A Chef's Melody

Ingredients 2 medium turai,peel and chopped into bit size pieces 1 medium onion,finely chopped 1 medium tomato,chopped 3 tbsp peanuts,roasted and shelled 1 green chilli 5 pods garlic 1 tsp red chili powder 1 tsp kashmiri chili powder 1/2 tsp turmeric 1 tbsp coriander-cumin powder 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp chopped cilantro 1/2 tsp mustard seeds pinch of hing 2 tbsp oil salt What you need to do Heat oil in a pan,add the mustard seeds and hing.When the mustard seeds crackle,add the onion and cook until soft.Later add tomato and cook until mushy. Grind to a coarse paste-garlic,green chili and peanuts without adding any water. Add this paste to the onion mixture and cook for 3-4 mins.Add the spices-red chili powder,kashmiri chili powder,turmeric,coriander cumin powder and salt and cook covered for 5 mins. Add the chopped turai and 1 cup of water.Cook covered for 10 mins and then remove the lid and cook till the desired consistency is reached. Add sugar and cilantro. Serv...

Ingredients 2 cup Besan 1 cup ghee,melted 1/2 cup milk 11/2 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 tsp cardamom powder 3 tbsp silvered almonds and pistachios for garnishing 1/4 tsp oil What you need to do In a wide bowl,take besan,1/2 cup ghee and milk.Mix well.Set aside for 45 mins. In a saucepan,take sugar and water and cook till you get 1 string consistency. While the sugar syrup get ready,heat the remaining ghee in a kadhai,add the besan mixture and roast till besan changes color. Add the hot sugar syrup and cardamom powder to this roasted besan and cook the mixture for 3-4 mins till it is little thick and leaves the sides of the pan. Grease a 10 inch plate with oil,pour in the prepared mixture and garnish with almonds and pistachios.Set aside for 2 hours. Cut the mohanthal in desired shapes and serve. Makes - 30 small squares.

Ingredients For the dough 1 cup bread flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp dry yeast 1 tbsp sugar 1/4 cup water 2 tbsp olive oil For the pizza sauce 1/2 can tomato sauce 2 tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tsp Italian seasoning 2 tsp freshly ground pepper 4 basil leaves 1 tsp red chili flakes 5 garlic pods,crushed salt to taste 1 tbsp olive oil Toppings 1/4 cup onion,sliced 1/4 cup green pepper,sliced 10-15 spinach leaves 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 tbsp olive oil You may add more topping of your choice. What you need to do Add yeast and sugar in 1/4 cup of water  and microwave for 10 secs. Let the mixture froth. In a wide bowl,mix the bread flour and salt,add the yeast mixture,1 tbsp oil and 1/4 cup of warm water and knead to form a dough. Coat the dough ball with oil and cover the bowl with a cling wrap and set aside for 45 mins. For the sauce,heat oil in a pan,when hot add the garlic,saute for couple of minutes. Add the tomato sauce,ketchup,seasoning,g...

Ingredients 8 medium size red roma tomatoes,roughly chopped 1 small yellow onion,chopped 5 garlic pods,crushed 1 medium size carrot,thinly sliced 6-8 sweet basil leaves 1 tsp dry oregano 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp tomato ketchup 1/2 tsp sugar salt to taste 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 tbsp fresh cream (optional) What you need to do Heat oil in a pan,when hot add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. When the garlic changes color,add the onions and cook them until soft. Then add the tomatoes and carrot,cover and cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy. Now add the dry spices(pepper,oregano,Italian seasoning) ,basil leaves, salt and sugar.Cook for 2 more minutes. Switch off the flame and let the mixture cool. Pour the mixture in a blender ,add tomato ketchup and 1/2 cup of water and puree until smooth. Heat  butter in a pan,when hot pour the smooth puree and let it simmer until it comes to a boil. Turn off th...

Ingredients 8 medium size red roma tomatoes,roughly chopped 1 small yellow onion,chopped 5 garlic pods,crushed 1 medium size carrot,thinly sliced 6-8 sweet basil leaves 1 tsp dry oregano 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp tomato ketchup 1/2 tsp sugar salt to taste 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 2 tbsp fresh cream (optional) What you need to do Heat oil in a pan,when hot add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. When the garlic changes color,add the onions and cook them until soft. Then add the tomatoes and carrot,cover and cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy. Now add the dry spices(pepper,oregano,Italian seasoning) ,basil leaves, salt and sugar.Cook for 2 more minutes. Switch off the flame and let the mixture cool. Pour the mixture in a blender ,add tomato ketchup and 1/2 cup of water and puree until smooth. Heat  butter in a pan,when hot pour the smooth puree and let it simmer until it comes to a boil. Turn off th...

Ingredients 1 cup +1 tbsp Unbleached All purpose flour 1/2 cup quick oats 1/3 cup light brown sugar 1 stick of salted butter 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chip What you need to do In a bowl,cream the butter and sugar. Add vanilla extract and mix. In another bowl,mix in 1 cup flour,oat and baking soda. Add 1 tbsp of flour to the chocolate chip and toss. Add the flour mix and chocolate chips to the butter-sugar mixture and form a soft dough. Roll the dough to form a log and wrap in with a plastic wrap and refrigerate  for 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.Cut 1 inch thick disc out of the cookie log and line them on the baking sheet 1.5 inches apart. Bake for 18 mins. Once cooled to room temperature store in airtight container. Makes 18 cookies

Ingredients 4 leftover chappatis 2-3 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp cardamom powder 1 tbsp ghee,at room temperature What you need to do Roughly tear the chappatis and pulse them in the blender/food processor along with the sugar to make a course powder. In a bowl,add the prepared powder,cardamom powder and ghee. Mix together and form small ball/ladoos. Note A day old chappati works better than fresh chappati. You could add dry fruits powder to these ladoos too. Makes 3 to 6 depending on the size