Guchhi Dum Biryani(healthy version)

The other day it was already more than 12 in the afternoon when I entered the house after my normal weekly market trips.I had an hour in hand to make a filling ,sumptuous lunch for the foodies in my life.The first question thrown to me when they enter the house is "aaj khane mein kya bana hai?"...so much for taking me for granted!Sometimes I also sweetly reply(if I am in a grrrr kind of a mood)Lauki and Karela...Love the look on their faces :)

I rummaged the fridge  to scoop out something of the previous day but then I was in for utter dissapointment.The packet of mushrooms peeped out from my shopping bags  and before I could put it on the kitchen counter the Sanjeev kapoor's Khana khazana"Accompaniments "drew my attention which was lying on the microwave.And lo and behold! the combo did wonders....I rustled up a delicious Mushroom Biryani within an hour with a Aloo ka raita.The saffron and kewra with the whole garam masalas and the aroma of the Basmati wafted through the whole house when my hubby dear entered for lunch.Seeing the pleased look on his face I knew what was coming and before he could open his mouth I silenced him By saying "Aaj khane mein Karela bana hai"!!!

This is a healthy version of Mushroom Biryani and is made with only 2tsps of oil.I gave the name Guchhi to it as it sounded very Nawabi and a little different.Mushrooms are called Guchhi or Khumbi in Hindi.The Biryani turned out to be amazingly tasty and was relished by all of us.

You Need

Fresh button Mushrooms-15 to 20 medium sized,cut into quarters

Basmati rice   -1 1/2 cups,washed and  soaked for 1/2 an hour

Onions-2 medium sized,sliced long and fine

Ginger-1" pc

Garlic-5 cloves

Fresh corinder leaves-1/4 medium bunch,chopped

Fresh mint leaves      -1/4 medium bunch,chopped

Tomatoes  - 2medium sized,pureed

Skimmed milk yoghurt -1/2 cup,whisked

Saffron-5-6 strands,soaked in 1/4 cup warm skimmed milk

Bay leaf -1

Cloves-4

Green cardamoms-2

Black cardamoms-2

Cinnamon- 1"stick

Mace - 1blade

Oil-2tsp

Red chilli pwdr-2tsp

Coriander pwdr-1 tbsp

Crushed Peppercorns-1/2 tbsp

Cumin pwdr-1/2 tsp

Turmeric pwdr-1/2 tsp

Garam masala pwdr-1/2 tsp

Kewra water(optional)-4-5 drops

Salt to taste

Method

1. Peel, wash and grind ginger and garlic into a fine paste.
2. Boil 4 cups of water in avessel,add bay leaves,cloves the cardamoms, cinnamon, mace and 1 tsp of salt.When the water starts boiling,add rice.
3. Cook for 8-10 mins ,stirring frequently or till rice is 3/4th done.Drain in a colander.
4. Heat oil in anon stick pan,add onions,stir fry on high heat till onions turn translucent.Add ginger garlic paste and cook briefly.
5. Add chilli pwdr, coriander pwdr, crushed peppercorns, cumin pwdr and turmeric pwdr.Stir fry a little and add pureed tomatoes.
6. Continue cooking over high heat till masala is fairly thick.Add yogurt, garam masala pwdr and half the quantity of chopped coriander and mint leaves.Stir well and cook for 2 mins more.
7. Add mushrooms and salt to taste and stir fry on high heat for 2 mins and remove from heat.
8. Arrange the cooked rice and mushroom masala in alternate layers in a biryani handi or an oven proof dish, sprinkling the chopped coriander and mint leaves ,the kewra water and the milk with saffron.Ensure that the topmost layer is of rice .
9. Cover the assembled Biryani with a tight lid and seal the edges with a kneaded Atta (wheat flour) dough.
10. Keep the dish on a tawa or iron griddle and cook on low heat for 10 - 15 mins.Alternatively cook in a pre heated oven at 160 deg C for 10- 15 mins.
11. Break open the seal and serve Biryani immediately with a raita of your choice.

Enjoy!!

Iced Cajun Coffee

With the summer in, the temperatures soaring and the mercury rising with every passing day the only respite are the summer chillers .Nothing says summer like a desi lassi, healthy fruit laden shakes and smoothies,cool old fashioned lemonade,colourful juices or ice cold ,creamy coffee shakes.Today my post is a creamy coffee shake adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's store of recipes.The drink is a very easy to make and in a jiffy recipe.The ingredients of this recipe were a little different from the Cajun Coffee I had in Oslo which had rum, molasses and nutmeg powder in it.

You Need

4 tbsp Instant Coffee Powder

4 cups cold full cream milk

4 tsp Vanilla essence

4 small pinches cinnamon powder

Crushed Ice

Method

1. Blend instant coffee powder, full cream milk and vanilla essence in a blender.
2. Pour over crushed ice in tall Collins glasses.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon powder over the top and serve immediately.

Chocolate Sesame Cookies

The heat,the humidity,the holidays are playing havoc with my senses now.Oh ! how I love the Russian summers now.In Moscow I used to crave for Indian food ,the weather ,the people and suddenly here I am missing the colourful and pleasant  moscow summers.After nine months of bone breaking winters the russians love the bright and lovely summer and enjoy the beautiful sunny weather to the fullest.There is a buzz of activity everywhere, people everywhere....sunbathing, cycling, rollerskating, boating, just chilling out with some russian Kvass (a russian drink made from rye bread)and soaking in the summer sunshine.I used to feel energised and lively during the summers there,here in goa the humid and hot weather makes us feel dehydrated with a lethargic feeling all day long.

But then with the holidays starting Mishti plans a tea party every second day for her friends,thank god she atleast has the courtesy to ask me before inviting them,otherwise I would have gone bonkers by now.Thanks to Mishti my baking books are out from the closet now.Last week I baked some nice ,chewy chocolate cookies with sesame seeds sprinkled on it and it was a hit with the children.The recipe is adapted from Nita Mehta's Bakes and Cakes.

You Need

Plain Flour  -60 gm

Cocoa          -30 gm

Butter (softened)-75 gm

Powdered Sugar -60 gm

Vanilla extract    -1tsp

Sesame seeds(white til)-2tsp

Method

1. Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
2. Add Vanilla extract and beat again.
3. Sift flour and cocoa together.
4. Add flour to butter and mix gently to form a soft dough.
5. Form into balls,flatten them and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 deg C for 13- 15 mins( my oven took 20 mins)on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

P.S- If the dough feels too soft to form balls,keep it in the fridge but do not add any extra flour.

I am sending these cookies as my entry for Bangalore Bakers' this week's Bake-Off event.

These are some pics of our Moscow stay clicked by us during the summers.

The onset of autumn, end of summers,Monorail with the Ostankino Tv tower

A church near the Ostankino lake near our Apartment

Flowers in full bloom,kuzminki

Roadside landscaping with flowers,opposite kievski vakzal