Vegetable Pot Pie

Sometimes the simplest dishes make an outstanding centerpiece on your dinner table.  Every Thanksgiving I make this Pot Pie, it is becoming a tradition in our house. So, what are Pot pies? Usually Pot pies are flaky pastry crusts enclosing a savory filling.  This recipe is such a no fuss dish, easy, and pretty quick to make.  I adapted this recipe from Vegetarian Times Magazine and changed some ingredients and proportions to suited to my family's taste. To make my job easy, I used frozen puff pastry sheets to make that crust.
Try it out, I am sure you will like it.

This recipe serves 4 people.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp butter (or olive oil)
• 1/2 cup each, of white beans and kidney beans, cooked  
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 spring onions, whites and greens chopped
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 red & green peppers, chopped
• 1 cup mushrooms chopped
• 1 large carrot (or 2 medium), diced
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
• About 8 Oz. small shell pasta
• 1/2 tbsp of each dried basil, dried parsley, cayanne pepper
• 1 tbsp of curry powder
• 1 bay leaf
• Pinch of saffron
• Palm full of fennel seeds
• Few sprigs of cilantro, chopped (optional)
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp whole wheat flour
• Shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 sheet puff pastry sheet, thawed at room temperature
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. Heat butter/oil in a large saucepan. Saute the onion, spring onion until browned. Add garlic.
3. Add celery, peppers, mushrooms and carrot and saute for another 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the broth, corn, green beans white beans, kidney beans, dried herbs, bay leaf along with all the other spices. Let it come to a slight boil, then add the pasta.
5. Cook until pasta is a little tender. Remove the bay leaf.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch & flour along with 1/2 cup cold water.
7. Stir this into the vegetables along with the cheese. Add more salt/pepper if required.
8. Remove from heat and add the peas along with chopped cilantro. Give it a mix until well combined.
9. Roll the puff pastry sheet using a rolling pin to cut 4 or 6 squares.
10. Take small ramekin dishes and fill them 3/4 full with the vegetable mixture.
11. Place the cut puff pastry square and drape it over the filling, tucking in the sides. Pierce the tops in several places with a knife to allow steam to escape.
12. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crust is flaky and brown.

Ginger Capcicum Rice

We ate this dish recently at an indo-chinese restaurant and both me & my husband loved it. I decided to give it a try with the flavors that I remembered while I indulged it. The result was excellent and I decided to blog it so you all can try and enjoy it too.


Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked long grain rice
• 1 Onions (cut into thin long strips)
• 2 Capsicum/Bell-pepper (cut into thin long strips)
• Ginger – 3" long piece; finely chopped/minced
• Garlic minced/crushed (according to taste)
• Green Chillies ( according to taste)
• 3-4 tbsp Spring Onions (roughly chopped)
• 2-3 tbsp Soy-sauce
• 2-3 tbsp Chilli-sauce (or as much to suit your taste)
• 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp Ghee – 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Once the rice is cooked, gently spread on a wide plate and let it cool, Don’t stir too much, else you’ll end up with mashed rice.
2. Now, heat ghee in a wok. Add the onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies. Saute on a medium flame till the onions are cooked tender. 
3. Add the spring onions and saute another 2 minutes till they wilt. 
4. Next, throw in the chopped capsicum/bell-pepper and continue to saute till the capsicum is a little tender.
5. Simmer the flame and add the soy-sauce and chilli sauce, maple syrup. Stir well. 
6. Add the cooled rice to the wok, stir well to incorporate and cook on a high flame for 3-5 minutes, stirring continuously. 
7. Remove from flame and serve hot. 

Quinoa Chilli

When I got this recipe from my friend, I tried it the next day. It is a one pot meal which is super easy to make and delicious too! I call it a vegetarian meal which is protein-packed and a perfect bowl of comfort food that you can eat guilt-free!

 

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cups cooked quinoa (I cooked mine with Vegetable broth)
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 -2 diced green serrano chilies
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder, or more, to taste
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups corn kernels 
• 1 1/2 cups of Vegetable broth
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
• Sour Cream
• Shredded Jack Cheese (optional)

 

Method:

1. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven, or large pot, over medium high heat. A
2. Add garlic and onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Stir in the quinoa, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, green chilies, chili powder, cumin, paprika, sugar, cayenne pepper, coriander and 1-2 cups Vegetable broth - enough to make sure to cover most of the ingredients; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, until thickened - about 30 minutes.
5. Stir in beans & corn & lime juice until heated through - about 2 minutes.
6. Serve immediately with sour cream, avocado, cheese & garnish it cilantro.

Baby Corn Manchurian

I am a huge fan of Manchurian. I happen to love Corn as well, so when I saw this dish at a party I was attending, I felt I should try making it at home. It is a great appetizer dish. It has all the addictive flavor combinations that Indo-Chinese cuisine promises; sweet, sour, hot and a hearty bite that's chewy and tender yet firm & crispy. You can work around the flavors to suit your needs, it is easily customizable.

Ingredients:

• 11-12 baby corn
• 1 1/2 tbsp maida/all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tsp rice flour (optional)
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic-green chilli paste
• 1 tsp of paprika
• few tbsp water
• salt to taste

For the sauce:

• 1/4 cup spring onions, finely chopped,
• 1 capsicum, finely sliced
• 1/2 tbsp finely minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp finely minced ginger
• 1-2 finely chopped green chillis
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder (preferably Kashmiri)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp chilli sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 2 tbsp tomato sauce
• 1/2 tsp brown sugar (optional)
• salt as required
• 1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Method:

1.  Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy bottomed vessel.
2.  In a bowl, combine maida, cornflour, rice flour, salt,ginger-garlic-green chilli paste, paprika and water to make a thick paste. 
3. Dip the washed and drained baby corn into the batter so that its well coated. 
4. Place each piece that is well coated with the batter into the hot oil. 
5. Reduce flame and deep fry till the baby corn is almost cooked. 
6. Increase the flame towards the end of the cooking process and fry the baby corn till the batter turns golden brown. Remove onto absorbent paper and keep aside.
7. For the sauce; heat the sesame oil in a large wok and once the oil is piping hot, add the chopped garlic and stir fry for a few seconds. 
8. Add the green chillies and ginger and stir fry on high for a few seconds then add all the sauces along with the whites of the spring onions and cook it on a high flame till the sauce thickens a little for 3-4 minutes.
9. Just before serving, pour the sauce over the baby corn & give it a good mix so that all the sauce is covered on the baby corn.
10. Serve Hot!

Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

I love soups in winter! This is my favorite one. It is creamy and full of flavors and texture.  Make it and serve it with sour dough bread on a cold or rainy day and the comfort will find it's way to you.

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 
• 4 cups broccoli florets (about 1 head)
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 2 1/2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated sharp white and yellow cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. 
2. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. 
3. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. 
4. Add the vegetable broth, bay leaves and nutmeg, then season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. 
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
6. Add the broccoli and carrot to the broth mixture and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. 
7. Discard the bay leaves. 
8. Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth; you'll still have flakes of carrot and broccoli. Return to the pot. (Or puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender).
9. Add the cheese to the soup and whisk over medium heat until melted. Add up to 3/4 cup water if the soup is too thick.
10. You can ladle into hollowed bread bowls and garnish with cheese.

Garlic Butter Noodles

If you love garlic and butter, then this garlic noodle dish is for YOU! It is so simple to make and yet holds great flavors.
 

Ingredients:

• 7 oz spaghetti noodles
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup fresh mint or basil, chopped
• 5-6 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar (optional)
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce 
• 1 packet of maggie seasoning
• 1 tbsp chilli sauce
• 1 tbsp jalapeno jam

 

 

Directions:

1. In Large pot, bring water to boil and cook noodles according to the package instructions. Drain noodles and wipe pot clean. 
2. Return pot (or separate pan) to medium-high heat and add the butter. 
3. Once butter sizzles, add garlic. Fry for about 1 minutes or until fragrant. Don't let the garlic burn.
4. Add brown sugar, Soy Sauce, chilli sauce, maggie seasoning & jalapeno jam and stir well. Add noodles and toss evenly with the sauce.
5. Remove from pan and plate the garlic noodles in a  large bowl and toss with fresh mint, basil or herb of your choice.

Chai Spiced Shortbread Cookies

I got a jar with the dry mixture of this cookies, along with the instructions, as a favor at one of my friend's baby shower. I thought it was such a thoughtful favor and it made amazing cookies! It has the flavor of Indian masala tea. I actually shared the cookies with a few of my neighbors and since, they have always asked me to make more. My son also loves these cookies and calls them ginger cookies for some reason.

 
This recipe makes 8 to 10 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon ground clove
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 bag chai tea leaves, (if the leaves are large in size, crush them to make them finer)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, but still cool (or margarine, for vegan/dairy free version)
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined. 
3. Remove one teaspoon of the mixture and, in a small separate bowl, stir it into the 2 tablespoons of sugar; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl combine the remaining chai spice mix (and chai tea, if using) with the flour and salt; set aside.
5. In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar together until light and fluffy. 
6. Add the flour mixture and beat until the dough resembles wet sand, don’t over beat. 
7. Using your hands, press the dough together to form a ball then press into a shortbread pan, or shape into several 1- to 1 1/2-inch balls. After making the balls, press them down to flatten them slightly after placing them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. 
8. Press the chai sugar mixture onto the top of the dough (I usually reserve half of it to sprinkle on the cookies once I take them from the pan, but you can use as much or as little as you like). 
9. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top feels firm and the edges are golden.