Friday, August 22, 2014

Simple Garlic Pasta


Author : Anusree
Prep Time : 10 Min
Cook Time : 15 Min
Serve : 4
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Ingredients:


Dried Pasta - 500 gm
Garlic - 10-12 large clove, finely chopped
Parmesan Cheese - 3/4 Cup, grated
Olive Oil - 2 Tablespoon
Butter - 1 Tablespoon
Red Chilli Flakes/crushed - 1/2 Tablespoon
Salt
- very little

Method:
  1. Boil pasta as directed in a box or packet of pasta. Drain and keep it aside.
  2. In a pan add Olive oil and butter. Once it is hot add garlic and saute till the raw smell goes away and it starts turning brown. Now add pasta and give a stir.
  3. Add half  of the parmesan cheese and mix it. Now add remaining of the parmesan cheese and red chilli flakes and mix it well.
  4. Taste the pasta before adding salt. If you feel salt is required then only add salt and give a stir. Pasta is ready, serve hot.
Notes and Tips:
  • This is very simple, quick and one of the favorite dish of my family.
  • You can always adjust the red chili as per you and your family's taste. Usually, I don't put red chilli when I prepare for my kids and sprinkle on my and my husband's plate.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Dum Aloo - Bengali Style


Author : Anusree
Prep Time : 20 Min
Cook Time : 30 Min
Serve : 4 people
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Ingredients:

Baby Potatoes - 8-9 
Tomatoes - 2
Ginger Paste - 2 Tablespoon
Cumin Seed - 1 Teaspoon
Bay Leaves - 2
Cumin Powder - 1.5 Tablespoon
Coriander Powder - 1/2 Tablespoon
Turmeric Powder - 1 Teaspoon
Red Chilli Powder
- 1/2 - 1 Teaspoon
Cooking Oil
- 1/4 Cup
Salt - to taste
Sugar - 1/2 Teaspoon
Cilantro/Coriander leaves - 1/4 finely chopped
Special Garam Masala - 1/2 Teaspoon ( Click here for full recipe)

Method:
  1. Wash the baby potatoes and boil them in microwave or in pressure cooker. Don't overcook them otherwise they will crack and will not be in good round shape.
  2. Meanwhile prepare all the ingredients and make the puree of tomatoes.
  3. In a small bowl add ginger paste, cumin powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder and mix them well with little water.
  4. Once the potatoes are boiled, cool them under water and carefully take off the skin.
  5. Carefully prick the boiled potatoes with fork at 2-3 places.
  6. Put 1/4 cup of oil in a pan or karahi. Put little salt in it and fry the potatoes till it turns golden brown. Take out the potatoes in a plate.
  7. From same pan/karahi take out excess oil and leave almost 2 Tablespoon of oil in it. Add cumin seeds and bay leaves. Bring down the heat to medium.
  8. Add the mixture of ginger paste and all the masala which you have prepared in step 3. Keep stiring till the raw smell of ginger and masala are gone. The color of the mixture will turn little brown.
  9. Add tomatoes and salt saute it for few mins. When the mixture starts leaving oil add fried potatoes and give a stir. Now add 1 cup of water,sugar and cover the pan/karahi with lid. Bring a gravy to a boil. Once the gravy starts boiling reduce the heat to medium, add special garam masala and let it cook for few mins.
  10. Once the gravy is thick turn off the gas and Dum Aloo is ready.
  11. Garnish the Dum Aloo with clinatro/coriander leaves and serve hot with puri.
Note and Tips:
  • I used baby red potatoes.
  • You can always add red chilli powder as per you and your family's taste.
  • If you can plan making of Dum Aloo one day ahead then you can boil the potatoes and keep them in refrigerator. Next day you can peel off the skin and start cooking. By doing this you can avoid cracking of potatoes.

Special Garam Masala


Author : Anusree
Prep Time : 5 Min
Cook Time : 15 Min
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Ingredients:


Small Cardamom - 10
Clove - 12
Cinnamon stick - 1.5 inch
Cumin Seed - 1 teaspoon
Black Peppercorn - 12-14
Big/Black Cardamom - 2

Method:
  1. Dry roast all the ingredients in a pan.
  2. Let it cool. Grind it in a mixer into fine powder and sieve the masala.
  3. Keep it in a small jar.