Tamarind, a common ingredient in Indian, Thai, and Mexican cuisines, adds an acidic, slightly tart flavor to food. The pulp is sold in cakes at ethnic markets and some large supermarkets. Use a fork or your hands to break up the paste and separate it from the seeds before straining. If you make these martinis ahead, be sure to shake the drink in a martini shaker or stir it with the crushed ice just before serving.
Photo by: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro
1. Combine 2 1/2 cups boiling water and tamarind in a large bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Break tamarind into small pieces; let stand 5 minutes. Strain mixture through a sieve over a bowl, reserving liquid; discard solids.
2. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe dish; microwave at HIGH for 2 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring once. Cool. Combine tamarind liquid, sugar syrup, vodka, and juice in a pitcher, stirring well. Add crushed ice; stir or shake well. Garnish rims of 8 martini glasses with sugar, if desired. Strain chilled martini mixture into prepared glasses; garnish with lime wedges, if desired.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
This simple recipe makes a tasty party snack. Use your favorite nuts, and add a bit of heat with a dash of ground red pepper, if you like.
Photo by: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine the first 8 ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH for 30 seconds; stir until blended. Add nuts to sugar mixture; toss to coat.
3. Spread nuts evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Madras curry powder works well in this dish because it adds just a bit of spicy flavor.
1. Place noodles in a large bowl. Cover with boiling water; let stand 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain.
2. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, ginger, curry powder, and garlic to pan; stir-fry 3 minutes. Add carrot; stir-fry 1 1/2 minutes. Add cabbage and 1 1/2 tablespoons water; cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat.
3. Combine cilantro and next 5 ingredients (through pepper) in a bowl, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add the noodles, cilantro mixture, and 1 1/2 cups bean sprouts to pan; toss to combine. Spoon 1/3 cup noodle mixture on each lettuce leaf; roll up.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Samosas, traditional Indian pastries filled with vegetables, meat, or both, are typically made with homemade dough, then fried. Our samosas remain light and crisp because we enclose the filling in phyllo dough and then bake them. When processing the filling, pulse just until the ingredients are chopped so it retains its texture.
1. To prepare samosas, cook potato and carrot in boiling water 8 minutes or until tender; drain.
2. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 10 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add ginger, garlic, and red pepper; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in cumin and next 5 ingredients (through turmeric); cook 15 seconds, stirring constantly. Add potato mixture, peas, cilantro, and juice, stirring well to combine; cool slightly. Place half of filling in a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Spoon chopped filling into a bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining filling.
3. Preheat oven to 350°.
4. Place 1 phyllo sheet on a large cutting board or work surface (cover remaining dough to prevent drying); lightly coat with cooking spray. Fold phyllo sheet in half lengthwise to form an 18 x 7–inch rectangle. Spoon about 3 tablespoons filling onto bottom end of rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold left bottom corner over mixture, forming a triangle; keep folding back and forth into a triangle to end of phyllo strip. Tuck edges under triangle; lightly coat seam with cooking spray. Place triangles, seam side down, 2 inches apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining phyllo, cooking spray, and filling to form 16 samosas.
5. Bake at 350° for 13 minutes with 1 baking sheet on bottom rack and 1 baking sheet on second rack from the top. Rotate baking sheets; bake an additional 12 minutes or until samosas are lightly browned.
6. To prepare raita, combine yogurt and mint. Serve with samosas.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Shrimp brine in a fraction of the time it takes for large, tougher cuts of meat. If using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for about 30 minutes beforehand. Purchase naan at a local Indian restaurant or gourmet market, or substitute pita bread.
Photo by: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro
1. Combine first 9 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in tea leaves; simmer 2 minutes. Strain mixture through a sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Stir in ice; chill.
2. Add shrimp to water mixture; chill 20 minutes.
3. Prepare grill.
4. Remove the shrimp from bowl; discard liquid. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Thread 4 shrimp and 2 mango pieces alternately onto each of 8 (12-inch) skewers.
5. Place the skewers on a grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill for 2 minutes on each side or until the shrimp are done. Sprinkle with sliced green onions. Serve with flatbread.
Note: As pictured on the cover, you can use smaller skewers. Simply thread two shrimp alternately with two mango chunks, and serve guests two skewers each. You'll need to purchase an extra mango (which minimally increases the calories per serving) if you opt for this presentation.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Named for “tandoor,� the Indian clay oven it's traditionally cooked in, this dish is tender and tasty.
1. Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and red pepper to pan; cook 2 minutes or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Remove from pan; cool.
2. Place onion, ginger, serrano pepper, and garlic in a food processor; process until smooth. Add spice mixture, 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons juice, and 1 3/4 teaspoons salt to onion mixture; process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag. Cut 3 shallow slits in each chicken thigh. Add chicken to bag, and seal. Toss to coat. Marinate in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.
3. Prepare grill.
4. Combine remaining 2 cups yogurt, 2 tablespoons juice, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl, stirring well. Cover mixture, and chill.
5. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Place chicken on a grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill 7 minutes on each side or until done. Serve with yogurt mixture.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Green beans, potatoes and tomatoes come together for the ultimate side dish. To peel tomatoes, score the skin by making a small X on the bottom side with a sharp knife. Place tomato in boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove tomato using a slotted spoon; immediately submerge in a bowl of ice water. Let stand for one minute. Skin should pull off easily with a sharp knife.
Photo by: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic to pan; sauté 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add potato, celery, salt, and beans; sauté 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup water; cover and cook 5 minutes or until beans are crisp-tender. Add cilantro and tomatoes. Cover, reduce heat, and cook 4 minutes or until tomatoes begin to soften, stirring occasionally. Stir in peppers.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Long, slender Japanese eggplants have a slight sweetness. If you can't find them, substitute baby Italian or regular eggplants. Toast whole eggplants under the broiler, cool, and remove peel before chopping the pulp.
1. Preheat broiler.
2. Pierce eggplants several times with a fork; place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened, turning frequently. Cool slightly; peel and coarsely chop. Keep warm.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and peppers to pan; cook for 10 minutes or until onion is translucent, stirring frequently. Add tomato and curry powder, stirring well to combine; cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in eggplant, cilantro, and salt.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Scraping the slushy ice with a fork yields the granita's chunky texture.
1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and cool completely.
2. Pour the mixture into an 11 x 7–inch baking dish. Cover and freeze for 8 hours or until firm. Remove mixture from freezer; let stand 10 minutes. Scrape entire mixture with a fork until fluffy.
Cooking Light MAY 2008
Back To
Indian Idyll Menu
