Tag: non-veg food

The Curious Case of Mrs. Hen’s kids!

With an amazing lot of activity happening in a day, bachelors or bachelorettes staying alone seldom have time to treat their taste buds right. One day it is a meeting with the boss, another day it is work at home and till the third day you get so tired that it takes an effort to even get up from your bed. And preparing a meal in all this haste seems extravagant and too elaborate an activity to be carried out. And in this rigorous lifestyle of yours, the only thing that suffers is your stomach and more importantly, your taste buds. But we say no more of this! Today let us learn about some new tricks and revisit some old ones about Mrs. Hen’s kids – the eggs.

Eggs are often restricted to the breakfast and that too you seldom have. Eggs are undermined most of the times, but its importance becomes clear when you need some quick fixes to get you jumpstarted. So, let’s start our romantic affair with eggs which should last longer than your relationship with any other human being.

1. The Quintessential Omelet:

This dish comes in handy when your refrigerator is running dry and your patience is running lose with all that hunger. Two eggs is what it takes to quiet down your stomach till the time you can arrange for something heavy or till Dominoz delivers that pizza you ordered. Breaking the eggs, mixing in some spices that you desire, a pan slicked with oil and the battered egg mixture on the pan. Blink your eyes and your omelet is ready. This recipe is heart-rote to everyone so much so that a more elaborate description would be shaming this article. But people might not be aware of the nutrient punch this wonder sphere packs with itself. An egg contains 6 gms of Protein and 70 calories. Now while you rejoice that omelet with toasted bread, let’s move onto our next big egg thing.

2. Eggs with soldiers:

There are times at night when you just crave for something to eat and are bored of the traditional egg recipes. Well in that case we have this amazing recipe for you. If you only have 5 minutes to spare, this recipe will be even more perfect for you. Place 4 eggs in boiling water and cook over low flame for 4-5 minutes. Caution: Do not let the eggs come to a boil. Now remove the eggs from the saucer and peel off the tops of the eggs. Add in some salt and desired spices on the top and eat the newer rgg recipe with bread sticks. Taste bhi, health bhi!!

3. French Toast:

Again. A relatively new and old recipe. Take out that borderline expired loaf of bread from your refrigerator and batter 4 eggs with spices added. Meanwhile, light up the stove and put a pan over with a slick of oil. Dip both the faces of a bread piece deep into the battered eggs such that both the faces are smeared with egg residue over their entire surface. Put it on the pan and cook for a minute maximum both sides. And voila! Your French toast are ready in a jiffy. Soak in 4-5 breads and you will be content for the next few hours to go.

4. Tea Egg:

Now Tea egg might take up some time, but this is nevertheless a newer recipe that people might have heard less about. Tea egg is basically a Chinese snack. Take a few eggs and boil them for 7-8 minutes. Boil them till the point where cracks develop on its surface. Drain the water but don’t peel the eggs yet. This crack-laden egg is then again put to boil in tea or sauce or spices. This dish is also called marble egg because the cracks in the shell create darkened lines with marble-like patterns. Chinese people commonly use a five-spice powder which contains cinnamon, fennel-seeds, cloves and Szechuan peppercorns. The eggs are boiled in the spiced-tea liquid and simmered at medium heat. The simmering allows the liquid to seep through the cracks and attribute flavors to the boiled eggs.

5. Quick Egg muffin:

People with a frenetic paced lifestyle must already be making merry at the name of the dish. The name in itself has quick in it. And you can be sure of one thing; this dish lives upto its name. Egg muffins are like Frittatas just smaller in size. This dish is prepared using scrambled eggs added with fresh chopped spinach and shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese. Whisk the eggs just like you do for an omelet, with spices, onions and spinach if you like. Cook in the microwave oven for 45 seconds and your hunger is done. It’s gone with the sound of the microwave’s beep.

6. Eggs Benedict:

Eggs Benedict is an American breakfast and usually served along with ham or bacon. To make this dish you will have to devote some of your precious time, but the result will have you amazingly thrilled. First you have to make something the world calls the Hollandaise sauce. This is made by whisking egg yolks and squeezed lemon juice together in a bowl till the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Put the bowl in a steam bath and do not let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Add some froze butter cubes and continue to whisk till the btter melts. Remove from heat and whisk in salt and pepper and cover it. Heat the bacon and toast the English muffins. Cook some more eggs till the egg white is set and the yolk is soft. Lay down the muffin, bacon on its top, the half fried egg on its top and pour the Hollandaise sauce over. Garnish with some salt and pepper.

And there you have it, 6 quick fixes with eggs that are not to be missed.

January 8, 2015
What makes Delhi, Dilli…

A very long time ago when the heart of our nation was not famous for its countless rapes, an absent Government and Mufflerman; there was actually a city and a world inside that city that everybody loved. What made Delhi earn the jealousy of other metropolitan cities in the country, what is it that made Delhi stand shoulder to shoulder with Mumbai, the economic capital of India. Why is it that, people who have ever stayed in Delhi leave it with a heavy heart and tell everyone else that they can’t understand the emotions attached with the city if they have never ever lived in the city. Let’s find out!

The Beginning of the Real Delhi:

Now, the love for Delhi started long back when the Mughals transferred the Capital of India from Agra to Delhi. This is when the real on-ground transformations started taking place in Delhi. Before this move, people were as oblivious of Delhi as they were of any village in India. Firstly, with the onset of Mughals came along great Architectural Feats. For example Delhi boasts of the largest Brick Minaret in the world the Qutub Minar (well, it was built by Qutubbudin Aibek), it flaunts one of the largest mausoleums in India – The Jama Masjid, It carries reticence with its Old Fort. Also the Red Fort that instills in us a feeling of patriotism whenever we see it on our TV sets. All these Architectural marvels brought a Mughal charm to this city of ours and elevated it above its neighboring cities.

Dilli and the finger licking tales:

Along with the great architectural skill set of the Mughals arrived in Delhi their eternally pristine culinary taste. Their food was not just food, but Art on Stove. The Tandoori murg, The kadhai paneer, the Nihari,the Paya, the Kachri Qeema, the Delhi-mein-world-famous-Mughlai Chicken, their biryani style and countless others set the tongues of the native Delhiites wagging. Not only did their cuisine establish itself in Delhi, it even grew there. More and more dishes were invented as an amalgamation of Delhi and Mughlai cuisines. This was a great culinary juxtaposition just waiting to happen. Seemed like this match was made in heaven. So, the Mughlai cuisine added one more feather to Delhi’s hat.

Asli Delhi, Purani Dilli:

Now, the heart of the Heart of the Nation. The Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazaar area. For those new to the maps of Delhi, these areas lie in the center of Delhi and still boast of historic architecture. These areas are famous for their super cramped streets, the always bustling crowd and nagging shopkeepers always trying to sell you substandard products. By the names in the list, all these seem to be pretty depressing by the levels of the national capital. But once you visit the place it seems just like your extended neighbourhood. It won’t seem as a market place to you, but a big great family living in harmony yet tearing each other’s hair out. But there is a lot to watch out for in the Purani Dilli area. Since it is a crowded marketplace, pickpockets are always on the prowl. Also some shopkeepers tend to get too close for comfort levels in order to get their products sold. But every coin has two sides and prefer to see the loved one here please. Purani Dilli broken up and explained in pieces in the next points, because it ain’t so small that it can be contained in one measly point.

The Paranthewaali gali:

Now, now, now. Every once in a while a moment comes in every person’s life that can’t be expressed even if you keep squealing with delight for a fortnight. For a foodie that moment would come when he enters the paraanthe waale gali. The lane where our Bollywood Star Akshay Kumar slaved and toiled for many years. The paraanthe waali gali is an even narrower lane than what already was a cramped main road of Chandni Chowk. There are a multitudes of shops there only selling paranthas. But mind you, these are not ordinary paranthas, these are paranthas made of Rabri, Paranthas made of bitter gourd and paranthas made of lady finger and all the odd vegetables and sweets you can ever garner. And these are not made on a pan or a stove, these aranthas are deep fried just like samosas and tikkis are. Your whole perception of paranthas changes after entering this foodie paradise. This narrow lane adds another dimension to your notion of parantha, by doing something with it that was unimaginable before this.

The Japanese Samosa:

Well, to be honest, this is just sold in one shop in the entire Chandni chowk. But I swear to God, that you won’t have eaten anything like this before this. This samosa’s shape is more or less like regular samosas but the corn flour covering on the outside is striped. Thus the Japanese samosa is not wholly covered but partially revealing. The inner filling forms the crux of the whole dish. It is not spicy or filled with mashed potatoes for that matter. It is filled with a sweet mixture like that of a halwa. Thus changing the whole thought process around the samosa. By just keeping the name and shape intact, this exquisite dish retain the name value and the ingenuous sweet filling inside and the striped contours give it a modern twist. And thus, the Japanese Sammosa, The tour of the real Delhi has just begun. However, even the most brilliant of writers and esteemed authors would fail in describing the exact charisma and fascination of the city. Such complexly woven is the feel of it. I am just a young scribe who is trying to portray to you an image that tells what exactly Delhi is, if you have have never been there or miss the hell out of that angelic city of yours. To be continued…

December 30, 2014
Sweet Potato: Delicacies you cannot miss

SWEET POTATO DISHES

Sweet potato is the healthier replacement of our beloved potatoes and it is loved by most of us. Packed with important vitamins and other nutrients, sweet potato helps us stay fit. They are also a good source of potassium and iron which are two most important minerals for our body. Sweet potatoes are not only delicious but they also come with long list of health benefits. So, head to the nearest grocery store now and grab some sweet potatoes. Here are a few dishes to get you started.

1. Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg of all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt •

I cup butter

• 1 sweet potato

• 4 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup buttermilk

• 1/4 -1/2 cup unsalted butter

• 3-4 tablespoon maple syrup

Method:

• Cook and mash the sweet potato.

• Now, add buttermilk to mashed sweet potato and blend it well.

• In another bowl add the all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Add the butter to this and mix it well.

• Add the two mixtures and mix it well into soft dough.

• Roll out the dough on a smooth surface to about a thickness of 1 inch. Use a biscuit-cutter to cut into your desired shapes.

• Bake it for 15 minutes approximately and your sweet potato biscuits are ready.

For the Maple Butter:

• Mix the maple syrup with the butter to get a smooth mixture.

• Serve with the warm biscuits.

2. Sweet Potato Patties

Ingredients:

• 4 sweet potatoes

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup of chopped onion

• 1-2 teaspoons of chilli powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 1 teaspoon pepper

Method:

• Grate the sweet potatoes and keep it aside.

• In a pan, sauté the cumin seeds until brown.

• Whisk the eggs and add the grated sweet potato, chopped onion, chilli powder, pepper, salt and the cumin seeds.

• Heat oil in a frying pan. Now put spoonful of batter into it and fry until golden brown.

• Serve it with sauce or chutney.

3. Sweet Potato Pancake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup wheat flour

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 sweet potato

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• 2 cups of milk

• 2 eggs

• Butter

• Maple Syrup

Method:

• Cook the sweet potato and peel it. Now, puree it and keep it aside.

• Take a bowl and whisk the eggs. Add wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and milk.

• Heat a pan and butter it properly. Cook a spoonful of the batter until golden brown on both the sides.

• Serve the hot sweet potato pancakes with maple syrup and enjoy!

4. Sweet Potato Pasta Ingredients:

• 1 cup of whole wheat pasta

•1 sweet potato

• 1 red bell pepper (thinly sliced)

• 1 cup diced tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon crushed garlic

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2-3 tablespoons of chopped parsley

• 1/2 cup cheese

• Salt

Method:

• Peel and shred the sweet potato and keep it aside.

• Cook the pasta until tender.

• Take a skillet and add 1 tablespoon of oil along with garlic. Keep stirring until you get the aroma of the garlic. Now, add the sweet potato, tomatoes, bell pepper and water. Cook until the bell pepper is crisp and tender. • Drain the pasta but keep half of the water it was cooked in. Now, put the pasta back into the vessel and add the sweet potato mixture, 1 tablespoon oil, parsley, lemon juice, salt and cheese. Add the retained pasta water and combine the mixture well. Your delicious sweet potato pasta is ready!

5. Sweet Potato Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

• 1 large roasted sweet potato

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

• Peel and puree the roasted sweet potato until smooth.

• Combine all the ingredients and blend it well until smooth. It should in a puree form. Your easy-to-make sweet potato chocolate pudding is ready to serve!

6. Sweet Potato Wedges

Ingredients:

• 2-3 sweet potatoes

• Pepper

• Salt

Method:

• Peel the sweet potato and cut into wedges.

• Mix the wedges with some oil, pepper and salt. Blend it well.

• Roast the wedges in the oven for around 15 minutes until they turn golden brown.

• Sprinkle some pepper on the top and serve them hot with ketchup.

7. Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato (peeled and diced)

• 1 chopped onion

• 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic

• 3-4 carrots (peeled and sliced)

• 1 red pepper, sliced

• 1 teaspoon ginger

• 1/4 cup yogurt

• 1 cup chicken broth

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.

• To this add the chicken broth and two cups of water. Stir well.

• Now, add sweet potato, carrots, red pepper and ginger. Cook it well.

• Once it is done, keep this mixture in the fridge for around 25 minutes. • Next, remove the vegetables from the mixture and puree them until thick.

• Put this puree into the soup and blend them well. • Cook until the soup thickens. When it almost finished, add yogurt and mix it well. Serve and enjoy!

November 9, 2014
Hyderabadi Haleem recipe

Haleem is a dish that is made out of wheat, barley, meat ( Generally made up of mutton ) but sometimes it is made out of chicken along with the lentils and spices.Generally this dish takes too much time for preparation around seven to eight hours, so that it leads to the formation of a very soft paste like substance by blending the flavors of spices, meat, barley and wheat.This dish is very famous around south east and central Asia.The preparation of it varies from region to region and is mostly prepared during the Ramadan season.

Hyderabadi Haleem

History:

This delicious South Asian dish is originated from the Arabs during the rule of the Nizams.This is a Arabic dish which is consisting of meat and it is containing pounded wheat as the chief ingredients.From the original dish slight variations are introduced in taking flavors that resulted in the distinct taste from other types of haleem.

Hyderabad special haleem history

Ingredients:

1) Take one kg of boneless mutton or with bone

2) Take 200 grams of broken wheat

3) Take four teaspoons of ginger garlic paste

4) Take one cup of urad daal

5) Take one cup of chana daal

6) Take one teaspoon of red chilli powder

7) Take half tea spoon of turmeric powder

8) Take one to half cup of curd

9) Take two cups of onions that are length wise sliced and make a deep fry so that they change their color to deep brown.

10) Take two to three cardamom pieces

11) Take two small cinnamon sticks

12) Take four cloves

13) Take one tea spoon of coriander powder

14) Take one fourth the teaspoon of Garam masala powder

15) Take one fourth the teaspoon of jeera powder

16) Take half teaspoon of black pepper corns

17) Take one teaspoon of ghee

18) Take half the cup of fresh coriander leaves

19) Take half the cup of fresh mint leaves

20) Take four green chillies

21) Take one finely chopped tomato

22) Take half the cup of cashew nuts

23) Take salt that is sufficient for taste

24) Take oil that is required

Ingredients and preparation of Haleem

Preparation:

This is a dish that looks as if it is a signature of the festive month of Ramadan.This is a very long process of preparation and it takes about seven to eight hours for preparing it.This is a dish mostly available during the month of Ramadan where most of the Muslims do fasting.It is very popular dish especially Hyderabadi Haleem is very famous around the world and it has international demand for this product.This is a dish that is the best for those Muslims to break their fast with absolute delicious taste.Apart from Hyderabad dum biryani this is the most taken food item.There is a lot of hard work involved in the making of this dish.

Step 1:

Take a bowl and mix the broken wheat along with urad and chana daal and let this mixture soak in water for at least 4 hours.The water that is taken for soaking this mixture must be double the quantity of dal and wheat mixture.

Step 2:

Take a cup of long and thin sliced onions pieces in a cooker and make a deep fry in fortune rice bran oil.Fry them until their color changes to dark brown.While making a fry of onions along with it put cardamom cinnamon and clove pieces also and fry for about two minutes.

Step 3:

Now take the mutton pieces and wash them thoroughly.Put them in a cooker and add one fourth tea spoon of turmeric powder, one tea spoon of red chilli powder and add one cup of water.All of them are stirred continuously until they mix well and close the lid of the cooker.Let the flame be continued until five whistles.

Step 4:

After taking it from cooker separate the bones and meat.Now meat separated from bones is placed in a cooker and add one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon coriander powder, one fourth teaspoon of Garam masala and jeera powder.Also add four green chillies, half cup coriander leaves, mint leaves and the fine chopped tomato pieces.To this add curd and a cup of water and mix all the contents well.The cooker is allowed to cook for 20 minutes on a high flame.

Step 5:

While the meat is being cooked take a pan on other side and put the well soaked broken wheat, urad and chana dal mixture in it.To this mixture add two glasses of water and mix well.

Step 6:

The bones that are separated at step 4 are taken in a container along with dal, wheat mixture and one fourth teaspoon of turmeric powder.Add salt to it and allow it to cook for about 20 minutes and stir it continuously.

Step 7:

After the bones are cooked for twenty minutes it is taken out and the bones are mashed using a wooden churner for at least five minutes.

Step 8:

In a container take the meat that is cooked and is added to the dal mixture and turn on the flame and let it be cooked for one hour on a low flame.Continuous stirring should be done for every three minutes for the complete one hour.

Ste 9:

After the completion of one hour check whether it is like a thick paste or not.Don’t overcook as the taste and feel will be spoiled and the color becomes brown.So we must turn off the flame when it is golden yellow in color.That’s it tasty spicy Ramadan season special Haleem is ready it can be garnished with fried onions, cashew nuts, coriander and can be served in a serving bowl.

Hyderabadi Haleem is ready

July 10, 2014
Mainstream Nutrition Myths

People generally have a lot of nutrition myths in their knowledge and they follow it as they have heard it from somewhere and consider it as a true fact. But today science and technology has progressed a lot. We no longer live in the world where facts cannot be verified. The scientific studies have proved that the following mentioned myths are baseless and people should ignore them completely. So here we go.

You should eat less salt so as to prevent the heart attacks: Yes you may have heard this myth from a lot of people advising you to eat less salt as in helps in preventing the heart attacks. While this has been proved that eating less salt reduces the blood pressure of the human body to a very slight level, there has not been any link established between the heart attacks and the salt consumptions. If you are suffering from hypertension then salt intake should be restricted to prescribed limit. So don’t go for the boring and tasteless food. Eat as such as salt you feel like.

Having several small meals is more beneficial for health: people often argue that that those who eat several small meals in a day are more active as their metabolism rate is higher than the people who eat at the fixed timings. This is again a myth and it is not correct. The activeness of the human body depends upon the calories that are burnt throughout the day. So if you are having 6-7 small meals or going for the regular 3 meals, the effects will be same. Eating very often can also increase the abdominal fats which is very harmful.

You should go for foods which have high carbohydrates and low fats: Now this is one such myth which is extremely popular. You must have often heard people saying that one should eat food items which have high carbohydrates and low fats, as in this way you can prevent the body from any sort of disease and stay healthy. Further they also help in losing weight and prevent the risk of cancer. This is completely baseless. There has been several studies conducted on this myth but none has been able to give results which can support this claim.

Avoid eating yolks in eggs as they have high cholesterol and causes heart disease: I mean seriously you believe this myth. Yolk has the tremendous source of essential vitamins and minerals which the body requires for proper functioning. It has a high amount of good cholesterols which are essential for the human beings and clearly it does not cause the heart attacks. If you are diabetic then surely you should not eat eggs. But if you are healthy then you must eat eggs as they are among the most nutritious foods that we have. So who so ever tells you to stop eating yolk or eggs, ask them to read about the benefits of eating eggs and get their facts corrected.

Avoid coffee as it is unhealthy: You must have been advised by your loved ones that you should not drink coffee too much as it contains caffeine which is not only dangerous for the health but also gets you addicted towards it. But the latest studies conducted have yielded different results. According to them, coffee offers several health benefits and so you should drink it more often. It is a wonderful source of the antioxidants and helps people in getting rid of the depression and diabetes.

Say no to high protein diets: Most of the people believe that diets which are high in proteins such as the chickens and meats causes the extra strain on the kidneys and make it prone to the diseases. Result of which can lead to the kidney failure. But this is not at all true. The protein intake is completely safe for the people who are healthy and only those people who have kidney diseases should stop themselves from eating protein rich foods. Proteins act as a wonderful agent which suppresses the appetite and helps in the weight loss process.

Avoid full fat dairy products: you must have seen people opting for the toned milk instead of the full cream milk. It is because they believe that fully fat dairy products have a high amount of the calories and saturated fats present in them which results in the increase of obesity and the risk of the heart disease. But none of studies conducted so far have not been able to prove these myths as a true fact. The dairy products are preferred as they have high amount of fat in them and so if you choose to go for the less fat products then it is surely a bad idea.

Sugar is not harmful for the human body: We use sugars in several drinks and food items daily without paying attention towards the amount of sugar that we are consuming. Excess sugar consumption has several health disadvantages. You should check the consumption of sugar as it provides the empty calories which are not good for the healthy body. Not only it can cause you obesity, diabetes but it also affects the metabolic reactions going inside the human body.

June 28, 2014
Red Meat: Is it really bad for your health?

Red meat is certainly one food item which has created a lot of controversies and people are divided on the basis of their opinions id it sis good or bad for the health. When the red meat is raw, it is of red color and moreover its color does not change to white after it is cooked. There had been many reports lately suggesting that red meat is not good for the human health and so people should immediately stop eating it. These reports have been prepared on the basis of observational studies. Almost all the meat which is obtained from the body of mammals is red meat as they have a high concentration of myoglobin in it. The red meat lovers are in dilemma that whether they should eat their favorite food or skip it for the sake of their health. Some people have claimed that these reports are not correct and if you eat unprocessed i.e. the fresh raw meat then there is no harm. You just have to pay attention towards the fat content and the preparation of the dishes made out of red meat as it is the best way you can stay protected and enjoy your favorite food. The processed red meats are the ones which undergo various processes such as the smoking, adding preservatives etc. after it is obtained from the animal’s body. Here we are discussing if the red meat is actually bad for the health or it is just a myth that people have.

Talking about the red meat it is a wonderful source of many essential nutrients and minerals which the human body needs. It is in fact the most nutritious food which is available. If you measure 100 grams of red meat, it will have the following minerals and nutrients in it. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), Vitamin D, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Phosphorus, Iron (12 % of RDA), Zinc (32 % of RDA), Selenium (24 % of RDA), Creatine, Riboflavin, Thiamin and Lipoic acid. It also has the high calories and about 10 grams of fats in it. Those people who are vegetarians are deprived of certain nutrients such as Carnosine and Creatine. Red meat is a rich source of both these proteins which is essential for the timely development of human body. Red meat also increases the hemoglobin count in the blood and also helps in building and repairing of the muscles. The meat obtained from the body of the chickens, pigs and rabbits are actually white meat and it is also completely safe to eat.

There has been so many research conducted to verify if the red meat actually causes the so called cardiovascular diseases and diabetes which results into the death of the person. And every research has given us the report that these are just a myth and there is no evidence which can support these claims. But the catch here is that you should eat only those red meats which are unprocessed one. The processed red meats are unhealthy and they can therefore lead to you all these diseases. You have to clearly understand the distinction between the two and choose accordingly.

Another myth that people generally have is that red meat is one such food items whose consumption can increase the chances of cancer in the body. Generally people relate colorectal cancer with the red meat which is one of the most common cancers in today’s time. Although the careful studies conducted by the experts suggests that there is weak link between these two but since there is not enough evidence as the studies which have been conducted so far are the observational ones and so they cannot say that eating red meat will cause you colorectal cancer and this is actually a myth that people generally have.

Now for those people who love to eat red meat we hereby recommend that when you prepare any red meat dish, cook it at moderate temperature. The high temperature cooking can lead to the formation of the harmful compounds such as AGE, HA and PAH. These compounds can then harm your health. Any food item if cooked at high temperature will lead to the formation of these compounds in it. So go for the options such as the steaming and stewing. Further if you want to cook gravy dishes with red meat then first marinate it with the garlic or olive oil or red wine as this will reduce the formation of the HCA to a larger extent. When you start cooking, make sure that the meat is not overcooked and none of the pieces are burnt because of it. The burnt pieces must be thrown away. All these methods that have been mentioned here are for precautions. So eat unprocessed red meat by cooking it gently and make sure that they are not charred. Red meat is actually very healthy and if you are eating it frequently then I bet you will have a healthier body.

June 26, 2014
JEEZ! Chinese
Familiar with fried rice, spring rolls and Manchurian?

Thanks to the Chinese for blessing us with such an appetizing cuisine. Unlike the Italian and French cuisines, Chinese cuisine is less sophisticated has far more outreach to the general population around the world. No wonder it’s ranked among the best cuisines the world.But sadly, noodles bears the overused symbolism of Chinese in food, like Butter chicken and Naan to the Indian cuisine.

History of Chinese cuisine dates back to thousands of years and has encountered change at every level from time to time. People in china are especially particular about their food and hence they have eight culinary traditions namely, ANHUI, CANTONESE, FUJIAN, HUNAN, JIANGSU, SHANDONG, SZECHUAN and ZHEJIANG cuisines. The prominence of this cuisine had taken it out past the national boundaries to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and America who have incorporated their native flavors to the cuisine.

Let’s learn more about it in particular, Staples in Chinese cuisine involve rice, noodles, vegetables, sauces and seasonings. It doesn’t include much of Dairy products but the same is subtly compensated by variety of seafood, poultry and meat. Corn, millet, cabbage, sweet potato and tofu are eaten the most under vegetables and cereals categories. It is said that that when in past famines were frequented much, it posed a threat to the food supply for general population. At that time rice became an important part of every meal as it was available in plentiful and was observed to go well with both vegetables and meat based on what was available. This gave rice a revered position in their platter which is cherished still the same. And yes! It is traditional for them to use chopsticks and soup spoons for every meal.So now that we had familiarized ourselves to the cuisine, moving towards more exciting part let’s regard some really delectable must have dishes. Shall we?
1. PEKING DUCK
Peking duck is a duck dish originated from Beijing and cooked from the imperial era is now considered a national dish. Relished for the thin and crisp duck skin, the dish is eaten with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce with pancakes rolled around the fillings. After cooking, dish is served in three steps: skin dipped in garlic and sugar sauce, meat served with steamed pancakes, sweet bean sauce and spring onions. The rest and vegetables is either eaten separately or mixed with the broth which customers often takeaway.
1. KUNG PAO CHICKEN
Next on the list is the very delicious Kung Pao chicken, categorized under Szechuan cuisine originated primarily from the south-western parts of China. Known for its spicy twist, dish is made up of chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chili peppers. The original version of Kung Pao chicken involves marinating diced chicken and stir frying it with vegetables and peanuts. In vegetables, chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns are important components. While preparing, peanuts or cashew nuts are deep fried in the wok first till they are golden brown and afterwards rest of the ingredients are added. In the westernized versions of Kung Pao chicken instead of marinated diced chicken, beef, pork or seafood are often substituted which is then cooked by adding orange or orange juice with ginger, garlic and corn starch. The dish is garnished with roasted peanuts or cashew nuts.
1. CHOWMEIN
Now who wouldn’t know this? Very well relished by everyone, it literally means “stir-fried” noodles”. Though there are many regional variations to it, it’s basically they are prepared in two ways: 1. Steamed and 2. Crisp. The Steamed chowmein has long and rounded noodles with softer texture than crispy chowmein, which has fried and flat noodles and is crisper and drier in texture.

The popularity of chowmein is so widespread that it has more than 5 varieties collaborating with respective regional cuisines all over the world. There are still differences except the basic texture of noodles between crispy and steamed noodles. Like crispy noodles May or may not contained any vegetables or and be simply strained and stir fried, while steamed chowmein usually carrots, onions or celery, cabbage and sprouts.

The former is served with thick brown sauce while the other is topped with soy sauce. Chowmein can be custom incorporated into Frankies, burgers or you can add chicken or egg to increase the nutrient value of this delight.
1. WANTONS
Dumpling! Yes, wantons are a common addition to soups in Chinese cuisine. The dough is prepared by using flour, water, egg (as per preference) and salt which is then made into small wrappers filled with meat or shrimp or steamed vegetables seasoned with spices, garlic and green onions. The shapes are made as per desire but most versatile shape is right triangle, made by folding the wrapper in half by pulling two diagonally opposite corners.

Relished by boiling and serving them in soups, wantons are also preferred deep fried, like other Chinese dishes it also has various regional variations. Basically the differences lie between the shapes and the filling inside the wantons. If not comfortable with sweating to cook, the pre cooked versions of wantons are available in the market. Enjoy the delicacy with Hoisin or garlic sauce.
1. POPULAR INDO-CHINESE ENTREES
Now talking about what we plate after collaborating with Chinese cuisine, we actually have plenty from appetizers to desserts. One of the most popular appetizers is momos apart from apart from spring rolls and soups.Popular entrees include chilli and Manchurian dishes which is often cooked with either chicken for non vegetarian foodies and is mostly substituted by paneer and other vegetables like cauliflower and baby corns for Vegetarians.

All this and more delicacies are there to explore in this cuisine, which is ever evolving and still have roots to the Chinese tradition. So, explore into the finesse of Chinese.
June 24, 2014
Delhi’s Street Food

There are many cities in the world which are famous for their street food and without a doubt Delhi finds a place in that list. Delhi is not only the capital of India but also a place which has rich heritage and history behind it. Although Delhi is full of high end restaurants and hotels which provide excellent food and ambience, Delhi’s street foods have their own separate name and reputation. These street foods are famous for being delicious and exquisite. And so people are crazy towards these street foods. The best things about the Delhi’s street foods is that they are not only fabulous in taste but are also very much pocket friendly and so everybody can afford it. Further there are numerous options available so people can select the dish as per their choice. Once you taste the dishes which are sold here, you will surely not be able to stop yourself from going back to the same place again and enjoy these appetizing dishes. This article is dedicated to all those people who are very much passionate about trying new, delicious food items in Delhi.

Dilli Haat:

Everybody knows Dilli Haat as a place which is perfect for window shopping and so it is one of such places where the people love to visit. Dilli Haat is also known for the wide range of street food stalls selling the delicious dishes. You can find all type of Indian foods be it a North Indian cuisine or South Indian cuisine. There are also specific shops selling the food items from a particular state. For a person who loves to try new dishes, Dilli Haat is the perfect destination as they will find numerous options in one location.

Connaught Place:

Connaught Place is located into the heart of Delhi and it is one such place where the people living here love to visit. It is because this place not only has shops of almost all brands but also famous food chains, restaurants, clubs, five star hotels and street food stalls which are open till late night. The famous food items here are Mutton Samosa, wide range of chicken, mutton and fish dishes, vegetarian and non-vegetarian rolls, Rasqulla, Chole Bhature, Biryani and many more. You will certainly enjoy shopping here and when you will get hungry you will have enormous choice to choose from.

Chandni Chowk:

Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest areas in Delhi and is often crowded with people coming here for shopping and offering prayers at the Jama Masjid. But without a doubt, the wide variety of street food which you can get in Chandni Chowk is simply unmatchable. You may be a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian; this place will surely make you happy with its exquisite dishes. You can visit the Karim’s if you love eating chicken and muttons. Else if you are a vegetarian, then you can simply walk into the Paranthe Wali Gali and get a taste of the delicious paranthas which are sold here from generations. Further you will also find Jalebi, Kachori, Dahi Bhalle, different types of Chatt, Lassi and Pakodas which will surely make you fall in love with them.

Khan Market:

Khan Market is one of the high end shopping markets in Delhi but the food items that are available here are very much pocket friendly and people simply love them. From noon till late mid night you will find variety of Chinese and Indian foods in various stalls. So the people living nearby Khan Market often pay visit in evening to taste the mouth-watering dishes that are sold here. Momos, Chilly Potatos, Soups, Corn and Chatt are the famous dishes in this place.

Pandara Road:

Pandara Road is another excellent place in Delhi where you will find delicious street foods. If you are a person who likes to eat spicy food, then this is the place you should visit. The Punjabi and the North Indian cuisines available in this place are simply amazing and eating here will surely be a delightful experience for you. Both for the non-vegetarians and the vegetarians there are tremendous options available and you will certainly not be disappointed with the food here. If you love Punjabi dishes then Pandara Road is the place you should visit as it has almost every dish which is made in Punjab and their preparation is so healthy and spicy that you will certainly feel like coming back to this place again.

Nehru Place:

Though out the day you will find Nehru Place filled with people as it is one of the biggest electronics market in India. But apart from the computer and electronic shops here, you will also find numerous food corners there. Again the Punjabi food is the most famous here. But then you can also find the food stalls offering the fast foods, continental and north Indian cuisines. The best thing about the food sold here is that they are delicious and healthy to eat. One simply gets a much desired relief after eating in the food stalls here.

June 24, 2014
Kentucky Fried Chicken: finger lickin’ good

Kentucky Fried Chicken which is most commonly known as KFC is an international fast food restaurant which currently has presence in about 118 countries. This fast food chain is specialized in preparing and serving delicious fried chickens to their customers. Currently there are approximately 19,000 outlets of KFC in different parts of the world and this shows the enormous name and success this fast food chain has achieved since it opened its first outlet in the year 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After United States, KFC opened its first international food store in United Kingdom and then in various parts of the world. Today it is the second largest food chain in the whole world and is only behind the McDonalds.

The main product of this food chain is fried chickens which are prepared using 11 secret herbs and spices. The recipe is a secret which has not been disclosed till date. Today they also offer chicken burgers, French fries, salads, desserts, wraps and soft drinks. People are just crazy about their trade mark bucket fired chicken which is simply luscious in taste. If you have not visited KFC yet then this is one such place where you should surely visit and for sure you will feel like eating fried chicken sold here again and again. “finger lickin’ good” is the official slogan of KFC which can be seen with its logo. Yum Brands now owns this brand and has a clear cut motive to expand this internationally acclaimed food chain to each and every corner of the world. The total revenue of KFC is 23 billion US dollars for the year 2013.

One of the reasons why KFC fried chickens are so popular among the masses is that they are served fresh to the customers. If the prepared chicken is not sold within 90 minutes then according to the company’s policy, it is simply discarded. People love to eat here as the chickens sold here are exquisite and appetizing. You will simply love the crispy chicken legs, chicken nuggets, hot wings, zinger burgers and other dishes here as they taste succulent and luscious. KFC has simply redefined the way the chicken is prepared and eaten in different parts of the world.

Harland Sanders is the person who started this business. He is commonly called as Colonel Sanders by his lovers. Initially he used to sell fried chickens in his restaurants at Corbin, Kentucky. His restaurant was named as Sanders Court & Café. Harland Sanders used to cook the fired chickens with the help of his secret recipes which his mother taught him and people used to love his cooked chickens. His success story is simply amazing and we should learn from his life and struggles. Harland Sanders had a dream to expand his empire and sell his delicious chickens in different parts of the country. The struggle that he went through and still where this food chain stands today is unbelievable. It shows that if you are determined to work hard and chase our dream then nothing can stop you from attaining success. He was determined to use the franchising concept in his fried chicken business.

Before opening his first commercial outlet he had to travel to almost all the parts of the United States where he tried to convince the restaurant and business owners to use his recipe and start selling fried chickens. In return he asked for a small amount of share from the profits made. The restaurants and the business owners thought the Harland Sanders idea’s to be a flop one and he was rejected by almost everyone. It is said that he faced over 1000 rejections. Just imagine his will to taste success. His strong will power made him a known figure in the whole world. By the year 1963, Harland Sanders managed to open a whopping 600 franchise of KFC in the United States alone but his growing age forced him to stop indulging into business any further and so he sold the KFC Empire to the group of business enthusiastic people in the year 1964. The reigns of the empire has been many shifted a times since then but the picture of Colonel Sanders still lies in its logo. He is synonym to the brand KFC.

KFC entered into the Indian environment by opening its first outlet in Bangalore in the year 1995. The company had doubt that about its success in India as people living here as so much indulged into the religious work and so the success of the brand was under severe spotlight here. Today there are about 370 KFC outlets in India. In India where we eat so much of spices in our food, KFC chickens are wonderful options for those who want to try something different and a food with fewer spices and more nutrients. For the Indian public, KFC has also started the vegetarian products in their menu such as the vegetarian burger, paneer burger, paneer wraps and so on with a motive to pull the vegetarian crowds to its restaurant.

June 24, 2014
Chicken 65 Recipe

Chicken 65 is a delicious Indo Chinese dish which is very popular in south India.This recipe can be found in many of the dhabas and restaurants around every part of the country. Many of the people like to order this dish whenever they have visited dhabas and it is also most adorable by the children.This can be served as a great starter and many people like to have it with the drinks. This dish gets the flavor from the ingredients like ginger, garlic, red chillies and vinegar.For the preparation of this dish we can take either chicken with bone or without bone.The main important ingredient from which the whole flavor comes to this dish is only from the curry leaves.

Delicious Chicken 65 Recipe

Different stories for the name chicken 65:

This famous chicken recipe is originated in Chennai.Universally this dish is called as chicken 65,but there are many stories regarding the name of the dish. But many people exactly don’t know the correct reason why does it so called.Few people say that the dish is so called because the first price of this dish was 65 rupees and few say that the weight of each chicken piece is about 65 grams and thus the name came into acceptance.But many people say that the number 65 in the chicken 65 represents the year in which this dish was introduced by a famous hotel in Chennai named Buhari.Thus the name chicken 65 was originated.This dish is used as a simple meal for the Indian military during the year 1965.

But the exact name Chicken 65 came as follows.Actually this dish was started from a Military canteen in Chennai where there were a set of Indian army soldiers from the northern states of India usually visited as it was one of the popular canteens. As they don’t know the regional language they used to suffer a lot with this problem.Most of the Soldiers tried to order this item by showing the number in the menu.As it is the 65 item on the menu later when ever they visited this canteen they get used to that number in the menu and they easily ordered this item by saying the number 65 to the canteen members, later it became famous with that number and spread all over as chicken 65.

history-of-chicken-65

Ingredients:

1) Take one 450 grams of Chicken ( make sure it is boneless and is cut into small cubes )

2) Take half table spoon of rice flour

3) Take one table spoon of corn flour

4) Take one table spoon of red chilli powder

5) Take one table spoon of garam masala powder

6) Take one table spoon of ginger garlic paste

7) Take one table spoon of lemon juice

8) Take one pinch of red food color

9) Take one pinch of turmeric powder

10) Take two table spoons of curd or yogurt

11) Take one raw egg

12) Take salt that is sufficient for taste

13) Take refined oil required for making a deep fry

14) Take chopped onion cut in the form of rings for garnishing

15) Take chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Ingredients that are required for making chicken 65

Preparation:

Chicken 65 is a spicy, red and deep fried chicken mostly taken as a snack item before meal or at the evenings and is accompanied with the onion slices, slit green chilies and lemon slices.The preparation of chicken 65 is different from one place to another depending on their taste requirements.This dish can be prepared by using boned chicken or boneless,here we are we are taking boneless chicken.Basically chicken 65 is red in color because it is deep fried and red food color is added to it.Chicken 65 can be prepared in many ways but the taste is lied within the spices.

Step 1:

At first take a bowl and add all the ingredients rice flour, corn flour, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, red food color, turmeric powder, curd, salt sufficient for taste and mix all of them along with the egg yolk for about two minutes, now add the chicken pieces slowly to the ingredients mixture and mix them well until each piece is gets the spice attached to it and leave it undisturbed to marinate for few minutes.

Chicken marination for making chicken 65

Step 2:

Now take a pan on the stove, switch on the flame and add oil to it that is required for making a deep fry.Leave the pan on a medium flame so that the oil gets heated up.Now take the marinated chicken pieces that are ready for cooking and put them slowly in the oil piece by piece and care should be taken that the oil should not spill.After adding all the pieces to the oil make a deep fry until their color changes to nice reddish brown color.After their color is changed take a plate with a tissue paper placed evenly on it and move the chicken pieces on to it.That’s it very hot and spicy mouth watering chicken 65 is ready.Garnish it with vegetables or onion, green chillies, lemon slices, coriander leaves and serve it.

Hot and spicy mouth watering chicken 65 recipe

June 19, 2014