Mango Jam - Make it Monday: Recipe of the Month

Here is one more Mango recipe, let's make the most of it while they are in season!

This time a 'Sweet' one with a surprise ingredient. My Grandpa used to make this Jam all the time when we were little!

As far as I am concerned I love anything Mango and this recipe is a childhood favourite.

Ingredients-

Semi-ripe Mangoes- 2 Medium
Sugar - 1 Cup or as per your taste
Saffron Strands- 8 or 9
Cardamom Powder - 1/3 Tsp
Lemon Juice - 1 Tsp
Water as needed

Method-

• Peel and grate the Mangoes
• Transfer the pulp to a non-stick pan and cook on medium heat
• Add the Sugar gradually
• Cook till the mixture reaches a thick consistency, taste to see if you need more sugar as this depends on how sour your mango is
• Add Saffron, Cardamom and Lemon juice
• Keep cooking till the mixture thickens and becomes transparent and reaches Jam consistency, add water if required.
• Cool and Store in a jar in the refrigerator

ENJOY!!

Hot & Sweet Mango Chutney- Make it Monday: Recipe of the Month

Mango is my Favorite fruit! And Mangoes are in season!! And it is also the best time to get out and enjoy some barbecue or go picnicking...So let's make some yummy chutney to pair with it. You can also enjoy it as a dip or side with any crispy or finger food! 

The best part about living in Singapore is that we get Mangoes almost year long!

Ingredients:

Semi-ripe Mango - 1 Medium

Ginger Paste - 1/4 Tsp

Garlic Paste - 1/4 Tsp

Sugar - 5 Tbsp + Water as needed

Red Chilly Flakes - 1 Tsp or as per Taste

Vinegar 1/2 Tsp

Salt - to Taste

Method:

• Cut the Mango into thin slices
• Mix the sugar with Mangoes and a little water till the Mangoes float in the mixture
• Heat it on medium flame till the mangoes become a bit soft.
• Taste to check, if it is too sour add some more sugar
• Now add chilly, ginger-garlic paste, vinegar and salt
• Cook till the mixture thickens and the mango slices turn transparent
• Add more water and boil if you want the chutney to be more flowy
• Store in the refrigerator

Enjoy!!

Coconut Dessert: Make it Monday

This quick and easy Coconut is a true treat!

Coconut Dessert Recipe

Ingredients: 
Desiccated Coconut - 1 Cup
Milk - 1 Cup
Sugar - 4 Tbsp
Raisins- 3 Tbsp Chopped
Cardamom - 2 to 3 Pinch
Saffron - 5/6 Strands
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil- 1 Tbsp
*You can adjust the Sugar and Raisins as per your taste

Method:

• Heat the milk on medium flame till it is reduced to one-third, this might take a while
• Add Saffron, stir for a few seconds
• Add the coconut, Sugar and Cardamom 
• Add Coconut Oil, Stir till everything blends in nicely and the mixture thickens
• Enjoy!

Healthy Breakfast Potatoes with Curry Leaves - Make it Monday

Make this yummy version of Breakfast Potatoes with a hint of Curry Leaves and Mustard seeds.
It is originally a South Indian Dish but I have added my own twist to it!

Healthy Breakfast Potatoes

Ingredients:

Potatoes - 4 Medium
Curry leaves - 1 Stalk
Mustard Seeds - 1 Tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
Red Whole Chilies - 2
Chopped Green Chilies - 1 Tsp
Chopped Onions - 2 Medium
Turmeric - 1 Tsp
Salt - to Taste
Olive - oil 2 Tbsp
*You can add/reduce the Chilies as per your taste

Method:
Boil the potatoes,
Peel them,

Heat Oil in a pan, add Mustard seeds, Cumin seeds, when they pop add Curry Leaves, Chilies and Onions,

Fry till the onions are transparent, then add the potatoes, gently crush them don't mash up,

Finally add turmeric and salt, Cook for 8-10 minutes.

That's all your yummy + healthy Potatoes are ready!

Enjoy!

 

Whole Wheat Raisin-Walnut-Banana Bread

This banana bread is both yummy and healthy.

Ingredients:

1 Large Egg

1 Large Ripe Banana – Mashed

1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

¼ Cup Olive oil

¼ Cup Fine Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Chopped Walnuts

1 Tbsp Chopped Raisins

4-5 Ground Almonds

1 Pinch Nutmeg

1 Pinch Cinnamon

1 Tbsp Honey

1 Tsp Vanilla Essence

½ Tsp Baking Powder

¼ Tsp Salt

Method:

1. Preheat the Oven to 350 Degree F.
2. Mix in Sugar, Oil, Vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey and mashed banana, beat well until smooth.
3. Add the egg, beat nicely.
4. Add the baking powder, salt and ground almonds to the flour, mix well.
5. Add the flour mixture gradually to the wet mixture and beat.
6. Once smooth, add the raisins and walnuts.
7. Bake in small bread pan for about 55-65 minutes, till done.

ENJOY!

Raw Mango Chutney / Dip

This is one of my favorite homemade chutneys/sauce. It has a tangy flavor with a bit sweet and sour taste. The herbs give a nice & fresh aromatic hint. It is a very popular North Indian side enjoyed with many Snacks and even with meals.

All you need is all these ingredients and just grind them!

Raw Mango Chopped - 1 Medium Sized

Green Chili - 1 Medium

Red Chili Powder - 1/2 Tsp

Sugar - 2 Tsp

Black Pepper Powder - 1/4 Tsp

Coriander Leaves - 2 Tbsp

Mint Leaves - 1 Tbsp

Cumin Seeds - 1 Tsp

Garlic Clove - 1

Salt - To Taste

Enjoy!

* You can reduce the chili/pepper as per your taste

Crispy Baby Corn Sticks

Ingredients:

Baby corn - 7-8 Pieces 

Ginger Paste - 1/4 Tsp

Garlic Paste - 1/4 Tsp

Red Chili Powder - 1/4 Tsp

Salt - to taste

Water - to boil

For the Batter for covering:

All purpose Flour - About 1/2 cup

Corn Flour - 1 Tbsp

Sugar - 1/4 Tsp

Black Pepper - 1/4 tsp or as needed

Chopped Cilantro - 1 tsp (Optional)

Salt - to taste

Water - as needed to make a thick batter

Oil - for Frying

Method:

• Boil the baby corn in salt water till tender. Remove from water.
• Marinate the baby corn in Ginger-garlic paste and red chilly powder for about 1/2 an hour.
• Mix the ingredients of batter, make it up to a thick sticky consistency.
• Dip the baby corn in batter and deep fry till golden & crisp.
• Serve with  green bell pepper/onion salad and sauce of your choice.

ENJOY!

Happy Cooking:)

Monday Recipe: Spicy Eggplant Curry

Do you like Indian Food?

Being from India, I absolutely love Indian food. But I prefer home-made since I know how to cook and I also love cooking. Most our Chinese/American friends think that everyday Indian food is what you get in the restaurants......all that very spicy and a bit oily stuff, which tastes good but is too rich. Well the fact is our everyday meals are quite light and healthy,but of course it is a bit spicy:)

Okay that on one side, eating Rich and Spicy Indian dishes in moderation is perfectly okay. Today's recipe is NOT light rather it is Spicy and maybe a little hot too!!

Spicy Eggplant Curry - Indian Style...

Ingredients:

Baby Eggplant: 7-8 Pieces, make two cross slits from base leaving the heads on 

Potatoes: 2 Medium Sized, halved & diced

Onions: 2 Medium, Finely chopped

Ginger Paste: 1 Teaspoon

Garlic Paste: 1 Teaspoon

Tomatoes: 2, pureed

Red Chili Powder: 1 Tsp

Cumin Powder: 1 Tsp

Turmeric Powder: 1 Tsp

Salt: To Taste

Canola Oil: 3  Tbsp

Chopped Cilantro: To Garnish

Method:

• Heat Oil in a pan, add chopped Onions, fry till they are nicely golden brown, cook on medium heat.

• Add ginger and garlic paste, fry for a few minutes till you get a nice aroma.
• Take about 1/4 cup water and add all the powders to it, add this to the fried mixture.
• Reduce the heat and fry it till you see Oil separating.

• Add the tomato puree and again fry for a few minutes till the tomatoes blend in  nicely.
• Add the potatoes, eggplants, salt and 1/2 cup water.

• Cover the pan and cook till eggplants are tender and done.
• Garnish with Cilantro and Serve hot with flat bread or naan.
  

ENJOY!!!

Glazed Orange Cake

What I love most about this cake is the fresh fragrance which fills my mouth with water! I love the flavor and the rich texture and I'm sure you'll love it too! So here is the recipe.... 

Ingredients-

For the Cake- 

All purpose flour -1 ½ cups + 2 ½ Tablespoons

Eggs- 2

Butter - ½ cup + 1 Tablespoon

Sugar- ¾ cup + 1 Tablespoon

Milk - 1 Tablespoon

Grated Orange Zest - 2 Tablespoons

Orange Juice - 3 Tablespoons

Finely Chopped Orange Peels – 2 Tablespoons

Orange Essence – 1 Teaspoon

Orange Color – A few drops (Optional)

Baking Powder - 1 teaspoon

  

For the Orange Glaze-

Icing sugar - 1 Cup

Orange juice - 2 tablespoons Or as needed to make a thick paste

Orange Zest - 2 Tablespoons

Method-

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350° F.
• Prepare a bread tin for baking by greasing and lining (I used 8X4 inches).
• Mix Butter and Sugar until creamy.
• Add the eggs and mix nicely.
• Mix the baking powder with flour, add to the mixture and blend nicely.
• Add orange peels, milk, orange juice, orange essence, color and zest.
• Mix it for a few minutes. When ready pour into the baking pan.
• Bake for 60 minutes or until done. Test with a toothpick.
• Cool completely before taking it out from the pan to glaze.

Orange Glaze-

• Mix icing sugar and orange juice to make a smooth but thick paste.
• Pour the glaze over the cake and use a butter knife if needed to spread it evenly.
• Decorate by sprinkling the zest over the glaze.

ENJOY!!

Mint & Tomato Chutney

Mint & Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:

1 Cup Chopped Mint Leaves

1 Small Tomato - Chopped

2 Tbsp Cilantro Leaves

1 Green Chili

1 Tsp Lemon Juice

1/4 Tsp Black Pepper

1/4 Tsp Sugar

Salt to Taste 

Method:

Mix everything together and grind in the mixer till smooth. Serve with any Spicy snack! Enjoy!

Monday Recipe - Red Bean Kebabs

Red Bean Kebabs

Ingredients:

Red Beans (boiled) - 1 Cup

Potato (boiled) - 1 medium sized

Garlic Paste -  ½ Tsp

Ginger Paste - ½ Tsp

Chopped Onions -  ½ Cup

Chopped Cilantro - 2 Tbsp

Chopped Green Chilies - 1 Tsp

Red Chili Powder -  ½ Tsp

Olive Oil - to Shallow fry

Salt -  to Taste

* You can add/reduce chilies as per your taste.

Method:

• Crush and mash the red beans and potatoes.

• Add ginger, garlic, onions, cilantro, green chilie, red chili and  to the mashed preparation.

• Shape into equal sized Kebabs.

• Fry till nice, crispy and brown on both sides.

• Enjoy with your favorite sauce!

Chocolate Cupcakes - Easy & Yummy