Samb(h)ar — https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/sambhar-recipe-a-method-made-easy/
4 Most Popular Indian Soups: https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-soups-in-india
Mulligatawny Soup: https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/indian-mulligatawny-soup/
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Hard Boiled Eggs
METHOD A
- Put the eggs in a pot and cover with cool water 1 inch above the top of the eggs. Bring to a boil.
- Turn of the heat and cover with a lid. Let the eggs sit for 12 min in the hot water.
- Remove eggs and cool immediately in ice water.
METHOD B
- Bring water to boil under a steaming basket. Put a single layer of eggs in the basket over the boiling water.
- Steam for 14 minutes (17 if a double layer of eggs) over the boiling water. This time will
- Remove eggs and cool immediately in ice water.
FOR EASIER PEELING
For easier peeling, use older eggs and let them sit in the ice water longer.
TEST conducted 2022-04-16 on Methods A and B with 6 eggs in each. RESULTS: The steamed eggs may have peeled a little easier, but not certain. Method A will probably give more consistent results, since the initial temperature of the eggs will be less important.
Shakshuka (Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce)
3 T oil
1 diced onion
1 diced and seeded poblano or bell pepper (or diced zucchini)
4 finely chopped garlic cloves
1 t cumin
2 t paprika (optional)
1/4 t chili powder
12 peeled tomatoes (or 1 28 oz can peeled tomatoes)
8 eggs
1/3-1/2 salt (depending on proportion of canned tomatoes) and 1/4 t pepper
chopped cilantro
Cook the chopped pepper and onion in oil until the onion becomes translucent in a cast iron pan. Add garlic and spices and cook for an additional minute. Add the tomatoes and break down the tomatoes using a large spoon. Season with salt and pepper and bring the sauce to a simmer. Add zucchini (if using). Make small wells in the sauce and crack the eggs into each well. Cover the pan and cook until the eggs are done to your liking (5-8 minutes). Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Serves 6
Strawberry Limeade Pie
Make a graham cracker crust, like this one, bake and cool it.
Make lime curd using Nellie and Joe’s Key Lime Juice (zest optional) using this recipe.
Warm a package of cream cheese (still in the foil) in a bowl of hot tap water.
Cream 1/2 cup lime curd with the warmed cream cheese and spread evenly in the bottom of the pie crust.
Cut a pound of strawberries into bite-sized pieces, mix with 2 tablespoons white sugar until dissolved and spoon fruit over cream cheese mixture. Chill pie for an hour or so.
Curry Yogurt Veggie Dip
Blueberry Banana (or Papaya Pear) Muffins
1 1/3 c flour (use half whole wheat)
1 1/2 t baking powder
2/3 t salt
1 c crushed ripe bananas (about 2) + 1 c fresh whole blueberries
(or 1 c payapa + 1/2 c pear, finely crushed or pureed)
(or 1 c banana + 1 c diced and seeded orange, grating peel first)
2/3 c sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 c oil
1/2 c walnuts
1 t blackstrap molasses
2 t vanilla
1 T lime juice
1/3 c shredded coconut
Mix first 3 ingredients thoroughly in one bowl and the remainder in another. Spray bottom of muffin inserts with cooking oil spray. Combine and bake immediately at 375 for 25 minutes or until muffin top springs back when pressed.
Makes 12 muffins.
Also see Heather’s Perfect Whole Wheat Banana Bread and Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread.
Chickpea Noodle Soup
2 T oil or butter
1 large onion, diced
4 large carrots, peeled and diced
2-3 large stalks celery, sliced (some leaves ok)
radishes and/or zucchini (optional)
1 t EACH, dried: thyme, basil and oregano (or substitute 1 1/2 t curry powder and 1/2 t turmeric and add 1/4 c cream at end for an Indian flavor)*
2 cans or 2-3 c chickpeas, drained and rinsed
6 oz (1.5 c) rotini or egg noodles
10 c water
3 t vegetable base
1/4 c fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
1 t salt
3/4 t pepper
juice of a lemon or lime
Saute onions, carrots, celery, and dried herbs in oil over medium heat until they start to soften (5+ min). Add other vegetables (if used), chickpeas, pasta, spices, liquids. Bring to boil then simmer for 7-10 min until pasta is done. Add parsley, salt, lemon juice, cream (if used), and pepper. Serve with green salad, bread and butter. Serves 10.
* OR add cardamon, ginger, garlic per the curry vegetable soup recipe here ( https://holycowvegan.net/easy-vegetable-curry/ ) or just use that recipe with cream or yogurt instead of coconut milk (substitute an equal amount of regular yogurt or cream diluted with water [14 oz coconut milk = 1 c heavy cream + 2/3 c water])
Quick Mulligatawny Soup
Dissolve about 2 T. tamarind paste in 2 cups hot water. Strain chunks, discard and save sweetened water. Saute one diced onion, 2 garlic cloves and 1 T. finely diced fresh ginger in a half and half mix of oil and butter (about 1 1/2 T. of each) until the onion is translucent and just beginning to brown. Add 1/2 t. amchoor powder, 1/4 t. cumin, 1/4 t. cayenne pepper, 1 t. turmeric, 1/2 t. coriander and stir together over heat for 15 seconds.
Blend spiced onions with 2 – 14.5 ounce cans of diced tomatoes with their juice. Heat onion /tomato mixture with saved tamarind water and salt to taste. Once your soup just starts to bubble, turn off the heat and add 1/2 cup cream.
Can add cooked, blended legumes or cooked, cubed chicken thigh meat to add protein.
Valentine’s Day Lemon Pistachio Cookies
1 cup salted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2-2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 cup shelled pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Cream softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Add juice and zest and mix well. Add flour and salt, mix well, and add nuts and white chocolate.
Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls, smush slightly and chill.
Bake at 350F for about ten minutes or until bottoms of cookies are lightly browned.Cool on the cookie sheet for a minute or two before moving to a cooling rack.
Amy’s Chana Masala
3 T oil
1 t cumin seeds
1 1/2 c finely chopped onions
1 1/2 t finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1 t ground coriander
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1/2 t turmeric
1/2 t amchoor powder (or juice of 1/2 small lemon)
1.5 c finely chopped tomatoes (or one 14 oz can diced tomatoes)
1/2 t salt
3 c cooked chickpeas and 1 cup of the cooking water
3/4 t garam masala
3/4 c yogurt
1/4-1/2 c finely chopped fresh cilantro.
Heat oil over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and sizzle for 10 seconds, then add onions and cook until they are slightly browned. Stir in ginger, then add coriander, cayenne pepper, and turmeric (plus amchoor powder if using) all at once. Add tomatoes and stir for 1 minute. Add 1 c water and salt and simmer 10 min. While you are waiting, take about a third of the chickpeas and mash them with a potato masher. Add the whole and mashed chickpeas along with one cup of their cooking water and simmer 15 min. Add garam masala (and lemon juice if using) and simmer 5 min. Stir in yogurt and cilantro and serve.
Vegetable Korma
FOR THE SAUCE
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and halved
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 (1-inch) piece ginger root, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup raw cashews
FOR THE KORMA
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 small tomatoes, diced
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1/3 c raisins
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 2 small potatos, peeled and diced
- 2 cup fresh vegetables (e.g. cauliflower, peas, carrots, and chickpeas)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the onion, garlic, ginger, and cashews in the bowl of a blender along with 1/2 cup of water. Process until pureed.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large saute pan set over medium heat. While the oil heats, measure out all of the spices (the curry powder through cardamom) and place in a small bowl.
- Pour the pureed sauce mixture into the hot pan, using caution to avoid splatters. Stir in the pre-measured spices and allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the tomato, coconut milk, yogurt, potato, vegetables. Stir well, cover the pan, and allow to simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Uncover and cook a further 5 to 10 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Add raisins. Serve with cooked basmati rice and naan bread.
Adapted from https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/creamy-indian-vegetable-korma/
Ceviche
- 1 lb diced (to 1/2 inch) fresh fish or pealed deveined shrimp
- 1 c fresh lime juice (6 limes)
- 1 small/medium lemon
- 1 med white or red onion, diced or thinly sliced
- 1 t salt
- 1/4 t black pepper
- 1/3 c (1/4 bunch) cilantro chopped
- 1 jalapeño seeded/ribbed and minced (for medium heat; there is about the same amount of heat in 1 poblano, 1 jalapeno, 1 serrano)
- 3 diced Roma tomatoes (substitute mango or pineapple for tropical flavor)
- 1 diced peeled cucumber
- 2 T oil
- 1 diced orange (grapefruit is too bitter)
- 1 diced avocado
Marinate the fish or shrimp in the citrus juice for about 2 hr (until opaque white; 15 min for cooked shrimp) in refrigerator, stirring mid way through. Add remaining ingredients; folding in avocado last. Chill for 30 min. Serve with chips or on tostadas. Tabasco sauce optional.
To make crispy tostadas: lightly spray or brush mini or regular corn tortillas with oil and bake at 300 F until crisp, about 25-30 minutes, turning halfway through.
Raita (Cucumber Yogurt Salad)
Yogurt
Diced cucumber
Cilantro
Pinch of cumin
Salt
Pepper
Mix, serve with Chicken Makani from Indian Instant Pot Cookbook by Urvashi Pitre.
Amy’s Instant Pot Cheesecake with Lemon Curd
CRUST
5 Graham crackers
1 t sugar
2-3 T butter or spread
2 T flour
CHEESECAKE
8 oz cream cheese (Neufchatel OK)
1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 T flour
2 T yogurt
1/2 T cream
1 t vanilla
1/2 T lemon juice
LEMON CURD
zest and 6 T juice from 1 lemon
1/3 c sugar
1 egg
tiny pinch of salt
3 T butter or spread
Preheat oven to 325. Remove cream cheese from box (keep in foil wrapper) and warm in bowl of warm tap water with one of the eggs. Crush graham crackers in food processor with flour and sugar. Dump out and mix with 2-3 T melted spread or butter (you may need the larger amount if your graham cracker crumbs are finer). Line bottom of sides of 6×2 inch round pan with parchment or wax paper. Press graham cracker mixture into lined pan, moving it up the sides a bit, and bake 15 min at 325.
Mix 1/2 T lemon juice, yogurt, cream, and vanilla, and set aside. In another bowl, mix sugar and flour and set aside. Using a hand mixer on the lowest speed, lightly mix the cream cheese and then add the sugar mixture and gently mix until blended. Then add yogurt mixture and gently mix until blended. Then add egg and mix until blended, scraping sides frequently. Firmly tap the bowl on the counter until bubbles are gone. Scrape batter into prepared crust.
Put cheesecake in instant pot on wire rack with 1 1/2 cups water. Cook on high for 23 minutes (keep warm function OFF) and allow pressure to naturally release.
Mix the sugar, lemon zest, the 6 T lemon juice, pinch of salt, and one egg in the top part of a double boiler. Cook over boiling water for about 10 min until thick. Add 3 T butter or spread and mix until melted. Put through a fine strainer. Spread on top cheesecake.
Sopes
| sopes shells refried beans chicken (optional) shredded lettuce tomatos onions cheese salsa sour cream avocado or guacamole radish slices Deep fry the shells about a minute or 2 per side to brown. To eat, add refried beans first, then remaining toppings. |
Amy’s Broccoli Pie
Amy’s All-Purpose Crepe Batter
Island Pecan Pie
Adapted from here: https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/island-pecan-pie/
But reduce the sugar from 2 c to 1.5 c. The pie is best after sitting out at room temperature for a day.
Ultimate Sweet Potato Pie
| 2 c mashed baked or boiled sweet potatoes (~ 3 potatoes) 1/2 c (1 stick) softened butter 2 eggs 2/3 brown or white sugar 1/3 c cream or evaporated milk or milk 1 t vanilla extract 1/2 t ground cinnamon 1/2 t ground nutmeg 1/2 t ground ginger 1/8 t salt Combine all ingredients. Pour into a 9 inch unbaked pie crust. Bake at 350 for 55-60 min or until set (or at 400 for 10 min then at 350 for 40-50 min or until set) |