24 March 2013

Mulligatawny Soup with Chicken and Apples

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 tbsp flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp curry powder (Sambar powder - use less if you prefer less spicy)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 apple, cored and chopped
  • 1/4 cup white rice ( I used cooked rice)
  • 1 skinless, boneless, chicken breast half cut into cubes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • a pinch dried thyme
  • 1/2 heavy cream, heated

Preparation:
  • Boil chicken with 4 to 5 cups water for chicken stock.
  • Saute onions, celery, carrot and butter in a saucepan. Add flour and curry and cook 5 more minutes. Add chicken stock, mix well and bring to a boil. Simmer about 1/2 hour.
  • Add apple, rice, chicken, salt, pepper and thyme. Simmer till soup consistency is reached. 
  • Serve with hot cream. 

Sauteed Apples

Ingredients:

  • 1/8 cup butter
  • 2 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4" thick
  • 1 tsp corn starch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Preparation:
  • In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples and cook, stirring constantly, until apples are tender, about 6 to 7 min.
  • Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to skillet. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Boil for 2 min, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and serve warm. 

15 March 2013

Fried Bananas

Ingredients:
  • 2 - 4 ripe bananas (old ones are very good)
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup rice flour
  • 1/4 cup corn starch
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp shredded dry coconut (dessicated coconut)
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 tsp baking soda
  • 1 egg (optional)
  • few drops vanilla essence
  • 1/3 cup rice flour for coating
  • Oil for frying

Preparation:
  • Peel and slice bananas in half and then again lengthwise.
  • Mix all purpose flour, rice flour, corn starch, salt and 2 tbsp shredded coconut in a bowl and stir to combine. Add baking soda to water and mix it in the bowl into a batter.
  • Crack an egg and whip it in the batter (optional - I tried it without the egg and it turned out pretty good)
  • Mix 1/3 cup rice flour with 1 tbsp shredded coconut in a separate bowl.
  • Dip banana slices into the batter first and then roll it in the rice flour - coconut mixture. This will firm up the bananas and make for a crispy coating.
  • Shallow or deep fry the bananas in hot oil. (I shallow fried it)