Kuwaitee Lamb Machboos

After having lived here for so long, it is a shame that it took me so long to cook this at home (I must be the only person too?). 

It is easier than biryani, I felt. Am not sure if this is an authentic recipe but then if you search the net there are so many variations of every recipe. But it was as tasty as the one that son and his friend cooked over a weekend. Children are the first one to try new tastes and if you can join them, you can discover food that you may not taste otherwise.

Kuwaiti Machboos Laham (Spiced Lamb and Rice)

A rich, aromatic rice dish with double-fried lamb and dried raisins for a perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Ingredients (Serves 4-5)

For the Lamb:

• 1 kg lamb (bone-in, cut into chunks)
• 3 tablespoons ghee or oil (divided)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 2 dried limes (loomi), pierced or 2 tspn of black lemon powder
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 green cardamom pods
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups water (or as needed)

For the Rice:

• 2 cups basmati rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
• 3 cups lamb broth (from cooking the lamb)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon saffron (soaked in ¼ cup warm water)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Additional Ingredients:

• ½ cup dried raisins (golden or black)
• ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
• ¼ cup fried onions (optional, for garnish)
• 2 tablespoons ghee or oil (for frying cooked lamb)

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Instructions:

Step 1: First Frying of the Lamb (Before Cooking)

1. In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons ghee or oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add the lamb chunks and sear them until browned on all sides (about 5-7 minutes). Remove and set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Lamb

1. In the same pot, add 1 more tablespoon of ghee and sauté the chopped onions until golden brown.
2. Add the garlic and ginger, sauté for a minute, then add all the ground spices (turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and cardamom powder). Stir well.
3. Return the fried lamb to the pot and mix well with the spices.
4. Add the dried limes, bay leaves, whole spices (cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick), and salt.
5. Pour in the water, bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 1.5 hours, or until the lamb is tender. (I used my instapot and cooked on high pressure for 35 minutes) 
6. Once cooked, remove the lamb from the broth and reserve the broth for the rice.

Step 3: Second Frying of the Lamb (After Cooking - Optional for Crispy Texture)

1. In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons ghee or oil over medium-high heat.
2. Fry the cooked lamb pieces until golden and slightly crispy on the edges. Set aside.

Step 4: Cook the Rice

1. In the same pot, strain the lamb broth and measure 3 cups of it.
2. Add the drained rice to the pot with the broth, salt, and saffron water. Stir gently.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and fluffy.
4. Once done, sprinkle ground cinnamon and fluff the rice with a fork.

    Note: If Insta pot, the amount of water is same. Close and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes and let it sit for another 10 minutes. 

Step 5: Prepare the Garnishes (Hashew toppings) 

• In a small pan, sauté the raisins in a little ghee until plump. Mix it with the following. 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black lemon powder
• Toast the slivered almonds until golden.
• Fry one sliced onion until golden brown

 Check this out for authentic Hashew topping - Facebook

Step 6: Assemble and Serve

1. Spread the rice on a large serving platter.
2. Arrange the double-fried lamb on top.
3. Garnish with fried raisins, toasted almonds, and fried onions.
4. Serve with daqoos (Kuwaiti tomato sauce) and yogurt on the side.

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Enjoy your perfectly spiced, crispy, and flavorful Kuwaiti Machboos Laham! 🍛✨

Methi Chicken Curry (Methi Murgh) Recipe

 

Methi Chicken Curry (Methi Murgh) Recipe

This delicious Methi Chicken Curry is made with fenugreek leaves (methi), giving it a rich, slightly bitter yet aromatic flavor. It's perfect with naan/chappathi/porotta or rice.

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Ingredients:

For the Curry:

• 1 kg (2.2 lbs) chicken, cut into pieces
• 3 tbsp oil or ghee
• 2 onions, finely sliced or chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 2 tbsp dried kasuri methi/ fenugreek leaves (roasted and crushed) + 1/2 tspn 
• whole spices (3 cardamoms, 3 cloves, 1/2 tsp cumin, a small piece of Cinnamon)
• ½ cup yogurt, whisked
• 1/2 cup fresh cream
• 2 green chilies, slit
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 2 tsp red chili powder (Kashmiri) 
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1-2 cups hot water (as needed)
• Fresh coriander leaves, chopped (for garnish)
• Ginger slices (for garnish)

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Instructions:

1. Heat Oil: In a large pot, heat oil or ghee over medium heat. Add the whole spices and fry until aromatic.
2. Add Ginger & Garlic: Stir in ginger and garlic paste, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add Chicken: Add the chicken pieces and fry until the color changes.
4. Add Onions & Green Chilies: Add the sliced onions along with salt and green chilies and cook until soft.
5. Add Tomatoes: Place the chopped tomatoes over the chicken and cover & cook until soft, then mash them with a spoon.
6. Methi, Yogurt & Spice powders: Whisk the yoghurt along with methi and the powders (chilly, turmeric, cumin, garam masala). Add to the chicken and mix well.
7. Simmer: Add hot water as needed for a gravy-like consistency. Cover and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
8. Fresh Cream : Add fresh cream and mix.
9. Garnish: Add chopped coriander leaves and sprinkle methi leaves. 

Enjoy!

Note: You can substitute dried fenugreek/methi leaves with 1 cup of fresh leaves

Pressure Cooked Chicken Roast

This is a recipe that my daughter found, followed and which turned out pretty good. I think if I had not written out here, would have forgotten it altogether. It is very easy to forget recipes and settle for the ones that come to your mind quickly. Even though this recipe has been repeated in my house,  no idea why it has been forgotten.

Pressure Cooked Chicken Roast

Ingredients

1. Chicken - 1 Kg (If whole, pat dry and make cuts on the chicken)

2.  Ginger and Garlic paste or crushed- 2 1/2 tbspn

3. Garam Masala - 1/2 Tspn

4. Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tspn

5. Chilly pdr - 2 Tbspn

6. Pepper powder - 1 Tbspn

7. Lemon Juice - 1 Tbspn

8. Salt - To taste

9. Curd - 2 Tbspns

Method

Mix the above ingredients and rub it on the chicken. Leave the chicken for at least an hour more in the fridge.

Take a pressure cooker and pour 2 tablespoon of oil and place the whole chicken or cut pieces. Put it on high flame for 2 minutes and later close the cooker and let it sit on low flame for around 20 minutes.

Take a pan and pour 2 tablespoon of oil and fry the chicken on high flame until it is brown on all sides.

Chicken Masala

Cut 2 onions and fry it in the same oil along with a little oil until transparent. Add sliced ginger and capsicum. Saute for a while. Add 2 tablespoon of Tomato Sauce and 1 tablespoon of Soya Sauce. Now add the chicken, Add curry leaves and coriander leaves if needed.

Enjoy! 

Potato Curry

 I have already posted an easy potato curry but this is one is even more easier and tastes different.

Potato Curry

Ingredients

1. Potatoes cut into bug cubes - 2 medium

2. Green chilly sliced - 2 number

3. Ginger sliced - a small piece(Optional)

4. Garlic chopped - a tspn (Optional)

5. Onion sliced - 2 small ones 

6. Mustard, dried chilly, curry leaves - as required

7. Coconut powder - 2 tablespoon dissolved in warm water

8. Pepper powder - 1 tspn

8. Garam masala - 1 tspn (Optional)

Method

Place the potatoes, green chilies, half of the sliced onion and ginger in a pressure cooker with 1 cup of water. Adjust the cooking time as per the pressure cooker. (Instapot - 10 minutes). Meanwhile, splutter the mustard seeds along with the red chilly and curry leaves.. Sauté the remaining onions along with the garlic and then add the pepper powder. Once the potato is done, smash it up a little leaving a few cubes intact and add the coconut milk. Mix this with the sautéed ingredients and finally add the garam masala. The original recipe did not have the ingredients marked optional. So you can try both ways. I prefer this one.

 Enjoy!

Bitter gourd curry / Pavakka curry

Discovered another very tasty way to eat this vegetable which many hate. Have already posted another recipe that was my mother's favorite and mine too. But this one is going to be a regular since the bitterness is minimal or even absent.

This is my lunchbox today.. 

Bitter gourd curry / Pavakka Curry

Ingredients

1. Bitter gourd sliced lengthwise - 1 cup (1 medium bitter gourd)

2- Onion sliced - 1 medium

3. Green Chilly sliced - 2

4. Ginger sliced - 1 inch

4. Coriander powder - 1 or more tspn

6. Chilly powder - 2 tspn

7. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tspn

8. Curry leaves - a bunch

9. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tspn

10. Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tspn

11. Tamarind soaked in 1/2 cup of water 

Method

Heat 2 teaspoons of oil and add the mustard and fenugreek seeds. After it splutters, add the onion, ginger and chilly and sauté until soft. Now add the powders and sauté for a few seconds before adding the sliced bitter gourd. Fry for a while and then add a cup of water. Let it cook until done. Now add the tamarind water and let the curry boil for some more time. You can adjust the water if you need more. Finally add the curry leaves and enjoy with rice.

Nutricook Airfryer Oven

Realized that it is almost a year since this post has been in my draft. The Airfryer is still doing a good job so  thought I shall post it finally.

My husband is happier when he gifts me household appliances than anything else. Like most men, he loves to acquire the latest gadgets and that extends to my kitchen too. Each time I say no when he tries to convince me and then finally relents. His purchases never fail to impress me once I try them :)

The latest being the Nutricook Air Fryer Oven. Our old basket Phillips Air Fryer was getting old and it was rarely being used too so I did not fancy another one. But this one does have a few more tricks and sure is impressing me.

The first item to try was an Arabic styled Shish Tawouk.  Along with roast potatoes. Also tried roasting a whole chicken. It works fine.

Since there are more trays one can fry more items by rotating the trays The below one has French fries, sausages, burger and also bacon.

So far I have tried Chicken Tikka, and the usual French fries etc.

Spanish Garlic Soup

Have to give away this treasure too. I know the only thing I did was watch you tube videos but had to try it out too right? And that too when so many food videos are out there. So thank me at least for that.

If you are averse to bread then please skip this post but if you are on the search for a quick but very tasty recipe continue reading. Shall give the link of the original recipe at the end.

Spanish Garlic Soup

Ingredients

• 1- Cubed French bread - 6 cups
• 2- 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup Olive oil
• 3- Thinly sliced Garlic - 6 cloves
• 4- Cubed Sausage or ham - 1 cup
• 5- Kashmiri chilly powder or paprika - 2 tspns 
• 6- Chicken broth - 6 cups
• 7- Black pepper powder - 1/2 tspn
• 8 - Eggs - 4 nos
• For the instructions you may go to the following link.. Chef John's Spanish Garlic Soup (Sopa de Ajo) | Allrecipes 
• Enjoy!

Instapot cooking / OPOS cooking / Nutricook

 Think most of us with a pressure cooker have tried OPOS cooking is some way or the other. I did not go for an Instapot  earlier, thinking it is just another glorified pressure cooker but my opinion has changed. It lets me do so much more and without much worries. Recently have been watching many OPOS videos and thought I shall try the same in my Instapot. Since I do not have separators and since pot-in-pot(POP) cooking did not work well I tried another way. When I tried POP to cook rice and dal, realized that the heat was not uniform. Today I made three dishes in my Instapot. Mine is actually the Nutricook 6 quarts cooker.

I made an avial, potatoes for mezhukkuparatty and brinjal. I placed the vegetables for the avial inside the inner pot and the ground paste on top of it then put the inner stand on which I placed a slotted scrapper that I seldom use. In this I placed the cut brinjal. On top of this I placed my steamer filled with potato mixed with chilly and turmeric powder. I used 1/2 a cup of water for the aviyal.

The pressure is set to 3 minutes but if you want the vegetables crispier 2 minutes will do. The pressure was released manually.

Will be trying more dishes this way. Was thinking of buying a separator but it is not available here. For the time being this will suffice.

Hungarian Chicken Stew

 Yesterday I tried a new recipe and decided that I had to jot it down since it was very tasty. It does not have the usual spices that one uses in chicken curries. The recipe calls for bone-in, skin-on thighs. I added a few cut pieces of breast too since Hubby prefers that.

Hungarian Chicken Stew

Ingredients

1- Chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) plus one breast cut into big pieces - almost 750 gm

2. Cubed Onions - 3 numbers 

3. Minced garlic - 5 cloves

4. Tomato paste or pureed tomato - 3 tblspn

5. Pepper powder - 1/2 tspn

6. Kashmiri chilly or paprika powder - 3 tspn

7. Flour - 4 tbspn

8. Chicken broth - 2 cups

9. Heavy cream - 1/4 cup

10. Sour cream - 2/3 cup (I did not use it)

Method

Wash the chicken and sprinkle salt on both the sides. Add a tablespoon of oil and brown the chicken on both sides on high heat. Do not worry if you see dark or brown portions on the pan. Once the chicken is browned, remove. The pan would have enough oil that came out from the skin. Add the onions and saute until almost brown. Now add the minced garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add the flour and let it cook before you add the tomato paste. Now you may add the chicken broth. (I used 2 Maggi cubes) Let it boil. Add the chicken and any juice that may have leaked and let it simmer in the gravy for 30 to 45 minutes while turning the pieces occasionally. 

The final step is to add the cream plus the sour cream (you can add 2 tspn of curd too). Let it boil for 2 minutes.

Enjoy!

Chicken Rice

Stumbled upon this recipe by accident and almost skipped it but then curiosity made me check it out. It is for those who are too lazy to make biryani and want a rice which is less spicy. It is tasty too. 

Chicken Rice

Ingredients

1. Chicken – ½ kg ( took a few thighs and breast pieces)

2. Curd – 2 tblspn

3. Ginger-garlic paste – 2 tspn

4. Turmeric – ¼ tspn

5. Chilly powder – ½ tspn

6. Salt – ½ tspn 

7. Basmati rice soaked for 15 minutes – 1 ½ cups

8. Onion – ½ cup

9. Coconut milk – 1 ½ cup

10. Bay leaves – 2 nos.

11. Garam masala – 1 tspn

12. Pepper ½ tspn(optional)

13. Grated ginger – ¼ tspn

14. Salt

15. Water – 1 cup

16. Coriander leaves – a few

Marinate the chicken with ingredients 2-6 for minimum 15 minutes and shallow fry the same until lightly brown. Remove the chicken and in the same oil, fry the onions. Add the bay leaves and then the grated ginger. Fry for a while. Now add the rice and fry until dry. Add heated coconut milk and hot water. Add enough salt. Let it come to boil. Add the fried chicken pieces. Cover and let the rice simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. Add the garam masala and pepper and lightly stir. Finally add chopped coriander leaves. Enjoy!

Another Chicken Biriyani

 

Biriyani

Have so many biryani recipes that I have tried and succeeded and each time I swear that this would be the one. But yet again I land up on another. This time I collected tips from several and landed up with another tasty recipe. This one seemed suited for those with a lack of time to marinate the chicken. Yesterday I did not have time to do so after reaching home but it did not affect the taste.

 Ingredients

1.       Chicken – 1 kg

2.       Finely sliced onions – 3 big or 5 small ones

3.       Ginger – garlic paste – 2 tablespoon

4.       Green chilly paste – 3 number

5.       Biryani masala powder – 2 plus ½ teaspoon

6.       Chilly powder – 1 teaspoon

7.       Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

8.       Mint and coriander leaves – a bunch

9.       Fried raisins and cashew nuts

10.   Whole spices – 8 each cardamom and cloves, 2 piece thakkola, 4 piece – cinnamon sticks

11.   Rice – 2 cup (soaked for a minimum 15 minutes)

12.   Water 2 ½ cup

13.   Curd – ½ cup

14.   Tomato - 1

Biryani masala powder

               Take a teaspoon each of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, 5 piece thakkolam, 4 big cardamom, 1 piece nutmeg, 2 ½ tablespoon of whole coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon fennel, shah jeera and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and finally 2 bay leaves. Dry fry these ingredients and when it has cooled down grind and then add 2 teaspoon of chilly powder, ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder

 Method

For the chicken

Take a heavy bottomed pan and add 3 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add 3 cardamom, 4 cloves, I thakkolam and 2 pieces of cinnamon. Add the sliced onion and fry till golden brown. Fry the onion in medium flame to get evenly fried onion. Now add the ginger-garlic paste plus green chilly paste. After sautéing for a while, add I teaspoon of chilly powder and pepper powder, ½ teaspoon of cumin powder and turmeric powder. After a few seconds add the chicken, plus one tomato and ½ cup curd plus 2 teaspoon of biryani masala powder and the chopped leaves. Add enough salt and after frying this for a while close the pan and cook the chicken in slow fire for 15 minutes. There should only be a little gravy.

For the rice

Take a vessel and add a tablespoon of ghee and add 3 number each of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and a bay leaf. Using the oil that was used to fry the onion will enhance the taste, also add a few fried onions too.  Add 1 ½ cup of water and let it boil.  You can also add a little ginger-garlic paste plus green chilly paste to the water. Drain the rice and add it to the water. Once the water boils reduce the flame, cover the vessel and let it cook until the water dries up. 

You can also boil the rice with lots of water and the spices and drain once the rice is cooked 3/4th. 

For the dum

Add the rice to the cooked chicken. Do not press the rice down. On top of the rice sprinkle some fried onions, a few chopped leaves and ½ teaspoon of biryani masala. Add the fried cashew and raisins. You can also add turmeric or kumkum dissolved in a teaspoon of milk. Cover it with a foil and close the lid. Keep the vessel on an old pan or tava on low flame for 10 minutes. Switch of the flame and let it rest for a minimum 30 minutes.

Enjoy!