garlic with water and extract milk from it.Strain. Fish the kokums out of the water and add the coconut milk to il. Add salt and cilantro. Tip: If you have access to canned coconut milk the recipe goes as below. Boil 2 cups of water.Add the kokum to it and set aside for 1 hour.Fish the kokum out add canned coconut milk to it.Heat a saucepan,add a tsp ghee.When hot add jeera 1 tbsp minced garlic and a tsp chopped green chillis.Add this tempering to the kokum coconut milk mixture.Add salt and cilantro.

This is a typical Maharashtrian recipe with a concept of North Indian koftas but with just a touch of spice to enhance the gravy. Ingredients 1 cup gram flour (besan) 1 medium red onion,finely chopped 2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp turmeric 1 1/2 tsp salt or as per taste 1 tsp sugar 1 tbsp oil handful of chopped cilantro tamarind extract from a lemon size tamarind bowl Grind to paste 1 cup fresh/frozen coconut 3 garlic cloves,minced 1 tsp onion 1/2 tsp coriander seeds 1/8 tsp black pepper powder Grind the above ingredients with little water to a smooth paste Here's what you need to do In a bowl mix together besan ,half of the chopped onion,1/2 tsp chili powder,1/4 tsp turmeric,1/4 tsp salt,1/2 tsp sugar and 2 tbsp cilantro and with little water mix to form a stiff dough. Grease your hand with little oil and make lemon size balls of this dough. Heat oil in a kadhai,when hot add the onion and fry till translucent. Add the ground paste,chili powder and  turme...

Ingredients: 1 cup All purpose flour 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup yogurt (low fat) 2 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature) 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla Here's what you need to do Preheat the oven to 350 Deg F.Grease the baking dish with olive oil or butter. Sieve the Flour and baking soda thrice. Cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy.Add Vanilla and mix. Beat the yogurt and add it to the sugar butter mixture. Add the flour a few tbsp at a time and fold it gently in the wet mixture. Pour in the greased dish and bake for 40 mins or until the toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Cool and slice it.Enjoy with a cup of coffee. Note: If the consistency of the yogurt is very thick the batter will be thick and the cake will be dense. Add 2 tbsp of water to the batter in this case. For variation:  You could add nuts and/or tutti frutti to this cake. Reduce the yogurt to 3/4 cup and add 1/4 cup lemon ...

Ingredients:  2 packets Parle-G glucose biscuits (total 30 biscuits )   1 tbsp coco powder.   4-5 tbsp sugar. (Adjust according to your taste)  1 tsp baking powder.  1 cup milk (at room temp)  1 tsp vanilla  2 tbsp unsalted butter or  clarified butter. Here's  what you need to do Grind glucose biscuits into a fine powder. Mix coco powder, baking powder and the biscuit powder. Sieve the above mixture thrice. Cream the butter and sugar well.Add Vanilla and mix. Mix the dry ingredients the sugar butter mixture. Slowly incorporate the milk to form a smooth batter. Grease a microwave safe bowl and pour the above mixture and microwave the above mixture for 5 mins on full power.Let it stand for another 2 mins in the microwave. When it cools down slice it in pieces and enjoy. Note: You can use 15 Parle-G biscuit and 15 any brand chocolate biscuits like Hide and seek,Oreo,Bourbon and skip the cocoa powder.

Here's what you need 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 1 large potato,cubed 1 cup fried onions (Store bought-almost all Indian store carry them) 1 tbsp garlic paste 1 tbsp ginger paste 8 whole cashews, halved 2 tbsp plain yogurt,preferably at room temperature 1/4 cup store bought tomato sauce (substitute:1/2 cup homemade tomato puree) 1 tsp chili powder 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 1/2 tsp sugar 1 tbsp kasuri methi,crushed 1 tsp Kitchen King Masala (substitute :garam masala) 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped 1 tsp ghee (optional) 1 tbsp oil salt to taste Let's start cooking Blend fried onions,cashews,yogurt to a smooth paste.Use a few tablespoons of warm water if necessary. In a kadhai ,heat a tsp of oil fry the onion paste on medium high heat,stirring continuously until oil separates, approx. 4-5 mins.Remember we are using fried onions,so don't be surprised to see a considerable amount of oil oozing out.It is necessary tha...

Here's what you need 1 large potato peeled and cubed 2 capsicum/green pepper cut into big chunks 1 medium onion sliced lengthwise 1/2 tsp red chili powder 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 1/2 tsp dhania-jeera powder 1/2 tsp pav bhaji masala 2 tbsp cilantro finely chopped 3 tbsp oil salt to taste Let's start cooking In a glass bowl,add all the above ingredients,mix well. Cover will a microwave safe plastic wrap.Punch 5-6 hole on the wrap to allow steam to escape. Cook on full power in microwave for 20 minutes. Serve hot with rotis or rice. Note: Add a tbsp of lemon juice to enhance the flavor after you remove it from the microwave .

Here's what you need: 1 bunch spinach Trim and wash the spinach leaves and drop them in boiling water and let them boil for couple of minutes.Fish the leaves out and drop them in ice cold water.Let them rest for 5 mins.Later make a puree of the leaves. 1 cup masoor   soaked overnite and cooked just until done but not mushy. 1 medium red onion chopped 2 green chillis slit 1 medium tomato chopped 7 cloves of garlic minced 4 tbsp dessicated coconut Dry roasted till light golden. 1 tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1/2 tsp garam masala powder 2 tbsp oil salt to taste Let's start cooking Heat a fry pan ,add a tbsp of oil when hot drop in  garlic and saute for a couple of mins till light brown. Add the onion and fry till transparent,about 4 mins. Add green chilis,tomato,coriander powder,cumin powder,red chili powder and fry till oil separates,about 5 mins.Remember we have used very less oil so you won't see a...