Aaha Oho

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 20:57:00 +0000
almond, cashew, dates, dates roll, dessert, diwali, dry fruit, healthy, indian dessert, nuts, snack, sweet, walnut
Dates Nut Roll

I buy these jumbo dates at Costco, which are plump, moist and absolutely divine. It is super sweet even for a sweet tooth like me. Most of the time i just stare at the box and thinking how to eat'em all. Now this recipe comes handy which makes a guilt-free goodness in every bite, making it a great dessert or even a go-to snack. The nuts adds a great deal of good fats and satisfying crunch. Feel free to fancy any your favorite nuts and dried fruits. Next time i am planning to add pistachios and dried figs to make it a richer roll. And here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Dates (finely chopped)

1/4 cup raw Walnuts (finely chopped)

1/4 cup raw Almonds (finely chopped)

1/4 cup raw Cashews (finely chopped)

1 tbsp Ghee (clarified butter)

How to:

Dry roast the chopped nuts together and keep aside. (You can roast the nuts whole and then chop'em.)

In a skillet, heat ghee and add the dates. Cook until it comes together for 3-5 mins at medium-low heat.

Now add the lightly roasted nuts and mix well. Continue cooking the nut-date mixture for a couple more mins. (The nuts may look a lot, but the dates can take it all so don't be alarmed.)

Transfer the mixture on to a greased plate and let cool for 10 mins.

Now gently press'em to form a cylindrical roll and tightly wrap it with plastic.

Refrigerate the roll for 3 hrs. Cut into 1/4 inch rounds and serve.

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate it.

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 01:47:00 +0000
lunch, potato masala, roast, side dish, spicy, sweet potato, Veg Side dish
Sweet Potato Masala Roast

A perfect roast as a side for sambar rice. Sweet potatoes are very healthy and if you don't like to eat just boiled like back at home, prepare this roast for weekday lunches and you will be hooked for sure. With our variety of spices, you never have to eat anything bland. These days sweet potatoes are a staple at my home. And here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

2 medium Sweet Potatoes

1 medium Red Onion (finely chopped)

6-8 Green Chili (slit)

3 Garlic pods

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1 tbsp Urad dal

3 dry red chili

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

2 tsp Chili powder/Sambar powder

Cilantro chopped

Salt

1 tbsp Oil

How to:

Boil the sweet potatoes and chop'em to bite size pieces with or without skin. Crush the garlic and cumin seeds.

Heat oil in a skillet, add mustard seeds, dry red chili and urad dal.

Add the onions and green chili, saute for a min and now add the crushed garlic-cumin seeds.

Add the turmeric powder and sambar powder, mix well.

Add the sweet potatoes along with salt and cook for 5 mins in a medium heat. (Don't salt'em as you would for white/red potatoes, use sparingly.)

Switch off and garnish with cilantro.

Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:14:00 +0000
dal, easy, kichadi, lunch, one pot, rava, rice, south indian, spicy, toor dal
Spicy Rice Kichadi

One pot meal and a comfort food, perfect for those lazy days. Kichadi is prepared using rice or semolina or even cracked wheat mixed with lentils and a variety of spices and vegetables. You can also add roasted peanuts or cashew nuts for a little crunch. This recipe can easily be doubled when you have company over. With just a few ingredients from your pantry and easy to cook vegetables, this kichadi will be perfect for lunch boxes too. Hope you will enjoy the dish just like i did. And here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Rice

1/4 cup Toor dal

! 1/2 cups Water

1/4 cup Peas

1/4 cup Carrot (chopped)

1/2 Onion (finely chopped)

2-3 Green Chili (Finely chopped)

1 1/2 tsp Garlic (minced)

1 1/2 tsp Ginger (minced)

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1/2 tsp Chili powder

1/4 tsp Cumin seeds

1/4 tsp Black peppercorns

1/2" Cinnamon stick

1 Clove

1 pinch Asafoetida

1 tbsp Oil

Salt

How to:

Wash the rice and toor dal together, pour the water and soak for 20 mins.

In a pressure cooker, heat oil, add cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, clove, peppercorns, asafoetida and turmeric powder.

Add the onions, saute for a min. Then add the ginger, garlic and green chilies and saute for a couple of mins.

Add the carrots, peas along with chili powder and salt.

Now add the soaked rice and dal along with the water, check salt and pressure cook for 1 whistle.

Switch off, fluff the rice gently and garnish with cilantro.

Serve warm with potato fry or chips.

Wed, 21 May 2014 02:26:00 +0000
dessert, easy, indian dessert, milk, popsicle, quick, rose, rose milk, rose syrup, rose water, summer, sweet
Rose Milk Popsicle

Popsicle is made by freezing any flavored liquid around a stick. With summer around the corner, this aromatic and exotic rose flavored popsicle will be perfect to cool you down. Rose milk is one of my childhood favorite and i can't have enough of it. You can find rose milk in a few Indian restaurants menu here in the US. Freezing the rose milk in the molds is a fun way to eat with your family. Hope you will have fun making'em and slurping'em. Here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

2 cups 2% Milk

4 tbsp Rose syrup

1 tsp Rose water

1/4 tsp Cardamom powder

2 tbsp Sugar or to taste

How to:

Heat the milk and let it boil for 3-5 mins. Keep stirring to avoid the skin formation.

Switch off and immediately add the cardamom powder, sugar syrup and sugar to taste.

Add the rose water and let it come to room temperature.

Now pour the rose milk into Popsicle molds and freeze them for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.

To loosen and remove the popsicle out, slowly run warm water on the outside of the mold.

Serve and enjoy it on a hot day.

Tips:

If you like milky popsicle, boil the milk for few more mins until it thickens up before adding the syrup.
You can also add finely chopped nuts or cooked vermicelli for more texture.

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:46:00 +0000
avocado, chutney, dip, dosa, idli, indian style, side dish, spicy
Spicy Avocado Chutney

Avocado is a rich, buttery fruit but very bland to eat it by itself. You must be familiar with the guacamole(a dip made out of avocado) found in the Mexican cuisine. Just by adding a few spices you can amp up the flavor, increase the heat and blend it to an unbelievable tasting indian style chutney. With a healthy dosage of heart-healthy fats in every spoonful, you can gobble up the chutney as a spread for crackers or as a dip for vegetables. I actually prepared this chutney to accompany my Dosa . It tasted out of the world and I am sure you will love this chutney just like we did. Here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

1 ripe Avocado

5 pearl onions

2 green chili

3 Garlic cloves

1/4 cup Cilantro packed

Few Curry leaves

1 tsp Tamarind

Pinch Asafoetida

2 dry red chili

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1 tbsp Urad dal

Salt, to taste

1 tsp +1 tsp Oil

Seasoning (optional)

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp Urad dal

1 pinch Asafoetida

Few Curry leaves

How to:

Cut the avocado in half, twist and open. Carefully remove the seed. Now score vertical and horizontal lines without piercing the skin and gently scoop out with a spoon.

Roast the dry red chili, cumin seeds and urad dal in 1 tsp of oil.

Let cool, grind to a coarse powder and keep aside.

In the same pan, heat the remaining oil, add the onions, green chili, garlic, curry leaves and tamarind and saute for 3-5 mins.

Finally add the cilantro, saute for a min.

Switch off and let it cool.

In a blender, add the onion-cilantro mixture along with avocado, salt and grind coarsely.

Now add the ground spice powder and pulse it until smooth (or bit chunky if you like it).

Transfer it a bowl and add the optional seasoning.

Serve the chutney with idly or dosa.

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 23:20:00 +0000
appetizer, baked, chicken, indian, non-veg, party wings, shan, spicy
Baked Spicy Chicken Wings

A perfect party favorite appetizer baked to crunchy outside, moist and juicy inside. This is actually my husband's recipe. Well i wouldn't say a recipe exactly, because his spice mix was prepared by adding some of this and some of that from the pantry. And it worked. He is familiar with those spice powders during his bachelor cooking times. (Check my No Name Chicken recipe for more details) So he experimented out with the the same mix and later i started measuring out ingredients and came up with a share-able recipe. Even now, i like the way he cooks (ahem! which happens rarely) casually without measuring any of the ingredients. Anyways here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

12-14 Chicken party wings (drumettes and wingettes)

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tbsp Chicken curry powder

2 tsp Tandoori chicken powder

1/2 tsp Salt

2 tsp Oil

How to:

In a bowl, marinate the chicken wings by mixing in all the spice powders, salt and oil.

Massage the wings and let it marinate for at least 2 hrs or better overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange the marinated chicken wings.

Bake for 20 mins, flip once and bake for another 20 mins.

Place the baking sheet on the counter for 5 mins before serving.

Serve warm with ranch sauce.

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 23:09:00 +0000
breakfast, cake, dates, dessert, flourless, healthy, moist, sweet, walnut
Walnut Date Cake (Flourless)

This walnut cake is prepared with ground walnuts instead of flour and so its a great way to get all your healthy fats in every bite. The dates gives the cake ample sweetness that is absolutely devour-able and keeps it nice and moist. If your dates are too sweet, you can even cut down the sugar. You can have it for your breakfast with some fruits or as an dessert with a dollop of your favorite ice-cream. One more thing, if you hate to eat the whole dates, then this is a must try for you. Yup, you read it right. And here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

3 cups raw Walnuts

3/4 cup Dates (finely chopped)

4 Eggs (separated

1/2 cup Sugar

2 tsp Orange zest (finely grated)

3/4 tsp Cinnamon powder

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1 pinch Salt

How to:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a spring foam cake pan with the cooking spray.

Separate the egg yolks and egg whites.

Pulse together the walnuts, cinnamon powder and 1/4 cup of sugar. (Fine ground, not powdery ground)

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, orange zest and vanilla test.

In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites until foamy and add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until soft peaks form.

Now fold the yolk mixture and dates to the beaten egg whites.

Then add the walnut mixture in thirds and fold until evenly mixed.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 22-25 mins.

Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 mins. And then gently run a knife around the edges and loosen the cake.

Let it cool completely before slicing. Serve the cake with some whipped cream and garnish with chopped walnuts.

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 00:05:00 +0000
bittersweet chocolate, brownie, chewy, chocolate, dessert, espresso, shiny, walnut
Chewy Walnut Brownie

A rich, moist and chocolatey dessert mixed with walnuts that is perfect for a chocolate lover. The texture of the brownie is like a cross between cake and cookie. This shiny and cracked top of the brownie shows that you baked it just right. You can achieve the chewiness by letting the brownie cool completely before slicing. A fool proof dessert that will be hit for sure. Here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups All Purpose flour

2 cups granulated White Sugar

1 cup Walnuts

1/3 cup Dutch-processed Cocoa

2 oz 60% Ghiradelli Bittersweet Chocolate (finely chopped)

1 1/2 tsp Instant Espresso

4 tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Vegetable/Canola Oil

2 large Whole Eggs

2 large Egg yolks

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Boiling water

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

3/4 tsp Salt

How to:

Spread the walnuts in a sheet pan and roast'em for 6-8 mins in a 350 degree oven. Let it cool, chop and keep aside.

Place oven rack to the lowest position and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Fit aluminum foil into a 13 x 9-inch glass baking pan by pushing it into the corners and up sides if the pan, allowing excess foil to hang on the sides.
Sift together the flour and salt and keep aside.
In a large bowl with boiling water, whisk the cocoa powder and espresso until smooth.

Add the unsweetened chocolate and whisk until its completely melted.

Whisk in butter and oil, followed by eggs, egg yolks and vanilla until smooth.

Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated.

Mix the flour and salt with a rubber spatula until well combined and fold in the chopped walnuts.

Scrape the batter into the foiled baking dish and bake for 30-32 mins.

Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 mins, then remove it from the pan to avoid over baking.

Let cool for 1 hr before slicing into any desired size.

Store in a airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 23:32:00 +0000
bittersweet chocolate, brownie, chewy, chocolate, dessert, espresso, shiny, walnut
Marble Loaf Cake

A marble cake is a cake with a streaked appearance like marble, prepared by swirling chocolate batter into vanilla batter. Every bite is so light, moist and oozing chocolate goodness, which goes perfectly with a cup of hot coffee. So go ahead and try this cake, you will not be disappointed. Thanks to Roxana for this wonderful recipe. Here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups All purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened Cocoa powder

1 1/4 cup Sugar

5 Eggs, separated

1/4 cup Canola Oil

1 tsp Baking powder

1 tsp Vanilla extract

1 pinch Salt

3-4 tbsp Water

How to:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x5 loaf pan and keep aside.
Separate the egg whites into stand mixer bowl and egg yolks into a small bowl.

Sift the flour along with baking powder and keep aside.

In a small bowl, add the cocoa powder and water, mix until smooth.

Fit the stand mixer and beat the egg whites along with a pinch of salt at medium speed until soft peaks form.
Slowly add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Beat the egg yolks along with the canola oil and vanilla extract.
Now gently fold the egg yolks mixture to the egg whites mixture.

Once it is completely incorporated, add the flour mixture little at a time to the egg mixture making sure not to deflate the beaten egg whites.

Then add the cocoa into the prepared batter and mix gently making swirls.

Pour the swirled batter into the greased pan and bake for 45-50 mins.

Cool the baked loaf cake completely on a cooling rack before slicing.

Serve the slice drizzled with good old chocolate syrup.

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 23:57:00 +0000
drumsticks, gravy, hot, kara, kuzhambu, lunch, murngakkai, rice, spicy
Murungakkai Kara Kuzhambu (Hot Drumsticks Gravy)

After years of using frozen drumsticks, I laid my hands on fresh ones at the Indian store yesterday. Immediately, i planned on cooking kara kuzhambu which i normally prepare with Indian eggplants (brinjal). It is a south indian dish served with cooked rice. This spicy and tangy kuzhambu is a variation from your usual sambar or rasam. So, go ahead and give this kuzhambu a try, i am sure you will love it. Here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

2 Drumsticks (14-16 pieces)

14-16 Red Pearl Onions

2 small Tomatoes

10-12 Garlic pods

6-8 Curry leaves

1 1/2 tbsp dried Tamarind

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tsp Urad dal

1 pinch Fenugreek seeds

2 tbsp Sesame oil