PAN GRILLED LAMB - SUPER EASY & DELICIOUS

The lamb is so tender that it lends itself perfectly to this quick and simple cooking method.  The two marinades used in this recipe give a subtle flavour that manages not to overwhelm the quality of the meat.  

Ingredients :

1. 6 lamb pieces
2. Oil

For the first marinade :

1. Ginger paste - 1 tbsp
2. Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
3. Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
4. Salt - 1 tsp
5. Juice of 1 lemon
6. Garam masala - 1 tsp

For the second marinade :

1. Fried cashew paste - 1 tbsp
2. Fried onion paste - 2 tbsp
3. Yoghurt - 1 tbsp

Method :

In Tamil

1.   Mix together all the ingredients for the first marinade, rub them over the lamb and set aside for 30 mins.   Then mix together the ingredients for the second marinade and apply to the lamb pieces.  Leave for another 20 mins.

2.   In a grilling pan, roast the lamb pieces over medium heat until done.  This process took me around 25 mins.

In English

Serve with your favourite sauce.

BULGUR WHEAT SALAD - TRY TO KEEP YOURSELF FIT

This salad is another one, I love to have in the summertime as it pairs well with grilled meats or can stand alone as a filling and healthy meal by itself.

Ingredients :

1. Bulgur wheat - 1 cup
2. Water - 2 cups
3. Salt to taste
4. Oil - 4 tsp
5. Cherry tomatoes - 15 nos
6. Capsicum (red/yellow/green) 
7. Cucumber, diced
8. Spring onions, chopped
9. Lemon juice - 1 medium sized
10. Dried parsley - 1 tsp (or) fresh parsley - handful
11. Walnuts - 5 nos, chopped

Method :

In Tamil :

1.  Clean the bulgur wheat.

2.  Boil 2 cups of water along with salt & 2 tsp of oil.

3.  Add bulgur wheat to the boiling water.  Cover & cook over medium flame for 5 to 10 mins or until  cooked thoroughly.  Allow it cool down completely.

4.  Add chopped vegetables, spring onion, lemon juice, dried parsley, walnuts, 2 tsp of oil & add necessary salt.  Mix well.

                                            In English 

5.  Finally add chopped walnuts.  Toss well.

Serve.

Ambur Style Chicken Biryani - Home style !!

Ambur is a place in South India where they make this spicy & flavourful biryani.  Traditionally, seeraga samba rice is used for this dish (I used basmati rice).  Chicken is cooked with all spices which makes this dish unique. This can be cooked with mutton too.  Perfect menu for good Sunday afternoon.

Ingredients :

1. Seeraga samba rice / Basmati rice - 2 cups
2. Chicken - 1 kg
3. Oil - 2 tbsp
4. Ghee - 4 tbsp
5. Cloves - 4 nos
6. Cinnamon stick
7. Cardamom - 4 nos
8. Bay leaf
9. Start anise
10. Black cardamom - 1 no
11. Onion - 4 nos, medium sized
12. Tomatoes - 4 nos, medium sized
13. Garlic paste - 1/2 tbsp
14. Ginger paste - 1/2 tbsp
15. Chilly powder - 2 tsp (to spice taste)
16. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
17. Curd - 1 cup
18. Mint & coriander leaves 
19. Green chillies - 3 nos
20. Water - 1 cup
21. Cashewnuts
22. Salt to taste

Method :

In Tamil

1.   Heat oil & ghee in the pressure cooker, add clove, cinnamon, bay leaf, black cardamom, star anise and cardamom.   

2. Add sliced onions.  Saute till tender.

3.  Add green chillies, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder & salt.  Cook.

4.  Add chopped tomatoes & cook well.

5.  Add chopped mint & coriander leaves.

In English

6.  Meanwhile parboil the rice with salt and oil.  Drain the water from the rice and keep aside.

7.  Once the onion mixture is well cooked, add chicken pieces, chilly powder & a cup of water.

8.  Pressure cook the chicken for one whistle or until done.

9.  Once the chicken is cooked, add cashew nuts & mix gently the drained rice.

10. Drizzle some ghee on top.  Sprinkle some chopped mint & coriander leaves.  Cover & cook without whistle for 15 mins over medium flame or until done.

Serve warm with raita.

Bansi Rava Upma - Very Healthy food !

Bansi Rava or semolina is in between broken wheat and normal rava in texture. Bansi rava is made of wheat and tastes good, it is easy available in any grocery shop. Bansi rava upma is easy to prepare and tasty too.

Ingredients :

1. Oil - 2 tbsp
2. Cinnamon stick
3. Cloves
4. Cardamom
5. Onion, sliced - 1 medium sized
6. Green chillies, chopped - 3 to 4 nos (to taste)
7. Water - 3 cups
8. Vegetables (Carrot, beans, green peas, double beans, capsicum), chopped - 1 1/2 cups
9. Salt to taste
10. Ghee - 1 tsp
11. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

In Tamil

1.  Heat oil in a non-stick pan, add cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom & finely sliced onion.  Saute till tender.

2.  Add finely chopped green chillies.  Saute.

3.  In a separate pan, add a cup of water, little salt & chopped vegetables.  Cook well.

4.  Add bansi rava to the onion & roast till golden brown.

5.  Add cooked vegetables to the bansi rava & 2 cups of hot water.  Adjust the salt.

6.  Add some ghee.  Cover & cook the upma till done.  

7.  Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Serve warm.

Frozen Elsa Themed Cake - Perfect for birthday celebration.