Soni's Food

Indian Inspiration!

Roasted Tomato Soup and Croutons

25 | 10 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

With temperatures dropping each day, its time to get cozy with a warm bowl of soup for dinner. Comforting, healthy and delicious, soups are a staple in my house in the cooler days. My kids love it with a grilled cheese sandwich and we just enjoy ours with some crunchy croutons and crusty bread.

My homemade Tomato Soup develops a rich flavor achieved by roasting the tomatoes along with some garlic, herbs and olive oil. The tomatoes along with the juices are then transferred into a saucepan and cooked along with some broth and finished off with a splash of half and half. Its creamy, slightly sweet and absolutely delicious!

Roasted Tomato Soup 1

For the Croutons I just cube some bread, drizzle some olive oil all over and bake it in a preheated oven for 10 minutes until golden and crispy. Couldn’t be easier.

Roasted Tomato Soup and Croutons

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Ingredients
  

  • Large ripe Tomatoes-4-5 quartered
  • Garlic Cloves-3 sliced
  • Thyme – 1 tsp
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil- 2 tbsp
  • Chicken or Vegetable Broth-2 cups
  • Salt- to taste
  • Pepper- 1/2 tsp
  • Brown Sugar-1 1/2 tbsp
  • Half and Half-3/4 cup

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Place the tomatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil,salt,pepper,garlic and thyme.
  • Bake for about 20-25 minutes until tomatoes are softened.
  • Transfer all the contents including the juices and all into a deep pot.
  • Add the stock,sugar,salt and bring to a boil and cook for about 5-10 minutes.
  • Transfer into a blender and puree the soup.Be careful to not burn since it will be really hot.
  • Transfer the puree back into the pot.Add the half and half and cook for another minute or two.
  • Your soup is ready.Arrange croutons and serve immediately.

For the Croutons

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Cube 3-4 bread slices and drizzle some olive oil and salt.
  • Arrange in a single layer on a cookie sheet.Bake for 10 minutes until golden.

Masala Shrimp

07 | 09 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

Cooler air this week has got me thinking, are we braced for an early winter this year?I have to admit that I’m not a winter person.I mean I don’t mind the occasional snow that accumulates just enough for the kids to make their own snowman and snow angels and melt off the next day, while its still pristine white.I dislike the snow that lasts for days turning into ice ready to break people’s backs.Its just not fun.Not to mention the mess it makes.

Masala Shrimp 1

But hang on,why am I talking about winter yet?We haven’t even witnessed ‘Fall’ and don’t know what that has in store for us.Last year ‘Sandy’ just destroyed it all and I sincerely hope and pray that major hurricanes steer clear of our shores!Inspite of all this I still love ‘Fall’.I just love the warm colors of the leaves,the cool breeze,the pumpkins,the excitement of my kids to dress up for Halloween,the apples,the stews,warm comforting dishes hot from the oven and talking about hot my Masala Shrimp just fits the bill perfectly.

Masala Shrimp

Spicy and full of flavor this dish is my perfect companion for these cool days and since we’re using Shrimp here they don’t take too long to cook!The heat comes from the green chilies,the red chili powder and the garam masala.The spices give it tons of flavor and you can serve it with rice or naan bread to scoop up all those lovely juices!Its one of those special dishes you make when you’re craving something really spicy.

Masala Shrimp

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Ingredients
  

  • Jumbo Shrimp-1 lb cleaned and deveined
  • Onion-1 large onion chopped into small pieces or grated
  • Ginger-1 inch crushed
  • Garlic- 3 cloves crushed
  • Tomato-2 pureed
  • Ground Cumin-2 tsp
  • Ground Coriander-2 tsp
  • Turmeric-1/2 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1 tsp
  • Red Chili powder or paprika-1 tsp
  • Green Chili-2 seeded and chopped
  • Salt- to taste
  • Water-1 cup
  • Fresh Coriander-to garnish
  • Oil-3-4 tbsp

Instructions
 

  • In a skillet heat the oil.
  • Add the chopped onion and saute on medium heat until golden.
  • Add the ginger and garlic.
  • Add the pureed tomato along with all the spices and the green chili
  • Continue to cook until you see oil separating from the sides.
  • Add water and bring to a boil.Add salt and check the seasonings.
  • Reduce the heat and add the Shrimp.
  • Cook for about 5-6 minutes until Shrimp is cooked.
  • Mix well and garnish with fresh coriander.
  • Serve hot with Rice or Naan!

 

Fish Kebabs with Mint Chutney #SundaySupper

30 | 06 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

Its the first week of my kids’ summer holidays and I’ve been really enjoying my lazy mornings without the rush to wake them up or get their lunch boxes ready!Summer is my favorite time of the year!There’s fresh fruits and vegetables in abundance and let’s not forget the hot smoky barbecue that you can enjoy each day every day!!From fresh corn, to meats and seafood, grilled foods are probably the best thing about summer.They’re fun to eat, adaptable to every palate.And with the Fourth of July round the corner,we’re celebrating this season with a Summer BBQ party!

Fish Kebabs with Mint Chutney

My fish kebabs are super easy and have tons of flavor.You can also use Chicken,Lamb or Shrimp for this preparation.I’ve used a combination of Swordfish,Tuna and Salmon here.I let them marinade for about two hours and then grill them for about 6-8 minutes on each side.

You can choose any kind of firm fish for these kebabs.I just love the different textures in the fish and they came out great!The flavors of mint and coriander goes really well with the fish and the reserved chutney can be served alongside these kebabs.The chutney has a bit of tang from the lemon, and slight hint of heat from the Jalapeño, that I love.I served it on a bed of Couscous Tabbouleh with grilled corn for our dinner.Enjoy.

Fish Kebabs

Fish Kebabs with Mint Chutney

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 thick deboned fillet each of-Swordfish,Tuna and Salmon (6-8 oz each)

For the Mint Chutney

  • Fresh Mint-1 cup
  • Fresh Coriander-1 cup
  • Garlic clove-1
  • Green Chili or Jalapeño-1 seeded and chopped
  • Salt-to taste
  • Lemon Juice-1 tbsp
  • Olive Oil-2 tbsp
  • water-1/4 cup or more if required

Instructions
 

  • Wash the fish and pat dry.Slice though the middle and cube into apprx 2 inch pieces.
  • Chop up the coriander and mint.In a wet spice grinder or any food processor combine all the chutney ingredients except lemon juice and blend.Add a little more water if required.
  • In a ziplock bag take about 4-5 tbsp of the Chutney and the fish and give it a good mix.Save the remaining chutney.
  • Refrigerate the fish for two hours.Add the lemon juice a few minutes before grilling.
  • Preheat the grill.
  • Arrange the fish on skewers alternating each fish and grill on medium for about 6 minutes on each side.
  • Serve hot with the reserved chutney.

Fish Kebabs in Mint Chutney 1

The lovely Jenny from The Messy Baker Blog is hosting this special Sunday Supper and we’ve got some amazing summer dishes and drinks for you 🙂

SundaySupperBBQ

Hot Off the Grill:

On the Side:

Sweet Tooth:

In the Cooler:

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter on Sunday, June 30th to celebrate Summer. We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.

 

Lemon Chicken Kebabs

26 | 04 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

If there’s one dish I could live off for the rest of my life it would have to be Kebabs!! So many different possibilities and such a vast array of flavors, Kebabs are one of the most delicious foods of all time!I love experimenting with different flavors for kebabs and today I’ve got for you a tasty citrusy Lemon Chicken Kebab that’s super easy and I’m also going to share my secret to a moist and juicy Kebab 🙂

lemon chicken kebabs

I find Kebabs as the perfect party appetizer!They’re easy and always a crowd pleaser! You can use any meat or vegetable of your choice and you can make them spicy or non spicy according to your preference!!I’ve made these kebabs on my Griddle Pan but you could also broil it in the oven if you wish.I love the sizzle when the chicken touches the hot pan 🙂

The marinade for this dish is pretty easy and consists of lemon juice,some spices,ginger and garlic.The citrusy lemony flavor combined with a hint of spice in the background is mild enough for kids also.I marinated these for just a couple of hours and they still came out really juicy and flavorful.

Lemon Chicken Kebab 3

My secret? I do not throw the marinade after the kebabs go in the oven or pan.Instead,I brush the marinade all over the kebabs using a pastry brush on both sides every few minutes that gives them tons of flavor and prevents them from drying!Try this trick and you’ll never ever have a dry flavorless kebab again 🙂 I served these for our dinner in a tortilla wrap with some green chutney (made with coriander leaves,garlic,green chili and tomatoes) and lettuce!It was a fun dinner and my kids loved making their own individual wraps 🙂

Lemon Chicken Kebabs

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Ingredients
  

  • Chicken Breasts-2 pieces 6-8 oz each cubed
  • Lemon-3
  • Crushed Ginger-1 tsp
  • Crushed garlic-1 tsp
  • Ground Cumin-1 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1 tsp
  • Chopped Fresh Coriander-1/2 cup
  • Salt- to taste
  • Oil-2-3 tbsp

Instructions
 

  • Slice the Chicken Breasts and cube them into bite sized pieces.Juice the 3 lemons and zest one.
  • In a ziplock bag place all the ingredients excluding oil and mix.Leave it in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
  • Insert the pieces into greased skewers.Save the marinade.
  • Heat a greased griddle pan on high.Once ready place the skewers onto the pan.
  • Pour a little oil all over and brush the marinade generously on the side up.
  • After about 2-3 minutes flip the skewers and brush the other side too.Repeat the process until cooked about 6-8 minutes on each side and it has a lovely golden color.
  • Your kebabs are ready!Serve hot with Chutney and lemon wedges.

lemon chicken kebabs 2

Chiocciole with Creamy Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Mushrooms-Guest Post at Noshing with the Nolands

27 | 03 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

Before I begin my post today,let me wish you all a Very Happy Holi, the Hindu festival of colors 🙂

I’m excited for today’s post since I’m guest posting over at my friend Tara’s blog Noshing With the Nolands!At this time of the year we all look for fresh spring flavors and gorgeous colors of all the fresh produce that’s abundant in the markets.I went with vibrant juicy Cherry Tomatoes that I absolutely love.This dish barely takes any time and is perfect for a light lunch or dinner.The roasted cherry tomatoes with garlic are so so delicious and bursting with juices in every bite!

chiocciole

chiocciole 3This recipe has been with me for quite sometime and I’m glad I finally made it!You can use any pasta of your choice.I just found the Chiocciole at my local Whole Foods and wanted to try it!The addition of mushrooms is also optional and you could just go with the cherry tomatoes and basil.Its a dish that screams spring and with Easter round the corner, this will make a perfect dish for a crowd and its easy, flavorful and looks beautiful!!

 

Chiocciole 1

My kids love this dish as much as we do!So, what are you waiting for then?Hop over to Noshing with the Nolands and check out the recipe for yourselves 🙂