Fish cutlet.

Ingredients:

Mackreal fish or tilapia
Onions - 3
Ginger - 1 full tsp
Garlic 1 full tsp
Green Chillies 6
Turmeric Powder 2 tsp.
Jeera Powder 3 tsps.
Pepper Powder 2 tsps.
Corriander Leaves One handful
Lime (Small) - 2
Eggs - 2
Water - accordingly
Semolina/ breadcrumbs
Oil for frying
Salt to taste


Method :

Marinate fish with lime, salt, turmeric, jeera and pepper powder.

Chop the onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies very finely. Take little oil in a pan and fry onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies. When fried well, add 1 tsp. turmeric powder , 2 tsps, jeera powder and then 1 tsp of pepper.
Separate the flesh of the fish from bones and mash the mixture nicely. Then add the onion mixture,eggs and finely chopped coriander leaves and mix well.

Take a little portion of this mixture make a small ball and then flatten it with your palms and roll it in semolina (rava) and shallow fry on medium fire. Serve with ketchup or pudina (mint) chutney.

Masala Vada

Ingredients :

Split Bengal gram - 1.5 cup ( soak in water for about 4 hours)
Onion - 1 medium size (chop very finely)
5-6 finely chopped curry leaves

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

5 finely chopped green chillies

2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp cumin seeds

Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying

Method :

Drain the water from the Channa(Bengal gram). First grind 2 tbsp dal to a fine paste without adding water. Now add the remaining dal and grind coarsely.(for 5-6 seconds) . Keep aside 2 spoons of the dal-mix it later with the other ingredients.
Mix all the other ingredients into it. Make medium sized dumplings, flatten and deep fry till they turn golden brown on both sides. Best served along with 'Payisam'.

Bruschetta ...!

Ingredients :

Sour dough bread - 1 loaf - cut into slices
Onions - 2 - finely chopped
Tomato - 2 - finely chopped
Mozzarella cheese - grated - cup
Garlic and herb seasoning.

Method :

Just assemble the above ingredients as shown in the picture. Preheat oven to 300 degrees, place the bruschetta in it. Remove it once the cheese starts to melt and turns slight yellowish in color.

Turkey meatballs

Ingredients :
1 small onion, grated
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg
1/4 cup dried crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound ground dark turkey meat
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tbsp - mix - red chilli powder, Dhaniya powder, Jeera powder

Method :

Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl. Make lemon size balls. Place it on an aluminum foil. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Keep it inside the oven for about 20 minutes or until done. Regularly keep turning each meatball so that they cook evenly.

Garlic Bread

Ingredients :

Sour dough bread - 1 Loaf
Garlic - freshly peeled, handful
Chilli flakes - 2tsps
Butter - 1 long cube
Salt and herb seasoning - 1 tbsp
Onions - finely chopped
Mozzarella cheese

Method :

Blend the garlic, butter and the seasoning together into a paste. Apply this evenly on the bread along with cheese, onions and the chilli flakes sprinkled below it. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Remove the bread when the cheese starts to turn a slight golden brown color.

Diwali snack - Potato/plantain bajjis

Ingredients :

Potatoes - 1 lb
Plantain - 1 lb
Oil - 2 cups
Batter -
Cornflour
Chilli powder
Ginger-garlic paste
Rice-flour
Salt.

Method :

Heat oil in a deep pan. In the meantime, mix all the ingredients in a bowl with little water into a smooth paste. Peel and slice the potatoes and plantains into very thin round shapes. Dip them in the batter and deep fry on both sides till they turn brown.

Chicken spring rolls.

Ingredients :

Cabbage - 1 cup, grated
Carrot - 1 cup, grated
Spinach - 1 cup, grated
Scrambled eggs - 1 cup
Cooked chicken - cut into very small pieces, 1 cup
Soy sauce -2 tbsp
Chilli garlic sauce - 1 tbsp
Salt - 2 pinch
Spring roll skins - found in any Chinese stores.

Method :

Spray some oil on a saucepan. Add all of the above and fry it for a few minutes on low heat. Take a spring roll skin, place a spoonful of the mix on it and wrap it tightly into a roll. Deep fry them in oil for a minute or two each.

Chicken reshmi kababs.

Ingredients :

Boneless chicken - cut into cubes - 1lb
Herb vinaigrette - 3/4 cup [can be bought from 'whole foods store or made at home]
(¼ cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar,1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh oregano, 2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon of whole grain Dijon mustard, Salt, Freshly ground black pepper)
1/2 cup butter
Lemon juice - 3 tbsp
Garlic paste - 2 tsp
white pepper powder - 1 tsp
Yellow or green food color - a pinch.

Method :

Mix all the ingredients and let it marinade for atleast 12 hours . Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees and then cook the chicken for about 20 minutes or until done, brushing it with olive oil at regular intervals. Serve with pudina chutney.

Salmon cakes.

Ingredients :

Salmon - 1lb cooked
Potatoes - 1lb cooked and mashed
Coriander and garam masala powder - 1/2 tbsp each
Coriander - 1 tbsp finely chopped
Salt & white pepper powder
Juice of 1 lemon
All purpose flour - 1 tbsp
Egg - 1 beaten
Breadcrumbs
Oil.

Method :

Mix the first 6 ingredients in a bowl. Heat 1 cup of oil in a saucepan. Make round flat shaped size of the mix, dip it in the next 3 ingredients one after the other separately and shallow fry them on both sides untill golden brown.

Spicy Chicken kababs

Ingredients :

Boneless chicken - 1 lb (cut into small cubes)
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
Dhainya powder - 2 tbsp
Jeera powder - 2 tbsp
Chilli powder - 2 tbsp
Garam masala - 2 tbsp
Salt
Fresh cream - 1/4 cup
Red tandoori color - a pinch

Method :

Mix all the above ingredients with the chicken in a bowl, expect the cream. Let it marinate for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator. Pre heat the oven at 400 degrees. Mix the chicken with the cream sometime before grilling it. Keep in oven for 20 minutes while brushing oil or butter at regular intervals. Serve hot with pudina chutney.

Sheek kabab (pork)

Ingredients :

Ground pork (any ground meat of your choice) - 1 lb
Onion - 1 small -minced
Green chillies - (minced)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Cumin powder - 1 tbsp
Garam masala - 1 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Lime juice - 2 tbsp
Egg - 1
Butter - 1 cube
Salt
Olive oil - 2 tbsp

Method :

Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl. Make them into shapes like a hot dog. Mold the meat onto the skewers and place them in the oven - pre-heat oven at 450 degrees and then place them inside for about 45 minutes or till done. Brush it with oil at regular intervals. Serve hot with pudina chutney.

Divesh's 5 minute tacos! yummmmm.....

Ingredients:

If non-veg- use ground chicken/pork/beek/shrimp (cooked in a skillet with 2 tbsp of oil, season it with salt and chilli powder)
If veg - Use mushrooms or your choice of vegetables( cook in skillet with oil and season it)
Small flour or corn tortillas (fried on a pan till both sides are hot)
Fresh tomato -cut into small fine cubes
Fresh cilantro - finely chopped
Onions - finely chopped
Fresh jalapenos - Finely chopped
Lime juice
Salt

Method:

For every taco, mix 1/2 tbsp of lime juice and sprinkle salt to the cut vegetables. Fill the tortillas starting with the seasoned and cooked ground chicken or vegetables. Then add the lime juice and vegetable mix. Use sour if you like.

Baked Chicken nuggets - healthy!

Ingredients:

Chicken breasts - 1lb (Cut into cubes, fried in 2 tbsp of oil for a few minutes with little salt. Then ground)
All purpose flour - 1/4 cup
Onion , garlic and ginger powder - 1/4 tbsp each separately
1 large egg white
Bread crumbs - finely powdered
Fat free yogurt - 1/4 cup
Chilli powder - 1 tbsp
White pepper powder - 1tbsp
Salt

Method:

Take 3 separate bowls. In the first bowl-mix flour, onion-garlic-ginger powder, salt, chilli powder and the pepper powder. Take the 2nd bowl, mix the egg white and yogurt. The bread crumbs in the 3rd bowl.
Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray oil on an aluminum foil. Make small flat shaped sizes of the ground chicken. Dip these pieces into the 3 bowls - flour mix, then the egg-yogurt mix, and lasty the breadcrumbs. Place them on the foil and inside the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Use ketchup for sauce.

Tandoori chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken drumsticks and thighs with bone - 4 pieces each
Dhaniya powder- 3 tbsp
Jeera powder - 3 tbsp
Chilli powder - 2 tbsp
Black pepper powder - 2 tbsp
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tbsp
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Lemon juice - 2 full lemons
Red tandoori color
Butter - half a block
Salt

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients and marinate the chicken for atleast 24 hrs. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and cook in oven for 45 minutes.
Serve hot with pudina or mint chutney.

Chicken lollypops

Ingredients:

Boneless chicken- 1lb (cut into cubes)
Self-rising flour - 1 small cup
White pepper powder- 1 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste- 1/2 tbsp
Oil- 2 tsp
Cornstarch- 2 tbsp
Soy sauce- 1 tbsp
Salt
Toothpicks - few

Dipping sauce:Ingredients:

1 cup Vegetable broth
6 tablespoons Tomato paste
2 teaspoons Red chili paste
1 tablespoon (fresh lemon) juice
1/2 teaspoon Ground cumin
1 tablespoon Fresh parsley -- minced
1 tablespoon Cilantro -- minced

Method:

Mix all the above ingredients into a paste. Add the cut chicken cubes and mix well. Golden fry in hot oil till its done. Use toothpicks like lollipop sticks to dip the fried chicken into the sauce and eat.

For the sauce - mix all the ingredients in a saucepan. Keep stirring on medium heat till it gets thickened like a gravy.

Chicken and veggie sushi!

Ingredients :
Chicken Breast - 4
Marinara sauce - 1 bottle or 2 cups
Oregano & herb seasoning - 1 tbsp for each chicken breast
Garlic & salt seasoning - 1 tsp for each chicken breast
White & black pepper mix
Red bell peppers - thinly sliced
Carrot - long thin slices
Green Beans - 12
Jalepaeno peppers - 4 (thinly sliced)
Butter - 1tbsp
Cheese - grated

Method :
Cut the chicken breast to make it thin and lay flat on the board. Now place a plastic wrap on it and hit it to flatten it. Remove the wrap and season with oregano & herb seasoning, garlic & salt seasoning and pepper mix. Place all thinly sliced vegetables and cheese in the center of the flattened chicken breast and roll it. Take a casserole and apply a thing coat or oil or butter and place all the rolled chicken breasts. Pour marinara sauce on top and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Chiili Chicken

Ingredients :
Boneless chicken - 1/2 lb, cut into cubes
Cornstarch - 3 tbsp
Dried ginger and garlic powder - 1 tbsp
Onion powder - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 2tbsp
Lime juice - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
Red tandoori color

Sauce :
Soy sauce - 2 tbsp
Hunan chilli sauce - 2 tbsp
Red bell peppers - 1 cup, cut long
Onions - 1 cup, cut into cubes
1 pinch salt

Method :
Wash and drain the chicken. Mix the rest of the ingredients with the chicken and marinate it for atleast 2 hours in the refrigerator. Deep fry till chicken is done.

Take a saucepan, add oil. Add all the ingredients for the sauce and stir on high heat for 2 mins. Now add and mix the fried chicken for 2 mins on high flame. Serve hot.

Baked shrimp.

Ingredients:
1 lb - shrimp,
1 egg white (beaten),
¼ tsp green chilli paste,
2 tbsp onion paste,
1 tsp herb and garlic seasoning mix,
1 ½ tbsp chopped parsley,
1 tsp - ginger and garlic powder,
Salt to taste, Butter - 1 cube (2 tbsp).

Method:
Mix all the ingredients . Add the shrimp to the mix and keep aside for 30 minutes. Place them on a greased baking dish. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Serve hot with lemon and mint garnish.

Easy Chicken cutlets.

Ingredients:
Boneless chicken - 1lb
Onions - 1 big size, Green chillies (depending on how much you want), 1 lemon.
Coriander -accordingly, 1 tbsp of - ginger garlic paste.
1/2 tbsp of - turmeric and garam masala. 2pinches of - white pepper powder and cumin powder.
2 eggs (beaten), bread crumbs- 1 cup and 1/2 cup cornflour.
Oil- 1/2 cup, Salt to taste.

Method:
Cook the chicken by stir frying in oil. Coarsely grind the cooked chicken, onions, coriander and green chillies.
Mix the grounded chicken with 2 tbsp cornflour, turmeric, pepper and cumin powder and ginger-garlic paste. Make thin patties.
Heat oil in a saucepan, dip the patties in the eggs and then the breadcrumbs , and shallow fry on both sides till it turns golden brown.
Serve hot with fresh lime juice squeezed on it and mint leaves for garnishing.

Shrimp or Prawn Cakes.

Ingredients :
Shrimp or Prawns 1 lb
Onions half (chopped)
Garlic 4 cloves
Egg white from one egg
Bread crumbs-1cup
Cornflour - 2 tsp
Chili powder (according to taste)
Garlic herb seasoning-1/2 tsp
Chili flakes-1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil-1/2 cup.

Method :
Put the shrimp/prawns, onions, garlic into a chopper , mince. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and take small portions into hand and make them into patties.
Pour oil into a saucepan, shallow fry them. Garnish with mint and coriander leaves