Lemon cheesecake

Eggless No-Bake Lemon cheesecake

For the crust:

12 digestive biscuits (or cookies of your choice)

3 tsp butter, melted

For the cheesecake mixture:

1 1/2 cup crumbled paneer (or creamcheese)

1/2 cup thick yogurt

6 tsp caster sugar (adjust to preference)

1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon zest

2 drops lemon extract (optional)

Method:

First make the crust.

Crush the biscuits/ cookies to a powder. One easy way of doing this is to put the biscuits/ cookies in a Ziploc bag and close the bag after pressing most of the air out. Use your rolling pin and give the bag a few light whacks to break the biscuits/ cookies. Now roll your rolling pin, while pressing down on the bag, up and down the bag a few times to powder the biscuits/ cookies.

Combine the powdered biscuits and melted butter well. Press the mixture into a greased loose bottomed 6" cake/ tart tin. Otherwise use 4 greased ring moulds, like I did.

Refrigerate till set (about 15 to 30 minutes).

In the meanwhile make the cheesecake mixture.

Blend the creamcheese till smooth and free of lumps, adding very little warm milk if needed. Add all the remaining ingredients for the cheesecake mixture and whisk till well incorporated.

Pour this over the set biscuit/ cookie base. Gently smoothen the top and refrigerate to set (about 1 1/2 to 2 hours).

If you would like to top the cheesecake with a marmalade layer, melt 3 tbsp of lemon-orange marmalade (orange marmalade will do too) with 1 tbsp of water over gentle heat. Pour this over the cheesecake and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Serve cold. This recipe serves 4.

http://www.tarladalal.com/Lemon-Cheesecake-3477r

Sweetcorn Soup

Frozen Sweetcorn: 2 Cup
Cornflour: 1Tbsp Sugar: 1/2 tsp
Soya Sauce: 1tsp Chilli Sauce: 1tsp Vinegar: 1tsp Salt to taste

Method:
1.	Pressure cook the corn kernels till tender.
2.	Keep about 1/4 cup cooked corn kernels aside for later use.
3.	Grind rest of the corn kernels in the pressure cooker.
4.	Mix cornflour in 4 tbsp. water and add to corn.
5.	After adding cornflour bring the soup to boil and then cook on low heat. Slowly the soup starts getting thick. Continuously stir it so that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
6.	Add sugar, salt, soya sauce, chilli sauce, vinegar.

Sesame Broccoli

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs broccoli ( 1 bunch, 2 or 3 stalks)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted in dry skillet
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions

1. chop the broccoli for cooking in to florets.
2. Heat the oil on a skillet or wok for 15 seconds over high heat. Add the sesame seeds and let it splutters.
3. add the broccoli cover and cook.
4. Stir fry until heated through.
5. Remove from the pan to a serving dish, pour soy sauce over!

Spicy Corn Curry

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups corn
3 to 4 tbsp milk
2 cinnamon (dalchini) sticks
2 cloves (laung / lavang)
2 cardamoms (elaichi)
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

To be ground into a paste1 onion
1 bunch of coriander (dhania)
4 to 5 green chillies
1 tbsp grated fresh coconut
7 cloves of garlic (lehsun)
25 mm. piece ginger (adrak)

Method

1. Heat the oil and fry the paste till its done. make sure the paste is cooked properly.
2. Add the cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms and fry again.
3. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
4. Add the corn, milk and salt mix well and cook for a few minutes. Serve hot.

link: http://www.tarladalal.com/Spicy-Corn-Curry-791r

Trevati Daal

Ingredients

1/4 cup chana dal (split bengal gram)

1/4 cup toovar (arhar) dal
1/4 cup yellow moong dal (split yellow gram)
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
2 cloves (laung / lavang)
1 bayleaf (tejpatta)
1 whole dry kashmiri red chilli , broken into pieces
1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
2 tsp ginger-green chilli paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt to taste

For The Garnish2 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)

Method:

1. Wash the dals, add 1½ cups of water and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
2. Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid. Keep aside.
3. Heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan and add the cumin seeds, cloves, bayleaf, red chillies and asafoetida.
4. When the seeds crackle, add the ginger-green chilli paste and sauté for a few seconds.
5. Add the cooked dal, turmeric powder, lemon juice, salt and 1¼ cups of water and mix well.
6. Bring to boil and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, while stirring once in between.
7. Garnish with coriander.

http://www.tarladalal.com/Trevti-Dal-(-Gujarati-Recipe)-615r

Salmon Fish Curry

Ingredients:

 2 - (15 oz) salmon strips cut into cubes.
 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped.
 1 onion finely chopped
 1/2 cup of tomato paste
 1/2 tsp turmeric power
 1 tsp red chilli powder
 1/2 tsp coriander powder
 1 tsp whole peppers
 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds(optional)
 curry leaves

 Method 
Take 2 tblsp of olive oil in a flat bottommed vessel.
Add the curry leaves, whole pepper and fenugreek when the oil is hot.
Add the chopped garlic and onions and fry till the onion turns translucent
Now add the tomato paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder , chilli power and salt.
Add half cup of water and mix well.
Close with a lid and allow it to boil for 10 mins in a medium flame.
After the raw smell of the tomato paste disappears,
add the salmon pieces , gently give it stir, reduce the flame to low , cover and cook for 10 more mins.


 http://sumiskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/easy-breezy-salmon-curry.html

Mini Pizzas With Baps

Ingredients:

• 4 Wholemeal Baps
• 1clove Garlic crushed finely
• 25 gm Butter
• 2tbsp tomoto puree or paste
• 2tsp mixed dried herbs
• 115 gms grated Mozzarella Cheese
• sweetcorn, pepper, pineapple, tomatoes chopped or sliced.

Method:

• Cut each bap into half.
• mix the tomato paste, crushed garlic, butter, herbs , salt and pepper.
• apply the paste to baps halves.
• top it with mozzarella cheese and chopped veg as per the taste.
• cook the baps in oven or Grill till the cheese melts. and serve immediately.

Red Lentil Soup

This is more like tadka daal with vegetables :) very good for kids as you can hide all the vegetables in it.

Ingredients:

•  1cup Masoor daal
• 1 medium Onion 
•  1 Large Carrot
•  1 big tomato or 1 Tbsp tomato puree         
•  1 sweet potato
• 1 clove of Garlic
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• turmeric
• 3 Cups of Water
• Hara dhania to garnish

Method:

• Heat butter and oil.
• add Cumin seeds and sizzle.
• add Onion and garlic and cook till onion is soft.
• Add haldi, Tomato, Lentils, Salt, Carrots and sweet Potato. let it sweat
• add water and pressure cook till one whistles.
• blend and add fresh dhania.

Broccoli and Cream Cheese Soup

Ingredients:
- Hand full of Broccoli (Chopped)
- large Potato(chopped)
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Onion chopped
- 750 ml stock or hot water
- 2 Tbsp Cream Cheese

Method:
- Heat the oil
- Add Onion and Potato and let it sweat for 10 min in low heat.
- Add the broccoli cover n sweat for 5 min.
- add stock and pressure cook.
- Blend
- Add Cream cheese, salt and Pepper.

Tip: dont overcook Broccoli otherwise it will loose its vibrant colour.
Variation : can make the same soup with courgette too. I haven't tried it yet though.

Parsnip Soup

Ingredients:


1. Large Parsnip Peeled and chopped
1 medium Onion Chopped
1 Clove of Garlic
Butter to cook
1 Tbsp Flour
1.2 litres hot Stock
1/4 tsp masal ( each of Garam masala, Haldi, Dhania powder)
a pinch of chilli powder
Salt + pepper


Method:
-Heat butter then add Onion, parsnip, Garlic and cook in slow heat for 10 min. dont let it brown.
-stir in flour, masala, salt , pepper and water slowly.
-pressure cook till one whistle
-liquidise and you are done.

Til Aloo

TIL ALOO (Potatoes fried with sesame seeds)
(serves 2)
4-5 medium size potatoes
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tbsp beige sesame seeds
1/2 tbsp black sesame seeds (entirely optional; I like to add them for color)
1/4 tsp ginger paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
lemon juice
1-2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Wash and peel potatoes. Cut into wedges or large cubes and boil them in salted water until tender (they cook faster this way so keep an eye).

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they begin to splutter add cumin and sesame seeds. Add ginger paste, turmeric and red chilli powder and saute for a few minutes (on low heat or the seeds will turn bitter).

Add potatoes and season to taste. Stir until they are well coated with spices. Sprinkle lemon juice and serve hot. Til aloo is generally served with puris but rotis or rice and dal work well too.

Almond Til Chikki

Ingredients

1/4 cup black sesame seeds (kala til)
1/2 cup thinly sliced almonds (badam)
1/3 cup grated jaggery (gur)
1 tsp ghee

Other Ingredients1/2 tsp ghee for greasing

Method

1. Roast the sesame seeds for a few minutes over a medium flame till they are light golden in colour. Cool and keep aside. Repeat with the almonds.
2. Grease the back of a flat thali or a stone surface with a little ghee and keep aside.
3. Heat the ghee in a pan and add the jaggery.
4. Simmer over a slow flame while stirring continuously till the jaggery melts and caramelizes and forms a hard ball when you add a drop in cold water. Remove from the flame.
5. Add the roasted sesame seeds and almonds and mix thoroughly with the melted jaggery. You may need to put off the flame during this process.
6. When the mixture is ready, pour the entire mixture over the greased thali or a smooth stone surface. Press the chikki out into thin sheets using wet hand.
7. When cool, cut into square pieces. Store in an air-tight container.

Made by Jiya and she loved it :)

http://www.tarladalal.com/Almond-Til-Chikki-(-Calcium-Rich-Recipes)-4808r

Methi Matar Makai

Ingredients

Frozen palak 

Matar

 1/2 cups boiled sweet corn kernels (makai ke dane)  
3/4 cup onion slices
2 cloves of garlic (lehsun), roughly chopped
12 mm. (½") piece of ginger (adrak), chopped
2 green chillies, chopped
2 tbsp chopped cashewnuts (kaju)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup fresh thick curds (dahi)
2 tsp besan (Bengal gram flour)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
3/4 cup chopped fenugreek (methi) leaves
1 tsp coriander (dhania) powder
1/4 cup cream
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Method

1. Boil the onions, garlic, ginger, green chillies and cashewnuts with the milk for about 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Cool and blend in a mixer to get a smooth purée. Keep aside.
3. Whisk the curds, besan and turmeric powder till smooth and keep aside.
4. Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds.
5. When they crackle, add the fenugreek leaves and coriander powder and sauté for about 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Add the onion purée, curds-besan mixture, corn and salt and simmer for some time till the gravy thickens and coats the corn.
7. Add the cream and stir for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Serve hot.

http://www.tarladalal.com/Methi-Makai-30994r

KAJU KATLI

KAJU KATLI Ingredients: For Basic Kaju Katli 400 ml            Water 800 gm            Sugar 800 gm            Cashewnuts (powdered to a breadcrumb consistency) For Strawberry flavouring 20 nos.            Strawberries (coarsely chopped) 3 tsp            Sugar ½ cup            Water For Saffron flavouring 1 tsp            Saffron (lightly roasted & ground to a powder) 1 tbsp            Sugar syrup Miscellaneous 5 tbsp            Pistachios (finely chopped) 3 sheets        Silver varq Method: 1. In a saucepan, combine water with sugar and cook to make a sugar syrup of 3 string consistency. Reserve 1 tbsp syrup in a small bowl. 2. Transfer remaining sugar syrup to a heavy bottomed vessel, mix in cashew powder and cook on low heat stirring continuously with a wooden spoon. Cook till the mixture becomes thick and glossy. Remove from flame and keep aside. Divide the mixture into 3 parts and keep aside to cool slightly. 3. In a small frying pan, combine the strawberries with sugar and water and cook for 8 to 10 minutes till strawberries are completely mashy. Reserve 1 tbsp of this coulis and pass the rest through a strainer to make a puree. 4. Add the saffron powder to the reserved 1 tbsp sugar syrup. Keep aside. 5. Gently reheat one part of the kaju katli mixture in a frying pan, add strawberry puree and mix well. Remove from flame and stir to cool. Repeat the procedure with saffron mixture. Keep the third part of the mixture plain. 6. On a greased surface, knead the plain kaju katli lightly, shape into a ball and using a rolling pin, roll out into a thickish roti. Sprinkle over with some chopped pistachios. 7. Roll out the strawberry-flavoured kaju katli into another roti and place it on top of the plain kaju katli. Sprinkle over with some more pistachios. 8. Roll out the saffron-flavoured kaju katli into a roti and place it on top of the strawberry-flavoured kaju katli. Sprinkle over with some more chopped pistachios, then roll the 3 rotis together carefully like a swiss roll. Sprinkle the remaining pistachios on the work table and roll the kaju katli roll in them. Cover with silver varq and cut the roll into slices. 9. To serve, arrange the kaju katli pieces on a serving plate and drizzle over with reserved strawberry coulis.

From Masterchef Season 2

Rista

Rista

Ingredients700 Gms Mutton Mince with 25 % Fat Content.
1/2 Tbsp turmeric
6 Tbsps Soaked, Strained and Ground Kashmiri Red Chillies
3 Cloves
1 Stick Cinnamon
3 Big Black Cardamon
4-5 Small Green Cardamon
1 Tbsp Fried Shallot Paste
4 Tbsps Saffron Water
4 Tbsps Ghee
Salt to taste
Anise seed for garnishing

MethodMash the mince with a hammer or in a mixer and shape into balls.
Boil in a pan with water enough to cover all the mince balls.
Cook for 10 mins till the mince balls rise to the surface of the water.
Add turmeric,chilipaste, cloves,cinnamon, black and green cardamon, fried shallot paste and saffron water.
Cook for 4-5 minutes till gravy thickens.
Add salt to taste
Heat ghee in a seperate pan, add to the mince gravy and close with a tight lid for 2 minutes.
Garnish with anise seed and serve hot.

Thanks To Masterchef

http://starplus.startv.in/recipedetails.aspx?sid=126&id=210

Palak Paneer

Best Recipe So far:) 

Ingredients:

• 1 10 oz package of chopped frozen spinach or 4 cups of fresh finely chopped spinach
• 1/3 lb paneer
• 2 medium tomatoes, pureed
• 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder (dhania)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed (jeera)
• Pinch of asafetida (hing)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons of whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tomato thinly sliced to garnish

Method:

1. If using frozen spinach thaw and blend it just for a minute so spinach has a creamy texture but without becoming pasty.
2. blend the tomatoes and ginger to make puree.
3. Mix coriander, turmeric, and red chili with tomato puree and set aside.
4. Mix whole-wheat flour with heavy cream and set aside.
5. Cube the paneer in about half inch pieces and deep fry them on medium high heat just for few minutes so paneer become very light gold in color, take paneer out on paper towel so extra oil can be absorbed.
6. Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if it cracks right away it is ready.
7. Add hing and cumin seed. After cumin seeds crack, add the tomato puree mixture, and let it cook for a few minutes until the tomato puree is about half in volume.
8. Add the spinach, and let it cook on low medium heat for about 10 minutes covered.
9. Add heavy cream mixture and let this cook another four to five minutes.
10. Add paneer and fold it gently with spinach and let it simmer for a 2-3 minutes. Pot should remain covered until the cooking is finished, otherwise the spinach will splatter.
11. Transfer the spinach to a serving dish and spread the tomato slices over the top, and cover the dish so tomato slices get tender with the steam from the spinach.

Suggestion

You can replace the heavy cream with 1 1/2 cups of milk.

http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2007/01/05/palak-spinach-paneer/