Butter chicken / Murgh Makhani

Butter chicken is one of my most favorite dish in my childhood days. Whenever I go to restaurant or my dad getting parcel from restaurant, my first answer to the question, what you want is butter chicken. Yesterday my hubby asked me to cook a creamy chicken curry, so thought of preparing restaurant style butter chicken and it came out very well. It is very easy to prepare and the taste is delicious when we have with rotis. Butter chicken or Murgh Makhani is an Indian dish in which chicken is cooked in mild spicy creamy curry sauce.

Prep time: 2 hours 15 minutes (including marinating time)

Cook time: 30 minutes

Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients:

Chicken – 1 lb (medium sized pieces)

For marinating:

Yoghurt – 2 tbsp

Red chili powder – 3 tsp

Salt to taste

Lemon juice – 2 tbsp

For masala paste:

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Red chili powder – 2 tsp

Coriander powder – 3 tsp

Cumin powder – 1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste – 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Sugar – 1 tsp

Fenugreek leaves / kasuri methi – ½ tsp

Red food color – a pinch

Water as needed

For Gravy:

Butter – 5 tbsp

Onion – 1, finely chopped

Tomato puree – 1 cup

Milk – 1/4cup

Cornflour – 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Cilantro for garnish

Method:

1. Clean the chicken and marinate it with the ingredients given under “for marinating” and refrigerate it for 2 hours.

2. In a mean time prepare the masala paste with the ingredients given under “ for masala paste”

3. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a pan, Add the marinated chicken and fry until its cooked. Keep aside

4. Heat 3 tbsp butter in a pan, saute onions till translucent, Add the masala paste and fry for about 6 to 7 minutes.

5. Now add tomato puree and cover the lid. Cook in low flame until oil seperates.

6. Add chicken pieces and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes.

7. Now mix 2 tsp of cornflour in ¼ cup of milk and pour into the chicken.

8. Cook in low flame for about 10 minutes, this will give creamy texture to the gravy.

9. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rotis.

Khaman Dhokla - A Gujarati Snack

Khaman Dhokla is a savory steamed cake, very healthy recipe. It is a famous snack sold on every streets of Gujarat. The texture will be so soft and spongy, it can be prepared within 25 minutes. This very delicious Guajarati snack is prepared from gram flour / besan flour. The combination of fluffy dhoklas with crackled mustard seeds and fresh coconut will give heavenly taste.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

For Dhokla:

Curd – 1 cup

Water – 1.5 cups

Gram flour / besan flour / kadalai maavu – 1.5 cup

Sooji / rava – 2 tbsp

Ginger and green chili paste – 2 tbsp

Turmeric powder – ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Sugar – 1 tbsp

Eno fruit salt – 1 ½ tbsp

To Temper:

Oil – 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

Asafetida – a pinch

Curry leaves – a spring

Green or red chili – 2

To Garnish:

Coconut – 1 tbsp

Cilantro – few

Method:

1. Make a smooth paste of ginger and green chili in a blender and keep aside.

2. In a large bowl, Take curd and water, mix it well. Add salt, sugar and turmeric powder and give a good mix.

3. Add Gram flour and sooji to it, mix well without any lumps. Now add the ginger and green chili paste to it.

4. Now add Eno fruit salt and give a good mix. The batter will be frothy, don’t rest it for long time, and immediately pour the batter in a steaming tray.

5. Steam it for about 10 to 12 minutes. Allow it to cool, remove dhokla from tray and make into pieces.

6. Heat oil in a pan, temper it with the ingredients given under “To temper”. Pour it on the dhoklas.

7. Garnish with coconut and cilantro. Serve hot.

                

Banana & Walnut Smoothie

Looking for a protein packed healthy drink for a breakfast? Try this Banana and Walnut smoothie. The combination of banana, walnut and milk gives a creamy texture to the smoothie. This drink will satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time it is packed with healthy carbs and protein which helps to keep you energized all day. Bananas are rich in potassium which keeps the heart healthy and walnut provides good cholesterol.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Banana – 1

Walnut – 2 tbsp

Honey – 1 tsp

Milk -1 cup

Cocoa powder – ½ tsp

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients except cocoa powder in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Pour into glass and sprinkle cocoa powder on top. Serve chilled.