Cook Without Book

Apple Smoothie You can never go wrong with apples! you can confidently use apples in any smoothie, especially along with any fruit-based crush readily available in the market. Since both strawberry crush and vanilla ice-cream are used, there is no need to add any extra sugar for the apple smoothie. Preparation Time:  5 mins Makes 2 big glasses Ingredients 1 1/2 cups  chilled , peeled and roughly  chopped apples 5 tbsp   strawberry crush  4 tbsp  chilled fresh  curds (dahi) 1 cup   vanilla ice-cream For The Topping 4 tbsp   crushed ice Method Combine the curds, strawberry crush, vanilla ice-cream and apples and blend in a juicer till the mixture is smooth and frothy. Pour equal quantities of the smoothie into 2 individual glasses. Serve immediately topped with 2 tbsp of crushed ice in each glass.

                               Skewer Now, this is what one would call a colourful and flavourful dish! the marinade is what makes this recipe unique. Use any vegetable of your choice, serve to your guests and win abundant praises. As this is cooked without oil, it is both nutritious and low in calories. In case skewers are not available, use toothpicks… it turns out as good as with skewers, believe me! Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  10 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients 1/2 cup   blanched baby corn  , cut into 13 mm ( 1/2”) pieces 1/2 cup   capsicum cubes 1/2 cup  deseeded and cubed  tomatoes 1/2 cup   low fat paneer (cottage cheese) cubes 1/2 cup   onion cubes To Be Mixed Into Marinade 3/4 cup   low fat curds  (dahi) , whisked 1 tsp   chilli powder 1/4   turmeric powder (haldi) 1/2 tsp   ginger (adrak) paste 1 t...

Corn Pulao Layers of rice, cooked along with corn, carrot, capsicum and a few simple spices, interact with a richly-flavoured curry… and, the conversation between the layers in the corn pulao is rather interesting! baking the arrangement in an aluminium foil wrapper gives a special touch to the pulao. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  8 mins Baking Time:  20 to 25 minutes Baking Temperature:  180°C (360°F) Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Rice 3/4 cup   boiled sweet corn kernels (makai ke dane) 2 1/4 cups   cooked long grained rice  (basmati) 1 1/2 tbsp   ghee 50   cinnamon (dalchini) 2   cloves (laung / lavang) 1/2 cup   chopped capsicum 1/2 cup  boiled  carrot cubes salt  to taste For The Curry 1/2 cup  fresh  curds (dahi) 2 tbsp  fresh  cream 1/2 tsp   sugar 1 1/2 tbsp   ghee salt  to taste To Be Blended Into A Smooth Paste (using A Little Water) 1/2 cup ...

Paneer Koftas in Spinach Sauce ( Desi Khana) The spinach sauce used in this recipe is an elaborate one, of spinach purée plumped up with rich ingredients like coconut, cashewnuts, poppy seeds and spices. It happens to be the perfect base for delicate paneer koftas that melt in your mouth. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Spinach Gravy 3 cups  finely  chopped spinach (palak) 2 tbsp   ghee 1 cup  whisked fresh  curds (dahi) 1/2 tsp   sugar salt  to taste To Be Ground Into A Smooth Paste Using 1/2 Cup Water (for The Spinach Gravy) 2 tbsp   grated coconut 2 tbsp   chopped cashewnuts (kaju) 2 tbsp   poppy seeds (khus-khus) 8   cloves garlic (lehsun) 8   green chillies  , roughly chopped 25 mm  (1”) piece  ginger (adrak) 2 tsp   aniseeds (vilayati saunf) For The Paneer Koftas 1 cup  grated  paneer (cottage cheese) 4 tbsp   ...

Bread Kofta Curry The bread koftas melt in your mouth while the flavour of the bottle gourd curry lingers in your taste-buds, making you yearn for more…and more! this novel preparation is indeed a foolproof way to garner accolades from your friends and family. Serve immediately after adding the koftas. Preparation Time:  25 mins Cooking Time:  30 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients for the  bread  koftas 6  fresh  bread  slices 5 tbsp  fresh  curds (dahi) 2 tbsp   plain flour (maida) 2 tbsp   besan (bengal gram flour) 2 tbsp  finely  chopped coriander (dhania) 2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies a pinch of  soda bi-carb salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying Other Ingredients 1 cup   bottle gourd (doodhi / lauki) cubes 3 tbsp   oil 1/2 cup  boiled and peeled  baby potatoes  , cut into halves vertically 1/2 cup   grated onions 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder ...

Paneer Makhani A favourite with most people while eating out at any punjabi restaurant! paneer makhani as the name suggests is a very rich subzi from the lap of punjab. It uses one of punjabi cuisines most loved ingredients butter. In traditional punjabi houses, the women folk make pure white butter from thick creamy milk. The liquid that is left over after the butter has been removed is very delicious and cooling and makes a tasty drink. Soft paneer chunks are dunked into a rich tomato based gravy, a must try for all paneer lovers! Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  25 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Gravy 2 cups   chopped tomatoes 1 cup   sliced onions 1/2 cup   cashewnuts (kaju) 4   whole dry kashmiri red chillies  , broken into pieces Other Ingredients 3 tbsp   butter 2 tsp   garlic (lehsun) paste 25 mm  (1”) piece  cinnamon (dalchini) 3   cloves (laung / lavang) 2   cardamoms  (e...

Spinach Pakoda Chaat ( Desi Khana) While the spinach pakoda itself is quite crunchy and delectable, it becomes even more exciting when combined with sweet chutney, chilli powder, cumin seeds powder and fresh curds, and presented innovatively as spinach pakoda chaat. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  10 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 20 to 30  fresh  spinach (palak)  leaves oil  for deep-frying For The Batter 1 1/2 cups   besan (bengal gram flour) salt  to taste 1 tsp   chilli powder a pinch of  asafoetida (hing) For The Topping 1 cup  fresh whisked  curds (dahi) 4 tbsp  finely  chopped onions 8 tsp sweet chutney Method   For the batter Combine all the ingredients along with enough water in a bowl and mix well to make a thin batter. Keep aside. How to proceed Heat the oil in a kadhai, dip a few spinach leaves at a time into the batter and deep-fry on a medium flame till they tur...

Papadi, Potato and Chick Pea Chaat There are some cold, rainy days when you feel a craving for something crunchy and spicy. Here is a quick snack that you can fix up in a jiffy to liven your spirits. Surely, your entire family will love it as it is loaded with papadi, fruits, potatoes, cooked kabuli chana, chutneys and perky spices – there is something in it for everybody! Preparation Time:  15 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 2 cups  coarsely crushed readymade  papadis 3/4 cup  boiled and peeled  potato cubes 1/2 cup  soaked and  boiled kabuli chana (white chick peas) 3 tbsp  finely  chopped pineapple 3 tbsp  finely  chopped raw mango 1/4 cup   sweet chutney 2 tbsp   green chutney 3/4 cup  whisked fresh  curds (dahi) 1/2 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) powder 1 tsp   chilli powder 1/2 tsp   chaat masala salt  to taste Method Combine all the ingredients in a deep bo...

Semolina and Vermicelli Idlis Semolina and vermicelli idlis are very popular in karnataka, where they make it in such big moulds that one idli will suffice for breakfast! the tempering adds to the aroma, while the cashews provide a crunchy respite in every mouthful. You can add some boiled veggies and coriander to the batter to make it more wholesome. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 16 idlis Ingredients 3/4 cup   semolina (rava) 1 1/2 cups   rice vermicelli (seviyan)  , broken into 1” pieces 4 1/2 tbsp   oil 2 tbsp  coarsely  powdered cashewnuts (kaju) 1/2 cup   curds (dahi) salt  to taste 2 tsp   urad dal (split black lentils) 1 tsp   mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies 4 to 5   curry leaves (kadi patta) 1 tsp   fruit salt For Serving coconut  chutney Method Heat ½ tbsp of oil in a broad non-stick pan, add the semolina and roa...

Spicy Chaat - Calcutta Style A delightful chaat that will thrill you to the core – hold it in your hand, capture a whiff of the namkeens dipped in sweet and tangy chutneys and topped with choice spices, dip your fingers and lick the chutney, take a mouthful and lose yourself in this calcutta style spicy chaat. Soaking time:  3 to 4 hours Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  30 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Pakodis 1/2 cup   urad dal (split black lentils)  with skin 1/4 cup   green moong dal (split green gram) with skin 4   green chillies  , roughly chopped 12   ginger (adrak) 1 tsp   nigella seeds (kalonji) 1/4 tsp   asafoetida (hing) salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying For The Papadis 1 cup   plain flour (maida) 1 tsp   carom seeds (ajwain) 1 tbsp   oil salt  to taste oil  for deep-frying For Serving 1 cup  fresh  curds (dahi) salt  to taste 20  bo...

Pear, Apple and Date Salad with Orange Dressing Pregnancy Recipe This salad is a good source of iron, vitamin c, calcium and carbohydrate which is the source of instant energy. It will perk you up almost instantly. It makes a great snack that can be assembled quickly at any time using all your favourite fruits. Preparation Time:  10 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 1 cup   pear cubes 1 cup   apple cubes  (unpeeled) 1/4 cup   chopped dates (khajur) 1/2 cup   banana cubes 1/2 cup   orange segments to be mixed into an  orange  dressing 5 tbsp  thick fresh  curds (dahi) 4 tsp   orange juice 1/2 tsp   mustard (rai / sarson) powder 1 tsp   powdered sugar salt  and  freshly ground black pepper (kalimirch) powder  to taste Method Combine all the ingredients in the bowl and mix well. Just before serving, add the orange dressing and toss well.

Aloo aur Shakarkand ki Chaat Most of us consider sweet potatoes to be a very boring vegetable, only to be eaten during religious fasts and then too, it is only baked or boiled before it is peeled and eaten. This recipe is a good example of how versatile and delicious the humble potato and sweet potato can be. If you omit the radish in this recipe, you can also eat this dish when "fasting". Preparation Time:  10 mins. Cooking Time:  20 mins. Serves 4.  Ingredients 2  large  potatoes 2  medium sized  sweet potatoes (shakarkand) 4 tbsp   Green Chutney 1/2 cup   Khajur Imli ki Chutney 1 cup   curds (dahi),  beaten 1/4 tsp   black salt (sanchal) 1/2 tsp  roasted  cumin seeds (jeera) powder 1/4 tsp   chilli powder 1/2 cup   grated white radish (mooli) 4 tbsp   oil salt  to taste Method Boil the potatoes and sweet potatoes in salted water. Peel and cut into large cubes. Heat the o...