Thursday, July 27, 2006

Chettinad Fried Chicken


Ingredients

Chicken(medium) - 800 gm
Onions(medium) - 2 nos
Ginger - 1" piece
Garlic pods - 4 - 6 nos
Green chillies - 4 nos
Red chillies(Kollamulaku) - 4 - 6 nos
Curry leaves - 10 - 12 nos
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Rice flour - 2 tbsp
Salt - As reqd
Oil for shallow frying

Preparation Method

1)Clean, wash and slit chicken pieces, if they are too big.

2)Chop onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies.

3)Grind together onions, ginger, garlic and chillies into a fine paste.

4)Blend turmeric powder, lemon juice and rice flour into the masala paste along with salt.

5)Apply this mixture along with shredded curry leaves onto the chicken and leave to marinate for 2 - 3 hrs in the refrigerator.

6)Heat oil in a shallow pan.

7)Add marinated chicken and saute for 2 mins on both sides to seal the exterior.

8)Reduce heat to medium, cover with the lid and cook for 15 - 20 mins, turning over and basting frequently with remaining marinade if any.

9)Sprinkle water, if chicken stays too dry.

:- The last few mins of cooking should be done on high heat so that the surface of the chicken becomes crispy and golden brown.

:- Serve hot as a side dish or with any Indian bread.

Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe

Ingredients
Chicken(wings & bones) - 1 lb
Allpurpose flour(Maida) - 1 1/2 tbsp
Egg - 1 no
Butter - 2 tsp
Pepper powder - 3/4 tsp
Sugar - A pinch
Ajinomotto - A pinch
Salt - As reqd

Preparation Method

1)Make Chicken Stock with 4 cups of water. This is done by cooking chicken in a Pressure Cooker for 1 whistle. Strain and keep aside.

2)Shread flesh from wings and saute in 1 tsp butter and keep aside.

For Roux:
1)In a shallow pan, add butter.

2)Add maida and saute well.

3)Remove from fire before the colour changes.

4)Mix the roux to the stock.

5)Add sugar, salt and pepper.

6)Bring to a boil.

7)Reduce the flame to low medium.

8)Beat the egg with little salt and pepper.

9)Pour the beaten egg mix into the soup through a strainer.

10)Add ajinomotto.

11)Remove from fire.

12)Garnish with shredded chicken in each bowl before seving.

Tips:
1) You may add more roux to make the soup thicker.

2) Vary the amount of salt and pepper to taste.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Hot n spicy chilly chicken

Ingredients

Chicken(boned & skinned) - 1 lb
Dry red chillies(Kollamulaku) - 18 nos
(large chillies soaked in warm water)
Cumin seeds(Jeerakam) - 1 tsp
Fennel(Perinjeerakam) - 1/2 tsp
Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp
Fresh ginger - 3-4 pieces
(peeled & pulped)
Lemon juice - 1 no
Salt - As reqd
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Lemon wedges for garnishing

Note : Reduce Chilli if you don`t like spicy food

Preparation Method
1)Dry roast the cumin, fennel and coriander together and then grind with the drained chillies.

2)Mix the ground spices with ginger, lemon juice and salt in a bowl.

3)Chop chicken into bite size pieces.

4)Add chicken to bowl and mix with the marinade thoroughly.

5)Cover and refrigerate overnight.

6)Heat oil in steep sided pan or wok. You’ll need at least 1 inch of oil in bottom of the pan.

7)Fry chicken pieces (covered in marinade) a few at a time, do not overcrowd. Chicken should take only a few minutes to cook and will be dark golden brown on outside, white and juicy on the inside.

8)Allow each batch to drain on kitchen paper and allow oil to re-heat before next batch.

9)You can keep chicken warm in a low oven until all is ready.

10)Garnish with lemon wedges.

Indo-Chinese Chilli Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken(bone less) - 500 gm
(1 inch pieces)
Green chillies - 4 nos
(cut into halves)
Ginger - 1 inch piece
(finely chopped)
Garlic pods - 10 nos
(finely chopped)
Reddish orange color – 1/2 tsp
Red chilly powder - ½ tbsp
White vinegar - 2 tsp
Soya sauce – 1/2 tbsp
Green chilli sauce – 1 tbsp
China salt(Ajinomotto) – 1tsp
White pepper - 1 tsp
Coriander leaves – 1 tbsp
(finely chopped)
Spring onions - 1 tbsp
(finely chopped)
Refined oil for deep frying

For the marinade:-
Multi purpose flour – 1/2 tbsp
Corn flour – 1 tbsp
Egg - 1
Salt - As reqd
Preparation Method

1)Marinate chicken in the above mentioned marinade for atleast an hour.

2)Heat oil in a deep skillet.

3)Fry the chicken pieces on medium flame, until they are golden brown and keep them aside.

4)Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a skillet.

5)Saute ginger and garlic pieces for half a minute.

6)Add the fried chicken pieces to it.

7)Add Vinegar, Soya sauce, green chilli sauce and mix well.

8)Add a cup of water to it.

9)Add red chilliy powder, china salt, salt (if necessary) and cook.

10)When half of the water is evaporated, add green chillies to it and cook, till it gets dry.

11)At the end, add white pepper, coriander leaves and spring onions to it.

:- Serve hot.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Sambhar(kerala dishes)

Ingredients

Tur dal - 100gms
Drumstick - 2 (medium sized)
Brinjal - 1
Medium Onion - 2 (Cut into 6 pieces)
Medium sized potato - 1 (peeled and cut into very small pieces)
Sambar Masala - 3 tablespoons
Coriander leaves - 1 table spoon (chopped)Curry leaves - 10
Dried red chilli - 2 Cut into pieces
Salt To tste
Tomatoes - 2 (medium sized cut into pieces)
Tamarind - size of a lime soaked in 1/2 cup water
Methi Seeds - 1/4 tablespoon
Vegetable oil or Ghee - 2 table spoon
Asafoetidia - 1 tablespoon
Mustard Seeds - 1 teaspoon


Preparation

Cook Tur Dal in two cups of water, when half cooked add pieces of drumstick, potato, brinjal, la, onion, tomato pieces, and salt. Cook till dal is very soft. Dissolve sambar masala in little water and add it to the cooked vegetables. Take the pulp of the soaked Tamarind and add, blend well and cook. In another pan heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they stop spluttering add methi seeds, dried red chilli pieces, Asafoetida and curry leaves. Fry for two minutes and then add to dal vegetable mixture and boil it for 1 minute. Finally add chopped coriander leaves on the top.

Marbled Cheesecake Bars


Ingredient

3 (8-ounce each) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 (1-ounce each) bars HERSHEY'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate, melted
Chocolate Crust (Method)
  1. Prepare Chocolate Crust. Heat oven to 300°F.
  2. Beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk, beating until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
  3. Pour half of batter evenly over prepared crust.
  4. Stir melted chocolate into remaining batter; drop by spoonfuls over vanilla batter. With metal spatula or knife, swirl gently through batter to marble.
  5. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Refrigerate several hours until chilled. Cut into bars. Cover; store leftover bars in refrigerator.

Makes about 24 to 36 bars.

Chocolate Crust: Stir together 2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (about 60 wafers), 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa and 1/2 cup powdered sugar in medium bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup melted butter OR margarine until well blended. Press mixture firmly on bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Picnic Drumsticks


Chicken Ingredients:
1/3 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter
1/3 cup crushed saltine crackers
2 tablespoons onion soup mix
8 chicken drumsticks

Dip Ingredients:
1 medium (1 cup) cucumber, peeled, chopped
1 cup LAND O LAKES® Light Sour Cream
1 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in oven in 13x9-inch baking pan (5 to 7 minutes). Stir together crushed crackers and onion soup mix. Dip chicken drumsticks into melted butter, then coat with crumb mixture.
  2. Place drumsticks in same pan; sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until no longer pink.
  3. Meanwhile, stir together all dip ingredients in medium bowl. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve chicken hot or cold with dip.

Makes 4 servings (1 1/3 cups dip).

TIP: Prepare chicken as directed above. Cool completely. Place chicken in resealable plastic food bag. Prepare dip; place into covered container. Place chicken and dip in cold picnic cooler when transporting. Serve cold chicken with dip.