Risotto (Italian)

Thanks to Leandro for cooking and teaching me the recipe.

Serving Size: 2

Ingredients::
2 cups of Risotto Rice (Arborio)
1 Leek
1/2 Onion Small
3/4lb Shrimp
1 chicken or shrimp bouillon cube
2tbsp butter
Red Wine


Procedure::

Marinade the shrimp with 1tsp lemon juice, pepper and salt.

Heat 1 liter water in a pot and add the bouillon cube to it. Turn to low when hot.

In another pot, add 2 tbsp butter, the onions and fry for a while. Add half of the leeks, fry and add the rice. Keep stirring for 5 minutes on medium heat.
Pour some wine and stir for a minute. With a ladle, pour some of the bouillon water and stir. Repeat till the rice gets a good consistency.

On a frying pan, heat 1tbsp butter and add the rest of the leeks. fry and then add the marinated shrimp. When cooked, add to rice and add some salt if desired.

Serve hot when done. You can optionally sprinkle some parmesan cheese on the dish!

Chinese Soup

Thanks to Dan Zhao for this recipe!

::Ingredients::

Pork - 1 lb small pieces
Winter Melon (Chaal kumro) - 1 lb cut into 2" slices
Ginger - small piece chopped
Garlic - small pods chopped
Red peppers - 2-3
Soy sauce - as per taste

::Procedure::

1. Wash the bone and take off the skin of winter melon, cut the melon into small piece.
2. Boiling some water and put the bone into it,boiling for 2 min
3. Get the bone out of the water, get some cold water in the pot,put the bone inside the pot again,put some ginger,garlic,red peppers,use the big fire to boil for 10 mins,then turn the fire into middle, boiling for 20 mins.
4. Put the melon into pot, put some salt into soup,you can taste to get know the quanity ,15-20 mins,

Shahi Paneer

::Ingredients::

Paneer-400gm
Turmeric powder--3/4th tsp
Cardamon (green)--4-5 pieces
Tomato paste--1 can(small)
Onions - 2large (chopped)
Ginger paste-1tbs
Garlic paste-1tbs
Garam masala powder -1tsp
Jeera (cumin) - 2tsp
Redchilli powder-1tsp
Kasoori methi -1tsp (roast it in a dry frying pan till it smells and crush them lightly before adding to the mixture)
Cashew--1/4th cup
Milk-1/2 cup ,
Water -1cup
Black pepper- 1/2 tsp
Oil--8-10 tbs
Salt--to taste
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Heavy Whipped Cream--3-4tbsp(optional)


::Procedure::

1-Cut paneer into medium sizeand fry it till light golden brown.
2-Slice/chop onions finely then heat oil and fry onions till golden brown and remove and grind it to a paste.
3- Heat oil -add cardamon ,onion paste,ginger and garlic paste and fry till the oil comes out.
4-Add cumin ,redchilli powder and salt fry till done then add the can of tomato paste(mix it with little water and sugar)stir and keep cooking once the tomato look done add garam masala powder and kasoori methi cook for 3-4mins .
5 -pour milk, water and cashews until it boils cook on a low flame .
6 -when the gravy becomes thick add the fried paneer and cook for 2-3 mins.
7-Garnish with coriander and cream.

Serve with rotis ,rice or naan......enjoy...

Karela (Bitter-melon) Masala

::Ingredients::
3-4 Bitter-melons (karelas)
1 Medium Onion - chopped
2 Tomatoes - chopped
2 Green chillies
1tsp Ginger-garlic paste
1tsp Cumin seeds
1/2tsp Red Chilli powder
1/2tsp Coriander seeds
1/4tsp Turmeric powder
1/4tsp Garam masala
2tsp Lemon juice
2tsp Oil
salt to taste

::Procedure::
1. Cut the Bitter melons along length and remove seeds. Juvenile/chop into small pieces. Put it in a container and sprinkle salt and the lemon juice. Leave for marination for 15 mins and wash thoroughly with warm water. This helps reduce the bitterness.

2. On a frying pan, add the oil and the cumin seeds. When they begin to sizzle, add onions and green chillies. Fry till light golden.

3. Add all the masalas and fry for 2 mins.

4. Add the tomatoes and fry till the tomatoes melt.

5. Now add the bitter-melon and cover. Stir occasionally.

Enjoy Karela Masala with roti-bread or dal-rice!

PS: You can substitute Karela with Bhindi(Okra) to make Bhindi Masala

Indo-chinese Chilli Chicken

::Ingredients::
1kg Chicken (small pieces w/o skin)
4tsp Soy sauce
4tsp Vinegar
1/2 kg onions (medium chopped)
1/2 kg capsicum (med chopped)
4-5 green chillies (cut by length)
1 whole garlic (finely chopped)
2tbsp oil
3tsp salt

::Procedure::
1. Marinade chicken pieces with soy sauce, vinegar and 2tsp salt. Leave for 45 mins.

2. Heat oil in a wok. Stir fry onions and garlic till golden.

3. Add capsicum, chillies & 1tsp salt. Stir fry till capsicum loses water.

4. Add the marinated chicken and 2 cups water. Boil till chicken is cooked.

Enjoy chilli chicken over noodles or rice !

Payesh (Bengali Rice pudding)

::Ingredients::

100gm basmati rice

2litre milk

50gm cashew

50gm raisins (washed and soaked in water)

2-3 bay leaves

3-4 cardamom pods

2tbsp desi ghee (indian clarified butter)

1cup sugar

0.25tsp salt

::Procedure::

1. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a wok and lightly stir-fry cashews and bay leaves.

2. Add milk to the wok and boil on low. 

3. Wash rice. Add 1tbsp ghee and mix well. Put this rice in the boiling milk. 

4. Add soaked raisins and boil till rice is cooked. Keep stirring to avoid deposition and sticking.

5. Crush cardamom pods and add them along with salt, sugar slowly to the wok.

6. Cool and garnish with dry fruits. Serve in small cups.

Tip: You can use Jaggery instead of sugar. However, it needs to be mixed with hot water to make a paste and added at the end, after the payesh is done. (Adding jaggery while boiling might spoil the milk.)

Choto Macher Tok (Tamarind fish curry)

::Ingredients::

500gm small fish

100gm vegetables cut into small cubes - optional (Vegetables like pumpkin, radish and sweet potato go well with Tok)

2tsp oil

1tsp paanch poran

2 dry chillies

2tsp tamarind paste + 3 cups water

0.5tsp turmeric powder

1tsp salt

1tsp sugar

::Procedure::

1. Lightly fry the fish in oil and keep aside

2. Heat oil in a wok and add paanch poran and chillies.

3. Add tamarind paste, water, turmeric powder, salt and sugar.

4. Add the fish and the vegetables. Let it boil for 15 mins.

Enjoy Maacher Tok over rice !