A fost odata in India

Am tot vorbit recent de mancarea indiana si tare mi-e pofta de o portie. Mi-aduc aminte cu placere cand am gatit pentru prima data asa ceva si eram extrem de incantata. Doar ca acum I am not in the mood for cooking. Vreau doar sa mananc mancare indiana. Sa ma duc undeva, la un restaurant si sa imi serveasca ospatarul o farfurie aburinda si parfumata, acompaniata de orez basmati si paine indiana. Vreau asta ffff tare. Sa fie neaparat hot. Cat mai hot, sa imi ia gura foc si sa simt pana in stomac toata fierbinteala. De placere. Sa ma umple si sa imi ia gandurile de la orice altceva. Sa imi curete stomacul apoi. Ador mancarea asta foarte condimentata si parfumata. Si da, as imparti-o cu cineva care stiu ca ar manca, de dragul meu, fara ca neaparat sa ii placa asa ceva. Macar ar gusta si probabil ca ar prefera painea si orezul mai mult decat mancarea propriu-zisa. Dar s-ar putea sa ii si placa. Cu ocazia asta incearca ceva nou si poate descopera ca e chiar buna reteta aceasta. Never say never. :* Mai ales ca  mancare indiana se mananca cu mana si dintr-o singura farfurie. Acum chiar ai imparti cu mine si daca nu se manca asa. Faceam sa se manance asa orice mancare. :* Ca sa stii, reteta am cules-o dintr-o carte minunata, “Golden India – Indian Recipes”, carte pe care mi-as dori sa o am in biblioteca personala. Iata despre ce tot scriu aici:

Champ Masala

Cotlete marinate de miel

4-6 portii

Timp preparare: 30 minute

Timp de gatit: 1 1/4 ore

Ingrediente:

• 1 kg cotlete miel
• 12 migdale
• 1 lingurita zahar brun (sau orice alta culoare, daca tot ai, de preferat totusi sa nu il mai folosesti deloc)
• 2 2/3 linguri unt sau ulei
• 1/2 lingurita seminte nucsoara (cardamom)
• 1 lingurita piper rosu (cayenne)
• 2-3 cuisoare, intregi (pentru ca nu mentioneaza garlic cloves, presupun ca e vorba de cuisoare, acum tu decizi)
• 2 lingurite coriandru proaspat, tocat
• 1 lingura seminte chimion
• 2 lingurite pasta de usturoi
• 2 lingurite ghimbir tocat marunt
• 2 ardei iuti, verzi sau rosii (tu ce culoare preferi?), curatati de samanta si feliati
• cateva fire de sofran, dizolvate intr-o lingurita de lapte (optional)
• 2 cepe medii, tocate marunt
• sare
• 2 lingurite seminte susan
• 3/4 (175 ml) cana iaurt (repet: cel mai gras, de preferat cel grecesc)

Preparare:

• Intr-un tocator de legume sau blender amesteca semintele de chimion, ghimbirul, pasta de usturoi, semintele de cardamom, cuisoarele, migdalele, semintele de susan, piperul rosu, zaharul si 2 linguri de iaurt. Daca cumva pasta e prea uscata, mai adauga iaurt. Pune apoi aceasta marinata deoparte. Avem acum pasta masala home-made.  
• Topeste untul sau incalzeste uleiul intr–un wok sau o tigaie mare. Pune ceapa si las-o la prajit pana se rumeneste usor. Adauga pasta masala si amesteca cca 5 minute. Mai pune cate o lingura de apa din timp in timp daca cumva continutul e prea uscat.
• Introdu in tigaie cotletele de miel si prajeste-le cca 10 minute la foc mediu, intorcandu-le des.
• Amesteca restul de iaurt cu sofranul, varsa-l peste miel si amesteca bine. Lasa sa dea in clocot apoi redu focul  la minim pentru 30 minute.
• Incalzeste cuptorul la 150°C, 300°F.
• Pune tot continutul tigaii intr-o tava si lasa la cuptor pentru cel putin 25 de minute.
• Scoate din cuptor, orneaza cu coriandru tocat. Serveste imediat cu paine indiana (naan sau Rotis) si orez basmati (cel mai bun orez dupa parerea mea este cel comercializat de firma Tilda).

Pofta buna!

Going Indian III

When is hot outside, try this. If you are not living in a hot climate as Indians are, try this in cold weather and it will make you hot. And my guess is you will ask for more. It is a delicious recipe. So delicious that I tried it just once. Hahaha. I should try it several times as I like lamb and this is indeed something special. I have a déjà vu writing this. I also like the way it is constructed with all those ingredients, some of them rare and precious and full of flavour. What an exquisite aroma it spreads ! It whispers: come and taste me! And of course you come… Sit down at the table and enjoy it with naan bread (I miss naan bread sooo much) or basmati rice (Tilda brand – the best). I must cook this again. So, let’s see what I need, apart from Love and Understanding and Tenderness. And a beautiful and large kitchen where I will be the queen 😉 . I need … to add that the recipe is taken from a wonderful book, “Golden India – Indian Recipes” and the recipes is

Champ Masala

Lamb Chops in Spicy Marinade

Serves 4-6

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes

And the ingredients are:

• 1 kg lamb chops 
• 12 almonds, blanched
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 2 2/3 tbsp (40 ml) butter or oil
• 1/2 tsp cardamom seeds
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2-3 cloves, whole
• 2 tsp coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp garlic paste
• 2 tsp ginger, chopped finely
• 2 red or green chillies, deseeded and sliced
• a few strands of saffron, dissolved in 1 tsp milk (optional)
• 2 onions, medium size, chopped
• salt to taste
• 2 tsp sesame seeds (til)
• 3/4 cup yoghurt (I always go with my fav, the greek full fat one)

Method:

• Blend cumin seeds, ginger, garlic paste, cardamom seeds, cloves, almonds, sesame seeds, cayenne pepper, sugar and 2 tbsp yoghurt to a purée, adding more yoghurt if the mixture is dry. Pour mixture into a bowl and set aside. You have now a masala paste.
• Melt butter/ oil in a large kadhai (wok) or pan. Add onions and fry till golden brown. Stir in the masala paste and fry for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Add a spoonful water at a time if the mixture becomes too dry. Add the lamb chops and fry 10 minutes on medium heat, turning chops frequently.
• Beat the remaining yoghurt and saffron together, pour it into the lamb and mix well. Bring to a boil the reduce heat to very low, simmer for 1/2 hour.
• Preheat oven to 150˚C/ 300˚F.
• Transfer chops into a casserole and put into the oven to cook for at least 25 minutes. After that you have a taste of India. 🙂

Bon appetite!