Super Easy Methi Parantha/Roti for Any Time

Let me start by saying I am SUPER TIRED! May be because it was getting back to work after a week long break.  While I was excited to get back to my work, I missed waking up post 8.00 am ( I was already done with breakfast and down 1 coffee by then), I missed being in my pajamas entire day, and I missed just doing nothing.

Healthy Breakfast #2- Poha

Long time no see... I know one of the standard lines for most of my posts.  Although I have been cooking a lot and Baking too , Yes I baked!!, I just didn't get around to blogging.  Summer is unofficially here and I have different plans for my spring and summer this year.  I am trying to be be away  from a computer or a TV.  I am going to spend more time on  my patio listening to chirping sounds of birds, watch hummingbirds, and listen to other sounds of nature.  So I guess I will be very irregular with my blog posts.  But I am sure that it is OK!!!

In Today's blogpost, I am going to share the 5 min breakfast recipe for Poha. It literally took less than 5 mins and is super healthy.  You need -

1. Black Mustard Seeds
2. Chopped onion (1/2 small or 1/4 if medium)
3. Any peanuts that you have on hand - salted or unsalted
4. Beaten Rice or Flattened Rice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattened_rice - gently washed  (1 to 1.5 cups)
5. Salt, Red Chili Powder, and Turmeric - All to taste
6. Chopped Coriander for garnishing
6. 2 tablespoons of olive oil

In a skillet, heat olive oil on high heat.  When the oil gets hot, reduce flame and add black mustard seeds.  Heated oil is the key to get the mustard seeds pop, else you will have to redo it.  Add chopped onions.  Saute for 30 sec to a minute.  Add peanuts.  Give it another 30 seconds on flame.  Add Salt, red chili powder, and Turmeric.  After about 20 seconds, add the gently washed flattened rice to the skillet.  Leave it on heat for 2 mins, stirring occasionally.  Serve Garnished with Coriander leaves.

I love Salmon!

Its been about 5 years since I became a pescaterian...which in simple english means a person who eats fish but no other kinds of meat..... And of the fish that i have tried here in the US, which include Catfish, Halibut, Tilapia, and Salmon, i could be missing other varieties ....I love Salmon the most.  I was introduces to Salmon by Greg, my co-worker from HP US took me to Washington fort, where they serve the freshly caught and the best Salmon.    We mostly eat Fish on mondays as those days I end up working for over 12 hours (sometimes 18) and this is something that the boy can have ready for me by the time I come back.

I like to make my fish in a couple different way.  One is the Indian Curry style that I can use in biryani or with rice, second is fish pakora style, and most commonly as grilled fish.  The two most favorite fish marinates that i love (i developed them on my own) are:

1.   Mustard Fish - I add mustard powder, Turmeric powder, red chilli powder, a little but of cumin seed and coriander seed  powder, and a good amount of ginger and garlic paste. Sometimes I will even add (thought very less) onion paste.    Depending on what I am feeling that day, I add either 2 tbs of plain yogurt or lemon juice  and leave it overnight.  And next day it goes on the griddle, grill or oven. 

2. The scond is the breaded way.  I use the same marination as above except for no onion, garlic, ginger paste or onions , yogurt or lemon.  Just a plain simple marination with Turmeric, red chili powder, and a little but of cumin seed and coriander seed  powder.  Take some bread crumbs  in an bowl ( I had Italian herbs and spices bread crumbs), add a good amount of olive oil and just a hint of ginger garlic paste.  I am big on ginger garlic!  Make a nice paste.  

Take a baking sheet, spray some olive oil.  Take fish and coat it with bread crumbs and place them on the oiled baking sheet.  Sprinkle some more olive oil on top.  Preheat oven to 400C  and then bake the fish in the oven for about 15 mins or until crisp.   

A simple salad or grilled asparagus go perfectly well with this protein.

You would have noticed I did not mention about adding salt. Well here is why.. my dad is  is a great cook and he shared this awesome trick with me.  Most people hate the smell of the fish and if you use this trick you wont even realize that you are eating fish.  WHen you get fish, dont wash it or anything, just add a lot of salt, may be a small fistful and leave the fish overnight.  Next day wash  fish before you add marination.  When you leave fish overnight in just salt, the fish does not smell and it absorbs the perfect amount of salt that you need.  

Happy Father's Day Daddy and thank you for everything!

:Imported from my old blog: Poha/Beaten Rice/ Chidwada

Hey there...

Today we are talking about dish called poha/beaten rice/chidwada which serves a lot of purposes --- can be a quick snack or a light dinner or a healthy breakfast..

So here is how to make it..

For one person you would need about a mug full of poha....
Soak poha/beaten rice/chidwada in water for about 5 mins. After that wash them nicely in a seive and set them aside for water to dry..

On the other side heat a little oil in a pan. Add few mustard seeds in the oil. Add finely chooped onion, peanuts and toss well. For roughly about 3-5 mins or till it is slight brown-- not golden brown but less than that. Add finely chopped green chillies (optional)..

Now add salt to taste, red chillies to taste and a touch of tumeric powder.
Add the poha now and heat it on flame for about 5 mins. Add corriander leaves and the dish is ready...

enjoy!!!
:)