Cook Without Book

Prep Time:  10 minutes Cook Time:  14 minutes Total Time:  5 minutes Yield:  4 servings (serving size: 1 veal chop and 3/4 cup rice mixture)                    Ingredients 1 cup   water 1/2 teaspoon   salt 1/4 teaspoon   coarsely ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon   paprika 4  (6-ounce) veal loin chops, trimmed (1 inch thick) Cooking spray 1 cup   uncooked instant rice 1/2 teaspoon   ground turmeric 1/4 teaspoon   salt 1  (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped 1/2 cup   chopped green onions 1/4 cup   (1 ounce) crumbled blue cheese 1 tablespoon   yogurt-based spread (such as Brummel & Brown) Preparation Preheat broiler. Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chops with seasoning mixture. Place chops o...

Yield:   5 servings                          Ingredients 1 cup   diced onion 1 teaspoon   grated peeled fresh ginger 1 teaspoon   ground coriander 1 teaspoon   ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon   ground turmeric 2  garlic cloves, minced 2  bay leaves 3 cups   water 1 1/2 cups   dried small red lentils 3/4 teaspoon   salt 2 tablespoons   butter or stick margarine 3/4 cup   chopped green onions 1 tablespoon   seeded minced jalapeño pepper 3 tablespoons   fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons   minced fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon   garam masala 2 1/2 cups   hot cooked brown basmati or brown rice 5 tablespoons   low-fat plain yogurt Preparation Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add diced onion, and sauté 6 minutes or until onion begins to brown. Add the ginger and next 5 ingredients (ginge...

Gatte Aur Tomato Ka Pulao Tomatoes add a new dimension to these flavourful gatte ka pulao. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients Gatte • Gram flour (besan) 1 cup • Yogurt 2 tablespoons • Salt to taste • Baking soda a pinch • Ginger,chopped 1/2 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1/4 teaspoon • Garam masala powder 1/4 teaspoon • Asafoetida a pinch • Ghee 1 tablespoon • Fresh mint leaves a few Pulao • Tomato,chopped 1 medium • Basmati rice,soaked 1 1/2 cups • Ghee 3 teaspoons • Cinnamon 2 stick • Green cardamoms 3-4 • Black cardamom 1 • Cloves 3-4 • Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon • Bay leaf 1 • Ginger 1 inch piece • Garlic 3-4 cloves • Coriander powder 2 tablespoons • Red chilli powder 2 tablespoons • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon Method To make gatte, place gram flour in a bowl,...

Omelette Curry Whenever there is leftover omelette, do make this wonderful curry. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Non Veg Ingredients • Eggs 5 • Oil 4 tablespoons • Onions,chopped 3 medium • Salt to taste • Red chilli powder 1 1/2 teaspoons • Green chillies,chopped 3 • Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Ginger-garlic paste 1 1/2 tablespoons • Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon • Coriander powder 2 teaspoons • Cumin powder 1 teaspoon • Tomato puree 1/2 cup • Salt to taste • Coconut milk 1 cup • Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 1 tablespoon Method Heat 2 tbsps oil in a non stick pan. Break eggs into a large bowl and beat with a hand blender till frothy. Add half the onions to the pan and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add salt, ½ tsp red chilli powder and half the green chillies to the eggs and beat ...

Spinach Muthiya Recipe -  Healthy Snacks                                   Most of us avoid deep fried snacks and instead choose healthy options. One such healthy snack is Muthiya - a Guajarati dish of steam cooked dumplings with the goodness of vegetables. Ingredients: For Dough Whole wheat flour – ¼ cup Chickpea flour/gram flour – ½  cup Semolina – ½  cup Corn meal-1 cup Turmeric powder – ½ tsp Spinach 2 cups washed and chopped Asafoetida – ¼ tsp Baking  soda – ¼ tsp Cumin seeds – ½ tsp Fennel seeds – ½ tsp Sugar – 1 tsp Ginger paste – 1 tsp Garlic paste- 1tbsp Curd-1 tbsp Green chillies – 4, chopped finely Coriander leaves – 10 sprigs, chopped finely Lemon juice – 1 tsp Salt – to taste Oil – 1 tsp For Tempering: Oil – 3 tsp Mustard seeds – ½ tsp Sesame seeds– 2 tsp Method: In a bowl mix the wheat flour, gram flour, semolina, corn meal, tu...

Protien Rich  Drumstick Curry A spicy and tangy drumstick/ Mungna curry made in an onion-tomato gravy. This curry has a garlicky flavour and tastes great with steamed rice or parathas. Drumsticks also contain nutritional benefits and cure many ailments. Its stems, leaves and seeds are known to have medicinal properties. Drumsticks are also rich in proteins, minerals and  vitamins Ingredients: 4-5 Drumsticks (scrap and cut into 2" pieces) 1 tablespoon oil 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds A pinch of asafoetida 5-6 garlic pods (chopped) 1 tablespoon green chili (chopped) 1 medium onion (chopped) 2 tomatoes (finely chopped) 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder      1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder         2  teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon jeera (cumin) powder 1/4 teaspoon curry powder /  garam masala 1 tablespoon coriander leaves (chopped) Salt to taste Jagge...

     Begun Bhaja Bengalis' favourite starter - brinjals roundels marinated in mustard paste and shallow fried. Cooking Time:  10-12 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Brinjals,cut into roundels 2 long • Brinjal 1 long • Kasundi Mustard ,for sprinkling 1 1/2 tablespoons + for garnishing • Oil 5 tablespoons + for deep-frying • Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1 teaspoon • Salt to taste • Fresh mint leaves a few for garnishing Method Mix together 3 tbsps oil, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt and kasundi in a bowl. Coat the brinjal slices with this marinade.Heat 2 tbsps oil in a non stick pan. Place the brinjal slices in the pan and shallow fry on low heat till golden. Flip, cover and cook for 3-4 minutes. Heat sufficient oil in a kadai.Peel brinjal, cut the skin into thin strips and deep fry till crisp. Drain on ...

         Idli Poha Bhurji An upma made of crumbled leftover idlis and poha. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Leftover idlis 4 large • Pressed rice (poha) 1/2 cup • Onions,chopped 4 medium • Ginger 1 inch piece • Oil 3 tablespoons • Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon • Green chillies 2 • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon • Fresh coriander leaves a few sprigs • Salt to taste Method Place poha in a colander and sprinkle water to moisten it well. Chop onions and ginger in a chopper. Heat oil in a non stick pan, add cumin seeds and mustard seeds and let them splutter. Chop green chillies. Add onions to the pan and saute. Break the idlis and crumble them in the chopper. Add turmeric powder to the pan and saute for 1 minute. Add poha and mix well. Add the crumbled idlis and mix well. ...

Jhinga Posto Turai cooked with khuskhus paste - a popular Bengali delicacy. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Ridge gourd (turai),cut into cubes 400 grams • Poppy seeds (khuskhus/posto),soaked overnight 1/2 cup • Green chillies,finely chopped 2-3 • Oil 1 tablespoon • Cloves 4-5 • Onions,finely chopped 2 medium • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon • Salt to taste Method Grind together poppy seeds and green chillies with a little water.Heat oil in a non stick kadai. Add cloves and sauté till fragrant. Add onions and sauté lightly. Add the ground paste and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add the turai, turmeric powder and salt and mix well. Cover and cook on low heat for 8-10 minutes. Transfer into a serving bowl and serve hot. f

Beetroot and Kasundi Pulao What could be more unusual than the combination of beetroot and kasundi. Cooking Time:  20-25 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Beetroot,Boiled, peeled And Grated 1 medium • Cooked basmati rice 3 cups • Olive oil 1 tablespoon • Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon • Green chillies,slit 3 • Onion ,finely chopped 1/2 medium • Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon • Turmeric powder a pinch • Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon • Kasundi Mustard 3 tablespoons • Salt to taste • Fresh mint leaves,finely chopped 2 teaspoons Method Heat olive oil in a non stick wok. Add cumin seeds, green chillies and saute. When the cumin seeds change colour, add onion and saute lightly. Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, beetroot and saute for 1 minute. Add kasundi and saute for 1 minute. Add cooked rice and mix well and ...

Palak Ki Kadhi                                             A spicy and delicious preparation of spinach and dal. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  5-10 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Spinach,chopped 1/2 medium bunch • Yogurt,whisked 2 cups • Gram flour (besan) 4 tablespoons • Oil 2 tablespoons • Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon • Fenugreek seeds (methi dana) 1/2 teaspoon • Asafoetida a pinch • Onion ,chopped 1 large • Ginger paste 1 teaspoon • Green chillies,chopped 3 • Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon • Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon • Salt to taste • Sugar,optional 1 teaspoon Method Whisk together yogurt, besan and three cups of water to make a smooth mixture. Heat oil in a non-stick pan and add cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds. When the seeds ...