My Cooking Wonders

Biryani can be made in gazillion ways but back home the most traditional way is cooking it DUM style. The marinated meat and parboiled rice are sealed in pan and cooked by steam on a very low flame. Making biryani this way is a long process but biryani made this way is so flavorful that at end all the effort is well worth it. Making quick biryani might be satisfying but cooking it the dum way is more special and the flavours are really soul satisfying..Give it a try and please keep in mind that sometimes it might take couple of tries to get it right :). Ingredients For Fried Onions: 1 big Onions  sliced lengthwise 10 to 12 tbsp Oil For Chicken Marination: 600 grams Chicken 12 Green Chillies Slit lengthwise Mint Leaves fistful chopped Coriander Leaves fistful Chopped 4 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper 1/2 tsp Black Cumin 1 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder(adjust for spice level - I used 2 tsp as my family likes it spicy)...

Yet another of mom's recipes. Egg drumstick curry is a spicy and tangy tomato gravy curry which mom used to make all the time while we were kids. Back then I am not a big fan of eggs and having drumsticks in the curry used to make my life easy. Now it is a different story - I love eggs and having drumsticks in the curry is a bonus :). This curry is like a party in your mouth with different flavors complementing each other..Give it a try.. Ingredients 6 hard boiled eggs 8 to 10 2 inch drumstick pieces 1 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1 cup finely chopped tomato 1 tsp ginger garlic paste half lemon sized tamarind soaked in water 1 tsp red chilli powder Salt per taste 1/2 tsp Garam masala powder A sprig of curry leaves 2 tbsp oil 1/4 tsp Sugar couple pinches of turmeric Tempering 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds couple of pinches of asafoetida 1/4 tsp Chana dal Method Extract the juice from the tamarind adding 2 cups of water and set aside. Make sli...

Country chicken is not your ordinary chicken. This is either 'you die for it' or 'do not even want to touch it' kind of dish. I most definitely will fall into the first category.. I love love love this dish. Growing up mom used to make this dish during Sankranti(Pongal) season and BOY OH BOY, it use to taste divine with Garelu. The best part of this dish is that we cook the chicken with skin on and trust me, it tastes the best that way. Now a days country chicken is available throughout the year and I do not have to wait for a particular season to eat it :). Here is my version of this yummy yummy recipe(actually version of my mom's recipe little bit improvised by me).  Ingredients 2 lbs country chicken 1/2 cup finely chopped onions 1 1/2 tsp red chilli powder(adjust per spice level) 3 tbsp ginger garlic paste 2 to 3 tsp garam masala powder Salt per taste Water 2 cups(adjust per the tenderness of the chicken) 1 tsp Turmeric 3 tbsp oil 3 tbs...

In our home, I am a big fan of pulao where as my husband loves his biryani... Pulao is a one dish wonder which is definitely not biryani! Pulao is prepared with less spices. Pulao is made using absorption method - no parboiled rice, no layering, can be made faster and everything is cooked together in one pot. Going out to restaurants, I get frustrated sometimes as I order pulao and I end up getting biryani instead which is why I make it at home the way I like it :)....Here is one of my chicken pulao recipes(Yes..I make different kind of pulaos depending on my mood of the day).. Give it a try.. Ingredients 2 cups Basmati Rice 1 lb Boneless skinless Chicken 10 whole Cashews 1 medium sized onion cut into chunks for paste(4 tbsp thick brown Onion Paste made from this onion) 2 tbsp thick yogurt 2 tbsp oil 4 tbsp ghee 6 to 8 Shallots or small onions 6 Green Chillies(Adjust per spice level) 3 tbsp Green Chilli Paste (adjust per spice level)(Grind around 25 to 30 green chillies ...

Today's recipe is a spur of the moment recipe. I have some ingredients that are left over on hand from some other recipe. Half can of coconut milk, handfuls of mint and coriander leaves that need to be used or I have to throw them away which gave me an idea for this recipe. To my surprise this curry did turn out really rich, creamy and yummy!!! A really simple, nothing fancy, fast recipe which can be made in a jiffy. Give it a try and see for yourselves!! Ingredients 2 lbs boneless Chicken 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1/2 cup onion paste 1 cup coconut milk Salt per taste 1 tsp red chili powder(adjust per spice level) 1/2 tsp garam masala powder 1 tbsp ghee or oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp turmeric powder handful of mint leaves handful of coriander leaves + 1 tbsp for garnish Method Clean and cut the chicken into bite size pieces. Set aside. Heat oil in a pan. Add in cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add in mint and coriander leaves and let them splutter as wel...

Hubby dear wanted to eat kebabs and I am feeling little lazy that day... so kind of went ahead and made this version of kebabs with very few ingredients and to my surprise they turned out pretty tasty... I just used regular ingredients we use in Indian meat dishes and at times simple and easy is definitely better :) Ingredients 250 grams boneless Chicken Cooking oil as required 3 to 4 skewers depending on length of the skewer(If using wooden skewers, soak in water before hand for 3o minutes) For Marination 3 tbsp thick yogurt(preferably greek yogurt) 1 to 1 1/2 tsp red chilli powder(adjust depending on the spice level) 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste(adjust per spice level) 1 tsp garam masala Salt per taste 1 tbsp lemon juice Method Clean and wash the chicken properly. Cut it into thin strips . Keep it aside. Next, add the marination ingredients in the chicken and mix it properly. Keep it in the fridge for about an hour. Preheat the oven to 400F. Ta...

My version of shrimp/Prawn curry from my native place popularly known as royyala vepudu. This recipe brings back so many wonderful memories. This being one of my favorite foods and me being a very picky eater growing up, my mom used to give me more of this curry than my brother. Once I grew up, I was told if you leave your favorite food item in the name of god, your wish will come true. My wish came true and I gave up shrimp because this is hands down, the one food I love the most. Been 13 years I gave up Shrimp but still make the curry for hubby dear because this happens to be his favorite too.  Ingredients 3 cups finely chopped Onion Salt per taste(around 3 tsp) 1 tsp Turmeric  2 tsp Coriander powder 6 Green Chillies slit length wise 1 tsp Cumin seeds  3 tsp Ginger garlic 3 to 4 tsp Red chilli powder depending on your spice level 1 tsp Garam masala 3 tbsp Oil 3 tbsp ghee 10 to 15 pieces cashews Handful of Curry leaves, coriander leav...

Today's special is Mom's mutton curry with few of my additions. I have tasted so many mutton recipes but hands down, by far my mom's curry is the best.. This specific curry is finger licking good and lip smacking tasty..The paste made out of nuts add that extra richness and taste to this curry. YUM YUM YUM!!!! The make or break for a perfect Andhra mutton curry is to cook the mutton till it is tender but the pieces should stay in tact without falling off...If you can figure out that exact balance you are a pro at making mutton curry andhra style!!  Ingredients Oil 3 tbsp Ghee 2 tbsp Onion chopped 1/4 cup(Do not need much because gravy comes from nuts powder) Gg paste 1/2 tbsp Salt 2 tsp(Per taste) Red Chilli powder 1 to 1 1/2 heaped tsp depending on spice level 1 cup water 1 tsp garam masala Coriander leaves for garnish Marination Mutton 1kg Salt 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder 1 heaped tsp Ginger garlic paste 1 tbsp Garam masala 1/2 tsp Lemon juice 1/2 l...

It is weekend and my brother's family came over. We are playing cards around 6 in the evening and all of a sudden hubby dear says "Pasi(that is his nick name for me), can you make chicken kebabs that you made couple weeks ago?". My response is "Why not?? Go get some chicken and I will have the marinade ready by the time you guys get back".... That is the story behind this recipe :)..... Hubby dear always have this food cravings on a whim and he should be really glad and thanking god because I love to cook(well..most of the times :) ) ... The great thing about these kebabs is that you do not need too many hours marination for them to taste better. Everyone loved the chicken which we ate for dinner along with some corn. Ingredients 3 lemons Oil or cooking spray  Couple of pinches of chat masala 1 big onion chopped lengthwise 6 to 8 skewers depending on length of the skewer(If using wooden skewers, soak in water before hand for 3o minutes) Ma...

Today I made a dish from my mom's diary - Kodi Pachadi/Chicken Pickle. My mom always used to have this on hand just because I am a picky eater growing up and if I did not like the curry she cooked that day, she would make sure that there is something for me to eat. Mom is mom always - Love u lots amma :).. I have tried lot of versions of this pickle but by far this is my favorite. This recipe does not use mustard seeds or does not call for tadka or talimpu. Preparing this dish needs little patience and time but at the end of the day all that work is worth it. Hope you guys will like it as much as I like it :) Ingredients 1 1/2 kg or 3.3 lb boneless Chicken cut into bite size pieces(Bone in chicken can also be used) 1/2 kg or 500 ml vegetable oil 3/8 cup(1/4 cup + 2 tbsp) salt 3/8 cup(1/4 cup + 2 tbsp) red chili powder 3/8 cup(1/4 cup + 2 tbsp) lemon juice For Paste 5 whole garlic(150 grams) 100 grams ginger(Allam) 50 grams (3/4 cup) coriander seeds(D...

Craving for something spicy and rich? Here is one dish which satisfies that craving especially on a cold winter day - Chicken gassi. This is a traditional manglorean dish and of course one of my few early culinary adventures after I started cooking. I really do not remember where or from whom I got this dish but it ended in my kitchen and in my recipe diary. Today I wanted to share this recipe with all the spice food lovers out there..Give this recipe a try for sure..I promise you will not be disappointed at all :) Ingredients For Marinade 2 lb chicken 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1/2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp turmeric  Salt per taste For Paste 1/4 cup dry coconut powder or 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut 1 medium onion 1 tsp black pepper 10 dried red chillies (increase or decrease per spice level) 1 tbsp coriander seeds 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds(menthulu) 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp oil For curry 2 medium onions chopped finely(around 2 cups chopped) 2 tsp tamari...

I want to share a recipe I made for my hubby dear's thanksgiving potluck at work. This is one dish you can make for big work potluck parties which is very easy and does not consume much of your time. I can tell that this dish turned out real well from the fact that there are no left overs. They ate it ALL!! All the chopping and dicing can be made ahead the night before and all you got to do on the day of is to put everything together.... Ingredients 1/3 cup Butter 1 medium Onion finely diced 3 stalks Celery finely diced 1/4 cup all purpose Flour 2 cups Milk 1 1/2 tsp Salt 1 tsp Pepper 1/4 tsp Nutmeg 1 tsp Thyme 4 cups cooked Chicken, diced (around 2 lbs boneless chicken) 3 cups cooked Rice 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts drained 1 cup Mushrooms sliced 1/2 cup slivered Almonds Topping 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 15 to 20 crackers) 4 tbsp butter, melted 1/4 cup slivered almonds + hand full Prep Work on previous day Preheat the oven ...

Back in the days there is one recipe that caught my eye while browsing - Tangdi Kabab. I did tweak the recipe to match my taste. This is one of the famous kabab recipes in northern part of India. I prepared tangdi kabab for the weekend and made some lemonade to go with it. I have to tell you this meal made my hubby dear's weekend. Tangdi kabab makes a great starter for parties. The next time you host a party for a smaller group, this is one recipe worth trying..Good Luck!! :).... Ingredients Marinade A 1 tbsp lemon Juice 10 Chicken Drumsticks 1 tbsp Red chilli powder Salt per taste Marinade B 1 cup tightly packed coriander leaves + 2 Green chillies made to fine paste 1 cup thick Yogurt 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1/2 tbsp Garam masala powder 1/2 tsp black pepper powder 2 tbsp Besan(Senagapindi) 1/4 tbsp cumin powder 2 tbsp oil Garnish 1 Onion sliced lengthwise handful coriander leaves chopped Lemon quarters couple of pinches of chat m...

Simple and quick chicken fry which goes well as an appetizer or as dry item on the party menu. Give it a try and I bet half the dish will be gone even before it is served!! Ingredients For Marinade 1 lb boneless chicken 4 tbsp ginger garlic paste 2 tsp Red chili powder 1 tsp cumin seeds 3 tsp Fennel seeds 1/2 tsp garam masala powder 2 tsp lemon juice 1 egg salt per taste For deep Frying 2 tbsp All purpose flour(Maida) oil for frying For Garnish 1/2 big onion sliced lengthwise 10 green chilies slit lengthwise handful of curry leaves Handful of cilantro leaves Method Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and clean them. In a small bowl beat the egg well and set aside. In a big bowl take chicken pieces and add in all the marinade ingredients except for the egg. mix real well. Now add in the beaten egg and mix well. Set aside for an hour. After an hour sprinkle the all purpose flour on top of the marinated chicken and mix well. Line a plate wi...

My first taste of Biryani is from my mom's kitchen. She used to make amazing biryani even before I knew the concept of restaurants and carry outs. She is my true inspiration when it comes to cooking(just cooking :P he he he).  I have tasted and made many biryanis later but for me My mom's is the best when it comes to Chicken biryani. Today I made this dish the same way my mom used to make with very slight changes. Try it out and I bet this will become your favorite too.... Ingredients For Marinade 2lbs Chicken 1 cup thick Yogurt 1 tbsp Red Chilli powder 1 1/2 tbsp Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp Shai Jeera 1 tbsp Gram masala 1 tsp Cumin seeds Salt per taste(may be a tsp to 2. I usually go by my hand) For Biryani 4 cups Rice 5 cups Water 3 tbsp + 2tbsp Butter or ghee 4 tbsp oil 5 or 6 curry leaves 2 large Onion chopped length wise 1 big Tomato sliced length wise 10 Green chillies slit length wise 1 1/2 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1 big bunch of coriander/cil...

If You are looking for a side dish to pair up with Biryani or Pulao dishes I have one dish for you - Chicken Chalna. Chicken Chalna is a famous dish in Tamilnadu and I came across this dish online while browsing for something else. I added my own little twists to make it match my taste buds but in a good way though :).. This dish is not too spicy yet not too mild...not too thick yet not too thin but carry perfect consistency and taste to go well with Biryani or any spicy rice dishes. Give it a try.... Ingredients 1 lb Chicken (with bones) 1 big Onion chopped fine(around 1 1/2 to 2 cups of chopped onion) 1 Tomato chopped fine(around 3/4 cup chopped tomato) 2 Green chilies slit lengthwise 1 1/2 tbsp Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp Red chilli powder(per spice level) 2 tbsp thick Yogurt 1 tsp Garam masala 1 tbsp Oil Salt per taste For Paste 6 Cashew nuts 4 tbsp grated coconut powder 2 tbsp peanuts(Verusenaga gullu) dry roasted and peeled 1 tbsp cumin seeds 1 1/2 tbsp...

Here is dish a which is rich and tasty from Mughlai cuisine. Most of the mughlai dishes are creamy, rich with hint of nuts. The dish I prepared below is on the notes of Korma but little more richer, creamier and of course tastier :). Here is almond chicken chicken cooked in rich almond sauce. Give it a try!! Ingredients 2 lbs Chicken 10 whole Almonds + 2 tbsp Dry coconut powder or freshly grated coconut + 6 green chillies + 1 medium onion -- Grind to a smooth paste adding little water 1 tbsp ground almond powder 1/2 cup thick yogurt 1 tsp red chilli powder 2 tsp ginger garlic paste 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp garam masala Salt per taste 1/2 tsp Turmeric 2 tbsp oil For Tempering 1 tsp black cumin seeds (Shahi Jeera) 1 tsp cumin seeds 3 cloves small piece of cinnamon pinch of nutmeg 4 curry leaves Method Grind whole almonds, coconut powder, onion and green chillies to a smooth paste adding little bit of water. Set aside. Heat oil in a t...