Hearty fare - Mixed stew

It is getting cold ..and time when we crave hot food made with the minimum effort...

Chicken - 300 gms (approx) (boneless or not, cut into small pieces,according to choice)
Bacon - 30 gms (may substitute chicken sausages / luncheon meat etc..)
Onion - 1 meduin (peeled and chopped)
Garlic - 2 cloves (minced)
Green pepper (capsicum) - 1 (finely chopped)
Carrot - 1 (cleaned and cubed)
Tomatoes - 2 large (chopped into cubes)
Celery - 1 stalk
Bay leaves - 2
Pepper corns - 1 tsp (crushed)
Chicken stock - 1 cup
Black-eyed peas -1/2 cup (approx) soaked overnight or for half hour in hot water
Leek - 1 stalk (chopped fine)

In a pressure cooker, saute the onions till golden, add the bacon , then the leeks and the garlic,saute... then toss in the rest of the ingredients one by one . Close and pressure cook for 4 whistles.

Season with .....
Salt to taste, Soy sauce and some vinegar.

I did not add any potatoes, but those maybe included if needed.. however, the peas make a good substitute.
I just cooked some fragrant basmati rice, and while it was still hot, I added a 1/2 tsp ghee, salt, finely chopped celery leaves and coriander leaves, and sprinkle some crushed pepper and 1 tsp lemon juice. It was a very satisfying mix with the stew. Try it......

If you have found an improvement in my picture, it is all because of my dear friend who took the trouble to give me some pointers... Thanks A, ... I am working on it...

Comfort food - Chicken and veggies

There are some days when thinking up a dish is very tedious.Even more so when the cooking has to be done with a bit of care. So if there is some kind of bread readily available, this is one meal that needs very little preparation.

Chicken breasts - 500 gms (cleaned and cut into medium pieces)

Marinate the chicken pieces in
Curd - 2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Salt to taste

Keep the chicken in the fridge for atleast a half-hour.

Saute

Onion - 1 large (sliced lengthwise)
Green chillies - 2 (slit)

Toss in some veggies like french beans, potatoes, carrots, green peas ,capsicum etc.. lightly fry them.

Add the chicken and the marinade .

Now add 2 sliced tomatoes to this. Once the liquid starts bubbling, lower the flame to medium and cook with the lid on. Once the chicken is cooked, add

Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Pepper powder - according to taste (I like a lot of coarsely ground pepper)
A pinch or dried oregano (optional)

More salt if needed.

Enjoy hot with Kaboos, porottas, chappatis etc.

Chicken noodle soup

This is very very easy to make and takes amazingly little time.

Leek - 1 to 2 (sliced fine)
You may use 1 onion and Spring onions instead of the leek
Garlic - 2to 3 cloves peeled and crushed
Tomato - 1 large (deseeded and diced)
Turmeric - a pinch
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp or more to taste
Chicken - 150 gms(cubed/ dice)
Chicken stock cubes - 2(or fresh/frozen chicken stock)
Sausage - 2 (or more)(sliced)
Noodles - 1 packet (I used egg hakka noodled)
Salt - to taste
Soy sauce - 1 tsp

Heat a thick bottomed vessel, saute the leek/onion/spring onion...toss in the garlic and add the chicken, saute for 2 minutes. Now add the tomatoes, turmeric, chilli powder and close with a lid to let the tomato cook through. If the stock is liquid or frozen, add it or add a glass of water and the chicken stock cubes..
Let the soup boil. Now add the noodles and and the sliced sausages. finally add the soy sauce, salt to taste and pepper powder.

If you prefer, beat an egg and add it to the boiling soup while stirring constantly. Have it hot and life will seem very beautiful at that moment...:)

Chicken stew - healthy too!!!

This is a very easy and very tasty dish to make......

Traditionally, this was made minus the tomatoes and the coconut milk was always extracted the old fashioned way...

I used to do this too, but since I have discovered the coconut milk powder,I always use it ..saves time, and the end result is just as delicious.

Chicken - 1 kg (cleaned and cut into small pieces)
Green chillies - 5 to 6 (slit)
Curry leaves - 3 to 5 stalks
Onion - 1 to 2 (sliced)
Tomatoes - 2 to 3 (sliced - make sure the tomatoes are not too ripe)
Potatoes - 2 to 3 (peeled and cut into cubes)
Salt - 1 tsp
Cardamom - full pods - 4 to 5
Cloves - 4 to 5
Cinnamom sticks - 2 ( 1 inch sticks)
Pepper corns - 1 tsp
Turmeric - 1 pinch
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Keep aside

Coconut milk powder - 5 tbsps
water - 1 glass
coriander leaves - cleaned and chopped
coconut oil - 1 tsp


Put all of the first set of ingredients (chicken to chilli powder) in the pressure cooker . Mix 1 tbsp of coconut milk powder with 3/4 glass of water and add to the lot. Pressure cook till 4 whistles. Take off the stove and leave till steam escapes.

Now, keep on the stove and add the remaining 4 tbsps of coconut milk powder to 1/4 glass of water.Add more salt as required. Switch off the stove before the stew boils.Add the bunch of chopped coriander leaves and a pinch of tarragon (optional). Add 1 tsp of coconut oil.

Superb with aapams, porotta, chappatis ..I love to have it with rice and lemon pickle.

The foodie blogroll

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been included in the Foodie Blogroll...I thought I would act blase about it, but I have to tell this.

And the leftover queen herself has left a comment for my Chicken made easy....and healthy.



Take a peek

Chicken made easy....and healthy

There are many people including a couple of my cousins and my dear sis, who would like to make chicken, but do not have the patience or the ability to know when and how to add the particular ingredients to get the best results...

This is a recipe that will ensure good results...

1 kg Chicken (cleaned, and cut into pieces)
1 onion -peeled, sliced long
4-5 cloves of garlic
8-10 peppercorns crushed
1 stalk of celery, diced
1 potato- washed, peeled, sliced round
1/4 tsp oregano
3 fair sized tomatoes sliced round
1 tsp soy sauce/ oyster sauce
1 tsp paprika,
a pinch of turmeric
chilly powder according to taste
salt

heat the cooking pot, add 1 tsp oil..just enough to turn the onions golden , add the crushed garlic, saute till the smell is pleasant..add the chilli powder and chicken pieces. Once the meat turns white, add all the other ingredients ...yep! ...just toss in everything, turn the flame way down..medium or less...and wait 30 - 45 minutes...

check if the chicken is done ..just check the potaoes..if they are cooked through, it is time. there is no need to add water. there will be very less gravy, but it will taste really good. garnish with spring onions...

This is my own creation..just a change from the usual chicken masala we make.

P.S...If celery is not available, green peppers (capsicum) can be used to give a different but nice flavour.