Author: The HomeChef

A food enthusiast. Focus on cooking inspired through Indian cuisine and contemporary style.
General Tips and tricks

Kitchen Shelf Organisation

The HomeChef

It is hard and it is not the most enjoyable thing to do. But it needs to be done. Yes, that’s the cleaning. I don’t like to see mess around the house. But tend to hide it behind shelves or doors rather than in plain sight.

This time, I was motivated to organise the kitchen shelf and made it a point I somehow do it. First went on to buy a few items not overly expensive for storage; like small baskets, spice jars and a white marker pen for labelling.

After the clean up and discarding the unnecessary packaging, created more room and kept it simple. Hope you like my kitchen shelf transformation. Do watch the video and like it.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Desserts

Decadent Chocolate Icecream

The HomeChef

It’s been a while since I last posted. And like everything I would like to start back with something sweet. And what better way than an Icecream when India is having summer now and Australia is getting into winter. For me season never mattered to enjoy a delicious scoop of icecream. And this decadent recipe is sure to hit the spot.

IMG_5844My mom used to make pista icecream and I remember collecting cream for days from the top of the boiled milk before my mom could start making the icecream. Now things have become so much easier with store ready cream which will save lot of time. This chocolate icecream is an inspiration from my mom’s recipe and a cookbook which my son gave me.

This chocolate icecream recipe does  not need an Icecream maker or machine, just a hand mixer will be enough. The cornflour added to the recipe will help in binding the icecream. There are 3 types of chocolate- milk,dark and white chocolate used in this icecream which make it so good that it will be so hard to stop going for more.

Decadent Chocolate Icecream

  • Servings: ~6
  • Difficulty: medium
  • Print

Ingredients

  1. Egg yolks-4
  2. Full cream milk/ semi- skimmed milk- 1 1/4 cup or 300 ml
  3. Sugar -6 tbsp
  4. Cornflour – 1/4 tsp Whipping cream- 300 ml
  5. Milk chocolate – 200 gms
  6. Dark chocolate – 50 gms
  7. Milk chocolate- 50 gms

Please watch the video for the method and enjoy!

Also please subscribe to my Youtube channel for more updates and recipes.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7iMBtOPhutY-nKesd7a2jA

 

 

 

 

snacks, Starters

Egg Puff – tasty bakery style

The HomeChef

Puff is a hot favourite for many for its delicious crispy outer and an amazing filling of either chicken masala, vegetables or egg. This video will show you how to make Egg Puff in a typical bakery style taste.

A great evening snack for kids and adults. Having it along with some chai is just the perfect combo.

Enjoy the recipe! Also do subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Ingredients ( Serves 4 puffs)

1. Egg -2

2. Puff pastry sheet- 1-2

3. Oil- 2-3 tbsps

4. Onion- 1 big

5. Curry leaves-few

6. Kashmiri chilli powder- 1 tbsp

7. Coriander powder- 1 tsp

8. Cumin powder- 1/4 tsp

9. Garam Masala powder- 1/4 tsp

10. Salt to taste

11. Egg white- 1 egg

12. Turmeric powder- a pinch

Please watch video for recipe!

Desserts

Beetroot halwa- sweet dessert

The HomeChef

Beetroot halwa is a very simple and easy to make recipe. It is similar to the carrot halwa recipe. The natural bright colour and sweetness of this vegetable adds the special touches to this dessert.

I love carrot halwa as a kid. And I remember my mom tried the beetroot halwa for the first time after reading in a magazine and made for us. I had my doubts if I would like it. But I loved it. Maybe just blame it on my sweet tooth. Nevertheless a great way to have the additional of this gorgeous vegetable in your diet.

It can be served warm or cold or even along with some vanilla ice cream would be a great combo.

Ingredients ( Serves ~ 3)

1. Beetroot- 2 medium

2. Milk- 1-1.5 cups

3. Sugar- 1/3 cup

4. Ghee- 2-3 tsps

5. Cashews ~10

6. Cardamom powder (optional)- a pinch

Please watch video for the recipe and also don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Desserts

Jackfruit Rice Pudding/payasam

The HomeChef

Jackfruit and rice to make payasam (sweet pudding) is an interesting combination I found in a cookbook.The flavour of the Jackfruit in the rice pudding elevates the taste of this dessert and makes it so delicious. This dessert requires some patience as the cooking must be done in low flame to avoid any burning of the milk.

If fresh Jackfruit is hard to get, you can also use frozen or canned ones.

Do try it and enjoy! Also don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

( Serves ~ 4-5)

1. Milk – 4 cups

2. Rice (used basmati)- 40 gms

3. Jackfruit- 75 gms

4. Sugar- 120 gms

5. Ghee- 2 tsp

6. Cashews- 10 nos

7. Cardamom pods- 4

8. Saffron threads- 5

Please watch the video for the recipe

Desserts, snacks

Moist Chocolate Muffin

The HomeChef

I always get stuck on ideas for an after school snack. It’s hard to make kids like the snacks which we are used to. As much as I love to cook Indian snacks, baked goods are always preferred when it comes to snacking. And I have got a winner recipe which both my kids love and it’s very easy to make too.

Inspired from the genius kitchen, made small tweak. And these muffins are moist and soft that it will all be gone before you know. With all the ingredients handy you could make them in less than 30 minutes including preparation. Hope you enjoy the recipe and also try it out!

Ingredients:

1. Plain Flour- 1and 3/4th cup

2. Sugar- 1 cup

3. Cocoa powder- 1/2 cup

4. Baking soda- 1/4 tsp

5. Baking powder – 2 tsp

6. Eggs- 2

7. Milk – 1 cup

8. Oil- 1/2 cup

9. Chocolate chips- 1/2 cup

Please watch the video for the recipe.

Also do subscribe to my channel for all the recipes.

snacks, Starters

Chilli Chicken Wings

The HomeChef

Chilli chicken wings is one of the easiest recipe to make. It is also one of the most mouthwatering and delicious wings which you can ever have with just 3 simple ingredients. This will definitely be a show stealer, a great starter or snack. And it is hot! You are warned 😀.

Enjoy the recipe!

Ingredients ( Serves ~ 4)

1. Chicken nibbles/wings – 12 pieces

2. Red Chilli powder- 1 tbsp ( reduce for less heat)

3. Sambal extra hot chilli sauce

(can use chilli sauce of your preference) – ~ 4 tbsps

4. Cooking oil: 2 tbsps

5. Coriander leaves (optional) – to garnish

Please watch video for recipe! Also don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Side dish, Starters

Chicken 65 fry- classic Chennai deep fried Chicken

The HomeChef

Chicken 65 is a very popular starter or sidedish which has its origins to Chennai, a city in Tamil Nadu, India. It was created by the hotelier A. M. Buhari in 1965 and now they have a huge chain of Buhari hotels.

The reason behind keeping the name with a 65 has many theories like it is made using 65 chillies, it is made using chicken which is 65 days old etc.

It is a classic dish where the chicken is deep fried after marinating with masalas.

Hope you enjoy this version and also don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Ingredients ( Serves 3-4)

1. Chicken ( boneless or with bone)- 500 gms

2. Ginger garlic paste- 2 tbsps

3. Chicken 65 mix- 3 tsp or Chilli powder- 3 tsp

4. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp

5. Egg-1

6. Cornflour- 2 tbsp

7. Lemon juice- few drops

8. Salt to taste

9. Oil- as required for frying

10. To garnish (optional): onion-1/2, Curry leaves- few, chilli

powder-1/4 tsp, turmeric powder- a pinch

Please watch video for method!

Desserts

Chakka Varattiyathu- Jackfruit preserve recipe

The HomeChef

Chakka Varattiyathu is a popular dessert of Kerala in India. It is made using ripe Jackfruit and is super delicious. This is a dessert which is very close to my heart. My grandmother used to make it for me whenever I visit them during my school holidays to Kerala. And it was not an easy process as it needs to be cooked for a long time if making a big batch. Don’t worry this recipe will take just 30 mins as the quantity is less 😉.

I usually have this dessert as is but you can also use it as a spread due to its jam consistency on roti/ bread. It can also be used to cook Jackfruit pradhaman or payasam with this Chakka Varattiyathu.

Traditionally it is cooked using a heavy bottomed vessel called Uruli but you can choose any vessel you desire which is suitable for continuous stirring.

Enjoy the recipe and also don’t forget to subscribe to my channel.

Ingredients (serves 2-3)

1. Jackfruit ripe- 400gms

2. Jaggery- 175 gms

3. Ghee- 2 tbsps

4. Cardamom powder( optional) – a pinch

5. Ginger powder (optional)- a pinch

Please watch video for the method.

https://youtu.be/VHrC2kgUAik

Desserts, snacks

Ila Ada- rice cake with coconut and jaggery filling

The HomeChef

Ila ada is a very tasty and delicious sweet snack of Kerala. It is made using rice flour with a sweet filling of coconut and jaggery. It is traditionally made steaming in a banana leaf. It gives its unique taste when the essence from the banana leaf is left on the sweet.

But not having a banana leaf handy should not stop you from making this delicious snack. This recipe shows you how to make the exact same thing using a baking paper and still enjoy this amazing dish.

It does become a version of vella (jaggery) kozhukattai made during festivals like Vinayaka chaturthi.

Enjoy the recipe by watching the video and dont forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel.

Ingredients ( Serves 3-4)

1. Rice powder- 1 cup

2. Jaggery- 1/2 cup

3. Grated coconut- 1 cup

4. Boiling water ~ 1 cup

5. Cardamom powder- a pinch

6. Salt- a pinch

7. Baking sheet/ Banana leaf as required

Please watch video for method!