Tomato Meatball Stew

Tomato meatball stew

(Meatballs in a healthy veg. stew with a tangy-peppery taste that hits the soul!)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
20Min 4-6 20Min

Ingredients :

1. 1/2kg or 1lb minced meat/chicken
2. 1 tsp garlic-ginger paste
3. salt & pepper to taste
4. 1/2 tsp each of haldi/turmeric pwd, garam masala (all spice) pwd n coriander pwd
5. 1 finely chopped green chili or 1/2 tsp red chili pwd
6. optional 1 tsp vinegar
7. 1 medium onion - finely chopped/ minced
8. 2 large chopped onions
9. 2-3 red dried chilies
10. 1 half-inch cinnamon stick
11. 3 large ripe tomatoes - chopped
12. salt to taste
13. 1/2 tsp pepper pwd
14. 1/2 tsp cumin pwd
15. 1-2 cups cubed potatoes & carrots plus cauliflower florets


Cooking Instructions :

For the meatballs, mix ingredients 1 to 7 above and make 1" meat balls with the mixture - pressing tightly in your palm n then shaping. Set aside. For the stew, fry ingredients 8 to 14 above in 1tbsp oil in a pressure cooker in the order listed, frying well after adding each item. Cook till tomatoes soften, then put in the meatballs and vegetables & add water to just about cover the meatballs. Close and cook for 1 whistle in the pressure cooker or until the meat is cooked. Serve with bread, croutons or rice.

This stew can also work as a base for a gravy of your choice - a tomato and cream based buttery gravy (makhni) or one with coconut milk, etc..

Butter chicken

Butter chicken

(A flavorful dish of boneless chicken cooked in a tomato-based creamy gravy.)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
30Min 4 30Min

Ingredients :

750 gms boneless chicken cubes
2 cups tomato paste
1 cup cooking cream
1/4 tsp haldi
1 tsp chili pwd
1 tsp cardamom pwd
1/4 tsp papper pwd
2 tsp dry mango (amchur) pwd
3 tbsp cashew paste
1 tbsp sugar
100 gms butter
1 chopped onion
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
cooking oil

For the masala:
1 pod garlic
1 inch ginger
2 inch cinnamon stick
2-3 cloves
4 cardamoms
1 tbsp vinegar
1.5 tsp salt
3-4 tsp chilip pwd
a pinch on red color or few drops
1/2 cup full-cream curd

Cooking Instructions :

Grind the 'masala' ingredients to a smooth paste. Rub lime & salt on the chicken & add to the marinade - leave for 20-30 mins (few hours is better). In a pressure pan, fry onions till pink & add the chicken to it along with the masala. Fry well, tossing gently for 2 mins. Add 1/4 cup water, pressure cook for 1 whistle & simmer for 2 mins. In a pan, melt butter & fry the tomato paste, cashew paste, pepper pwd, cardamom pwd, amchur pwd, haldi & chili pwd till the oil separates. Then stir in only the chicken gravy from the pressure pan & cook for a minute. Add beaten cream 2 tbsp at a time, stirring constantly. Last, add the chicken & simmer for 2 mins. Drizzle some cream or butter on it, garnish with fresh chopped coriander & serve hot with (garlic) naan or rotis.

Goan Xacuti

Goan Xacuti

(A Goan meat curry made of either chicken, lamb, beef or pork in a spicy dark-brown gravy made from freshly roasted spices)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
20Min 4 20-40Min

Ingredients :

800 gms chicken or any meat
2 medium onions
1 cup grated coconut
1 inch sticks of cinnamon
6 cloves
4 dry red chillies
½ tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp poppy seeds (khus khus)
1 tsp ajwain
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp of peppercorns
1 tsp of fennel seeds (saunf)
4 Star-shaped black spice
1.5 tbsp coriander seeds
4-6 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup groundnut oil
Salt to taste
1 tbsp of tamarind pulp
¼ tsp grated nutmeg

Cooking Instructions :

Wash skinless chicken and cut to small (12 total) pieces. Peel and chop the onions. Heat a little oil and slightly brown the grated coconut and keep aside. Then dry roast cinnamon, cloves, red chillies, turmeric, khus khus, ajwain, cumin seeds, peppercorns, fennel seeds, star anise and coriander seeds till a nice aroma is given out. Grind to a paste together with a little water, the garlic and coconut. Heat the remaining oil in a thick-bottomed pan and fry the onions till brown. Add the masala paste 2 tbsp at a time, stirring well in between, and cook till oil separates. Add the chicken pieces and saute for sometime. Add two cups of water and salt, bring to a boil. Add tamarind pulp and grated nutmeg. Simmer until meat cooks and serve hot with boiled rice or pav.

Goan Vindaloo

Goan Vindaloo

(A spicy vinegar-based dark-red Goan meat curry made of either chicken, lamb, beef or pork)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
20Min 4 20-40Min

Ingredients :1 kg. meat (chicken/beef/mutton/pork)
2 medium potatoes cut into 8 pcs each.

For Seasoning:
3 tbsp. ghee
few curry leaves
1 small onion- finely sliced
Salt to taste

For Vindaloo Masala:
1/2 tsp peppercorns
3 tsp. jeera/cumin
12 small dry kashmiri chillies
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 cardamoms
10 cloves garlic
2-3 tbsp. Vinegar

Cooking Instructions :

Grind the masala ingredients to a smooth paste (No water, just vinegar). Cut and wash the medium size meat pieces. Heat oil & fry onion till brown, add curryr leaves and stir. Fry in the masala - Stir frequently. Now add meat and salt to taste. Cover & cook -Toss gently from time to time to cook meat evenly & ensure it does not burn. Boil the potatoes, peel and cut into fours. Add them to the meat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until till meat is cooked. Serve with plain white rice.

Goan Fish Curry

Goan Fish Curry

(A dark- orange spicy yet tangy Goan Fish curry, rite outta mom's kitchen!)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
15Min 6 20Min

Ingredients :

1 kg fish slices (white or black pomfret, kingfish, atlantic salmon)
salt & turmeric to marinate
1 tsp turmeric
1/s tsp cumin
1/2 tsp peppercorn
4 garlic cloves
1 small chopped onion
6 dried red chilies
2 tbsp coriander seeds
6 tbsp fresh grated/ powdered coconut
3 tbsp cooking oil
2 ripe tomatoes or 1/2 cup tomato paste
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp tamarind pulp
1 slit green chili
1 sprig curry leaves


Cooking Instructions :

Wash fish & add 2 tbsp salt & tsp turmeric - toss & leave to marinate for 30-45 mins.
Grind the coconut, red chilies, pepper, jeera/cumin, turmeric/haldi, coriander seeds, onion& garlic with water to a smooth paste. Chop tomatoes & place in a thick-bottom vessel with oil - THEN, heat it. When its soft, add the ground masala 2 tbsp at a time, stirring constantly & frying well in between. Add 1 cup water & leave to boil. Wash fish well & add to boiling gravy. Then add the tamarind, slit chili & vinegar & simmer open until fish is cooked, toss in the curry leaves & simmer for few seconds.

Hint: keep some washed fish pieces aside to fry: Toss them with 1/4-1/2 tsp each of pepper, turmeric, cumin & red-chili powders & shallow fry.

Meatball curry

Meatball curry

(A Goan recipe for healthy meatballs in a thick spicy onion & tomato based gravy)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
15Min 4 15Min

Ingredients :

1. 1/2kg or 1lb minced meat
2. 1 tsp garlic-ginger paste
3. salt & pepper to taste
4. 1/2 tsp each of haldi/turmeric pwd, garam masala (all spice) pwd n coriander pwd
5. 1 finely chopped green chili or 1/2 tsp red chili pwd
6. optional 1 tsp vinegar
7. 1 medium onion - finely chopped/ minced
8. 2 large chopped onions
9. 2-3 red dried chilies
10. 1 half-inch cinnamon stick
11. 3 large ripe tomatoes - chopped
12. salt to taste
13. 1/2 tsp pepper pwd
14. 1/2 tsp cumin pwd
15. 2 tbsp ghee/ clarified butter
16. 1/2 tsp each pf turmeric pwd
17. 1/2 tsp red-chili pwd
18. 1/2 tsp cumin pwd
19. 1/2 tsp pepper pwd
20. 1 cup minced/ finely chopped onions
21. 1/2 cup tomato puree/ paste
22. 2 tbsp vinegar
23. 2 tbsp coriander pwd
24. 1 tbsp tamarind juice/paste
25. salt and lime as reqd.
26. chopped coriander to garnish.
27. 1/2 cup full-cream coconut milk


Cooking Instructions :

For the meatballs, mix ingredients 1 to 7 and make 1" meat balls with the mixture - pressing tightly in your palm n then shaping. Set aside. For the gravy, fry ingredients 8 to 14 above in 1tbsp oil in a pressure cooker in the order listed, frying well after adding each item. Cook till tomatoes soften, then add the meatballs & enough water to cover them all. Gently toss spices around the meatballs. Close and cook for 1 whistle in the pressure cooker or till meat is cooked.

For the gravy, fry onions in ghee, then add the turmeric, coriander, red-chili, pepper pwds. Fry well & then add the tomato puree & fry well. Add coconut milk 2tbsp at a time, stirring gently & constantly. Add the meatballs with the soup from the cooker, boil for 2-3 minutes & then simmer for 2-3 minutes after adding salt, sugar, vinegar & tamarind to your taste. Garnish with coriander.

Paneer Kofta Curry

Paneer Kofta Curry

(A festive medium-spicy creamy gravy with rich stuffed dumplings of cottage cheese/paneer and nuts)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
20Min 4 15Min

Ingredients :
A) For the koftas:
3 medium size potatoes
1 cup finely chopped/ grated paneer
2 bread slices - edges off
1/2 cup crushed mixed dried-fruits & nuts: cashews, almonds & raisins
salt to taste
1 tbsp sugar
2 chopped green chilis
1/2 tsp cumin pwd
1/2 tsp pepper pwd
1/2 tsp turmeric pwd
1/2 tsp cardamom pwd
oil to deep fry dumplings

B) For the gravy:
1 medium onion - minced
2 cups tomato puree/paste
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tbsp whole garam masala - some cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, pepper, dried red chilis.
1 tsp red chili pwd
1/2 cup thick cooking cream
2 green chilies chopped
1/4 cup cashewnut pwd (optional)
1 tbsp garlic-ginger paste
1/4 cup grated paneer
2tbsp cooking oil
salt to taste
1 tbsp sugar


Cooking Instructions:

To make the kofta-filling, mix together half cup grated paneer, nuts, raisins, green chilies, cardamom pwd, pepper pwd, cumin pwd, sugar & salt. Add a little water & make 8 equal size balls of this mixture.

To make the koftas, boil, peel & mash the potatoes. Add 1/2 cup paneer, the bread & salt and bind this (with a little water if reqd) into a smooth dough. Make 8 parts of this dough. Greese your palms with a little oil to avoid sticking. Take each part in your palm, flatten it, place a filling ball in it & cover/wrap the filling ball well to form a stuffed dumpling. Heat oil in a deep pan/ kadai & deep-fry koftas to an even brown color on medium heat - Drain & set aside.

To make the gravy, heat oil in a saucepan & crackle whole garam masala in it before frying in the onions. Add garlic-ginger paste & chopped green chilies and fry for 2mins. Add tomato puree - fry well. Then add the powder spices, sugar & salt. Add grated paneer & cashew pwd with a little water & bring to a boil. Simmer for 6 minutes &then add the beaten cream 2 tbps at a time, stirring gently continuously. Add sugar & simmer for 2-3 mins till desired consistency is reached. Immerse koftas in the gravy & take it off the stove - Don't boil them in the gravy. Serve hot.

Parsi Dhansak (Daal Ghosh)

Parsi Dhansak (Daal Ghosh)

(A traditional Parsi dish with Persian & Gujarati influences; A time-consuming preparation of meat cooked with spices, lentils & vegetables)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
10Min 5 45 Min

Ingredients :
500 gm chicken skinned and washed and chopped or 500 gms mutton pieces.
2 large onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 Bay leaves
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves chopped (optional)

Daals soaked for 1 hour:
1/4 cup.val dal
1/4 cup masoor dal
1/4 cup moong dal
1 cups tuvar dal

Vegetables (as available):
50 gm orange pumpkin
1 brinjal
1 carrot
1 potato peeled
Methi 1/4 bunch or 6 small bunch of dhansaak methi (if available)

For the Masala:
4 cloves
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 tsp oil
1 inch cinnamon
2 inch piece ginger
3 tbsp tamarind water
6 cloves garlic
3 green chillies
2 tsp dhansaak masala or sambhaar masala
2 tsp dhania-jeera masala
salt and black pepper powder to taste


Cooking Instructions:

Ensure daals have been soaked for 1 hour. Grind the masala items to a fine paste with little water. Chop the vegetables and methi leaves and quartered the potatoes. Pressure cook the dals, vegetables and meat pieces for 15 minutes (put enough water and little to more so that all the ingredients in the cooker are covered). When cooled open the cooker and remove the meat pieces and potatoes pieces from the dals and vegetables. Blend the dals and vegetables.

Heat oil and fry the chopped onions till brown. Add the ground masala and bay leaves fry well. Add chopped tomatoes and coriander leaves. Add salt and turmeric powder and fry for 2 minutes. Add the blended dal to the masalas and allow it to boil. Then add meat and potatoes pieces. Allow it to cook (add more water if necessary). Finally the dal should be little thick. Serve hot with rice or naan.

Kadhi Pakora

Kadhi Pakora

(A spicy yoghurt-based gravy which contains fried chickpea-flour-dumplings called 'pakoras', eaten with rice/ roti.)
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PrepTime : Serves : Cook Time
5Min 2 20 Min


Ingredients :
6 cups curd
5 tsp Gram flour
1 tsp Mustard seed
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
2 Green chillies chopped
1" piece: Ginger (finely chopped)
1/2 tsp Asafoetida powder
6 tsp Oil
3 cups Water
1 tbsp sugar
Salt to taste


For Pakoras
1 cup Gram flour
2 Onions (medium sized)
2 Green chillies
1 tsp Red chilli powder
4 tsp Oil
Oil for frying
Salt to taste
Sufficient water for the batter

1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander


Cooking Instructions:

For the curry: Churn the curd along with gram flour and water. Heat oil and fry the mustard seeds, asafoetida, chillies and ginger for five minutes Add the churned curd, turmeric powder and salt. Boil on a high flame and then simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.

For Pakoras: Finely chop onions and green chillies. Make a thick batter by mixing gram flour with onions, green chillies, salt, oil and water. Deep fry in small portions.

Add these pakoras in kadhi. After adding pakoras boil kadhi for five minutes, add sugar & simmer for a minute. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander & serve with hot rice.