Palmiers / Elephant Ears

 

Puff Pastry  Sheet - 1 ( I used Pepperidge Farm puff  pastry sheet)

Sugar - 3/4 cup or as required

 

Thaw the puff pastry sheet for about 45 minutes.

 

Sprinkle half of the sugar evenly on a clean work surface, Place the puff pastry sheet on top, and sprinkle the remaining sugar evenly.

 

Roll out the dough gently into a 17 x 13 rectangle, about 1/8 inch, continually coating both sides with sugar and being careful not to press too hard around the edges. Trim the outermost edges with a sharp knife.

 

 

 

With your fingers, roll up one side as tightly as possible into a cylinder, being  careful not to stretch out the dough and stopping when you reach the middle. Repeat on the opposite side until you have two tight cylinders that meet in the middle . Wrap tightly in plastic and freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.

Using a sharp knife, cut dough crosswise into 3/8 inch thick slices. Place slices on ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart, and flatten firmly with with the palm of your hand. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

 

 

Bake for 5 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 350 F. Using an offset spatula, flip the palmiers over, bake until pastry is golden brown and well-caramelized, about 10  - 12 minutes more. Using the spatula, immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, shiny side up. Keep in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

 

 

 

 

Recipe Source - Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook

Prawn / Chemmeen Biriyani

Ingredients ( Serves 3 - 4)

 

Marinade

1. Prawns - 30 - 35 ( Around 400 g)
2. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
3. Chilly powder - 1 tsp
4. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
5. Salt - As required

For the masala

1. Onion - 1 large, thinly sliced
2. Tomato - 1 medium, chopped
3. Fresh ginger-garlic paste - 2 - 3  tsp
4. Green chillies - 7 - 8, seeded
5. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
6. Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
7. Coriander powder - 2tsp
8. Garam masala - 1.5 tsp
9. Mint leaves - 1/4 cup, chopped
10. Cilantro - 1/4 cup, chopped
11. Salt - To taste
12. Oil - As required

Method

1. Clean and wash the prawns. Marinate the prawns with the ingredients under marinade for at least 2 hrs in a refrigerator. Shallow fry the marinated prawns in oil until done. It won’t take more than 3 - 4 minutes on each side, at medium-low heat. Drain on to a paper towel.

 

 

2. In the same pan, add thinly sliced onions. Stir-fry until they turn light brown at medium heat. Now add ginger-garlic paste and green chillies. Stir fry for a few more minutes. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder and garam masala. Stir-fry for a few seconds and add the chopped tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes get mashed up. Now add 1/2 cup water and mix well. Bring to a boil and add the fried prawns. Cook for a minute and add the chopped cilantro and mint. Taste check for salt. Switch off.

 

Cooking Rice

Basmati rice - 2 cups

    To cook rice I usually follow the draining method. Soak the basmati rice for around 30 mts. Drain and keep aside. Boil water in a deep vessel. To the boiling water add ghee – 2 tsp, whole spices (peppercorns- 10, cloves – 6, cardamoms - 2, bay leaves-2, cinnamon - 2, fennel seeds – half tsp, star anise- 2 and mace - 3). I usually add lots of whole spices. Add enough salt. The water should be slightly salty. Now add the soaked rice and cook it to the perfect consistency. It will take around 15 - 20 mts at medium heat.  Drain the water and allow the rice to cool.

To Garnish

Onion - 1 medium, sliced very thin and deep fried in oil/ghee till brown

Cashews and raisins - 1/4 cup deep-fried in oil / ghee

Cilantro - 1/2 cup

Mint - 1/2 cup

Layering

For layering you need a cookware which can be put on stove or which is oven-safe.

Smear the base of the cookware with ghee. Then add the fried onions, cilantro, cashews, raisins, mint leaves and prawn masala. Now add the cooked rice and repeat the process. You can sprinkle some fennel powder or biriyani masala and a little ghee on each layer. The topmost layer should be that of rice with the items under garnish.  Now seal the cookware with an aluminium foil (so that moisture won’t escape), cover with its lid and bake it at 350 F for around 10 - 15 mts (depending on the cookware you use). If you are planning to keep it for long, cook the rice only till it is 95% done or so. If you are using stovetop keep it at low flame for around 5 - 10 mts. Serve hot with boiled eggs, biriyani chammanthi, raita, pappad and lemon pickle. This recipe serves around 3-4 people.

Moru Kachiyathu / Seasoned Buttermilk

Ingredients

1. Curd - 1/2 litre (Blend the curd with enough water in a mixer)
2. Ginger - 1/4 inch, chopped
3. Pearl onions - 3 - 4, sliced
4. Garlic - 2, chopped
5. Green chillies - 2 - 3, slit
6. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
8. Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
9. Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp or 1-2 pinches of fenugreek powder
10. Dry red chillies - 2
11. Salt - To taste
12. Coconut / vegetable oil - 2 tsp

Method

Heat 2 tsp oil in a pan. Splutter mustards, fry dry red chillies and lightly brown the fenugreek seeds. Now add ginger, garlic and pearl onions. Fry until they get lightly browned and then add the green chillies and curry leaves. Stir for a minute. Turn the flame to low. Add turmeric powder and chilly powder. Immediately add the butter milk and mix well. Stir continuously until it is heated through and steam starts coming out. Do not let it boil. Add 1-2 pinches of fenugreek powder(if you did not add fenugreek seeds before). Taste check for salt. Remove from fire. Serve with hot rice.

Tomato Fish

Ingredients

1. Tilapia or any other fish fillet - 2

2. Corn flour - 2 tbsp

3. Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp

4. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

5. Salt - As required

For the sauce

6. Butter - 1 tbsp

7. Onion - 1 small, roughly chopped

8. Tomato - 2 small, roughly chopped

9. Garlic - 5 - 6

10. Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp

11. Bay leaf - 1

12. Tomato ketchup - 1 tsp

13. Worcestershire sauce - 1 tsp

14. Soy sauce -1 tsp

15. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

16. Salt - To taste

Method

1. Clean and wash the fish fillets. Make fine gashes on the fish. Mix corn flour, pepper powder, chilly powder and salt  and sprinkle on the fish fillets.

2. Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the fish. Cover and cook the fish pieces. When the fish pieces are 3/4th done, transfer them to a baking dish.

 

To prepare sauce

1. Put onion, tomato, garlic, bay leaf, fennel seeds, salt and 1/2 cup water in a pressure cooker. Cook for 1 whistle. Cool down. Remove the bay leaf. Blend to a puree in a mixer.

 

2. Heat butter in a pan. Add the puree and cook till it thickens. It takes about 15 - 20 minutes at medium heat. Add the sauces and pepper powder. Check for salt. Remove from heat. Add 1/4 - 1/2 tsp sugar if this sauce tastes sour. Spread the sauce on the fish fillets. Cover the fish completely. Sprinkle grated cheese and bake / grill on a hot oven till cheese melts. Serve hot.

 

 

 

Recipe Source - Favorite Non Vegetarian Dishes by Anu Kshetrapal