Strawberry Jam

Who doesn't like Strawberry Jam??!!! And if I talk about kids, I'm sure they crave for it anytime and every-time... :P Now let me tell you something very special about this super-yummy "Strawberry Jam / Spread"...

When you get a store-bought jar, it will contain more or less amount of pectin (gelatin, something that helps jams or jellies to set). But this recipe excludes it completely. Simmering crushed strawberries (or any other fruit of your choice) on lowest flame releases its own pectin to make it spreadable and rich in color!!!

Here you go with a recipe of  very natural, easy and quick to make - "Strawberry Jam" :)

Makes: 1 cup

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups Strawberries

1 cup Sugar

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

METHOD:

- Wash and pat-dry all the strawberries.

- Cut them into halves and transfer them to a mixer jar to grind finely.

- Add these ground strawberries (nearly paste-consistency) in a heavy-bottom pan.

- Mix sugar and lemon juice into it and mix well.

- Once it reaches a boiling point, cook it for 2-3 mins on low heat.

- Transfer it to some other bowl and cool it down to room temp.

- Preserve it in a sterilized glass jar!!!

SJ's NOTE:

To sterilize a glass jar: 

• Wash a glass jar and lid with fresh water and pat-dry it.
• Preheat oven to 180 degrees and turn it off after pre-heating.
• Place a glass jar up-side down in oven for 4-5 mins. 
• Keep a lid in boiling water for 5 mins and dry it with a kitchen towel.

Creamy Guacamole || Avocado Dip

Organizing a party in-house? Making some lip-smacking appetizers to serve? Why not to try something substantial to dip them into... "Creamy Guacamole" or easy to understand, "Chunky Avocado Dip" :)

As I said in earlier post, I'm a great fan of Mexican food... but I love having this dip with anything and everything that falls in appetizers or chips category!!! Try out this recipe to make a tangy n creamy guacamole :)

INGREDIENTS:

1 Ripen Avocado

2 tsp Chopped Red Onion

2 tsp Chopped Tomato

1/4 tsp Minced Garlic
2 tsp Thick yogurt
1 tsp Olive oil

1 tsp Lemon Juice

1/8 tsp Black Pepper Powder

Salt, to taste

METHOD:

- Mash a ripen avocado in a bowl using fork or spoon.

- Add rest of all ingredients in it and mix well.

- Serve chilled!

SJ's NOTE:

- Can be used as a spread (It's the best substitute for mayo)!!! 

- Serve as a dip with any appetizer :)

Tadka Dahi

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup Fresh yogurt

1/8 tsp Mint Powder

For Tempering--

1 tsp Cooking Oil

1/8 tsp Cumin Seeds

1/8 tsp Mustard Seeds

A pinch of Hing

METHOD:

- Strain yogurt with a muslin cloth to make sure it's lump-free.

- Mix mint powder and transfer it to a serving bowl.

- Heat oil in a tadka-pan and add mustard seeds first.

- Once it splutters, add cumin seeds and hing.

- Let it crackle for 5-6 seconds and pour this tempering over serving bowl.

- Mix gently and serve with any appetizer :)

Enchilada Sauce

You will find many different recipes for enchilada sauce, but I discovered this one to be the best base version... Add your flavors and tag it as your own. Great flavors and quite easy to make in-house!  At least, I can say it now... it's 100% better than canned sauce from supermarket :)

Stuff your filling... Roll your tortillas... Arrange them in a baking tray... And pour this spicy sauce!!! :) 

INGREDIENTS:

2 tsp Olive oil
1/2 can Crushed Tomatoes
1 cup Tomato Sauce
1 Chopped Onion
1 tsp Self-rising Flour
2 Garlic Cloves
1 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Capsico (Red Pepper) Sauce
Salt, to taste


METHOD: 

- Grind crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic in a mixture to make a smooth saucy texture.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add self-rising flour in it and cook for a min. It will make a thick paste.
- Add the tomato-onion-garlic mixture along with all spices and mix well.
- Turn heat to low and cook it for 4-5 minutes until water evaporates.
- Enchilada sauce is ready to be used! :)

KEY TO USE:

- Definitely for cheesy enchiladas
- Supreme Nachos
- A pizza sauce on thin-crust base
- As a dip with any appetizer

Click on the link to find recipe for Beans Enchiladas to go along with this sauce...!!!

Tomato Chutney

INGREDIENTS:

2 Riped Tomatoes

1/4 Onion (medium)

2 Garlic cloves

1/2 tsp Ginger-Green Chilly paste

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Lemon Juice

2 tsp Cooking Oil (I preferred Olive Oil)

1/8 tsp Red Chilly Powder

1/8 tsp Cumin Powder

1/4 tsp Cumin Seeds

A pinch of Hing

Salt, to taste

METHOD:

- Put the tomatoes in hot water for a few mins and peel them.

- Take peeled tomatoes, onion and garlic in a mixture jar and grind them coarsely.

- Heat oil in pan and add cumin seeds, hing.

- Once it crackles, add tomato mixture and then all the spices and sugar.

- Mix well and cook it on medium heat for 3-4 mins.

- Turn off the heat and transfer it to a bowl.

- Add lemon juice and mix well. It's ready... :)

SJ's NOTE:

- Onion and garlic can be eliminated for a jain version.

- Can be served with any sort of parathas.

Passion-Fruit Dip

Ignite the romance in your kitchen... "Creamy Passion Fruit Dip" and "Assorted Fruits Platter" - An ideal combo for lovers!!! Oops... for any fruit lovers :P Try out this fresh n tangy recipe...

INGREDIENTS:

2 Passion fruits
1 tsp Olive oil
2 tbsp Thick yogurt
1/8 tsp Crushed black pepper
Salt to taste

METHOD:

- Take pulps of passion fruit in a mixture jar.
- Add rest of all ingredients and grind well.
- Serve chilled!!!

KEY TO USE:

- As a salad dressing.
- Can be used as a spread on bread slices.

Garlic Chutney

I love anything that is "Garlicky" in flavor, and so I love the queen of all Indian chutneys - "The Garlic Chutney"!!! One can't miss it while having traditional Indian food...

INGREDIENTS:

12-15 Garlic Cloves
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Red Chilly Powder
1 tsp Cooking Oil
1 tsp Lemon Juice

METHOD:

- Peel the skin of garlic cloves and put it in mixture jar.
- Add rest of all the ingredients into it.
- Grind well to make a coarse paste consistency.
- Store it in air-tight container to keep garlic aroma intact.

SJ's NOTE:

- I use lemon juice just to give a tangy flavor... Entirely your choice to keep it in or eliminate!
- If you don't like too much of strong garlic flavor, roast garlic cloves in oven or flat pan for 5-7 mins.

Tzatziki Dip

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup Strained yogurt

1/2 cup Finely chopped cucumber

1 clove Finely chopped garlic

1 tsp Olive oil

Salt to taste

1/4 tsp Chopped fresh herb

METHOD:

- Take all the ingredients specified above and mix well.

- Serve chilled with any finger food / chips you like!!! :)

Roasted Bellpepper Dip

INGREDIENTS:

1 Red bellpepper (big one)

1 tsp Olive Oil

2 cloves garlic

1/4 tsp oregano

Salt to taste

METHOD:

- Cut the bellpepper in 2-3 pieces and brush all of them with olive oil on both sides.

- Roast them one by one on direct gas-flame till black-spots starts appearing. (Alternatively, you can roast it in oven for around 10 mins at 160 degrees.

- Once done, chop them finely and transfer it to chutney jar of mixer.

- Add garlic (cut into small chunks) and salt, oregano in jar. 

- Pour rest of olive oil in it and grind to make a smooth silky consistency.

- Serve hot (reheat if required) with any kind of finger-food.

Green Peas Chutney

Ingredients

Green Peas

Green Chillies

Coriander leaves

Salt

Ghee

Cumin seeds

Lemon juice

Method

1. Heat ghee in pan and add cumin seeds.

2. When it starts spluttering, add green chillies, green peas and salt in it and mix well.

3. Cook well and cool it for a while.

4. Add coriander leaves, lemon juice and grind it.

5. Best to serve with parathas or any starter.

Coriander-Mint Chutney

INGREDIENTS

1 bunch coriander leaves

1/2 cup mint leaves

1/2 cup hung curd

1/2 tsp black salt

Salt per taste

1/4 cup Lemon juice

1/4 tsp chat masala

1/2 tsp cumin powder

2 tsp roasted peanuts

METHOD:

- Take all above ingredients in a mixture jar.
- Grind it to smooth paste with dropping consistency.