Coconut Rice Pudding | Nariyal Ki Kheer
Origin: Hyderabad | Serves 8
Preparation time 40 minutes + soaking time | Cooking time 35 minutes
Ingredients
100g / 3 ½ oz ( ½ cup) rice, rinsed and drained
2 fresh coconuts, peeled and grated
250g / 9 oz (1 ¼ cups) sugar
8-10 green cardamom pods*, ground
1 tablespoon ghee**
2 tablespoons blanched almonds
2 tablespoons unsalted pistachio nuts, blanched
2 tablespoons raisins
 *cardamom is a spice made from the dried pods of the cardamom plant, used in both sweet and savoury dishes, and known as elaichi in India. The most common variety has green pods, while the other has black-brown pods with a more astringent flavour. Ground green cardamom is also available from Asian grocery stores.
** ghee is butter which has been clarified to remove the milk solids and obtain the purified fat. Used to prepare cooked desserts and to cook many Mughal dishes.
Instructions
Soak the rice in a large bowl of water for 1 hour, then drain.
Put the rice and coconut in a blender or food processor and process, adding a little water to make a thick paste. Transfer the paste to a large, heavy-based pan, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour in 250ml / 8fl oz (1 cup) water, add the sugar and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the mixture has a porridge-like consistency. Sprinkle over the ground cardamom and mix well. Spoon into a glass bowl.
Heat the ghee in a frying pan (skillet) over low heat, add the nuts and stir-fry for about 3 minutes, or until light brown. Remove and add the raisins to the pan and stir-fry lightly for about 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle over the pudding, then allow to cool completely and serve cold.
Laal Maas | Red-Hot Lamb
Origin: Rajasthan | Serves 4
Preparation time 40 minutes + standing time | Cooking time 1 ½ hours
Ingredients
45-50 mild dried red chilies
1 cup plain yogurt, whisked
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
5 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
scant ½ cup ghee
3 Tablespoons sliced garlic
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
5 green cardamom pods
3 black cardamom pods
2 ¼ lb lamb shoulder, cut into cubes
salt
2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
Instructions
Discard the stems of the dried red chilies and soak the chilies in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes. Drain and, wearing gloves, deseed before using.
Mix the yogurt, dried red chilies, cumin seeds and ground spices together in a bowl, then season with salt. Set aside for ten minutes
Heat the ghee in a large, heavy-based pan over medium heat, add the garlic and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, or until light golden. Add the onions and cardamom pods and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the onions are golden brown. Add the meat, increase the heat to high and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes or until the meat changes color. Reduce heat to medium and stir-fry for a further 4-5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the yogurt mixture, the return to the heat and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the liquid has evaporated. Now add 6 ¼ cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 1-1 ½ hours, or until the meat is tender and the sauce is a thin consistency. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Garnish with chopped coriander.
This traditional dish from Rajasthan is famous for its fiery taste and striking crimson color. If you can find them, use Kasmiri dried red chilies, as they are milder than the ordinary ones.
Ginger-flavored Chops | Adraki Chaamp
Origin: Punjab | Serves 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes + marinating time | Cooking time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients
1 kg / 2 ¼ lb lamb chops, rinsed and patted dry with kitchen paper (paper towels)
melted butter, for basting
For the first marinade
4 tablespoons unripe papaya paste
1 tablespoon red chili paste
2 tablespoons Ginger Paste (see recipe below)
1 tablespoon Garlic paste (see recipe below)
1 tablespoon chopped ginger
1 tablespoon malt (white) vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
salt
For the second marinade
250ml / 8 fl oz (1 cup) natural (plain) yoghurt, whisked
1 tablespoon chopped ginger
1 tablespoon Garlic Paste
4 tablespoons Ginger Paste
1 x 6 cm / 2 ½ inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
To make the first marinade, put the pastes, chopped ginger, vinegar and oil in a large shallow dish. Season with salt and mix well. Add the chops and spread the marinade evenly over to coat. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for about 6 hours.
Mix the yoghurt with all the other ingredients for the second marinade in a large shallow dish. Remove the meat from the first marinade, wiping off any excess moister from the first marinade and add the meat to the second marinade. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for a further 3 hours.
Prepare a tandoor* or charcoal grill for a moderate heat, or alternatively preheat the grill (broiler) to medium. Thread the chops on to metal skewers, leaving 2.5 cm / 1 inch between them. Make sure they do not fall off the skewers. Roast in a moderately hot tandoor, over a charcoal grill or under the hot grill for about 10 minutes. Remove the skewers from the heat and hang up to drain. Put the skewers into a dish and baste with the melted butter, then roast for a further 5 minutes, or until cooked. Serve hot.
* Tandor: The clay tandoor oven used in the Indus valley dates as long ago as 3,000 BC. Traditionally they were heated with burning charcoal, but modern tandoor ovens are often heated with electricity. A skilled tandoor cook can manipulate the heat of the oven to bake, roast or grill a variety of foods.
Garlic Paste | Pisi Lehsun
Origin Pan-India | Makes about 200g / 7 oz
Preparation time 15 minutes, plus chilling time
Ingredients
200g / 7oz (about 5 heads) roughly chopped garlic
Instructions
Put the garlic in a blender, add 3 tablespoons water and process to make a fine paste. Transfer to a container and chill and in the refrigerator. This paste can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Ginger Paste | Pisi Adrak
Origin: Pan- India | Makes about 250g / 9oz
Preparation time 20 minutes, plus chilling time
Ingredients
1 x 14-cm / 5 ½ inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
Instructions
Put the ginger in a blender, add 3 tablespoons water and process to make a smooth paste. Transfer to a container and chili in the refrigerator. This paste can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. |
