YUMMY TREATS: January 2014

Friday 31 January 2014

Prawn Jalfrezi

Prawn jalfrezi is a popular Indian dish that is easy and fast to make. As this is a restuarant style curry, so if you want you could cook the prawns ,prepare them in advance.

Jalfrezis were invented in the days of the British Raj as a way of using up leftovers. If you would like to read a little more about the concept behind jalfrezi curries, take a look at jalfrezi recipe here.

This is one of the most favorite seafoods - the prawns jalfrezi. The word Jal in Bengali means ‘pungently spicy’ and Frezi means ‘stir-fry’.

It’s a stir-fry that is packed with spices that is also quick and easy to make. Prawn curry fans who like a bit of spice will love this curry. The peppers, onions and green chillies add a nice crunch to the recipe that really works great.

A really tasty dish, rich with very good flavours as well as the wonderful spices of Jalfrezi.

Ingredients:

Prawns – 1kg

Salt – to taste

Lemon juice – 4tsp

Turmeric powder – 1tsp

Red Chilli powder – 1tbsp

Oil – ¼ cup

Ginger – 2tbsp julienned

Garlic – 4tsp chopped

Onions 1 1/4 cups chopped

Tomatoes chopped – 1 ½ cups

Cumin powder – 1tsp

Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp

Tomatoes – cut into cubes ¾ cups

Onions – cut into ¾ cup

Green coriander chopped – 2tsp

Method:

Clean the prawns and marinate in a mixture of salt, lemon juice half the turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Heat oil in a pan. Add ginger and garlic; sauté for a minute. Add onions and sauté further till light brown. Add chopped tomatoes, cumin powder, pepper powder and remaining turmeric and red chilli powder. Stir in the prawns and cook until three-fourth done. Add tomatoes, capsicums and onions. Mix well and cook further until the prawns are done. Remove from heat and serve hot, garnished with green coriander.

The prawns taste delicious. Simply divine!

Thursday 30 January 2014

Bread Pockets - evening snack

I have heard about bread pockets, but until I tried, I had no idea of how it would taste or about the texture. To my surprise, it was tasting great.

I made them with spicy potato stuffing (I used cutlet koottu as fillings) . It tastes good and enjoyed it with a cup of hot tea, as an evening snack. So let’s start the recipe .yum

Ingredients:

Bread Slices - 2

Egg - 1 (for batter)

Bread Crumbs - 1 cup

Cucumber - medium size chopped

Capcicum - a small one chopped

Chicken - 1 cup grated ( cooked with slat and pepper)

Black olives - 1/4 cup (optional)

Pepper

Mayonnaise

Salt

Oil - Refined

Method:

Take 2 slices of bread. Cut the edges of the bread. Place one slice on top of other slice and slightly roll it with a rolling pin and (don't give too much pressure). With a round shaped cutter or with a round shaped lid, cut the bread from the centre. Beat an egg in a bowl and dip those round shaped bread in the egg batter, then roll it with bread crumbs (same process of making cutlets). Deep fry in oil. When it becomes golden brown colour take it from the pan and drain the excess oil. Then, cut the fried breads from the centre into half (semi circle). Now, you will get the pockets. Prepare, any filling of your choice and fill the pockets. Have it with hot tea or coffee.

Simple Fillings: In a bowl take chopped cucumber, capsicum, grated chicken (cooked with salt and pepper) and chopped black olives. Add salt and pepper and one spoon mayonnaise (optional). Mix well and fill it in the bread pockets. You can use fillings of your choice.

Note: We can use sauces, mayonnaise etc of our taste as filling. If you are adding tomatoes or sauces in the filling, add it before severing, otherwise the bread pockets will become soggy.