Monday, February 27, 2017

Jamaican Jerk Chicken



Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Jerk chicken can be grilled or baked and is a no fuss chicken recipe. Jerk refers to the wet marinade that makes this chicken so flavorful and yummy. You can find pre made jerk dry rub mix in the store but this time I decided to try making my own home made marinade. Scotch bonnet or the habanero chilly , all spice berries, scallions, herbs and pineapple imparts the meat with a  right balance of sweet heat and flavor.The flavors are dominant and awaken your senses.

This is a home made version of the jerk chicken. There is a time honored cooking technique and the  real jerk chicken is cooked over charcoal which gives it a smoky flavor.  I adapted this recipe form the cook book Chicken :60 Simple Recipes for Great Home Cooking. Try this you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Chicken joints- 4
Shallots- 3
Scallions- 2 chopped
Habanero-4-5
(this is less spicy than scotch bonnet
adjust according to taste)
Thyme- 1/2 tsp

Ginger and garlic paste- 1 tsp
All spice berries- 1 tbs
Black pepper- 1/3 tsp
Cinnamon- 1/3 tsp
Nutmeg- a pinch
Pineapple chopped-3 tbs
Dark brown sugar- 1 tbs
Rum - 1 tb(optional)
Salt to taste
Oil- 2 tbs



Clean and pat dry chicken and set aside.
Put the rest of the ingredients into a food processor and blend into a smooth thick paste. Adjust according to taste or the spice level. You can double the recipe and store in refrigerator for one week.
Make deep slashes on the chicken and marinate the chicken with this paste. Refrigerate it over night or for at least three hours.
Place the marinated chicken into a roasting pan and roast in pre heated oven at 400 degree f for 30- 40 minutes.
Serve with rice. I served with Brown rice with coconut and green peas. You can also serve this with some salad for a filling tasty meal. Happy Cooking!


You might also like,
Caribbean Mango Chicken
Chicken Piccata
Korean Chilli Garlic Chicken
Baked Mexican Chicken
Korean Fried Chicken
Honey Bourbon Chicken

For more chicken recipes check 100 Chicken/Meat Recipes

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms




Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

If you like mushrooms this is a perfect party appetizer recipe that you should try. You can use large portobello  or medium sized white button mushroom caps to stuff the filling.This is a versatile recipe and you can use vegetarian or non vegetarian filling of your choice. The filling here is a creamy crab meat filling.

Ingredients
Portobello mushroom caps- 4
Crab meat- 1 cup
Cream cheese- 3 tbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic powder- 1/4 tsp
Onion powder- 1/4 tsp
Chopped spring onion- 1 tbs
Chopped parsley- 1 tbs
Chopped mint- 1/2 tsp
Parmesan cheese-3 tbs
Panko bread crumbs- 1/3 cup
Olive oil- 2 tsp


Pre heat oven to 345 degree f. 
Remove the stem and clean the mushroom cap.
In a bowl add crab meat, cream cheese, chopped parsley and mint and the rest of the seasoning and mix well. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cap and spread evenly. Finally sprinkle the bread crumbs on top and drizzle with olive oil.
Place mushrooms on baking tray and bake for twenty minutes or till the mushroom is tender and the filling is golden brown.Serve warm

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Ranch Dressing

For lunch, I make a salad for my husband and I at least 4 days a week.  Eating salad each day, for us, is more about getting our nutrients and fiber from raw veggies than about being a diet food.  Our salads differs each day depending what's in the fridge.  At the beginning of the week I'll prep a variety of veggies so that I can easily pull together a salad each day.  I also like to add boiled eggs, cooked chicken, avocado or even left over steak for some protein.  When it comes to salad dressing, I like homemade.  My go to dressing is ranch and this easy recipe is my favorite.  I always have these ingredients on hand because I make it about once a week.  Ranch dressing may not be the healthiest salad dressing but it's so good and I believe, everything in moderation.  
Ingredients:  (not pictured) half & half, lemon juice, dill weed, parsley, salt, pepper, mayo, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder.

So creamy!

Today our salad was packed with so many veggies you can hardly see the lettuce!

I love my OXO salad spinner.  After I wash and spin dry my lettuce, what ever is left I just store in the fridge in the basket/bowl with the lid on for the next day.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup half and half *see below
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
Instructions
  1. In a bowl mix together half & half and lemon juice.  Let sit 3 minutes.  The half and half will become slightly thickened and curdled like buttermilk.
  2. Add the other ingredients and whisk together until well combined.
  3. If too thick, add a splash of half & half or milk.
  4. Use right away or refrigerate for about two weeks.  

*You can use milk in place of half & half but it won't be as creamy and thick.  You can also use buttermilk, just omit lemon juice.  I like using half & half because it's always in my fridge because it's what I use in my coffee. 

Friday, February 10, 2017

Karah Prasad/ Wheat Flour Halwa



Karah Prasad/ Wheat Flour Halwa

Karah Prasad is served in Gurudwara as prasad for devotees. It is made with whole wheat flour/atta, ghee and sugar. It has a sweet smell and is so yummy. Try this rich and tasty halwa, you will surely love it.

Ingredients
Whole wheat flour/atta- 3/4 cup
Sugar- 1 cup
Ghee- 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp
Water- 2 1/2 cup
Any toasted nuts of your choice


 In a sauce pan bring water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the flame and allow it to simmer.
Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan and add the wheat flour. Keep stirring and make sure there is no lumps. Cook in low flame for 3-4 minutes or till the raw flavor disappears and flour changes color to light brown. Carefully add the dissolved sugar and water as it has a tendency to splutter. Mix continuously to avoid lumps. Add cardamom powder and toasted nuts.It will thicken quickly and leave the edges of the pan. Stir till ghee separates and it turns glossy.Switch off the flame and allow to cool before serving.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Shami Kebab



Shami Kebab

Shami kebab can be served as an appetizer or as a snack. It dates back to the Mughal era and was considered to be part of the royal menu.  It is delightful with a soft melt in mouth texture and is equally tasty. It is made with minced mutton and split chick peas. These patties are pan fried and served with mint chutney.

Ingredients
Mutton- 1 lb
Chana dal- 1/2 cup
Ginger garlic paste- 1 1/2 tsp
Green chilly paste- 1 1/2 tsp
Onion- 1 small
Mint leaves chopped- 2 tbs
Coriander leaves - 1 hand full
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tbs
Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
Meat masala- 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice- 1/2

Whole spices- Black cardomom-2,green cardamom- 4,Clove- 3
Cinnamon stick- 2 pieces, Bay leaves- 2 ( Make a potli /pouch using a muslin cloth)
Oil for frying
Salt to taste


Cook chana dal till soft and drain off the excess water.
Pressure cook  meat along with the ginger garlic paste, green chilly paste,salt and 1/2 cup water. Make sure the meat is soft and all the water evaporates.
When it cools down remove the spice pouch. Add the cooked meat, cooked chana dal, chopped onions, mint leaves coriander leaves,spice powders and juice of half lemon into a food processor. Grind the meat till it is smooth with no visible meat chunks. Divide the mixture into small lemon sized ball and flatten into patties. Let it chill in the refrigerator for two hours. Heat three to four tsp oil in a frying pan. Shallow fry till both sides are golden brown.
Serve warm with mint coriander chutney.

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy!

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.