For Foodies

Here is a Sanjeev Kapoor recipe for chicken pulao. It is a simple recipe and does not require the usual coriander, mint leaves and can be prepared in a hurry with the ingredients at home. Tastes as delicious as a biryani if not better :).

Ingredients:
600 gm chicken (with or without bone)
2 cups basmati rice
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp cashewnuts (optional)
2 bay leaves
6-8 cloves
2″ piece cinnamon
6 green cardamoms
2 medium size onion sliced
3-4 medium tomatoes finely chopped
1 tbsp red chilli powder or to taste
1 tsp garam masala (optional)
4 tbsp oil or ghee

For marinating chicken:
1/2 cup thick yogurt
2 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsp garlic paste
Salt to taste

Method:
In a bowl mix yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste and salt to marinate the chicken. Add the chicken pieces to this and make sure the chicken pieces are well coated with the marination. Keep aside for half an hour.

Pick, wash and soak the rice in water for 15-20 mins. Drain the water and keep aside.

Heat a thick bottomed pan with oil or ghee in it. Once the oil or ghee is hot, add cumin seeds. Once they start spluttering, add the cashewnuts. As they begin to turn golden, add the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves. Saute for a min. Add in the sliced onions and fry them till they are golden brown.

Now, add the tomatoes, red chilli powder and garam masala to the onions. Stir on high heat for about 3-4 minutes. The tomatoes should form a kind of pulp and should leave the sides of the utensil.

Once that is done, add the marinated chicken along with the leftover marinade. Stir on high heat for 5 mins. Then let the chicken cook on medium heat for about 10-15 mins or till the chicken is almost done.

Add in the rice and mix well. Stir the mixture for about 2 mins. Add salt. Now, add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Once the water evaporates and rice comes up lower the heat. Cook covered on sim for about 10 minutes. Turn off the flame and let it stand for 5 minutes. Then with a fork fluff up the pulao.

Serve hot!! Raita is optional!!

Popularity: 8% [?]

A quickie vegetable pulao. Like other quick dishes, veg pulao is made in so many ways. I find the following one the easiest.

Ingredients:
1½ cups of Basmati Rice
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp cashewnuts (optional)
5-6 cloves
2″ piece cinnamon
2 bay leaves
3-4 green cardamoms
3-4 green chillies or to taste
2 tbsp grated ginger
1½ cups of mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, peas, cauliflower)
2¼ cups water
salt to taste
3 tbsp oil

Method:
Pick, wash and soak the rice in water for about 15-20 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and saute for 10-15 seconds. Add the cashewnuts, cloves, green cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves. Fry them till the cashews turn a light golden or the cloves puff up.

To this, add the chopped green chillies and ginger. Fry for a minute. Now, add the mixed vegetables and fry them for about 5 minutes.

Add the drained rice and stir. Put in the salt and water. Bring to a boil. Close the lid of the pressure cooker. Turn off the flame after one whistle and let it stand for 20 mins.

Serve hot with raitha or eat it as is!!

Tip: Soak the rice while the vegetables are getting cut. This will save the soaking time and hence the cooking time.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Back after a long hiatus from blogging recipes. Been busy with home, work and other interests. Hope to post more regularly as much as I would hope for comments from everyone who visits the blog. Comments are the only motivation for bloggers :) 

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Its been a long time since I wrote here… I am back today, not to post  a recipe but something else.

 Yesterday was Maha Shivaratri. Poojas are done all night on this occasion. Devotees do “Jaagrana” or do not sleep all night. Coming to the point, my house is located in the vicinity of a temple where Maha Shivaratri pooja was being held. The whole thing was being done using mic and loudspeakers. By the time it was night and every other noise died down, this was the only thing I could hear.

With due respect to the Lord, the puja could have been done without the loudspeakers (they should have gone off by 10:30). There were these 10+ people chanting “mantras” on the mic. It did not stop there. Once the puja was done, people started singing. Man! Was it irritating at midnight.

The loudpeakers did not stop blaring even past midnight. For people who have sensitive sleep, the “jaagrana” was automatically forced upon them. I understand the excitement and sentiment behind the pooja, but at the same time, people’s space should be respected.  For students having exams, old people, sick people this was more of disturbance than devotion. The temple trust is one of the most respected ones in the area, I just wish they repected every individual’s choice, space and right!!

Popularity: 4% [?]