Jeera Ilish - Microwave

I was in a hurry and wanted to cook something in a jiffy. So, marinated the hilsa with masalas for 15 minutes, put everything in a microwave safe bowl and micro for 8 minutes. My dish is ready.

Ingredients

• Hilsa - 10 pieces
• Jeera / Cumin Powder - 2 tbsp.
• Mustard Oil - 3 tbsp.
• Bay leaf - 3
• Green chilli - 4, chopped
• Salt and Turmeric - as required
• Kashmiri Chilli Powder - a pinch

Marinate the fish with salt, turmeric, chilli powder,cumin powder, bayleaf, chopped green chilli and mustard oil for 15 minutes.

Add 2 cups of water to the marinated fish and mix well. Now put this into microwave.

Micro on high for 5 minutes. Then stir with a spoon and again micro on high for 3 more minutes. Keep on the standing time for 10 minutes. Serve with plain rice.

Chicken Pish Pash

Originally an Anglo-Indian recipe, this is a very light and healthy dish, which can be given to children as well as patients. It is a simple rice and dal recipe, cooked together till both rice and dal are overcooked and soft. Some chicken mince has been added for some extra flavor. You may add whatever vegetable you like as well.

 

Ingredients

• Gobindabhog / Fragrant rice - 1 handful
• Musur dal - 1 tbsp
• Mug dal - 1 tbsp
• Chicken mince - 2 tbsp
• Chopped vegetable - 2 tbsp
• Butter - 1 tbsp
• Salt and sugar as per taste

Wash the rice and dal, and soak for half an hour. Take a microoven proof bowl and add the butter. Micro for 30 seconds. Next add all the ingredients and a cup of water to the bowl. I have used a pinch of turmeric to give it a nice color.

Put the bowl covered into your microwave oven and cook on 100% for 6 minutes. Stir and cook for 3 more minutes or check for doneness. Finally reduce the power to 75% and cook for 4 more minutes. Keep inside the mocrowave oven for 10 more minutes then serve. 

Mango Doi - Baked Mango Yogurt

Bhapa Doi ( baked yougurt) is a Bengali Delicacy enjoyed by all bengali foodies. I usually make it in microwave, you can use the traditional way of making it in the double boiler as well. Very easy and quick to make, and delicious too.

Ingredients

• Hung Curd - 400 gms
• Milkmaid - 1 can / 400 ml (sweetened condensed milk)
• Full Cream Milk - 400 ml
• Mango - 2, sliced

In a mixer bowl, add the curd, milk and milk maid (sweetened condensed milk)and chopped mangoes and run it for 2 minutes till the mixture is smooth.

Make sure, the mixture does not have any lump.

Pour the mixture in a microwave safe bowl and micro on high for 4 minute. Keep it inside the microwave for 30 more minutes . Then remove, cool it and refrigerate. Mango doi is ready.

Two Minute Brownie

It's eggless, it's tasty and it's made so quickly. It's only two minutes you need to enjoy this brownie. Go-ahead and try it !!!!

Ingredients

• Flour / Maida - 3 tbsp   
• Sugar - 2 tbsp, Powdered
• Cocoa Powder - 2 tbsp
• Vanilla Essence - 4 drops
• Milk - 2 tbsp
• Olive Oil - 2 tbsp
• Peanut Butter - 1 tbsp
• Walnut - 1 tbsp, chopped
• Baking Powder - a pinch

Take a microwave friendly bowl. Take all the dry ingredients in it and mix well.

Now mix in the wet ingredients.

Microwave it for a minute or two ( depends on your microwave).

Enjoy your brownie with ice cream or of its own.

Beet root and peas salad

Salad is an integral part of our dinner menu. My family loves it. On busy week days, it usually is a simple yet classic tomato, cucumber, onion salad, whereas on weekends I try to add colors to my salad.I tried this beetroot salad this Sunday and it came out really well. 

Ingredients

• Beetroot - 3 pcs
• Fresh peas - 1 cup
• Coriender leaves - 1 handful
• Boiled Egg - 1(optional)

Salad Dressing

• Sweet Curd - 1 small bowl.
• Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
• Salt and Pepper - As per taste

Cut the beetroot into bite sized pieces and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Blanch the peas in boiling water for 2-3 minutes.

Mix all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and stir well with a spoon. Keep it refrigerated.

Arrange the beetroot and peas along with coriander leaves in a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper as per taste. Sprinkle a generous amount of dressing over the salad. Garnish with boiled egg(optional) and serve.

Cheesy Cauliflower with sausage

Make the most of seasonal bounty with this fresh cauliflower recipe.

Ingredients

• Cauliflower - 1, cut into bite sized florets
• Potatoes - 2, cubed
• Large Onions - 2 - Sliced
• Chicken Sausage - 3 pieces, boiled
• Cheddar Cheese - 50 grams, coarsely grated
• Cream - 2 tbsp
• Green chilli - 1, chopped 
• Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt and Black Pepper - As required

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the sliced sausages for 2 minutes. Add the onions and chopped chilli and fry until soft and golden.

Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a large pan of water making sure they are well covered. Bring to a gentle boil. Add cauliflower with some salt and cook for 6-7 minutes until both are tender. Drain thoroughly and keep them aside. Alternately, you can microwave the vegetable if you wish.

In a microwave safe dish, layer the potato and cauliflower, then scatter fried sausage, onion and a small amount of grated cheese.  Drizzle each layer with a little cream and season with salt and pepper. Continue until all the layers are finished. Pour the remaining cream and scatter the cheese.

Microwave on high for 4-5 minutes until cheese is bubbling. Keep it inside the microwave for 10 minutes more. Serve straight from the dish.

Bhapa Ilish (Steamed Hilsa)

Hilsa fish or Ilishh Machh steamed in a paste of mustard, poppy seeds, yogurt and green chilli with a slight hint of garlic is given the beautiful name 'bhapa illish'. It is a Bengali's paradise...try it !!! 

Ingredients

• Hilsa Fish - 6 pcs
• Mustard Paste - 1 tbsp
• Chilli Paste - 2 chillies ( or more, if you wish)
• Poppy seed Paste - 1 tsp
• Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp
• Yogurt - 2 tbsp
• Salt and Turmeric - as per taste
• Mustard Oil - 2-3 tbsp

Mix all of the masala paste along with yogurt, salt and turmeric. Pour a generous amount of Mustard oil into it. Mustard oil is a key ingredient to this recipe and it is a must.

Marinate the fish pieces with the mixture. Keep the fishes aside for 2-3 hours. If you want to have extra curry then add more water.

Pour the marinated fish in a microwave safe bowl, put on the lid and microwave it on high for 5-6 minutes. You may have to adjust the timing based on your microwave capacity.

If you smell the rich aroma of hilsha fish floating on mustard then you'll come to know why I have mentioned it as bengali's paradise.  .