Apricot Jam

Trust you all had a fantastic beginning to new year. Taste of Mysore starts with a sweet beginning too. Blogging Apricot Jam made from 1kg of fresh Apricots :)

Recap~ 2011

Wishing you all a very happy new year, 2012. May god bless you all.

Hibiscus from my garden

A quick recap of  few things which I enjoyed doing this year, which is going to end in few hours.


Coconut and Carrot Layered Burfi :

Bread Making - I learned to make bread from a colleague. Thanks to her for boosting my confidence towards baking. 

Iyengar Bakery Style "Khara Bread" 

My friends all time favorites : Shavige (Indian "bee hoon" )

Vade/Vadai :



 Christmas Party Winner @ Office: Tandoori Aloo 

 Hope the year 2012 will be more appetising for Taste of Mysore. Sending this post to Srivalli of Cooking4AllSeasons Blog. for her Best of 2011 event.  

See you all next year, till then enjoy your new year party ...

Tandoori Aloo ~ Oven Baked spicy Potatoes

A tasty starter for your parties. Takes a little effort to make, but it is worth the effort. Note the time taken here if you are thinking of making this. Marinating potatoes takes 12-13hrs. Rest of the steps take around 1-2hrs. Plan well if you want to give it a try.

Entire process can be divided into 4  stages; 1. Cook & deskin Potatoes 2. Making of tandoori spice powder 3. Marinating 4. Baking


Clean potaotes with several changes of water. If you wish to keep the potato skin intact, clean potatoes well. Half cook potatoes and remove them from water. Poke a hole into them. They are ready to be marinated. Alternatively you can deskin potatoes and poke a hole into them.
Making of  tandoori spice powder : (enough for 1kg baby potatoes)

Ingredients:
Coriander seeds -2 tbps
Jeera (Cumin) - 3tbsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1tbsp (increase the quantity if you want it more spicy)
Kasoori Methi - 1tsp
Mace -1 number
Clove - 5-6 numbers
Cinnamon Stick- 2 numbers
Black Cardamom - 4grains (I prefered to use less, you can add more if you like the taste of it)
Red Food Color - a big pinch
Turmeric- 1tsp

Method:
1. In a thick bottomed pan dry fry coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mace, clove, cinnamon, cardamom separately till they are aromatic. Let them cool down.
2. Powder fried spices with kasoori methi, red color, turmeric and red chilli powder.
3. Tandoori spice powder is ready for use.

Store if extra :

Marinade Ingredients : 200g yogurt, ginger & garlic paste, Tandoori spice powder and salt.
Mix all the ingredients well. Check for salt levels and more if required. Dip all the potatoes which are ready to be marinated. Mix well to coat the marinade over the potatoes. Let the potatoes rest well with the marinade for atleast 12-13hrs. This is very important for getting tasty tandoori potatoes.

Mix potatoes with marinade :

Baking :

Line your baking tray with aluminium foil. Spray oil. Line the potatoes like this :

Bake them at 200 degree centigrade for 10 to 20 mins or till they are done. After 5-7mins or when the marinade on the top is cooked, turn them over and continue to bake till the other side is cooked. 

Tandoori Potatoes are ready to be enjoyed with some cheesy dip. I prepared them for my
office Christmas party and all my colleagues loved them. I am sure, you will love them too.

Potatoes wrapped in a.foil for party.....

Will be back with more party recipes for your new year party. Till then, enjoy tandoori aloo..

Congress ~ Spicy Peanuts

As promised, here is the recipe for Congress Kadalebeeja or Spicy Peanuts.

Roasted and Deskinned Peanuts -  1 cup (approx200g) (read as - as much as you wish)
Red Chilli Powder- 2 tbsp
Pepper Powder- 1tsp
Byadagi Chilli Powder - 1tsp (or you can use kashmiri chilli powder)
Food Color (red) - a pinch (I have not used, but to make it look like commercially available stuff you can use it)
Salt - as required
Rice Flour - 1 tbsp
Oil - 3-4 tbsp
Asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
Curry Leaves - as much as you want

Method :
1. Heat oil. Add asafoetida. When asafoetida becomes aromatic add curry leaves and fry till crisp.
2. Switch off the stove and add rest of the ingredients in the following order - pepper, redchilli powder, food color, salt, rice flour and mix well.
3. Add deskinned peanuts and mix well with the rest of the ingredients.
4. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea or with bakery style bread.

Till next time, ENJOYY!