Saffron Flavoured Salmon

Ingredients: Salmon filets - 2 Onions - 1 large slicedTomatoes - 1 smallGarlic cloves - 2 Fresh thai red chilly - 1 choppedCilantro - 1 tbs choppedSaffron - a pinchOlive oil - 2 tbsTurmeric - 1/4 tspBlack pepper - to sprinklePaprika - 1/2 tspLime juice - 1 tbsSalt - to taste Method:1. Clean, wash the salmon filets and towel dry them. Rub salt and leave...

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Nutritious Kale Salad

Ingredients:Kale - 1cupRomain lettuce -  1 cupKalamata olives - 6Red/green/yellow peppers - 1/2 cup dicedTomatoes - 1/2 cup dicedWalnut pieces - 2 tbsSun flower seeds - 2 tspFor the Salad Dressing:Olive oil - 1 tbsBalsamic vinegar- 1/2 tbsDijon mustard - 1/2 tspSalt to taste Black pepper - just to sprinkle on topMethod:1. Mix together kalamata olives, yellow peppers,...

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Jerk chicken meal

I have never tried jerk chicken from scratch, but always used either the dry jerk spices or the paste. I prefer the Grace jerk ground paste better than any other brand and I add some soya sauce, honey garlic barbeque sauce and ketchup to tone down the heat a bit and make it tangy and sweet.Ingredients: Chicken drumsticks - 6Grace jerk ground paste - 2 tbsHoney garlic...

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Smoked Butter Chicken

"This is the best butter chicken you ever made" was the comment from my son when he tasted it. When I tasted it, I knew what he meant. The earthenware dish that I used to smoke the butter chicken in the oven did the magic. The earthenware flavor combined with the smoky flavor tasted heavenly. None of us could stop till we wiped everything off. Here's the recipe:For the Marinade:Chicken...

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My Canadian Thali

"Thali" literally means a plate and in India it is used to serve a variety of dishes, so the meal itself is referred to as a "Thali" such as a vegetarian thali, a fish thali etc........I enjoyed eating "Thalis" in India. It is so exciting to wait for the "Thali" to be served at a restaurant and interesting to see the different kinds of vegetables, lentils, chutneys,...

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Egg Plant Tapenade

This is a mediterranean recipe that I modified to suit my taste. I flame grilled the egg plant to give it smoky flavour and substituted pine nuts for walnuts and sun dried tomatoes for fresh ones. The smoky egg plant combined with the slightly tangy and nutty flavours turned out really delicious. We should not forget that the egg plant is the king in this dish, so care should...

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Zucchini Papaya Salad

Ingredients: 1 Cup Light green zucchini1 Cup Papaya (not so ripe)4 Tbs Peanuts crushed1 Tbs Sesame seedsLemon dressing:1 Tbs Lemon juice1 Tbs Olive oil1/4 Tsp Sesame oil1/2 Tsp Dijon mustardSalt and Pepper as requiredMethod:1. Peel the Zucchini and Papaya. Wash and towel dry. Grate into thin long strips or julienes.2. Dry roast the peanuts and sesame seeds.3. Mix all...

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Spicy Carrot and Green Apple Salad

This recipe is adapted from a carrot salad recipe I found on one of the south indian blogs. It is a very refreshing salad and I like it very much. The sauteed mustard seeds add an extra flavour to the salad. Ingredients: Carrots shredded - 2Green Apple Shredded - 1Fresh Cilantro - 1 tbsFresh lemon juice - 1 tbsGinger grated - 1/2 tspSalt to taste Sugar ...

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Apple grape salad

A refreshing salad for lunch or dinner as a snack or a side dish in summer.  This is a very simple salad to make from the fruits you have at home, especially when you are pressed for time and your imagination has deserted you. Cut up an apple or pear, some grapes or berries and throw them in together with a handful of spring mix, garnish with some chopped walnuts, drizzle...

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Stuffed Chilli Bhajjis

I have long been craving for the stuffed chilly bhajjis that I used to eat in Chennai,India at one particular location and my mouth still waters thinking about them. I loved them as a child and enjoyed eating them. I don't find them now when I go to India. The small tea shop by the Cinema theatre where a lady vendor used to sell them is no more, though the theatre is still...

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Mini Oatmeal berry muffins and pancakes for toddlers

My grandson is a fussy eater. I made these for his morning breakfast and served them with yoghurt, fruits and  peanut butter. It brought a big smile on his face when I placed the plate before him. He sang as he ate and enjoyed every bite, wiping the plate clean. Here's the Recipe:IngredientsOatmeal - 1 cupWhite flour - 1/2 cupBaking powder - 1/4 tspSalt- a small...

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Chicken Dijon

This is a quick chicken dish for those who are pressed for time and want something quick and easy to make and at the same time is good to eat.Here's the recipe:Ingredients:Chicken breast - 1 lbGarlic paste - 2 tspDjon mustard - 2tspMayonnaise- 4 tbsSaltPepperOlive oil- 2 tbs + 1 tspMethod:1. Cut chicken breast into bite size pieces.2. Rub garlic paste, salt and pepper.3. Add 2 tbs olive oil to a sauce pan. Stir fry on medium heat till they are...

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Shahi Egg Sweet (Ande ki Mithai)

Ande ki Mithai is a popular egg sweet of the muslim community in Chennai. It is considered a delicacy which is reserved to be served on special occasions, holidays and important events. Though it is made with eggs it does not taste eggy at all. Its soft and silky texture and juicy sweetness just melts in your mouth. It is a must to have it as dessert after eating biryani....

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Rice Ganji (Porridge)

Rice Ganji or kanji is an all time favourite for Ifthaar during Ramadan in Chennai. It is served to fasting muslims at most of the mosques there and is also prepared in almost every muslim house in Ramadan. It is a satisfying and fulfilling meal and is enjoyed with all sorts of snacks especially different kinds of vadas, samosas, pakoras etc. Sometimes to make it rich, some...

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Kadai chicken

The flavour of the melted butter along with the pounded spices added a new dimension to the dish and it tasted intensely delicious!Here's the recipe.Ingredients:Chicken - 2 legs and 2 wingsButter - 1/4 cupOlive oil- 2 tbsBlack pepper - 1 tspWhole Coriander- 1 tbsWhole Cumin - 1/2 tspGreen cardamom- 8Green chillies - 2 Turmeric powder - 1 tspTomato - 1 medium sizeDried...

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Murmura chicken ( A Crispy Chicken Snack)

This is a quick chicken dish which I made for my son. It tastes more like a chicken snack than a main dish. It could be eaten on its own or with rice and curry. Great as an appetizer or side dish.  Ingredients:Chicken breast pieces - 1lbGinger garlic paste - 1 heaped tsp.Red Chilli powder - 1 heaped tsp.Turmeric - 1/2 a tsp.Garam masala powder -1 tsp.Fresh lemon juice...

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Green Masala Chicken

The Hara (Green) Masala Chicken has many variations. I like to keep it simple to bring out the flavors of the herbs and spices and not make it too heavy by using coconut, almonds, yoghurt and cream which I feel tones down the actual flavors and makes the dish tangy, sweet and heavy. For this dish, I am using the same recipe my mom used for making lamb (hare masale ki phaal) which I loved so much. Again I forgot to take a picture for the blog.Here's...

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Barbequed lamb chops

I had pickled garlic and figs at home and so I tried to use them in the marinade for the chops. It not only enhanced the barbecued flavor but also kicked it up a notch and was just so delicious!!We got so busy enjoying the chops that I forgot to take a few shots for my blog. Here's the recipe:Ingredients:Lamb chops - 6-8 pcs (1kg)Marinade 1Pickled garlic - 6 small sizePickled red chillies - 4Cumin seeds - 1/2 tspPepper - 1 tspSalt - 1/2 tspaVegetable...

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Eggplant egg sandwich

Ingredients: Sicilian egg plant - 1slicedPanko crumbs - 1 cupCorn flakes/ potato chips - 1 cupWhite flour - 2 tbsEgg - 1 for egg washMilk - 1tbsHard Boiled eggs- 2 - 4Olive oill - 2 tbsMayonnaiseTomato ketchupDijon MustardMethod:1. Cut the egg plant into 1/4" slices, sprinkle with salt and keep them aside.2. Whisk the egg with 1 tbs milk in a bowl. Put the flour and the...

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My French Omelette

I have been trying to perfect the art of making french omelette for so long. At last I did it! I tried and tried but finally I did succeed. It all requires tonnes of patience and diligent handling. Well it turned out just right - soft, silky and smooth. I used king oyster mushrooms and liked the flavour. You could use any mushrooms - white button, brown cremini or enochi...

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Oats with poached egg

I got tired of eating oats with milk and sugar, so tried this indianized oats recipe which my mom used to make, gave a twist to it and enjoyed it so much! I added my own home made yoghurt (which had turned a little sour) along with fresh curry leaves and chopped cilantro. The Poached egg in the oats was just perfect, so lip smackingly yummy and really satisfying to have it...

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Beef chilly garlic

Ingredients: For the marinade: Beef - 1lbGarlic - 1 tspSalt to tasteRed chilly powder - 1 tspBrown sugar - 1 tspVinegar - 2 tspWhite flour - 1 tspFor the Red Sauce:Garlic - 1 clove minced (medium size)Red chilli powder - 1/2 tspBrown sugar - 1 tspVinegar - 4 tspSoya sauce - 2 tspChopped green chillies - 1 (optional)Salt to tasteMethod:1. Clean, wash and cut the beef...

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Madrasi Vegetable Biryani

The pictures below show the vegetable biryani made at two different times with a slightly different technique. Adding the beetroot to the sauce colours all the vegetables and the rice as well, so it looks like beetroot colour all over. But if you layer the beetroot pieces on top of the rice it stands out like a jewel in the crown and makes the biryani more colourful and I...

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