Sheekh Kebabs

Kebabs were not my specialty and I kept trying different recipes each time I made them but was never ever happy with the outcome. The kind of flavour and taste that came to my mind did not in any way match the recipes I found.   The rich taste of the ground meat should be in perfect harmony with the spice bland, the subtle flavour of the whole spices playing in the...

Read More

Bitter gourd masala

Ingredients: Bitter gourds - 3 - 4 or 2 cups slicedOnions sliced - 1 cup or 1 largeMustard seeds - 1/4 tspCurry leaves - a fewDried red chilies - 2 smallGreen chilies - 2 smallGinger garlic paste - 1 tspTurmeric powder - 1/4 tspCumin powder - 1/4 tspRed Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)Lemon juice - 1 tspBrown sugar - 1/2 tspVegetable oil - 2 tbsCilantro - 2 tbsMethod: 1....

Read More

Butter Chicken, My Style!

The origins of Murgh Makhani or Butter Chicken can be traced back to a man named Kundan Lal Gujral who opened a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Daryaganj, Old Delhi after fleeing from Peshawar in Pakistan during the partition in 1947. This is the man who first created the famous Tandoori chicken by trying to cook chicken in the tandoor (locally used for baking naans) and placed...

Read More

Avocado Mango Salad

Ingredients:Ripe Avocados - 2Ripe Mangoes - 1Hot pickled peppers - a few For the dressing:Lemon juice = 2 tbsSalt to taste Pepper - 1/4 tspOlive oil - 1 tbsDijon Mustard - 1/2 tspMethod:  1. Peel, remove the stone and cut the avocado into cubes.2. Peel, wash and cut the mango into cubes too.3. Add coarsely chopped pickled peppers.4. Prepare the dressing by whisking...

Read More

The White Biryani

Ever imagined eating a biryani and not feeling heavy? The White biryani does the trick. It is less oily, less hot and less spicy, but full of flavour and very tasty. Ever since I created the white chicken, I have been wanting to create this dish for so long and had been imagining it all the time. Thanks to the Almighty it turned out to be as tasty as I had imagined it...

Read More

Egg Plant Bun Sandwich

Those who are not fond of egg plant would love this sandwich for sure. It can be packed for lunch to school or work place. So quick and easy to make and so healthy and nutritious! Ingredients:Egg Plant large - 1Buns                 - 1Dijon Mustard  - 1 tspCream Cheese   - 2 tbspGreen Olives     -  2-4Pickled...

Read More

Red chilli garlic chicken roast

This is a lighter version of the traditional zafrani chicken. Those who do not want the saffron flavour and the spicy taste can go for this chicken roast which is a equally good yet different in flavour and taste.Ingredients:Dried red long chillies – 4 – 6Garlic cloves – 4 medium sizeCumin whole – 1 tspnBlack pepper – 1/2 tspnSalt to tasteMethod:1.Clean a whole chicken, drain...

Read More

Roasted red bell pepper and peanut chutney.

Ingredients:Red Bell Pepper - 1 Peanuts - 1/2 cupDried red chillies - 3 - 4 longCumin seeds - 1 tspVegetable oil - 1 tspGarlic clove - 1 largeCurry leaves - 6-8Tamarind (seedless) - a marble sized roundFor tempering:Mustard seeds - 1/4 tspDried red chillies - 1 or two small onesCurry leaves - 4-5Urad dal - 1/4 tspVegetable oil - 1 tspAsafoetida - a pinch ( optional)Method: 1....

Read More

Black Rice Porridge

I had this porridge for my breakfast this morning instead of oats. I made it with the left over cooked black rice that I had in the fridge. It tasted nutty and delicious and I enjoyed eating it and wished there was more.... The health benefits of Black rice are amazing. It is a naturally gluten free grain, a super food that can keep you healthy. You will be surprised...

Read More

Egg Salad

Ingredients:Spring Mix - 1 cupBoiled eggs - 2 slicedBlack and Green olives - 2 each crushed Tomatoes - 1 dicedMushrooms sliced - 2 lightly fried in olive oil. For the Dressing:Lemon juice - 2 tbsOlive oil1 tbsSalt to tastePepper - 1/2 tapDijon mustard - 1/4 tspMethod:1. Prepare the dressing by mixing together all the dressing ingredients and whisking them well. 2....

Read More

Pudina (Mint) Chutney Curry

This is one of my favorite curries that my mom used to make with plain boiled or palao rice. She would make it quite often but we never got tired of it and always enjoyed it very much. I know I can never make it as good as her but I have tried my best. Here's the recipe: Ingredients:Fresh Mint: 1 cupFresh Cilantro - 1/2 a cupGreen chillies - 4 (medium size)Garlic cloves...

Read More

Eggplant Chutney or Bagare Baingan

Ingredients:10-12 Egg plants (medium size)2 tsp Cumin seeds1tsp Methi (fenugreek) seeds1/4 cup Peanuts1 tbs Sesame seeds1 tbs Poppy seeds4-6  Dried red chillies (long ones)10 Fresh Curry leaves1/2 tsp Mustard seeds1/2 cup Vegetable oil + more for deep frying (1 cup)1 tbs Tamarind dried4 Green chillies1 Onion (medium size)1 tsp garlic paste1 tsp Brown sugar1 tbs White...

Read More

Baked Nipattu

I chanced upon this recipe on this blog, "Red Chillies" (http://redchillies.us/2009/03/02/savory-onion-cookies-baked-nippattu/) and have been making and enjoying it with my family ever since! Nippattu (Crackers) as it is called is a popular indian snack, very common in Bangalore bakeries is traditionally a fried snack.  But the baked version not only makes it...

Read More

Summer Drinking

I know, I'm supposed to be on vacation, but I wanted to post links for a couple of spectacularly refreshing summer drinks. Not only is the timing perfect for either of these beautiful beverages,  but I was getting really tired of looking at that hairy, photoshop'd beach guy. To see the full post, and get the ingredients, click on the title, and away you go. Enjoy, and see you next week! Watermelon Agua Fresca  Homemade Strawberry Soda ...

Read More

Chef John is on Vacation!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I’ll be on vacation this week. We’ll continue to publish comments and questions while I’m gone, but I won’t be around to answer them. So yes, it will be very similar to when I’m not on vacation.I can’t say for sure where I’m going, or what I’ll be doing, but I’m posting this beach picture to show one place I won’t be headed. I didn’t have...

Read More

Next Up: Roast Pork with Blueberry Sauce

...

Read More

This is Only a Test

While I was testing a crispy, Korean-fried chicken breast for a future blog post, the real test here was producing a video in 1080p HD. As I mentioned in an earlier post, we will be transitioning to this new format over the next few months, and to accomplish that, I have to learn Adobe Premiere Pro CS6. I’ve been using an old, and relatively simple version of iMovie all these years, and so staring at all these new buttons and dials is a little...

Read More

Next Up: Coney Dogs

This gorgeous photo comes courtesy of drpavloff. ...

Read More

Happy 4th of July!

I wanted to wish you all a happy and healthy Fourth of July! I was going to experiment with another 1080p HD upload today, but then I remembered it was a National holiday, and that I don’t need to work today. Still getting used to that kind of thing. Anyway, the point is I hope you can join me in not doing any work today…unless you consider grilling and drinking beer...

Read More

Grilled Marsala Marinated Skirt Steak – Thank You, Chicken Parm!

It’s not often that my recipe inspirations cross species, but this juicy and delicious, Marsala-marinated skirt steak is one such case. I was in Santa Monica a few years ago, where I ordered a chicken parmesan that featured a garlic, rosemary, and Marsala-spiked sauce; and I loved the subtle sweetness the wine added to the tomato. For whatever reason, I thought of those...

Read More