Soni's Food

Indian Inspiration!

Indian Chicken Koftas

06 | 03 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

Meatballs are the ultimate comfort food! And this week with the temperatures dropping again, they seem like the perfect dish to cook!My Chicken Koftas are Indian Spiced Meatballs with aromatic spices that can make any mealtime special.They’re easy and so flavorful and pair very well with Naan or Pulao or just plain rice!I’ve used ground Chicken here, but you could use any ground meat for this preparation.Its a great dish for entertaining since it can be prepared ahead of time.

chicken kofta

To give a lovely color to the koftas I’ve fried them in a little oil before adding them into the sauce.The addition of coriander adds that freshness and the yoghurt makes them moist!You could skip the frying part and add them straight into the sauce if you wish.The sauce is a tomato based sauce with some cumin and garam masala for those lovely Indian flavors.You just have to let the koftas simmer in the sauce for a few minutes to absorb all the delicious flavors!A great tasting dish for these cold days and nights!

chicken kofta1

Indian Chicken Koftas

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the Koftas

  • Ground Chicken-1 lb
  • Yoghurt-1 tbsp
  • Crushed Ginger-1 tsp
  • Crushed Garlic-1 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1/2 tsp
  • Fresh Coriander-2 tbsp
  • Salt- to taste

For the Sauce

  • Oil-3 tbsp
  • Cinnamon stick-1/2 inch
  • Green Cardamom-3
  • Cloves-3
  • Onions-2 medium finely chopped
  • Tomatoes-3 chopped
  • Crushed Ginger-1 tsp
  • Crushed Garlic-1 tsp
  • Yoghurt-1 tbsp
  • Turmeric-1/2 tsp
  • Ground Cumin-2 tsp
  • Ground Coriander-2 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1 tsp
  • Red chili-paprika-1 tsp
  • Sugar-1 tbsp
  • Salt-to taste
  • Water-2 Cups

Instructions
 

  • Mix all the kofta ingredients and make small balls.
  • Shallow fry if you want a golden color.If not just keep the balls aside to add into the sauce.
  • Heat oil in a deep skillet and the cinnamon,cardamom and cloves.
  • Add the onions and a little salt and saute until golden.Add the ginger,garlic and spices and saute on low for a few minutes.
  • Puree the tomatoes and add them into the onion mixture.Add the salt,yoghurt and continue to cook on medium heat stirring every now and then until oil starts to separate around the edges.
  • Add water and bring it to a boil on high.Check the seasonings.
  • Slowly add the koftas and reduce the heat to medium.
  • Let the koftas simmer in the sauce for about 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve hot!

 

Crepes with Strawberry Mascarpone Cream #SundaySupper #Healthy

03 | 03 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

If you ever stepped into my kitchen on a weekend, you’d find me making these gorgeous Crepes for breakfast for my kids!Its their most favorite breakfast of all time and they really look forward to it on the weekends.And why not!Nothing says it better than a soft delicate Crepe filled with a luscious creamy filling and vibrant Red Strawberries peeking out from the edges!

crepes2

Crepes are easily available in stores everywhere, but why would you buy something that’s so easy to make at home and I personally prefer the home-made texture better than store bought ones!I just whisk all the ingredients and let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes before the process begins.Growing up I never had a Crepe but instantly fell in love with it in this quaint little French restaurant in London.Since then I’ve been making Crepes, but mostly with a savory Mushroom filling!But that’s for another time 🙂 I started making the sweet fillings after my kids were born, and they’ve always enjoyed it with a LOT of drizzle of Chocolate Sauce 🙂

strawberry mascarpone crepe

My filling here is a healthy mix of the creamy Mascarpone and Greek Yoghurt whisked together with some Honey!You can add any fruits of your choice and it tastes absolutely delicious!The perfect breakfast or dessert for any day or night 🙂

strawberry mascarpone crepe2

Crepes with Strawberry Mascarpone Cream

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the Crepe-Makes about 8

  • All Purpose Flour-1 Cup
  • Eggs-2
  • Milk- 1/2 cup
  • Water- 1/2 cup or a bit more
  • Salt-1/4 tsp
  • Sugar-1 tbsp
  • Butter-2 tbsp melted and cooled

For the Filling

  • Mascarpone Cheese-3/4 cup
  • Greek Yoghurt-1/2 Cup
  • Honey-2-3 tbsp
  • Strawberries-3/4 cup sliced

Instructions
 

  • Mix the flour and salt in a bowl.Keep aside.
  • In a mixing bowl mix all the liquid ingredients and add the sugar,flour salt mixture.Whisk until well combined.If you feel the batter is too thick add a little more milk just to get a pourable consistency.
  • Heat some butter or oil in a pan.
  • Pour 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan and tilt the pan in a circular motion so its spreads evenly.
  • Look for small bubbles underneath and a lovely golden color.
  • Flip the Crepe and cook on the other side too.
  • Mix the filling ingredients.
  • Place about 2-3 tbsp of the filing on the inside of a Crepe and roll in any shape you prefer.Drizzle some Chocolate sauce all over!

My Crepes are my entry for our #SundaySupper theme Cheese,Cakes and Cheesecake!Our host is the lovely Angie of Big Bear’s Wife!Please scroll down to see some amazing recipes in each category!

Cheese –
Cakes –
& Cheesecakes

 

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. This week we will be sharing our love of Cheese, Cakes AND Cheesecakes!  Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST!
Follow the #SundaySupper hash tag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Join us Around the Family Table this Sunday at 7PM Eastern Time and share your favorite Cheese, Cake and Cheesecake Recipes with us!

 

No-Yeast Whole Grain Butter Naan

28 | 02 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

As a follow-up to my two previous posts namely my Salmon Tikka Wraps and Tandoori Gobhi, I’ve got for you a Naan recipe that you can make to wrap these delicious fillings in!But mind you these are not your usual Naans.These require no yeast and are made using Whole Grain Flour!Healthy, soft and so so delicious, you’re going to love them them 🙂

whole grain naan

I’ve always wanted to make my own Naans but kept putting it off due to the yeast requirement, since I’ve never worked with yeast!Maybe one of these days I’ll surprise myself and bake my own bread,because  every time I see a bread recipe or those soft Dinner Rolls I’m tempted to try them,but then again the yeast comes into the picture.Maybe its not a big deal after all!Anyways on my quest to find an easy no-yeast recipe I stumbled upon this website called Sailu’s Kitchen that had exactly what I was looking for!

Whole Grain Naan 7I’ve used Whole Grain Flour instead of All Purpose Flour to make it more healthier.I get my Whole Grain Flour from my Indian Grocer.You can use any flour of your choice.Once ready the warm soft Naans just melt in your mouth and a knob of butter while serving does its magic!You can add any toppings of your choice once you’ve rolled these.You can use Cilantro or Garlic or Nigella Seeds or make a simple Butter Naan like I’ve done here.Serve these with my Cabbage Koftas or use these as a wrap for your tikkas or make Naan Pizzas!

whole wheat naan5

 

No Yeast Whole Grain Butter Naan

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Whole Grain Flour-2 cups
  • Baking Powder-3/4 tsp
  • Baking Soda-a pinch
  • Salt-1/4 tsp
  • Sugar-1 tsp
  • Warm Milk-1/2 cup
  • Yoghurt-1/2 cup

Instructions
 

  • In a mixing bowl mix the flour,baking powder,baking soda,salt and sieve two times.
  • Make a well in the center and add the milk, yoghurt and sugar and mix until it comes together to form a soft dough.
  • Cover with a damp cloth and leave it for two hours.
  • After two hours knead the dough again and cut into 6 equal balls.
  • Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface and start rolling the ball into an elongated or round shape.Could be small or large.
  • Heat a pan on high.
  • Brush one side with water and put it wet side down on the pan.Look for bubbles forming and gorgeous golden spots appearing on the side down.Flip it over.
  • Do the same for the other side too.
  • Spread a knob of butter/earth balance all over.
  • Serve hot!

 

Tandoori Gobhi (Cauliflower)

22 | 02 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

When talking about Tandoori recipes,the typical dishes that comes to mind are the Tandoori Meats, Fish or Paneer, but what if I gave you something else?Like a Tandoori Gobhi (Cauliflower)? Yes, Cauliflower florets marinated in Tandoori spices and broiled until all golden and crispy on the outside but tender and meaty on the inside!

tandoori cauliflower3

This started off purely as an experiment mainly because,I hadn’t used either of the two Cauliflower heads sitting in my refrigerator all week!I thought of using them in some way other than the usual and this was the outcome 🙂 I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor in these bites.You can taste all the lovely spices and the lemon juice!The Cauliflower has a nice bite to it and I think its a perfect vegetable for a Tandoori dish since it holds its shape quite well.

tandoori cauliflower

Its also a great option for Vegetarians who’re not fond of Paneer or Vegans who cannot eat Paneer or anybody who likes Cauliflower 🙂 These also make for an easy brunch with some Pita or Naan and some Yoghurt!

Tandoori Gobhi (Cauliflower)

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Cauliflower Florets medium-2 cups
  • Greek Yoghurt-1 cup {Vegans can use Dairy Free Yoghurt}
  • Crushed Ginger-2 tsp
  • Crushed Garlic-2 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1 1/2 tsp
  • Red Chili/paprika-1 tsp
  • Turmeric-1/2 tsp
  • Lemon Juice-2 tbsp
  • Oil-1 tbsp
  • Salt-to taste
  • Chat Masala optional

Instructions
 

  • In a ziplock bag mix all the ingredients and let it marinade for about 2-3 hours in the fridge.
  • Place the florets on a foil lined baking sheet and broil on low for about 20 mins (turning once in between) until all golden and cooked!
  • Arrange on a platter on some onions and lemon wedges and sprinkle some chat masala all over.

 

Salmon Tikka Wraps with Cucumber Raita #SundaySupper

17 | 02 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

salmon tikka wraps4

Today SundaySupper is going skinny!And I’ve got for you my scrumptious Salmon Tikka Wraps that are easy and so so good!Succulent bites of Salmon as a filling in a wrap with crispy lettuce and cool Cucumber Raita!Tikka as we all know is the Indian term for small bites of meat or fish that’s marinated in a mix of fragrant spices and yoghurt and is either broiled or cooked in a Tandoor (Clay Oven).It can be eaten on its own along with some coriander chutney and grilled onions or you can make these delicious Indian Wraps!It makes for a healthy lunch or dinner and is quite fun to eat.You can make a vegetarian version using Paneer or Tofu also.I’ve chosen Salmon since its heart healthy and is a rich source of the essential Omega 3’s!

salmon wraps4

I’ve wrapped these Tikkas in a Whole Wheat Middle Eastern Flat bread (sold at Trader Joe’s) that’s softer than a Pita and my kids find it easier to bite into.The filling consists of lettuce, Tikkas and Cucumber Raita with lots of texture and flavor.The Tikkas are marinated for about 3-4 hours and then broiled until you see those gorgeous golden edges and you know they’re ready!Once ready, just assemble it all together and you have one great tasting dish!

salmon tikka wraps

 

Salmon Tikka Wraps with Cucumber Yoghurt Raita #SundaySupper

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Whole Wheat Middle Eastern Flat Bread-4
  • Lettuce-2 cups chopped

Tikka Marinade

  • Salmon Fillets-2 cubed about 6-8 oz each
  • Lemon juice-2 tbsp
  • Greek Yoghurt-1 cup
  • Ginger paste-2 tsp
  • Garlic paste-2 tsp
  • Ground Cumin-2 tsp
  • Garam Masala-2 tsp
  • Red Chili/paprika-1 tsp
  • Turmeric-1/2 tsp
  • Oil-1 tbsp
  • Salt-to taste
  • Chat Masala optional

Cucumber Raita

  • Cubed Cucumber peel and cut into small pieces-1/2 cup
  • Yoghurt-1 cup
  • Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
  • Salt-to taste

Instructions
 

  • Marinade the Salmon cubes with all the ingredients and let it sit in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours.
  • Place the cubes onto a foil lined baking sheet and broil on high until you see the edges golden and the Salmon cooked.
  • Take it out and allow to cool slightly.
  • Mix the Raita ingredients and keep aside.
  • Heat the Flat Bread on a pan to warm it up a bit.Transfer onto a plate and arrange the lettuce at the botton followed by the Tikka topped with the Raita.
  • You can sprinkle some chat masala all over.
  • Roll and enjoy!

Our friend Sunithi from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz is hosting this week’s Skinny #SundaySupper and you’ll be amazed at the collection we have for you today!Who says Skinny is boring,just scroll down for some great healthy skinny ideas 🙂

Sizzling Skinny Appetizers & Soups

 Healthy Skinny Mains & Sides

Guilt Free Skinny Desserts & Snacks

Wine Pairing Recommendations for Skinny Sunday Supper by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. This week we will be sharing out special skinnified recipes! Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the#SundaySupper hash tag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Join us Around the Family Table this Sunday at 7pm Eastern Time and share your favorite healthy recipes with us!