Kitchen Corner-Try It

    Green Chutney Stuffed Eggplant- Ravaiya  Brinjal/eggplant is a versatile vegetable, and it goes well with different spices and herbs. Stuffed vegetables always taste better, and sometimes you need to look at things from a new perspective. Ever thought that a simple green coconut chutney can be a flavorful stuffing? Well, it may sound simple, but it tastes delicious. Ravaiya is a vegetarian/vegan recipe that is a perfect example of easy-to-make, comfort homey food. It is a culinary staple of Gujarathi and Parsi cuisine.  It goes well with basmati rice or with Indian flatbread like rotis or parathas. Fried eggplant has this melting texture, and combined with the tangy, flavorful coconut paste, and spices it tastes delicious. There is a perfect balance of heat and flavor. Coconut and sugar add a touch of sweetness and balances the tart from vinegar and tamarind. The coconut chutney has a fresh flavor of coriander and mint. I have posted recipes of stuffed eggplants,...

   Keema Pav Recipe- Minced Mutton Masala and Pav- Mumbai Street Food   Keema pav is must-try comfort food. It is a street food popular in Mumbai( Bombay, India) and if you love exploring local food, vada pav, and keema pav are must-try Mumbai street foods. Keema Pav is spicy ground meat (preferably mutton) masala served with toasted pav/bun. If Vada pav is a humble Indian version of the burger, keema pav is the Mumbai version of the Sloppy Joe! Keema Pav is seriously addictive, aromatic, and heartwarming. This recipe is an incredibly easy way to recreate the flavors of this popular street food at home. For your next potluck party or get-together, why not try something different as an appetizer. Scoop in a generous amount of tasty minced meat masala with crispy butter toasted pav bread. Serve it with extra curry/ gravy and a hot cup of lemon ginger tea. If you have never tried this before, give this recipe a try! You do not want to miss out on this tasty street food...

   Creamy Cauliflower and Peas Curry- Gobi Matar Masala  Are you looking for a simple vegetarian/ vegan curry to go with flatbread or rice? This curry is creamy and delicious with the roasted flavors from cauliflower . The sauce is versatile and is good with any vegetable of your choice, lentils, or beans. Cauliflower is always a favorite veggie option for me, and during the season, this vegetable is insanely inexpensive. The best way to prepare cauliflower is by roasting it. It brings out the nutty sweetness of the vegetable and complements well with any spicy meal. Here I have used a pan searing/ stir fry technique to roast the cauliflower. But you can also roast them in the oven. Cauliflower and green peas are a classic Indian combination. Gobi Matar is a famous North Indian dish and a great accompaniment for naan or pulka. I often make it for dinner, but this time tweaked the recipe a bit for a low-calorie curry with coconut milk instead of cream. It adds flavor and...

  Fruit chaat/ Indian Fruit Salad Fruit chaat is a simple Indian style fruit salad that is easy to make and addictive! Indian fruit chaat has a surprising twist- a mild spice kick that is a delicious and fun way to enjoy fruits. For a south Indian like me, chaats are always associated, with North Indian street food. There are so many varieties of chaats and what makes it unique is the chaat masala. It adds a hint of spice and tang. The flavor that chaat masala adds to food is hard to recreate. It is a tangy, and peppy flavored spice mix. A little goes a long way, so add a pinch of this magic spice. Chilled fruit chaat has a cooling effect, especially during the hot summer months. It is a great eating experience and a perfect way to enjoy seasonal fruits. Fruit chaat is perfect for entertaining and is a light and filling snack or appetizer. Like the Mexican fruit salsa, you can serve it as a side with roasted or barbecued meat. This simple fruit salad is flavored with cumin, chaat m...

   Delicious 7 Easy Appetizers- Indian Party Appetizers  Are you looking for appetizer ideas for entertaining? Appetizers never fail to impress, and everyone loves to get around the table, chat and nibble tasty appetizers. Kids will also love these delicious finger foods. So it is always a good idea to have a variety of options. Why not try some Indian inspired appetizers for your next gathering. Some of the most popular Indian party favorites are samosas , pakoras , spring rolls , vadas , panipuri, chaats, etc. The recipes I am sharing today are some that I made during the holidays. They are some re-imagined classics with an interesting twist. Here is a list of some of my go-to appetizers that have become a hit among family and friends, and I hope you will find them interesting. Persian Kotlet Persian kotlets is meat patties made with minced beef/chicken and grated potatoes. Ingredients Minced beef or chicken- 1 lb Potatoes- 2 medium Onion- 1 medium Egg-2 Turmeric-...

Andhra Style Green Chilli Chicken Today's recipe is a delicious and spicy Andhra style green chili chicken. This is the fourth recipe I am sharing for this year's Christmas menu. This is a spicy notch up to the regular dry chicken roast recipe. Chicken lovers will love this simple, yet flavorful chicken with the enticing flavor of chilies and spices. For me, this is absolute comfort food and has the deep essence of homey South Indian food. It is perfect with steamed rice and rasam. I spent most of my childhood in Andhra Pradesh and most of my childhood memories are surrounded by flavors of Andhra food. Andhra cuisine is known for its diversity- it is rich, tangy, hot and flavorful. They have some of the best spiciest delicacies and I have already shared some of my favorites like pulihora, Andhra fish curry, gongura pickle , Aavakaya ,etc. Andhra chili chicken is common in the restaurant menu in Bangalore and Delhi. But it is not the regular Indo Chinese chilly chicken ...

Murgh Chukandar/Beetroot Chicken Murgh Chukandar is a tasty chicken curry with wonderful natural bright red color. This color is from beetroot as the name suggests- chukandar means beets in Hindi and Urdu. You can also make with gosht/mutton. I am not sure about the origin of this recipe but it is popular in Northern India and Punjab and it is made during cold winter months. I love recipes with beetroot,but never thought of adding to meat. Beetroot has an earthiness and sweetness to it which complements with the flavor of earthy spices and kick from the chilies.The bonus is its beautiful vibrant color. This chicken curry has the right balance of sweet,sour,heat and flavor and was beyond what I expected. This humble chicken curry when paired with rice and naan gives you the satisfaction of homey comfort food. Beetroot is a super food and is a great source of iron and folate. It is said to purify blood and reduce blood pressure. It also contains nitrates,magnesium and oth...

Stuffed Squid Squid is a unique and yummy seafood delicacy that can be prepared in a variety of ways. Squid rings or fried calamari's is the most popular and is a great appetizer. Squid is a staple in many seafood restaurants. It is also a popular street food in several south Asian countries. Squid is enjoyed in the coastal belt of south India especially in Kerala and Tamilnadu. In Kerala squid is known as koonthal or Kanava.  Squid is one of my favorite sea foods-roast squids, deep-fried, stir-fried, or squid curry-I love them all. Squid has a mild flavor and gentle sweetness and marries well to any flavor and taste of your choice. Squid can be stuffed before roasting or frying, its tubular body called mantle is great for stuffing. You can get creative with the stuffing- use prawns, fish, pork, cheese, bread crumbs, olives, rice, or anything of your choice.  Today's recipe is a stuffed squid with spicy prawn filling. The dish is inspired by a similar preparation from th...

Indian Spice Roasted Cornish Hen Roasted Cornish hen can be a perfect recipe for any occasion, impressive and easy to make. Cornish hen often is referred to as Indian game hens, and they are truly delicious! Roasting cornish hen doesn't need to be intimidating. I have this about whole chicken and turkey, but the cornish hen is a safe bet. My family does occasionally like a more elaborate meal with fried or roast chicken. The recipe is the basic marinade that I use for roast chicken or Cornish hen. It is a spicy Indian marinade with aromatic, earthy spices, garlic, and the spice kick from dry red chilly. It is spicy and crispy outside and juicy in the center. This recipe is delicious and easy to make, and I guarantee it will be your new favorite for a simple and elegant family meal. Cornish hens are just like chicken but small, each weighing not more than a pound and half. They are just as easy to roast like a chicken and is tender, and have a milder flavor when compared to ch...

Rajma/Kidney Beans Pulao  Pulao is simple one pot meal and I often make with vegetables or meat. This time I had some leftover kidney beans/rajma. Its delicious and aromatic combo of rice, spices, beans and vegetables. It is easy lunch box recipe. Ingredients Basmathi Rice- 1 1/2 cups Kidney beans- cooked- 1 cup Beans- 1/2 cup Onion- 1 Green chilly- 3 Ginger- 1 inch piece Garlic- 2 Turmeric- 1/2 tsp Garam masala- 1/8 tsp Chicken broth/ Vegetable broth- 1 cup Water- 2 1/2 cup Whole spices-Cinnamon- 1 inch  stick,Cardamon- 2,Cloves - 4 Lemon juice-  1 tsp Salt to taste Cashew nuts chopped- 5 Raisins- a few Oil 2 tsp Ghee- 1 tsp To cook rajma/kidney beans soak over night. Pressure cook (5-6 whistles) and keep aside. Chop beans, onion, ginger and garlic and set aside. Heat oil and ghee in a deep heavy bottom pan and add in the whole masalas, cashew nut and raisins . When it changes color  add onion,ginger- garlic and saute till the ...

Mangalore Spiced Potatoes Mangalore spiced potato is lip-smacking delicious baby potato fry. This is a spicy and versatile potato dish, flavored with earthy South Indian spices. Mangalore is a food lovers paradise. It is a port city and the melting pot of several cultures and unique cuisines. I had been to Udupi and Mangalore and experienced a unique, diverse culture and traditions. The traditional Udupi meal got me intrigued by this cuisine. I wanted to recreate some of the Udupi and Mangalorean recipes. I have already posted a Mangalore fish curry. What I love about this potato fry are its spicy bold flavors. The spice powder mix is primarily chilies, peppercorn, cumin, and coriander. The addition of coconut is a unique twist and adds lots of flavors. And also the aroma of roasted curry leaves. It is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside which is exactly how you want them to be. It is hard to stop munching on these spicy delicious baby potatoes. I used baby potat...