PANEER BUTTER MASALA

Hi, its been a long time since I post something, have been busy doing other things. Anyway, coming to this recipe, I made it when we had a B'day party for my daughter at home. I was happy with the result and its pretty easy to make. Here it goes,

PANEER BUTTER MASALA

INGREDIENTS

PANEER : 2 cups chopped into cubes
BAY LEAVES: 2
CINNAMON STICKS: 2
CLOVES: 2
ONIONS: 2 Chopped
TOMATO: 3 Chopped
CORIANDER SEEDS: 1 Tsp CRUSHED
GINGER and GARLIC: 1 Tsp each chopped
BUTTER: 2-3 tbsp
DHANIA-JEERA POWDER: 1 Tsp
FRESH CREAM: 1 Cup
KASOORI METHI: 1 Tsp crushed
GARAM MASALA: 1 Tsp
RED CHILLI POWDER: 1 Tsp
TURMERIC: 1/2 Tsp
SALT and OIL as required.

MAKING

In a pan, heat 2 Tbsp ghee and 1 Tbsp oil. Add the Bay leaves, Cinnamon sticks, Cloves and Crushed Coriander seeds, saute for a minute before adding in the Ginger-Garlic pieces and the chopped Onions. Saute again for a couple of  minutes, add in the spices like Red Chilli powder, Turmeric, Dhania- Jeera powder , a bit of salt and the chopped Tomatoes. Saute it for 2-3 minutes again nicely until all the ingredients are mixed in together.

Grind the above mentioned mixture into a fine paste. Pour the gravy back into the same pan with some oil and butter and cook until the oil starts leaving the sides. Lower the heat and add in the Paneer cubes, stir for a minute before adding the required Salt, Garam Masala and the Kasoori Methi. Close the lid and cook for 5 minutes until the Paneer has blended well into the gravy. Switch off the gas add fresh cream and the remaining butter for garnish and extra flavor.

Delicious Paneer Butter Masala is ready to eat. Serve it hot with Chapathi's or Rice

TIPS/VARIATIONS

Fresh cream gives a lot of texture and adds to the flavor of the dish. Enjoy !

SABUDAANA UPMA / JEVARASI UPMA

Happy New Year to all of you. Hope this year brings in a lot of Joy and Prosperity in your lives. Lets get straight to topic. The first recipe of this year is going to be a simple one which is mainly made in Maharashtra and its delicious and healthy so here it goes.

SABUDAANA UPMA or JEVARASI UPMA

INGREDIENTS

SABUDAANA / JEVARASI : 3 cups
GREEN CHILLI"S: 3-4 chopped
PEANUTS : 1 Cup
CHOPPED CORIANDER
JEERA: 2 tsp
RED CHILLI: 1 small
CHANA DAL: 1 Tsp
MUSTARD SEEDS: 1 Tsp
POTATO: 1 Medium boiled and chopped
SALT and OIL as required
LEMON JUICE: 1 Tsp

Sabudaana Upma/Jevarasi Upma

MAKING

Wash and soak the Sabudaana in water just enough to cover it and keep it overnight or wash it well and soak it in hot water just enough to cover it in a hot pack and close the lid for about 5-6 hours. Drain the water and keep aside. Next, roast the peanuts until brown and grind in to a coarse powder and set aside. In a pan, add a Tsp of oil, add the Jeera, I Small Red Chilli, Mustard seeds, Green Chili's. Add the set aside Sabudaana to the pan once the mustard seeds splutters. Make sure you keep stirring it so that the Sabudaana doesn't stick to the bottom, after 5 minutes add salt and roasted Peanuts. This will make it dry and separated, Finally, add the boiled chopped Potato and fresh coriander. Switch off the gas and add the lemon juice. Delicious Sabudaana Upma is ready to eat.

TIPS / VARIATIONS

I like to soak the Sabudaana in the hot pack coz it comes out well, you would know if the Sabudaana is ready to cook when after soaking it comes out fluffy, bigger and when pressed it breaks completely. Adding Potato gives it additional taste, its optional.

BANANA ALMOND BREAD

As I promised, I am here with the recipe for the delicious Banana Almond bread  I made over the weekend. The best part is its healthy and tasty so here it goes

BANANA ALMOND BREAD

INGREDIENTS

ALL PURPOSE FLOUR: 2 CUPS
SUGAR: 2/3 CUP
BAKING POWDER: 2 1/4 Tsp.
SALT: 3/4th Tsp
EGG: 1 LARGE
MILK: 3/4th CUP
CANOLA?VEGETABLE OIL: 1/3 CUP
VANILLA EXTRACT: 1 Tsp.
MASHED BANANA: 1 CUP
CUT ALMONDS: 1 CUP

Banana-Almond Bread

MAKING

In a bowl, combine Flour, Sugar, Baking powder and Salt. Mix well. In another bowl, blend Oil, Egg, Milk and Vanilla Extract. Add this to the Flour mix until it is moistened. Finally combine the mashed ripe Banana and the chopped Almonds to the above and mix them thoroughly.

Grease a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan and pour in the above Banana-Almond Mix and bake it for 45 mins- 1 hour at 350'F. Keep checking at constant intervals to make sure, insert a knife to see if its cooked. If the knife comes out clean that means the Bread is ready. Allow it to cool for 10 mins and then cut them into slices and delicious Banana-Almond Bread is ready to eat. Serve it warm with fresh or whipped cream.

TIPS?VARIATIONS

Instead of Almonds, you can do the same with Walnuts. This bread is not too sweet and it has the consistency of a bread so don't expect it to be too moist and fluffy like a cake. You could also pour the mix into a cupcake pan and make cupcakes out of it. It wont be your typical cupcake but its still good, most of all its healthy and my kids loved it.

QUICKFIRE DAL

Hi all, its been a while and life has gotten a little bit busy and so the recipe I am going to post today is a quick fire one which can be made in the cooker . Because its so quick and easy I am going to name it

QUICKFIRE DAL

INGREDIENTS

TOOR DAL: 1/2 CUP
MOONG DAL: 1/2 CUP
TOMATO: 1-2 CHOPPED
GINGER: 1 TBSP CHOPPED
GREEN CHILLI"S: 2
RED CHILI POWDER: 1 TSP
DHANIA POWDER: 1 TSP
TURMERIC POWDER: 1/2 TSP
JEERA/CUMIN : 1 TSP'
SALT AS REQUIRED

Quick fire Dal

MAKING

Wash the Toor and the Moong Dal throughly and place them in the cooker with 2 cups of water. In it, add chopped Ginger, Tomato, Tsp of Jeera, Green Chilli, Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli powder , Dhania Powder with required salt. Close the lid

Switch off the gas after 3 whistles and garnish with fresh chopped coriander and quick fire Dal is ready. Serve it hot with Roti's or have it with Rice. its perfect for a busy or a lazy day.