Veg Noodles

My mom makes the best egg/veg noodles....yes she does...I have never had better noodles even at any of the best Chinese restaurants in Bangalore (not exaggerating)

  Moms noodles were pretty popular in college.........I remember taking it to college one day,and my friend Vidhya just could not wait to open it at lunch time.......we opened the lunch box eagerly,we just had two bites and to our horror the whole box toppled and fell on the floor..........I can still remember Vidhya's expression ,it was like the biggest disaster ever.........Both of us were just staring at the noodles on the floor,we were mourning for it...........For a minute I thought Vidhya might just pick it from the floor........Thank god she did not :)

Ingredients 

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• 2 packets egg or plain noodles
• 2 medium carrots (finely sliced)
• 1/4 kg beans (finely chopped)
• 1 capsicum (finely sliced)
• pepper and salt to taste
• 3 tbsp soya sauce or more
• 1/4 cup spring onion (chopped)
• 3 tsp vinegar
• 1/4 cup bean sprouts (optional)
• 3 tbsp oil
• 4 eggs (optional)

Method

1. Heat water in a big vessel,when water comesto boil,add salt and 1 tsp oil.Drop the noodles into the boiling water and cook till almost done or should I say Al dente like the Italians say.(the quality of the noodle matters a lot,I have used a local brand noodles,its works out perfect for me)
2. Pour the water and noodles into a large strainer and drain all the water.Place the noodles under running water to cool it down and stop the cooking process.Place this aside.
3. In a vessel place carrot ,beans and capsicum and less than 1/4 cup water and salt.Cook the vegetable until almost done.(This is not how its done in restaurants,in Chinese restaurants the flame is 20 times more powerful than the house flame,vegetable get cooked fast there,but I prefer my veggies well done,if you have noticed in restaurants ,the veggies in the noodles are usually under cooked,you can skip this step if you want to ,cook the veggies on high flame)
4. Place a wok on high flame,add 1/2 tbsp oil,when hot fry the cooked veggies for a minute,sprinkle little pepper and salt ,remove from wok and keep aside.
5. Add oil to wok and fry the noodles in 3 batches adding soya sauce,pepper,salt and vinegar.
6. Place all the noodles on one side of the wok,add oil and break eggs ,add little salt and pepper and scramble the eggs.Mix in the vegetable ,beans sprouts and noodles.Stir for 2 minutes.
7. Sprinkle spring onion.
8. Serve with chilli chicken or Prawn in garlic sauce

Crispy Spring Paneer

Crispy spring paneer......simple veggie appetizer....and proof that I suck when it comes to naming a dish.

Recipe Source :Sanjeev Kapoors Flavors of the Orient 

Ingredients

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• 200 grams Paneer 
• 5 to 6 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Sweet chilli sauce
• 1 tbs Soy sauce
• 1 tsp Pepper
• 2 tsp Red chilli flakes
• 1 tsp Sugar
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp Flour (Maida)
• 1 tbsp Cornflour
• 5 sheets Spring roll sheets
• Oil ,deep frying

Method

1. Cut the spring roll sheets into thin strips and keep aside.
2. Cut the paneer into thick fingers.
3. In a bowl mix together garlic, lemon juice, sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, pepper, red chilli flakes, sugar and salt. Apply this mixture to the paneer and let it marinate for 15 minutes.
4. Add flour and cornflour to the paneer and mix well, set aside for few minutes.
5. Take each paneer and wrap it with the spring roll sheet strips and press to make it stick to the paneer. if the strips are not sticking make paste with maida and little water, and use it to stick the strips to the paneer, keep aside the wrapped paneer..
6. Heat oil in a pan on medium flame, when hot drop in the wrapped paneers and fry till golden brown,
7. Serve hot with tomato sauce or sweet chilli sauce.

Honey Fried Noodles with Ice cream

I am a regular visitor of Mainland China, not coz I am crazy about the place...its just that my family refuses to eat elsewhere ...we are such regular customers that each time we visit Mainland China,they are so happy to see us that they give us complimentary Honey fried noodles for dessert......according to their menu card  they charge 170 Rs for one single portion.....and they give that free....can you believe it......I felt so special......little did I know then that the actual price would roughly come up to Rs 25(including ice cream).....and I also got to know that almost all the customers get complimentary Honey fried noodles....I do not feel special anymore.

Honey fried noodles is my dads favorite dessert and you can make it in less than 15 minutes..... definitely a must try simple recipe. and spring roll sheets work best (Thank you Nalini aunty for the tip),you can also use fried noodles.


Ingredients (for one portion of honey fried noodles)
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• 5 Spring roll sheets
• 3 tbsp Sugar
• 2 tsp water
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp Sesame seeds , lightly toasted or toasted Almonds
• Oil to deep fry
• Vanilla Ice cream

Method

1. Thaw the frozen spring roll sheets for 15 minutes and cut into medium thin strips.
2. Deep fry the spring roll strips in hot oil till it turns light golden brown.Remove from oil and place on kitchen towel to remove excess oil.keep this aside.(you can fry the strips ahead of serving time and store in airtight container)
3. Prepare the honey syrup few minutes before serving.Place a small saucepan on medium flame,add sugar and water and cook till the sugar melts.Now add honey and mix.Take off the flame and keep the syrup warm.
4. Just before serving toss the fried noodles in required amount of honey syrup.Transfer onto a serving plate and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on the honey fried noodles and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Chilli Potatoes - Blog Hop Wednesday

This week for Blog Hop Wednesday I was paired with Deeksha from Dee's Kitchen.Thank you for the recipe...my daughter enjoyed it.

Recipe Source :Dees Kitchen
Ingredients
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• 2 big Potatoes (peeled and cut lengthwise)
• 3 tbsp Rice flour
• Pinch Orange Color (optional)
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 big Onion (chopped)
• 1 Capsicum (cut lengthwise)
• 1 tsp Ginger Garlic paste
• 2 tsp Green chilli sauce
• 1 tsp Red chilli sauce
• 1/2 tsp Soy sauce
• 2 tsp Tomato Ketchup
• 1 tsp Vinegar
• 1 tsp Pepper powder
• 2 tsp Chilli flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup water
• Salt to taste
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 tsp Cornflour mixed in 3 tbsp water
• Spring onion for garnish
• Oil for deep frying

Method

1. In a bowl mix in rice flour, salt, orange color and enough water to make batter ,the consistency of the batter neither be too thick nor too thin.
2. Add the chopped potatoes into the above batter and mix well to coat. Fry the potatoes in hot oil,till light and crispy. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel. Keep this aside while you prepare the sauce.
3. Place a pan on medium flame ,add oil,when hot add ginger garlic paste and stir for 30 seconds. Now add the onion and stir fry till they turn pink. Add the capsicum  fry for few seconds.
4. Now add soy sauce, red chilli sauce,vinegar, tomato ketchup, green chilli sauce, pepper powder, red chilli flakes and cook for a minute. Now add 1/2 cup water and bring to simmer.Add the cornflour paste and stir till the sauce thicken. Toss in the fried potatoes and mix well. Adjust salt and add honey.
5. Garnish with spring onion.

Sending my entry to Radhika from Tickling Palates

My entries for Blog Hop Wednesdays so far.....

Garlic Pull Apart Rolls 

Chilli Paneer

Kadubu Shaped Modak 

Mharo Rajasthan

Corn and peas Fritters 

Rasmalai

Dahi Vada

Prawn in Garlic Sauce

 My sister Devs and me like to be adventurous and try out different kind of restaurants...my family does not think the same...they are a hard bunch to please....its a tedious job choosing a restaurant for them....coz if they don't like it then we will have to hear from them for rest of the week.....thats why ,whenever my family wants to go out for dinner,we always take a safe bet and choose a Chinese restaurant......universally accepted....and what more I love Chinese food.  

Though I got this recipe from a Thai cookbook...I actually did not find any difference, it tasted like any other Chinese gravy.Must try out this one....goes very well with Noodles and Fried Rice.

Recipe Source: Neeta Mehta

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg Prawn (Shelled and de veined)
• 250 g Mushroom (sliced)
• Spring onion for garnish
• Oil for deep frying

Marinade

• 1 egg - lightly beaten
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp ajinomoto (optional)
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/3 cup cornflour
• 1 tsp oil

Sauce

• 4 tbsp garlic paste
• 4tbsp oil
• 4 tsp soya sauce
• 3 tbsp Tomato sauce
• 3 cups water
• 2 tsp Pepper powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 pinch Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Ajinomotto (optional)
• 2 tsp Red chilli flakes
• 2 dried red chillies
• 2 tbsp cornflour mixed in 1/2 cup water

Method

1. Beat egg with salt, sugar, ajinomotto, pepper and cornflour.
2. Add the prawns and mix well, keep aside for 30 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a wok, drain off  excess marinade and deep fry the prawns till they turn golden brown. Drain and place on paper towel.
4. Now prepare the sauce:-heat oil and add garlic paste and stir on low flame till it starts to change color.
5. Add tomato sauce, soya sauce, pepper, salt. red chilli fakes, dried red chillies and cook for a minute.
6. Now add the sliced mushroom and stir for 3 minutes.
7. Add sugar and ajinamotto.
8. Add water. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
9. Add the cornflour paste, keep stirring until the sauce thickens.
10. Add the fried prawns and combine. Cook for 2 minutes and take off the flame.
11. Garnish with chopped spring onions.

chilli chicken dry

Chilli chicken is a perfect appetizer,this recipe is from another blog 'Tasty appetite'.

ingredients

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• 1/2 kg boneless chicken (cut to cubes)
• 2 medium onion (cut to cubes)
• 1 capsicum (cut to cubes)
• 1 egg(beaten)
• 2 tbsp green chilli sauce
• 2 tbsp soya sauce
• 3 tsp black pepper powder
• 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 2 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 8 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 4 green chillies (slit)
• salt to tatse
• oil to deep fry + 3 tsp oil
• spring onion for garnish

Method

1. Marinate chicken for 1 hr in egg,cornflour,1 tbsp green chilli sauce, 1 tbsp soya sauce.ginger garlic paste,2 tsp pepper and salt (do not put too much salt coz soya and green chilli sauce already has salt in it)
2. Heat oil in a pan to deep fry, when oil is hot, deep fry the marinated chicken,till done.Remove from oil and place on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.Keep  aside.
3. In another pan ,heat oil when hot add garlic,green chillies and onion and fry for 2 minutes,now add the fried chicken and capsicum and stir, add in remaining soya sauce ,green chilli sauce and pepper.Fry for few minutes till the chicken are well coated.
4. Adjust salt and add the vinegar. Remove from flame and granish with chopped spring onion.
5. Serve with fried rice or as an appetiser.

chicken momos

momos are steamed dumplings with mince filling. This momo has chicken filling,there are also pork,prawn,squid and variety of fillings. I have made the momo wraps are home, but I would suggest you buy ready made wonton wraps,unless you can roll the wrap very thin, mine were a little thick,but was very good.

ingredients for filling
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• 1/4 kg chicken mince
• 1/4 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp mince ginger
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 2 green chillies chopped
• 1 tsp soya sauce
• salt to taste

for wrap

• 1 cup flour (maida)
• 2tsp oil
• salt to taste

Method

1. mix together all the ingredients for the filling in a bowl and keep it aside.
2. in a bowl sift flour and salt,add oil and enough water to knead into a firm dough. Cover and keep aside.
3. knead the dough once again and form 12 lime sized balls.
4. roll the dough into a flat thin circle, place the 1/2 tbsp of filling in the center , fold the wrap to half and pinch the corner. hold one side of wrap from the center and fold like pleats (like sari pleats) till you complete the circle. press all the pleats together and twist.(i shall make a video demonstrating that pretty soon)
5. prepare the remaining momos in the similar way.
6. arrange them an inch apart and steam for 15minutes.
7. serve momos with sweet chilli sauce