"Aroma From a Guest Kitchen"-(Guest- Aarti Kumbhojkar)- Kadhai Paneer

Guest: Aarti Kumbhojkar
It is amazing how 'food' can bring people together! Through my interest in 'food'/ recipes /food science, I have come to know and have met so many people. Like it is rightly said, "Birds of a Feather Flock Together'!!!
I know Aarti since many years now, since we studied in the same school in Pune,India. But I can say, I really 'got to know' her in the past few months after moving to Columbus, due to our common interest in.....FOOD!!!
Aarti likes baking, trying out new foods and enjoys cooking herself. She shared this 'Kadhai Paneer' recipe with me for the blog....

Ingredients:

2 cups paneer cubes
½ cup diced onions
¼ cup diced green bell peppers
1 teaspoon chopped ginger
1 teaspoon garlic paste
1 cup chopped red tomatoes
1 teaspoon cardamom powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 tablespoon kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon butter
Salt to taste
**4 tbsp Heavy Cream (optional)

Method:

1) Heat oil in a frying pan; add onions, ginger,garlic and sauté until the onions are tender. Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, red chili powder and saute until the water from the tomatoes have evaporated and become a thick paste.

2) Add green peppers and cover the pan and simmer it for about 5 minutes until the pepper are half cooked.

3)Add butter, salt, cardamom powder and sauté for few more minutes. Add the paneer pieces and kasuri methi.

** Can add heavy cream at the end to make it little gravy style.
Its totally optional though.

4)Serve with hot roti or phulka.
 

"Aroma From a Guest Kitchen"- (Guest- Arati Joshi-Sane)- Tiranga Paneer Tikka

Guest: Arati Joshi-Sane
I know Arati since 3 years now. Apart from being a very talented Kathak dancer....she has a muti-talented  personality and tons of enthusiasm!! Always ready to offer a helping hand for anything you need!
Last week got a 'taste' of her cooking talents...she had made an amazing spread for dinner- 'Tiranga Paneer Tikka' was on the menu as 'appetizers'.Loved Loved Loved it!!! Never have I eaten so much Paneer at a time!Clicked some pictures and got this recipe right away from Arati.....

Ingredients:
3 cups 'bite size' Paneer cubes (1 cup Paneer for each of the following marinade)
Tooth picks

Tiranga: 3 colored- red,green and white

Red Marinade:
Mix together-
2tbsp yogurt
3-4  tsp (Ready made 'garlic' chutney- found in Indian stores.Is bright red in color,has coconut, garlic, red chili powder etc)
salt

Green Marinade:
Grind together-
1/4 cup Cilantro
2-3 green chilies
1tbsp Yogurt
few drops lemon juice
salt,sugar

White Marinade:
Grind together:
1/4 cup Cashews
1tsp poppy seeds
1tbsp yogurt
salt, sugar

Method:
1) Marinate the Paneer cubes in the red, green and white marinades in separate bowls for 1-1 and 1/2 hours.
2) Take a toothpick and skew in 1 red, 1 green and 1 white Paneer cube.

3) Place on a cookie sheet either sprayed with cooking spray or lined with a foil.
4) Broil in the oven for 10-12 mins till golden brown. Oven temperature varies so keep checking on the skewers and take out of the oven as they turn golden brown.
 5) Serve IMMEDIATELY ....Hot hot hot with your favorite chili-garlic sauce or plain ketchup!!!

Enjoy the 'tempting-looking' Spicy Tiranga Paneer Tikka skewers with three different flavors-It is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds!!!