CREAMY MUSHROOM PASTA

Looking for a delicious, filling dish the whole family can agree on?  This creamy mushroom pasta has definitely got you covered!

Creamy mushroom pasta recipe is perfect for meal prepping during the week or as a delicious lunch or dinner. 

INGREDIENTS :

1. Penne pasta - 3 cups
2. Salt to taste
3. Oil 
4. Onion, chopped - 1/2 cup
5. Garlic, chopped - 1 tbsp
6. Mushrooms, sliced - 200 gms
7. Butter - 1 tbsp
8. Olive oil - 1 tbsp
9. All purpose flour (Maida) - 2 tbsp
10. Milk - 1 cup
11. Red chilly flakes - 1/2 tsp
12. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
13. Grated parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup
14. Dried parsley - 1 tsp

METHOD :

In Tamil

1.  Cook the pasta in the salted boiling water with a tsp of oil as per the instructions given in the package.  Keep aside.

2.  In a pan, add oil, chopped onion, garlic & sliced mushrooms.  Cook until mushrooms are golden & cooked thoroughly.  Keep aside.

3.  In the same pan, add butter, oil & flour.  Keep stirring for a min & add a cup of milk.  

4.  Add red chilly flakes, salt to taste, pepper powder & grated Parmesan cheese.  The sauce becomes thick.

5.  Add mushrooms & pasta.  Mix & cook for 2 more mins or until well combined.

Serve warm.

Pineapple Halwa

Sweet and decadent and richly flavorful pineapple halwa is a thick pudding of sorts made with pineapple, milk solids and sugar. Make, share and enjoy !

Ingredients :

1. 1 medium sized pineapple
2. Ghee - 4 tsp
3. Sugar - 1/2 cup
4. Homemade khova - 1/2 cup
5. Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Saffron, few strands
7. Nuts of your choice
8. Almonds for garnishing

Method :

1.  Peel the pineapple skin & chop them.

2.  Coarsely grind the cubbed pineapple & keep aside.

3.  Heat 2 tsp of ghee in a pan, add coarsely grounded pineapple.  Cook for 10 mins & stirring occasionally.

4.  Add sugar & khova. Cook until thick in consistency.

5.  Add cardamom powder & saffron strands.

6.  In a separate pan, add 2 tsp of ghee & roast the nuts.  

7.  Add the roasted nuts to the pineapple mixture.  Cook until the mixture separates the pan.

8.  Garnish it with almonds.

Halwa is ready to serve.

Recipe link for homemade khova :

https://www.cookingwithswapna.com/2019/11/khova-using-ricotta-cheese-homemade-mawa.html

CABBAGE POTATO CURRY

Wholesome, filling, delicious & easy is what today's cabbage potato curry is all about.  You need only a few staple ingredients to make this curry.  I didn't go overboard with any spices, kept the recipe way simple so that even a beginner cook can make it easily.

Ingredients 

1. Cabbage, shredded  - 4 cups
2. Oil - 1 tbsp
3. Cinnamon stick 
4. Cloves - 3 nos
5. Cardamom - 2 nos
6. Onion, chopped - 1 cup
7. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
8. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
9. Potato - 3 nos
10. Water - 1 cup
11. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
12. Chilly powder - 1 tsp
13. Tamarind paste - 1/2 tsp
14. Large tomato - 1 no
15. Salt to taste
16. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

1.  Heat oil in the pan. Add cinnamon, cloves, cardamom & onion slices.  Saute till tender.

2.  Add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder & salt to taste. 

3.  Add shredded cabbage.  Cover & cook for few mins.

4.  Add cubed potatoes & water.  Cover & cook till 3/4th done.

5.  Meanwhile ground together coconut, chilly powder & tamarind paste.

6.  Finally add the grounded spice paste & tomato to the cabbage curry.  Cook for another 5 mins or until done. 

7.  Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Serve with rice / rotis.