Eid Special Signature Biryani

Spice Coated Mutton Biryani

Its Eid!! And it has to be mutton biryani and sheer kurrma. Me and Hashim are not sheer kurrma addicts hence the replacement of it is always gulab jamun and chocolate pudding. Rice is that one dish that brightens the level of festivity. And what can be better than a gentle dose of luxurious biryani. I always try to prepare Eid meals with all its statement dishes like biryani, barbecues and of course lots of salads. As we are a family of two, we both have a ball in planning 3 days Eid meals consisting of desi platter, and others days with fast food and italian meals to add zing in Eid celebrations.

Colors of 100+ Recipes and a different version of Boneless Mutton Biryani

A collection of 100 plus recipes surprises me – why? because it wasn’t my game. Those who are linked to me since my life journey are cognizant of the gospel that cooking food was miles away and I never had this avidity for cooking. Fortunately, growing up in a highly-educated family where the pack is filled with engineers, my pre wedded life was centric mainly with academic work. When I look back, instead I had not even picked up the glass of water nor I knew how to make breakfast. I could best do is sit and hog happily, but I never considered myself cooking. Mama and Papa would encourage us to excel in medical or computer field and it was constant throughout my career process until I got married.

BBQ Meat Delights

Barbecuing meat, chicken or fish can certainly not go wrong for the most part when you are running out of some ingredients. Gathering all the spices into the thick yogurt and whisking it for a perfect creamy blend is all this recipe needs. There are days when I am completely busy and don’t have enough hours to cook two separate main dishes for two of us. One dish is obviously delicious aromatic non veg cuisine for him while another is a healthy version of veggies for me and of course a side kick dish for him.

Home-made Mutton Sindhi Biryani

Mutton Biryani Special

As you’ll know that me and my husband have north-south difference in culture. So when I came here, I went through the trials in modifying my taste buds with Pakistani cuisine – be it usual halwa puri or yakhni soup or even khatte aloo – the hurdle in search of Indian flavors were endless.

Hashim is love when it comes to cooperating – he gave me enough time to understand and evolve my interest towards Pakistani food. Since the time I have been familiar with the flavors of food from my husband side, I have been paying attention to the slow process of meat cooking. The style to infuse aroma and balance the ingredients in different style of recipes is fairly unusual. The long hours in preparation of nihari, the slow cooking method used in making daleem, the oh so wow scented flavors used in making korma, the pickle proportion in making achari and the extra care taken in boiling biryani rice. The fun part is that all of these dishes can be made either by using chicken, mutton or fish.

I love to cook!!! because he loves to eat ❤️!!– Daleem – Indian Manner

This is the dal chawal type of substitute for non-vegetarian because of all the light flavoring and nutritious elements cooked in one pot. Hashim loves to dig tandoori roti in a gooey mixture of lentils and meat. I definitely like roti more than its white flour constituting partner called naan. During my visit to Pakistan, I was quite fascinated by tandoors (the place where naans, roti’s and the countless types of Pakistani breads are made and sold). I have always watched the tandoor in fascination as the tandoor fellow would take a ball of dough, roll it out, slap it onto a solid cushion with a moistened surface which he would then lower into the oven to transfer the roti to the rounded wall of the oven in startlingly fast pace, the roti would cook on the heated wall swelling uneven in places with the pressure of the heat. 

Mutton Chapli Kebabs

 

Mutton Chapli Kebabs

I always had this fascination to plunge into Asian cultures and traditions that lead to calmness inside me. Simplicity, antiques and ordinary things have always captivated my attention from all times. Those who have traveled with me knows that I get irresponsibly happy around sheep’s and donkeys. In Karachi, I stopped the car consistently to take photos of the sheep’s and donkeys grazing herds. “Donkeys” might not make a GREAT list for everyone but they did for me.

BBQ Meat Delicate Rolls with Fresh Salad, Asian Style Seekh Kabab

Colaba was supposed to be gathering heart for me and my loved ones, so much so that it was the inevitable starting point for most nights that I have made plans with my brother and bff’s, I and my brother were left to navigate Bademiya menu which if you have been to bademiya you would have known it’s not an easy job to do, however, we managed to get it all sorted and the result was a medley of veg and non-veg dishes, all grilled and BBQ into a blissful blend of delectable tenderness. Bademiya was one of the easiest access from my place with yummy quality of meat and paneer that felt silken in the mouth, the meat seekh kababs was juicy and moist and had a heap of light flavors, my ideal paneer tikka “cheese” akin to tofu and veg makhni had a lovely rich glaze on the platter, I tasted some bondi raita “salad” which was refreshing. To this, my brother would add his tint of laughs, both two course meal were a calorific tasty treat.

Juicy Meat Burger Recipe

Summer draws with refreshing series of jazzy salads, fresh green leaves and something untainted and light to rely on. What makes gripping on the menu in summers are easy and delicate food that amalgamates with a punch of quenching cocktails to beat the hot summers. All I think of right now are of juicy drinks, velvety cold coffee, chilled ice tea and anything really mellow to tuck in my tummy and what can be more substantial than a sublime source of protein! Summers and meat can sound juicy and extra easy when contributed in a right level of portion; I prefer meat as tacos filling or patties to level up the ideal version of summery meal plan. Summers for me means less counting of spice and addings in my yummy dish that means this recipe is perfect for the health conscious as well as for those who prefer less heat.

I shuffled this up last night for the dinner and my husband simply loved it! Every time I make meat burgers for him I get a turn to order heavenly veg dishes from my favorite restaurants, it is a clear run to cheat home food!! Amazing isn’t it. Last night, I went for scrumptious Pav Bhaji and believe me, it’s one of the yummiest veg dishes I totally die for! A perfect blend of mashed potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, peas, capsicum tossed together until the spices give the perfect buttery taste. Oh! Reminds me of the flavors from home, Sardar Pav Bhaji where the over-generous scoops of butter are necessary in every plate of Pav bhaji, my memory is covered up by the images of tastes, tempting smell and buttery texture, I ordered it because I was missing Mama whose enduring love is “Pav bhaji” and I often resort to eat as the familiar smell helps to overcome home sickness. Coming back to our flavorful meat burger, it’s fast and so easy that I knew I had to share. It’s just not delicious and healthy; it’s pretty to look at, toss your favorite salads together with medium sized patties and creamy dressing inside. All you need is gentle amount of patience and love to cook and eureka you’re done making yummy meat burger at home!

Juicy Cheesy Meat Burger

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Serves: 1-2 persons

Ingredients:

250 grams minced meat

2 buns, sesame seeds studded

½ cup olive oil

1 teaspoon green chili paste, optional

A pinch thyme powder

½ teaspoon paprika powder

1 egg, beaten

1 slice of bread

1 tablespoon parsley

3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 cheese slices

Tomato ketchup, as desired

Mustard paste, as needed

½ teaspoon garlic paste

½ teaspoon black pepper powder

2 tablespoons milk

½ teaspoon vinegar

½ teaspoon salt, to taste

Iceberg salad as needed

Method:

• Simply start by marinating mince with ½ teaspoon black pepper powder, ½ teaspoon mustard paste, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 teaspoon green chili paste, ½ teaspoon garlic paste, ½ teaspoon paprika powder, a pinch of thyme and half beaten egg. 
• Soak a slice of bread in 2 tablespoons of milk, squeeze the bread gently and add it into the minced mixture, mix well and form a medium-size, thin patty follows with the remaining.
• Place patty over a grilled pan and let it cook from both the sides until crisp and golden. Always allow the one side of the patty to shallow fry for 5-8 minutes on a low heat and then turn gently to the other side, this will prevent the patty from breaking, drizzle few drops of olive oil when needed.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, add 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 5 tablespoons of ketchup, ½ teaspoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon mustard paste and mix until the paste blends.
• Spread the paste generously all over the ups of the buns and top with salad leaves, juicy meat patty and cheese slices, finish off by toasting the buns gently on the hot griddle (add cooking oil before toasting them!). Toasting buns in hot cooking oil gives a nice glossy texture outside and creamy effect from the insides.
• You can add slices of tomatoes, pickled gherkin and even onion rings but we prefer light eating’s in summer so I have kept it minimum, Enjoy summers!

Slow Cooker Meatballs/ Kofta curry recipe

I hope everyone had an awesome Happy Halloween, party with your little ghosts, goblins and clicking selfies! We were busy trick or treating so I had put my slow cooker to work with meat balls.

Sometimes mince curry gets boring and unexciting menu for us so I always go with a teeny-weeny modification in ordinary meal, meat balls act as a great replacement of mince curry as they are pleasantly tender and delicious in taste, it’s one of those heavy meals that we oft plate with hot Indian flat bread, the perfect meld of flavors that gets easily sucked in meat balls giving a juicy and delicate texture. This non-veg, meat balls recipe can be eaten with or without curry resulting in a marvelous tang, a great freezer friendly meal. Hubby usually removes balls from gravy and makes a fusion of burger with an extra addition of butter and cheese. He loves to hog deep fried meat balls right away so I have to make an extra lot to fulfill his hankering!

We call it as kofta as this meatloaf dish is basically packed with spices, unique aroma and of course its savory dish, in India kofta’s are basically prepared from mixed varieties of veggies, corn, cottage cheese or tofu.

These Asian inspired beefy meatballs are cooked in a simple yogurt curry with few handy spices giving a nice deep color and turning the whole look of the recipe into an inviting tempting dish. You can make them for dinner or simply serve them as an appetizer by making them half their size and setting out toothpicks for dipping into that delicious cranberry or BBQ sauce, they also wonderfully serve over steamed rice, pasta or Italian bread. Hope you enjoy!

Slow Cooker Meatballs/ Kofta curry recipe

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 60-80 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Serve: 3-4 persons

Ingredients:

½ Kg Mince meat

½ cup cooking oil

½  cup, fried onion paste

1 tablespoon garlic paste

1 tablespoon ginger paste

1 cup Greek yogurt

1-2 teaspoon roasted chickpea flour

1-2 tablespoons coriander powder

1-2 tablespoons red chili powder

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon all spice powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon black pepper powder

1 teaspoon mace powder

1 teaspoon nutmeg powder

1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds

3-4 small cardamom

4-5 green chilies

2-4 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro leaves

Salt to taste
3-4 cups Water

Method:

• In a blender, add mince, 2 tablespoons fried onion paste, half cup greek yogurt, 5 green chilies, ½ teaspoon ginger paste, ½ teaspoon garlic paste, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, roasted gram flour, ¼ tsp mace powder, ½ tablespoon salt, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 tablespoon red chili powder, 1 teaspoon roasted cumin seeds, ½ teaspoon all spice or garam masala powder and handful of cilantro or coriander leaves.
• Blend everything into a smooth paste and make walnut size balls out of the blended mince mixture.
• Apply a little bit of cooking oil on your palms while making mince balls as the oil is slippery and keeps the meat from sticking to your skin. Apply oil all over the surface of the plate before setting the balls onto the plate.
• Lets make the gravy, in a wok, heat cooking oil and saute ½ teaspoon ginger and garlic paste for 2-3 minutes.
• When the paste changes its color to the slightly brown side, then add the fried onion paste and mix, add ½  cup Greek yogurt on a medium flame. Keep stirring the mixture until the yogurt mixes well without curdling.
• Immediately add 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ tablespoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala powder, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper powder, ¼ teaspoon mace powder, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder, 3-4 small cardamom and salt to taste.
• Bhuno the mixture for 2-3 minutes on a high-medium flame and add 2-3 cups of water. Cover and allow the mixture to cook under a low flame for 15 minutes.
• When the gravy comes to a boil, slowly and gently drop in meatballs, allow it to cook for 45-60 minutes on a low heat. In between do not stir the gravy otherwise you may end up breaking a few meat balls or kofta.
• Adjust the consistency of the gravy, seasoning and salt, add roughly chopped fresh cilantro and enjoy!

Fall Inspired Roasted Meat Bites Recipe

The air is getting chilly and crisp day by day and the leaves have started to fall, this weather reminded me of last year campfire moments with my chums. For me, this cozy weather has always been there for stylish jackets, jeggings and lace up shoes comforting my fashion sense. Another thing that indulges me is roasted foods, as I feel that fall have always worked well in intensifying the best flavors out of delicious cooked food.

The heat around us has wrapped up with classic weather, the hankering for every food has just begun. I prefer veggies mainly, but hubby likes opposite of it, he loves digging fork in meat and chicken with full joy. This one is definitely coming from his cookbook, he made this recipe last week when we had a casual exhilarating fun night with friends, campfire turns everything into a magical and playful environment, the golden and sparkling flames of burning hot wood warming and cheering us in no time from cool air, the hard to resist smell of the roasted meat and spices has raised up the craving and curiosity within me, It feels amazing when he wants to cook for me,  all I do is watching his technique in marinating – roasting – bbq meat or chicken. Each bite turns out so soft, tender and flavorsome giving an irreplaceable aroma of charcoal, tamarind dip (check out its recipe here!) was the ultimate hero of the recipe! 

Hot, crispy coated bites, filled with a lot of surprising elements have made this weather more loving and kind to us, this recipe is loved by everyone in our house, try this recipe with a batch of meat or chicken and pass by for more delicious recipe’s.

Fall Inspired Roasted Meat Bites Recipe

Preparation Time: 6-8 hours

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 8 hours, 45 minutes

Total: 4 persons

Ingredients:

½ kg boneless meat

2-3 tablespoons greek yogurt, optional

1 tablespoon ginger paste

1 tablespoon garlic paste

A few drops of cooking oil

2-3 tablespoons red chili flakes

1 teaspoon roasted and ground coriander seeds

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon meat tenderizer

Salt to taste

Method:

• Firstly, cut boneless meat into 1 inch size so that the spices and flavor penetrates within every bite of meat.
• In a bowl, add meat cubes, 2-3 tablespoons yogurt, 1 tablespoon ginger paste, 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 2-3 tablespoons red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon roasted and grounded coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon meat tenderizer and salt to taste. Drizzle few drops of cooking oil and mix everything evenly, let it marinate for 6-8 hours or overnight for delicious results.
• Skew each cube in skewers and keep them aside.
• You can either grill them or use your barbecue, we have BBQ meat by using a charcoal grill for fresh aroma and flavors. Simply preheat your charcoal grill before 20-30 minutes until the charcoal gets hot in temperature, this will help the meat to cook evenly from all sides, you can use cooking oil for smoking temperature.
• Place the skewers onto the charcoal grill once it turns hot, keep checking the sides occasionally. Once cooked from all sides, remove meat bites to a plate, Serve hot with any dip and stir fried veggies.

Enjoy!

Quick Tip: Always empty your old ash from grill, clean your grates before grilling and oil the hot grill grates using a paper towel. Avoid using chemical based products to lighten up the charcoal as this may not give you the natural aroma of charcoal. 

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