SPICY CORIANDER CHUTNEY

This is a very popular dip served in India with snacks such as Samosa, Onion Bhaji, Spinach Pakode, Cheela, Dahi Bada etc. You can make this in advance and use it within a week or max 10 days, store in the refrigerator or fridge. 

Serves 2 – 4 people

Duration - 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

Fresh coriander 1 bunch or 100gms

Green Chilly 3 – 4 Depending on how spicy you want to make it.

Black Salt ½ tsp

Lemon 1 tbsp

Salt to Taste

Water ¼ cup

METHOD

In a liquidiser, add all the ingredients except lemon. Now turn it on for a few minutes till all the ingredients are nicely mixed. Take it out in a bowl and add lemon juice. Mix well. 

You can store it in the fridge for 7 - 10 days.

TIP : To get the nice bright green colour of the chutney add a cube of ice while using the liquidiser.

Sometimes the green chillies are extremely hot, if so you can reduce the heat by adding 3 -4 tbsp of yoghurt and blending it once for 30 seconds. This will give your chutney a nice taste and reduce the heat.

MOONG DAL CHEELA (YELLOW LENTILS PANCAKE)

This is a famous starter in India also and falls under the category of Chaat. It is a simple pancake and a good source of protein. Especially good for vegans as you can choose any filling, here in this recipe we have used the most popular filling of cottage cheese (Paneer).

Serves 4

Preparation Time - 15 mins 

Cooking Time - 3 - 4 mins each pancake

INGREDIENTS:

Yellow Split Lentils 1 cup
Salt to Taste
Caraway Seeds (Optional)
Oil for pan frying
Water 1 cup

For The Filing

Grated Cottage Cheese 50 gms
Fresh Coriander finely chopped 2 tsp
Ginger 1 tsp
Red Chilly Powder ½ tsp
Green Chilly finely chopped 1

METHOD:

Wash the lentils several times and soak the lentils in water for an hour. Add the lentils in a liquidiser and grind it to a paste adding little water at a time to make this in a smooth paste.

Take out the mixture in a bowl add salt and caraway seeds.

Mix all the ingredients of the filling and keep aside.

Take a non stick pan and let it heat for 5 minutes on full flame or maximum heat mark. 

Reduce the flame to half, Now Add 2 tbsp of the mixture and using a spoon try to spread it evenly in a circular motion. (Just like a pancake) 

Add oil on the edges of the lentils pancake (moong dal cheela) and little bit on the centre of it, using a small teaspoon. 

Now add the filling and distribute it evenly on top of the cheela, carefully using a wooden spatula pick the cheela from edges and fold.  Serve Hot With Coriander Chutney & Tamarind Chutney

SWEET TAMARIND CHUTNEY

This is a very popular dip served in India with snacks such as Samosa, Onion Bhaji, Spinach Pakode, Cheela, Dahi Bada etc. You can make this chutney in advance and use it within a month’s time, store in the refrigerator or fridge.

Serves: 2 – 4 people

Cooking Time: 10 mins

INGREDIENTS:

Sugar 6tbsp

Cumin Seeds 1tsp

Red Chilly powder ½ tsp

Black Salt ½ tsp

Asafoetida (Heeng) a pinch

Dry Mango Powder 2 tsp

Tamarind Pulp 1 tsp

Water 6 tbsp

Salt to taste.

Oil ½ tsp

METHOD:

In a small saucepan, add oil let it heat for 30 sec and then add asafoetida, cumin seeds and let it crackle. 

After a min add all the remaining ingredients except tamarind pulp.

Reduce the flame and cook for 5 mins. Check if the sugar has dissolved, if not cook till the sugar dissolves.

Add the tamarind pulp and cook for about a minute and let it cool. Your sweet tamarind chutney is ready to be relished.

Note: The sauce will thicken when allowed to cool, if you like dripping consistency then add double the quantity of water.

BUTTER CHICKEN

This one is for all chicken curry lovers. The recipe is quite different from what the name suggests, its one of the most popular north indian chicken dish. This is the traditional recipe therefore requires a little extra effort but its definitely worth the time spent. 

Serves : 2

Cooking time : 1 hour

INGREDIENTS:

250 gms Chicken (Boneless Or With Bone)

For the Marinade:

5 tsp yoghurt
1 tsp oil (can use any type of cooking oil)
1 tsp grated ginger
2 -3 cloves of chopped garlic
1 whole red chilly
4 black peppercorns
1 stick of cinnamon
2-3 green cardamom
1 black cardamom
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 cloves 

Salt to taste

For Curry:

2 tbsp Butter
1 tsp fresh ginger paste
1 tsp fresh garlic paste
1 green chilly sliced
1/2 tsp Red chilly powder

1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp green cardamom powder
6 large tomato
2 tbsp tomato puree
3 tbsp cream
1/4 tsp garam masala
1 tsp dry fenugreek leaves

Sugar a pinch
Salt to taste
Cashewnut paste 1 tbsp (Optional)

Method for making Butter Chicken:

• In a pan dry roast red chilly, peppercorn, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, black & green cardamom. Now grind this to a powder. (You can use coffee grinder else use the powder form of all these spices, dry roast it for 1 min)
• In a bowl put rest of the ingredients under the marinade section and mix well. Now add chicken & mix again. Cover with cling film & leave it overnight or atleast for 3 hours in the fridge.
• Put the chicken in a preheated oven of 200 degrees and let it cook for 20 mins at 180 degrees. Make sure you turn the chicken after 10 mins so that its cooked from both sides.
• Blanch, peel and puree the tomatoes. Keep aside.
• For the curry heat the pan and add butter and immediately add the ginger & garlic paste.
• Now add the sliced green chilly. Also add red chilly powder & coriander powder and cardamom powder saute for 30 seconds.
• Add the pureed tomato and cook on high flame for 10 mins or till the gravy leaves the side.
• Now add the tomato puree, a pinch of sugar & salt and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the roasted chicken pieces and mix well. Cover the pan and cook on a slow flame for 10 mins.
• Add the cashewnut paste, cook for further 2 mins on slow flame & then add cream and stir well. Cook for another 2 minutes.
• Now add the garam masala and crushed fenugreek leaves. Mix well.
• Transfer the chicken to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped coriander leaves and swirls of cream.
• Authentic North Indian punjabi butter chicken is ready to be served with roti, naan or rice.

Tip :

For the classic smoky effect in your chicken curry, transfer the chicken in a bowl, cover with aluminium foil and pierce it a few times. Using a tong burn a small piece of coal on gas and place it on the foil. Cover immediately with a lid. Place it in the oven for 30 mins at 120 degrees. Remove the foil and be careful when you dispose the coal.  Garnish & Serve Hot.

For a healthier version you can substitute cream with 1 cup of milk (room temperature).