Anshu's Food Odyssey

Well, Dosa is one of my most favorite South Indian dishes that I can hog on in all three meals of the day. With that said, the actual dosa recipe which calls for fermenting the urad dal and rice batter is such a tedious and laborious job that needs a lot of patience as well as planning. Plus, because it has the major portion of it comprising of rice, I do not prefer having it every other day. Now, because I love dosa and yet cant have the normal version frequently, I recently tried this instant sprouted moong dal dosa, which was so easy to make and required no fermentation. And yes, it didn't even require the use of rice. So what is that one thing which lends this healthy recipe that much needed crispiness?. Well, its none other than the barnyard millet also locally known as Sama, Samai and Samak ke Chawal. Trust me, adding a little of these tiny pearls give the dosa such a nice texture and crispiness, that too without any fermentation. Try it the next time you are planni

Palak Chicken or Chicken Saagwala is a popular North Indian recipe made with chicken smeared in a subtly flavored spinach gravy or sauce, which is semi-thick in texture. One of the popular dishes on the menu at many Indian restaurants, it is not only healthy (because of the greens) but, also quite delicious that goes well with plain chapati, naan or lachcha parantha on the side. Palak Chicken | Saag Murgh | Saag wala Murgh "Saag" in Punjabi refers to all leafy greens - be it spinach, sarson (mustard greens), bathua or methi. Since, this recipe is made using fresh spinach, it came to be called as saagwala chicken or palak chicken and is one of the authentic piques from the Punjabi cuisine. And since it is loaded with the goodness of these greens, let me tell you, its a great dish to feed those picky eaters...awesome! isn't it? INGREDIENTS Chicken on bone - 1/2 kg. Please don't go for boneless chicken for this recipe as it's also th

Gajak or Chikki is a recipe famous in different parts of India and is best enjoyed during winters as it has all the ingredients like gud (jaggery) and til (sesame seeds) which provide the much needed warmth to the body. Traditionally this healthy and wholesome recipe is cooked on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sakranti, which is also celebrated as Lohri in Northern parts of India such as Haryana and Punjab. Best part is, the crunchy brittle can be stored for months and can be enjoyed as and when need be. So, lets start with the ingredients and the recipe. Til Gud ki Chikki | Sesame Brittle INGREDIENTS While til/sesame seeds - 3/4 cup Crumbled gud/jaggery - 3/4 cup Chopped cashews and pistachios(optional) - 2 tbsp Water - 1 to 2 tsp Ghee - 2 tsp Til Gud ki Chikki | Sesame Brittle Til Gud ki Chikki | Sesame Brittle Til Gud ki Chikki | Sesame Brittle METHOD Start by dry roasting til along with chopped

Well, Christmas is here and all I can think about is baking. To get that Christmasy feel, I have chosen the plump and ruby strawberries to go into a delicious fresh strawberry tea cake. The recipe is quite simple and comes together in no time. Considering the health factor, I have also replaced maida (all purpose flour) with the whole wheat flour. Hope you like the recipe !!  Whole Wheat Fresh Strawberry Tea Cake | Strawberry Tea Cake Recipe INGREDIENTS Whole wheat flour - 1 and 1/4 cup Caster/powdered sugar - 1 cup Butter - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or hung yogurt) - 1/2 cup Eggs - 2 Salt - 1/2 tsp Baking powder - 1/2 tsp, I have used the double action baking powder Baking soda - 1/4 tsp Vanilla extract - 1 tsp Fresh strawberries, chopped - 1/2 cup  Fresh strawberries, halved - 4 to 5, for the top garnishing Whole Wheat Fresh Strawberry Tea Cake | Strawberry Tea Cake Recipe Whole Wheat Fresh Strawberry Tea Cake | Strawberry Tea Cake Rec

Pineapple Fried Rice is a classic recipe from the Thai cuisine which essentially has prawns added for the dose of protein. I have, however, tried to give the beautiful recipe a twist by using the chicken instead of prawns. You can, however, go and add any protein that you like or even skip it altogether. Also, do try to always use the fresh pineapple instead of the canned one as the latter has a high sweet content. Just in case, you only have the option to use the canned pineapple, drain the syrup, wash the pineapple and dab with a kitchen towel to get rid of excess sweetness. As for the sauces, feel free to use any you like; for example, if you like extra spice, try to go for sriracha which will surely add that nice kick. Let's get onto the recipe now... Pineapple Chicken Fried Rice INGREDIENTS Fresh pineapple cut into bite size cubes - 1 cup Cooked and cooled rice (I used the short grain rice) - 2 cups Boiled and shredded chicken - 1 cup Egg - 1 Onions (

Arrabbiata is one of the most classic Italian sauces used in making pizza, pasta and pretty much anything "bread-y". The base of the sauce primarily comprises of fresh tomatoes with whole lots of garlic and basil. Arrabbiata in Italian means "angry" and hence, it is quite spicy with lots of red chili flakes added to give that kick. You can make this sauce well ahead of time and store in an air-tight jar in the fridge; and use as and when required - on the pizza, in the pasta or as is as a dip. Arrabbiata Sauce | Italian Arrabbiata Sauce | How to Make Arrabbiata Sauce | Arrabbiata Sauce Recipe INGREDIENTS Fresh red and plump yet firm tomatoes - 6 to 8 Tomato paste - 1/4 cup Red chili flakes - 1 to 2 tsp, as spicy as you want Finely chopped onions - 1/2 cup Salt - as per taste White pepper powder - 1/2 tsp Finely chopped garlic - 2 to 3 tsp Butter - 2 tbsp Olive oil - 1 tbsp Tomato ketchup - 2 tbsp Fresh chopped Italian basil le

The Indo Chinese Fried Rice is something we all have grown eating in the Chinese restaurants all across India. Though far from the authentic Chinese, I guess, this is what we are addicted to. One of the most delicious and simple recipes, it comes together in no time and makes a wonderful use of the leftover rice. So, just the rice and some assorted vegetables to go in and you are ready for a wholesome meal, simple isn't it?. Here I would like to mention that though fried rice can be made with any variety of rice, jasmine rice gives it a nice authentic Chinese feel and aroma. But, just in case you cant lay your hands on them, any short grain rice works perfectly well for the recipe. Also, the veggies that you want to go in the rice depend on your preference and choice; I have added carrots, broccoli, beans and bellpeppers, you feel free to add any that you like. Only thing you need to take care of is, sauteing that vegetable first which takes longer to cook. For example