Gujarati Kadhi

One never knows what their hit dish is till they get told over and over again to make that dish. This is my hit dish. Gujarati Kadhi! Goes very well with rice or Roti. Growing up my mum made this all the time but I never bothered to learn how to make it until I got married and found out that my husband loves Kadhi. One of my very good friends also thinks that I make the best kadhi and so for those reason I decided to blog it!

Ingredients:

for the kadhi:

• 1 cup yogurt
• 2 to 2.5 cups water
• 2 to 2.5 tbsp gram flour/chickpea flour/besan
• 1 tbsp total of crushed ginger, green chilies, and garlic paste
• 1 tbsp brown sugar or jaggery... add more for more sweetness
• salt to taste
• coriander leaves for garnish

for the tempering:

• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• a pinch or two of asafoetida/hing
• 2 broken red chilies, deseeded
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
• 1 tbsp ghee/Clarified butter

Method:

1. Mix the chickpea flour/besan, ginger green chili-garlic paste, yogurt, sugar and salt with the water.
2. Beat to a smooth mixture.
3. In a medium sauce pan, fry all the tempering ingredients in the tablespoon of Ghee.
4. Add the yogurt-water mixture.
5. Bring to a boil first and then simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
6. Continue to stir in between to avoid lumps from getting formed.
7. Garnish kadhi with chopped coriander and serve hot with rice or rotti.

Spiced Apple Moscow Mule

I love Mules! They are my favorite drink, they are warm and have a subtle taste one can enjoy with all kinds of food.
This is my spin to the traditional Moscow Mule.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Vodka
• 2 ounces apple cider
• 1 ounce spiced simple syrup (ingredients below)
• Ice
• 4 to 6 ounces ginger beer
• Apple slices, mint, and cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Spiced Simple Syrup

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 4 or 5 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
• 6 whole cloves
• 2 star anise

Instructions

Spiced Simple Syrup.

Makes ¾ to 1 cup syrup

1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves.
4. Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 10 minutes until mixture has begun to thicken a bit.
5. Turn off the heat, cover, and allow syrup to cool completely (30 to 60 minutes).
6. Remove cinnamon sticks and cloves from syrup; discard. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Spiced Apple Moscow Mule Cocktail

1. In a copper mug, add vodka, apple cider, and spiced simple syrup.
2. Add ice.
3. Top off with ginger beer.
4. Stir and garnish with cinnamon stick and mint. Add slice of apple, if desired, for garnish.

Creamy Mushroom Cheddar Soup

I have not blogged in a very long time. Going back to work, Kids and social life take up pretty much all the time. But I couldn't resist to share this one. One of my friends, who is a foodie, shared this with me & I absolutely loved it. Its one of those one pot meal that hits the spot.

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) package baby Bella mushrooms, sliced
• 2-1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup sliced green onions (white and light green parts only)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-1/2 cups packed shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh chopped parsley and garlic croutons, for garnish
• Salt & black Pepper & red chili flakes to taste

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. Add mushrooms and green onions and saute until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add flour and stir well. Slowly add milk and vegetable broth, stirring well to combine.
4. Add bay leaf and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thick, stirring occasionally, about 20-25 minutes.
6. Adjust the seasoning with salt pepper and red chili flakes.
7. Gradually add cheese and stir until melted. Top with parsley and croutons.

Spicy Cous Cous in avacado shells

Some times presenting food in a different way can give you a whole new dish.
I served my Pearl cous cous salad into avocado shells at a dinner party I hosted and it was such a hit.

Please refer http://spiceinfused.blogspot.com/2013/01/pearl-cous-cous-salad-with-fresh-mango.html
for the spicy Peal cous cous recipe

Spicy White Cheddar Chili

One more one pot meal, so comforting! My friend shared this recipe with me, and I loved it.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1/2-1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeno, diced
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
• 4 cups vegetable broth, divided
• 3 cans cannelloni beans, divided
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 6 ounces white cheddar, shredded (about 1 1/2 cup)
• Cilantro, additional cheddar, baguettes for serving

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened.
2. Add the bell peppers, jalapeno, and green chilies to the pot, and cook until the peppers are softened - about 7 minutes.
3. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the cannelloni beans with 1 1/2 cups of broth in a blender and blend until smooth.
4. Pour the remaining broth and beans into the pot, along with the cumin, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Stir in the creamy blended bean and broth mixture. Taste the soup and adjust salt level to your liking (I used a total of 1 teaspoon sea salt, but I love me some salt).
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. After 20 minutes remove the soup from the burner, and whisk in the cheese 1/2 cup at a time. It is important that the soup is very hot at this point, because you want the cheese to melt in. Whisk vigorously after each additional handful of cheese to make sure it completely melts before adding the next round of cheese.
7. Top with cilantro and additional cheddar, and serve with baguettes.

Vegetarian Taco Soup

A bowl full of comfort! I fell in love with this recipe immediately. I love one pot meals, they are quick to make and filling too. My kids loved it too!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons ground cumin

• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika

• 2 teaspoons chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 
1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced mild green chiles, drained
• 2 (10 ounce) cans Diced Tomatoes 
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 (32 ounce) containers Vegetable Broth
• 
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 ounce) can Pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• Juice of 1/2 a lime

Directions:

1. In a small bowl mix together cumin, sweet paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, coriander, salt and black pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large pot (or dutch oven) heat the oil over medium high. Add the onions and bell peppers. Sauté until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the spices and garlic; cook for 2 minutes.

3. Add the green chile peppers, diced tomatoes, corn and vegetable broth. Cook until warmed through and the raw smell goes away. Add the black beans and Pinto beans and cook for 2 minutes before serving. Squeeze in lime juice. Serve in bowls and garnish as desired.


Garnish Ideas:


Tortilla chips

Shredded Cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Guacamole
Mango salsa and/or Pica di galo
Chopped cilantro

Sour Cream


Garden Mule

 

My sister-in-law tried this drink during one of her recent travels. She loves the Moscow mule that I make and so she shared her experience with me about this drink. I love to try out different drinks and so I decided to make it. Garden mules definitely need muddling. That is what makes them so good; the blueberries, cucumber, strawberries and mint are muddled, creating a garden-fresh cocktail!

Ingredients

• 4 slices cucumber
• 16 blueberries 
• 3-4 small strawberries
• 6 mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish
• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 cup ginger beer
• 1 piece candied ginger

 Directions:

1. Put the cucumber, 8 blueberries, 3 strawberries and mint leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Muddle until crushed and juicy. Add a handful of ice, the vodka and lime. 
2. Cover, shaker and shake for about 15 seconds, until the shaker develops a nice coat of condensation on the outside.
3. Fill a Moscow mule mug/glass with ice. 
4. Strain the liquid from the shaker into the mug. 
5. Top with ginger beer and 4 blueberries. 
6. Thread strawberry, blueberry, piece of cucumber and a piece of candied ginger onto a toothpick. Garnish with a sprig of mint and the toothpick of berries and ginger.