Spicy Cabbage Curry

This is a quick side dish that goes well with rice or chapati. If you shred cabbage in food processor it makes this dish even quicker to make.

Spicy Cabbage Curry

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon of urad dhal
1 teaspoon of chana dhal
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 dried red chili
1/2 head of cabbage (chopped finely)
salt to taste

Preparation
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Once they pop add urad dhal and dry red chili and wait until dhal turns light brown. Now add chana dhal and cumin seeds. Once cumin seeds start to sizzle add cabbage and salt. Mix and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes until cabbage becomes slightly soft. Turn off heat and serve with rice or chapati.

Salmon Curry

This is a dish inspired by my in-laws family. It is tasty and quick to make. It makes a great side dish or in a sandwich.

Ingredients

1 can of Salmon (I used Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon)
1/2 teaspoon of  mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon of split urad dhal
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 tablespoon of  coriander powder
2 teaspoons of cumin powder
1 whole red chili
1/2 chopped onion
1 small  tomato
2 garlic cloves made into a paste or chopped
1 inch piece of ginger chopped
salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon of chicken masala powder
1 teaspoon of chopped cilantro

Preparation

Heat a tablespoon of  oil in pan and add mustard seeds. When mustard seeds start to pop add urad dhal, cumin seeds, and whole red chili. Once urad dhal turns golden brown and cumin seeds start to sizzle add chopped onion. Saute onions till golden brown then add garlic and ginger and cook for additional 2 minutes then add chopped tomatoes and all spices. Cook for about 10 minutes on medium low heat. Add little water if needed so spices don't burn. Add salt.  Now add salmon and about 1/2 cup of water and simmer for about 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Spiced Up Grilled Cheese Sandwich

My family loves grilled cheese sandwiches but it can be a little dull.  I came up with a simple and easy way to spice it up a little. It just takes a few extra ingredients. This can be a satisfying and enjoyable lunch for anyone.

Ingredients

2 sliced of bread (I used plain white bread)
1 teaspoon of oil
1 slice of cheese ( I used cheddar)
1/4 teaspoon of  Italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon of  fresh black pepper

Preparation

1. Heat pan on medium heat with 1/2 teaspoon of oil. ( I used olive oil)
2. Place one slice of bread in pan with cheese
3. Now sprinkle Italian seasoning and black pepper ( I used organic Italian Seasoning)
4. Cover with other slice of bread and cook on each side for a couple of minutes until bread becomes light golden brown.
5. Enjoy warm!!

Happy New Year!!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!! I want 2012 to be a prosperous and joyous year for everyone. Expect more exciting blogs from me this coming new year!

Quick Indian Style Scrambled Eggs

I make this for my child at least a couple of times a week....it is quick, easy, and tasty. You only need a few ingredients. I use organic eggs and organic spinach to make it that much more healthier.  I serve it with frozen waffles or even just plain butter bread.  You can have it with whatever you like. Here it goes with the recipe....

This recipe serves one.

Ingredients
2 eggs
pinch of cumin powder
1/8 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper (more if you like it spicier)
1/8 teaspoon of salt (more if you like)
7-8 spinach leaves
chopped cilantro for garnish

Preparation
To make things easier for me in the mornings I just put the eggs directly into hot fry pan with a tablespoon of oil. No need to whisk eggs in a bowl unless you want your eggs fluffier. I then add salt, cumin powder, and spinach leaves and start stirring all ingredients in pan to get a scrambled texture. After cooking on low medium heat for about 4-5 minutes I then garnish with cilantro. Serve hot.

Indian Fried Fish

I know of fish's health benefits and this is tasty way of getting more of it into your diet. I particularly like to use Wild Salmon. I buy frozen packets of it at my local Whole Foods. It tastes delicious not at all fishy. I cut the fish into strips and marinate in spices for a couple of hours and then pan fry them. I hope you try this!

Ingredients

2 pieces of Salmon (cut into strips)

2 cloves of garlic 

1 inch piece of ginger

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon red chili powder

1 teaspoon of MDH Chicken Masala powder

2 tablespoon of lime juice (I use Whole Foods organic lime juice in a bottle)

Preparation

1. Cut pieces of salmon into strips
2. Time to make marinade --- ( I put everything in a ziplock bag. Make paste out of ginger and garlic and place in bag. Put turmeric, salt, red chili power, and MDH chicken powder in bag. Now pour in the lime juice and mix well.)
3. Put cut salmon in bag and marinate for 2-3 hours...the longer the better. 
4. Now time to fry---( Get a shallow frying pan and pour 2 tablespoon of oil and place marinated salmon pieces in pan.)
5. Fry on medium low heat for about 5 minutes on each side. 
6. Eat hot and enjoy!

Indian Chicken Curry

I have been experimenting with different ways of making Indian chicken curry and this is my absolute favorite. I use organic free range chicken thighs from Trader Joes and my family loves it. The chicken comes out very tender and moist.

Ingredients

4 pieces of chicken thighs

1 medium size tomato

1 small onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 inch piece of ginger

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 inch piece of cinnamon stick

2 cloves

2 green cardamon

1 bay leaf

1 1/2 teaspoon of cumin powder

1 tablespoon of coriander powder

1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder

1 teaspoon of Everest Chicken Masala

1/2 teaspoon of Garam Masala

3 cups of water

salt to taste

1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro

Method of Preparation

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in pan and add cumin seeds once they start to sizzle add cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamon, and bay leaf.
2. Now add chopped onion and turmeric powder and a little salt and cook for a couple of minutes.
3. Put chopped tomatoes, garlic, ginger and sauté with onions for another couple of minutes.
4. Now add coriander, cumin, and Everest Chicken Masala Powders to pan with a cup of water and cover pan and cook for about 1 hour...adding water if becomes dry. Add salt to this mixture.
5. Add chicken and 2 cups of water to pan and cook for 30 minutes on low medium heat.  
6. Raise heat to medium and cook for another 15 minutes adding more water if gravy becomes dry.
7. Sprinkle Garam Masala in pan and cook for another 10 minutes. Add more salt if needed. 
8. Garnish with cilantro.