dinner – Batter Up With Sujata

Karela Or Bitter Gourd Dopyaza

Karela or bitter gourd dopyaza.
Bitter gourd or karela with lots of onion and tomato. Onion and tomato reduced the bitterness of karela. A dry curry not thick gravy like mutton or chicken dopyaza.

Normally we make dopyaza with chicken or mutton. Or you can make dopyaza with paneer or cottage cheese, bhindi or any vegetable. And dopyaza usually made with thick spicy gravy. But this time I made dopyaza with karela and made it dry. After marinating with salt, rinsed and squeezed karela automatically reduces it’s bitterness. And lots of onion also reduced the bitterness so if you don’t like the bitterness of karela, you will definitely enjoy the taste of this karela dopyaza.
You may like three more karela recipes on this blog.

1. Sukto

2. Bitter gourd with tomato

3. Gujarati bitter gourd stir fry

This week 220 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is Gourds Are Beautiful suggested by me. Yes this week its my turn to suggest the theme and I have suggested two themes. #1 make anything using any gourd, #2 one pot rice dish. Everyone voted for gourds. And we all bloghop members presenting recipes of different types of gourds.

I have used sliced onion and cubed onions. You can also use whole shallot instead of cubed onions. For sourness I have used 2 teaspoon amchur or dry mango powder. You can use more or less according to your taste. You can also use tamarind paste instead of mango powder.

Recipe

Karela or bitter gourd – 3 medium

Small onions – 5, cubed

Onion – 1 large, sliced

Tomato – 3 medium

Ginger paste – 1/2 teaspoon

Garlic paste – 1 teaspoon

Oil – 3 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 2 teaspoon

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Amchur or dry mango powder – 2 teaspoon

Method

1. Discard the both ends of bitter gourd. Lengthwise make half. Chop into thin slices.

2. Rinse and drain the water. Marinate with 1 teaspoon salt and keep aside 15 – 20 minutes.

3. Wash the bitter gourd again. Wash 3 – 4 times and squeeze well.

4. Grind the tomatoes.

5. Heat oil in a pan. Add sliced onion.
When the onion becomes translucent add garlic and ginger paste. Fry till onion becomes light brown.

6. Now add bitter gourd and fry for 4 – 5 minutes.

7. Add cubed onions, salt, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and kashmiri red chilli powder. Saute for 3 – 4 minutes.

8. Add ground tomatoes and mix well. When it starts to boil reduce the heat. Cover and cook on simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in between.

9. Now remove the cover and cook on high heat till dried up. Keep starting.
When bitter gourd or karela dried up remove from heat.

10. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves and onion rings. Serve with steamed rice or Indian flat bread.

Notes
1. Shallot can be used instead of cubed onions.
2. You can use tamarind paste instead of amchur. Use amchur or tamarind paste according to your taste.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Sikkimese Chicken Curry

Chicken curry from Sikkim cuisine.
A very simple yet delicious chicken curry. You don’t need to saute or fry the onion and spices. Just marinat the chicken with all the ingredients and cook. Curry is not spicy at all. You will love this light and delicious curry. Except little cumin and turmeric you don’t need to use any spice. So easy and simple isn’t it 😊

Sikkim is a state in northeastern India. It borders Tibet in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also located close to India’s Siliguri Corridor near Bangladesh. Sikkim is the least populous and second smallest among the Indian states.

Sikkimese cuisine is the traditional cuisine of Sikkim, a state of India. Sikkimese are traditionally rice eaters. Nepalese cuisine is very popular in Sikkim because Sikkim is the only state of India with an ethnic Nepali majority.

Source – Wikipedia

Now why I am talking about Sikkim? Yes, if you are a regular reader of this blog then you may know that I am a member of a Facebook group and we members of the group share a recipe every month from different cuisine from different Indian state.

Shhhh cooking secretly a group started by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes, is where every month food bloggers are paired up and give each other 2 secret ingredients to cook with according to the theme chosen. If you’re interested in joining this exciting group then please leave a message in the comment section. Thank you.

This month my partner is very talented blogger Narmadha who blog at Nams Corner. Do visit her space for different types of veg and non veg recipes. I specially love her baked recipes. I am sure you will love her wonderful blog.
Naramadha gave me onion and green chilli and I gave her lime juice and salt. Narmadha made delicious thukpa with these ingredients. Check out the recipe here.

You may like some more chicken recipes on this blog.

1. Chicken kosha

2. Zafrani Chicken

3. Chicken dak-bungalow

4. Chicken clear soup

5. Chicken chaap

I was searching for the recipes from Sikkim and loved this simple and easy recipe. In this recipe, you don’t need to saute or fry the onion, spices and chicken. Just marinate the chicken for an hour and then cook. Even you don’t need much spices to make it. Photo courtesy – Suchismita Roy

Adopted the recipe from here.

Recipe

Chicken – 500 gram

Onion – 2 finely chopped

Tomato – 1 large, chopped

Slit green chilli – 2 – 4 or to taste

Ginger garlic paste – 2 tablespoons

Lemon juice – 2 teaspoon

Curd – 1/2 cup

Salt to taste

Mustard oil – 1 – 2 tablespoons

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Cumin powder – 1teaspoon

Method

1. In a wok or pan mix everything with chicken.

2. Cover and keep the marinated chicken in the refrigerator for an hour.

3. After an hour cook the chicken covered till chicken becomes soft. Stir in between.

4. Garnish with green chilli and onion rings. You can also use cilantro or coriander leaves to garnish.

Serve hot with rice or any bread.

Note

Use green chilli according to your taste. If you like your curry hot add more slit green chilli.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using the hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Dal Makhani

Dal makhani
A rich buttery finger licking dal or lentil curry from Punjabi cuisine. Best accompany with butter naan, roti, steamed rice, fried rice etc.

Dal makhani or dal makhni is a dish originating from the Indian subcontinent, notably in the Punjab region. The primary ingredients are whole black lentil, red kidney beans, butter and cream. The dish gets its richness from the use of cream, but it can also be prepared with yogurt, milk or no dairy.
Punjabi cuisine is a culinary style originating in the Punjab, a region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, which is now divided between Punjab, India and Punjab, Pakistan. This cuisine has a rich tradition of many distinct and local ways of cooking. One is a special form of tandoori cooking that is now famous in other parts of India, UK, Canada, and in many parts of the world
The local cuisine of Punjab is heavily influenced by the agriculture and farminglifestyle prevalent from the times of the ancient Harappan Civilization. Locally grown staple foods form the major part of the local cuisine. Distinctively Punjabi cuisine is known for its rich, buttery flavours along with the extensive vegetarian and meat dishes. Main dishes include sarhon dā sâg (a stew whose main ingredient is mustard greens) and makki di roti (flatbreads made with cornmeal).
Punjab is a major producer of wheat, rice and dairy products. These products also form the staple diet of the Punjabi people. The state of Punjab has one of the highest capita usage of dairy products in India. Therefore, dairy products form an important component of Punjabi diet.
Source

This month in Shhhhh cooking secretly challenge
facebook group we are sharing different dishes from the cuisine of Punjab.
This month my partner is talented blogger Poonam Bachhav who blog at Annapurna. Do visit her blog for some delicious recipes and different types of thali.
In this group we give each other two secret ingredients to cook with. Poonam gave me bay leaf and nutmeg. And I gave her kasuri methi and coriander. Visit her place to check out the rajma masala recipe
she made with these ingredients.

This Buttery dal is flavoured with green cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf and nutmeg. Serve it as a side dish for party or for your family members. Everyone will enjoy the taste and flavour.

Recipe

Whole black lentil or sabut udad dal – 1 cup

Kidney beans or rajma – 1/3 cup

Bay leaf – 2

Green cardamom – 4

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

Cloves – 3 – 4

Onion – 2 medium, finely chopped

Green chilli – 2, chopped

Garlic – 6 – 7 cloves

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Tomato – 3 large

Fresh cream – 3 – 4 tablespoon

Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 2 teaspoon

Nutmeg powder – 1/3 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Sugar – 1/2 teaspoon

Butter – 2 tablespoon

Oil – 1 tablespoon

Cilantro or coriander leaves, cream and butter to garnish

Method

1. Soak black lentil or sabut udad and kidney beans or rajma overnight in sufficient water.

2. Crush green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in a mortar pestle.

3. Drain the water of soaked lentil and rinse well.

4. Pressure cook with 3 cup water, crushed cardamom, clove, cinnamon and bay leaf.

5. After 1 whistle reduce the heat and pressure cook on simmer for 30 minutes. Let the pressure settle down on it’s own.

6. Grind ginger, garlic and tomatoes into a smooth paste.

7. Heat oil and butter in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.

8. Add finely chopped onions and green chilli. . Fry till onions becomes brown.

9. Add tomato, ginger and garlic paste.

10. Add salt, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and kashmiri red chilli powder. Saute till oil leaves the sides.

11. Add 2 teaspoon beaten cream and saute for a minute again.

12. Add boiled dal and rajma. Mix well. Add 1 cup water. When it starts to boil reduce the heat.

13. Cook on simmer for 20 – 25 minutes. Keep stirring on regular intervals to avoid sticking at the bottom.

14. Now add nutmeg powder and remaining well beaten cream. Mix well and remove from heat.
Garish with cream, cilantro or coriander leaves and butter.

Serve hot with naan, roti or Indian flat bread, paratha or any bread. Even you can serve it with butter naan, steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao or fried rice.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Watermelon Salsa

Watermelon salsa.
Here is a healthy and quick recipe for my 400 post. Thanks everyone for your love and support.

Watermelon salsa is a perfect appetizer for summer. Very easy and quick to make. Just combine everything. Refrigerate for few minutes and enjoy. If you have mango, strawberry or any other fruit then you can add them in this salsa. Use the fruits according to your choice. Bowl full of this salsa is refreshing, filling, healthy and delicious. And also great for weight watchers. You can get one more fruit salsa here.

Loaded with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, watermelon is one fruit you should not miss this hot season.
own as a body-healing fruit, watermelon is full of amazing health benefits, especially during the summer season. Because clearly, it is the best time to indulge in this fresh, succulent melon, as it has to offer an array of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The fruit is incredibly hydrating, with up to 92 per cent water content, making it naturally low in fat.

If you eat watermelon on a daily basis, it can improve your cardiovascular health and protect your eyes and immune system.
Source

You may like some more watermelon recipes on this blog.

1. Watermelon rasgulla

2. Watermelon cantaloupe mint smoothie

3. Watermelon sandesh

4. Watermelon muffins

5. Virgin watermelon mojito

6. Mocktail with watermelon and Fanta

7. litchi watermelon date peach Tulsi and almond smoothie

8. Watermelon cooler with Tulsi and Aloe Vera

Our this week’s 194 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is Summer fruit fest suggested by Swaty Malik who blog at
foodtrails.
Do visit her space for some wonderful recipes she shared.

I have used boiled sweet corn, cucumber and tomato in this salsa. You can use red and yellow bell pepper, mango, pineapple, strawberry or any fruit of your choice.

Recipe

Watermelon – 2 cup, scooped or cubed

Sweet corn – 1/2 cup, boiled

Cilantro or coriander leaves – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Green chilli – 1 finely chopped

Cucumber – 1, peeled and cubed

Tomato – 1 cubed

Red onion – 1, chopped

Freshly crushed black pepper – to taste

Dried mint leaves – 2 tablespoon, crushed

Fresh mint leaves – 2 tablespoon, chopped

Orange juice – 1/4 cup

Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Rock salt or black pepper – to taste

Method

1. Combine everything in a glass bowl. Mix gently.

2. I have used dried mint leaves. If you are using dried mint leaves like me then crush the dried leaves with your both palm and mix.

3. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves or mint leaves.

4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve with tortilla chips or papad. Or enjoy bowl full as appetizer.

Notes

1. You can use jalapeño, red and yellow bell pepper, mango, strawberry, pineapple, fresh coconut pieces or any fruit of your choice.
2. Add chilli and black pepper according to your taste.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Ginger Noodles

Ginger noodles.
Today sharing one of my most favourite and very easy to make noodles recipe.
To make this delicious noodles you can use cabbage or any vegetable of your choice. I don’t like cabbage so I didn’t use. I have used whatever vegetables I had in my pantry. Sometimes I also use broccoli and capsicum.

Its a vegetarian recipe but if you want you can add shredded and boiled chicken or scrambled egg or sliced omelette in it.
Enjoy the noodles with chilli paneer, honey chilli potatoes, chilli chicken or manchurian etc.

This post is going to be a part of A to Z challenge, a challenge initiated on Facebook Group, created by Jolly
and Vidya.
Wherein a group of bloggers come together and we choose key ingredients alphabetically to cook and post a dish every alternate month. This month’s Alphabet is letter G.

Some more recipes for this challenge I have posted earlier.

Beetroot shot

Corn cottage cheese stir fry

Date walnut fudge

Eggs in poppy seeds or dim posto

Fennel oats millet cookies

To make this noodles cut the vegetables in thin slices and cook on high heat to retain the crunch of the vegetables. Be careful while boiling the noodles. Noodles shouldn’t be over cook. If you want you can also add chicken, eggs etc.

Recipe

Noodles – 150 gram

Ginger – 1 tablespoon, grated

Onion – 1 large, sliced

Garlic – 3 – 4 cloves, minced or finely chopped

Tomato 1 medium, sliced

Red Bell pepper – 1 medium, sliced

Yellow Bell pepper – 1 medium, sliced

Spring onion green – 1 – 2, chopped

Green chilli – 1 – 2, chopped

Carrot – 1 medium, thinly sliced

Vinegar – 2 tablespoon

Tomato sauce – 1 tablespoon

Schezwan sauce – 1 & 1/2 tablespoon

Soya sauce – 2 tablespoon

Chilli sauce – 1/2 tablespoon

Black pepper powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Oil – 2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon

Method

1. Boil the noodles and 2 minutes or according to the instructions printed on the noodles packet. Add 1 teaspoon salt in the boiling water then add the noodles. Boil for 2 minutes and drain the water immediately.

2. Rinse the noodles with tap water.
Spread on a plate and toss with 1 teaspoon oil to prevent sticking.

3. Peel and chop the carrot into thin slices.
Thinly slice the red and yellow bell pepper and tomato.

4. In a bowl mix vinegar, soya sauce, tomato sauce, chilli sauce and Schezwan sauce. Keep aside.

5. Heat oil in a pan. Add sliced onion, garlic and green chilli. Fry till onion becomes translucent.

6. Add grated ginger and carrot. Fry for 2 minutes.

7. Add bell peppers, spring onion green and tomato. Saute for 1 minute.

8. Add vinegar, soya, chilli, tomato and Schezwan sauce. Mix well.

9. Now add the boiled noodles, salt and black pepper powder. Toss well.

10. If you feel difficult to toss, mix with the help of two spatula or tongs.

11. When the noodles will coated well with sauce, remove from heat.

12. Garnish with chopped spring onion green and ginger julienne.
Serve hot with chilli paneer, chilli chicken or manchurian.

Notes
1. You can use any vegetable like cabbage, broccoli florets, capsicum, beans etc.
2. Boiled and shredded chicken can be used with vegetables.
3. You can add scrambled eggs or omelette pieces in the noodles.
4. Use chilli according to your taste. If you are making it for kids then you can skip chilli and chilli sauce.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Italian Flavoured Paneer Bhurji

Italian flavoured paneer bhurji.
A different way to make our very own paneer bhurji. This lip-smacking paneer bhurji can be serve as a side dish or make sandwich stuffing or use as pizza topping.

We normally make paneer bhurji with onion garlic tomato and some Indian spices. But this time made with Italian seasonings.
Well now you can ask that how I get the idea of making this Italian flavoured paneer bhurji. Because this week our 187 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is desi twist suggested by Kalyani Sri who blog at https://www.sizzlingtastebuds.com/?m=1

According to Kalyani “the base idea has to be an Indian dish but not an Indian ingredient’. So I have made our humble paneer bhurji Italian. And loved the taste. Try it, I am sure you will also love the taste.
You can use bell peppers or any vegetable of your choice.

Recipe

Paneer or cottage cheese – 2 cup, crumbled

Onion – 1, finely chopped

Green chilli – 1 – 2, finely chopped

Garlic – 2 – 3 cloves, minced

Green peas – 1/2 cup, boiled or frozen

Sweet corn – 1/2 cup, boiled

Capsicum – 1, cubed

Tomato – 2 medium, cubed

Onion – 1, cubed

Oregano – 2 teaspoon

Dried Basil – 1 teaspoon

Rosemary – 1/2 teaspoon, optional

Red chilli flakes – 1 teaspoon

Black pepper powder – 1 teaspoon

Pizza sauce – 2 tablespoon

Vinegar – 1 tablespoon

Tomato sauce – 1 tablespoon

Olive oil – 2 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Chopped scallion or onion green – 1 tablespoon, optional

Method

1. In a bowl mix pizza sauce, vinegar, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, black pepper powder and red chilli flakes. Also add rosemary if using. Mix well and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan. Add finely chopped onion. Fry till translucent.

3. Add minced garlic and chopped green chilli. Fry till garlic becomes brown.

4. Add cubed onion, tomato, capsicum and salt. Add salt carefully. Sauce has enough salt. Saute for 2 minutes.

5. Add boiled sweet corn and green peas. Mix well.

6. Add crumbled paneer or cottage cheese and mix. I have used homemade paneer or cottage cheese. Get the recipe here.

7. Reduce the heat. Cook on simmer for 4-5 minutes or till it dried up. Stir continuously. Cooking on low heat helps the paneer to absorb the flavour of herbs.

8. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Add 1/2 tablespoon chopped scallion or onion green if using. Mix and remove from heat.

9. Garnish with remaining 1/2 tablespoon scallion. Serve hot as a side dish with any bread or make sandwich stuffing. Even you can use it as pizza topping.

Notes

1. You can use bell peppers, broccoli, beans or any vegetable of your choice.

2. Any vegetable oil can be used instead of olive oil.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Broccoli Malai Curry

Broccoli malai curry.
Yes broccoli again. But this time with a rich finger licking gravy. Generally we make this malai curry with prawns or chingri. Called chingri malai curry. If you want you can make prawns or any fish instead of broccoli with this gravy.

This week our 186 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is plant based milk recipes suggested by Archana Gunjikar Potdar who blog at Mad Scientist’s Kitchen. Visit her blog for some awesome recipes.

Today I am sharing my brother Sanjay’s recipe. I already shared his one more recipe.
Radhaballvi with dum aloo.

He always used strained water of soaked dry red chilies in his non-vegetarian dishes. In his view ‘its enhance the taste and colour’. So I have followed his method today. Try this gravy with any vegetables or fish chicken etc. And please let me know how it turns out.

Recipe

Broccoli – 1

Onion – 2

Garlic – 2 – 3

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Tomato – 2 medium

Green cardamom – 2

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

Cloves – 3

Bay leaf – 1

Coconut milk – 1 cup

Cashew nuts – 10 – 12

Poppy seeds or khas khas – 1 tablespoon

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 1 tablespoon

Dry red chilli – 3

Salt to taste

Water – 1 cup + 1/4 cup

Mustard oil – 3 – 4 tablespoon + 2 teaspoon

Slit green chilli to garnish

Method

1. Soak the poppy seeds and cashew nuts in hot water.

2. Soak the dry red chilli in 1/4 cup water for 20 – 25 minutes.

3. Blend the soaked red chillies with it’s water. Strain the water with a sieve and keep aside. Discard the skin and seeds of dry red chilli.

4. Grind onion, ginger and garlic into smooth paste.

5. Grind tomatoes, soaked cashews and poppy seeds altogether. Make a smooth paste.

6. Crush green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves with a mortar pestle.

7. Rinse the broccoli well. Cut the broccoli onto small florets.

8. Heat 2 teaspoon oil in a pan. Add the chopped broccoli.

9. Fry till the broccoli starts to change it’s colour. Remove from heat and keep aside.

10. Heat 3 – 4 tablespoon oil in the same pan. Add bay leaf, crushed green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

11. Add onion, garlic and ginger paste. Sauce till the ground paste becomes light brown.

12. Add tomato, cashew and poppy seeds paste. Add cumin powder, kashmiri red chilli powder and turmeric powder.
Saute till oil leaves the sides.

13. Add fried broccoli florets and salt. Mix well.

14. Saute for 1 – 2 minutes.
Add strained water of dry red chilli, coconut milk and water. You can also add some slit green chilli. Stir and mix well.

15. When it starts to rolling boil reduce the heat. Cover and cook on simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or until the broccoli becomes tender.

16. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Remove from heat. You can add 1 – 2 teaspoon ghee or clarified butter if you like. I didn’t.

17. Garnish with slit green chilli.
Serve with steamed rice, pulao, jeera rice, roti, paratha, naan, puri or any bread.

Notes
1. You can make prawns or any fish or chicken in this gravy.
2. Any vegetables can be used instead of broccoli.

4. You can also make this curry with less oil if you want.

5. Any vegetable oil can be used instead of mustard oil.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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