The Kitchen

RICO COOKERY QUEEN CONTEST 2007

This was my first official cookery contest. My teachers from college pulled me into this, I had no intention of taking part. Well, things happen for a reason. I was the first person to register formally. I had to prepare three main dishes, one with chicken, one with panner, and the last one with condensed milk. I won "Rico Cookery Queen 2007".

Try out these recipes and post your comments in my guest book or mail me.

SHALLOT CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS

Chicken – 300g

Shallot (crushed) – 150g

Garlic (crushed) – 3 flakes

Ginger (crushed) – a small piece

Cardamom– 3 no.

Cinnamon – 1” piece

Cloves – 3 to 4 no.

Peppercorns – 4 to 5 no.

Pepper powder – 1tsp

Curry leaves – 1/3 cup

Oil – 1/3 cup

Coconut milk – 1/3 cup

Corn flour – 1tsp

Salt

METHOD

1. Heat oil and add the spices. When they turn slightly brown add the crushed ingredients. Sauté until tender.

2. Add pepper powder, salt, curry leaves and then add the chicken. Cook for 20 minutes on low fire.

3. When the chicken is done add the coconut milk mixed with corn flour. Stir for 5 minutes without disturbing the chicken.

4. Serve hot.

PANEER BITES

INGREDIENTS

Paneer – 100g

Potato –80g

Cheese spread – 50g

Breadcrumbs – 25g

Salt

Pepper

Oil

METHOD

1. Boil the potatoes. Remove skin and mash well.

2. Grate the paneer and mix with mashed potato. Also, add salt and pepper. Make into dough.

3. Roll up the potato-paneer dough into a small ball. Poke a little hole in the middle to put a spoon full of the cheese spread in. Close the opening to keep the cheese from seeping out. Flatten it to make a square.

4. Then coat it in breadcrumbs.

5. Shallow fry until golden brown.

6. Serve hot with tomato sauce.

BANANA CRUMBLE

INGREDIENTS

Ripe banana – 200g

Condensed milk – 200g

Oatmeal – 50g

Ghee – 3 tbsp

Nuts and rasins (fried) – 25g

Salt – a pinch

Cherries – a few

METHOD

1. Peel and cut the bananas. Steam it until tender. Mash well into a smooth paste.

2. Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan, add the mashed banana and keep sautéing, until it starts leaving the sides.

3. Add the condensed milk and mix well. Remove from fire.

4. Mix with the rasins and nuts. Transfer this mixture into a bowl.

5. In the remaining ghee, fry the oatmeal until crisp. Top the banana mixture with the fried oatmeal.

6. Garnish with cherries.