Anarosher Chatni / Bengali Pineapple Chutney

anarosher chutney

Preparation Time : 10 minutes
Cooking Time : 30 minutes

Ingredients :

• Pineapple : 2 cup chopped
• Methi /fenugreek seeds : 1/4 tsp
• Dry red chili : 1 
• Ginger paste : 1/4 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Sugar : 1/2 cup (You can add more or less as per your taste)
• Raisins :10-12
• Cashew nuts : 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice : 1 tbsp
• Cardamom powder : 1/2 tsp
• Mustard oil : 1 tbsp

Procedure :

1)  If you use fresh pineapple then you have to pressure 

      cook it till it becomes soft.Now strain water and 

      make a paste of boiled pineapple and keep aside.

2)  Now heat oil in a kadai .Then add methi seeds and 

     dry red chili and wait for few seconds.
3) Add ginger paste and fry for a minute.Now add 

     pineapple paste and fry for 5-7 minutes in medium 

     heat Add salt.
4) Then add sugar and cook till sugar melts.
5) Add raisins and cook for 8-10 minutes in medium heat.
6) Now add lemon juice and mix it well . Adjust salt and  

    sugar taste.Cook for  4-5 minutes.
7) Sprinkle cardamom powder and mix well.Turn off the gas.

     Serve either chilled or at room temperature.

     Happy Cooking!!

Sanghai Chicken

sanghai chicken

Preparation Time : 5 minutes + marination time
Cooking Time : 30-35 minutes

Ingredients :

• Chicken : 500 gm boneless cut into cubes
• Onion : 1/2 cup chopped
• Egg : 1 
• Salt to taste
• Cornflour/ corn starch : 1+ 2 tbsp
• Vegetable oil :2 tbsp + oil for deep frying
• Garlic : 1 tbsp  grated
• Ginger : 1tbsp  grated
• Green chillies :  5-6 cut length wise
• Soy sauce : 4 tbsp
• Tomato ketchup : 4 tbsp
• Vinegar : 1 tbsp
• Brown sugar : 1 tsp
• Carrot diced: 3-4 tbsp
• Cabbage : 1/2 cup diced
• Green peas : 1/4 cup boiled
• Spring onions : 1/4 cup chopped
• Roasted peanuts : 2 tbsp
• Cashew nuts : 1 tbsp for garnishing

Procedure :

1) Take a bowl and put chicken pieces,egg,salt,1 tbsp soya sauce and corn flour
     and mix them well.Keep aside for atleast half an hour.
2) Heat sufficient oil in a deep frying pan, and fry the chicken cubes till golden
     and crisp.Fry them in batches.Drain on paper towel and keep aside.
3) Now heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pan or kadai .Add grated garlic and grated ginger
    and fry it in medium heat till fragrant comes out.
4) In a small bowl put 2 tbsp soya sauce,4 tbsp tomato ketchup, 1 tbsp vinegar and
    1 tsp brown sugar.Mix them well.
5) Now add slited green chillies and the mixture of sauces .Stir it for 3-4 minutes.
6) Now add chopped vegetables (carrot, cabbage, green peas, spring onions) and
    peanuts and toss to mix. Cook till all the vegetables becomes soft.
7) Add the fried chicken cubes, salt and mix well. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.
    Stir continuously.You can serve it as a dried Sanghai chicken for snacks.Also you
    can make little gravy.
8) For gravy take a small bowl, put 1/2 cup of water and 1 tbsp of  corn flour in it .
     Mix them well and pour it in the chicken. Stir continuously for 2- 3 minutes to
    avoid lumps.You can add more or less water mixed with cornflour as per your
    likings.Taste the seasoning. Put it in a serving dish and add few cashew nuts
    over it for garnishing.Turn off the heat.

    Serve hot with chinese fried rice.

Egg Korma

egg korma

Preparation Time :20-25 minutes
Cooking Time : 20 -25 minutes

Ingredients :

• Boiled egg : 8
• Onion : 1 small finely chopped
• Tomato : 1 large 
• Green chilies : 2-3
• Ginger : 1" 
• Garlic : 4-5 cloves
• Coconut powder / Coconut milk : 1 tbsp
• Poppy seeds : 2 tbsp
• Cashew nuts : 8-10
• Raisins : 8-10
• Fenugreek seeds : 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon stick : 1 "
• Cardamom : 3-4 
• Laung : 3-4 
• Turmeric powder : 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Sugar : 1tsp
• Cumin powder : 1 tsp
• Kashmiri red chili powder : 1 tsp
• Vegetable oil : 5-6 tbsp
• Ghee : 1 tsp

Procedure : 

1) Boil eggs. Cool and peel shells. Now sprinkle little turmeric powder and
    salt over egg  mix them . And fry to a golden brown or just let them remain
    the way they are.
2) Make a paste of tomato, green chili, ginger and garlic.
3) And make another paste of cashew nuts,raisins and poppy seeds .
4) Put oil in a heavy bottom pan ,add fenu greek seeds. Wait till its colour
    changes to deep brown. Then remove the seeds from oil.
5) Now add cardamom, cinnamon and laung.
6) After few seconds add finely chopped onion and fry till transparent.
7) Then add tomato paste and add turmeric powder,cumin powder ,kashmiri
     red chili powder ,salt and sugar.Stir continuously so that masala does not
     burn . Fry them for 3-4 minutes in medium heat.
8) Now add coconut milk and poppy seeds paste and cook till oil comes out.
9) Add half cup of water and fried eggs.
10) Cover with lid and cook for 4-5 minutes in medium heat.
11) Sprinkle little ghee and turn off the heat.
       Serve hot with steam rice, naan, roti or paratha.

Semiya Payes/ Vermicelli Kheer

semiya payes

                         

Ingredients :

• Semiya / Vermicelli : 1/4 cup
• Ghee : 1 tbsp
• Whole Milk : 3 cups
• Milk powder :1/2 cup
• Sugar : 5-6 tbsp
• Cardamom : 2-4 crushed
• Tejpatta / Bay leaf : 1 medium
• Cashew nuts : 4-5 tbsp broken
• Raisin : 4-5 tbsp

Procedure :

1) Take a large pan and add milk and boil it. Reduce the flame, add
     bay leaf and crushed cardamom . Stir the milk for 15 minutes so
     that the volume get reduced to 1/3 . Take out 1/4th cup of milk 

     and keep it in a bowl.Add milk powder to the 1/4 th cup of milk.

     Mix it well.Now pour it in the pan.
2) At the same time take a small frying pan and ghee and heat it. Add
    cashew nuts and raisins and fry them for 2-3 minutes in medium heat
    and keep aside.
3) Add little ghee and heat it. Now add semiya and fry them untill it
    become golden in colour.
4) Add this fried semiya in the boiled milk.And continuousle stir it till
    semiya is almost done.
5) Now add sugar mix them well and for another 5 minutes. Now turn
    off the heat.
6) Sprinkle pinch of cardamom powder,fried cashew nuts and raisins,
     mix them well and pour them in serving bowl.
    Let it cool down and refrigerate it for atleast half an hour.
    Serve it.

Misti Polao

polao-mutton curry

Ingredients :

• Gobindobhog rice : 2 cups
• Cashew nuts :10-12
• Raisins : 14-15
• Jeera powder : 1/2 tsp
• Ginger paste : 1 tbsp
• Yellow food color : 2-3 drops
• Salt to taste
• Garam masala powder : 1 tsp
• Cloves : 4-5
• Bay leaves : 2 medium
• Sugar : 4-5 tbsp
• Ghee : 4-5 tbsp
• Warm water : 4 cups

Procedure :

1)  Wash and soak rice in water for 30 minutes.Drain the rice completely
      in a strainer after 30 minutes of soaking.
2)  In a bowl take soaked rice ,jeera powder,ginger paste,yellow food
     colour,salt ,cloves, garam masala and mix well.
3)  Heat a big heavy bottom vessel and add ghee.
4)  Tamper with bay leaves and then add rice. Cook in medium heat
     for 6-7 minutes .
5)  Add cashew nuts and raisins . Mix well.
6)  Mean while boil 4 cups of water in another pan .
7)  Add the boiling water to the rice.
8)  Bring heat to medium-low heat and cover the pan with lid and cook
     till big bubbles begin to form in 2-3 minutes.
9)  When the rice is 80% cooked, add sugar and cook till there is no
      visible water.
10) Turn the heat to low , do not open the lid and cook for another
       10 -12 minutes.
11) Now turn off the heat and fluff the rice with spoon and cover the
      pan for atleast 5-6 minutes.
      Serve hot with mutton kosha ,chicken curry or macher kalia.

Bengali Pepe r Chutney / Plastic Chutney / Papaya Chutney

papaya chutney

Ingredients :

• Green raw papaya : 1 small
• Sugar : 1 cup
• Cardamom : 2
• Tejpata / bay leaf : 1 medium
• Salt to Taste 
• Methi / Fenugreek seeds : 1/2 tsp
• Lemon Juice : 4-5 tbsp
• Raisin : 2tbsp
• Cashew nuts : 8-10
• Garam masala powder : pinch
• Vegetable oil/ sunflower oil : 1 tbsp

Procedure :

1) First take unripe green papaya ,peel it and cut into very thin slices.
2) When you peel the skin off papaya make sure that there is no green
    colour skin left and remove all seeds.
3) Now in a pan first boil the papaya slices till it becomes almost done
    and its colour become transparent.
4) Strain the papaya and keep aside.
5) In the same pan heat 1 tbsp oil and add methi seeds.As the aroma
    comes out remove the seeds from oil .
6) Now add cardamom,tejpata in the same oil and wait for few seconds.
7) Add papaya .Add very little salt and fry for 3-4 minutes in medium-
    high heat.
8) Now add lime juice and immediately add sugar . Mix well.
9) Add raisins and cashew nuts.
10) Add water depending on how thick you want your chutney to be.
11) Let them boil in medium heat for 5-6 minutes.
12) If you need more sugar ,lemon juice and salt you can add more as
      per your taste.
13) Let it cook .When the chutney thicken to your desired consistency
      sprinkle garam masala powder and turn off the heat.

      Serve it cool.

Aam Sotto r Khejur er Chutney

Ingredients:

• Aam sotto/ mango bar : 1 cup cut into pieces
• Khejur / dried date palms : 5-6cut into pieces
• Imli pulp/ Tamarind pulp : 1 tbsp
• Ginger juice : 2 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Sugar : 6-7 tbsp
• Cashew nuts : 1 tbsp
• Raisins / kismiss : 1 tbsp
• Panch phoron : 1/4 tsp
• dry red chili : 1 
• Panch phoron powder : pinch

Procedure:

1) First soak aam sotto in a cup of water for at least 1 hour .
2) Heat oil in a pan and tamper it with dry red chili and panch phoron.
3) Then add aam satya for few seconds.
4) Then add 1 cup water.Then add 2 tsp ginger juice.
5) Now add cashew nuts,raisins,salt and add imli pulp.
6) When it becomes thick add sugar.
7) Then sprinkle panch phoron powder.

Bengali Fried Rice

fried rice

Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time : 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:

• Basmati rice / gobindo bhog rice : 2 cup cooked
• Carrots : 1 medium carrot thinly sliced
• Capcicum : 2 tbsp thinly sliced
• Peas : 1/2 cup
• Green chilies : 2-3 finely chopped
• Ginger paste : 1 tbsp
• Salt to taste
• Ghee : 3 tbsp
• Bay leaves : 1-2 medium
• Cloves : 4-5
• Sugar : 3-4 tbsp
• garam masala powder : 1/2 tsp 
• Cashew nuts : 1 tbsp
• Raisin : 1 tbsp

Procedure :

1) Soak rice in water for atleast 30 minutes.First you prepare
     rice like it is normally done.
2) Spread it on plates under a fan so that the remaining moisture is
     vapourized and the rice becomes dry.
3) In a heavy bottom pan heat ghee and add bay leaves and cloves.
4) Add all the vegetables,chopped green chillies and fry them till
    they becomes soft.
5) Now add ginger paste and salt. fry them till ghee comes out.
6) Now add cashew nuts and raisins . Mix well.
7) Add garam masala powder and mix well.
8) Add sugar and cook till sugar melts.
9) Finally add rice and mix gently for another 2 mins .

  Serve hot with chicken curry,mutton kosha or any other non-veg dishes.

Chola-r Dal/ Bengali Style Chana Dal

Ingredients:

• chana dal : 1 cup
• bay leaves : 2-3
• dry red chilli : 2-3
• cinnamon/dalchini :1"
• cloves/laung :3-4
• green cardamoms/ elaichi : 3-4
• cumin powder :1/2 tsp
• ginger paste :1 tsp
• turmeric powder : 1/4 tsp
• salt to taste
• sugar:1 tbsp
• kismis/raisins: 1tbsp
• cashew: 1 tbsp
• ghee/clarified butter: 1 tbsp
• vegetable oil/canola oil: 1 tbsp
• water:2 cups

Procedure:
1)  Rinse the dal well and soak the dal for an hour in water.

2)  Add the soaked chana dal and 2 cups water in the pressure cooker
     on a medium to high flame pressure cook the dal for 4-5 whistles.
     The grains should be separate and yet cooked thoroughly.

3)  In a pan heat oil.Then first add all the whole spices -
     bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and dry red chilies.
     Fry till they become aromatic. this takes some seconds.

4)  Now add ginger paste, cumin powder, turmeric powder, and salt.
     Fry them till oil seperates from masala.

5)  Pour the boiled dal on the fried masala.

6)  Now add sugar, raisins, cashews.
     Let it boil for 4-5 minutes in high heat.

7)  Now simmer the heat and add ghee.
     Mix them well. cook for a minute or 2.

8)  Turn off the heat.

     Serve cholar dal with luchi, bengali peas kachori
     and even steamed rice if you prefer.

Notes:

 If the cholar dal becomes thick after its pressure cooked, then add some
 water to thin it.The consistency of the dal can always be adjusted by adding
 less or more water after its cooked.You can keep the consistency thin or
 thick , as per your choice.

chola-r dal