Tangy Mango Salsa

Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cooking time: Nil
Serving size: 6

 Ingredients:

• Ripe Mango – 1 peeled, seeded and chopped
• Tomato – 1 chopped
• Sweet onion – 1/2 chopped
• Fresh cilantro – 1 tbsp finely chopped
• Fresh green chili – 1 finely chopped (Optional)
• Lime juice – 1 tsp
• Sugar – 1 tsp
• Red chili powder – 1 pinch
• Chaat masala – 1 pinch
• Salt as per taste

Method:

Combine all the above ingredients in a large bowl. Mix it well till all the flavors combine. Refrigerate it or leave it at room temperature for half an hour before serving.

 Serving Suggestions:

Serve fresh and tangy mango salsa with your favorite chips. Enjoy!

Vegetable Kofta Curry

Vegetable Kofta Curry

The word kofta is derived from Persian language. In Persian, Kuft means “to beat” or “to grind” and hence Kufta means “beaten” or “ground”. Vegetable koftas are fried pakoras (dumplings) in rich cream gravy.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
For Vegetable Kofta: Approx 12 Koftas

Bottle guard (Lauki) – 1 peeled and grated
Cabbage – 1/4 grated
Carrots – 3 peeled and grated
Green chilies – 2 finely chopped
Besan (gram flour) – 2 cups
Cumin powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1 pinch
Red chili powder – 1 tsp
Salt as per taste
Oil for frying the koftas

For Gravy:
Whole garam masala – 1 tbsp
Onion – 1 (pureed)
Tomato puree – 2 cups
Ginger paste – 1 tbsp
Garlic paste – 1 tbsp
Green chilies – 2 finely chopped
Paneer – 2 tbsp grated
Cashew powder – 1 tbsp
Red chili powder – 1 tbsp
Green chili – 1 tsp (finely chopped)
Heavy whipping cream – 1/2 cup
Olive oil – 2 tbsp
Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
Sugar/ Honey – 2 tsp.
Salt as per taste
For Garnish:
Kasoori methi – 1 tbsp

Method:

To make Koftas:

1. In a bowl, add grated cabbage, carrots, bottle guard. Mix well.
2. Now in a large bowl, add besan and all the dry spices for making koftas.
3. Add all the above vegetables to it. Mix well and make a pakora like batter. If it is dry add very little water as grated bottle guard (lauki) makes the batter little watery.
4. In a pan, heat cooing oil and deep fry marble size koftas carefully till they are golden brown in color.
5. Drain and keep aside.

To make Gravy:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add whole garam masala. Let it crackle.
2. Add pureed onions and saute it, till turns light golden. Add ginger paste, garlic paste and chopped green chilies. Cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add tomato puree, red chili powder, garam masala powder and salt.
4. Add grated paneer (2 tbsp) and cashew powder. Bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.Add sugar or honey and stir in heavy cream. Simmer for 2-3 minutes and gravy is ready.
5. Add koftas to the gravy 10 minutes before serving.

Garnish and Serving suggestions:
Garnish Vegetable kofta curry with fragrant dry kasoori methi. Enjoy with fresh roti, paratha or steamed basmati rice.

Quick and Healthy: Colorful Fried Rice

Happy New Year to everyone! Let’s start this year with this quick and healthy recipe for fried rice. It can be prepared with all the vegetables you have or all the vegetables you like:)… Enjoy this easy recipe!

Approx. 4 servings

Ingredients:
Basmati rice – 1.5 cup
Onions – 1 medium (sliced)
Cauliflower or Broccoli – 1 cup (small florets)
Red bell pepper – 1 (cup cut strips)
Green peas – 1/2cup
Garlic – 1/2 tbsp minced
Ginger – 1/2 tbsp grated
Olive oil – 1 tbsp
Garlic chili sauce -1 tbsp

Spices:
Cumin seeds (Jira) – 1 tsp
Red chili powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method:

• Wash basmati rice twice. Cook the rice with 3 cups of water.
• Clean and cut all the vegetables as directed. Keep aside.
• In a pan on medium heat, add olive oil. Add cumin seeds, when it starts to crackle, add sliced onions. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.
• Add ginger-garlic and all the vegetables. Sauté on high for 3-4 minutes.
• Add all these cooked vegetables to the cooked rice and add red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt.
• In the end, add garlic chili sauce, mix well and slow cook the vegetable fried rice half covered for 4 more minutes.

Serving Suggestions:
Serve steamy vegetable fried rice with boondi raita (spicy yogurt).

IPhone App: Festive India (FREE!!!)

Festive India: Latest IPhone App

I’m glad to announce the release of latest Free IPhone App: Festive India.

It’s FREE!!!

Festive India is an IPhone App featuring Indian festivals with dates and their details. It includes Indian Gods/ Goddess with respective Aarti, Mantra, Chalisa, and Paath etc. in Hindi, English Text and YouTube Video links.

Available at Itunes, Download @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/festive-india/id572454411?ls=1&mt=8

Key Features:

•  All Indian festivals in year 2012 and 2013
• Detailed Festival description with picture
• Spectacular Picture gallery for Indian Gods/ Goddess
• Hindi and English text in easily readable fonts for Aarti, Mantra and Chalisa
• YouTube video links for all Prayers including Aarti, Mantra, Chalisa, Bhajan, Vrat Katha, Paath and Songs
• 200+ Text files for Prayers
• 250+ YouTube Video links for Prayer
• Add Alerts to upcoming festivals to your Calendar
• Add any Festival or Prayer to your favorite list
• Panchang available for all Indian Tithis/Vrat/ Tauhaar
• Chaughdia for everyday Muhurats

Reviews and Ratings at Itunes are highly appreciated!

For more updates, “Like” Festive India facebook page @,
https://www.facebook.com/FestiveIndia

Shveta’s Recipes: Iphone App

Download App with all new features and

200 mouth-watering recipes

@

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shvetas-recipes/id552590933?mt=8

Shveta’s Recipes App on Android too!

I am glad to announce the launch of Shveta’s Recipes App on Android. Now available at Google play.

Here are the links to install them on your devices. There are 2 versions of Shveta’s Recipes App:

Shveta’s Indian Recipes Lite : Free (35 recipes)
Shveta’s Recipes : Buy for 99 cents (All 200 recipes)

OR

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shvetarecipe.freeversion

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shvetarecipe.fullversion

Shveta’s Recipes has 200 vegetarian recipes for easy cooking. All recipes have precise ingredient list and a detailed step-by-step method. Each recipe has a well presented picture of the finished dish.
These recipes are categorized in 7 different courses; Appetizer, Main course, Paneer dishes, Snacks, Side dish, Drinks and Desserts. The recipes are mostly influenced by the regional food of different states in India. Few recipes are continental.

KEY FEATURES:
• 200 step-by-step vegetarian recipes
• Stunning photograph with each recipe
• Simple and easy navigation
• Divided in 7 categories: Appetizer, Main course, Paneer Dishes, Snacks, Side dish, Drinks and Desserts
• All recipes include precise ingredient list
• Each recipe includes number of servings
• Once installed, no Internet connection required to view recipes
• Share Application link using email or SMS

Suggestions, ratings, comments and feedback is highly appreciated.

Sweet Dalia (Cracked wheat): Nutritious breakfast

Sweet dalia is a nutritious breakfast for growing kids and especially new moms. It is rich in iron and protein with fewer calories. Cracked wheat is high in fiber.

Ingredients:
Approx. 2 servings

• Broken wheat (Dalia) – 1 cup
• Grated Jaggery (Gur) – 3/4 cup
• Clarified butter (Ghee) – 1/4 cup
• Cashews, Almonds – 1/2 cup (coarsely chopped)
• Cardamom powder (Elaichi) – 1 tsp
• Golden raisins – 1 tbsp
• Milk – 1 cup
• Water – 2 cups
• Freshly grated coconut – 1/2 cup(optional

Method:

1. Dry roast coarsely chopped cashews and almonds and keep aside.
2. In a heavy bottom pan, roast Dalia with ghee on medium-low heat.  Let it roast for 7-8 minutes or till it gives roasted aroma.
3. In a sauce pan, add water and milk. Bring it to a boil.
4. Add it to roasted Dalia. Mix well to avoid any lumps. Cook it covered for 3-4 minutes on low heat.
5. Add grated jaggery and grated coconut. Mix well.
6. Add cardamom powder, golden raisins and roasted nuts to dalia. Let it cook for few more minutes, till it turns dry.

Serve warm.