CELEBRITY couple Kumseela and Koobeshen Naidoo recently released their debut cook book Love at First Bite – Book of Recipes, a spin off from their TV cooking show by the same name, and a prelude for their imminent cooking classes. They share some of their creations:
Butter Paneer
Ingredients
2 cups paneer pieces
1 onion
1 can tomato purée
1 cup fresh cream
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
quarter tsp mustard seeds
quarter tsp jeera seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
1 tsp garam masala
2 green chillies
2 tsp masala
quarter cup ghee
1 tsp crushed garlic
dhania to garnish
Method
Melt ghee in a heavy based pan. Fry the onions, chillies and curry leaves.
Add the mustard and jeera seeds. Stir in the crushed garlic and masala.
Add the tomato purée and allow to cook. Then add a quarter cup of water.
Stir in the salt and sugar. Add cubes of paneer and allow to simmer.
Pour in the cream and allow to cook on low for 5 minutes.
Kitcheri
Spicy, flavoursome dhall and rice dish offers a moreish, anytime meal best eaten with tomato chutney and pickle.
Ingredients
1 cup rice
1 cup dhall
1 tsp jeera seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
1 chopped onion
2 green chillies
half block butter / ghee
1 tsp salt
1 tbs oil
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp sugar
Method
Wash and parboil the dhall for 20 minutes. Add the salt and 1 Tbsp oil.
Add the washed rice and allow to cook in with the dhall, adding a cup of water at a time to prevent scalding.
Boil until the rice is soft and then set aside. Melt the butter or ghee in a heavy based pan.
Fry the onions and curry leaves. Add the jeera and mustard seeds with chillies. When the seeds splutter, add the turmeric and sugar.
Add the braised onions into the kitcheri and allow it to simmer.
Serve with tomato chutney and pickle.
Creamy mushroom pasta
Ingredients
2 cups pasta
1 punnet mushroom
1 cup fresh cream
quarter cup butter
4 tbs flour
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 cup milk
1 chopped onion
1 cup mozzarella
1 tbs oil
2 tsp salt
Method
Boil pasta with 1 tsp of salt and oil. Drain and set aside
Melt butter and fry onions. Add garlic.
Stir in the mushrooms and cook until the oil comes up.
Add flour to the mushroom mix and fry until the mixture bubbles.
Add milk and cream while stirring it in. Mix in the pasta.
Add mozzarella over and place in the oven.
Cooking time: 20 minutes in the oven at 180°C.
*For more information, email [email protected]. The book is available at Star Meats in Overport and Indian Thymes in Umhlanga, both in Durban, It is also available at Takealot.com