Vegetable Seekh Kebab with Green Chutney

he word "Kebab" has always fascinated me. I don't know... just the sound of it is so sophisticated and exotic that whether you have ever even seen it or not, you want to try it when you hear it... and believe me you will love it when you do :) But sadly for me they have always been synonymous with meat based preparations and being a vegetarian I just never could have any. Lately I came to know about veggie kebabs. I was elated by the thought that I could now eat kebabs and tried to recreate these beauties and it was exactly as I though it would be... exotic, elegant and heavenly tasting. These are perfect appetizers for get-togethers and pot lucks. Super easy to make and your guests will definitely go WOW when you serve these. 
You may find several recipes for kebabs if you look around but in my opinion this is an easy and no-fuss version that you will want to make over and over. Also, traditionally they are made in a tandoor or deep fried but I just shallow fry or broil them in the oven so they are very healthy too... lots of veggies and very little oil. As everything that goes in it is already cooked so very little oil is needed.
If you are making a large batch of the kebabs say for a big gathering, you can also bake them on a baking sheet. Just spray the sheet with cooking oil and broil them on high in your oven for 5-6 minutes on each side.
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Prawn Vadai / Iraal Vadai

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Roasted Bengal Gram/Pottu kadalai
250 Grams Prawns(shelled and deveined)
1/2 Medium Onion( Finely Chopped)
Fist Full Coriander and Mint (Finely Chopped)
5 Green Chillies
1/2 Inch Ginger Piece
1 Tsp Fennel Seeds
1 Tsp Chilly Powder
1/2 Tsp Turmeric Powder
1 Tsp Coriander Powder
1 Tsp Ginger & Garlic Paste
1/2 Cup Water
Oil for frying
Salt to Taste.

Lets Prepare:

• Heat  a heavy bottom small pan or wok add 1/2 cup water add the prawns, chilly powder,coriander powder,turmeric powder, salt, ginger and garlic paste stir and cover cook the prawns for 10 minutes it should be half done and the water should evaporate completely. remove from flame set aside.
• In a coffee grinder/small mixer jar add the roasted gram dhal and grind to fine powder reserve.
• Using same mixer jar add the prawns and coarse grind and reserve in a bowl.
• Using the same mixer jar prepare the chilly masala add the 1/2 inch ginger, fennel seeds and green chillies coarse grind the masala you may add salt while grinding the masala.
• To the reserved prawns add the powdered dhal chopped mint and coriander, onion,chilly masala mix well without adding water cover and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before preparing vadai.
• Heat oil in a wok.
• Take lime size dough flatten into round vadai  using the center of your palm slowly slide the flatten vadai into the hot oil fry till golden brown and drain the oil...serve hot for any south Indian meal or as a snack with mint chutney...Enjoy...:)

Mint Chutney: In a mixer grinder add fist full of mint and coriander, 1/2 onion, 1/2 tsp cumin, 2 green chillies ,2 cloves garlic along with some salt add little bit of water and grind to a smooth paste add few drops of lime before serving mint chutney.

I've done a detail demo video for the recipe do watch and Enjoy...:)

Crêpe with Strawberry compote and Pistachios

hen hubby introduced me to crêpes a couple of years ago, he called them the 'American Dosa'! These were the times when it had only been a short few weeks after I had arrived to the US after getting married and hubby was getting me acquainted with the local cuisine. There was this crêpe place near work that made the most amazing savory mushroom crêpes, he claimed. I totally loved them too. The sauteed mushrooms in a thick creamy gravy wrapped in a crispy yet soft crêpe. We went there several times. This was what seems like an age ago. Since then the place closed down and the exotic taste of the mushroom crêpe became a distant memory. Until one evening recently we drove down to a mall that is kinda far but we've always wanted to go there. We spotted a crêpe store in one of those food courts. This rekindled the memories of all the sweet and savory goodness of this great French dish.  We enjoyed all different kinds and now that I was a food blogger, I decided to make it for myself :)

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Chilli Chicken ( Dad's Way)

Ingredients:

500 Grams Chicken
I used boneless chicken thigh thats all I had stored in the freezer. please use with bones its tasty...:) 

6 Tbsp Green Chilly Sauce (you can add more)

3 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Egg

1 Pinch Ajinomoto/MSG

7-10 Chillies slit

3 Tbsp Clarified Butter

2 Tbsp Oil

Salt as per taste.

Lets Prepare:

• In a bowl add the chicken tip in the soy & chilly sauce add the egg mix well and allow to marinate in room temp for 30minutes if your in a hurry you can allow to marinate for 15 minute.
• Heat a wok on medium flame add  the butter add the slit green chillies to the hot butter and fry for a minute drain and reserve to the let over butter add oil tip in the  marinated chicken fry a bit cover and allow to cook on a low flame keep stirring once in 2 minutes.
• once its half way done check for salt and add salt and slit green chillies fry uncovered if you like to serve with little bit of sauce it will take 15 minutes of cooking time but i like it a bit dry for rice it takes 20 minutes for me add the msg/ajinomoto stir well and serve hot excellent side dish for south indian meals or best served with biryani we love it. try it your self....Enjoy...:)

My dads friend taught dad how to prepare this chicken recipe and trust me thats all he ever knows to cook and he is crazy about this recipe if my parents get to know i'm sharing this recipe with all of you they will kill me for sure but hey i want all my food loving friends to enjoy  its almost 20years of well maintained secret recipe in the family. this recipe is originally from a very famous Andhra Hotel which is located at Bangalore we love to dine there and enjoy this lovely chilly chicken at the restaurant people who enjoy hot and extra spicy food will love it. please dont make any changes to the recipe try it out you'll like it....:)

My new recipe along with video demo in english watch and enjoy...:)

                                                               

Orange Olive Oil Loaf Cake

ey again folks. So my story this time is as simple as... I just felt like baking. Baking something nice and flavorful and... citrusy. The only citrus flavor I felt like was oranges. But then I felt a real urge to include chocolate. On second thought though I decided against it... and I am glad I did. This loaf cake came out so perfect with such nice and clean yet with a burst of citrusy flavor that it could even be a mood lifter when you are feeling a little blue. On a more technical note, I do want to point out that with this bake I realized that the EVOO really does wonders to a fruity cake while being healthier than regular oil, and as you will realize from the recipe below, it is really really easy to put together.

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