Sesame Chicken- tried and tested

Courtesy of: http://www.momswhothink.com/chicken-recipes/sesame-chicken-recipe.html

Sesame Chicken Recipe

This sesame chicken recipe will satisfy your taste for take-out Chinese Sesame Chicken. It's almost guilt-free since the chicken is not deep fried, which is a plus if you want all the take-out taste without the added pounds.

The sauce thickens to a beautiful dark brown, making presentation with fluffy Jasmine rice a true delight. If you like less heat in your Chinese food, omit the red pepper, but the sweetness of this dish really does balance out the spice perfectly.You can adjust the heat level by substituting with varying amounts of chili paste or even red pepper flakes. Toasting the sesame seeds brings out the flavor of the seeds and doesn’t take long.

This is a wonderful restaurant-quality dish you can easily make at home.

Sesame Chicken
Ingredients:

3 lb. skinless boneless chicken
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c. plus 1 tbsp. water, divided
1/3 c. unsweetened apple juice
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. ketchup
2 tsp. sesame seed
1 tbsp. dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tbsp. sliced scallion
Dash ground red pepper
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. sesame seed



Preparation:

1. Spray a 5 quart saucepot with nonstick cooking spray and set over medium heat.

2. Add chicken parts and cook, turning until chicken is browned on all sides, about 4-6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

3. In a small mixing bowl combine 1/2 cup water with the juice, soy sauce, scallion, ketchup, sugar, garlic and red pepper, mixing well. Pour into pot.

4. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low.

5. Put chicken back into pot. Cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes.

6. Remove the chicken from the pot and keep warm, reserving liquid in pot.

7. Dissolve cornstarch in remaining water and add to liquid in pot. Cook until sauce is thickened (3-4 minutes).

8. Pour sauce evenly over chicken and sprinkle with sesame seed.

Ultimate Super Moist Chocolate Cake

This is the ultimate moist chocolate cake. Sorry, I dont have a pic because it keeps getting eaten before I get the chance to click a pic! :D

The best suggestion for baking it is 2, 9 inch moulds or medium sized baking dishes and filling it with frosting or whipped cream in between.

Ingredients
2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
3/4th cup cocoa
2 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 cup brewed coffee
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:
Pre-heat oven for 10 mins at 150 degrees Celsius

1) Mix all the dry ingredients together
2) whisk in the oil and eggs
3) Slowly add in milk and coffee beating all the time with vanilla essence
4) Pour into 2 medium sized glazed dishes or one big dish
5) If its 2 medium sized dishes bake for 35-40 mins or else 45-50 mins in case of a big dish.

Styling it depends on what you have at home, time availability and creativity sense :D
work ur magic ;)

Chindian Chicken

as the name reads, chinese style cuisine made desi :D

Ingredients:

Chicken 1/2 kg

Oyster sauce 1 1/2 tbsp

Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 tbsp

Chilli Sauce 1 1/2 tbsp

Soy Sauce 2 tbsp

Black pepper accord to taste

Salt accord to taste

carrots (Chopped/shred) 1

Capsicum (Chopped) 1

Tomato Chopped 1

Method:

1) Marinate the chicken into the sauces for 30-60 mins

2) in a skillet with oil stir fry chicken with the tomatoes

3) Add in the shredded carrots and capsicum when the chicken is almost tender and the water has almost dried up

tips: variations- spring onions, corn

4) turn off flame when chicken has tenderized and the water has dried up.

Serving tips: It makes good filling for sandwiches at snack time or as a curry with rice/bread

Grilled/Baked mutton

Yet another simple recipe which requires marination.

There are 2 ways to prepare it A) Grill/Bake B) Curry style

Ingredients:

Mutton/beef/chicken 1/2 kg

yogurt 1 cup

vinegar 2-3 tbsp

salt to taste

ginger to taste

garlic to taste

red chilli/black pepper to taste

lemon 1tsp

make it ur own, add in- crushed, fresh or finely chopped: oregano/mint/coriander

A) Baked/Grill

Method:

1) Marinate

tips: 1-2 days maximum (Freeze it else!), minimum 1-2 hours. Best overnight

2) Bake it in a greased dish for 20-30 mins

Serving ideas- bake in onions, potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum along with the rest

B) Curry

Method:

1) in a skillet with oil add in chopped onions, stir fry

2) add in the marinated goods, stir fry

3) add in half a glass of water so that it doesn't stick to the pan

4) be creative add in capsicums or carrots, let it cook (Can skip this step, work with what you got)

5) when the water dries up and it looks yummy creamy curry, turn off heat

if you have a grinder u can grind onions and add it to the marination just a few mins prior to cooking. onion leaves water so don't marinate with it

Have fun cooking :)

Simple Stew

This is a traditional family recipe from Delhi passed by my mom to us kids :)

the quantities are not precise cz mom doesn't use measuring tools :D

Ingredients:

Lamb/chicken/beef 1/4th to 1/2 kg

(works for all, chicken cooks a bit faster; 2-3 whistles)

yogurt 1/2 cup

Onion chopped(Any size) 2-3

Red Chilli powder accord to taste

Turmeric accord to taste

Ginger 1-2 tsp

Garlic 1-2 tsp

Salt accord to taste

Coriander powder 1/2 tsp (for a bit of gravy- without is ok)

Oil 2 tbsp

Water 1/2- 3/4th glass

Garam Masala (whole preferably) whatever u have is ok such as black pepper, Bay leaf, cloves, whole or hand grind red chilli, cardamom, cinnamon, Black or large cardamom

(everything in very small quantity like 1 or 2 or even half!)

Tools: Pressure cooker!!

Method:

In a cool dry pressure cooker put in the chop onions, lamb, ginger u can put a small whole piece and remove it once ur dish is ready), garlic (2-3 chopped), red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, salt and other condiments, 2 tbsp oil and 3/4th glass of water.

cover the pressure cooker with lid and keep on stove at medium heat. Cook it for 20 mins, expect 4-5 whistles. then turn off the flame and let it sit for 5 mins or until u feel all the steam is out.

if u r in a hurry, keep the pressure cooker under tap water for a min until steam is out (No water doesn't go in)

open the lid and u will find water in it, add in the yogurt and stir fry the food until it looks like what you feel looks good.

tip: stir the yogurt into a paste before adding it in to avoid forming tiny balls.

Enjoy!

Pic coming up soon

Marble Cake

Hello Ppl!

This is the latest 'jugado' experiment by me after trying several plain chocolate and vanilla cake recipes and the result is the perfect delight for dieters.

The cake is moist, soft and best of all low in sugar!

The other convenient thing abt it is its 'presentability' factor, it doesnt need frosting which helps save all those Xtra Cals ;)

This is something you wont be disappointed you tried :)

Ingredients:

Sugar 1/2 Glass (3/4th glass if you like sweet cakes)

Flour 1 glass

Baking soda 1 1/2 tsp

Oil 1/2 glass

Milk 1/2 glass

Eggs 4 eggs

vanilla essence 1 tsp

Cocoa Powder 1 1/2 tbsp

Method:

1. Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl and then whisk milk and vanilla essence into it

2. In a separate bowl mix the baking soda and flour.

3. Mix the flour and the beaten mixture together

the next step is a bit tricky so pay attention

4. In a greased baking dish pour 3/4th of the mixture

5. In the remaining 1/4th mixture whisk in the cocoa powder

6. pour the cocoa mixture into the center and with a spoon make spirals or freestyle design into the baking dish.

7. Bake at 180 degree celcius pre-heated oven for 30-35 mins

Enjoy!

Dahi Badey

This recipe is time and tested again recipe of my mom's which is pretty well known in town. You might even call it a trade mark recipe :D

Pretty simple, and its most special fact is that its urad daal instead of gram flour

Ingredients:

Urad daal, soak in water for 4-5 hours with half tsp baking powder 250 g

cashew nuts 2

Yoghurt 250 g

sugar 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Crush dal in a grinder with cashew nuts

2. Beat the mixture well until light and fluffy

3. Heat oil in a deep pan and fry the dal balls

4. Keep a big bowl of water with salt added. Once the dal balls are golden brown dip them in salt water

5. Mix sugar into yoghurt and pour into your serving dish

6. Place your dahi badey balls into the dish

7. Your Dahi Badey are ready. Garnish with dried/fresh pomegranate and chat masala or coriander and ginger

ENJOY :D

Apple-Walnut Cake

This is a recipe discovered by my lil sister which is just perfect.

Its an abolute treat as a desert for a grand party or a simple evening coffee on a high balcony. Its best quality? It makes you feel extra special and pampered!

Ingredients:

2 Large Apples

2 Eggs

1 cup oil

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup walnuts

1 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Method:

Now that we have our ingredients ready, set your oven to pre-heat for 10 minutes

Peel and chop the apples into small pieces

In a deep bowl, beat the eggs with sugar until light and fluffy

In a separate bowl mix the baking powder, flour, 2 tsp cinnamon powder.

next mix the egg syrup into the powdered mixure.

the oil goes in next. beat well.

The grand finale is folding in the chopped walnuts and apples into the batter

Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon on top.

Bake for 30-35 mins until tooth-pick comes clean.

Serve with coffee.

Feel Special! ;)

Ketchup Chicken

Another one of my moms creative and delicious creations!

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken, washed and pat dried

2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2 cup Ketchup (preferably chilli flavoured)

1/2 cup Tomato puree

1-2 tsp red chilli powder

2-3 tsp salt

1-2 tsp cumin powder

4-5 curry leaves

4-5 green chillies, halved and slit from center

1-2 tbsp Cooking oil

2 tsp olive oil (or any which u may prefer)

Directions:

1. Pat dry the chicken and add ketchup,tomato puree,cumin powder, ginger garlic paste and salt.

2. Marinate well and keep in fridge for 15-20 mins.

3. Heat up cooking oil and add the chicken along with the paste on low flame for 15 mins.

4. When the chicken is done, switch off the stove.

5. Heat up the olive oil in a separate pan, add curry leaves and green chillies until they give a flavouring smell and chillies are done popping.

6. Add this to your chicken and mix well.

Garnish with fresh coriander and enjoy the glory of nature's wonders with hot steaming rice !

Until next time,

xoxo

Veggie Soya Noodle

Enjoy simple and healthy soya noodles, lighter on your stomach and lighter on your guilt ;)

Ingredients:

1 serving soya noodle (or any other noodle u prefer)

2 tsp salt

2 tsp oyster sauce

1 tsp black papper

2-3 chopped green chillies

1 small onion chopped

1/2 cup grated cabbage

1/4 cup grated carrots

1 baby potato chopped

1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

1 egg

2 tsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Boil the noodles until almost done, strain and keep aside.

2. Heat up the oil and add garlic.

3. Saute the garlic and add onions rest of the vegetables.

4. Add the egg (without beating) and slowly mix with other veggies.

5. Sprinkle salt, black pepper and oyster sauce.

6. Finally add the noodles to the mixture and stir fry for 1-2mins.

Your noodles are done.

Enjoy with chilli or tabasco sauce!

White Sauce Chicken

Dear All

Fuzzy darling has inspired me to start posting on this website again with her delicious new curry. so here goes something which is simple and saucy perfect with roti/rice

Ingredients:

Cashew Nuts 4-5 (add more for more curry)

Almonds 4-5 (add more for more curry)

Coconut (chopped, half cup)

White pepper (1 tsp)

Green Chillis (2-3 chopped)

Boiling Water (1 cup)

Onions (1 big or 2 medium sized)

Chicken (500 g)

Yoghurt (2-3 tbsp)

Ginger- garlic (1 tbsp)

Salt (to taste)

Oil (2-3 tbsp)

p.s: You would need a grinding machine for the onions and another grinding machine for powdering your nuts

Method:

1) Finely grind the almonds, cashew and coconut until powdered. Next seperately grind the onion and green chilis. Keep it all aside

2)Now in a deep sauce pan heat the oil and add ginger-garlic paste. stir fry well to let the raw smell go away

3) Next add the grinded onion-chili paste and stir fry. add white pepper. stir fry further

4) add the chicken, salt and mix it gently with the paste. by this time the paste would have started sticking to the bottom so add half a glass of boiling water to keep from burning

5) put the nuts powder on the chicken and cover the lid. let it cook for 10-15 mins until almost tender

6) open the lid and gently mix to check the chicken situation. its time to add the yoghurt now.

Mix well

7) cook the chicken open until you have the "ready look" or the oil starts separating.

Thats it!

Scrumptious chicken at your service

You can garnish it with anything green, chopped coriander/parsley/mint even chillis if you like

Yogurt Curry

For a Vegeterian's Delight and for those days when you re sick of eating meat,I present you with the simplest and best of my recipes!

Although initiated by my beloved mother, this has been tried and tested by me (without assistance!)and it works!! BIG TIME!

Believe me I was one of those who thought of Yogurt curry (or Kadi as we call it) to be one of the complex dishes in our cuisine!But to my surprise this was not only simple, but very very quick, hassle free and extremely delicious!Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did :-)

For Curry

300ml Yogurt

1 cup Water

3Tbsp Gram Daal Flour

Red Chilli Powder To Taste

1tsp Turmeric Powder

1tsp Ginger Garlic PasteSalt to Taste

For Pakoras

4-5Tbsp Gram Daal Flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp Red Chilli Powder

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

Water to mix

3/4 cup Oil for frying

For Garnishing

1tsp Mustard Seeds

7-8 Curry Leaves

3-4 Green Chillies (Halved from center)

1-2Tbsp Oil for Stir Frying

Freshly Chopped Coriander

Directions:

1. Mix yogurt,water,gram daal flour,red chilli powder,salt and ginger garlic paste thoroghly.

2. Pour this liquid into a saucepan and keep it on low flame.

3. Meanwhile, mix the rest of gram daal flour,salt,red chilli powder,baking powder and water.This will turn up into a paste which should not be very thick.If paste is too thick you can add little bit of water but not too much otherwise the paste will be too watery.

4. Heat up the oil to medium to high heat and start making small dumplings from the paste and put into the oil.Flatten them a bit so that they are not very thick.Make sure to fry both sides till golden brown.

5. The yogurt curry in 1 should now be done and would be yellowish in colour and thick in consistency.

6. Carefully drain out the oil from the dumplings and immerse the dumplings one by one into the curry.

7. Heat up 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan and add mustard seeds,curry leaves,green chillies and stir fry till leaves have wilted out.

8. Pour thix heated mixture into the curry and mix well.

Your Yogurt Curry is now done.

Garnish generously with freshly chopped coriander and enjoy with white rice!

Zarda (sweet rice)

Zarda is an ancient desi sweet dish relished by the mughal kings.

P.S: Well not so sure abt the mughal kings but queens- fuzzy and myself are enjoying eating it today:-D

You are most likely to expect in weddings and special gatherings with the Ooh Aaah of OMG look they hav zarda here. I wonder how long they took to prepare it!

The honest truth? its one of the easiest sweet dishes I know how to make in quality time.

Preparation time:

30-40 mins

Ingredients:

Rice 2 cups

Sugar 1 1/4th cup

Cardomom 5-6

Clove 3-4

Softened butter or ghee 3 tbsp

Milk 1 cup

shredded coconut (according to taste)

Nuts and raisins (according to taste)

Food coloring 1 tbsp

Directions:

Phase 1

1) Boil water with 2-3 cloves, cardomoms and food coloring

2) add in soaked rice and boil them until they are almost tender

3) drain water and keep aside

Phase 2

4) In a big bowl gently mix the rice, milk, sugar, raisins, nuts and coconut shavings

P.S: dont mash or whisk the rice, just mix them

Phase 3

5) In a vessel heat the ghee and add the remaining cardomoms

6) add in the mixture from phase 2 and gently fry the rice until the milk evaporates

Phase 4

7) cover the rice and keep the vessel in oven for 5-10 mins at 180 degrees celcius or on top of another pan keep the covered vessel on low flame

8) turn off the flame when you can smell the yummy taste

Your zarda is ready to go :D

Nutrional facts:

Calories: 394

Total Fat: 3.5g

Cholesterol: 4mg

Sodium: 3mg

Total Carbs: 87.8g

Dietary Fiber: 0.7g

Protein: 3.5g

Eggless Chocolate Cake

For those of you who are allergic to eggs but are sugarholic like me ( bigtime!!),

you can still enjoy the most amazing chocolate cake ever!

The best part is, its made without eggs! :-D

what more, its best suited for health conscious people as its made of brown sugar, giving you better taste with fewer calories!

Flavour your life with healthy food!

XoXo

INGREDIENTS

4 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
3 cups brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups water
3 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

2.In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, soda and salt. Add sugar and mix together.

3.Add oil, water and vanilla and mix thoroughly.

4.Pour into a 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.