Cooking - The beginners guide ..

[Masi_Museebtay]

Re: Cooking - The beginners guide ..

^ that’s so cute Malika

[Sara516]

Re: Cooking - The beginners guide ..

Mallika…cute

biryani…can u start a beginners’ thread for baking too? :halo:

[Aimee]

@Malika12

Hey CB! Guess what…i cooked that BBQ chicken recipe you gave me…I didn’t have coal thou…so it might not be very BBQee…but what my parents don’t know won’t hurt them lol! Do you think it will make a diff if i didn’t leave it for 2 hrs to be marinated…i left it for 1/2 hr cause i was running out of time :S Oh and the onions in the masala got a little black…so that’s why it taste a little off right…like i can’t describe the taste…but its edible and my parents were surprised to come home and see me cooking and the house didn’t burn down so that’s another plus lol! Can you give me an easy vegetable recipe?? I really don’t like cleaning meat…i had to get my bro to do it… Thanks for your help CB

Malika …

koi nai , you were doing it the first time , have faith , i know you will be able to do it … ok now let me see what went wrong …

1- The pot that you were using was it non stick or usual one? could it be a possibility that you forgot to reduce the flame to minimum? and some masala got burnt? coz that black colour you see in the salan is the burnt bit i suppose :aq:

2- can you write to me step by step what you did ? let me tell you the mistake then , you will learn faster that way …

3- you absolutely need a coal for this recipe .. coz the taste builds up so different and lovely , i have tried it wihtout coal , but the taste is just not the same …

4- vegetable recipe , i will post in a bit … …

Dont get put off by the first experiment … I know you can do it … and believe me the day your dish comes out perfect and the people around eat it and tell you how good it is , you will be so inspired

@Sara516

Mallika…cute

biryani…can u start a beginners’ thread for baking too? :halo:

Sara , I guess we can .. but i am myself a learner in baking :no: so i guess we will just have to catch one of these guppans who keep posting all those lovely lovely pictures of cakes they baked … ( Mehnaz )

Or do you have any suggestions of who to request to teach us all baking ?

[mizzrani]

with the yoghurt , i guess it depends on what type of yoghurt you are using , i found when i used yeo valley organis yoghurt i never got the tiny white bits.

also when making chicken karahi adding yopghurt definately gives it a more thicker consistency but also a nice taste , i also tend to add 1 or 2 tbsp of lemon juice.

its turns out smashing !

another very easy chicken recipe if i may add CB ?

its tandoori masala chicken but not baked its more liek cooked.

all you have to do is wash the chicken , boneless pieces can be used too.

now in a pan put in the chicken 2 large spoons of yoghurt , yoghurt should be enough to cover the chicken kinda like you marinate.

now add laal mirch , tandoori masala , salt , black pepper and put on a medium flame.

cook until chicken is soft and yoghurt and masalas have blended. the yoghurt should dry up or you can leave it to be a bit like a sauce.

this takes like 20 minutes, i usually fry chips and add to it or serve separately.

everyone at out house loves it.

[Aimee]

Re: Cooking - The beginners guide ..

Mizzrani, I am so glad you participated … thanks so much for such a lovely lovely recipe … even i will try it soon inshallah and report back

[Malika12]

haha thanks for the support!!

This is what i did CB…

I got out the usual pot that I see my mom using lol, and chopped the onions into it (which made me cry soooooo much) is there anything that I can do to prevent this…like they were sooo watery that I couldn’t see for a while!!!

Sorry back to what I did…so then I put oil into the pot and added the onions it was on medium Then I waited about 5 mins but I guess that was too long cause they were black… I got scared and added water and reduced the speed….don’t know why!

I didn’t have garlic cloves so I just added ginger and tomatoes massed up and stirred. I then added the other stuff u said like salt etc…and stirred. Then it smelled soooo good…and I got so excited lol!!!

Then after I got my brother to help me with the chicken….i blended all the items but only had 2 green chillies… and then poured it over the chicken and left it in the frigde of ½ an hr. (didn’t have enough time) then after that I added cream and then added the stuff into the pot. And stirred occasinaly.

And I didn’t have a coal…so I just left it like that after 40 mins I checked and it was a little tougher like the skin, so I thought it was cooked, but a lot of the water evaporated. So yes that is what I did CB……

Take your time with the vegetable recipe…cause i have exams coming up so I won’t be cooking until next next weekend lol!
Thanks hun!

[Masi_Museebtay]

@Malika12

chopped the onions into it (which made me cry soooooo much) is there anything that I can do to prevent this…like they were sooo watery that I couldn’t see for a while!!!

some tips in this thread Malika

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/household-affairs-cuisine-corner/382097-recipes-without-onion.html

[Masi_Museebtay]

Re: Cooking - The beginners guide ..

Also for starters try to prepare all ingredients before starting to cook..

-like chop all things that need to be chopped,
-wash/cut meat if you have to,
-keep all masals lined up,
-water ready for emergencies etc etc..

It’ll be easier to follow and reduce chances of any panic situation.

[Gina]

• time-consuming, I know. But always try to use freshly roasted and ground spices instead of store-bought ones. WORLD of a difference.

• I feel that if I marinate the meat/chicken with ginger/garlic paste and leave it overnight and make the ‘salan’ the next day.. the ‘salan’ turns out better.

[mizzrani]

@Chicken_Biryani

Mizzrani, I am so glad you participated … thanks so much for such a lovely lovely recipe … even i will try it soon inshallah and report back

Thanks CB ! i hope it turns out good .

[mizzrani]

**Malika **

also , for starters and if you are in a hurry you can use tinned tomatoes or tomato paste for the masala . ofcourse fresh tomatoes ate better but i dont think there is too much of a difference .

also i think in your earlier recipe , you said the onions went black , try and avoid that , black / burnt onions can ruin the taste of the salan and they also dont tend to blend in well to make a masala .

[Aimee]

@Malika12

haha thanks for the support!!

This is what i did CB…

I got out the usual pot that I see my mom using lol, and chopped the onions into it (which made me cry soooooo much) is there anything that I can do to prevent this…like they were sooo watery that I couldn’t see for a while!!!

Yes , for onions to stop watering your eyes , just put them in cold tap water , as soon as you peel them.. and then when you are slicing them, keep adding them into water .. you can drain it and use it when you are ready to start the cooking process ..

Sorry back to what I did…so then I put oil into the pot and added the onions it was on medium Then I waited about 5 mins but I guess that was too long cause they were black… I got scared and added water and reduced the speed….don’t know why!

**Did you make sure that the pot was extremely hot before you poured the oil in it? and then the oil was really hot when you put the onions in it ? if your answer is yes , then pats Malika on the back **

---

**Since you are a newbie, remember i told you to keep a low fire .. and keep giving it a splash of water every few seconds … remember ? **

---

next time what you got to do is , the minute you put the onions in really hot oil, lower the flame to minimum, the onions will sizzle .. keep stirring it … and after about 30 seconds you will notice that the onions will first become pinkish, and then slowly they will start becoming brown from the corners … the minute they become pinkish, you start giving a splash of water ( two tablespoons ) … what the water does is that , it stops the onions from burning .. and makes them soft … the water evaporates very quickly… so make sure you are splashing water every few seconds until onions look soft and brownish … and remember the flame should be slow at all times .. until you are a bit more experienced

I didn’t have garlic cloves so I just added ginger and tomatoes massed up and stirred. I then added the other stuff u said like salt etc…and stirred. Then it smelled soooo good…and I got so excited lol!!!

**Garlic kai bina , no taste in the khana .. remember that so next time make sure you either get the garlic cloves or ready made garlic paste … **

**i hope you didnt mash the tomatoes and ginger together … these two should always be mashed separately , first goes the garlic , then a minute later the ginger .. and then the spices and then in the last the tomatoes … **

Then after I got my brother to help me with the chicken….i blended all the items but only had 2 green chillies… and then poured it over the chicken and left it in the frigde of ½ an hr. (didn’t have enough time) then after that I added cream and then added the stuff into the pot. And stirred occasinaly.

**hawww , what were you doing … you mixed two recipes … until i reached this point i thought you were making the karahi … this BBQ wali dish mei, you dont cook the onions at all … **

**Read the recipe again , I told you to just chop the onions and ginger and garlic and green chillies and the spices and blend them in a blender … without cooking … and tomatoes tou jaata hi nai hai BBQ chicken mein … **

And I didn’t have a coal…so I just left it like that after 40 mins I checked and it was a little tougher like the skin, so I thought it was cooked, but a lot of the water evaporated. So yes that is what I did CB……

**you mixed two recipes beta **

Take your time with the vegetable recipe…cause i have exams coming up so I won’t be cooking until next next weekend lol!

**this time , the recipe i give you , i will try to make it even more clearer … and if it goes wrong , then **

Thanks hun!

Some very valuable pointers by Masi, Gina and Mizzrani … thanks so much guys for your valuable input..

Malika, khud sai recipe bana li ? you didnt follow the points did you … read my comments in red above …

[mizzrani]

^ hahahah that is what i thought ke ye kyun masala bana rahee hai to make BBQ chicken… lucky for her it turned out good !

[Aimee]

Re: Cooking - The beginners guide ..

Mizz, no i think she said it turned out awful … now we know what happened

[Malika12]

@Masi_Museebtay

some tips in this thread Malika

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/household-affairs-cuisine-corner/382097-recipes-without-onion.html

Sweet thanks Masi…i will try and put them in the fridge next time, and prepare stuff beforehand so im not running around the kitchen like a complete moron lol

[Malika12]

@Gina

• time-consuming, I know. But always try to use freshly roasted and ground spices instead of store-bought ones. WORLD of a difference.

• I feel that if I marinate the meat/chicken with ginger/garlic paste and leave it overnight and make the ‘salan’ the next day.. the ‘salan’ turns out better.

So what about shan masala Gina? Is that preferable to use over fresh stuff…and yea i guess the stuff absorbs the flavor better if you leave it on longer…next time i have to plan it out better

@mizzrani

**Malika **

also , for starters and if you are in a hurry you can use tinned tomatoes or tomato paste for the masala . ofcourse fresh tomatoes ate better but i dont think there is too much of a difference .

also i think in your earlier recipe , you said the onions went black , try and avoid that , black / burnt onions can ruin the taste of the salan and they also dont tend to blend in well to make a masala .

haha yea i figured that out the hard way… just out of curiosity like lets say I don’t have tomotoes…can i use Ketchup??

[Malika12]

@Chicken_Biryani

Some very valuable pointers by Masi, Gina and Mizzrani … thanks so much guys for your valuable input..

Malika, khud sai recipe bana li ? you didnt follow the points did you … read my comments in red above …

hahaha!!! goodness…CB there’s no hope for me lol!! I feel like such a goofball!!! I thought you had to make masala for it…well its a good thing i didn’t have the coal…cause then it would have tasted even more “interesting”…
Well at least i won’t ever make this mistake again…

[mizzrani]

@Malika12

So what about shan masala Gina? Is that preferable to use over fresh stuff…and yea i guess the stuff absorbs the flavor better if you leave it on longer…next time i have to plan it out better

haha yea i figured that out the hard way… just out of curiosity like lets say I don’t have tomotoes…can i use Ketchup??

no dont use ketchup , ketchup will probably give the salan a meetha sa and ketchup taste . it wont blend into the whole masala taste , you will be able to tell you have used ketchup.

however sometimes when i make pasta i do tend to add ketchup to the sauce when i have less or just to give it a taste ,it works well there but i dont think it will work in a salan.

i have never tried it though. tinned tomatoes are available at every grocery store ( tesco , asda , even some asian stores ) .

also to make cooking more easy you get ready made lassan and garlic paste and fried onions - although i have never used them they might help you. ( so next time your watching starplus and zee pay attention to all those song like adverts on spices , onions , chawal , atta and besan hahahahaha )

good luck .

[reeba]

Re: Cooking - The beginners guide ..

this thread is such a good idea! i am a total novice when it comes to cooking (i have tried my hand in baking thu)
but i really hope to try the chicken bbq recipe in the coming week or two, will let you know how it turns out!

[reeba]

@Chicken_Biryani

one teaspoon garlic paste or four cloves of garlic
One teaspoon ginger paste or an inch of fresh ginger

ok and just wanted a clarification, if i am to use a mix of ginger garlic paste, do i use 2 teaspoons thn?
please and thank you