Thursday, July 23, 2009

Orange-Lemon Tea Fizz

Nothing can beat a glass of chilled lemon tea as an accompaniment to a pizza, sub or a sizzler! The best part is this can be made in advance and refigerated. So that you can chill out when you have to serve this..

Lots of variations could be tried.. The first one is Orange-Lemon Tea and the second one is Lemon - Ginger Iced Tea... The secret of a good iced tea is to make the tea decoction and cool it completely before flavouring it. And of course, it is all in the way you serve it.

Take a tall glass, first fill it with lots of ice cubes and pour the tea. And chill out..



Ingredients

Orange - Lemon Tea

3 cups boiling water
1-2 tea bags
Sugar to taste
1 cup Orange Juice (Use the canned juice)
2 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 bottle Soda ( optional)
Ice Cubes


Brew tea decoction.
Make a light tea decoction, let it cool completely.
Before serving add sugar, lemon juice, orange juice and Soda. If you do not like fizzy stuff, then opt out the soda.
Serve over ice cubes in a tall glass.

Lemon Ginger Iced Tea



Ingredients

1 bag green tea
Thin slices fresh ginger
Fresh Lemon juice
Sugar to taste

Preparation

1. Make a thin green tea decotion, Let tea cool completely.
2. Strain ginger juice, add through a strainer. Add lemon juice and sugar.
3. Pour in to tall glasses filled with ice.

Sip it with your friends with some nice murukku and hot gossip!

Mixed Sprouts Fried Rice

For a change, toss in mixed sprouts in the fried rice. The Soya, ginger, garlic and red chilli give a chinese touch... Spicy and good for lunch packs!



Ingredients

2 cups of cooked basmati rice
1 cup sprouts (Mixed sprouts)
1 tsp red chilli paste (soak 2-3 dry red chillis in 1 tbsp of vinegar for half an hour and grind to make a paste)
1 tbsp. groundnut oil
½ tsp. soya sauce
1 tsp tomato sauce
Salt to taste
1 tsp finely chopped garlic
1 tsp finely chopped ginger
White pepper powder
2 tbsp spring onions

Method :

Heat oil in a kadai in a high flame and toss the chopped garlic and ginger. Add the red chilli paste and stir fry for 10-15 seconds. Now add sprouts and cover and cook for 2-3 mts on medium heat.
Add the soya sauce, tomato sauce, salt and white pepper powder and mix well.
Add the completely cooled rice to the kadai and stir fry tossing well for about 2 minutes.
Garnish with spring onions. Serve hot.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hyderabadi Mixed Vegetable





A nice blend of veggies, tasty with yoghurt and spices..
Ingredients

Vegetables needed :

1 cup beans
1 cup carrots
1 cup potatoes (peeled)
(above 3 items to be sliced in to thin strips (like Avial veggies)
1/2 cup long aubergines - cut in to round
1/2 cup cauliflower florets
1 small cup green peas
1 finely chopped onion
2 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp ginger paste
Half a lemon
salt to taste

Spices

1 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp clove powder

Oil for deep frying
1 cup of thick yogurt
A pinch of turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilli powder
Ghee for tadka

1. Microwave (Steam) the potatoes in a closed bowl for 3 minutes.
2. Along with the potatoes (After 3 mins), you may add the green peas and microwave for a minute.
3. Let it cool and keep it separately.
4. Heat the oil to the right temperature and quickly deep fry cauliflower, carrots and beans. ALL SEPARATELY, because the cooking temperatures are different for these veggies. Keep it aside.
5. Heat the Kadai, add 2 tsp of ghee, add garlic and ginger paste. Add the onions and fry it till golden brown.
6. Add the cup of yogurt, little turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder. Stir quickly for 2 minutes so that you get the creamy masala.
7. Add all the vegetables, stir well.
8. Add salt, juice of half a lemon.
9. Lower the flame and finish off with 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1 tsp cinnamon powder and 1 tsp clover powder.

Watch the spices giving off the yummy flavour.. Can be served as an accompaniment to Jeera Pulao or Phulkas.. Enjoy!