There are different ways to make chai (or tea) ranging from plain (milk, water, sugar and tea leaves) to masala (the plain with a kick!) and anywhere in between. You can buy tea masala in packets from any Indian store. (more…)
I finally got around to watching the much anticipated (ok, maybe only for SRK fans) bollywood movie, “Om Shanti Om”, starring Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer, Deepika Padukone. Leave it to producer, Farah Khan, for coming up with movies with a slightly different feel to them. The movie has an impressive cast including Shreyas Talpade, Arjun Rampal, Kirron Kher, Yuvika Chaudary, Bindu, Jawed Sheikh, Satish Shah, Asawari Joshi, Nitish Pandey and Shawar Ali…not to mention about 31 other BIG bollywood names that show up in the title song.
I was a little late in seeing this movie and heard a host of different “reviews” from friends and family, ranging anywhere from “funny”, to “entertaining, but definitely a home-theatre watch”, to “fantastic!”, to “a copy of Karz”. Well, not having seen Karz, I was all set to enjoy the film. Did I mention I am a BIG SRK fan?
Well, first things first — SRK. Wow! I mean, a double Wow! This has got to be the first movie (after Dil Se) that Shah Rukh throws his shirt to the wind. And believe it or not, he can rival even Salman Khan. As great as his effort was to get chiseled 6-pack abs, I have to admit that SRK was looking a wee bit older. Maybe it was the long hair. Is that the trend these days? Well, sorry to say, it isn’t working for him.
Deepika Padukone made a good effort for her debut, especially with a seasoned cast. Her simple, classical looks and beauty was a refreshing change from the norm. Shreyas Talpade also made a likable sidekick and of course Arjun Rampal, without much a role, was believable.
The story line of Om Shanti Om revolves around Om Makhija (SRK), a junior artist (read…sidey), hoping to someday become a movie hero even with an obvious lack of talent and lack of a famous last name. Even then, his mother (Kirron Kher) and best buddy (Shreyas Talpade) have great faith in him not only in his talents but in his ability to snag an A1 movie herione, Shanti (Deepika Padukone). Om manages to get somewhat noticed by Shanti in a few whacky ways before he saves her in an on the set accident, after which they become friends. Everything seems to be going great until we find out there are more things going on in Shanti’s life than the audience (both in the movie and in real life) knows. Enter Arjun Rampal (I forgot what his on-screen persona was named). Things take a turn for the worse, leaving Om and Shanti out of luck.
The story is of reincarnation (I’m guessing similar to Karz), but for those like me who have not seen Karz, it was somewhat of a new storyline. As I mentioned earlier, Farah Khan has a knack of making movies which have a light hearted feel to them even though they have the usual melodrama. There was a compilation of spoofs of many old and new bollywood films. Of course, it goes without saying… many of the songs are very catchy and choreographed superbly.
I’m giving Om Shanti Om a “thumbs up” purely for keeping me entertained for 3 hours (read…Shah Rukh, abs, wow! wow!) and for an ending which did not drag. I loved the dance sequences and it did have some funny moments, many of which poked fun at the actors themselves. SRK fans, definitely try to catch it in the theatre (read…bigger abs, wow! wow!). Enjoy!
Gujarati Kadhi is a delicious hot and spicy yogurt soup which is perfect for cold winter days. Mix some in with Khichadi or Rice for a soothing and satisfying meal. (more…)
A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.
Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. “Careful,” he said, “CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my GOD! You’re cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my GOD! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They’re going to STICK! Careful . CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you’re cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don’t forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!”
The wife stared at him. “What in the world is wrong with you? You think
I don’t know how to fry a couple of eggs?”
The husband calmly replied, “I just wanted to show you what it feels
like when I’m driving.!!”
Mung Daal Khichadi is an all-time favorite comfort food for when you’re feeling under the weather or for those “after holiday over-indulgence” times. Made with easy to digest mung daal, rice and veggies, khichadi is also a perfect balanced meal for babies and kids. Try some with Gujarati Kadhi…it’s a perfect match!
Spicy Tandoori Cauliflower is a perfect holiday dish, or even for a potluck. Amaze your family and your guests with this spectacular dish with an awesome presentation. It is clearly one of the best ways to enjoy a cauliflower. The cauliflower looks so good surrounded by a bed of spicy onion garnishing…it is just out of this world! Make sure everyone puts the garnish on top of their slice of cauliflower. The softness of the cauliflower and the crunch of the onions….mmmm!.
Ingredients: Cauliflower – 1, medium size
Marinade: Yogurt – 1 cup Ginger-Garlic Paste – 2 tbsp Tandoori Masala – 2 tbsp Salt – to taste Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp Paprika –Â 1/4 tsp Oil – 1 tbsp
Garnish- Onions – 2 medium, sliced Oil – 1 tbsp Coriander Powder – 1 tsp Garam Masala – 1/2 tsp Tomato – 1 cup, pureed Red Chili Powder – 1/4 tsp or to taste Green Chilies – to taste, finely chopped (optional) Salt – to taste Mango Powder – 1 tsp (optional) Cilantro –Â few sprigs, finely chopped
Method:
Hang the yogurt in a muslin/cotton cloth for about 30-40minutes.
Trim the Cauliflower and take off the leaves and excess stalk making sure the Cauliflower stays as one piece.
Wash the Cauliflower very well under running water or soak it in water for a while.
Put the Cauliflower into a zip lock/steaming bag.
Do not drain out all the water out of the cauliflower and close the zip lock only half way- leaving it open for the vent to escape.
Microwave on high 5-7 minutes (depending on the size cauliflower and the quality).
Keep an eye on the microwave because microwave cooking varies. the Cauliflower should feel soft yet firm on touch.
Once the Cauliflower is done, take it out of the bag carefully (it will be hot and the steam can burn).
Place gently on a platter that is oven-proof and can to used at the table as well.
Pour the ‘hung yogurt’ into a bowl and add in all the ingredients for the marinade and mix well.
Rub the marinade over the Cauliflower. Flip it as well as you want to let some marinade get into the stems.
Let the Cauliflower marinate for about an hour.
Place in the Cauliflower into the oven on broil on high.
It will take between 5-10 minutes for the cauliflower to get a good color (a few spots of brown on the top).
For the garnish, take a microwave safe dish and add in the onions and oil.
Mix well and microwave for 2 + 1 minute, stirring after 2 minutes.
Add in the rest of the garnish ingredients except for the cilantro and mix well.
Cook in the microwave for about 8 minutes mixing every 2 minutes.
Add in the cilantro and mix again.
Place the garnish on the platter around the cauliflower and serve.
Serves 8-10
Tips:
The garnish can me made on the stove-top as well.
For faster and quicker steaming, cut the cauliflower into 2 or more pieces.
Pav Bhaji is an all-time favorite Indian snack food which originated on the streets of Bombay. It has since gained popularity as a full fledged dinner item, perfect for entertaining, with it’s simplicity and “one-pot meal” concept. Pav Bhaji is also a deliciously sneaky way to get the kids to eat their veggies!
Egg Curry is an excellent and delicious way of getting protein into your diet. It has always been a favourite for my sons, who can eat Egg Curry everyday! The coconut milk provides a creamy and unique flavor that will leave your family asking for more.
Many vegetarians and vegans often miss out on holiday cakes because they are made with eggs. Here is a wonderfully simple recipe for an Eggless Chocolate Cake submitted by Ekta, one of our viewers. You won’t even miss the eggs! It is also great for those watching their cholesterol. It’s perfect for the holidays…enjoy! (more…)
Pedas are a wonderful and delicious mithai (sweets) that are very popular and are often served during Diwali. Traditionally, it is made with milk that is cooked and cooked and cooked…till it thickens. It has a smooth and silky texture and it just melts in the mouth. One Peda will never be enough…so here we have a simplified version that is just as tasty and a lot easier to make. Another interesting fact about Pedas – a lot of people distribute sweets (mithai) anytime there is a baby born….so if it is boy, its Pedas and if it is a girl, it’s usually Burfi. But it doesn’t have to be Diwali or you don’t have a birth in the family to enjoy this mithai…..enjoy them anytime with this quick and easy recipe. We have to thank Jyotika Zaver for sharing this fantastic recipe with us. (more…)
ShowMeTheCurry is not just for the amateur cook or newbie to Indian cooking. Browse through our extensive collection of Indian cooking videos to select from a variety of North Indian Recipes, Punjabi Recipes, South Indian Recipes, Gujarati Recipes, Bengali Recipes, Rajasthani Recipes, Thai Recipes, Indo Chinese Recipes, Kerala Recipes. Our recipe videos include Vegetarian Indian Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Healthy Indian Recipes as well as Nonveg Indian Recipes.