Masoor Dal ‘Tadka’

Masoor Dal is our favourite dal...means, my family’s favourite dal and always available in ‘Gappuskitchen’! When I have to cook this dal for 7 days a week, coming up with new ideas to cook this dal is inevitable for me! So, a little twist in plain/simple ‘Masoor Dal’ recipe, released ‘Masoor Dal Tadka’ and it was a big hit in my home sweet home! That’s why I immediately decided to share this recipe with all the food lovers, in general and ‘Masoor Dal’ lovers, in particular!

Check out the ingredients and cook this recipe for your loved ones and make them smile a little more!

Ingredients:

1. Masoor Dal - 1 Cup
2. Tomato - 1 
3. Garlic - 6 cloves 
4. Ginger - 1/2 inch long
5. Green Chilies - 2
6. Cumin seeds- 1/2 Teaspoon 
7. Refined Oil - 2 Tablespoons
8. Turmeric Powder - 1 Teaspoon
9. Red Chili Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon 
10. Coriander Powder - 1 Teaspoon
11. Cumin Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
12. Salt to taste

Water to maintain the consistency of dal as per your liking!
Chopped cilantro to garnish!

Let’s get started!

• Wash and pressure cook a cup of masoor dal with little bit of salt
• Now for the ‘Tadka’, heat oil in a frying pan and add cumin seeds to it, let it splutter 
• Time to add ginger, garlic, green chilies and tomato (All finely chopped and in the same order)
• Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder and cumin powder to it and fry until the oil separates the masala
• Now add little bit of turmeric powder to the pressure cooked dal. Also, add water if needed and bring it to a nice boil! Keep in mind that you are going to add turmeric powder in the ‘Tadka Masala’ as well! So, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder would be perfectly fine in the boiled dal and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder goes into the ‘Tadka Masala’
• Add the ‘Tadka Masala’ to the pressure cooked dal and mix it well
• Keep the flame low and keep stirring it for couple of more minutes 
• Garnish with chopped cilantro 

Serve it hot with rice or your choice of bread! Enjoy the recipe and be proud of your cooking skills!

Badaami Ilish - Hilsa with Almonds

Ilish/Hilsa is a celebrity in my family! Everyone’s face lights up when this flavourful fish comes home. I love anything Ilish/Hilsa! Bhaapa ilish, Shorshe ilish, Doi ilish or begun ilish but this time when I got my chance with ilish I thought of adding a little twist and create something unique and special for the weekend lunch! Well, the recipe turned out to be very nice and mouthwatering! I really wanted to start writing the blog and share my new recipe with all of you but couldn’t! You want to know why? The taste, the aroma, the flavours of the recipe played a vital role! I had to take my own sweet time with my ‘Badaami Ilish’ and then a nice nap!

But here I am now, writing about the lovely recipe and sharing with you all so that this weekend you could create this delicious recipe and impress your friends & family with your cooking skills!

Let’s take a quick look at the ingredients and then the recipe:

1. Ilish/Hilsa - Medium Size 
2. Almonds - 15
3. Mustard Seeds Yellow - 1 Tablespoon 
4. Mustard Seeds Black - 1 Tablespoon
5. Dried Red Chili - 2
6. Green Chili - 4
7. Turmeric Powder - 1 Teaspoon 
8. Mustard Oil - 2 Tablespoons 
9. Black Cumin - 1/2 Teaspoon 
10. Salt to taste 
11. Sugar to taste 
12. Water - 1/2 Litre 

Special Note: Soak yellow/black mustard seeds, dried red chilies & almonds beforehand. Half an hour should be good!

Now, Let’s get started!

• Clean the fish properly and add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 tablespoon mustard oil and salt to it. Mix it well
• Make a thick paste of yellow/black mustard seeds, dried red chilies & almonds with a little bit of salt
• Now heat the remaining oil in a cookware and add the black cumin. Make sure that the oil is hot enough before you add the black cumin
• Now add the thick paste of mustard seeds, red chilies and almonds to it and cook it on medium flame until the oil starts separating from the paste (masala)
• Now add water and let it simmer for a minute. 
• Adjust the salt and at this point add the sugar too. Add Ilish along with green chilies to it. Keep the flame low and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes 

Actually when your home sweet home is filled with the aroma of Ilish, you know that the fish is done and ready to serve! Besides you can’t wait anymore to taste it! Right?

Serve the yummy Badaami Ilish with steamed rice! Awesome pairing! Enjoy the recipe and be proud of your cooking skills!

Stir Fried Broccoli

'Stir Fried Broccoli', a healthy and tasty snacking option! Sharing with you a tastier way to include broccoli in your meals. I love broccoli but some of my friends don't even like it. So, I tried something new with the broccoli and it was delicious. You can give it a shot and see for yourself how amazing it tastes.

Ingredients: Serves 2

Broccoli - 1 medium size
Soy sauce - 1 tablespoon
Chili sauce - 1 tablespoon
Pepper - 1 teaspoon
Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
Lemon juice - 1 tablespoon
Salt to taste


Okay, let's start!

• Cut the broccoli into bite size florets and wash them properly 
• let it dry for sometime, heat a frying pan and coat it with olive oil 
• Add broccoli florets to the frying pan and keep stirring on low flame
• Mean while in a bowl mix soy sauce, chili sauce and salt
• When the broccoli florets turn bright green, add the sauce to it
• Add pepper, lemon juice and adjust salt

Crispy broccoli florets are ready to serve! Enjoy the flavours as an appetizer or relish it with yummy noodles or steamed rice! Both ways it will be a delightful treat for your tastebuds!

Make cooking fun and be proud of your cooking skills!