Daily Archives: June 28, 2014


mother base gravy

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mbg

Preparation Time : 40 minutes

Cooking Time : 40 minutes

Serving : 10 members

Description

We all go to restaurants and order different gravies and in no time it’s on our table and I always used to wonder if we can do this at home …….Off course we can ,and can make different gravies in no time and reason in is restaurants they have mother base gravy which they use commonly in all gravies ,if we make that home ,we can for sure win the hearts of each member of our family .
Best part of this mother base gravy is that you can divide it into smaller portions and freeze it ,( label it. ) and can used later and I am very happy to share the recipe of mother base gravy ( restaurant style ) with you all.
Description and recipe shared by Anisa Arif . I got to know Anisa Arif through my friend sulu . Anisa Arif is a spice queen and is the proud owner of the zaiqa the spice store . Peeps please check out her spice powders as they are worth trying and a boon to people when pressed for time to entertain food at home . I did gift my sister Fazeem an entire set of her spice powders on her visit to India on a holiday from United Kingdom . Fazeem did like all the spice powders and I use them as well on lazy days a lot . Here’s the link to her Facebook page where she takes orders . Please check it out , order and enjoyment guaranteed by me .

Link : https://www.facebook.com/ZaiqaTheSpiceStore

Ingredients

Ingredients
Quantity
cashew nut and melon seeds100 gms (each). Soak together in warm water for 30 minutes and make fine paste.
Finely chopped onions 1 kg
Oil1/2 cup
Tomato paste 1/2 kg ( blanch the tomato ,remove the skin and mark it into paste)
cardamom5
cinnamon1 inch
Chilli powder2 tablespoon
Coriander powder1 tablespoon
Cumin powder1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder1/2 teaspoon
Dry fenugreek or kasuri methi1 teaspoon
Cardamon powder1/2 teaspoon
Red color1/4 teaspoon
cloves 5
Ginger garlic paste4 tablespoon

Method

In a non stick pan add oil, add cardamom, cloves & cinnamon sauté for a minute add chopped onions , sauté till golden brown.
Add ginger garlic paste , sauté till the raw smell goes then add tomato paste , cook in slow flame and keep stirring to avoid burning, (this step is very important). Add cashew & melon paste, and add chili powder, coriander powder , turmeric powder ,cumin powder ,cardamom powder and dry fenugreek and red colour and cook for another few minutes and the base gravy is ready .cool the gravy and can be stored in boxes.

Given below are the gravy options that you can make with this mother gravy
Vegetarians – You can substitute chicken with paneer or cauliflower or mixed vegetables.

Method for Butter Chicken

  1. In a pan, add (oil 2-3 tbsp), add 1 -2 cups base mother gravy, sauté add cooked chicken pieces ( grilled with butter chicken masala or red chilli pwd, haldi, garam masala),
  2. Saute chicken pieces well in the base mother gravy, add 2-3 tbsp of tomato ketchup, 1/2 tsp kasoori methi powder, 1 tbsp butter chicken masala, 1 tsp garam masala, salt to taste and 1/4 cup cream simmer for 5 mins and serve.

Method for Hyderabadi Chicken

  1. In a pan, add (oil 2-3 tbsp), add mix of (dried chillies whole, saunf, zeera, mustard seeds), chopped garlic 2 tsp, fry well add 1 -2 cups base mother gravy, sauté add cooked chicken pieces ( grilled with butter chicken masala or red chilli pwd, haldi, garam masala),
  2. Saute chicken pieces well in the base mother gravy, add 2-3 tbsp of tomato ketchup, pepper powder, zeera powder, salt to taste, little ghee and sauté well on high flame for 2-3 mins and serve.

Method for Chicken Tikka Masala

  1. In a pan, add (oil 2-3 tbsp), chopped garlic 2 tsp, 2-3 tbsp of tomato ketchup, elaichi powder about ½ teaspoon, add 1 -2 cups base mother gravy.
  2. Saute add cooked chicken pieces ( grilled with any tandoori tikka masala or red chilli pwd, haldi, garam masala).
  3. Saute chicken pieces well in the base gravy, add 2-3 tbsp of grated boiled egg, 1 tsp rose water, salt to taste and serve.

Other Variations

Chicken masala : Add chopped capsicum is added in chicken tikka masala along with little tandoori masala.

Dopiaza gravy : Same process as hyderabadi gravy but sauté 1 cup sliced onions are added in the end along with green chillies.

Dhabba Style : Give a tempering with zeera and red chillies, with alot of emphasis of frying/sautéing the masala, addition of grated paneer and dhabba masala, and top with butter before serving.

Achari Chicken : Same process as dhabba style add 2 tsp achari masala.


sweet pepper pesto pinwheel

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pesato

Preparation Time : 40-50 minutes

Cooking Time : nil

Serving : 6 members

Description

Pinwheels always excite me as the circular shape with colours popping out here and there is a visual treat . My first pinwheel experience was not a good one though which was sent over by a Neighbour made with colourful vegetables . Looked nice but the taste was awful . I have tried pinwheels with rotis and dosas but never with bread . I came across a recipe in one cook book that was given to me by my hubby’s friend that made me want to try the recipe then and there . There were two recipes side by side both of pinwheels , I have combined both together and created this recipe as one pinwheel showcasing the delightful dimensions of flavours to combine as one . Made it when I had my daughter and son – in- law visit me at home for breakfast . These circular colourful beauties with minimalist use of spices did enhance the dinning table with raised eye brows and was devoured in seconds vanishing away that brought a board smile on me to end a wonderful family breakfast of togetherness .

Ingredients Main

Ingredients
Quantity
White bread1 loaf unsliced
Red bell pepper1/4 cup chopped
Yellow bell pepper1/4 cup chopped
Parmesan cheese1/4 cup grated
Pesto sauce3/4 cup

Ingredients for pesto sauce

Ingredients
Quantity
Garlic1 tablespoon chopped
Fresh basil leaves ( can use tulsi leaves )
1 1/2 cup
Salt1 teaspoon
Black pepper2 teaspoons
Toasted pine nuts or walnuts5 teaspoons chopped
Olive oil3/4 cup
Parmesan cheese50 grams grated

Method for pesto sauce

  1. In a blender , combine basil , salt , pepper , garlic , walnuts and oil .
  2. Blend them at high speed until the ingredients are smooth . The sauce should be thin enough to run off the spatula easily .
  3. Transfer the sauce to a bowl . Stir in the grated cheese . Pesto sauce is ready .

Notes

  1. The pesto can be thinned further by adding 1-2 tablespoons of hot pasta water that is used to cook pasta .

Method for pinwheels

  1. Cut bread loaf into 4 horizontal slices , discard the edges . Place one slice on a board , spread 1/5 cup of pesto sauce evenly on it .
  2. Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoon each of red , yellow pepper and grated cheese on it and roll the bread tightly .
  3. Place over plastic wrap and roll tightly , secure both the edges by twisting the plastic wrap like eclairs sweet paper tightly .
  4. Repeat the same with all the bread slices . Place all the rolled bread slices on a tray , cover with a wet cloth .
  5. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until to be served . When chilled , remove plastic wrap , slice the rolls into 1/2 inch circles with a sharp knife .
  6. Arrange over serving plate , sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and serve . ( I didn’t sprinkle cheese over ) .

Notes

  1. If you find the bread difficult to roll , place over a wet towel and roll them .