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Chicken Mince Cocktail Samosas
“This is a 230-calorie snack you know. See? I’ve worked hard.” Fernando Vargas How often do you rant because you decide to make something that takes up hours of work, leaves you in throws of misery, & yet plants a BIG smile on your face afterwards? After so much of a sugar high, a savoury platter does feel good. I wanted to try making savoury tuiles too for the Daring Bakers challenge for January ’09, but somehow, it never ‘happened‘. All I managed were the sweet version here. Happily though, these crisp, yummy pastry bites called SAMOSAS ‘happened’ a short while ago though. These are wonderful, crisp, deep-fried, YES deep-fried,…
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Saffron Indian Rice Pudding … sweet indulgence
“I haven’t had the rice pudding of my life today. But I guess I lost that opportunity with the end of my childhood.”William Rice The magical combination of the holiday season & winter gives rise to many rich dessert making opportunities. The nip in the air makes it all the more enjoyable, & dare I say, somewhat guilt free. This is an indulgent pudding we enjoy once in a while…an eggless Indian rice pudding, a recipe I have concocted over the years, & often make on the go. The quality of rice changes from time to time, but the pudding is quite forgiving. Add some milk if it is too…
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Saffron Pistachio Kulfi … craving kulfi
“Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn’t illegal.” Voltaire Here’s an ice-cream with a difference…an Indian dairy-based frozen dessert. Guess what? You don’t need an ice-cream machine for this!! This is a popular end to Indian meals, a rich & creamy ice-cream, which can be made in many ways, & many flavours. Mango is fast becoming a flavour of choice as far as the kulfi goes, but traditional flavours remain cardamom, saffron & pistachio. This particular recipe works with reducing the quantity of milk to a third by cooking. Another recipe I often use has condensed milk…faster & as delicious. I tried this method since I had run…
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Baking | The original butter chicken … make yours at home
” If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.” Romain Rolland Today is India’s 61st Independence Day… & I decided to post something Indian today. In fact, India’s most popular gastronomic export to the Western world, which is Butter Chicken or Murgh Makhani. Quoting from a snippet in a tabloid debating butter chicken vs chicken tikka masala…”Many years ago, a man named Robin Cook, not the novelist, but the late Labour Party leader & Britain’s Foreign Secretary, had stirred an international gastronomic…
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KHEER / INDIAN RICE PUDDING…Special Occasion Food
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” Erma Bombeck Traditional Indian Desserts…KHEER / RICE PUDDING Here’s one of our great Indian desserts, quite similar to the English rice pudding, & much loved in our part of the world. The earlier recipe for rice pudding that I posted a while ago doesn’t use condensed milk; this one does, and tastes very rich & creamy too. It is a popular egg less dessert, & a great way to finish off a meal. I find the freshly grated nutmeg gives this a warm and comforting flavour. The raisins & almonds are quite optional, &…
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ACHARI CHICKEN CURRY…A tangy Indian chicken curry
“Happy and successful cooking doesn’t rely only on know-how; it comes from the heart, makes great demands on the palate and needs enthusiasm and a deep love of food to bring it to life.”Georges Blanc, Ma Cuisine des Saisons ACHARI CHICKENThis recipe is easy, full of flavour…and has no store-bought mixes. The kids enjoy this one a lot. I avoid these mixes because they have preservatives and additives. See the note at the bottom of the recipe in case you cant find the seeds! Ingredients: Chicken – 1 (700-800gms), cut into piecesOnions – 3 / sliced fineTomatoes – 3 / chopped fineGarlic Paste – 1 tbspGinger Paste – 1 tbspYogurt…