Tag: paneer

A Private Cooking Class – What a fun way to spend an evening

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IMG_5367This is the happiest person I have seen in a long time and I had something to do with that smile.

A few weeks ago I did a cooking class in someone’s home to celebrate a birthday.

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The birthday boy loves Indian food and so the hostess invited a few friends and planned a cooking class.  The menu was a few of his favorite dishes and everyone participated, cooking with glasses of wine in hand. When all was cooked, sat down to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

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What a fun way to celebrate a birthday.

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Look at the resolve in his face – love it.

I really like it when people get into the preparing of the meal and enjoy it.  Here, the samosa dough is being prepared and garlic being chopped.

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One of the dishes was a delicious chicken curry with yogurt and lots of spices.

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Dinner is served – Chicken curry, Saag Paneer and we made the paneer, daal and rice.

You too can plan something like this in your home for your family and friends.

It is a lot of fun and an excellent way for you to have your guests cook the dinner that you will serve.

Let me know if you are interested and we can plan your next dinner party/ cooking class.

Until I teach to cook again!

Pulao with Paneer (home made cheese, potatoes, split peas and green peas)

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  • indianculinarycenter:

    Every culture has a comfort food – soup, pasta, roast chicken.   Mine is Pulao (rice casserole, traditionally made with Basmati rice and some vegetables and spices).

    It is so easy to make and you can make it in just about 20 minutes.

    This dish includes my most favorite vegetarian protein – Paneer.  It is a home made cheese that is so easy to make – recipe one of these days.  You can also buy a packet of it in most Indian grocery stores.

    1 onion sliced

    2 cups Basmati rice

    1 tsp black mustard seeds

    6 curry leaves (optional)

    4-5 dry green chilies (or jalapenos)

    2 tbs. oil

    4 potatoes diced

    1 cup frozen peas

    ½ cup split yellow peas

    1 lb. paneer diced

    2 cups canned tomatoes, crushed, or 2 tomatoes diced

    3 cups water

    salt to taste

    Heat a pot over high heat and add oil.  Add the mustard seeds, curry leaves and chilies.

    You will hear the mustard seeds pop – as soon as they stop popping add the onions and sautee for about 10 minutes or until they are golden brown.  Add the potatoes, peas, rice, paneer and tomatoes.  Add the salt and water. 

    Bring to a boil uncovered. 

    As soon as the liquid comes to a boil, lower the heat to the lowest that your stove will allow and cover.

    In 20 minutes the rice should be ready and the liquid should have all evaporated.

    Turn off the heat and leave covered for about 10 minutes.

    Fluff with a fork and serve hot with yogurt.

    Enjoy.

    Note: substitute with other vegetables or use chicken and fish.

    Be creative.

    Until I eat again!

Saag Paneer (home made cheese with spinach)

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Paneer (home made cheese) with SpinachThis is the only picture since I wasn’t planning on blogging about it - but got many requests for the recipe.By popular demand - here goes.This is not exactly what you would find in a restaurant but I will tell you how to achieve that too.1 lb. paneer (buy in Indian stores), cut into 2 inch rectangles.I will post the recipe of how to make your own paneer if I get enough requests :)8 ounces, chopped frozen spinach (use fresh if you like)1 onion, diced4 plum tomatoes, diced (use canned if you like)4 cloves garlic, chopped finely1 tbsp. fresh ginger, chopped finelysalt to taste1 tbsp. cumin powder2 tbsp. coriander powder½ tsp. cayenne pepper - or to taste2 tbsp. vegetable oilHeat the oil and add the onions and salt.  Saute for about 10 minutes or till the onions are caramelized.  Add the cumin, cayenne and coriander, along with the ginger and garlic.Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes making sure the spices are cooked through.Now add the tomatoes, spinach and ½ cup of water.–If you are looking to achieve the restaurant style smooth spinach - blend this mixture and put it back in the hot pan.Add the paneer and simmer for about 10 minutes or till the paneer has come up to temperature.Add some more water if you need to.Taste for seasoning and serve hot with chapati or rice or whatever you please :)Until I cook again!

Paneer (home made cheese) with Spinach

This is the only picture since I wasn’t planning on blogging about it – but got many requests for the recipe.

By popular demand – here goes.

This is not exactly what you would find in a restaurant but I will tell you how to achieve that too.

1 lb. paneer (buy in Indian stores), cut into 2 inch rectangles.

I will post the recipe of how to make your own paneer if I get enough requests 🙂

8 ounces, chopped frozen spinach (use fresh if you like)

1 onion, diced

4 plum tomatoes, diced (use canned if you like)

4 cloves garlic, chopped finely

1 tbsp. fresh ginger, chopped finely

salt to taste

1 tbsp. cumin powder

2 tbsp. coriander powder

½ tsp. cayenne pepper – or to taste

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

Heat the oil and add the onions and salt.  Saute for about 10 minutes or till the onions are caramelized.  Add the cumin, cayenne and coriander, along with the ginger and garlic.

Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes making sure the spices are cooked through.

Now add the tomatoes, spinach and ½ cup of water.

–If you are looking to achieve the restaurant style smooth spinach – blend this mixture and put it back in the hot pan.

Add the paneer and simmer for about 10 minutes or till the paneer has come up to temperature.

Add some more water if you need to.

Taste for seasoning and serve hot with chapati or rice or whatever you please 🙂

Until I cook again!