Malai Kofta

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 7 to 8

Ingredients:

For the Koftas

• 300 g grated paneer(cottage cheese)
• 2 potatoes(boiled and mashed)
• 2 large onions finely chopped
• 1tsp green chilies finely chopped
• 15-20 raisins
• 10 cashewnuts roughly chopped
• 1tbsp bread crumbs
• 2tbsps khoya(optional)
• salt as per taste
• red chili powder as per taste
• 1tsp cumin powder
• handful coriander leaves chopped
• refined oil for deep frying

For the Gravy

• 4 onions grind into a paste
• 3 tomatoes grind into a paste
• 1tsp garlic mince
• 1tsp ginger mince
• 5 green cardamoms
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 5 cloves
• 1tsp cumin
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp turmeric powder
• salt as per taste
• red chili powder as per taste
• 1tsp green chilies finely chopped
• 2 cups water
• 1tsp garam masala powder
• 15 cashews grind into a paste with water
• 1tsp tomato ketchup
• 1tbsp cream
• 1tsp kasuri methi powder
• 1tbsp olive oil

To make the koftas mix all the ingredients for the koftas except oil and shape the mixture into about 15 golf ball sized balls. Add more bread crumbs if the mixture is not coming together. Deep fry the balls and take them out on a paper towel.

For the gravy, heat the oil in the wok and fry cumin, cardamoms, cinnamon and cloves for a minute and then add garlic-ginger mince. Fry it for another minute and add the onion paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes and add coriander powder and turmeric powder. Cook till the onions are cooked and oil starts separating. Then add the tomato paste. Mix well and add chilies, salt and red chili. Cook till tomatoes are done, the oil separates and tadka comes together.

Add water and bring the gravy to a boil. Add garam masala and ketchup. Mix well and add the cashew paste. Simmer and let the gravy cook for few minutes till it reduces by 1/4th. Now add the cream and kasuri methi and mix well. Cook for another 2 minutes. 

Pour the gravy on the koftas and garnish with raisins and few chopped cashews. Enjoy!!!

Cinnamon Rolls

I found this recipe on the net and tried it out. It came out pretty good.

Preparation time: 4 hours
Baking time: 25 minutes
Serves 8

Ingredients:

For Dough

• 5-6cups all-purpose flour(maida)
• 2tsp active dry yeast
• 1cup milk
• 1/3cup butter
• 1/3cup castor sugar
• 1/2tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• oil to grease

For Filling

• 3/4cup demerara or brown sugar
• 1/4cup flour
• 1tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2cup cold butter
• 1tbsp raisins(optional)
• 1tsp cream

To make the dough combine 2 1/4cup flour and yeast in a dry bowl. In a saucepan, stirring constantly, heat milk, butter, sugar and salt til it is warm and butter almost melts. Gradually pour this mixture into the flour mix while mixer(electric hand beater) is on low speed. Add the eggs, one at a time beating the mixture well. Then beat the mix on high for around 3 minutes. 

Now knead the mix into a dough with the remaining flour until you have a smooth and soft dough which is not sticky. This may take a while. Shape it into a ball & place it in a greased bowl turning once. Cover with a cling film and let it rise in a warm place until it is almost double. This may take 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. Punch the dough gently to release the air and let it rest for 10 minutes. 

For the filling, stir together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut the cold butter into the mixture until it is crumbly.

Roll the dough into a 12 inch square. Sprinkle the filling and the raisins evenly on the surface and brush one end of the square with cream which will help in sealing the roll. Now roll gently from the opposite end to form a log. Don't roll tightly as it will create problem while baking. Slice the log into 8 equal pieces. Arrange the on a greased baking tray.

Cover them loosely with room to rise with cling film and let them rise for another hour. Preheat the oven at 190 degree C and bake them for 25 minutes or til they are light brown in color and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Serve hot with sprinkling icing sugar and beaten cream. Enjoy!!! 

Easy Peasy Spaghetti

This recipe comes handy when you are really hungry, wanna eat something delicious and don't wanna make much effort for it. Its ingredients are optional. You can use whatever you want or is available, be it sausages, peppers, carrots, peas, mushrooms,etc.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves 3

Ingredients:

• 150g spaghetti
• 3-4 cups water
• 2 onions thinly sliced
• 5 fully cooked sausages sliced
• 1 bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1 carrot sliced into strips
• handful boiled or frozen peas
• 1tsp garlic minced
• salt as per taste
• crushed black pepper as per taste
• oregano
• chili flakes
• 1tsp soy sauce
• ketchup(optional)
• 1tbsp olive oil

Boil the spaghetti in water and few drops of oil as per the instructions on the packet. Meanwhile, heat oil in the wok and add carrot. Cook for a minute and add sausages. Add chili flakes and mix well. Cook for another 2 minutes and add the peppers and onions. Add the garlic and mix well. I add garlic in the end because it gives a stronger flavor. Cook for 2-3 minutes and season with salt and pepper.

Drain the water from the spaghetti and add it to the wok. Mix well and add soy sauce and ketchup. Stir well and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle oregano and serve. Enjoy!!!

Pasta in White Sauce

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 250g pasta(I used farfalle but it could be any of your choice penne, fusilli, etc)
• 5 cups water(to boil pasta)
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 1 carrot(sliced into long strips)
• 2 bell peppers(sliced into long strips)
• handful french beans(cut into strips)
• 2 onions sliced
• 1tbsp boiled or frozen peas
• 1tbsp frozen corn(optional)
• 1tbsp sliced olives
• salt as per taste
• black pepper as per taste
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• 3tbsp plain flour
• 2tbsp butter
• 4 cups milk(slightly warm)
• oregano
• chili flakes
• grated mozarella cheese

Boil the pasta in water with 4-5 drops of olive oil till done or as per the instructions on the packet. Drain and wash with water and keep aside.

Heat the oil in the wok and saute all the veggies for 5-10 minutes til they soften. Season them with salt and pepper. Do not add onions first to the wok as they become to pale and loose all the flavor by the end.

To make the white sauce heat the butter in the saucepan, do not burn it. Add the flour and stir constantly to prevent it from burning. The flour will be done in a minute or two. Oil will separate and the color will change. Now add the milk stirring constantly. Mix well and add garlic. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. When the mixture reduces to half, it will be done add the veggies. Mix well and add the pasta. Stir well, sprinkle the cheese, oregano and chili flakes.

Mix well. Garnish with freshly crushed black pepper and serve hot. Enjoy!!!

Channe Masala

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 5 to 6

Ingredients

• 1cup channe(white chickpeas)
• 1 black cardamom
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• 3 green cardamoms
• 1tsp zeera(cumin)
• 3 onions grind into a paste
• 2 large tomatoes grind into a paste
• 1tsp garlic mince
• 1tsp ginger mince
• 3 green chilies finely chopped
• 1tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp turmeric powder
• salt as per taste
• red chili powder as per taste
• 1tsp garam masala
• 1/2tsp cumin(zeera) powder
• 1tsp tomato ketchup
• 1 teabag
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 3cups water

Soak channe in water over night along with black cardamom and the teabag. Pressure cook these for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile,heat oil in the wok and fry zeera, cardamoms, cloves and cinnamon stick. Add the ginger-garlic paste. Cook for a minute and add onion paste. Add the coriander and turmeric powder and mix. 

When the oil starts separating add the tomato paste. Season with salt, red chili and green chilies after a few minutes. The tadka will be done when the oil starts separating.

Now some water will still be left with the channe. Dispose off the teabag and separate the channe from water. Add the channe to the tadka. Mix well and cook for 4-5 minutes. Now add 1/2 cup of retained water. Bring to a boil and add the ketchup, garam masala and zeera powder. Cook for 2 minutes.

Garnish with chopped onions and coriander. Serve with hot puris or parantha or rotis. Enjoy!!!