Thursday, April 9, 2015

Achappam

Ingredients 

  1. Raw rice flour - very fine powder- 1 cup
  2. Coconut milk - about a cup - to mix with rice to make a batter little bit thicker than dosa batter
  3. Sugar - 1 and 1/2 Tbsp
  4. Salt - 1/2  tsp
  5. Kalonji (Onion Seeds) - 1 tsp
  6. Sesame Seeds - 2 tsp

Directions

  1. Mix all the ingredients well
  2. Heat coconut oil with a little bit of ghee in it
  3. keep the achu in oil and heat it well
  4. Dip the achu in batter and make awesome achappams :)

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Hyderabadi Shrimp Biriyani

Ingredients

For Biriyani Masala: need to dry roast and powder
1. sahi Jeera - 1 Tbsp
2. fennel seeds - 1 Tbsp
3. Cardamom - 4
4. cloves - 5
5. cinnamon sticks - 4 (1/2 inch)

6. Onion: 2 large – cut to thin slices and fried – I use coconut oil to fry 

7. Shrimp - 500 gm
8. turmeric powder - 1/2 Tsp
9. salt - 1 tsp
10. red chilli powder - 2 1/2 tsp
11. biriyani masala - 2 tsp
12. fried onions – ¼ of the fried onions
13. green chillies – 2
14. ginger garlic paste – 1 ½ tsp
15. Yoghurt  - I use sour one – 375 gm (3/4 weight of shrimp)

16. Cinnamon sticks – 3
17. Cloves – 5
18. Star aniseed – 1 star broken into the petals
19. Cardamom – 4
20. Sahi jeera – ½ tsp
21. Fennel seed – ½ tsp
22. Bay leaves – 2 nos
23. Add salt – water should be salty
24. Mint leaves – 1 cup
25. Add oil – 1 tsp

26. Basmati rice – 500 gm
27. Rose water – 3 Tbsp
28. Turmeric – 1 tsp
29. Milk – 2 Tbsp

Tip: you need about 3 cups mint leaves.

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients 8-15 and marinate the shrimp for 30 mins
2. Soak the basmati rice for 30 mins
3. Take water,  add 16 – 25 ingredients, bring it to rolling boil on high flame
4. Add soaked rice and boil for 4-5 mins – till the rice cooks 60 percent – the rice shd break in three pieces when you pinch it or see 2 rings on the rice
5. Drain the rice
6. In the same oil in which you fried the onions – the pan should be thick bottom,  add a little bit more oil and add the marinated shrimp and spread evenly
7. Add onions – ½ of whats left
8. Add mint – 1 cup leaves
9. Add the rice
10. Add the rest of the onions
11. Mix milk with turmeric powder and drizzle over the rice
12. Drizzle rose water over the rice
13. Add mint leaves – 1 cup
14. Close the lid tightly – steam should not escape – you can dum using wheat flour
15. Cook in high flame for 10 mins and then in low flame for 7-10 mins
16. Turn off the flame and Do NOT open the lid for 30 mins

Enjoy the biriyani with raita!






Persian Cake : 24 cupcakes or two 8" cake

Our star is turning 6 and the best cake we can think of for her is a rainbow cake. She has been obsessed with Rainbows this year! and every day draws at least 3-4 of them! So here is a rainbow cake for the star in our life!

Ingredients

  1.  2 cups all-purpose flour
  2.  1 teaspoon baking powder
  3.  4 eggs
  4.  1 1/4 cups white sugar
  5.  1 1/2 cups butter, melted
  6.  1 cup plain yogurt
  7.  1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
  8.  1 tablespoon rose water
  9.  1/2 cup blanched powdered almonds
     
Directions
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
  • Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl; set aside.
  • Combine the eggs and sugar in a large heatproof bowl and set on top of a pan of simmering water. Beat constantly with a whisk or electric mixer until thick and pale, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and continue to beat until cooled, about 10 minutes. Mix in the butter, yogurt, cardamom and rose water. 
  • Stir in the flour mixture by hand and fold in the almonds. 
  • Pour the batter in the prepared pans - about 2/3 full
  • Bake in the preheated oven until firm to the touch and golden brown,30 minutes. For cupcakes 20 mins
  • check every 10 mins there after depending on your oven
For frosting:

2 1/2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoon rose water