Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Tomato Pasta
I love making pasta using different sauce. I wanted to try pasta using roasted red bell pepper for a long time. The addition of tomato Paste gives some tangy flavor to it which I love. Here is a simple and tasty Pasta recipe.. Ingredients: Pasta – 2 cups (I have used Penne Pasta) Oil – 2 1/2 tbsp (I have used olive oil) Onions – 1/2 cup (chopped) Roasted Bell pepper – 3/4 cup (I have used bottled bell peppers) Garlic – 2 cloves (chopped) Tomato paste – 3 tbsp (Ihave used canned tomato paste) Heavy Cream – 1/4 cup (optional) Dried herbs – 1/2 tsp (I have used parsley and basil) Freshly ground black pepper – 1/4 tsp Red chilli flakes – 1/4 tsp (adjust according to taste) Salt – to taste Cheese – add according to taste...
Read More
Methi Thepla
Methi Thepla is a popular Gujarati flat bread. It is made with a mixture of flours, mildly spiced and contains fenugreek leaves. It is very easy to make and will be good for lunch box too :). Time of Preparation : 25 minutes Resting Time : 15 minutes No of pieces : 10 Spice level : 1 Ingredients: Wheat Flour – 1 cup Chickpea Flour / Besan Flour – 1/4 cup Salt – to taste Red chilly powder – 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Garam masala – 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds – 1 tsp Curd – 3 tbsp Methi leaves – 1 cup (tightly packed) (chopped) Water – 1/4 cup (adjust accordingly) Method of Preparation: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl except curd and water. Add the curd and mix. Then add water little by little...
Read More
Palak Chana – Spinach Chickpea Curry
Palak Chana or Palak Chole is a delicious Spinach and Chickpea Curry served along with roti or Indian breads. Spinach and chickpea is a wonderful combination for making curries. This curry is delightful, not too spicy and filled with protein and minerals. I have used dried chickpeas which was soaked overnight in water and pressure cooked. You can also use canned chickpeas and boil it a little longer for a soft texture. So enjoy this delicious and healthy curry with roti/ rice/bread. Preparation time: 45 minutes + soaking time No. of servings: 6 to 8 Spice level: 2.5 out of 5 Ingredients: Chickpeas (chana) – 1 cup Finely chopped spinach – 3 cups Onion – 1/2 cup Tomatoes – 3 Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp Red chili powder – 3/4 tsp to 1...
Read More
Cabbage Masala Curry
Cabbage Masala Curry is a simple and delicious curry served with roti or naan. I learnt this dish from my father in law who is a great cook and appreciates good food. This is one of his signature dish and my favorite. You can add peas to this dish if you like. It is not spicy and perfect for kids and adults. Enjoy this dish with roti or rice. Preparation time: 60 minutes No. of servings: 4 Spice level: 2 out of 5 Ingredients: Cabbage – 3/4 kg (1.6 lb) Chopped onion – 1 Tomato – 1 Green chili – 1 Garlic pods – 3 Ginger – 1″ piece Fresh cilantro – 2 tbsp Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp Red chili powder – 1/2 tsp Cumin powder – 1 tsp Coriander powder – 1 tsp Kasoori methi – 1...
Read More
Vegetable Hakka Noodles
This is the simplest way of making Chinese style noodles. In this recipe I have added many veggies of different colors. The vibrant colors will make anyone to eat it. Since we are adding lots of veggies it is a healthy meal for kids too :). Time of Preparation : 20 minutes No of Servings 2 Spice level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Hakka Noodles – 1 packet / 200grams Oil – 3 tsp Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Garlic – 5 cloves (grated) Bell peppers (I have used 3 colors of bell peppers) – 1/2 cup each color (thinly sliced) Cabbage – 1 cup (thinly sliced) Carrot – 1 ( 1″ thinly sliced) Beans – 10 (1″ thinly sliced) Soy sauce – 2 tsp Green chilli sauce – 3 tsp (you can replace red chilli sauce...
Read More
Restaurant Style Fried Rice
This is a simple recipe for making restaurant style Indo-Chinese Fried Rice. You can serve this dish with Gobi Manchurian or Veggie Manchurian or just ketchup. It is cooked with less ingredients and simple steps but the taste is unbelievable. Ginger, garlic and soy sauce plays the vital role in this recipe. Another important thing is rice. If the rice is hot, it will certainly break when you fry it in the hot wok or pan. So make sure you cool the rice before cooking. It is even better to cook well in advance to making the fried rice. You can add a pinch of MSG (ajinomoto) which is optional. I try to avoid it most of the times. Enjoy the homemade fried rice!! Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes No. of servings: 6 Spice level: 3 out...
Read More
Manitaropita / Greek Mushroom Pie
I told my cousin in Canada that I made Spanakopita recently. Then she suggested this Manitaropita which is is similar to the Spanakopita recipe. She said that she had some frozen Manitaropita which is made mushroom and feta cheese in some wine sauce. I did this Manitaropita in my own style and that too tasted good. Here is the recipe for this easy and tasty snack. Time of Preparation : 40 minutes No of Servings : 4 Spice level : 3 out of 5 Ingredients: Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Mushrooms – 150 grams (chopped to small cubes) Green chillies – 2 (finely chopped) Black Pepper – 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp (according to taste) Salt – to taste Parsley leaves – a handful (chopped) Garlic – 2 cloves (finely chopped) Olive oil – 1 tsp and for...
Read More
Spanakopita / Greek Spinach Pie (Step by Step Procedure)
Spanakopita is Greek Savory Pastry. The filling is made of Spinach, Feta cheese, onions, green onions and seasonings. The filling is wrapped in Phyllo pastry with butter and olive oil. Once I had the frozen Spankopita in Sams Club. From then I wanted to try this and here goes the recipe for this simple starter.. Time of Preparation : 1 hour No of Servings : 10 to 14 pieces Ingredients: Spinach – 2 bunches / 8 cups approximately Feta cheese – 8 oz (crumbled) Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Green onions – 1 bunch (finely chopped) Garlic – 3 cloves (finely chopped) Coriander leaves – 1/4 cup Parsley (dried) – 1 tsp Pepper (freshly ground) – 1/2 tsp Salt – to taste (need only little as feta cheese already salt) Butter – 1/4 cup Olive oil – 1/4...
Read More
Vegetable Quesadilla
Vegetable Quesadillas are made with tortillas and filled with veggies and cheese. These are one of the tastiest dishes of Mexican Cusine. They are easy to prepare at home with our choice of veggies and here is the recipe for the simple Veggie Quesadilla. Time of Preparation : 20 minutes No of Pieces : 24 Spice level : 1 out of 5 Ingredients: Flour Tortillas – 8 Onions – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Green Peppers – 1/2 cup (cut to small squares) Red Peppers – 1/2 cup (cut to small squares) Green chillies – 2 (finely chopped) Red chilli flakes – 1/4 tsp (according to spice level) Garlic powder – 1/2 tsp Zucchini – 1/2 cup (chopped) Corn – 1/4 cup (I have used frozen corn) Tomatoes – 1/2 cup (finely chopped) Caabage / lettuce – 1/2 cup (finely...
Read More
Palak Paneer – Cottage Cheese in Spinach Gravy
Palak Paneer is a delicious Indian curry in which cottage cheese cubes (paneer) are cooked in a spinach gravy. This is served with Indian bread or roti or naan. The creamy spinach curry and the soft paneer melts in your mouth and will be a perfect dish for a party or a get together. Though I have tried various method of palak paneer this one is my favorite and I can’t wait to share it with you. Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 No. of servings: 6 Ingredients: Fresh or frozen paneer – 250 gram Chopped onion – 1 and 1/2 cups Green chilies – 3 Garlic cloves – 3 Chopped ginger – 1 tbsp Mint leaves – 1/2 cup Cilantro – 1 cup Spinach – 2 cups (packed) Big tomato – 1 Butter – 3 tbsp Oil...
Read More
Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer Butter Masala is one of the most popular vegetarian curries in Indian cuisine. Paneer (Indian cottage cheese cubes) is dunked in a rich and creamy tomato gravy and served along with roti (Indian breads) or Flavored rice. It is one of the commonly found item in a restaurant menu. I am presenting a restaurant style Paneer Butter Masala with step by step instructions. This has always been a crowd pleaser. Tomato paste is the key in this recipe. I have tried using freshly made tomato puree but for some reason the sour taste in the canned tomato paste gives this dish a unique flavor. So please try to use tomato paste to achieve the right taste. Enjoy this dish and let me know your comments. Cooking time: 45 minutes No. of servings: 4 to 5 Spice level: 2.5...
Read More
Potato Salad
Potato Salad is a hearty and flavorful dish and it is served cold. It is perfect for a cold lunch pack when you don’t get to heat your food. My husband has to work outside sometimes where he cannot reheat his food. So I started preparing food that are filling and needs no reheating. I make a lot of cold salads and sandwiches and pack it along with cut fruits and a bottle of juice. Potato Salad is his favorite and it is very easy to make. You can make it ahead and refrigerate it for the next day lunch or for a party. The dressing that I have used is adapted from Food Network but I skipped a few ingredients and replaced it with what I had on hand. So if you do not have any ingredient such...
Read More
Tuscan Herb Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
Oil and Vinegar dip, the most simple yet flavorful combination for dipping bread or crackers. I recently went to Arkansas to meet my friend Arthi (One of ST’s author) and she took me to a beautiful place called Eureka Springs.There we went to the popular Thorncrown Church, a beautiful and peaceful place. On the way to Christ of the Ozarks, we stopped somewhere where I found this wonderful place called Fresh Harvest with a wide selection of Olive Oil and aged Balsamic Vinegar. I have always wanted to buy a good bottle of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for dipping bread. And my dream came true. My friends and I were so excited to taste all kinds of oil and vinegar. I couldn’t believe Balsamic Vinegar would taste so good by itself. I fell in love and bought myself a...
Read More
Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich
Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich from Panera Bread is one of my favorite to go food and something that I always crave for. Half a sandwich (grilled) with a cup of Tomato Soup, that’s what I call comfort food… It is light, little sweet and savory, filled with veggies and feta cheese. Their Tomato Basil Bread and the Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus are the highlights of this sandwich. I always buy their tomato basil bread to make these sandwiches. You can also use the regular wheat or white bread. I often make this sandwich at home with their tomato basil bread and we love it. Check out my Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus recipe for the spread. It gives a nice kick with the spicy jalapenos. They add Peppadew Piquant Peppers. If I don’t have them I substitute it with a random pickled pepper or even dill...
Read More
Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus
Hummus is one of my favorite spread or dip, be it the plain hummus or the flavored ones. Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus is my favorite sandwich spread. I am a huge fan of Panera’s Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich and they use this spread for their sandwich. Apart from using it as a spread you can also serve it as a dip with freshly cut vegetables, pita bread and chips. Enjoy the simple and healthy Hummus dip. Ingredients: One 15 oz can of chickpeas (or 1 cup of dried chickpeas) Jalapeno peppers – 2 Cilantro – 3/4 cup Garlic – 2 cloves Olive oil – 1/4 cup Tahini sauce – 3 tbsp (recipe follows) Lime juice – 2 tbsp Salt to taste Method of Preparation: Drain and rinse chickpeas from the can. Add all the ingredients except olive oil and lime juice in...
Read More
Pumpkin Pancakes
Happy Halloween!! It’s Halloween and here is a delicious Pumpkin Pancake to start your day. Pumpkin in pancakes??? That was my question when I saw a few pins in Pinterest. But then I was so curious to try but wasn’t sure. But it’s Halloween and I wanted to try something pumkin. So that’s how it happened… It’s so easy to make and you can make the batter ahead and refrigerate it for the next day breakfast. It sure is a twist and refreshing from the same old boring pancakes. I added a few spices which goes well with the pumpkin. But I added in less amount since I don;t like it too spicy when it comes to these kind of food. You can serve it with maple syrup or honey or agave nectar or jelly/jam or your homemade...
Read More
Malai Kofta / Veg Balls in Creamy Tomato Sauce
Malai Kofta is an Indian vegetarian form of meatballs where veggies along with paneer (cottage cheese) is fried and cooked in creamy tomato sauce. This Malai Kofta will be very good with naan or any kind of rotis. Here is the step by step procedure for making koftas.. Time of Preparation : 1 hour No of Servings : 4 Spice level : 2 out of 5 Ingredients: For Koftas: Carrot Peas and Beans – 1 cup (boiled and strained completely) Potato – 1 cup (boiled and mashed) Paneer – 1 cup (grated) Green Chillies – 2 (finely chopped) Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp Coriander powder – 1/2 tsp Garam masala – 1/2 tsp Salt – to taste Coriander – 2 tbsp (chopped) Cashews – 1 tbsp (chopped) Raisins – 2 tsp (chopped) Maida / Corn flour – 2...
Read More
Chicken Tortilla Pinwheels
I tasted these delicious Pinwheels at our good friends Peter and Romie’s place and we fell in love with this dish. It tastes so delicious and you can’t stop eating with just one or two slices. I wanted to try this dish for a very long time. Finally I got a chance to try it yesterday for our subdivision party and no wonder it was a sooper dooper hit. Everyone loved it. Thanks to Peter and Romie. Preparation Time : 30 minutes preparing and 2 hours of refrigeration. No Of Servings: 25 Ingredients: Tortillas: 5 (10 inches), room temperature Cream Cheese : 8 oz(1 Pack) Sour Cream : 8 oz(1 cup) Chopped Black Olives : 1/4 cup Shredded Cooked Chicken : 12 oz (I’ve used Tyson cooked White Chicken chunks) Garlic Powder : 1 tsp or Garlic cloves :...
Read MoreChristmas Recipes
Recent Comments