Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Mexican Tomato Fried Rice



Mexican Tomato Fried Rice

Fried rice is an easy and tasty way to use left over rice and vegetables. This is a Mexican inspired tangy and yummy tomato fried rice.  I have used both tomato puree and tomato sauce for this recipe. Try this simple recipe,you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Cooked rice- 3 cup
(cook with chicken broth)
Tomato puree- 3/4 cup
Chopped onion- 1 medium
Minced garlic- 2 cloves
Sweet pepper or bell pepper chopped- 1/2 cup
Paprika- 1/4 tsp
Grated carrot- 3/4 cup
Tomato paste- 2 tbs
Jalapenos -  2 chopped
Oregano and thyme- a pinch
Chopped parsley, rosemary - 2 tbs
Oil
Salt and pepper to taste



Heat oil in a pan and saute onions and garlic for two minutes.
Add tomato puree and paste and allow it to cook and reduce. Season with salt and pepper and stir occasionally.
 Add the paprika powder,chopped pepper, jalapenos and grated carrots and stir fry for 2 minutes.
 Add cooked rice, chopped herbs and mix well. Stir fry for one more minute.


Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Thai Lettuce Wraps

Cravings-Recipes for all the Food you Want to Eat

Photo taken from Chrissy Teigen's Craving's Cookbook

I just recently bought a new cookbook, Cravings, Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat.  The book was written by food-lover and model Chrissy Teigen. I took this cookbook on vacation recently and read it like a good novel, I couldn't put it down.  Her recipes all look and sound delicious.  It's all the recipes I want to make and eat.  Chrissy description for each recipe had me laughing out loud, she's hilarious! When I got home the first thing I made from Chrissy's book was her Chicken Lettuce Wraps.  We loved these lettuce wraps!  So flavorful, delicious and healthy.  I can't wait to make more of her recipes and share them with you but in the mean time check out her book.  It's a good read and is packed with great recipes and photos of Chrissy, her family and of course the food.  I even saw my husband checking out the book but I'm not sure he was looking at the recipes!!  

I did change the recipe, but only a little.  I used only one tablespoon of Sriracha instead of two.   I also used ground turkey instead of ground chicken only because I like the brand of ground turkey from Jennie-O.


Here are a couple of other brands I used in this recipe.
I always have a  bottle of this Mae Ploy Thai sweet chili sauce in the fridge as it a good dip for pot stickers. 

I'm always looking for ways to cut down on salt so I always use low sodium soy sauce. 
Just looking at these pictures makes me want to make them again soon!


For The sauce:
3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons light soy sauce (I used low sodium)
2 tablespoons Sriracha (I used 1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon 100% pure sesame oil
1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger  (I finely grated the ginger using a microplane grater)
For The filling:
1 pound ground chicken (I used ground turkey)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens kept separate
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger (I finely grated the ginger using a microplane grater)
8 oz white mushrooms, trimmed, cleaned, and finely chopped
1/2 cup finely diced canned water chestnuts (I used the whole 8oz can)
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 heads butter lettuce, leaves separated (I used whole romaine leaves, I liked the crunch)
Directions
MAKE THE SAUCE: In a bowl, combine the chili sauce, hoisin, soy sauce, Sriracha, vegetable oil, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic, and ginger.
MAKE THE FILLING: In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the sauce into the ground chicken.
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil (I didn't use the oil) over medium-high heat. When shimmering-hot, add the chicken and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the meat to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet, then add the scallion whites, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they release their liquid, 3 to 4 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan, then add the water chestnuts, bell pepper, and the rest of the sauce and cook, stirring, until cooked through and the liquid has reduced and thickened slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the scallion greens.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and set out with the lettuce leaves.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Chocolate Mousse



Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate mousse is a rich and classic dessert. It is a favorite among many chocolate dessert lovers. It is rich, airy and light dessert with chocolate goodness. This recipe is my absolute favorite,it is an easy no fuss recipe from Nigella Lawson. I have tried this many times and it is a no fail recipe. This is also perfect for those who do not want raw eggs in their dessert. It sets faster  than the regular mousse. Try this, you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Mini Marshmallows- 2 1/2 cups
Semi sweet chocolate- 6 oz.
( preferably dark chocolate )
Butter- 3 tbs
Heavy cream- 1 1/2 cup
Sugar- 3 tbs
Hot water- 1/4 cup
Vanilla essence- 1 tsp
Rum extract- a few drops


Into a sauce pan add marshmallows, butter, chopped chocolate and hot water. Cook in low flame and stir. The chocolate will melt faster. The marshmallows will take about 5 minutes to melt completely. Stir till the mixture is smooth and velvety with no white streaks. Allow this to cool down completely.

In a large mixing bowl add chilled cream and whisk till thick. Add sugar little by little and whisk till soft peak stage. Pour in the chocolate mixture, vanilla essence and rum extract and gently fold in with the cream till it is uniformly mixed. Transfer into serving bowls and refrigerate for 3-4 hours before serving. Decorate with whipped cream or grated chocolate.



Like this recipe,check these recipes too,
Mango Mousse
Tiramisu
Carrot Walnut Slices/Turkish Cezeriye
Mango Agar Agar Pudding
Fruit and Nut Fudge
Chocolate Walnut Bars

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Crab Croquettes



Crab Croquettes

Crab croquettes is delicious appetizer perfect for parties and get together. It has a creamy and tasty crab meat filling and is crispy in the outside. Béchamel sauce is used to make the it creamy and rich.It also helps to bind and shape the patties. Try this,you will surely love it.

Ingredients

Crab meat- 8 oz.
Onion- 1 small
Garlic 2 cloves
Pepper powder-to taste
salt to taste
Chopped parsley- 2 tsp
Lemon juice-a few drops
For the white sauce
Milk- 1/2 cup
Cream-1/4 cup
Butter-  3 tbs
All purpose flour- 2 tsp
Panko bread crumbs- 1 cup
Egg -1
Oil for frying- 2 cup



To make the sauce,heat a pan and add butter, when it melts add the flour and cook the butter and flour in low flame, till the raw flavor disappears and  the flour changes color. Do not allow it to brown up. Add milk and cream and whisk till it thickens to sauce consistency. Switch off the flame.


If you are using regular crabs cook and break the shell. Scoop out the meat and set aside.You can also use cooked crab meat available in super markets.
Heat one tbs of oil in pan and saute onions and garlic till golden brown. When it cools down make it into a paste and add to the crab meat along with white sauce, salt and pepper,lemon juice and chopped parsley. Mix well cover and refrigerate for one hour or till chilled and firm. This will make it easy to handle.
Make this into small balls and flatten into patties. Dip in egg whites and then roll on bread crumbs and set aside for another ten minutes. You can put it back in the fridge till you are ready to fry.
Heat two cups of oil in a pan. Fry croquettes in batches. Fry till both sides are crispy and evenly brown. Serve warm.


Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Green Beans with Caramelized Onion and Chestnuts




Green Beans with Caramelized Onion and Chestnuts

Green beans, onions and chestnuts is a yummy and healthy combo. I have tried green beans with sesame seeds and almonds. Tender crisp beans go well with crunchy nuts. Caramelized onions and chestnuts has a natural sweetness which adds a nice touch to this dish. You can roast the chestnuts or boil them.This can be served as a side dish.

Ingredients
Green beans chopped- 12 oz.
Onion - 2 large
Garlic - 2 cloves
Chopped chestnuts-8 oz.
Paprika or smoked paprika- 1 tsp
salt and pepper to taste
Lemon juice- 1/2 lemon
Olive oil- 3 tsp (or butter)




To roast the  chestnuts wash and then dry them with a towel. Place on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife make a "X" on the chestnut skin. This allows the steam to escape and easy to peel later. Bake for 25 minutes in 350 degree oven. You can also boil the chestnuts like potatoes. Make the "X" mark and boil for 10-12 minutes and drain them. When cool enough to handle peel off the skin and cut into small pieces.

Chop beans, add a pinch of salt and mix and them steam them for 3-4 minutes. Set this aside.
Heat olive oil or butter in a pan and add thinly sliced onions and chopped garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste and saute in medium flame for 4-5 minutes. Reduce the heat and continue cooking for another  5-6 minutes till the onion is caramelized. Add smoked paprika and saute for another minute.Add green beans and chopped chestnuts and mix well. Drizzle lemon juice and serve.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Green Peas Mushroom Curry



Green Peas Mushroom Curry

Simple and breezy curry for chapatis. This is a vegetarian version of my egg and peas curry that I posted earlier.Mushrooms are versatile and can be used to make both mild and spicy curries. I love to cook it just like chicken curry and the subtle mild flavor of mushrooms and the roasted spices complement each other so well. This is a rich and flavorful gravy with coconut milk, tomatoes and cashew nuts. Try this,you will surely love this..


Ingredients
Frozen green peas- 1 1/2 cup
Mushrooms- 8 0z.
Onion- 1 medium
Tomato puree-  3/4 cup
Cashew nuts- 10-12
Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp
Coconut milk thick-3/4 cup
Chilly powder- 1 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
Garam masala- 1/2 tsp
Meat masala- 1/2 tsp
Ghee- 1/2 tsp (optional)
oil- 2 tsp
salt and pepper to taste
Coriander leaves


Soak cashew nuts in 1/2 cup of warm water for half an hour(or you can put cashews into boiling water for two minutes,drain and then wash with cold water if you want it quick). Make a smooth paste.
Make a puree of tomatoes and finely chop onions. Dry roast the spice powders in very low flame for 1 minute and set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and stir fry the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and saute till the juice is reduced and the mushrooms change color to light brown. Drain out and keep aside. In the same pan more oil or ghee and chopped onions. Saute till golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and after a minute tomato puree and cashew nut paste. Saute till oil separates. Add all the roasted spice powder and green peas. Add coconut milk and warm water to adjust consistency. When green peas is cooked and the sauce is reduced add the fried mushrooms and simmer for two minute. Finally garnish with coriander leaves.

Try this..
Hope you will all enjoy..

Friday, December 16, 2016

Croissant Bread Pudding



Croissant Bread Pudding

Classic old fashioned bread pudding served warm with caramel sauce is one of my top favorite desserts. Left over bread can be converted into a baked classy and yummy dessert in no time. Instead of the traditional bread this recipe uses the rich buttery croissant bread. Flaky buttery bread with rich custard takes this dessert to the next level. Add chocolate chips, nuts or raisins and serve warm or chilled. This recipe is inspired from Nigella Lawson show.Try this,you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Croissant bread- 8 (mini or 4 regular)
Eggs large- 5
Milk- 1 1/2 cup
Heavy cream- 1 1/4 cup
Sugar- 3/4 cup
Semi sweet chocolate chips-1/2 cup
Butter- 1 tsp
Salt- a pinch
Rum extract- 1/2 tsp
Vanilla extract- 1 tsp


Pre heat oven to 350 degree. Melt butter and grease baking dish with it and spread the left over butter in the pan.
Slice croissants lengthwise but not all the way through. Place this in a single layer in the baking dish.
In a bowl whisk eggs, sugar and salt till light and fluffy. Now add milk and heavy cream, vanilla extract and rum extract and whisk well.
Pour this over the croissants and gently press the bread so that it absorbs the liquid. Let it satnd for ten minutes or you can chill in the refrigerator for an hour. Sprinkle chocolate chips just before putting it into the oven
Bake the pudding in the center of the oven, for 30 minutes or till the pudding is puffed and golden. The pudding is set when the knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow it to cool down and then serve.


Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!