Gourmet Gubbie

Decadent Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Chip Brownies

2010-02-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

If you're looking to make some very yummy, very easy and very american brownies, then look no further. Here or (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/peanut-swirl-brownies-recipe/index.html) is a recipe from one of the best cooks in the world, Ina Garten!

I say these are Americanized brownies because they taste richer and more chocolatey, (just the way they taste almost everywhere in the US, IMHO), than the one's I've eaten in India and elsewhere.

Here's a picture of the brownies I made:

The peanut butter and the chocolate chips take this brownie to a higher-yummier-level. It takes about 20 minutes to prep and another 30 to bake. The whole house smells divine after that! :)

Angel Hair Pasta with Creamy Garlic Prawns

2010-02-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Total Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Olive oil
16 raw prawns, peeled and deveined (Leave this out for the veggie version)
1 leek, chopped ( Leeks are from the onion family and look like this. If you can't find leeks, use some onion\ bulb of the spring onion)
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
1/2 cup dry white wine
200 ml cream
250 gms angel hair pasta (I used Farfalle, use any pasta you like)
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Method:

Preparing the Prawns: Season the cleaned prawns with salt and pepper. I also went ahead and added some chilli powder, cumin powder and corriander powder, I had to put an Indian twist on things you see. Keep the seasoned prawns aside for a few minutes. Heat half the oil in a frying pan and cook the prawns until done. Remove from the pan, cover and keep warm.
Cooking the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, takes anywhere between 10 - 12 minutes. Drain the pasta when cooked and return to the same pot to keep it warm. I usually start with boiling the water and doing the prep work for the dish. This way the pasta will be ready when the sauce is and you can eat everything when it's hot!
Making the Sauce: Heat the remaining oil in the same pan. Add the leek and cook, stirring over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and chilli flakes and stir for a minute. Pour in the wine, reduce the heat and simmer for about 4 minutes or until reduced. Add the cream and simmer for another 3 minutes, or just until thickened.
Bring it together: When the sauce has thickened, add the parsely and season well with salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta and mix to coat the pasta with the sauce. Divide the pasta into bowls and then top it with prawns.

For the vegetarians, a good option would be to use sauteed brocolli as shown by Anne Burrel here. I recently learnt the shock-and-blanch technique and haven't cooked brocolli any other way since then.

Hope you enjoy making and eating this dish as much as I did! :)

Spinach, Sundried Tomatoes and Cheese Puffs

2009-10-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

This is a really nice snack whose recipe I picked off of the Puff Pastry sheet box and modified to make it mine.

If you haven't used store bought puff pastry sheet, this is what I mean - Puff Pastry.

So the recipe for these Cheese Puffs is here - Spinach Cheese Swirls.

I added a little bit of pepper and red chilli flakes to the cheese mixture and added some chopped sundried tomatoes to the spinach mixture. The rest is the same as given in the puffpastry.com recipe.

It's really nice to eat with some hot hot tea and takes less than 30 minutes to make. Do try!

Ginger Chicken

2009-09-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hailllllllo...my first one on this blog!! Hope you all likings this!!

I got this on one of the various internet sites which I just look at when I am hungry and drool
:(( and not do anything!! :)

This is a really nice and tasty recipe...here goes..

For the masala :
1 cup curry leaves
1 big onion
2 green chillies (if not spicy..depends, i had used the big mota ones, try 1 and check)
stems of coriander leaves (around a bunch, if no stems, cheat with the leaves !)
lil water

Now comes the Koli and the rest
1 kg Chicken
2tbsp soya sauce
little bit corn flour
1tsp vinegar

For the frying
2 inch Ginger (sliced\Julian)
1tsp ginger garlic paste
Oil
Coriander leaves

Steps to prepare
1.Marinate the chicken with soya sauce, corn flour ,vinegar and little salt and keep it aside for 20 mins
2.Take a pan and heat it with oil.Once hot, add the marinated chicken and fry till it turns a golden colour
3. Add the julian sliced ginger, and fry the chicken for 3-4 mins.Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for 2 mins
4.Add the masala now. Coat the chicken with the masala and cook until the masala reduces and sticks to the chicken.
5.Check salt and add appropriately
6. Garnish with coriander and be ready to dig in ;)

My Favourite Banana Walnut Cake

2009-09-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

This is the first cake I ever learnt to bake. It is a fail-proof recipe that is bound to impress, I assure you!

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cup of Sugar, powder it if you're doing this by hand and not using an electric mixer.
3/4 cup Ghee, yes ghee.
3 Eggs
4 Tbsp Milk
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Vanilla Essence
1 and 1/2 cup Flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder
3 ripe mashed Bananas
1 Cup chopped Walnuts

Method:

Beat the Eggs, white and yolks and set aside
Cream the ghee and sugar, until they are blended well.
Add flour to this mixture, a spoon at a time. In intervals add the beaten egg mixture.
When the consistency gets too thick, add milk in intervals to make it easier to mix.
Mix soda in a little hot water. Add this to the mixture.
Add Vanilla essence next, followed by baking powder.
Prepare a cake pan for baking, by first greasing the pan with butter or ghee and then sprinkling some flour.
Preheat the oven for about 5 - 10 minutes at 350 F. (177 C)
Mix the bananas and chopped walnuts into the cake mixture. Give it a quick mix and then pour it into the cake pan. Place cake pan into the oven.

Let it bake for about 40 -45 minutes. This depends on your oven, so after 40 minutes, when you see that the cake has risen and browned sufficiently, take a clean knife and poke it into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean without anything sticking to it, then the cake is ready.

Simple, no? Let me know what you think!

Cream of Spinach Soup

2009-03-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

This is a wholesome, easy to make soup that is just super healthy!

Ingredients:

About 50 leaves of Spinach or two big bowls, cleaned and dried.
2 cups of milk
1 big clove of garlic, mashed up
2 cups of sliced mushrooms or brocolli or corn
Some Salt and Pepper to taste
2 teaspoons of corn flour
2 cups of water
1 tsp of olive oil or any cooking oil.

Method:

Heat the milk and when you can see it is almost warm add the spinach leaves.
Cook the spinach until you see that the leaves have wilted and changed color.
Take this mixture off the heat and bring it to room temperature.
Now blend only the spinach leaves to form a smooth puree in the blender. Add the milk as needed. Set this aside.
Take a wok/deep dish and heat the oil.
Add the garlic and roast till they turn golden brown.
Add the mushrooms or veggies and sautee on high heat till they are almost 80% done.
Turn down the heat to medium temperature and add the spinach puree.
Now add the remaining milk and mix well.
Take the cornflour in a blow and add about half a cup of water to dissolve it completely.
Add the remaining 1 and 1/2 cups of water to the soup.
Then add the cornflour mixture.
Bring the soup to a boil or until it thickens to the desired consistency.
Take it off the heat and then add salt, pepper and about 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.

Serve hot. Enjoy it with some salad or garlic bread.

Apple Gojju

2009-02-25T14:11:00.000-08:00

On one of my eloquent days... to Pooh and Vaish!

i am not knowing if yuvar taste buds will like... but, for yuvar information yennyway... :)

ingreedients:
2 green apples cut into pieces (if you don't get green, use red and add tamarind paste)
3-4 dry red chillies (what they are calling byaadgi mensinkai in bengaluru)
1/2 cup coconut
solpa mustard seeds
solpa asafoetida
solpa haldi
solpa salt
solpa jaggery
solpa tamarind paste (yeef you are wanting)

how:
Put it jeera, dry red chillies, asafoetida in the pan and roast for a minute or so. Then, put it off in a blender and get off nice powder. Now, add coconut to the powder and some water and and again run the blender to get the red powder + coconut paste. Now, put it oil in the pan, add mustard seeds and haldi and then take off the cut apple pieces and add off into the pan along with some water. Let it cook for some time until the apple looks like it's cooked (prod it with a fork to tell). Now, put it the paste that you made before only and mix nicely and let it heat for a few minutes. Then, add off some salt and jaggery and heat for a few more minutes. If you're wanting more tangy flavour, put off some tamarind paste also. Then, serve off with rice when it is hot like anything. Wokay?

lou,
Shibs.

Sun-dried tomatoes au soleil!

2009-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

A nice and easy pasta recipe that happened while I was experimenting!

Ingredients:
10 large pieces of sun-dried tomatoes (I bought the dry version of it; so, you have to soak it in warm water for about 30 min and then cut into pieces; keep the water that you soaked it in).
1/2 cup sliced olives
2 chopped tomatoes
3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 sliced onion
A handful of basil

How to make:
Heat 3 tsp olive oil in a pan.
Add sliced onion and sautee until translucent.
Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and fry for 2-3 min
Add tomatoes and the water you used to soak the sun-dried tomatoes (1/4 cup)
Stir and let it cook for 15-20 min until the tomatoes become pulpy
Add cooked pasta and stir in the mixture
Add chopped basil and stir in
Add pepper to taste
You can also add grated parmesan (I didn't, of course!) on the top.

Palak Paneer

2008-12-12T15:27:00.000-08:00

I think I'm turning into popeye-esque person. Here comes another Spinach recipe but this one is for Shibs, who is going to make it completely gourmet by trying it out with tofu! Good luck Shiblet!

Ingredients:
1 big bunch of spinach. (Approximately 150 leaves) Wash and clean thoroughly.
20 pieces of Paneer or Tofu
1 and 1/2 cloves of garlic coarsely chopped.(To be used with palak while boiling)
2 inch of ginger, chopped
2 green chillies
1 clove of garlic finely chopped. (To be used with onion)
1 medium onion chopped finely
1 tomato chopped finely
A pinch of turmeric
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp cumin\jeera powder
1/2 tsp corriander powder
1/2 tbsp of oil

Method:
1) First step is to make the Spinach puree. Pressure cook the spinach, coarsely chopped garlic, ginger and green chillies for about 1 whistle. Let it cool down.
2) Once the boiled spinach has cooled down, blend it to a nice fine paste in a blender and keep aside.
3) In a pan, heat the oil. Add about 1/4 tsp of mustard seeds and 1/2 tsp of Cumin\Jeera. Let it splutter.
4) Now add the onion and finely chopped garlic and fry till golden brown.
5) Add the dry powders of turmeric,chilli powder, cumin and corriander, once the onion has caramelized. Fry for about 1-2 minutes.
6) Now add the chopped tomato and cook till the tomato has blended with the onions and spices and it looks like a well mashed up paste.
7) Add the palak paste and mix well. Add salt according to your taste. I added one teaspoon of salt.
8) After mixing it well add the paneer or tofu and bring the curry to a boil. That's it, it is ready.

Eat it with rotis or the peas pulao. It takes about 30 minutes to make. You can even garnish this with some fresh cream, but for weight watchers this tastes just fine without the cream.

Peas Pulao

2008-11-26T13:54:00.000-08:00

I learnt how to make this pulao from my mother-in-law. It was one of our favourite lunch-box dishes and it is super simple to make. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare for it and about 15 minutes of cooking time, if you are using a microwave.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of peas
1 and 1/2 cups of rice, washed and soaked until it is time to cook. I use basmati when I can. Regular rice works too.
3 small green chillies, slit
1 medium onion chopped into slices
1/4 tsp of mustard seeds
1/2 tsp of cumin seeds
1 Tbsp of oil
4 cups of water, or any rice:water ratio that you use for making rice.
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Heat Oil in a pan/pressure cooker.
2) Add the mustard and cumin seeds. Let them pop and crackle.
3) Add the chopped onions next. Fry till they turn golden brown.
4) Add the green chillies and fry for another 2 minutes.
5) Now drain the water from the soaking rice. Add the rice to the pan\pressure cooker. Roast till all the water from the pan evaporates.
6) Now add the four cups of water and the salt to taste.
7) Cook it just as you would cook rice, either in the microwave for 15 minutes(depending on your microwave) or pressure cook in the cooker.

Serve it with some raita or with any Dal\Rajma\Cholay curry. Tastes simply yum!

Thai Chicken Basil Curry

2008-11-21T15:32:00.000-08:00

I found a video version of this recipe on the internet and decided to try it out. It's just fantastic and so simple to make. The vegetarians can definitely leave out the chicken, the fish sauce and substitute with vegetables and I'm sure this will taste just as nice. You have to excuse this picture. I was so excited with the way it turned up, I couldn't hold the camera and click!

Ingredients:
* 4 chicken breasts
* 2 tbsp oil
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 1 garlic, minced
* 2 red chillies, finely chopped
* 1 cups (250ml) fresh basil leaves, chopped
* 2 tbsp fish sauce
* 1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
* 1 ½ tsp brown sugar, I used white sugar though
* 250 ml coconut cream
* 1 lime sliced for garnish

Method:
1. Clean and Cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch strips
2. Heat the oil in a wok or pan and stir fry the onions, garlic and chilli for a couple of minutes until the onion is translucent.
3. Add the chicken strips and stir fry for 4 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
4. Add the coriander, basil leaves, fish sauce and brown\white sugar to the mixture and fry for another minute. Add some salt to taste.
5. Finally, pour in the coconut cream and stir for 5 mins until the sauce has reduced.

Done! That's it. Now add some lime juice just before you serve it out. Serve it with hot rice and some freshly cut slices of cucumber. Eat it hot!

Spinach Fried Rice!

2008-11-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

Ok here comes a recipe for a simple, easy to make and super yummy - Spinach Fried Rice. I know it's another spinach recipe, but next time it'll be something else, for sure!

Ingredients:
1 cup of rice, basmati or regular, washed and soaked.
A big bowl of spinach, about 30 leaves, cut into longish strips.
A small cup of frozen corn, boiled with a little salt and cooled.
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
2 inch piece of ginger, julienned (cut into long strips)
1 tsp of white vinegar
1 tsp of MSG (optional)
2 tsp of Soya Sauce
1/2 tsp of pepper powder
Salt to taste
1 tbsp of oil

Method:

Cook the rice in the microwave with about 1 tsp of salt. I like the way the rice cooks out in the microwave. Take it out and let it cool for a little bit by spreading the rice on a big plate.
Take oil in a big wok-type pan. Heat it for a minute. Now all the next few steps have to be done on a high flame.
Now add the garlic and sautée it, until it starts turning brown
Add the onion and fry till translucent.
Now add the garlic and sautée it for a min.
Next add the corn. Sautée for one quick min.
Then add the vinegar, soya sauce, MSG, salt and pepper. Let it cook for about a minute.
Now add the spinach and stir well. The spinach will start to cook and shrivel.
When the spinach looks done, add the cooked rice.
Mix well and let it cook on a low flame for a minute or two.
If you eat egg, then it can be garnished with plain scrambled eggs.

That's it. It doesn't take more than 30 minutes to cut, prepare and cook and it takes less than 5 minutes to finish eating it!

Potato Fry

2008-11-08T04:55:00.000-08:00

Very, very simple.

1. Heat oil in a pan.
2. Add chopped onions and stir until golden brown.
3. Add chopped pototoes.
4. Add salt and Chili Powder and stir fry.
5. Leave lid on and let it cook for a few minutes.

Voilà! Potato Fry!

Dinner's Ready! - Spinach Dal

2008-11-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of keeping things simple. Naturally, I wanted my first post on the Gourmet Gubbie to be something real simple. I love this recipe!! It is simple, but it can be something so special to make when you call people over too. It doesn't take more than 30 mins; soaking, cleaning, chopping and all! Ok, so here goes, simple, special,tasty, the dal with some attitude, Palak Dal.

What you need:
1 bowl of Toor dal
1 bunch of palak(spinach)
1 ripe tomatoe [optional]
5 cloves of garlic
2 Green chillies
1 tsp of Cumin seeds(jeera)
1.5 tsp of oil/ghee
A pinch of turmeric

Method:
1) Wash and soak the dal for about 15 mins. Keep aside.
2) Now clean the spinach leaves well. Chop it up into thin pieces.
3) Chop the tomatoes into smaller pieces.
4) Chop two of the garlic cloves into fine pieces.
5) Chop the two green chillies.
6) Now throw away the water in the soaked dal. Add the dal, the chopped spinach, the tomatoes, garlic and green chillies into a pressure cooker. Add about twice the amount of water and add a pinch of turmeric.
7) Pressure cook this dal for about 2 whistles. Switch the gas off and let it cook in the heat contained in the cooker.
8) Chop up the remaining garlic cloves.
9) Once the pressure had cooled off in the cooker, open it up and mix the contents really well. If it is too thick in consistency add some water.
10) Add salt and bring the dal to a boil.
11) For the tadka( seasoning), take a small pan, add the oil. Once it heats up, add the cumin seeds.
12) Once the cumin starts to turn a slightly darker shade of brown, add the garlic and fry it till it turns brown in color.
13) Add this seasoning to the dal and mix well.

The Spinach Dal is now ready. Eat it with Rotis or Rice, it tastes just as nice with both.

Bon appétit!

2008-05-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to Gourmet Gubbie!

More posts as soon as the Gubbie flies home with updates.