CORIANDER PESTO SAUCE

Hi All,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. So, I decided to make Pesto sauce only to find out that I pretty much didn't have any of the ingredients needed. For those who don't know, Pesto is a chutney or sauce which is made primarily with Basil leaves, Pine nuts, Cheese, Garlic etc. I was so determined to make pesto that I did my own take on it and came up with a Coriander Pesto. Unsure of the outcome made it more exciting and fun. In the end, it turned out perfect and delicious. We spread it over a grilled cheese sandwich and it was just way too good. So here it goes, my own version of pesto sauce which I am going to call....

CORIANDER PESTO SAUCE

CORIANDER LEAVES: 1 CUP OR 1/2  BUNCH
WALNUT: 4-5
GARLIC: 2 CLOVES
CHEESE: ANY WHITE CHEESE (I used plain cream cheese)
SALT and SUGAR
OLIVE OIL (OPTIONAL)




CORIANDER PESTO SAUCE

MAKING

Grind fresh Coriander leaves, Garlic, Walnuts, Cheese with Salt  and Sugar (1/2 tsp) into a fine paste. You can add Olive Oil for additional taste if needed. Otherwise, your coriander pesto Sauce is ready to serve. Spread it on a sandwich and that's it !

TIPS AND VARIATIONS

You can use Romano Cheese or Parmesan cheese for the Sauce. You could also use Pine Nuts instead of walnuts. You could add Olive oil for added Flavor.

VEG. JALFRAZIE WITH CHEESE

Hi all,

Hope you had a nice weekend. Ours was a busy weekend doing a Pooja for my daughter on her 1st Birthday. So, the recipe I am going to share today is a simple vegetable Jalfrazie with a twist right at the end. Its very simple and the ingredients are common and used in many other side dishes. so here it goes

VEGETABLE JALFRAZIE WITH CHEESE

INGREDIENTS

ONIONS: 1 BIG OR 2 SMALL
TOMATO: 1 MEDIUM
CAPSICUM: 1 MEDIUM
POTATO: 1 MEDIUM
CARROTS AND PEAS: 1/2 CUP
GREEN CHILLIES: 1-2
GINGER AND GARLIC: 1 TBSP TOGETHER
RED CHILI POWDER : 1/2 TSP
DHANIA POWDER: 1/2 TSP
GARAM MASALA: 1 TSP
GHEE: 1 TBSP
SALT AS REQUIRED
CHEESE FOR GARNISH

Veg Jalfrazie with cheese

MAKING

Cut all the vegetables into long thin slices including the Onion, Tomatoes. Green chillies, Ginger and Garlic. Take a pan, add a tbsp of ghee. Once its hot, add the Jeera, Ginger, Garlic, Green chillies and Onion , stir it for a couple of minutes until the onion starts sweating and is light brown in color. Add the tomatoes and allow it to cook for another 2 minutes before adding Red chilli powder, Dhania powder, Turmeric powder. Stir this for a few minutes, make sure it doesn't get burnt. Add all the vegetables and cook them with required salt and Garam Masala. Add a cup of water and close the pan lid and cook until the vegetables are thoroughly cooked and soft. Switch off the gas and allow it to cool a bit. Add long thin slices of cheese as garnish. Delicious Veg. Jalfrazie with cheese is ready. Serve it with hot roti's/Chapathi's or rice.

TIPS

Make sure the veggies are not overcooked. I used American cheese as its mild but you could use Cheddar too. You can also squeeze half a lemon for added flavor.

DAL MASALA

Hi all,

The recipe I am going to share today is one of my favourite side dish. Its a very common dish and I am sure many of you would be making it often as well. I was introduced to this dish by my MIL in one of her visits to the US. I loved it and since then its been a regular at our house for dinner. Hope you like it as much as me and my family do. Here it goes

DAL MASALA

INGREDIENTS

MOONG DAL : 2 CUPS
ONION: 1 MEDIUM CHOPPED
TOMATO: 1 MEDIUM CUT INTO SMALL PIECES
GREEN CHILLIES: 4-5 CHOPPED
GINGER: CHOPPED (2 TSP)
HALF A LEMON
CHOPPED CORIANDER LEAVES
OIL AND SALT AS REQUIRED

DAL MASALA

MAKING

Boil the Moong dal covering it with enough water on a low flame with a pinch of turmeric and salt. Make sure the gas in in low flame as Moong dal tends to overflow and the salt added should be half of what we is needed for the entire dish as we add the rest to the veg gravy in total. Take a kadai, fry the onions in 2 tsp of oil until light brown. Add the Ginger, green chillies and stir for a couple of minutes. Once the onion is sweating and soft, add the cut tomato pieces and stir again until the tomatoes are soft and have mixed well with the onion mix. Add the other half of salt as required and allow it to cook for about 2-3 minutes on a medium flame. Finally, add the boiled Moong Dal and cook for another few minutes until the dal has mixed well with the rest of the ingredients. Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves. Delicious Dal is ready, serve it hot with roti's /chapathi's,

TIPS

 If you want you can make the Dal without Tomato in it. In that case, just add the lemon juice right at the end after garnish to get the flavor. Make sure the gas is switched off when adding the lemon juice. Enjoy !