Desi cholay:

Ingredients:

Boiled white gram 1- 1/2 cup

Quick, nutritious, light and delicious; perfect for weeknights

Boiled tomatoes 2 pieces

Green chilli 4-6 pieces

Oil 1/4 cup

Garam masala powder 1tsp

Turmeric 1tsp

Achar powder 1tsp

Pomegranate seeds 1tsp

Ginger paste 1tbsp

Red chilli pepper 1tbsp

Nutmeg mace powder 1/2tbsp

Coriander leaves 2tbsp

Cumin seeds powder 2tbsp

Cumin seeds 1tsp

Salt as per taste

Method

Stir fry cumin seeds and pomegranate seeds in pan. Add some oil, green chili, ginger paste and fry them; then add some water. After cooking for two to three minutes add cumin seeds powder, coriander leaves, red chilli pepper, garam masala powder, turmeric, amchor powder, salt, nutmeg mace powder, tomatoes and boiled white gram and leave on a slow flame for 10 to 15 minutes. If there is more water than desired, cook on a high flame and dry.

Lemon chilli chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken 2 breasts

Garlic paste 1tbsp

Corn flour 2tbsp

White flour 2tbsp

Egg 1

Salt as per taste

Black pepper 1/4 tsp

Lemon juice 3

Spring onion 2

Garlic 4

Green chilli 4-5

Honey 3 tbsp

Wochestershire sauce 1tsp

White chilli powder 1/4 tsp

Black pepper 1/4 tsp

Water 1 cup

Method

In a bowl add chicken breast pieces, garlic paste, salt, corn flour, white flour, black pepper and leave to marinate for at least 15 minutes. Fry.

Now take a pan add some oil, chopped garlic, honey, Worcestershire sauce, water, black pepper, lemon juice and cook it well. When it’s done pour it over fried chicken and serve.

Lemon chilli pickle

Ingredients:

Green chillies 5-6

Oil as required

Red chilli powder 1tbsp

Turmeric 1tsp

Fennel seeds 1tbsp

Mustard seeds 1tbsp

Lemons 4-5

Salt tbsp

Method:

Remove the seeds from the green chillies and put them in a jar with lemons slices. Heat some oil in a pan and add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, fennel seeds, mustard seeds and salt in it and mix it well. After a few minutes cool the mixture and add it to the jar and mix it with lemons and green chillies. Now wrap the jar with a piece of cloth and leave in the sun for five to six days. Tasty lemon chilli pickle is ready.

Spinach beef

Ingredients

Beef 1/2kg

Spinach 2kg

Onions 1

Tomatoes 2

Yoghurt 1/2cup

Green chillies 4-5

Oil 1/4cup

Ginger / garlic paste 1tbsp

Turmeric 1tsp

Red chilli powder 1tbsp

Hot spices as required

Salt as per taste

Method

Boil spinach. Cut beef in cubes. Lightly brush a pan with oil, and add some ginger garlic paste and put it on the stove. As the ginger-garlic paste turns light golden, add beef cubes and stir fry. Add some hot spices, tomatoes, yoghurt, green chillies, red chilli powder, turmeric and salt with half-a-cup of water and cook on a low flame for 10 to 15 minutes, now add boiled Spinach, mix it well with gravy. Tasty spinach beef is ready.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, February 21st, 2016