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January 29, 2013

Chingri Malaikari (Scampi in a creamy coconut milk gravy)

The bangals (people originally from erstwhile East Bengal) say nothing can match the heavenly and exquisite taste Bhapa Illish and Shorshe Illish (Hilsha in coconut mustard gravy). The ghatis (people originally from West Bengal) want Chingri macher malaikari (scampi in a coconut gravy) to celebrate every occasion. Is it the fragrant flavorful Hilsha fish or the meaty scampi, which one is the best? This question has given rise to many friendly-heated debates. Yet it remains without an answer. As for me, give me a plate of any of the dishes, and I am a happy Bengali. The delicate fragrant oily Hilsha nestled in coconut-mustard gravy, steamed, a slender green chili adding to its flavor – it is truly the queen of fishes and dishes. The succulent scampi in the thick creamy coconut milk with the delicate flavor of fresh young coconut – it is the majestic king. Who cares which one is best, I am lucky to enjoy both of them. Hilsha is almost next to impossible to get here, so it was time for celebrating the scampi. Malai meaning cream, chingri malaikari is a creamy curry in coconut milk. This is what I cooked a while back for some festive occasion. And wow, is that what is as called ‘heaven on plate’. It was delicate. It was rich and yet with subtle play of flavors. It was savory with just a hint of sweetness. It was there, enticing, in its creamy richness. And I am quite a bit proud to say that it was the best ever chingri malaikari I have cooked or even tasted. What a royal and delicious way of celebrating!

 
You can print the recipe for your kitchen here: PRINTABLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:
(Serves 2)

350g scampi
1 large onion
1-2 clove garlic
1 inch ginger
2-3 green chilies
1-2 bay leaves
4-5 green cardamom
4-5 cloves
1 stick cinnamon
1sp sugar
4tbsp freshly grated coconut
400ml coconut milk
1/2sp red chili powder
Turmeric powder
Salt
Ghee

INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Shell and devein the scampi and clean them well. Rub the scampi with a pinch of turmeric and salt.
  2. Heat ghee in a wok. Fry the scampi in batches until golden.
  3. In the meantime, coarsely chop the onion, garlic, ginger and chilies. In a separate wok, heat a 1tbsp of ghee. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, and chili. Fry until the onion is translucent and golden. Remove from pan and blend everything into a smooth paste.
  4. In the same wok used for frying scampi, add a bit more ghee and heat. Add the bay leaves, cardamoms, cloves and cinnamon stick.
  5. When the nice fragrance comes out, add a spoon of sugar. Let it caramelize.
  6. Add the coconut powder. Fry until golden.
  7. Add the onion-ginger-garlic-chili paste. Add red chili powder and a pinch of turmeric. Fry on medium heat stirring well until it starts leaving oil at sides.
  8. Remove from heat and let it cool for a minute. Add the coconut milk. (Do not add the coconut milk in very hot wok).
  9. Put the wok back on medium heat. Bring the coconut milk to boil and reduce it to a creamy consistency. Cook until the oil from the coconut milk starts floating on top.
  10. Add the fried scampi and give a stir. Cook for a couple of minutes more. Serve with steaming rice.

January 20, 2013

Malaysian mango chicken

We (actually me, who always wants new/good food for every occasion) wanted to have something good (again celebrations!). However, my evening was a bit pre-occupied and I did not want to order food from the restaurant. Hence, I requested Blaž to cook, or at least start cooking the dinner, and I would help him after coming back home. We chose ‘Malaysian mango chicken’, a simple and yummy dish celebrating Asian flavors. I wrote the recipe and all other associated instructions in details for him, and convinced Blaž, who was a bit hesitant, that he would manage it. The next day when I came home, he had just finished chopping the veggies. ‘I did not know it would take so much time’. The chicken was marinating and the ingredients for the sauce were in a bowl nicely mixed. Although home, I told Blaž to carry on with the cooking. With Blaž asking a few questions in between and me giving it a couple of stirs, he cooked it perfectly. We loved the awesome blend of sweet, sour, salt and the stickiness from the mango and its juices. As we devoured it with fragrant rice, Blaž added one more item in his ‘what I can cook’ list!


You can print the recipe for your kitchen here: PRINTABLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:
(Serves 2)

400g chicken pieces (skinless and boneless)
1 small red onion
1 medium red bell pepper
1 medium green bell pepper
1 medium ripe green mango
Oil

Marinade:
1sp  sugar
1/2sp salt
1/2sp black pepper
3sp cornstarch
1sp chili powder

Sauce:
5tbsp fresh tomato puree
2tbsp oyster sauce
2sp honey
4-5tbsp mango juice
2sp balsamic vinegar
1sp sugar

METHOD:
  1. Dice the onion. Cut the red and green pepper into big chunks. Peel and pit the mango, cut it into strips.
  2. Mix the chicken with the marinade ingredients and marinate for around 20 minutes. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
  3. Heat oil in a wok. Add the onion and peppers. Stir-fry the onions until they are translucent and the peppers are a bit soft. Let the vegetables char a bit. Remove from the wok and keep aside.
  4. Heat a bit more oil in the same wok. Add the marinated chicken pieces along with the marinade. Add the mango strips. Cook on medium-high heat, with frequent stirring, until the chicken slightly browns and the mango becomes soft and sticky. The oil will start coming out.
  5. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes on low-medium heat to let the oil and juices out.
  6. Add the sauce and stir well to coat the chicken with the sauce. Cook on medium heat until the chicken is well cooked.
  7. Add the stir-fried peppers and onion. Give a good toss to mix everything well. Check the seasoning and serve with steaming rice.

January 6, 2013

Teriyaki salmon

When it comes to different Asian cuisines, I have many favorites. One of them is the Japanese teriyaki chicken or fish. Learning how simple it is to make the teriyaki sauce, I definitely wished to try my hand at it. I wish to cook something ‘new’, try new recipes and techniques for holidays and special occasions, and making the teriyaki salmon seemed perfectly fitted for one such. What is a better way to celebrate than trying something new with my favorite fish? The pan-fried salmon basted with the salty-sweetish teriyaki sauce was yummy. With a simple side of shredded carrot, it was delicious and refreshing lunch.


You can print the recipe for your kitchen here: PRINTABLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:
(Serves 2)

2 skinned salmon fillets (~180g each)
Marinade:
1/3cup Japanese soy sauce
1/3cup mirin
2tbsp sake
1/2tbsp sugar

Side:
1/2cup shredded carrot
2tbsp sushi vinegar
1sp lemon rind
1sp black sesame seed

METHOD:

1.      Mix together the soy sauce, mirin, and sake to prepare the teriyaki marinade. Marinate the salmon fillets in the sauce for 10 minutes, turning over the fillets once in between so that both sides are soaked in the sauce.
2.      Remove the fillets from the marinade. Set the marinade aside for later use.
3.      Heat a greased pan. Put the salmon fillets and hold them down gently. Pan-fry the salmon fillets on medium heat, brushing with the marinade occasionally. When the fish is fried to almost desired doneness, flip over and fry a minute more.
4.      In the meantime, bring the reserve marinade to boil. Then simmer until the sauce thickens.
5.      Serve the salmon drizzled with sauce.

Shredded carrot:

1.      Shred the carrot. Soak it in iced water for 15 minutes. Drain well.
2.      Add the black sesame seed, lemon rind, and vinegar. Give it a toss and serve with the teriyaki salmon.

NOTE:
If you are using store bought teriyaki sauce, dilute it with mirin, sake, or water, as the store bought sauce is a bit thicker than the homemade one.

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