Easy Yummy Lettuce Wrap!!

Weekend is almost about to end 8-| and it is that time again! Time for me to write a post :) Today I made some lettuce wraps. I discovered this recipe long time back when I used to have excess ground chicken mixture while making MOMOs. Before, I used to make this recipe with the leftover mixture but now I separate some ground chicken beforehand just to make these delicious wraps. I make different mixture with different spices to give Wraps a distinct flavor. This recipe is so simple and makes a great snack. Follow the process below to enjoy this crunchy delicacy:

Amazing =D>

Prep time: 15mins Cook time: 10min(s) Total time: 25min(s)  

Things you will need:
For Patties:

• Ground Chicken (1/2 packet)
• Onion (1 small, finely chopped)
• Ginger-Garlic Paste (1 table spoon)
• Ranch (1 table spoon)
• Soy Sauce (1 table spoon)
• Black Pepper (1 tea spoon)
• Corn Flour (3/4 cup)
• Shredded Cheese (3/4 cup)
• Green Chili (1, finely chopped)
• Salt (according to taste)
• Ketchup (1 table spoon)
• Lettuce (make sure to take out 2 leaves in order to hold the patties properly)
• Oil (1/2 cup)

For Salsa: 

• Tomato ( 1, finely chopped)
• Cilantro (3-4 strands, finely chopped)
• Sour cream/Vegetable dipping sauce (1 table spoon)
• Salt (according to your taste)
• Onion (1/2, finely chopped)

Directions: 

1. On a large bowl, combine all of the above mentioned ingredients except lettuce and oil
2. Give everything a nice mix and make small patties
3. On a heated pan add oil and fry patties until deep brown
4. For salsa, add all of the above ingredients and mix them well! Salsa is ready :D
5. Spread lettuce and add patties first and then pour salsa on top.
6. Wrap it up and enjoy :>

Bara (Black Lentil Nepali Pan Cakes)!!

Bara is mainly popular in Newari community in Nepal and is mostly available in Kathmandu. Bara is sold like a fast food and is often served with some kind of soup. It is like a pancake made up of black lentil (maas ko dal). Ginger, Salt and Oil are the only spices used in commercialized Bara. However, in the recipe below I have included other spices as well as egg and meat. By adding all these extra ingredients, I wanted to make the dish more flavorful. I was little hesitant to do so, since it was my first attempt but the end result was great and honestly I like this version than the ones they sell in Kathmandu :-o Also, it is extremely easy!! Follow these simple steps to relish the yumminess 8-> Also, click here for Chatamari Recipe

mmm.. <:-p

Prep time: 1hr Cook time: 30min(s) Total time: 1hr 30min(s) 

Things you will need:

• Split Black lentil (4-5 cups)
• Ground Chicken (1/2 packet or 2 cups)
• Egg (1)
• Cumin- Coriander powder (1 table spoon)
• Red Chili Powder (1/2 table spoons)
• Ginger paste (2 table spoons)
• Corn Flour (1 cup)
• Onion (1 medium sized finely chopped)
• Salt (according to taste)
• Serrano pepper (1; finely chopped)
• Turmeric (1/2 tea spoon)
• Oil (1 cup in total)

Directions:

1.  Soak lentils overnight and grind it next day after thoroughly washing it. Make sure remove lentil covers as you clean.
2. Once you make the paste, add all of the above-mentioned ingredients except oil.
3. Mix everything well.
4.  Heat a pan and add 2 tablespoons of oil (divide oil accordingly). Pour the batter and spread it with your fingers or spatula in whatever shapes you like. As you can see, I am awful at making circles ;;)
5. Turn it couple of times until it is golden brown and crispy in consistency.
6. Done! Serve hot with any type of curry or my fav Chukauni :)

Easy Homebaked Chicken Wings!!

For us, every Friday dinner is either chicken wings or MOMO. Chicken wing is another simple recipe that is so tasty and tummy friendly. There are different ways to make chicken wings. Most people use readymade marinating sauce but I like to create my own Nepali style marinating process. Even though the readymade sauce is super easy to deal with, combining different spices from your pantry will give the chicken distinct flavor and taste. Lastly, I must mention homemade chicken wings are the best. So, here is the easy yet yummy chicken wings recipe for you all to try.

Yumtastic :D

Prep time: 65min(s) Cook time: 30min(s) Total time: 95min(s) 

Things you will need :

• Chicken wings (1 packet)
• Yogurt (1/2 cup)
• Cumin-Coriander Powder (1 table spoon)
• Chicken Curry Masala (1 table spoon)
• Oil (2 table spoon)
•  Red Chili Powder (1 table spoon)
• Turmeric (2 tea spoons)
• Soy sauce (2 table spoons)
• Salt (according to taste, soy sauce is already salty, so make sure to adjust)
• Corn Flour (2 table spoons)
• Ginger-Garlic Paste (2 table spoons)

Directions:
1. Cut the tips of the wings and clean them thoroughly
2. Preheat oven in 450 degrees and in the meanwhile, in a large bowl combine all of the above mentioned ingredients
3.Give everything a good mix and cover and set it aside for an hour
4.Wrap oven trays with aluminum foil and make sure to take the trays out before preheating the oven (step 1)
5.Place chicken on oven trays and slide it in the oven. After 15 minutes or so, check the consistency of the chicken. If it looks brown then go ahead and flip them. Bake it for another 15 minutes or so
6. Once chicken is baked, broil the chicken to make them crispy. Broil it for 5-10 minutes
7.Take out the chicken from oven and enjoy with any type of dipping sauce

Note: You can fry wings after marinading for an hour if you want. Also, timing may vary according to the oven types. As always you can always tell by looking at the consistency

Nacho Supreme!!

At first, I was little hesitant to put this recipe up because this is so easy and I am pretty sure most of you already know it. I am writing this post just because of my sister. I do not know what it is with my sister; she wants me to write a blog post with step by step process on how to make Nachos Supreme. I told her that there are no steps and also tried explaining everything over phone but it wasn’t enough for her. She wanted pictures, quantity info and detail description. So, here you go sissy and you everyone, who would like to recreate this effortless easy snack. Btw, let me mention, this is my favorite.

Yum Yum Yum :D

Prep time: 5min(s) Cook time: 5min(s) Total time: 10min(s) 

Things you will need:
* Corn Chips (1/4 of the small packet)
* Precooked Black Beans (1/2 cup)
* Green chilies/ jalapenos (if jalapenos use 1, if green chilies use 2 to 3. But as always, adjust your spice level)
* Green bell pepper/ Capsicum (half, finely chopped)
* Green Onions (3-4 strands, finely chopped)
* Cilantro (5-6 strands finely chopped)
* Shredded Cheese (1/2 cup)
* Tomatoes (1 cup (finely sliced, I recommend cherry tomatoes)
* Lime juice (1 table spoon)
* Salt (according to taste)
* Extra Firm Tofu (1 cup, cubed sized)
* Sour Cream/ Any kind of vegetable dipping sauce (3 table spoons) (I used one that has dill in it)

Directions:
1. On a nonstick pan roast tofu until it is golden brown
2. In the meanwhile, in a large bowl, add everything except cheese, chips and sour cream
3. Mix everything well and put it aside.
4. Once Tofu is done, on a large plate, place chips first and spread tofu and beans mixture.
5. Sprinkle cheese over the plate and microwave it for one and half minutes (microwaving is optional)
6. Top everything with sour cream and you are good to go. Too simple!

Teej Celebration 2013 :)

This year was my second time celebrating teej. I never knew the essence of this fiesta until last year. Even though born and raised in Nepal, I had never celebrated nor had I bothered to know about this festival in detail. I just knew the fact that women on this particular day, dress pretty and get together for singing and dancing. Now that I am away from home, I always search for opportunities that will allow me to learn and be engaged in our cultural activities. Living foreign has taught me to appreciate different cultures and at the same time has enhanced my own cultural skills. 

For those of you who do not know what teej is, Teej is an annual festival, which lasts around three days. First day is an eating day. Women cook lots of different varieties of foods and can eat until midnight. Second day is a fasting day. Historical aspect of fasting on teej is related to Lord Shiva. There is a belief that if on one of these days, women worship Lord Shiva and go through an intensive fasting without even drinking a drop of water, their husband will have a long and healthy life. For those unmarried, this belief applies to their husband to be. Finally, third day is a worshipping day, where ladies perform “teej puja”. This day is called “Rishi Panchami” in Nepal.

Now on to what we did on teej this year. This year was much fun because there were more girls to celebrate than last year. We had planned a pot-luck at my place and I was so surprised to see so many delicious foods for our gathering. I must commend on cooking skills these girls have. There was everything from a special “Happy Teej Cake” to something that I had never herd or imagined “The Pineapple Curry.” Ah everything was superb!! Dress code for the day was Nepali and most of us wore sari and we only played teej songs. We ate, danced, took tons of pictures and of course gossiped a lot ;) ;).

It was so exciting to see everyone happy and pretty. This day resembled so many things about our culture and I felt so at home. Here are some glimpses of Teej Celebration this year. Enjoy and feel free to share your experiences in the comment box below. Also, click here for updates on 2014 Teej Celebration :)

Enjoy :)

Easy Egg Curry!!

When I first started cooking, I used to be overwhelmed by the fact that regular Nepali meal consist many side dishes. Back home, our everyday lunch and dinner use to have at least 3-4 side dishes. Of course, eating was fun but now that I prepare our daily meals, I understand my mother's effort. 

I am lazy and do not have patience to make varieties for an everyday meal. So, I tend to opt for dishes that are easy and at the same time have many flavors that make me forget about other courses. Egg curry is one of them. It is tangy, spicy, juicy, and gravy in consistency. On a week, I prepare egg curry at least twice and I love it with rice/bread. There are several ways of making this dish and here is an easy way:  

  Yummm :)

Prep time: 2min(s) Cook time: 25min(s) Total time: 27min(s) 

Things you will need:

• Eggs (4)
• Onion (medium sized (finely sliced, 1)
• Serrano pepper (1; you can use other kinds of chilies if you want. Adjust the spiciness accordingly)
• Tomato (medium sized (finely chopped, 2)
• Green Peas (1/2 cup)
• Ginger-garlic paste (1 table spoon)
•  Cumin-coriander powder (1 table spoon)
• Red chili powder (2 tea spoon) – optional
• Salt (according to taste)
• Turmeric (2 tea spoons)
• Schezwan pepper (1/2 table spoon)
• Cilantro to garnish
• Cloves (4)
• Cinnamon leaves (2)
• Cumin seeds (1 tea spoon)
• Oil (4 table spoons)

     Directions:

        1. Boil and fry eggs (make sure to poke eggs all around so that the spices added will  distribute inside the eggs as well)

        2. Keep eggs aside and in the same oil, add cumin seeds, cinnamon leaves and cloves. Fry until brownish black

        3. Add onion and Serrano pepper.Fry until onion becomes golden brown

        4. Now add green peas, tomatoes and all mentioned ingredient except fried eggs and cilantro

       5.  Give everything a good mix and cook it until the ingredients become gravy in consistency

       6.  Add 2-3 cups of water and also the fried eggs

       7.  On a medium heat, cook it until the liquid mixture becomes thicker

       8.  Garnish with finely chopped cilantro

       9.  Serve with rice/bread and Enjoy :)