Aloo Tikki ~ Potato Patties

An easy appetizer for the after school snack, have it with different chutneys or just plain tomato ketchup and the lil ones will devour it all of course we would too without any guilt!

Ingredients:
Potatoes - 300 gms boiled and mashed or grated
Cheddar Cheese - 60 gms, finely grated
Flour - 1 tbs
1/2 an egg, slightly beaten
Salt to taste
White Pepper - 1/2 tsp

Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl. Make 12 patties. Meanwhile get a shallow frying pan on heat and pour in about a tablespoon of oil and fry the patties for about 2 mins or either side until golden brown.

Prawn Cocktail

Independence day festivity this year at Skyline Solstice saw a lot of events, fun and lots of merry making. Su (the whole event planner) ensured there was participation at every level, right from the toddlers to the boys, the girls and of course 'Us - Women'. So what was it for the women, any guesses on what can get the women excitedly engaged in participation??
Your right it was a cooking competition. The competition saw some fancy dishes being presented to the judges.  More then being a participant, the enthusiasm of the lovely ladies itself was the highlight of the day. So let me get straight to the point and tell you, my entries that were adjudged -  A prawn cocktail, and an Orange ricotta cake...fancy enough eh?!

Ingredients:
Serves - 4
Prawns - 2 cups cooked.
Mayonnaise - 4tbs
Sour cream - 1tbs
Tomato Ketchup  - 1tbs
Lettuce - 1cup shredded
Lime - thinly sliced for garnish
Prawns - 4 large ones for garnish
Boiled egg - 1, quartered
Cucumber sticks - 4 for garnish

Mix the prawns, mayo, ketchup and sour cream into a bowl. Ensure the prawns are well coated. Into 4 serving bowls/ glasses, divide the shredded lettuce, then top with the mixed prawns. Add one quarter of the egg atop the prawns and dressing. Garnish the glass or bowl with the lime slice and finally decorate with the large prawn and cucumber stick for the visual appeal. Serve with a slice of bread.

Tip: The prawns can be cooked in salted water for two minutes and then immediately placed in chilled water so as to retain the colour.

Mutton Cutlet

A mutton cutlet from Indian Coffee House with your choice of eggs is a must-try dish. It simply compliments your eggs, or rather goes with simple buttered toast and a strong cup of freshly brewed Kaapi. Mine is no attempt of the restaurant version, but my thoughts are rested at Indian Coffee House for the moment...

Ingredients:
Mutton (you could use beef mince too) - 1/2kg
Pepper - 1/2tsp
Salt - to taste
Potatoes - 1/4kg
Big Onion - 1, finely chopped
Green Chillies - 4, finely chopped
Minced Ginger - 1tsp
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 1
Cardamom - 1
Aniseeds - 1tsp
Poppy seeds - 1tsp
Garlic - 8
Egg - 1
Bread crumbs - 1cup
Oil - 1cup

Cook the meat pieces with salt and pepper and then mince. Pressure cook the potatoes. Peel and mash them well. Grind all the ingredients from cloves to garlic into a smooth paste. In a frying pan, heat 2tbs oil and saute the onion, chillies and ginger. Add the ground paste and fry till the oil separates from the spices. Switch off the flame, then add the minced meat and mashed potatoes. Knead this into a smooth dough and shape into cutlets. Beat the egg. Dip each cutlet in the egg and roll over breadcrumbs. Deep frying hot oil until golden brown.

Nargisi Kofta ~ A desi version of the Scotch Eggs

The Food lovers Magazine had this specific article on Saad Bin Jung a former cricketer, cricket commentator, wildlife conservationist and even a resort owner, he dons the avatar of a cook too. Nargisi Kofta, his version of a recipe from experience and generations of cuisines meshed together. I cooked up this dish when our dear friends had come over only to leave them fully satisfied.

Ingredients:

Beef Kheema - 1 1/2kg

Chana dal - 50gms

Ginger garlic paste - 2tsp

Red Chili Powder - 1/2tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/4tsp

Garam Masala - 1/4tsp

Green Chillies - 4

Chopped Mint and Coriander Leaves - 1tbs

Egg - 1

Boiled Eggs - 10

Maida - 1 1/2tsp

Salt to taste

Pressure cook the mince with all the ingredients except the eggs and maida. Cool and grind it in the mixer to form a paste. Mix one egg and maida in the paste for binding. Cover the boiled egg one by one with the paste gently. Heat about 1/2ltr oil in a kadai and deep fry the koftas till golden brown. Cut them in half and serve hot.

Creamy Dill Cucumber Toasties

Super easy appetizer, looks good on the platter for a party and the crowd would love it!

Ingredients:

Cream cheese - 8oz 1 packet

Mayonnaise - 1/2cup

Lebanese Cucumber - 3 finely sliced

Dried dill weed - 2tsp

One packet of toasts/ rusks

 
Into a medium bowl, mix in cream cheese, mayonnaise and dill weed. Spread a thin layer onto the toast and arrange a slice of cucumber atop and serve.

Tuna Rissoles

I was searching for vanilla beans in my kitchen cupboard and 4 cans of tuna just stare at me. Instant flicker of the bulb in my head and I was all set to make rissoles for the day.

Ingredients:
Onion - 1 finely chopped
Green chillies - 2 finely chopped
Ginger - 4cm finely chopped
Curry leaves - a sprig
Canned Tuna - 400gms drained
Potato -  31/4 cup boiled, mashed
Salt and Pepper to taste
Egg yolk - 1
Egg white - 1
Breadcrumbs

Heat oil into a non stick pan and saute the onions, chillies, ginger and curry leaves until tender. Flake the tuna into a food processor and add to the pan and stir fry for about 10minutes. Mix in the potatoes, salt and pepper. Stir in well for 15minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Mix in egg yolk and make the rissoles. Dip in egg white and dust with breadcrumbs and deep fry in medium hot oil. Serve hot.

Tip: These rissoles dusted with breadcrumbs can be stored in the freezer bag for up to a month. Thaw before frying.

Hors d'oeuvres ~ Pan Brown Chicken

Pan browned chicken a recipe from one of Ramani Aunty's series of Poultry dishes. This makes an excellent, side dish as well as main course.

Ingredients:
Chicken with skin - 750gms
Boiled vegetables - 1 cup of potatoes and beans
Yellow and Red Bell peppers - 1/4cup steamed and julienned
Vegetable Oil - 2tbs
Cinnamon Powder - 1/2tsp
Cloves Powder - 1/4tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/4tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon Juice - 1tbs

Pat dry the chicken pieces.Into a large bowl mix together the cinnamon, clove, chilli, turmeric powders along with the lemon juice and salt. Rub evenly onto the chicken. Cover the bowl in plastic wrap. Let the chicken marinate for 2 hours. Into a wok, heat the oil and brown the chicken pieces till is evenly roasted on all sides. Pour about a cup of warm water, cover the pan tightly and let the chicken cook for about 20minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken onto a dish. Serve the chicken with pan juice and boiled vegetables.