Fried rice

This a simple to make rice dish that can be had by itself or with any chinese curry dish like Gobi Machurian

What you need:
Basmati rice 2 cups
Carrot 1 copped
Celery sticks 2 chopped
Vegetables like carrot, potato - finely chopped as needed
Ground black pepper 2 spoons
Soy sauce 2 spoons or as needed
Salt to taste
Ginger garlic paste 2 spoons
Green onions 1 bunch
Oil 2 spoons

Method:
1) Wash rice and cook for 15 minutes
2) Add oil to pan along with ginger garlic paste
3) Add green onions and other veggies and saute for 5 mins
4) Add salt and pepper
5) Add rice and mix well
6) Add soya sauce and mix well
7) Let it cook for 5 minutes covered

Jeera Pulao (rice dish)

This is a light rice dish that goes well with any Indian curry. It tastes especially good with Tadka daal

What you need:
Basmati rice 2 cups (long grained)
Oil 2 spoons
Cilantro handful
Onion 1/4 cup finely chopped
Green chillies 2 finely chopped
Cumin seeds 1-2 spoons
Whole garam masala (not powder)
Salt to taste
Water 3 cups

Method:
1) Wash rice and soak in water for 1/2 hour
2) Heat the oil/ghee in pan and add the garam masala powder along with cumin seeds
3) Add onions and saute until light brown
4) Add green chillies, cilantro, salt and mix well
5) Add water to cook rice for 15 minutes
6) Garnish and serve

How to make shahi paneer

Wondering how to make shahi paneer? It is actually quite simply to make. This dish is slightly sweet and goes well along with biryani or naan. It is a high calorie rich dish

What you need to make shahi paneer:
Paneer cubes 2 cups
Almond 1 cup
Onion finely chopped
Ginger paste 1/2 spoon
Garlic paste 1/2 spoon
Green chilly paste 1/2 spoon
Coriander powder 2 spoon
Cumin powder 1 spoon
Garam masala 1 spoon
Pepper powder 2 spoon
Black cumin seeds 1 spoon
Yogurt 1 cup
Milk 1 cup
Salt to taste
Sugar 1/4 spoon
Oil 2 spoons
Cilantro for garnish

Method - how to make shahi paneer:
1) Soak almonds in milk for 15 mins and grind it into a paste
2) Heat oil in pan, add cumin seeds and onions to it. Fry until light brown
3) Add ginger, garlic and green chilly paste
4) Add yogurt, cumin powder, garam masala and cook for 2 minutes
5) Add paste made in 1 above
6) Add water and boil the mixture
7) Add salt, sugar and pepper powder
8) Let it simmer for 20 mins
9) Add Paneer and let it cook for 5 mins - keep it covered
10) Garnish with cilantro and serve

Now that you know how to make shahi paneer, try it out and post your comments below. There are other variations of how to make shahi paneer but this is good enough to get you started. Maybe later I will post other how to make shahi paneer recipes.

Samosa Chaat

This is a very unhealthy snack but somethings you just got to have it :)

What you need:
Samosa 4 pieces
Boiled white peas 1/2 cup
Curd 1/2 cup
Tamarind chutney 3-4 spoons
Green chutney 3-4 spoons
Roasted cumin powder 1/2 spoon
Red chilly powder 1/2 spoon
Chaat masala 1/2 spoon
Onions 1/2 cup chopped finely
Tomato 1/2 cup chopped finely
Sev/boondi mixture 1/2 cup
Cilantro for garnish

Method:
1) Put samosas in plate and smash into small eatable chunks
2) Add boiled peas to the samosas and mix well
3) Add onion and tomatoes to the mix - don't mix
4) Add curd on top - don't mix
5) Add tamarind chutney &  green chutney - don't mix - you can decorate by spreading this chutney in various designs
6) Add chilly powder and chaat masala on top
7) Finally add sev/boondi mixture on top
8) Garnish and serve

Remember not to mix after step 2.

Khandvi - Gujarati snack

This is a popular Gujarati snack which is light on the stomach and healthy as well

What you need:
Besan 1 cup
Yogurt 1 cup
Water 1 cup
Turmeric Powder 1/4 spoon
Hing (Asafoetida) pinch
Ginger paste 1/2 spoon
Green chilly paste 1/4 spoon
Grated coconut 1 spoon
Mustard seeds 1 spoon
Sesame seeds 1 spoon
Oil 2 spoon
Curry leaves 3-4
Salt to taste
Cilantro for garishing

Method:
1) Mix flour, ginger paste, green chilly paste, turmeric, hing and salt in a bowl
2) Add yogurt and water gradually to form a soft paste. Make sure there are no lumps
3) Cook in pan for 10 minutes, stirring continuously
4) After the mixture is cooked and becomes a smooth paste, switch off gas.
5) Spread the mixture on a flat plate and evenly - let it cool
6) Take oil in pan
7) Add mustard, sesame seeds and curry leaves
8) Let it try for 20-30 seconds
9) Spread this on top of the mixture prepared in 5 above
10) Cut in length to make small rolls
11) Garnish and serve
 

Sprouts Salad - light meal

This is a very health snack and it can be taken as a healthy meal replacement. Sprouts can be bought from stores or prepared overnight by putting moong dal in warm water. Let it soak overnight or even a day.

What you need:
Sprouts 1 cup
Onion 1/2 cup chopped
Tomato 1 cup chopped
Green chilly 1 finely chopped
Lemon 1/2 piece
Salt to taste
Cilantro and Mint for garnishing

Method:
1) Mix the onions, tomato, green chilly, cilantro and mint together in a bowl
2) Add few drops of lemon juice and salt
3) Mix well and serve

You can add chat powder or Amchur powder to make it more delicious

Making soft buttery Naan

This is an Indian bread mostly served in restaurants and goes well with Indian curry dishes (especially paneer dishes)

What you need:
Maida 2 cups
Active dry yeast 1 spoon
Oil 2 spoons
Yogurt 1/4 cup
Water 1/2 cup (lukewarm)
Butter 1 spoon
Salt 1 spoon
Sugar 1/2 spoon

Method:
1) Dissolve dry yeast and sugar in water and set it aside for 10 mins (it should become frothy)
2) Add salt, oil and yogurt to Maida and mix well
3) Add yeast mixture to Maida mixture and knead until it forms a soft dough
4) Cover the dough with moist paper/towel and keep in warm place - start empty microwave for 2-3 mins and leave the mixture in the microwave after it stops
5) Preheat oven to the highest temp
6) Make small balls from the dough and flatten into either oval or triangular shape.
7) Place one at a time in over for 2-3mins. Turn around and leave for another min
8) Serve with butter on top of naan

You can also garnish with cilantro