Arrabiata Pasta

Ingredients

1. Puree of 2 Tomatos

2. Chopped Onion : 2 pcs

3. Olive oil 

4. Oregano : 1 tbsp

5. Chilli flakes : 1 tsp

6. Salt

7. Kissan Pizza Pasta Sauce : 2 tbsp

8. Fussili/Penne Pasta : 150gms

9. Veggies of your choice ( Capsicum of all colors, brocolli, Carrots, French beans, Zuchini) 

10. Chicken (optional) (200gms)

11. Black Pepper : Freshly crushed

12. Sugar : 1 tsp

13. Garlic : Chopped 1 tbsp

Making of Sauce

1.Heat olive oil in a pan, add garlic and then add onions. Saute well and then add tomato puree.

2. Add the seasoning ( salt, oregano and chilli flakes)

3. Saute well until it starts oozing out oil and then is the time to add the pizza pasta sauce. mix well. Sauce is ready

Boiling of Pasta

1. Heat water in a vessel and add salt, oil to it and bring it to a boil

2. Add pasta and cook it until 90% cooked

3.Drain it and keep it aside

Stir Frying of Veggies / Chicken

1. Heat olive oil in a pan 

2. Add the veggies/ chicken in the pan (separately,in case you want to add both)

3. Add sugar in case of veggies

4. Add one quarter slice of lemon in case of chicken

5. The add salt and freshly crushed black pepper

6. Saute well and check if it's cooked ( don't cover and cook) Toss it like how the chef's do it on TV- on high flame.

Final Step 

1. Now add pasta and the sauce in the veggies / chicken

2. Mix well and on low flame keep it for 2 minutes

3. Your Arrabiata Pasta is ready 💞

Tiramisu Cheese Cake

Aah..the Tiramisu Cheese Cake !! Drooling right...

It's a no bake eggless cake !!

It's a delicacy to relish...the soft and fluffy texture will take you away to a land of awesomeness !!

Things to get started with 

1. Mascaporne Cheese : 150 gms

2. Cream Cheese : 150 gms

3. Heavy Cream : 150 ml

4. Vanilla Essence : 2 tbsp

5. Powdered Sugar : 4-5 tbsp 

6. Gelatin : 1 tbsp

7. Lady finger biscuits 

8. Cooled Expresso Coffee : 2 cups

9. Cocoa powder : 2 tbsp

10. Cake utensil

11. Parchment paper : cut in a circle

Steps

1. Whip for 2 - 3 minutes...mascaporne cheese, cream cheese & heavy cream with sugar and vanilla essence

2. Adjust sweetness as per your taste to the mixture

3. Soak gelatine in 20ml warm water for 2 mins, then strain the liquid and then add it to the whipped batter.

4. Consistency of the batter should be like idli batter

5. Adjust the dish with parchment paper

6. Now dip the lady finger biscuits in coffee and lay the first layer with the biscuits

7. Add the batter and level it up with the help of a spatula

8. Again place another layer of lady finger biscuits dipped in coffee

9. Now again add a second layer of whipped batter

10. With the help of a strainer seive choco powder on the top

11. Place it in fridge (in the topmost section - not the freezer) for 4 hours to set.

12. Relish the Tiramisu Cheese Cake 🎂

Links for the things I used

Cheese Cake Mould : From Amazon

Mascaporne Cheese : From Big Basket

Cream Cheese : From Big Basket

Lady Finger Biscuits : From Amazon

Heavy Cream : From Big Basket

Gelatin : From Local Shop, Brand : Blue Bird

Paturi | Steamed Fish

Ingredients

For Marination

1. Yellow Mustard Seeds - 1.5 tbsp

2. Black Mustard Seeds - 1.5 tbsp

3. Posta ( khuskhus) - 4 tbsp

4. Green Chilli - 3 pcs

5. Garlic - Half Pod

6. Lemon - 1 pc

7. Salt - As per taste

8. Turmeric - 1 TSP

9. Mustard Oil - 2 tbsp

9. Basa Fish Fillet - 400 gms 

10. Banana Leaf 

11. Thread

Steps

1. Grind the Mustard seeds (yellow & black), posto, garlic and green chillies to make a fine paste.

  Let the paste rest for 30 mins

2. Cut the fillet in square prices

 

3. Now marinate the fish with salt and turmeric for atleast 10 minutes

4. Next you need to add marination paste to the already marinated fish and a drizzle of mustard oil

5. Dry roast the banana leaf in a pan or directly on pan to make it softer, inorder to pack the fish easily

6. Place the fish on the banana leaf and wrap it with the help of thread.

7. Heat a pan and add the wrapped Goodness and add 1 cup of water and cover the lid for 10 minutes

8. Keep checking in between, as soon as the water dries, flip the wrapped fish and add one more cup of water and let it cook for another 10 minutes

9. Turn off the gas and let it rest for next 10 minutes

Now it's time to dig in this beauty 🙂

French Fries

When you are a working mom in this lockdown, you need to prep cook a lot of things..which could come handy at crucial times when you have unending work and have a hungry kid waiting for you !!

So here's my super quick take on French Fries, which takes less than 5 minutes to be ready and lifes so good after that ❤️

Ingredients

1. Potato

2. Cornflour

3. Salt

4. Oil

Steps

1. Boil big potatoes a day before and keep it in fridge. ( This was the prep I was talking above )

2. Take out the potatoes from the fridge

3. Heat oil in a deep wok 

4. Peel the potatoes, cut in wedges or the shape you want !!

5. Dust them with cornflour

6. Fry them, until it reaches the desired golden color

7. Sprinkle salt when out of oil.

French Fries 🍟are ready !!! Serve them hot with ketchup 😋

Eggless Bread - Baked in Kadahi/Oven

Baking is something people around us have already assumed that it could only be bought from stores and cannot be made at home, due to the assumptions we make 😛That we don't have the hefty appliances or raw products required or we don't want to put in so much of our efforts !!

It all makes us feel "isce accha to bahar se kharid layenge"

Also this is me....at times !! As everyday you can't designate so much of your time in baking/cooking. 

And during this quarantine time you don't have options sometime 😁 That's why it's good to know some basic baking/cooking to fulfil your taste buds ❤️

The satisfaction I get by cooking/baking is immeasurable 💛

I'll help you guys with a no fail recipe here..But do follow all the steps !!

Wheat Loaf Slices

Ingredients

1. Milk - 300 ml (can replace this with water as well)

2. Butter - 80 gms (room temperature)

3. Maida ( All purpose flour )/ Whole Wheat - 300 gms

4. Sugar - 2 tbsp

5. Yeast - 1 tbsp ( active dry Yeast)

6. Salt - 1tsp

7. Milk powder - 2 tbsp (optional)

8. Curd - 2 tbsp (optional)

Get ready as the end product will be this 😅 Some motivation here !!

Activation of Yeast ( most important)

1. Take lukewarm milk 150ml , mix 2 tbsp sugar in it and after that add 1 tbsp yeast

2. Cover the mixture for 15 mins

3. Post 15 mins you will see the yeast has bloomed

Note : If not bloomed... yeast is too old or not of good quality stop there and get yourself a good yeast.  If the above process fails...no need to proceed further !!!

Making of Dough

1. Add Maida/Aata, the above bloomed mixture, salt, sugar, curd, milk powder and the remaining milk in small small portions and make a soft dough. 

2. The dough will be very sticky but you need to knead it for a good 20 mins ( no shortcut here )

Keep on adding butter while kneading !! 

3. The dough will be ready..now tuck the dough and keep it covered with a damp cloth for 1 hour (1st proofing)

4. After 1 hour punch the dough, this will remove the air then knead for 2 more minutes

5. Now make a cylindrical shape and place it the bread mould

 Pic from internet to show the proofing

6. Allow it to proof for another 1 hour (2nd Proofing)

7. After this brush the top layer gently with milk ( this gives color to your bread)

Baking of the Bread

1. In a Kadahi or deep wok place a layer of salt and a stand (generally in which we keep hot utensils)

2. Place the mould and cover it.

3. Flame should be high for first 10 minutes and then medium flame for next 15 minutes. Total baking time would be around 25 mins.

4. If baking in convention mode or an OTG preheat it first for 10 minutes and then bake at 200 degrees for 30-35 mins

Note : Once they are baked...allow them to cool by placing a damp cloth on top of it...Have them after 30 mins of being ready !!!

Relish the freshly baked Bread🎀

Chowmein Samosa

Ingredients

1. Maida - 150gms

2. Nigela Seeds/kalongi -1tsp

3. Ajwain - 1tsp

4. Salt - as per taste

5. Ghee - 1 tbsp

6. Cooked Haka or Schezwan Chowmein / Noodles - 1 bowl

7. Water - lukewarm

Steps

1. Knead a stiff dough by mixing maida,salt, ajwain, kalongi, ghee and water.

2. Now roll a disc and make slits in half of it.

3. Fold the non slitted part over it and press the ends.

4. Now apply water on the inner sides and make cones

5. Now stuff the Chowmein inside it and then seal it.

6. Make all the samosas in the similar fashion and let it dry for atleast an hour before frying them.

7. Now fry them

8. Serve them hot with Schezwan sauce or green chutney or ketchup.

Caramel Custard

People having sweet tooth will love this...This delicacy melts in your mouth 😁

It's a very simple recipe with only 3 ingredients

Ingredients

1. Milk : 1.5 cups (Reduce it to half) Turns to 3/4 cups of milk

2. Egg : 1

3. Sugar : 4 tbsp

Steps:-

1. Put on the flame and place a frying pan...add 2 tbsp sugar and caramelise it...Pour the caramel in a mould.It will set in 5 mins ( a thin layer )

2. Beat 1 eggs in a mixing bowl, in it add 3/4 cups of hot milk and remaining 2tbsp sugar.Mix well

3. Strain the liquid mixture to the mould in which you have already placed the caramelized sugar

4. Now in a wok or deep cassarole place the mould inside and the falme would be on medium high flame and cover it. Let it cook for 20-25 mins.Keep checking the water level...as it might get evaporated..then u need to add more water to its base.

5. Then poke the custard with the help of a tooth pick or knife...it should come out clear and then let it cool for 1 hour inside fridge (not deep freeze)

6. Enjoy your cool cool Custard 🤩

Ladi Paav

One of the greatest delights of my life...Baking !!

It was in my bucket list since ages and finally I have nailed it 🙌

I'll help you guys with a no fail recipe here..But do follow all the steps !!!

Ingredients

1. Milk - 300 ml

2. Butter - 80 gms (room temperature)

3. Maida ( All purpose flour ) - 300 gms

4. Sugar - 2 tbsp

5. Yeast - 1 tbsp ( active dry Yeast)

6. Salt - 1tsp

Activation of Yeast ( most important)

1. Take lukewarm milk 150ml , mix 2 tbsp sugar in it and after that add 1 tbsp yeast

2. Cover the mixture for 15 mins

3. Post 15 mins you will see the yeast has bloomed

Note : If not bloomed... yeast is too old or not of good quality stop there and get yourself a good yeast.  If the above process fails...no need to proceed further !!!

Making of Dough

1. Add Maida, the above bloomed mixture, salt and the remaining milk in small small portions and make a soft dough. 

2. The dough will be very sticky but you need to knead it for a good 20 mins ( no shortcut here )

Keep on adding butter while kneading !! 

3. The dough will be ready..now tuck the dough and keep it covered with a damp cloth for 1 hour (1st proofing)

4. After 1 hour punch the dough, this will remove the air then knead for 2 more minutes

5. Now make balls, tuck each dough and place them in the mould.

6. Allow them to proof for another 1 hour (2nd Proofing)

7. After this brush the top layer gently with milk and butter ( this gives color to your Paavs)

Baking of the Paavs

1. In a Kadahi or deep wok place a layer of salt and a stand (generally in which we keep hot utensils)

2. Place the mould and cover it.

3. Flame should be medium high and it would take a total of 30 mins to bake.

4. If baking in convention mode or an OTG preheat it first and then bake at 200 degrees for 20-25 mins

Note : Once they are baked...allow them to cool by placing a damp cloth on top of it...Have them after 30 mins of being ready !!!

Relish the freshly baked Paavs 🎀

Chicken Curry

Ingredients

Chicken - 1kg

Salt - As per taste

Turmeric - 1.5 tbsp

Mustard Oil - 150ml

Jeera - 2 tbsp

Black Peppercorns - 10pcs

Cloves - 10pcs

Black Cardamom - 1 pc

Green Cardamom - 4-5 pcs

Javitri / Mace - 1pc

Dalchini - 1 inch

Ginger - 2 inch

Garlic - 1 big pod

Onion - 400gms

Red Chilli - 5 -7 pcs

Bay Leaves - 3 pcs

Masala

Grind the below depicted ingredients into a fine paste.

Marination

1. Wash the chicken pieces

2. Add Salt, turmeric and 20 ml mustard oil and marinate the chicken.

Steps

1. Heat mustard oil in a pan, add bay leaves and finely sliced onions

2. Fry until the onion turns golden brown

3. Add marinated chicken and cook until it oozes out oil. ( It will ooze out water after a few minutes and then after further cooking it will ooze out oil)

4. This is the time when u should add in your grinded masala

5. Fry the entire thing until the raw flavour of masala diminishes and it also starts oozing out oil

6. Now you can add water, as per the consistency you want.

7. Serve hot with Steamed Rice / Puri / Paratha 

Momos Chutney

Ingredients

1. Tomato : 3 medium sized
2. Peanuts : 1 cup
3. Corainder leaves : 1 handful
4. Garlic : 1 small sized pod | Peeled
5. Lemon Juice : 1 tbsp
6. Salt : To taste
7. Green chilli : 2-3 pcs

Steps

• Boil the tomatoes and peel its skin off
• Dry roast the peanuts and dehusk them
• Grind all the above ingredients in a mixer grinder.
• Relish the chutney with steaming hot momos.

Litti Chokha

Ingredients

For Dough

Litti Chokha

• Wheat flour (Atta): 350 grams
• Lukewarm Water: 1 cup

For Filling

• Sattu (Toasted gram flour): 150 grams
• Onions: 2-3 pcs | Finely chopped
• Ginger: 1 inch | Minced
• Garlic: 10 cloves | Minced
• Green Chilly: 2-3 pcs | Finely chopped
• Salt: To taste
• Mustard Oil: 1 tbsp.
• Caraway seeds (Ajwain): 1 tsp
• Kalonji (Mangraila):1 tsp
• Green Coriander: 4-5 strands | Finely chopped
• Lemon: Half
• Mango Pickle Masala: 1 tbsp.

For Garnishing of Litti

• Ghee: 75 grams
• Dried Whole Red Chilly: 4-5 pcs

For Chokha

• Brinjal: 1 medium size 300 grams 

  

  Litti Served with hot Ghee

• Tomato: 3 medium size
• Potato: 2 medium size
• Green Chilly | Roughly chopped
• Salt: To taste
• Coriander Leaves: 2-3 strands
• Mustard Oil: 1tsp

Steps 

Making of Litti

• Mix Atta with lukewarm water and knead a stiff dough. Let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes
• Mix the above mentioned ingredients in filling. Your filling mixture is ready
• Make small pellets of the dough and form katoris out of it
• Fill in the katoris with the filling mixture made in the step above and make circular balls
• Preheat your microwave for 2-3 minutes
• Now place the Littis on high rack in the Microwave | Setting: Microwave plus Grill mode over a high rack for 8 minutes at 300 Watts
• Flip after 4 minutes
• Now on a steel wire roaster, over a high flame, get the char on the Littis for its authentic burnt look!
• Heat ghee in a pan and add dried whole red chilly to it
• Burst open the Littis and pour in the hot ghee and serve it hot.
• Your Litti is ready.

Making of Chokha

• Boil the potatoes and char the brinjal & tomatoes on the steel wire grill over the gas on a medium to low flame
• Mash the potatoes, brinjal and tomatoes to make a fine paste
• Add salt, chopped green chili, green coriander leaves and mustard oil
• Mix them well
• Your Chokha is also ready.

Prawn Masala

Ingredients

• Prawns : 500 grams
• Onions : 2 Medium sized | Finely chopped
• Tomato : 1 Medium sized | Finely chopped
• Coruander Leaves : 1 handful | Finely chopped.
• Ginger Garlic paste : 1tbsp
• Oil : 2 tbsp
• Salt : To taste
• Chilli Powder : half tbsp
• Turmeric Powder : half tbsp

Prawn Masala served butter rice🍚

Steps

• Wash and clean the prawns.
• Heat a pan and add oil.
• Add finely chopped onions and ginger garlic paste, then saute them till golden brown in color.
• Then add finely chopped tomato, salt, turmeric powder and chilli powderand let it cook for 3-4 minutes by covering the lid.
• Add the prawns and give it a stir.
• Cook for 10 minutes and let the water oozed by the prwans to dry.
• Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.
• Prawn Masala is ready to gulp with rice and salsa.

Mango Chutney

Ingredients

• Raw Mangoes : 2 medium sized | Peeled and chopped
• Garlic : 1 medium sized pod | Peeled
• Red dried Chilli: 2 pcs🌶️🌶️
• Salt : To taste

Mango chutney

Steps

• Grind the above ingredients in a mixer grinder.
• Relish the tangy chutney.

Pro Tip

• You can also use green chillies as well.

Whipped Cream

Cupcakes topped with whipped cream

Ingredients

1. Non-dairy whipping cream: You can get this at any bakery store near you
2. Color: Of your choice

Steps

1. Keep all the appliances to be used inside the fridge before whipping the cream for at least 20 minutes like your bowls and the mixer attachment.
2. Transfer 250 ml of cream to the bowl and start whipping the cream.
3. Whip for a maximum of 6-8 minutes.
4. You can add 1-2 drops of color of your choice to reach the desired shade.
5. The cream should be stiff enough to not fall when you invert the bowl.
6. Then transfer the whipped cream to pipping bags and then you are ready to exercise your artistic instincts!

Pro Tip

• The whipping cream should be moved from freezer to fridge a night before whipping it. 

Vanilla Cotton Cake

During my childhood days I was very much enthusiastic for recreating cakes post seeing them on the TV,
However due to limited resources was not able to give multiple tries.

As one batch took at least 100/- and you can imagine the value of 100/- during the late 90’s.
So it took me at least 3-4 months to tweak and experiment with my baking streaks, as it took that much amount of time to save those dreamy 100 bucks !!!!

Finally after years of fantasizing the bazar wala sponge cake.
Here's my take to the very old yet awesome recipe which I aspired from a very long time to nail it.

Vanilla Cotton Cake

Ingredients

• Egg Yolk : 4 large
• Maida : 1 cup | Sieved
• Sugar : 3 tsp | Powdered
• Refined Oil : 3 tbsp
• Vanilla Essence : 2 tsp
• Milk : 3 tbsp
• Pinch of Salt

• Egg Whites : 4 large
• Lemon Juice : 1 tsp
• Sugar : 4 tsp | Powdered

Steps

• Mix the egg yolks, maida, sugar, refined oil, vanilla essence, milk and salt in a bowl according to the quantities mentioned above
• Whisk the egg whites, lemon juice and sugar until they form stiff peaks in a separate bowl
• Using the cut and fold method, mix the first mixture with the second mixture described above
• Grease the mould with butter and place a parchment paper on the bottom of your mould
• Pour the batter and tap to just level it
• Preheat your microwave for 2 mins
• Bake at 140 degrees for 50 mins in convention mode
• Let it cool and relish the sponginess of the cake.

Kathal Kofta

Kathal Kofta

Ingredients

Kathal :Jackfruit/Fanas : 500 grams
Besan (Gram Flour) : 3-4 Heaped spoons
Onions : 2 Medium sized | Finley chopped
Chilly : 2 pcs | Finely chopped
Ginger : 1 inch | Finely chopped
Salt : To taste
Cumin Powder : 1 tsp
Chilli Powder : 1tsp
Coriander leaves : 1 cup | Finely chopped

Steps:

• Chop jackfruit roughly and boil it in a pressure cooker till 3-4 whistles.
• Mash boiled jackfruit and mix all the above ingredients and make koftas of it.
• Deep fry the koftas on a low flame for 5-8 minutes and enjoy :)
• I hope you liked the recipe, feel free to try it out. Enjoy its flavour and share with your famiy & friends.