Thursday, December 15, 2011

Gobi Manchurian


Ingredients:-
Cauliflower – 1 medium sized cut into medium sized florets
Spring onion chopped- a small bunch (Seperate whites and greens)
Garlic chopped – 5 tbsp
Green chilies chopped – 4-5 tsp (Use according to your spice level)
Soya Sauce – 1 and 1/2 tbsp
Green Chilli Sauce – 2 tbsp
Tomato Ketchup – 3 tbsp
Vinegar – 1 tsp
Coriander leaves – for garnishing
Oil – as needed
Salt – add only if needed
(Add 1 medium sized Onion and 1/2 Capsicum if you wish.i dont add it,if i am preparing it dry)
For the batter :
All purpose flour/Maida – 1/2 cup
Corn flour – 1/4 cup
Rice flour – 2 tbsp
Egg – 1
Ginger-Garlic paste – 2 tsp
Red Chilly powder – 1/2 to 1 tsp
Salt – to taste (consider the saltiness of soya sauce while adding it)
Method :-
Prepare a batter with the given ingredinets adding necessary water.Batter should be made a little thick,otherwise it doesn’t coat well on the cauliflower florets.Heat oil in a big wok,dip each floret in the batter and gently put it into the oil.Do not overcrowd the wok while frying.Do it in 2 or 3 steps as needed.Fry it until it turns golden brown in color.Drain into a tissue paper and keep them aside and allow it to cool.
Now heat 2-3 tsp oil in another pan,add chopped spring onion(only the whites),green chillies,garlic and ginger,saute them for a while.(Add onions and capsicum also if you’re adding it)Now add soya sauce,chilly sauce,vinegar and tomato ketchup.Mix them well,check for the salt and add the cooled gobi florets.Turn the heat to high and mix them together until all the florets are well coated with the sauce.Add spring onion greens and coriander leaves and toss it well for few minutes.Serve immediately.
If you want to make it a gravy,add 1 tsp cornflour mixed in 1 cup luke warm water and simmer it for few minutes,before adding spring onion greens and coriander leaves.

Christmas Cake


Rich fruit Cake or Plum Cake is commomly known as Christmas Cake. In India,Christmas can never be complete without Plum Cake. I swear,its one of the best found in the Indian bakeries. It is a moist,dark brown cake with plenty of nuts and dried fruits in it.Fruits and nuts are soaked in rum or brandy several days ahead for the plum cake.Freshly baked Plum cakes served with wine on a Christmas eve..hmmm..Deliciously rich and tempting!!!I know its quite early for the recipe..but couldn’t wait till Christmas.
Cake with wine
Plum Cake & Wine
Just go through my Amma’s treasured recipe for ‘The Good Old Christmas Cake’…
Ingredients:-
Dates – 3 cups
Raisins- 2 cups
Cherries(Preserved in Indian way)- 2 cups
Broken Nuts-2 cups
Orange & Lemon Peel- 1/2 cup
Tutty Fruty or other candied fruits (Optional)- 1 cup
Brandy or Rum – 1/2 cup
Chop the fruits fine.Soak them in the alchohol along with nuts and peels and keep in an air tight container for a couple of week.I didn’t use cherries or any candied fruits,but adjusted the quantity with the ones i’ve got.
Dried Fruits & Nuts
Dried Fruits & Nuts
All Purpose Flour/Maida – 2 cups
Powdered Sugar – 3 cups(1 cup for caramalizing the sugar)
Butter – 250 gms
Baking powder – 2 tsp
Eggs – 6
Vanilla Essence – 2 tsp
Salt – a pinch( to adjust the sweetness)Powdered Spices – 3 tsp
(Cardamom,Cloves,Cinnamon,Nutmeg,Dry ginger)
Orange juice – 2 tbsp
Method:-
1. Caramelize 1 cup of Sugar.
It can be done by heating a medium sauce pan with 1 cup of sugar and 1 tbsp of water.Stir in continuosly and use only medium heat.The sugar will melt first,then gradually becomes a molten syrup.As it gets hotter,it’ll turn into a dark colored caramel syrup.Now slowly add 1/2 cup of water and stir well immediately before it crystalizes back.(Be careful while doing it,for it can splash and may cause severe burns.).Stir it well to dissolve completely and allow it to cool.
Caramelized Sugar
Caramelized Sugar
2.Preheat the oven to 350 degree F.
3.Sift the baking powder and flour well,2 or 3 times.
4.Now mix the powdered spices and the soaked fruits to the flour.Mix well with a spatula and keep aside.
5.Beat butter and powdered sugar till light and fluffy.
6.Now add the eggs one at a time to the beaten sugar butter mixture with a teaspoon of flour after each egg.Beat well.
7.Add the flour mixture alternatively with the cooled caramel and fold in.Remember do not whisk,this can break the fruits.
8.Lastly add vanilla essence ,orange juice and 1 tsp of brandy.Mix everything well using a wooden spatula preferably to one side.
Flour with fruits
Prepared batter
9.Pour it into a lined baking pan.(Lined with parchment paper or brown paper).
(As i didn’t have the parchment paper with me,I just butter sprayed the pan and sprinkle some flour on it.)
In baking pan
Ready to be baked
10.Bake it in the oven for 45 minutes.
11.Check by inserting a tooth pick and if it comes out clean ,the cake is done.
If its not done reduce the heat to 250 F and bake for another 10- 15 mts or until done.
12.When the cake is baked,remove and immediately sprinkle 1 tbsp of brandy over it.This can enhance the flavour and increases its life span.
Plum Cake
Freshly baked plum caked
13.Let it cool .Cut it and serve.
Cake Served
14.If storing,remember to keep it in refrigerator in an air tight container.