tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57811375645613884272011-11-13T13:22:27.384-06:00Everyday food with global flavorsCharlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.comBlogger401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-50994213391609213312011-10-30T19:52:00.000-05:002011-10-30T19:52:32.715-05:00

I made this recipe last weekend and enjoyed it so much I made it again this week! This is a very simple cauliflower recipe but is really tasty and therefore is blog worthy. Try it and let me know how you liked it. The recipe is inspired by the Veh reh Vah chef video although the ingredient proportions I used are quite different. Ingredients: 1 medium head cauliflower cut into small florets 2-3

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-50965922338702152032011-10-23T08:03:00.006-05:002011-10-28T13:09:37.792-05:00

This recipe is a slightly modified recipe from a famous Pakistani chef. I modified it a bit to suit our tastes and based on the ingredients we have here. I have made this recipe several times and each time it turns out fantastic - just like the Chicken Karahi in Pakistan. The key to the recipe is using good tomatoes so the tomato taste shines through. If you don't have good tomatoes (often the

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-54466581353220855372011-08-06T20:58:00.003-05:002011-10-28T13:10:34.324-05:00

I just tried this today. It turned out absolutely delicious....just like the restaurant version. This is an amalgamation of several different recipes I found online. Its a little time consuming but very worth it, especially for guests. Ingredients:4 bone-in chicken breasts (can use boneless but the bone helps the chicken stay moist), Approx 2 lbs To marinate chicken:Shan tandoori chicken masala

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-90784091472044190362011-07-02T22:14:00.006-05:002011-11-05T11:46:54.455-05:00

I tried making this last weekend and it turned out great. I omitted the ground papaya paste and the long pepper (filfil daraz) since I didn't have it on hand. While it turned out fine, the papaya would have made the kababs more tender and "smooth" so I recommend using it if it is available. I hear you can also use mashed up kiwi as its a great meat tenderizer. I'll try this the next time and let

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-64275806420498328472011-07-02T22:12:00.004-05:002011-11-05T11:48:36.109-05:00

Here's a delicious and authentic Chapli Kabab recipe. This dish originates from northern Pakistan and is enjoyed all over. Ingredients: 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped 3 eggs 1/2 kg ground beef 1.5 tsp freshly ground coriander (coarse grind) 1.5 tsp freshly ground cumin (coarse grind) 1.5 tsp crushed red chilli flakes 1 tsp garam masala 1 tbsp anar dana 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper Slat (to taste)

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-91288637020613197502011-07-02T22:11:00.002-05:002011-11-05T11:50:38.806-05:00

I made this the other day and it turned out nicely. Ingredients: 1kg ground beef 3 medium onions, sliced 1 tsp ginger garlic paste (I used fresh) 4-5 medium carrots, grated 3 medium chopped tomatoes 10 green chili, slit in half 8-10 black pepper 6-7 cloves 1 tsp turmeric 2 tsp red chili pdr 1-1.5tsp whole cumin seeds, coarsely crushed 2 tbsp julienned ginger Chopped cilantro Chopped dill 1 cup

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-39634373572316487212011-07-02T22:10:00.002-05:002011-11-05T11:50:05.932-05:00

Here's another tasty chicken recipe that turned out well. Ingredients: 1/2 kg chicken pieces, cut into cubes 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tsp ginger garlic paste 1 + 1/2 tsp coarsely crushed cumin 1 tsp red chili pdr 2-3 chopped tomatoes salt & oil 1 tsp crushed kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves 2 chopped green chillies 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp garam masala 2 tsp dessicated coconut 1 cup yogurt

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-75491260663586466072011-07-02T22:09:00.002-05:002011-11-05T12:04:46.355-05:00

I tried this the other day and really enjoyed it. Ingredients: 2 cups paneer (indian cottage cheese) cut into cubes 1 cup carrots, cut into med-large chunks 1 bell pepper, cut in the same size as the carrots 1 cup green peas 1/2 cup onions, cubed into the same size as the other veggies 1/2 cup water chestnuts, drained 1-2 potatoes, cubed 1 onion, chopped 1 tsp garlic-ginger 1-1.5 tsp red chili

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-27245286579237166502011-07-02T22:07:00.000-05:002011-07-02T22:07:45.552-05:00

Tried this although with different vegetables (can't remember which ones now as it was a while back). Turned out nice (not phenomenally great - but good). 500 gms vegetables (lightly boiled) carrots, potatoes and tinda(!), green beans, egg plant (coaked in water-raw) and capsicum Eggplant cut like steak fries 2-3 medium tomatoes pureed 1 big onions boiled and pureed (12 need 1/2 cup) 1/2

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-44453647014347450722011-07-02T22:06:00.000-05:002011-07-02T22:06:03.451-05:00

1/2 kg Potato - boiled with skin and mashed very coarsely with hand (should still have chunks) 1/2 tsp haldi saunf, methi dana, kalonji, rai, and white zeera (1-sawa tsp equal qty of each) Add salt, haldi to potato, top with water. Add all the masala. Add 3-5 small button red chili (some lightly crushed). Cover and cook for a while os the potatoes can absorb the spices. For puri: 1kg maida

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-13128006067198347492011-07-02T22:04:00.000-05:002011-07-02T22:04:25.541-05:00

1.5 kg chicken (with bones) , season with salt 1 cup raisins 1.5 cup 1 tbsp butter 1.5 tsp adrak lehsan coarsely chopped haldi 1/4 tsp garam masalam (WHOLE) black pepper coarse orange food coloring 1 tomato 1 onion 3.5 cups soaked and 1/2 cooked with chopped garlic in skin and ginger (a little). Heat oil in a big pot, add chopped onion and fry until a bit golden. Add 1 tbsp adrak

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-18286709076408781282011-07-02T22:02:00.000-05:002011-07-02T22:02:54.631-05:00

Have tried this out and it turned out awesome and very close to the real deal (just with a little more gravy) Slice and fry 3 onions till golden brown sawa kilo - 1kg chicken 3-4 med potatoes sliced into thick rounds (if desired) red chili paste (chili's cooked in water and blended) dried chili or red chili pdr 1 tbsp adrak lehsan paste Dhaniya pdr Garam masala (whole 12 pepper,4-5 small

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-57317668036682257612011-07-02T22:01:00.000-05:002011-07-02T22:01:24.689-05:00

Boil and 1/2 cook 2-2.5 cups rice rice with shah zeera, choti elaichi, long, dal cheeni and safaid zeera, bay leaves, star anise, black pepper, cinnamon. Drain. Make a keema(700-800 gms) out of chicken. S/B a paste. Add cilantro, chopped chili, finely chopped onions, red chili pdr, dhaniya pd, garam masala pdr and garlic ginger paste, zeera pdr (1/4 tsp), Mix well. Everything should be dry.

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-14492701217768649212011-07-02T21:59:00.000-05:002011-07-02T21:59:27.289-05:00

Ingredients and Method: 1/2 kg Chickpeas cook with 1 tsp baking soda and retain water. Add 1/2 tsp baking soda again and 2 tsp garam masala. 1 tsp black pepper. Mash a little bit with a spoon. Cook on slow heat. Cook 1/2 hour. Should be thick with some gravy. 1 kg atta/AP flour, add 1tbsp yeast, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp salt. Mix and Set aside to lead. Then make the naan (flatten with

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-77738310665678563522011-07-02T21:58:00.000-05:002011-07-02T21:58:17.977-05:00

This will be the next of a series of Chef Rahat recipes I have bookmarked to try. Will try to post verdict so I remember how they turned out. Ingredients and method: 250 gms channa dal washed and soaked Boil after soaking until al dente (can mash each grain with a finger) Grind daal in the food processor 2 tsp adrak lehsan 2tsp dhaniya 1tsp haldi 1-1.5 red chili pdr 1.5 tsp lightly crushed white

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-89052493576557845552011-03-27T12:40:00.000-05:002011-03-27T12:40:54.983-05:00

Had all the ingredients on hand for this one and it came out excellently. This is the first time my noodles did not stick to the wok despite the little oil used. The trick is a clean pan on high heat with oil coating the entire wok. Ingredients:1 pound fresh noodles (Shanghai thin noodles are good) - Used dried linguine 1/2 pound chicken breast, cut into strips (skipped - made a veg version) 4

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-21830269835100310502011-03-27T12:33:00.001-05:002011-03-27T12:41:28.165-05:00

I'm starting to use this blog as a bookmark for recipes I've tried and loved so I can refer back to them as needed. Made this stir fry today and it was excellent considering it is practically vegetarian (although it does use oyster sauce as the main flavoring) Here's the recipe: Ingredients:1/4 cup chicken broth or stock (used veg better than bouillon) 2 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce 1/2

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-71656890141857028322011-03-27T12:27:00.002-05:002011-03-27T12:43:16.729-05:00

Made this yesterday and it turned out great. Instead of the traditional dashi with bonito flakes I made a vegetarian broth. The recipe for the broth is from here. Vegan Dashi (Soup Stock) 4 cups cold water 5 inch piece kombu (kelp, find in Asian market) 3 whole shiitake mushroom pinch dried wakame (kelp, similar to kombu) 2 tablespoon sake 2 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine) - Used sake with

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-51549761664172153172010-05-08T08:38:00.000-05:002010-05-08T08:38:41.703-05:00

The weather here in Chicago is still pretty unpredictable. Mostly the days are cool with  a few warm days thrown in as teasers. I have been under the weather lately and so when I saw this post on making mexican hot cocoa, I thought, why not? I already had all the ingredients at home so this literally took 5 minutes. If you don't have almond extract I'm pretty sure you could skip it. I had to

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-65949683660046222932010-03-02T11:08:00.000-06:002010-03-02T11:08:23.092-06:00

I made this soup in the middle of last week when I was pressed for time and had to come up with something easy and good. Well, let me tell you this soup did not disappoint! I used hot italian sausage but you can use the sweet kind as well if you prefer. Here's how I did it: Ingredients: 1 medium onion, chopped 3/4 cup lentils, soaked for 3-4 hours and washed 2 cups hot italian sausage (casings

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-14421112483845009972010-02-15T13:28:00.001-06:002010-02-15T13:30:06.224-06:00

Today, I was lucky enough to come across Varsha's blog with her mouthwatering recipes. I hadn't made desi-style food in a while and so I was craving some yummy kerala-style chicken. I tried this recipe for a kerala-style chicken roast, modifying it a tiny bit to incorporate the spices I had on hand and man, was it good! The taste of the curry was quite authentic and the sauce was finger-licking

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-38629053187954121752010-02-15T12:23:00.000-06:002010-02-15T12:23:39.709-06:00

I made thistoday to take to a party tonight. This is my first time making cheesecake with sour cream, though, so I'm hoping it is good. I did try to cut down on the fat a bit by using reduced-fat cream cheese. Ingredients: For the custard: 2 - 8 oz. packages reduced-fat cream cheese 1 cup sugar 2 extra large eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract For the crust: 9 graham crackers, crushed in the food

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-78845548939739662952010-02-13T13:43:00.001-06:002010-02-13T14:01:25.435-06:00

I first made this dish (or some variation of it) when I was in high school. Its a nice side dish for a desi-chinese meal and one that is actually good for you. The usually bland cauliflower is perked up by ginger, sambal oelek and plenty of caramelized onions. We had this with some chicken manchurian and fried rice. Ingredients: 1 medium head of cauliflower, washed and separated into florets 1

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-12114198608656308072010-02-13T13:26:00.000-06:002010-02-13T13:26:19.181-06:00

Its soup time! I have always loved soups, especially a good bowl of creamy, not-so-good-for-you-because-its-too-fattening soup. I wanted to try my hand at making a gnocchi soup and at the same time wanted to get rid of a can of cream of chicken soup I had bought a few months ago (yes, I did check the expiration date!). Whats better than a creamy bowl of goodness this time of year? Nothing, I

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-81051637049482117452010-02-03T18:25:00.000-06:002010-02-03T18:25:00.131-06:00

I have a terrible confession to make. I am dough-challenged. I always manage to screw up any recipe that involves the making of a dough. I am especially bad at making parathas. *Horror of horrors.* This is worsened by the fact that my mother is a paratha-making champion. Well, *shrug*, she is my mother after all. She has had a whole lifetime more than me to practice. This year one of my new

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-36940176638210242252010-02-02T11:38:00.003-06:002010-02-02T11:51:12.235-06:00

I was craving some pasta and somehow came across a cajun chicken pasta recipe. It sounded delicious but seemes too heavy (2 cups of heavy cream...yikes!) A quick internet search found several recipes, most of them with heavy cream. So I set about to make my own cajun chicken pasta, without all the fat and calories but still with plenty of flavor. Before I go on, here's a disclaimer. I realize

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-67929072569289371902010-02-02T07:24:00.001-06:002010-02-02T07:25:24.900-06:00

I made this over the weekend when I was studying for a mid-term and didn't have much time to spend making lunch. It is soo easy to make and is one of the best salads I have ever had. Here's how I made it: Ingredients: 1 apple, peeled and sliced. Sprinkle some lemon juice over it and toss so it doesn't get discolored 1 chicken breast 1/2 cup feta cheese romaine lettuce, washed and cut into pieces

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-90365005779118328002010-01-31T12:33:00.000-06:002010-01-31T12:33:10.483-06:00

What does one do when one has to eat but doesn't have time to cook? Make sandwiches, of course! I try to keep cans of tuna on hand for just these situations and this sandwich took me 15 minutes to make from start to finish. Pretty darn tasty too, if I do say so myself! Ingredients: 1 can tuna 1 small onion, finely minced 1 jalapeno, finely minced (for some reason I still didn't find the sandwich

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-87360772040418127772010-01-30T17:54:00.002-06:002010-01-30T18:18:55.566-06:00

I first had crepes when we visited Toronto in 2008. We were walking by a crepe takeout and as soon as I saw the guy making these through the window, I was hooked and had to have some! They had many varieties but I immediately settled on the one with nutella and banana (heaven!) After forking over $7, I walked out with a huge crepe stuffed with nutella and banana and was in heaven! Soon I realized

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-19862002673626744232010-01-26T20:39:00.004-06:002010-01-30T18:11:56.255-06:00

With working full time and going to grad school at night, life has become very hectic. I find I barely have time to do anything. Despite this I try my best to make sure we have a home cooked meal on the table every day. I do this mainly for nutritional reasons. Sure, we like going out once in a while for a nice meal but I don't think I could tolerate this every day. We were raised this way and

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-25614172791671354442010-01-25T17:13:00.002-06:002010-01-30T18:11:43.922-06:00

This is a delicious and simple rice recipe that goes well with any spicy curry. I made this to go with some pan-fried tilapia I'll serve later this week. Don't expect an explosion of flavors with this one. The coconut milk gives the rice a subtle flavor but the dish is delicious and very aromatic. Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice, soaked in water for 20 minutes and washed until the water runs

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-76591234594102352682010-01-25T16:45:00.002-06:002010-01-30T18:11:08.273-06:00

I made these beans yesterday to use for tacos later in the week. Its incredibly easy to make and very healthy. Try it and you'll never visit taco bell again! Ingredients: 1.5 cups dried pinto beans soaked in water until rehydrated or use canned 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 packet sazon seasoning 1 habanero pepper blended with some white vinegar to make a paste 1/2 tsp cumin powder 1/2 tsp

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-2766933691918208322010-01-24T21:25:00.001-06:002010-01-30T18:10:32.633-06:00

Halwa is the south asian version of pudding. It is a dessert, typically made with certain vegetables cooked down in some milk, sugar and cardamom. Gajar ka halwa is fairly common and is available in all pakistani/indian restaurants. Its easy to whip up at home since most of the ingredients are usually staples. Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter 5 cups grated carrot (I used the food processor) 1.5 cups

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-83393947322928325222010-01-24T21:17:00.002-06:002010-01-30T18:10:15.035-06:00

With it being so cold here I try to make soup at least once a week. It's light and warms you from the inside out. Here's a really easy and quick soup recipe...you can make it in 20 minutes flat and while the soup is cooking you can make a quick salad or sandwich to go with it! Ingredients: 1 inch ginger, minced 1 small onion, chopped finely 1 sweet potato, cubed 3 small potatoes or 2 medium

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-83914243814848796452010-01-19T20:37:00.012-06:002010-01-30T18:11:27.555-06:00

I had never heard of egg biryani until I read Mishmash's post. A few months back I tried the recipe (with a few changes..mostly not bothering to measure the ingredients) and it turned out wonderfully! It is very different from the typical Pakistani style biryanis I make and was quite light as well. I have been making biryanis for a long, long time and apparently have become quite good at it

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-47695415006030522212010-01-18T11:46:00.008-06:002010-01-30T18:09:48.022-06:00

This recipe is adapted from a recipe from All Recipes. It is infinitely better than the jarred pizza sauce you get from the grocery store. Besides, when making pizza sauce at home is so easy why would you want to buy the stuff full of additives from the store? Ingredients: 1.5 cups tomato sauce or tomato paste diluted in some water to make the same quantity. 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-16466159432778296002010-01-17T16:08:00.005-06:002010-01-30T18:09:33.386-06:00

I obtained the basic recipe for this soup from a Pakistani cooking show hosted by the famous Chef Rahat. This soup is comforting, nourishing, and most of all plain good. Do not leave out the ginger and garlic as these really enhance the flavor of the soup. There's nothing like a deliciously steaming bowl of hot soup in this cold weather. I have included the basic recipe below. Please remember to

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-55515802369664421102010-01-16T15:19:00.006-06:002010-01-30T18:08:34.452-06:00

I just made this today and man is it goooood! You can get a store bought crust but I prefer to make my own. If you wish to use whole wheat flour just use 1 cup whole wheat and 1.5 cups all purpose. You will need to mix the two since whole wheat flour is too dense and heavy on its own. Also, I highly recommend spending $20 and getting a pizza stone. It lasts practically forever (unless you drop it

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-2667664520435738702008-03-18T22:30:00.008-05:002010-01-30T18:06:50.341-06:00

Ever since I saw these drool worthy pictures I knew I had to try making the roasted hazelnut challah. I bought the ingredients in advance and waited for the weekend to arrive so I would have plenty of time to make it. Alas, the weekend came and went! In a moment of guilt on Sunday night having thought of my fun but nevertheless unproductive weekend I grabbed a big bowl and set about to assemble

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781137564561388427.post-61320393761971625032008-03-14T22:39:00.006-05:002010-01-30T18:09:08.104-06:00

It's amazing how every country has its own version of a popular food. Take Chinese food for example. In Pakistan or India it is spicy and peppery and in the US it tends to be doused with sweet-savory sauces. I am sure if you and I were to visit China and eat authentic Chinese food we would be absolutely lost because it would be "Chinese" to us! Jokes aside, I prefer Pakistani-style Chinese to

Charlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12931592056737453455noreply@blogger.com2