INDIAN RECIPES (DAL, ALOO MATAR, AND LE TAJ CHICKEN)

Trying out some new recipes tonight.... as long as I give the kids naan, they'll pretty much eat anything so I figured it was worth a shot!

DAL (lentils)
2 tbsp. butter or oil
1 onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 tbsp. cumin
1/2 tbsp. coriander
1 tbsp. garam masala
1/2 - 1 tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
1/2 tbsp. sugar
salt & pepper
1 large tomato, diced
1 c. lentils
4 c. chicken or vegetable stock (you can use Epicure's bouillon bases)

In a large pot, heat butter and cook onions until they soften. Add garlic, jalapeno, spices, ginger, sugar, salt & pepper, cooking for a couple minutes. Add tomatoes and lentils, and pour in chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, and then simmer over medium heat until liquid reduces and lentils are cooked.

ALOO MATAR (potatoes & peas)
2 tbsp. butter or oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. fresh ginger, grated
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. sugar
salt & pepper
4 potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 c. frozen peas
1/2 c. crushed tomatoes
1 c. water
2 tbsp. prepared Le Taj sauce  - optional (recipe below)

In a wok, heat butter and cook onions until softened. Add garlic, ginger, bay leaf, and spices and cook for a few minutes before adding potatoes and peas. Add crushed tomatoes and water, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and cover, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are cooked. Stir in Le Taj sauce if you like.

LE TAJ CHICKEN (in the steamer)
2 chicken breasts, cubed
2 tbsp. Epicure's Le Taj Secret Sauce mix
1/4 c. water
2 tbsp. oil

Combine Le Taj mix with water and set aside for 5 minutes before stirring in oil. Place chicken in an Epicure silicone steamer and toss with 1-2 tbsp. of the Taj sauce. Put the lid on the steamer and microwave for 4-6 minutes.

ALMOND CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CUSTARD

This is the same recipe as my crème brûlée recipe, but I substituted some of the sugar with Epicure's Chocolate Truffle Dip Mix, and I ate it as custard instead of adding the sugar on top and melting it.

5 egg yolks
3 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. Epicure's Chocolate Truffle dip mix
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
2 c. whipping cream

Whisk yolks and sugars together, then whisk in remaining ingredients. Pour into ramekins and place in a baking dish with a couple inches of water in it. Bake at 375 F for 45-50 minutes. Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until set.

SMOKED SEA SALT & LIME WINGS

I made these as part of our Super Bowl Party feast last night. They were delicious!

chicken wings

1 lime, juiced

flour

Epicure's Alder Smoked Sea Salt

Epicure's Black Pepper

Put wings in a bowl and toss with lime juice. Drain off any excess juice from the bowl. Combine a bit of flour, smoked salt, and pepper (I didn't really measure, but I think it was about 3 tbsp. flour, and maybe 1 tbsp. of salt and maybe 1 tsp. of ground pepper for 1 kg of wings.) You could also add in some zest from the lime. Sprinkle over the wings and toss to coat them in the flour mixture. Lay on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400 F for 25-30 minutes.

2 MINUTE BLUEBERRY SOUR CREAM CAKE

I made this for the kids today at snack time. I based it on this recipe for Raspberry Yogurt Cake, but I used sour cream instead of yogurt and reduced the amount of sugar.

3 tbsp. sour cream
2 tbsp. melted butter
1 eg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. Epicure's cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2-3 tbsp. frozen blueberries

Stir wet ingredients together and add dry ingredients. Fold in blueberries. Scoop batter into 2 greased Cake For One molds and microwave for 2 minutes.