Indian Butter Chicken

Love this recipe. I think it is a little more of a fall/winter meal, but it is still delicious.

Ingredients

1 onion (1/2 lb.), peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 fresh jalapeño, seeded, and chopped
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon crushed bay leaves
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 teaspoon coarse-ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/8 lb.) butter
2 cups basmati rice, uncooked
Lime wedges
Fresh cilantro, chopped

Cook rice according to package instructions.

In a large saute pan, combine onion, ginger, chili, and oil. Stir often over medium-high heat until onion is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, garam masala, chili powder, cardamom, and coriander. Saute for an additional 2 minutes.

Scrape mixture into a blender or food processor; add tomato paste and chicken broth. Whirl until very smooth. Pour mixture back into pan, add half and half or cream and crushed bay leaves, and bring to a gentle boil over high heat (mixture is inclined to spatter). Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until reduced to 3 cups, about 5-7 minutes. Pour sauce into a bowl. Rinse and dry pan.

Pat the chicken dry. Mix chicken with salt and pepper. Set pan over high heat; add 1 tablespoon butter and the chicken. Stir until chicken is no longer pink on the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sauce and simmer over medium heat, stirring often, until chicken is no longer pink in the center (cut to test), 3 to 4 minutes. Cut remaining 3 tablespoons butter into chunks and stir into sauce until melted.

Spoon chicken and sauce onto rice. Squeeze lime juice over portions and garnish with cilantro.

*recipe found here

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza) Recipe

I'm still hunting for good recipes to use up the veggies I get in my CSA basket. I've really been enjoying trying out new recipes and have been impressed with most of them. I met a lady while I was picking up my veggies that gave me the name of a website that is great for CSA veggie recipes. I especially liked this recipe because it was low on prep and cook time.

You can find a pictures and more info about this recipe at this website.

Ingredients
2 cups cabbage, finely shredded
1 cup leeks, well washed and chopped (see head notes)
2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or apf flour)
a couple pinches of fine grain sea salt
2 eggs, beaten
1+ tablespoon olive oil

Garnish: toasted slivered almonds, chives/ herbs

Combine the cabbage, leeks, flour, and salt in a bowl. Toss until everything is coated with a dusting of flour. Stir in the eggs and mix until everything is evenly coated.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a generous splash of olive oil. Scoop the cabbage mixture into the pan, and using a metal spatula press it into a round pancake shape, flat as you can get it. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden. To flip the okonomiyaki, slide it out of the skillet onto a plate. Place another plate on top and flip both (together) over. If you need a bit more oil in your skillet, add it now, before sliding the okonomiyaki back into the skillet. Again press down a bit with a spatula and cook until golden on this side - another 3 -5 minutes.

When you are finished cooking, sprinkle with toasted almonds and chives, and slide it onto a cutting board to cut into wedges. Enjoy immediately.

Serves 1 - 2.

Lamb Keema with Potatoes and Peas

Spencer and I both loved this recipe. It has a delicious Indian flavor and the ground lamb is just perfect. I am not usually a ground meat person, but the flavor of this was very worth it. I was also surprised that Smith's(local Utah supermarket) carries ground lamb. I thought I was going to have to search for it. I was also able to buy the garam masala in the bulk spice section, which was nice. I hate buying huge amounts of spices when I know I won't use them before they go bad.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small serrano chile, minced
About 1 tsp. salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
3/4 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup whole milk
3/4 cup frozen peas
Hot cooked rice
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 minutes. Add garlic, chile, 1 tsp. salt, and the spices; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in tomato paste.
2. Add lamb and cook, breaking up large chunks of meat, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Add potatoes, yogurt, and milk to pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat until mixture is simmering vigorously, cover, and cook 10 minutes.
3. Stir in peas and cook 5 minutes longer, until peas are cooked through and mixture has thickened. Serve over rice with cilantro sprinkled on each serving. Add more salt to taste if you like.

via Sunset Magazine