A Dash Of Spice

Making Shahi Mutton Tikkas.

2007-06-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

I plan to make Mutton Tikkas tomorrow. Sid ( my husband ) loves mutton and has been craving some for quite a while now. I will have to marinate them all day today so that by tomorrow morning, the meat gets super tender.

First and foremost, it is essential to understand the difference between a kebab and a tikka. Kebabs are always made from minced meat/chicken. Be it Mutton Kebab,Seekh Kebab,Kakori Kebab or Dora Kebab. The kebab meat is always minced coarsely. Tikkas on the other hand , are made from a piece of fillet meat, and are usually grilled on a skewer. However, there are a few exceptions. Burra, Boti, Reshmi, Tabak Mas are some kebabs that are not minced. However, they are stuffed with fillings that give them a flavor and texture similiar to the other Kebabs. I will share the recipies of all sorts of Kebabs and Tikkas. Today, it's all about Shahi Mutton Tikka.

Shahi Mutton Tikkas are basically succulent chunks of boneless, lean goat meat that is mariated and cooked in a kadhai. ( like a deep wok ). This is one important thing to remember while making Indian/ Middle-Eastern dishes. They are never cooked in a non-stick vessel. Burning and sticking to the bottom is an indispensable part of Mughlai cooking. It enhances flavor and gives the right color. Shahi Mutton Tikka is a dry dish and consumed as a rich appetizer. It is also essential to understand why Kebabs and Tikkas should always be tender. These forms of meat were originally a delicacy enjoyed by the aristocrats and kings. Owing to the ritual of Monarchy, the kings stayed kings till they died and so were usually old and did not have strong teeth. Therefore, these dishes had to be tender and juicy. This is why a Kebab or a Tikka is not authentic if it does not melt in the mouth. Keeping that in mind , lets get to the recipe!

For the Marinade:

1. Boneless chunks of goat meat : 15
2. Plain Yogurt : 3 Tablespoons
3. Garam Masala : 2 Heaped Tablespoons ( you can buy it here ).
4. Red Chilli Powder : 1 Teaspoon
5. Ginger-Garlic Paste : 2 Teaspoons
6. Salt : To taste
7. Fresh Cilantro Leaves : 2 Tablespoons
8. Lime Juice : 1 Tablespoon
9. Vegetable Oil : 2 Tablespoons
10. Nutmeg : 1 Teaspoon
11. Black Pepper Corns : 10

Mix all these ingredients with the goat chunks and marinate them overnight. To make them extremely tender, marinate them for 24 hours.

Cooking the Tikkas :

Take oil in a kadhai ( about 8 tablespoons or more ) and heat it up. Add then entire marinade into the oil and keep the flame at medium. Stir this marinade well into the oil and cover. Let it stand for a while. Now comes the scary part. You will have to cook this mutton for more than an hour, maybe even 2, until you can dig a fork easily into the meat and it becomes as tender as cooked chicken. The mixture will begin to stick to the bottom so you will have to keep stirring it constantly, adding water , bit by bit, to aviod sticking and burning.
When you see that the meat is fully tender and is dark brown in color, add 2 more tablespoons of chopped cilantro, another tablespoon of lime juice and thinly sliced ginger. Add a handful of onion rings and stir this well till the dish becomes completely dry. Let the remaining water evaporate.

Place the mutton tikkas on a platter. Garnish with mint leaves and serve hot with any sauce or chutney!!

This recipe like all Mughlai recipes requires patience but the result is fantastic!!

Bel hana wel shefa !!!!

What I Learnt From My Dogs.

2007-05-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about how great a dog's life is? You get showered, fed, walked and groomed by others. Come hail or storm, your meals are always on time. The entire house is your bedroom.You can jump on the bed without ever bothering to make it. School and career are not your concern. Even as an adult, you get to snuggle on mommy's lap when you get a shot and there are no stress issues except how to catch that rat in the attic! Wow! Who wouldn't envy that? Or so I thought... till Ceaser and Hazel came in my life.
I bought them from a kennel club, 3 years ago. The moment Iheld those tiny 3 months old pups in my hands, ( they both sat comfortably on each palm!), I knew my life was about to change. By change I don't just mean that I had someone who would love me endlessly now. My life changed in a way least expected. Those fur balls taught me the greatest lessons of life.As I watched them grow and get spoilt rotten by my parents and me, I also realised that their life is not great because they are dogs. Their life is great because they choose to make it that way. Underneath those basic comforts that they delight in, there are 2 souls that profess the forebearence and the heart that can make life lucid. They have the power to make life a fun-filled adventure. Watching them I realised that in every possible way, they are far better than all of us. This is what I learnt from them.
1. Be More Forgiving. Even if you hit your dogs in a fit of anger, a gentle beckon and they come running towards you, their tails wagging in ecstacy. There is no room for apologies and explaintaions. Just kiss and make up.
2.Don't Be Fussy. Your dogs have probably been eating the same meal for the last 3 years without protest. It has no salt, no sugar and for some, it has been the same dry dog chow for months. Still, a meal is a meal and they respect what is put on their plate. They lap it up with the same enthusiasm day by day, year by year and love you for it. It is hard to miss their twinkling eyes that shout," Thank you. Thay was yummy! Woof Woof!!"
3.There Is No Room For Complications In Love. When you love someone, love with all your heart. Life is short ( literally for them ). Who has times to fight, argue, seek answers or lie? " You love me, I love you", that's all that matters.
4. Be Faithful. Ever seen your dog go away to someone else? Its quite simple. Respect the relationships life has given you. Your loved ones were destined to come into your life. Don't challenge that.
5. Bad Mood? Let Me Help. There is a famous saying, " A true friend is one who stays when you ask everyone to leave ". Remember those days when you just wanted to be alone and shut the door on your dog? He stayed right at the door, trying to be with you in spirit and waiting for you to let him in.
6.The Greatest Joy Lies In The Simplest Things Of Life. Who wants cheese?" Woof Woof". Who wants to go for a walk? " Yupp Yupp!" Who wants to play ball," Yippeeeeee!" 'Who is the best puppy in this world? " Meeeeeee"!!
7. Express it. No one is going to get inside your head to know how you really feel. Tell your loved ones that you love them. There might be no tomorrow. Ever noticed how dogs just jump and make themselves comfortable on your lap when you are working or reading? It is not because the lap is more comfortable. It is because YOU are.
8. Your Home Is Your Sanctuary. Been around the world, there is no place like home. Be it a lavish mansion or a humble apartment, coming home is always a joy. It is your home, your heaven. It is always a pleasure to come back home and jump around, sniffing away to glory incase you missed something when you were away.
9. Welcome Home!! . I don't think anyone can welcome you as lovingly and as zestfully as your dog. Ever tried running into your dog's arms and showering kisses after a hard day at work? He will kiss you ten times more and in his own way, he'll tell you," Its ok. You are home now. I am so happy to see you".
10. Keep It Simple. Love your family and friends, bite your enemies. We on the other hand, have a few true friends and spend all our lives around people we pretend to like.

I once heard this famous saying that is still embedded in my memory,
" We give our dogs the time we can spare, the space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It is the best deal man has ever made".

Ok. Now lets get to cooking. This one is specially for your dogs. My dogs eat fresh food everyday ( I knowwww.... such spoilt brats!). If you can't do it everyday, feed them a good warm meal alteast on weekends. This is what I feed them and trust me, it is very healthy and will make their coats shine like silver! Ceaser and Hazel are National Dog Show winners and are beautiful. So trust me with this special," Doggie Feast"
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup fresh vegetables ( Peas, Potatoes, Tomatoes , anything that you have)
2. 1 chicken breast ( No bones. Chicken bones are thin and can choke your dog)
3. 1 cup lentils ( Any. Aviod beans)
4. 1 cup spinach ( Spinich is the richest source of iron )
5. 1 cup of water
6. Soy nuggets ( If available ).
Method:
Just boil this into a rich, thick stew. Once it has cooled off , add a mashed slice of wheat/multigrain bread ( your dog needs his carbs too.)
Serve very mildly warm.
End the feast with a small slice of apple. ( An apple a day keeps the doctor away!)
Watch him enjoy this lovely feast. He'll wonder what got into you that you actually cooked for him! Once you see him ENJOY this special meal just for him, it will all be worth the effort!!

You don't have to be a culinary lord. Just be "you".

2007-05-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Cooking has always been my greatest passion. From making sauces and curries from scratch to simmering food for hours on slow flame, i love the entire razzle-dazzle. I love the tiny nuances that can make a simple meal the greatest form of art. An art that appeals to sight, smell and taste, all at once. However, i have always had a fondness for simplicity. I truly believe that you don't need to be able to cook every exotic dish that flaunts its grandeur in mesmerising menu cards. Just being yourself is good enough. Growing up, i often used to see my grandmother chant prayers while cooking for the family. She always said that when a meal is cooked with good thoughts and sprinkled with love, it has no choice but to turn our brilliant. That was a lesson that i have not forgotten. I may not chant while cooking, but i cook with love. I cook because i love to and i cook my way.
Being yourself is the best way to toss some great meals. You need not spend a packet on buying expensive spices and meats. In my opinion, if you can cook a great meal with the basic ingredients at home, you are a true chef.
Having said that, i also admit that i write about my cooking so that i can share the recipes i have learnt. Some from my family, some from the television and internet and some are my own successful experiments. All my recipes are tried and tested. They are simple, delicious and rewarding. I hope to post a recipe or two each week, along with basic cooking tips that can enhance flavor and the basics of running a successful kitchen. Hope you guys enjoy my recipes. I will start posting them soon. So stay tuned.

Bon Appetit!!