Vegetable Lasagna

Oh yeah this isn't an Indian recipe- but perfect for all our veggie friends. I always hear the same comment- oh we love lasagna but want a veggie version - so here is my version. Made it for a friend's daughters birthday. Hope you all enjoy it. Making lasagna is a time consuming process, and has a lot of steps. I do use shortcuts - and they work very well for me. If you would rather do everything from scratch - that's perfectly fine.

NOODLES
1 package lasagna noodles (if you buy the oven ready ones it makes matters so much easier! If not you can buy the regular ones and prep them as per directions on the package.)

SAUCE
3 bottles/tins of any tomato sauce - I usually use Hunt's sauce and then add my own seasonings etc to pump it up.
2 star anise
3-4 bay leaves
1/2 tsp fennel seeds (just lightly bruised)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
salt to taste
1 cup chopped onion
1 TBS minced garlic
1 tsp chili flakes
olive oil ( a good quality extra virgin olive oil)

Heat oil, add the onion and garlic and cook till translucent. Add the tomato sauce and star anise, bay leaves, fennel seeds and chili flakes. Cook for about 20 minutes till nice and thick. Check for seasoning. Add the oregano and basil. Bring it to a boil and done. Do not cook it too much after you add the herbs as it leaves a bitter taste. Remove the whole spices (bay leaves and star anise) and keep the sauce aside.

Sauce for the lasagna

CHEESES
3 cups shredded mozzarella  cheese
3/4 cup grated parmesan. (You can use less - but its best if you get the cheese and grate it yourself rather than buying the pre grated variety)
10-12 oz ricotta cheese.

VEGETABLES

Spinach
4-5 cups chopped fresh spinach ( I don't use the frozen kind but it's perfectly fine if you want to. Just remember to completely thaw the frozen spinach and squeeze out all the water before using it. )
1 TBS minced garlic
 olive oil

Heat about a TBS of oil, and saute the spinach and garlic together for about 5 minutes till the spinach is soft. You don't need to cook it. Drain the water and keep aside.

In a bowl mix the spinach with the ricotta cheese and keep aside.

Zucchini
2 cups of sliced zucchini (sliced about 1/2 cms thick)
2 eggplants (sliced about 1 cm thick)
olive oil
salt

keep the sliced eggplant in cold water till you fry up the batches. In a frying pan heat oil and fry up the eggplant slices in batches till browned on each side. Salt them lightly if you wish.
Fry up the zucchini slices (I just put them in together - maybe in 2 batches and toss them nicely in oil till lightly browned.)

Putting it together

Lasagna pan
olive oil
fresh basil leaves (chopped) - this is entirely optional


Lightly oil a lasagna pan, put in the first layer of noodles. Layer the mixture of spinach and ricotta. and keep building with layers of the noodles, eggplant, zucchini and the sauce. Sprinkle some mozzarella among the layers. Reserve some sauce for the topmost layer. Sprinkle the chopped basil on top. Then top it all up with mozzarella and parmesan.

Cover with foil and cook in a 350 F oven for about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to cook uncovered for about 15 minutes - till the cheese on top is nicely browned. Let it rest for a few minutes and then cut up and serve.

Prawns Curry (Kolambiche Kalwan) - CKP Style

Special request for this recipe from Kenya! I promised my daughter it would not be very complicated - so here is a very simple recipe for prawns curry.

1 lb prawns - shelled, deveined
1 tsp ginger paste
1 1/2 tsp garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp tamarind pulp

1 tsp salt
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves
tiny piece of cinnamon
1/2 cup grated coconut (blended with water) OR 1/2 cup thick coconut milk
chopped coriander
oil

Marinate the prawns with ginger paste, garlic paste, salt, chili powder, turmeric, tamarind pulp.
Heat oil, fry the chopped onion till translucent with the cloves and the cinnamon. Add the prawns, saute for a minute or 2 and add the coconut milk. Adjust seasoning. Bring to a boil just until the prawns are cooked. Garnish with chopped coriander.

Do not overcook the prawns - or you will end up with rubbery prawns. Serve hot with plain rice. 

Methi theplas

Theplas is a type of chapati/paratha/bread. Methi is a green leafy vegetable - the English name is fenugreek.
This dish originates from the state of Gujarat - but since I grew up in Bombay (Mumbai) this was a common dish. A good way to get kids to eat their greens...it's a favourite to take along on picnics etc as it stays well without refrigeration and is not messy.

2 cups methi leaves (the methi should be washed- and finely chopped)
5 large garlic cloves
5 chillies
1 tsp dhania/ jeera powder (coriander and cumin seeds powdered)
1/4 tsp owa (ajwain) coarsely pounded
1 TBS jaggery ( I usually soak it in just enough water to cover the jaggery and then use that water while making the dough- this way I ensure that there are no lumps and the sweetness is well distributed.
1 TBS salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tbs warm oil
2 tbs besan (gram flour)
1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida)
11/2 cups whole wheat flour (chapati flour) - not AP flour
water to make the dough
oil to roast the theplas

Take the methi leaves in a large bowl, blend the garlic and chillies together and add to the methi leaves. Add salt, jaggery water, owa, dhania/jeera powder, hing, turmeric, chili powder and the 2 TBS warm oil and mix well. When all the spices are properly mixed in add the besan and mix well. Then add the flour and make a regular soft chapati like dough adding water as needed. Cover it and let it rest for an hour or so.This is what the dough should look like.

Roll out the theplas, like you would roll out phulkas, rather thin ones. Roast them with a little oil, on low/medium heat. Remember, you have raw garlic and methi in there and that needs to cook a bit. Here is the thepla being roasted.

Serve hot or cold- these can be stored without refrigeration for a couple of days (depending on the weather). I sometimes freeze them and then a quick zap in the microwave brings them back to life. Serve with 'choonda' (a spicy and sweet raw mango preserve) or any pickle or chutney of your choice. I also like to serve them with dahi (yogurt) and peanut chutney.

Theplas all ready to eat.

Sauteed Prawns - CKP Style

Easy- fast- tasty- popular!!!

1 lb of prawns (shrimps) - peeled and deveined)
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp tamarind extract
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
chopped coriander
salt to taste
oil

Marinate the shrimp with salt, turmeric, chili powder, ginger and garlic paste and the tamarind extract for about 15-20 minutes.
In a large saute pan, heat oil, fry the onions till they start to change colour. Add the prawns and quickly saute them till done- do not overcook the shrimp or they turn into rubber. That's the reason for a large saute pan...so you have space to fry the shrimp quickly.
Garnish with lots of fresh coriander. Serve and enjoy!!

Chicken Liver Masala (curried)

My favourite way of making chicken livers and my family's favourite way of eating them. Just put this on the table with some rice and chapaties and there is total silence for the next half hour...till the curry is all gone! I use a spice blend for this dish - a slightly different kind of garam masala...but you can use whichever garam masala mix you regularly use at home.

So here goes...and this time I actually found time to take pictures of the process! The chili and garam masala quantities can be adjusted as per taste.

1 lb chicken livers (trimmed and washed)
2 large onions ( finely chop them in the food processor OR grate them)
1 TBS garlic paste
1 TBS ginger paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
salt to taste
oil
water
chopped coriander

Heat oil, and fry the grated/finely chopped onion till pink. Add the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for another 5/6 minutes till lightly browned. See picture for reference.
Add turmeric, chili powder and garam masala and fry for a couple of minutes.
Add livers and salt and saute for a minute. Add just enough water to cover the livers. Cover and cook till livers are done. Do not overcook or they turn dry. Takes about 15-17 minutes for a lb of livers.
Garnish with chopped coriander and a pinch of garam masala. Serve with plain rice and chapaties.

chicken livers 

fry the onions, garlic and ginger paste to this colour

Add the dry spices

add livers, salt and water

All done!

Fish Curry - CKP style

This curry style can be used for most types of fish, pomfret, kingfish etc. I have also made this style curry with Rainbow trout and Halibut. These fish like Indian spices I think...I tried this with Salmon and that was a failed meal! Traditionally it is made with fresh grated coconut that is ground to a fine paste - but if you have thick coconut cream that works as well. You don't always get fresh coconut everywhere. Frozen grated coconut works too...
 Some people prefer a paste of just garlic and green chillies...I prefer ginger in there and I use more red chili powder instead of the green chili. I like the colour the red chili powder gives to the dish.

So here goes - one of the most simple fish dishes...

1 lb of cleaned fish - pomfret, kingfish, halibut etc
2 TBS garlic paste
1 1/2 TBS ginger paste
1 TBS tamarind extract
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chili powder (cayenne)
salt
2 TBS grated coconut blended to a fine paste or
2 TBS frozen coconut soaked in 2 TBS hot water blended to a fine paste or
2 TBS thick coconut cream
chopped coriander
1 small garlic clove smashed
oil

Clean the fish and wash it, apply salt, turmeric, chili powder, ginger garlic paste and tamarind pulp to the fish and let marinate for about 30 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan big enough so it does not crowd the fish. Put in the smashed garlic clove to flavour the oil. Put in the marinated fish and all the masala with it. Saute this for a couple of minutes till you see the fish change colour.

Put in the blended coconut paste / coconut cream and add water to desired consistency. Let it come to a boil and sprinkle chopped coriander on top.

Serve this with steaming hot rice...enjoy!!!!!!!!

paaplet kalvan

pomfret curry

surmai kalvan

Kairiche Panhe - Raw mango drink

This drink is made in the summer months and is considered to be very helpful to slake your thirst during the intense heat of summer. This is served with Ambyachi Daal during the Chaitra Gauri Haldi Kumkum.

4 large raw mangoes*
4 TBS Jaggery (preferable yellow jaggery)
Sugar (quantity explained below)
salt
saffron
powdered cardamom

* The mangoes have to be really raw because the tartness of the raw mangoes is what gives this drink its unique taste.

Wash the raw mangoes thoroughly, they sometimes have sap on the skins. Steam the mangoes till completely soft, the skin will split that's when you know they are done. The easiest way is to cook them in a pressure cooker, 2 whistles and 15 minutes on low is the usual time.
When the mangoes are cool, scrape off all the pulp and keep aside.
Melt the jaggery in about a cup of water and keep aside.
Measure the mango pulp and by volume take 3/4 quantity of sugar (if you have one cup of pulp, take 3/4 cup of sugar).
Cover the sugar with just enough water to soak it and make a simple syrup and keep aside.
 Pass the mango pulp through a food mill or a sieve or just run a hand help blender through it.

Mix the blended pulp with the jaggery syrup and the sugar syrup. Add salt - about 1/4 tsp to bring out the flavour of the mango. Add the powdered cardamom and saffron strands.

This thick pulp can be kept in the fridge for a week or so. Just add cold water and ice according to taste and enjoy.

Ambyachi daal - gram with raw mango

 This is a dish unique to the state of Maharashtra from where I come. This is usually made during the month of April when the first raw mangoes of the season appear in the market. This is a must item when we have the Chaitra Gauri Haldi Kumkum along with Ambyache Panhe, a drink made with raw mangoes.



1 cup gram daal (split Bengal gram)
1 large raw mango
2-3 green chillies
6-7 curry leaves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida)
salt
sugar
2 TBS oil
1 TBS lime juice
chopped coriander

Wash and soak the daal for 6-8 hours, in plenty of water. I usually soak it overnight. This dish is served raw, so the daal has to be soaked thoroughly.

Peel the raw mango and grate it. Finely chop the curry leaves.

Put the soaked daal and chillies through the chopper and pulse it- we do not want a batter, just a rough chop of the soaked daal and the chillies.

In a bowl combine the chopped daal, chillies, coriander, raw mango, salt and sugar.
Heat the oil and temper with the mustard seeds, hing, turmeric and the curry leaves.
Pour the hot oil into the daal mixture. Mix well and pour the lime juice over.

Let this sit for a couple of hours before serving for the flavours to meld.

Shrimp Sabudana Paapdis

Sabudana - 250 gms
Water - 2 ltr
Shrimp - 150 gms (cleaned, deveined)
Salt - According to taste
Pepper - 1/2 tsp


Wash the sabudana and soak it for 2 hours in 4 cup water (the quantity of water should be double the quantity of sabudana).
Run the shrimp through the food processor till completely mashed. add pepper and mix well.

Take a deep pan and boil 6 cups water in it. Once the water starts to boil add soaked sabudana and salt to it. Stir it continuously so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.

When the sabudana is cooked (it turns transparent once it is cooked.) Take the mixture off the heat and add the shrimp mixture and stir till completely mixed.

Proceed with making the papdis as usual, though its better if you make these slightly smaller than usual.

Dry them completely and store in an airtight container. These will not last as long as our regular sabudana papdis...usual shelf life is about 2 months.

Chicken Salad

Why post a recipe for chicken salad on an Indian food blog...yeah valid question. But with kitchens becoming more and more 'international' it seems quite normal! This recipe has a slight 'zing' to make it a little bit more Indian (!)

2 chicken breasts bone-in (roasted with salt, pepper and olive oil - 350 degrees for 30 minutes)
Shred them into bite size pieces when cool.

Finely chop 2 sticks of celery, 5-6 small gherkins, 1-2 tender spring onions, 1-2 small hot chillies (thai chillies work best).

Mix together the chicken, vegetable, 1 cup of mayo and 1 TBS of good mustard. Adjust seasoning (salt) as per taste.

Serve with a side of pickles- tender salad leaves- in between good bread.

Peanut Chikki (Peanut Brittle)

Posting this recipe since someone specifically asked for it...Brenda here you go.



1 cup peanuts - roasted, skinned and coarsely chopped.
1 cup sugar
3-4 teaspoons ghee
1/2 tsp cardamom powder

apply thin film of ghee on your rolling pin, wooden cutting board or your chapati rolling board. 

In a heavy bottomed pan, on a low flame-  heat ghee, add sugar and keep stirring till the sugar dissolves and just begins to change colour. Add the peanuts and cardamom powder, mix quickly and remove from heat.

Transfer the mixture to the rolling board and roll it out quickly to desired thickness. This step should be done very fast since you cannot bring back the chikki mixture to the right temperature without changing the consistency of the sugar. Cut into squares right away when it is hot. Let cool before eating.

You can use whatever dry fruits instead of peanuts--almonds, pistachios, cashews.

Appetizers - Sesame prawns on toast

• 1 lb cleaned raw prawns
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder or grated garlic
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions 
• 1 ½ teaspoons sesame oil
• 10 slices thinly sliced bread , crusts removed
• 4 tablespoons sesame seeds approx
• oil , for deep-frying

Chop everything together from prawns to sesame oil - preferably in a chopper. You can either slice the bread into 3 pieces each or just quarter it. oil should be medium hot...you want the prawns to cook and the toast should not burn in that time. Spread the prawn paste onto the bread pieces - slight mound in the centre- don't over heap or the prawns will not cook. Put the sesame seeds on a small plate and lightly press the toast - prawn side onto the seeds. Fry the toasts in medium hot oil - prawn side down first for 2-3 minutes. turn over and fry till golden brown. Drain onto paper towel. Serve with sweet chili sauce.


This is a fast and easy appetizer - and ever popular with a crowd. You can do a baked version for the calorie conscious but it really doesn't turn out the same.

Sweet Shankarpali

In time for Diwali this super easy and ever popular snack. We had it often - not just during Diwali when we were growing up...sometimes sweet and sometimes the savoury variety (recipe to follow).

1 cup milk
1 cup ghee
1 1/4 cup sugar
5 cups All Purpose flour (approx)
Flour for dusting
ghee for deep frying
pinch of salt.


heat together - milk, sugar and ghee - till the sugar completely dissolves in the milk. Pour this mixture into a large bowl add a pinch of salt and slowly add the flour incorporating it into the liquid. Keep adding flour till it forms a soft dough. It usually takes about 5 cups of flour- but maybe more or less depending on how warm your milk is, or how humid it is that day.

Heat ghee for deep frying.
Roll out the dough onto the counter - medium thickness - and cut into squares. Deep fry the squares -on moderate heat - till golden brown.

This snack really doesn't take too much time or effort to prepare. Just make sure you fry the shankarpalis on moderate heat or the outside will be brown before the inside cooks through.

Happy Diwali.

Appetizers - Butterflied Prawns

This is a fun fun companion to any kind of alcohol - especially if the cook is imbibing!

25 Large prawns ( peeled, with tails left on and slit down the back and vein removed)
2 eggs ( beaten, add salt and garlic powder)
1/2 cup of all purpose flour
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
salt, pepper, garlic powder, oil for deep frying

wash, peel, de-vein, butterfly and pat dry the prawns.
beat the eggs with salt and some garlic powder
Mix flour, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and garlic powder

Heat oil.

Dip the prawn in the egg mixture then in the flour mixture and coat them thoroughly. Deep fry on moderate heat for about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve with a sweet chili dipping sauce and some finely chopped cabbage and carrots for garnish.

Fried Sole- CKP style

I am from Mumbai and I miss eating the umpteen varieties of fish we get there. But I am a fish eater wherever in the world I am and I learn to cook and enjoy all the local fish from every new place.
When we came to Canada we discovered Dover sole. I searched for recipes and found some very good ones- but I kind of wanted to try it Indian style. I found the texture was similar to Bombay duck, though sole is firmer than bombay duck. But its a delicate white flesh fish which marries well with Indian spices.
You can only pan fry this fish though, no fish curry here- the fish tends to melt into the curry. So here goes...

A pound of sole fillets (about 4-5 fillets)
1tablespoon ginger- garlic paste (very fine paste)
1/2 teaspoon thick tamarind pulp
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
salt and red chili powder as per taste.
rice flour and fine semolina (to dredge the fish)
oil for frying

wash and fry the fillets, and pat dry. Apply the salt, turmeric, chili powder, ginger-garlic paste and let marinate for about 15-20 minutes. Apply the tamarind paste and let sit for 5 minutes or so ( not too long as the tamarind tends to cook the fish and dry it out.)
Heat oil in your pan, mix equal amounts of rice flour and fine semolina, dredge the fillet in the mixture, make sure the entire fillet is coated. Fry on medium heat till crisp. The fish cooks very fast, but you want the coating to crisp up.

Goes very well with a cold beer. Enjoy!!