Burger Bun without Yeast

 Dinner bun without yeast and egg 

 In lockdown tried to prepare lots of kids friendly food at home with limited ingredient as they are missing the restaurant food. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 2 tsp baking powder 
• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 2 tbsp sugar 
• ½ tsp salt 
• 2tbsp +1 tbsp oil 
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (preferably freshly squeeze) 
• ¼ cup yogurt +2-3 tbsp

Methods: 

1. Mix all the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour + sugar +salt +BP+BS)  
2. Make a well and add 1 tbsp oil,and lemon juice.Mix.
3. Knead the dough very well adding  ¼ cup yogurt. 
4. Add 1 tbsp yogurt at a time if necessary, to make a very soft dough.  ( Note: it may need more yogurt ) 
5. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes or until the dough is very soft and it does not stick in your hand.
6. Rub oil on the dough and make six equal portions. 
7. Give the shape of the bun.
8. Brush oil on the baking tray and place the bun keeping some space to rise. 
9.  Cover the bun and keep it for 2-4 hours to rise.
10. Do not disturb the dough in between. 
11. Preheat the oven at 350F / 180C 
12. Brush the buns with yogurt or one egg yolk wash. 
13. Bake the buns for about 20-25min or until the buns are golden brown. 
14. Remove from the oven and lightly buttered the bun and cover for 5-10min.
15. Place it on a wire rack to cool. 

 

               Enjoy eating homemade buns.  

                         **************** 

Fish Head curry

 Fish head - Mom's Special 2

Ingredients:

• 1/4 of an ash gourd(150 g)
• 1 ridge gourd
• 1 small potato
• 1/2 of a Rahu or Catla fish head.
• 1 medium-size tomato
• 4/5 garlic cloves
• 1-inch ginger
• 1/2 of onion
• mustard oil   ( can be used refined oil)
• 1 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.
• salt

                                                                      

Method:

1. Cut the vegetables into chunks.
2. Cut the onion into small pieces
3. crush the garlic and ginger
4. Rub the fish head with turmeric and salt.
5. Put enough oil into the pan over medium heat to fry the fish head. Fish should be fried properly. Keep it aside,
6. Add onion into the same oil and fry the onion properly. Then add crushed ginger and garlic, fry a little.
7. Add all the vegetables and mix well adding turmeric and salt.
8. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat. Let it cook.
9. Add 2 cups of water and boil. 
10. Then add the fried fish.
11. Cook for 5 min or until it cooks.
12. Serve hot with white rice.

                                               **************

Fish curry - Authentic Assamese Fish curry

 Authentic Assamese fish curry- Mom's Special

Ingredients: 

• 4/5 piece of Rohu or Catla ( Or any freshwater/ river fish)
•  1/2 of a bottle gourd (150gms approx) - cut into pieces.
• 1 handful of orange lentil ( masur daal)
• 1-inch ginger
• 2 tsp turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• Mustard oil.
• 1tsp fenugreek seeds(methi)

Method:

1. Rub the fish with turmeric powder and salt.
2. Put a Kadai on high flame.
3. Add enough oil to fry the fish.
4. Fry the fish till golden brown (both side)
5. Keep it aside. 
6. In that same oil add fenugreek seed and let it splatter.
7. Add crushed ginger and stir it. Fry a little. Let the raw smell goes.
8. Add the pieces of bottle gourd and lentil. Mix it and then add turmeric.
9. Mix it well and cover it and reduce the heat to medium.
10. Add 2 1/2 cup hot water when the lentil get roasted. Let it boil.
11. Adjust the salt. 
12. Once it is almost cooked add the fried fish into the curry. ( adjust the water) 
13. Let it cook for another 5 min. 
14. Garnish with green chili and coriander leaves.
15. Serve with steamed rice. 

                                                      ##############

GLAZED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOM

A very quick and simple but tasty recipe

 I like to watch cooking shows and borrow ideas from those and like to try cooking something different. That's how I found out this recipe and going to share it with you. 

Ingredients:

250 gm boneless chicken pieces. ( preferred thigh pieces)

10-12 button mushroom cut into half or quarter piece ( same size of the chicken)

one small carrot cut into thick slices (optional)

one small onion - cut into quarter (optional)

One tablespoon cut spring onion

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon tomato sauce

1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce

Salt 

2 tablespoon vegetable oil.

2/3 clove of garlic

Preparing the sauce:

Mix tomato, honey, and soy sauce. Keep it aside.

Methods:

• Remove excess water from the chicken.
• Wipe the mushrooms.
• Put a frying pan over high heat.
• Add oil. Let it be smoking hot and then add the chicken pieces and stir.
• Stir frequently. 
• Add salt and let it cook in medium heat till it turns light golden brown. ( Chicken should be almost cooked)
• Add carrot slices, garlic, and onion. 
• Stir and cook for two to three minutes.
• Adjust the salt. 
• Now it's time to add the prepared sauce. Let it dry stirring continuously over high heat. 
• Add spring onion and serve.

Can be served as a starter or main dish with hot steam rice.

Note: Most important -do not cover while cooking.

                                                               ************* 

Mango Delight

                                 Mango Sweet Delight

   This is a totally new recipe. I was bored with doing the same work all week, so to release my stress want to cook some new delicious food for my family. There were 2 ripe mangoes that I had bought before the severe lock-down. So I had thought of preparing a mango-based sweet dish. Whenever I get time, I usually read cookbooks or watch cooking shows. While reading I found a recipe where a sweet dish is prepared using mango with cornflour. So inspired by the idea, I had created an exciting recipe of mine. Now you can try the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Mango pulp 1 cup (take the flesh of the ripe mango and mash with a fork)
• Sugar 1 cup
• Corn flour 1/2 cup
• Semolina 1/2 cup
• Ghee 1 tablespoon 
• 4 cup of water

Method:

• Put 1 cup sugar in a heavy-based saucepan with 3 cup water and heat it up till the sugar dissolves in water and add the mango pulp into it. Mix it well and remove from heat. Keep it aside.
• Mix 1/2 cup cornflour with 1 cup water.
• Roast the Semolina in 1 tbsp ghee while stirring continuously over medium heat. 
•  Lower the heat and add the water (the one mixed with mango-sugar) into the semolina. And mix it properly so that there are no lumps. 
• Then pour the corn flour-water slowly stirring continuously (You have to be careful at this point to prevent a lump from forming).
• Cook till you get a mayonnaise-like consistency. Here you can add 1/2 tbsp ghee so that it will not stick to the pan.
• Serve it hot or cold. (If want to serve cold rub butter or ghee into the bowl and pour into it and let it cool and then keep it in a freeze. When you want to serve, cut pieces turning upside down.)

                                                       ###########0###########

Baked Caramel pudding

                           Baked caramel pudding 

Inspired by a Japanese recipe. In the Japanese recipe it is prepared in a open flame but I prefer to use the oven.

Preheat: 180C
Baking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4tbsp sugar + 1tbsp water(to prepare the caramel)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp corn flour 
• 1 tsp vanilla essence 
• 5 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup(250ml) milk

Method:

• Place a heavy based sauce pan over heat adding 4tbsp sugar and 1tbsp water. Caramelize it . Keep a close eye so that it doesn’t burn. The best way to do it is when it turns slightly brown, you should switch off the gas but do not remove the pan from the burner. 
• Take a oven-proof bowl and grease with unsalted butter. Pour the caramel into it. Keep it aside.
• Slightly beat the egg with one 1tbsp corn four. (Note: Bubbles should not form while beating the egg) 
• Add vanilla essence
• In another bowl heat the milk with 5 tbsp sugar just to dissolve the sugar.
• Now pour the milk gradually into the egg mix, stirring continuously.
• Sieve the mixture and pour it in the prepared caramel. 
• Take another oven-proof bowl bigger than the other bowl. Pour boiling hot water covering 1/3 of the bowl. Place the bowl with the egg mixture into the big bowl of hot water. 
• Place both the bowls with the hot water in the middle rack of the oven.
• Bake it for 40 minutes.
• Insert a tooth pick, if it comes out clean, the pudding is ready. Remove from the oven and let it cool. 
• Keep it in the refrigerator.
• In the time of serving, run a knife through the sides of the pan and remove the pudding from pan by flipping it upside down onto a plate.
• Cut and serve.

Note: I prefer to use the cake tray for baking. 

Precaution: You have to be very careful while using glass bowl. Sudden temperature Change may damage the bowl . It may break also.

                                          **************************************

Wheat and Dry Fruit Bread

Wheat and Dry Fruit Bread

Preheat 180C

Baking time: 30-35 minutes

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup of Jaggery  (Can be reduced to 1/4 cup if you want less sweetness )
• 1/2 cup of yogurt 
• 3/4 cup of oil
• 2 cup wheat flour 
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 
• 1/4 of chopped dry fruits(I personally used cashew nuts, raisin and almonds)

Picture of the Wheat and Dry Fruits Bread

Method:

1. Grease the bread pan with melted butter
2. Mix the jaggery, oil and yogurt thoroughly so that the jaggery dissolves.
3. Sieve the wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon and baking powder together.
4. Add the sieved ingredients to the wet mix(oil, yogurt and jaggery) and mix using cut and fold method.
5. Add 1/2 cup of water gradually to obtain pouring consistency. Instead of water you could also use milk at room temperature.
6. Add the dry fruits to the batter and stir it.
7. Pour the mixture to the bread pan.
8. Spread some  dry fruits on top of the batter too. (Note: Don't put raisins on top as it burns)
9. Bake for 30 minutes.
10. Insert a toothpick to check whether it comes out clean, if yes, the bread is ready. Some ovens may take an extra 2-3 minutes. Always check before taking the bread out of the oven.

                                        *************

Masala Chicken for Roti

This chicken gravy goes very well with Roti/ Chapati .

Ingredients:
 1/2kg chicken pieces (I prefer medium sized pieces).
2 medium potatoes cut into half.
3 medium size onion sliced .( Indian size)
11/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1tsp cumin powder
1tsp coriander powder
1tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1tsp roasted masala powder ( 2tbsp  of cumin and coriander 1 1/2 inch  cinnamon stick, 4 cardamom  and 4 clove and 4 red chili. Dry roast it and make powder. Your roasted masala powder is ready)
1tsp turmeric powder
3tbsp oil( mustard oil or any refined oil)
Salt to taste
1/2 cup yogurt

Method:
In a heavy based skillet put oil on high flame. Add onion slices and fry till it golden brown and then add the ginger garlic paste. Fry for 2 min.
Reduce the heat to low medium.
Put all the spices. Mix it with the onions and put 1/4 cup water. let it cook stirring occasionally. When all the water evaporate and the masala release the oil put the chicken pieces. Mix it well with the masala. Add the potatoes and cover it.
When the chicken pieces coated with the masala add the yogurt and let it cook in low flame.
Adjust the salt.
The yogurt should be cooked properly. Chicken will be ready when it released the oil.
Serve hot with roti or naan.

Glazed apple and banana cake 

Preheat-180 degrees centigrade or 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

Baking time-40 minutes

9 inch tray

A very healthy dessert  Recipe 

‘

Ingredients:

1. Apple - 2 or more (peeled and sliced)
2. Brown sugar-75 grams
3. Butter- 1tbsp
4. Big banana-2 (over ripe and mashed)
5. Yogurt -1/2 cup (not so thick ,it is good if it is the water of the yogurt)
6. Baking soda- 1 tsp
7. Egg-1 large egg
8. Sugar-3/4 cup ( powdered sugar) 
9. Oil- 1/4 cup
10. Vanilla essence- 1tsp
11. All purpose flour-1 1/2 cup (you can use 1 cup all purpose flour and 1/2 cup wheat flour ) 
12. Baking powder-1 tsp
13. Cinnamon powder-1 tsp

Method: 

1. Rub butter in the tray.
2. In a heavy based pan, put butter on medium heat . Add the brown sugar and caramelize it , stirring continuously.
3. Pour it into the proposed baking tray and spread it immediately .
4. Arrange the apple slices and keep it aside.
5. In a large bowl , mix the mashed banana with the baking soda and the yogurt . Allow to sit.
6. Another bowl, beat the egg then add oil, sugar and vanilla .Mix it well 
7. In a separate bowl sieve the flour with the baking powder and cinnamon and a pinch of salt.(Salt is optional)
8. Now combine both the mixtures(banana mixture + egg mixture ) 
9. Then add the wet mixture into the flour and mix it just to combine. Do not over mix .
10. Pour this to the prepared tray on the top of the apple slices.
11. Bake for 40 minutes . It may exceed 40 minutes .Check before taking out .
12. Let it cool for 10min. (Do not keep it long for cooling. It may stick in the bottom).
13. Flip it over. 

This cake is incredibly moist and tender . Can be served alone as a dessert or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Note: Always bake cake in the middle rack of the oven.

                                                   *****************

Coconut cookies

Coconut Cookies

Preheat: 350F or 180C
              For 13 min to 15 min

Ingredients:

1. All purpose flour-1 1/2 cups
2. Cornflour-3 tablespoons
3. Butter-1/2 cups = 113 grams (room temperature)
4. Egg- 1 large (room temperature)
5. Vanilla-1 teaspoon
6. Baking Powder- 1/2 teaspoons
7. Baking Soda- 1/4 teaspoons
8. Jaggery Powder- 1/2 cups( I used organic and little chunks, not fully powdered)
9. Powdered Sugar- 1/2 cups
10. Coconut flakes- 1/2 cup + 3-4 tablespoon

Method:

1. Sift the flour with baking powder and baking soda. Keep it aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, mix the butter 🧈 , jaggery and sugar properly.
3. Add 1/2 cup coconut 🥥  and mix
4. Add the egg 🥚 and  vanilla and mix until smooth.
5. The add the flour into it and gently mix. Do not over mix (I usually prefer to mix it with a rubber spatula)
6. Now using your hand or a spoon make small size ball and cover with coconut flakes.
7. Cover the cookie tray with a butter paper
8. Put the ball on the tray and bake for 13 min- 15 min (turn the tray in between).

                                                                          ********

Chicken with Honey

Title : Chicken with Honey

When you are unable to think what to cook for your kids this is a perfect recipe which kids enjoy the most.  I took out the chicken from the  refrigerator not kwnowing how to cook. It was a Friday evening and my refrigerator is almost empty. So with that limited ingredients I prepared the chicken. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

• Chicken 250gms -boneless.
• Milk 2tbs
• fresh lime juice 1 tsp
• 4-5 pods of garlic
• 1 red chili
• 1 small onion
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 2 tbs honey
• 1tbs dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp schezwan sauce
• 2 tbs oil
• 1tbs corn flour
• salt 

Method:

1. Marinade the chicken with milk , lime juice and salt. Keep it aside.
2. Cut the onion into 4 pieces.
3. Cut the bell pepper into chunk.
4. Put a pan over high flame. Pour oil into it.
5. Mix the corn flour into the marinade chicken.
6. Add the chilli in the oil and chicken. 
7. Fry the chicken stiring continuosly. 
8. When it turns color (half cooked) add the other ingredients. and stir it properly. 
9. Add honey, soy sauce, and schezwan sauce. 
10. Mix it well. 
11. Let it cook for 5 min. 
12. Serve with hot steamed rice. 

Note: Before marinating dry the chicken pieces with a paper towel and Do not cover the chicken while cooking.