Fried Pepper Fish

Fried Pepper Fish

This is a recipe that is a family favourite. I had a class today and my guests loved it. You just have to make it to satisfy your tastebuds and once you do, you are hooked for life.

The Recipe:

500gms boneless fish cubes or fillets, wash, clean and drain.

Masala:  1 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp chillie powder; 1 tsp coriander powder; 1/2 tsp jeera ( cumin) powder; 2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice; 3 cloves garlic; 1/2 inch piece ginger; salt to taste; 2 tbsp rice flour or cornflour.  Blend to a smooth paste and rub all over fish. Marinade for 30 minutes.

1/2 litre oil for deep frying.

Coriander leaves and curry leaves for garnishing. Stir fry the curry leaves on medium heat  in 1/2 tsp olive oil till crisp and keep aside till required.

Heat oil to smoking point, lower the flame to medium heat and deep fry the fish in batches until brown and crisp on both sides. This hardly takes a few minutes, so watch the pan carefully to avoid burnt offerings. Drain thoroughly on kitchen paper and serve hot as a side dish or as an appetizer.

As I said, you have to make this dish.

To Attend My Healthy Cooking Class CLICK HERE

Going Bananas

Bananas Fried In Ghee

Walking through the weekly pasar malam or night market with my daughter I happened to spy some extra large bananas in one of the stalls.  It turned out to be Nendra Bale- a special kind of banana that my Mum used to give us for a snack when we came home hungry from school and college.  It's delicious and that's what I made for my cooking class with Vincenzo  and Jessica from Spain this afternoon.

The Recipe:

2 large very ripe bananas, about 200gms each; brown sugar to taste; Ghee for frying.

Cut  bananas into half, peel and quarter horizontally (Four pieces per banana).  Heat a non stick pan and add 1 tbsp ghee.   Place in pan, lower heat and fry for a few minutes on both sides until golden brown.  Sprinkle with sugar and more ghee ( if desired) and serve hot.

Optional- Sprinkle with cinnamon powder or cardamom 

Instead of frying, they can be steamed and eaten with ghee and brown sugar.

Honey is another option.

TO ATTEND MY HEALTHY FOOD WORKSHOP CLICK HERE

Nothing But Breadfruit

BreadfruitLast week while shopping for vegetables, I was very excited to see a large, green vegetable that looked very familiar.  It turned out to be one of our favourite childhood vegetables - breadfruit -  and so we bought it. The vendor had no clue as to what it was and was quite pleased when we told him the Kannada name for it.  Bread fruit is a smaller cousin to the jack fruit, usually eaten as a vegetable and can be used as a replacement for potato, in curries, cakes and dough nuts and also as a substitute for flour.  However we like it fried or dipped in batter and fried.  A delicious snack for all ages at any time.

The Recipe:     

1 breadfruit; oil for frying

For Batter :        1 cup water; 1/4 cup gram flour; salt to taste; chilli powder to taste; 1 tsp rice flour; 1 tsp cornflour; 1/2 tsp baking powder.  Mix all ingredients to a smooth liquidy batter. 

Cut the breadfruit in half, quarter it and remove the pith in the middle .  Slice into large pieces and soak in salt water for 5 minutes.  

1.  Drain thoroughly and deep fry half of the slices to a golden brown.  Serve hot with sauce  or as it is.

2.  Dip the remaining breadfruit slices in the  batter and deep fry in hot oil  till crisp and brown.  Serve hot with sauce or just as it is.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The Chinese Connection

Fried Rice

I have always loved Chinese Food ever since my grandparents treated us at the Rice Bowl on Brigade Road, Bangalore more than forty years ago. Although my mother frequently made noodles and fried rice at home, nothing quite matched the taste and smell of authentic Chinese cuisine. So when we shifted to Kuala Lumpur, which has a large Chinese population and numerous eating spots, I took the opportunity to master the art. And my family co-operated as well, patiently eating everything I put on the table. For Christmas and other special occasions it is always Chinese food, not only because it is so easy to make and requires minimum cooking time but because it is as delicious as it looks.

Fried Rice is one of my personal favourites because you can add anything to it and it tastes good.

Honey Chicken Wings is another simple, tasty recipe.

Chinese food is always accompanied with lots and lots of vegetables, so have included a recipe that goes well with any menu.

The dessert is Serita’s achievement and am so glad she can cook, ably assisted by Ranita. You can never have too much of these luscious tarts.
So eat on and enjoy the Christmas season.

The Recipe

2 cups left over rice; 1 cup mixed, stir fried vegetables (carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower, whatever); 1 omlette cut into strips; ½ cup shredded cooked chicken (optional); 1 tbsp minced ginger garlic; 2 spring onions cut really fine; oil for frying; large wok; 1 Maggi soup cube (salt not required if using soup cubes).
Heat oil in wok. Add the ginger garlic and stir fry a minute. Smash the soup cube and add to the wok. Lower flame and add the vegetables (I used only peas, since we were having mixed vegetables) and chicken and gently mix. Next, add the rice a little at a time and mix well. Add the spring onions and omlette strips and transfer to serving dish. Keep hot while you prepare the honey chicken wings.


Honey Chicken Wings


8 wings trimmed and drained. Marinade 15 minutes with salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/2 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp oyster sauce.
Grill at 450F or 260 C for five minutes each side.

Mixed Vegetables

3/4 kg mixed vegetables of your choice. I use whatever's in the refrigerator; 1/4 kg grilled potato wedges; 1 tsp garlic, minced; oil for seasoning; salt to taste; 1 tbsp almond flakes or nibs for garnishing (optional).
Blanch vegetables of your choice for 1 minute in boiling water with added salt to taste.. Pour cold water over them to retain crunchiness and drain completely. Parboil 2 large potatoes. Peel and cut into wedges. Sprinkle salt over them. Grill 5 minutes on high heat until golden brown.
Heat 2 tbsp. oil in large wok. Stir fry garlic a minute. Add all the veggies and potatoes and toss gently for another minute. Garnish with almond nibs/flakes. Serve hot.

Lemon Cream Cheese Tartlets


50 tartlet cases (pre baked and available at any cake shop); 1/4 kg cream cheese at room temperature; 400 ml tin of condensed milk; ¼ cup cream; juice of 2 large lemons;1 tsp grated lemon zest; almonds for decoration.
Blend cream cheese, cream, condensed milk and lemon juice & zest in cake mixer until smooth and creamy. Pour into tart cases. Decorate with an almond each. Store in freezer until required. Can freeze the remainder in ice cream trays and use as and when required.