Desi Dhal (Lentils)

My desi dhal my desi dhal dhal dhal dhal dhal!!! #desigirl #priyankachopra #dostana #ifyouknowyouknow LOL

Not a lot of people like dhal (lentils) which I personally feel is just so bizarre! However, it all comes down to how it's cooked and I think with dhal (lentils) you have to cook it with a lot of lurrrvveeee. I watched my mum make this once and I got put off straight away but I love food so I had to give it the benefit of the doubt and try it. When I did, I loved it and had the urge to cook it. Dhal tastes amazing in the winter with some rice (can also be served with chappati/roti) and it has a lot of benefits, believe it or not. As well as it being so quick and easy to cook, it's a brilliant source for fibre and also helps with giving you a energy boost by replenishing the iron stores in your body. I do suffer from anaemia myself and it's highly common for women, especially Asian women, to be low in iron. I genuinely feel after eating dhal I gain some energy. It's nice to be able to cook something quick and easy that's also highly beneficial and has so many health benefits, so why not give my desi dhal a go. Give it the benefit of the doubt.
Feeds 5

Ingredients:
     - 2 cups yellow split Lentils (moong dhal), washed and soaked in cold water
     - 1tbs Mustard seed
     - 1 large Onion finely sliced
     - Sunflower oil
     - 1 large Tomatoe, chopped
     - 3tsp Coriander Powder
     - 1/2tsp Turmeric
     - 1 & 1/2tsp Cumin Powder
     - 3 Fresh Green Chillies 
     - 1 & 1/2tsp Blended Green Chillies (optional)
     - Salt (to taste)
     - 2tsp Ginger/Garlic Paste 
     - 4 cups of Water
     - Fresh Coriander Chopped

Method:
     - Grab yourself a pot and on a medium heat add sunflower oil and the mustard seeds.
     - Stir continuously for a minute or so and then add the onions and the fresh green chillies.
     - Cook the onions, stirring as often as you can, till they have softened.
     - Once the onions have softened, put it on a completely slow heat and add the tomatoes. Allow this to cook for 10/15 minutes with a lid on.
     - Once the tomatoes have cooked, add in all the masalas and the ginger/garlic paste.

 If you like spicy food you can add the blended green chillies too. 

     - Let this cook with a lid on for 10 minutes and then add 1 cup water and allow to cook for an additional 10 minutes. 

(I usually like to like my masala cook for atleast half an hour, stirring occasionally but this is down to my own personal preference as I like to really take my time)

     - Once the masala has cooked (and you're happy with the taste so far) add the lentils and the rest of the water; stir well. Keep on a slow heat and cook for 10/15 minutes, covered, till it becomes a dhal like texture and not so runny. If it appears to be quite thick and soggy in appearance then you can add more water. 
     - Finally garnish with fresh coriander and you can switch off and serve with either boiled white rice and chappti.

(Psssttt I also like having dhal with buttery toast why not give it a go?)
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Chicken & Mushroom Pie

I love pie but its always hard to know exactly what to put in a pie without spoiling it and doing it justice. Initially when I was making this pie I was hoping to make lasagne on the day but, my dad got chicken breast instead of mince meat from the butchers. I wanted to make something using what had been bought for the lasagne i.e. the chicken and the white dolmio sauce. My fridge was fully stocked so I had no worries in terms of what additional to add; for once I was stress free in the kitchen and didn't have to just make do. 
For those that know me well you'll know my crazy obsession with mushrooms. It's THE most amazing, delicious, yummiest thing in the whole entire world! I have even gone as far as eating it raw! I know I'm mad! But I love it and my obsession with it lead me to trying it raw. I wouldn't advise anyone to try it though LOL! You can imagine how much mushroom I added to my pie! Anywaysssss... I thought I have to add mushroom to my pie and I did. I also added peppers and sweetcorn, green pepper has a nice flavour to it and sweetcorn, well to be completely honest, I love sweetcorn and mushroom on a pizza so I thought to myself "well if they taste good together on a pizza they have got to taste good in a pie together too!" I really am random guys but all these random thoughts are what help me create these recipes so guys here it is; my chicken and mushroom pie.
Feeds 7-10 people

Ingredients
     - 3 Medium Onions
     - Sunflower Oil
     - 4 Pound (in weight) Chicken Breasts, cut in cubes
     - 2 Large Tomatoes, sliced and diced
     - Salt (to taste) 
     - Black Pepper (1 tsp)
     - Red Chilli Flakes (1 tsp)
     - Coriander Powder (2 1/2 tsp)
     - Cumin Powder (1 tsp)
     - Fresh Green Chillies (blended) (1 tsp, if you like it spicy you can add more)
     - Garlic Paste (2 tsp)
     - 1 Large Green Pepper, sliced and diced (optional)
     - 2 packs of Mushrooms, sliced in a thickly manner
     - Tin of Sweetcorn or frozen pack of sweetcorn (optional) 
     - 3/4 bottles of Dolmio White Sauce
     - Fresh Coriander, chopped
     - Puff Pastry Roll 
     - 1 Egg

Method:
     - Finely cut the 3 onions and add it to a pot with sunflower oil. Cook on a fast heat till the onions have softened and gone a pinky colour.
     - Add the chicken breasts in and cook till the chicken is white in colour and water burns off.
     - Keep it on fast heat and add:
          - Green Pepper (optional)
          - Mushrooms
          - Sweetcorn (optional)
     - Stir well and put on a medium to slow heat. 
     - Add the tomatoe to the mix and also add:
          - Salt
          - Black Pepper
          - Red Chilli Flakes 
          - Coriander Powder
          - Cumin Powder
          - Fresh Green Chillies (blended)
          - Blended Garlic.

(I have added the above in accordance to my taste buds so if you feel the need to add more or less then you can do so)

     - Stir well and cook for around 20/25 minutes with a lid on and on slow head. Ensure to occasionally stir.
     - Now add 3 bottles of Dolmio White Sauce, if you want it quite saucy add another bottle of the Dolmio white sauce.
     - Finally, add the chopped fresh coriander as garnish and let this cook for around 5-10 minutes and then switch off to cool.

     - Preheat the oven to gas mark 6 or 200 degrees
     - Once the filling has cooled roll out the puff pastry roll, use a bit of plain flour to roll it out if you struggle. Add the pie filling in a dish. 
     - Add the puff pastry roll on top of the filling and with a fork poke enough holes so that it cooks when we put it in the oven. 
     - Scramble the egg and brush it on top of of the pastry and once the oven has heated pop the pie in and cook for 25 minutes or till the pastry has risen and gone golden brown and cooked.

You can now serve :)
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Slow Cooked Spicy Lamb Curry AKA Lamb Ghosh

Whenever I go to a wedding the one thing I look forward to is the lamb ghosh/curry. Nothing pleases me more than to eat a good, spicy, lamb curry. Everyone's style of lamb ghosh is different and I love how everyone's way of cooking it has its own originality, its own take, and its something I've always wanted to be able to achieve. My mum taught me my basic use of masalas and what each one was good at bringing out; what brought flavour, what brought spice, what brought that extra taste; that va va voom. I wanted to make sure when I attempted to make a lamb curry I would achieve all the above. One thing I've learnt is that the longer you leave something to cook the better and richer the flavour; especially with a curry. This saying has been taught in my family for generations all the way from India! So I had to implement it. I know it takes time to cook a curry but believe me this is worth it and the exciting thing is you get to experience the smell of the spice cooking bit by bit! 
This recipe is brilliant for large family gatherings, wedding parties or just to serve at home. I hope you guys enjoy cooking this as much as I did. 

 Feeds 7

Ingredients:
     - 3lb Lamb shoulder (cut)
     - 3 Medium sized white onions - sliced
     - Sunflower oil 
     - 2 Cinnamon sticks 
     - 5 Cloves
     - 7 Peppercorns
     - 3 Cardamoms 
     - 1tsp Coriander seeds
     - 1 tin Blended chopped tomatoes 
     - 3tsp Ginger garlic paste
     - 1tsp Turmeric
     - 1 1/2tsp Cumin
     - 4tsp Coriander powder 
     - 1 1/2tsp Red chilli powder
     - 1/2tsp Curry powder
     - 1/2tsp Red chilli flakes
     - 1/2tsp Garam masala
     - 1tsp Blended green chillies 
     - Salt (to taste) 
     - 1tsp Tandoori powder
     - Fresh coriander leaves cut
     - 3tsp Lemon juice
     - Potatoes (optional) 

Method:
     - Finely slice the onions and cook in sunflower oil on a fast heat along with the coriander seeds, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns and cloves, until onions are golden brown.

     - Add the lamb meat and the ginger/garlic paste and stir well. Cover with a lid and put on a slow heat to cook for a good 30 minutes, occasionally stirring.

    - Add the blended tomato tin, stir well and leave to cook with the lid on on slow heat for an additional 10/15 minutes.

    - Add all the spices mentioned above and leave on slow heat with a lid on for 30/45 minutes, occasionally stirring.

     - Add 2 cup water (more if you like it soupy) and lemon juice to the lamb and leave to cook for 10 minutes on slow heat without a lid. If you don't like it soupy and want it to be more of a masala just add 1/2 cup water.

(Preference: If you want to add potatoes you can do, cut them into large chunks and add to the pot, once the potatoes are cooked you can switch off, garnish with fresh coriander and serve).

    - Finally garnish the curry with fresh coriander leaves and you can serve with a choice of naan bread, roti/chappati or brown rice.
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Tight Budget? ... Try my Vegetable Spaghetti Stirfry

You ever get that feeling where your so hungry but don't want to takeout, you just want something nice and homemade but you don't have a lot to use, you have no meat and all you want is to eat something quick, easy, and tasty? 
Well have no fear this recipe is one my quick and tasty ones! I would defo recommend this to any uni students. 
I love this recipe; everything I got was on a tight budget. I purchased my spaghetti from Tesco, I used the 'Tesco everyday value spaghetti' which was 20p, fresh lemon 30p (each, of course I only needed the one) and the stir fry packs which was £1. There are so many options for stir fry so you can pick whichever tickles your taste bud, all for a £1. If you do opt for a larger pack the price will increase but that would all depend on your own individual price budget. The masalas that I used are all basic ingredients I always have in the household and weren't too much of a worry for me to purchase but it was so relieving to know that something so easy could be made at a generous price. So guys here it is my vegetable spaghetti stir fry! 

 Ingredients:
     - Spaghetti
     - Half a Lemon
     - Olive Oil
     - Stir Fry Veg
     - Szechuan Hot & Sour Cup Soup Sachet
     - Salt
     - Pepper
     - Soy Sauce
     - Chilli Flakes
     - Garlic

 Method:
     - Boil some spaghetti in a pot with water.
     - Squeeze half a lemon to juice it up and add the lemon itself into it once done, let it boil.
     - Drain the water from spaghetti (do not wash in cold water).
     - Put the spaghetti pot back on the cooker and let it heat on fast heat.
     - Drizzle olive oil over and toss for a minute or so.
     - Add some Stir Fry Veg.
    - Grab the Szechuan Hot & Sour Cup Soup Sachet and follow the instructions on the box, once made add it to the spaghetti.
     - Add the following too and stir well:
              - Salt
              - Pepper
              - Soy Sauce
              - Chilli Flakes
              - Garlic
     - Put a lid on it all and let it cook for 15 minutes.
Bon appetit your good to serve, quick and easy.
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Lets go Mediterranean!!! - Mediterranean chicken stir fry

I went nuts with this recipe. Almost as nuts as when a girl buys a new pair of shoes or a new Anastasia Beverly Hills glow kit! Girls you'll understand. Honestly I was at a point where I was running out of ideas for something new to cook. Tesco's is the one supermarket that is close to where I live. My mum decided the only way of me getting any inspo is to go Tesco (of all the places in the world, Tesco) so we went. Trust me as funny as it sounds when she mentioned Tesco, it was actually one of the best things she said! I got to Tesco and there was just vegetables everywhere, like a whole load of new stock and ready made packs of mixed vegetables. The colours just stood out and the layout, it all just got to me and drove me food insane! I felt the urge to purchase the whole vegetable aisle and just cook something with everything in it! As I looked through all the wonderful veg, I came across a ready made tray labelled 'Mediterranean vegetable mix'. As soon as I saw it light bulbs turned on in my head and I just knew what I could do with this and what was even better, the tray was on offer, so I got myself 3 trays worth. The excitement was unreal and I couldn't wait to get home and whoop this meal up! I have to be honest, it does require a little more effort but believe me the end result just makes you want to cook this all over again. So guys get your light bulbs on in the kitchen and why not try making this Mediterranean chicken stir fry!

 Ingredients:
     - 2 1/2 pound (in weight) chicken breasts
     - Red chilli powder
     - Garam masala
     - Gingergarlic paste
     - Salt
     - Corn Flour
     - Turmeric
     - Green Chillies (optional)
     - Egg
     - Lemon
     - Cornstarch
     - Soy sauce
     - Sweet chilli sauce
     - Honey
     - Olive Oil
   - 3 trays mediterranean roasting vegetables (purchasable from any local supermarket or if not available get some courgettes, red onions, red, green and yellow peppers and finely slice) 
     - Chicken Stock
     - Dried Parsley
     - Lemon zest and juice
     - Rice

 Method:
     - Wash and cut the chicken breasts into strips and add:
     - 2tsp red chilli powder
     - 1tsp garam masala
     - 2tsp gingergarlic paste
     - 2tsp salt 
     - 2 1/2tbsp corn flour
     - 1tsp turmeric
     - 1tsp green chillies (optional)
     - 1 small egg 
     - Cut half a lemon and add the lemon juice
     - Mix and let this marinate for 1 hour and put in the fridge.

 Now whilst the chicken marinates lets make a sauce. Grab yourself a bowl and add: 
     - 2tbsp cornstarch
     - 2tbsp luke warm water
     - 2tbsp soy sauce
     - 3tbsp sweet chilli sauce 
     - And 1tbsp honey
     - Mix well and that's the sauce done for later, quick and easy.

      - Once the chicken has marinated fry them till they're golden brown.
     - Get this 'wok' in people! Grab a wok and heat it up on fast heat. Once heated put it on slow and add olive oil.
     - Now add the fried chicken and sauce we made earlier to the wok.
   - Wash the 3 trays of Mediterranean roasting vegetables (or the vegetables cut if you couldn't purchase the ready made pack) and add this too.
     - Drizzle olive oil on top and squeeze the other half of the lemon into the wok.
    - Lets use everything we can of this lemon! Create a well in the middle of the wok and place the lemon at the bottom, cover it up so it is hidden with the chicken and veg and let it cook, this will really enhance the flavour.
     - Let the wok and lemon do its magic and in the meantime get a jug and add the chicken stock, add water and stir well. Add this to the wok.
     - Leave it on a slow heat and don't forget to cover the wok with a lid.
     - One final step, once majority of the water has boiled away and veg is cooked switch off the heat, add dried parsley and lemon zest on top and we are all done with the Mediterranean chicken stir fry.

 Guys this can be served with egg noodle or boiled rice whichever you prefer, I chose boiled rice and let me show you how simple it is.

     - Re use the lemon from the wok and put it in a pan with 5 cups of water and 2tsp salt, let this boil. Once done add 3 cups of rice and let it all boil together. Once the rice is cooked serve with the chicken stir fry and voila we are all done and we have 'wok'ed it out! 
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Oregano Chicken and rice with veg!

Well where do I start with this recipe! My sister and I were going through a crazy healthy phase where everything we would eat had to have your basic bit of protein and carbs in it. You know what its like when the new year starts and you have goals you want to achieve! I was going through a phase where I wanted to gain weight but not by eating junk, by gaining in a healthy way, I also wanted to create something that would last a few days. This recipe is brilliant for people who are into healthy eating, fitness and work long hours and can't find the time to pack lunch daily for work. I created this meal and packed them in microwaveable tubs and stored in the fridge. A tub for each day of the week; Monday to Friday. It was so good knowing I didn't have to worry about what I would need to prepare for work the next day and a brilliant feeling knowing I'm eating something that I would positively gain from. So for all you healthy freaks give this a go, I promise you wont regret it.

 Ingredients:
     - Broccoli 
     - Brussel sprouts
     - Sweet Potatoes
     - Carrots
     - Salt
     - Pepper
     - Garlic Powder
     - Oregano
     - Olive Oil
     - Chicken Breasts
     - Ginger/Garlic Paste
     - Soy Sauce
     - Corn Flour
     - White Rice

 Method:
     - Grab a tray and brush with olive oil.
     - Add the vegetables to the tray with a dash of:
              - Salt
              - Pepper
              - Garlic Powder
              - And Oregano 
     - Drizzle olive oil on top and pop it in the oven, gas mark 6. Let the veg cook and lets get on the chicken.
     - Olive oil up a large saucepan and add the chicken breasts. Cook till the chicken is white in colour and the water burns off.
     - Add:
              - 1 1/2tsp Ginger/Garlic Paste
              - Salt (to taste)
              - Pepper (to taste) 
              - 2tsp Soy Sauce 
              - 2tsp Corn Flour
              - 1tsp Oregano
     - Stir well and let it cook on slow heat.
     - Grab another pan and lets boil some white rice in water.

 P.S. Don't forget to keep an eye on the veg, give it a stir so it cooks well if it isn't cooking feel free to increase the gas mark.

      - Once the rice is boiled add it to the chicken and let it cook together for 5/10 minutes. 
     - Switch it off and dig in (served with the veg of course).
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Something fishy is going on - Its Chef Humiis prawn curry

Prawns prawns prawns! I love love love prawns, its my number 1 fish to eat! Ever since I was little its all I would want. I was always so eager to learn how to make a proper desi prawn curry and I would always stand watching my mum make this, and if it wasn't my mum then my grandma and if not my grandma then my auntie! I just loved the smell and the masala cooking, it just made me so happy! I have to admit; I am prawn obsessed. The one thing that was always my worry with this is if it would ever turn out as good as my food sensei, LOL, and with a bit of determination it did. It took me a lot of courage to post this up but I hope you guys love it. Thank you mum, nani and my Aysha kala for helping me master this I hope I continue to do this recipe justice.
Feeds 7


  Ingredients:
     - 1 Whole pack of King Prawns washed and left to soak in cold water
     - 2 Large Onions
     - Sunflower Oil
     - 1 Blended Tomatoe Tin
     - Salt
     - Ginger Garlic Paste
     - Turmeric
     - Cumin Powder
     - Red Chilli Powder
     - Chilli Flakes
     - Coriander Powder
     - Tandoori Powder
     - Green Chillies
     - Fresh coriander leaves

 Method:
     - Finely cut 2 large onions and cook in sunflower oil till it's soft and medium brown in colour.
     - Add 1 blended tomato tin into the pot and stir.
     - Let it cook for 15 minutes on slow heat with a lid on.
     - Masala time people, add:
                 - 2tsp Salt
                 - 1 1/2tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
                 - 1tsp Turmeric
                 - 2tsp Cumin Powder, red chilli powder and chilli flakes
                 - 3tsp Coriander Powder
                 - 1tsp Tandoori Powder
                 - 1 1/4tsp green chillies (add more if you want it more spicy).

      - Stir well and let it cook for another 15/20 minutes on slow heat with lid on.
    - Make sure to stir every 5 minutes or so, so the masala doesn't burn. If you want the curry to be soupy add 2 cups water and stir well and leave to cook for an additional 10 minutes.
     - Garnish with fresh green chillies.
This can be served with either rice or roti/chappati.
fishdishes
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