MOODY FOODIE IDEAS!

 Imam Bayildi literally means, 'The Imam Fainted'! There are many humorous folk tales giving reasons for the Imam to faint after tasting this dish. Ingredients 1 large eggplant 1 onion, diced 1 large tomato, diced 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/4 cup raisins 1 green chili, finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1 tsp ground cumin   2 tsp ground coriander salt and pepper to taste olive oil crumbled cottage cheese/mozzarella and  paprika for topping Cut the eggplant lengthwise into two. Scoop out the flesh of each half and chop it fine. Smear oil and salt on the scooped out eggplant shells and keep aside.  In a pan heat oil and saute onions until translucent.  Add garlic and chili and fry for a min.   Add tomato, chopped eggplant, raisins and spices, cook until tomato is soft.   Turn off the heat and add cilantro and mix well   Spoon the filling in the Eggplant shell. Top with cheese and paprika and bake for 20 mins Enjoy as a

  Broccoli is a very versatile vegetable. With this cheese sauce it becomes irresistible favourite of all!  Ingredients 500 gms broccoli, broken into florets 1 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper for seasoning   Place the broccoli in a microwave proof dish. Drizzle the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook in the microwave on high for 2 mins, For the cheesy sauce 1 1/2 cups milk 1 tbsp refined flour 1/4 cup grated cottage cheese(paneer) 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp dry oregano salt and pepper    In a saucepan  combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. stir constantly.   Pour the sauce over the cooked broccoli.   For the crusty top 2 tbsp fresh bread crumbs 1 tbsp  Parmesan 2 tsp olive oil 2 tsp dry oregano   Mix all together and sprinkle over the sauce.   Cook in the microwave on high rack for 10 mins or until the top turns golden and crispy.  Enjoy hot with garlic bread!

  Chicken 65 is a spicy deep fried  chicken starter. There are many interesting stories/theories regarding its name. It is certainly a delicious preparation. NOTE:   Chicken can be sustituted with cauliflower. Ingredients Boneless breast of 1 chicken, cut into bite size cubes For the batter 1 egg 1 tsp ginger paste 1 tsp garlic paste 1 tbsp cornflour 1 tsp red chili paste juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 tsp baking powder salt to taste tandoor colour(optional) (Beat egg and whip in all the ingredients) Oil for frying 7-8 green chilies cut lengthwise 1 large onion, sliced 6 sprigs on curry leaves juice of  1/2 lemon  salt to taste    Marinate the chicken in the batter for at least 1/2 an hour.    Deep fry nuggets on a medium heat for 5 mins.   Drain on kitchen towel to remove excess oil.   in 1 tbsp of oil fry onions til translucent. Add chilies and saute for a min.   Add curry leaves and fry for a min.   Add the fried chicken, le

 This chilled dessert is a layered flavours of mango, coconut and  dragon fruit. Also to add to the summery goodness it has sabja seeds. Sabja seeds , also commonly  'falooda', are the  seeds  of sweet basil. Ingredients 1/2 cup rice 1 1/2 cups thick coconut milk 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 1/2 cup sugar 1 packet mango jelly mix 1 tbsp sabja seeds, washed 1 large dragon fruit, chopped 1/4 cup roasted mixed nuts, crushed     Prepare the jelly according to the instructions on the packet. stir in the sabja seeds and refrigerate to set.   Cook the washed rice with coconut milk in a pressure cooker.   Stir in sugar and cinnamon powder to it while its still hot. When blended well keep aside to cool completely. Add half of the chopped dragon fruit to it.   Divide the rice kheer into 3 jars.   Sprinkle half the nuts over it. Cut the jelly into cubes and spoon over the nuts.   Cover the jelly with the remaining chopped dragon fruit.

This cake is made with natural yogurt, which makes it dense, creamy and tart. Ingredients 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 2/3 cup refined flour 3/4 cup yogurt 1 tsp baking powder 1 tbsp lemon juice zest of 1 lemon lemon colour(optional) Cream the butter and sugar together.     Add the yogurt and whip.   Add the lemon juice, zest and colour.   Mix in the flour and baking powder.   Pour in a greased microwave safe dish and bake in the microwave for 25 mins.  Let it cool before removing from the dish.   Frost with Lemon custard and cream to cut the tartness. Enjoy as dessert or with afternoon tea!

Moroccan or Arabian  tagine  dishes are slow-cooked savory stews, typically made with  meat, poultry or fish together with vegetables and/or fruit and saffron cooked in a special pot called ' TAGINE ' with a conical top. It has a lot of ingredients but its very easy to cook. Ingredients 1/2 kg mutton with some fat, marinated in salt, turmeric powder and red chili powder for at least 1 hour 1 large onion, sliced 7-8 garlic cloves, chopped 2 tomatoes, quartered 1 large carrot, cut into large pieces 2 potatoes, cut into large pieces 1 large bunch fresh coriander, chopped 5-6 dates/ dry figs/sultanas/prunes Salt to taste Spice mix 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp paprika 2 tsp coriander powder 2 pinches saffron  put all the spices in a bowl and add 1/2 a cup of  warm water keep aside for later use. Cover the bottom of the pot with onion slices.    Spread the mutton pieces over it. Pour over the spice mixture P

Methi vadi is usually deep fried. methi can be substituted with any other leafy vegetable or cabbage. Ingredients 2 cups chopped methi 1/4 cup besan 4 tbsp rice flour 4 tbsp sooji 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1 green chili finely chopped juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp cumin powder 2 tsp coriander powder 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp sugar 1/4 tsp baking powder salt to taste oil for brushing    Mix methi, lemon juice, salt, sugar and spices thoroughly and keep aside for half an hour. Add the flours, 1/2 cup water and the baking powder. mix well. Pour in a greased container   Steam in a pressure cooker without weight for 25 mins on medium heat.   Let it cool before unmoulding.   Cut into squares. Brush with oil on all sides and bake in the microwave on high rack or in Air fryer for 20 mins. Enjoy hot with tangy tamarind chutney!