Bruschetta Style Pizza

May 17th, 2010 | by aarti
Posted In: Blog

homemade bruschetta pizza

 

A charming pizzeria around the corner from our home, San’s Pizzeria, serves up some of  the best pizza I have eaten.

On our last visit there, we ordered a white margarita pizza with a base of cheese, fresh cut roma tomatoes and basil. When the pizza arrived I was a bit worried that it may be too bland for my Indian taste buds, but boy was I wrong…

Nestled in that cheese was the slightest hint of fresh, grated garlic. This was – garlic bread meets cheese pizza – and the chemistry was instantaneous. So, of course I had to try and recreate this at home for my cheese-loving sweethearts. This pizza is well served with a light salad and a glass of wine for the perfect summer supper!

IMG_5312

Ingredients:

  • 2 Flatbreads (White/Wheat – from Publix)
  • 2 Roma tomatoes (chopped)
  • 1 tsp grated garlic
  • salt & fresh crushed pepper
  • 1 tsp basil (chopped)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsps fresh grated Parmesan
  • 3 tbsps fresh grated mozarella

How to:

homemade bruschetta pizza

 

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, folding in gently, until the juices are well mixed.
  3. Spoon the bruschetta onto the 2 flatbreads and put them in the oven.
  4. Bake until the flatbread is crisp, about 20 minutes.
  5. Finally, Let the pizzas ‘rest’ for 5 minutes after taking them out of the oven, before serving.

DH (Dear Husband) was delighted and you will be too. Try it, won’t you? What are your favorite pizzas?

-Aarti

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Mutter Paneer

April 25th, 2010 | by aarti
Posted In: Blog

mutter paneer!

A dish that is featured on the menu of every Indian restaurant, Mutter Paneer is a favorite that is pretty easy to put together and is delicious every time. Good quality paneer is readily available at your local Patel Brothers or other Indian Grocer. I prefer ‘Swad’ brand and always buy the un-fried version. Regardless of how many times I make this, Krishna is always thrilled when it is Mutter Paneer for dinner;)

So without further ado, here is is, the recipe for this delicious indian style cheese and peas delight.

Ingredients:

  • 2 8 oz packets Paneer (Swad brand)
  • 2 handfuls of frozen peas (these are way better at the Indian grocery store too), thawed in the microwave.
  • 6 – 8 Roma tomatoes, pureed
  • 1 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ginger-garlic-jalapeno paste
  • Cilantro, for garnish
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/4 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 tbsp oil

Method:

Heat oil in a deep dish pan and add the red onions. Saute until lightly browned, add tomato puree, ginger garlic jalapeno paste and simmer for 10 minutes. Add all the dry spices and cover to let the flavors blend.

Add paneer and peas and stir well. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Keep covered for 15 minutes and serve with Basmati rice or Chapathis / Naan.

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“Vellaikaaran” raps in Tamil

April 20th, 2010 | by krishna
Posted In: Blog

His name is Aaron, and he speaks, reads and writes in Tamil fluently (as the video above partially demonstrates). Makes me really wish I could learn to speak my native tongue. Very cool nonetheless.

-Krishna

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Spinach Dal for the Soul

April 14th, 2010 | by aarti
Posted In: Blog

Spinach Daal

There is something comforting about Spinach. Since childhood, the combination of spinach and dal (indian style lentils) has been a favorite comfort food. Today’s meal is Spinach dal and Rice, something I have consumed copious amounts of for as long as I can remember. No matter how many times i eat it, it never gets boring.

Perhaps you have a favorite food like that…

The ingredients for this meal can be found at your local indian grocery store, and for those of you that don’t have a pressure cooker, slow cooking the dal, while tedious, produces delicious results.

So without further ado, here is the recipe.

In a pressure cooker combine the following ingredients:

1 bunch of spinach, chopped
1 cup tuvar dal
1 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp tamarind pulp
1 tomato, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups of water

Spinach Daal

After pressure cooking the above for 2 whistles, mash the dal well and proceed to dress the dal.

Heat oil in a pan and add the following:
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp chana dal
1/2 tsp urad dal
few curry leaves
few bits of red chilli

Add the tempering to the dal and boil for 10 minutes.
Let the spinach dal rest for 30 minutes for best taste.
Serve over fresh cooked basmati rice for a traditional home cooked indian meal experience. That’s it!

Lentils are a great source of protein and the spinach is packed full of antioxidants, calcium and folic acid. A truly well balanced and guilt free meal. So go ahead and grab some seconds, its good for you.

-Aarti

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Hindu Rituals Explained in Comic Form?

April 14th, 2010 | by krishna
Posted In: Blog

My dad recently sent me a really neat article on Hindu rituals and the meanings behind them. Most Indians (including myself) do not know the significance behind the rituals in their religion.

One of the things I’d like to do at some point in the future is to create a series of UNcubed comics that explores these ideas from a cultural standpoint.

What say ye?

-Krishna

[ 9 Comments ]