"Raj"inspired
In this medley of foods we have in our country ,“Club food” introduced to us by the British is here to stay. Leisure time was spent at the Club-and the British have left their indelible mark around the country with myriad such clubs. Cooks, or the “khansamas” at these clubs , with the help of the “memsahibs “-wives of the sahibs (masters) concocted a wide array of dishes with an amalgamation of flavors.And so this food-Club or Anglo Indian, whatever one wants to call it, is here to tantalize our taste buds forever!We loved visits to the Club-the mingling with friends, rounds of Bingo, endless glasses of “nimbu-soda”-Coke hadn’t made an appearance on the scene as yet. The delectable roasts and lamb chops-with an apple or mint sauce. Buttered white bread sandwiches chicken, vegetable, cheese and sometimes the green chutney. Deep fried breaded cutlets, the oh-so-British mulligatawny soup, caramel custards, bread puddings, salads seeped in mayonnaise-the so called Russian salad-complete with the diced pineapples and cherries.The feasts on Christmas and New Year eve.Oh –but then those days people didn’t count calories-or did they? All I remember is that delicious taste of breaded deep fried fish and warm plum pudding –ah…but those were days when my the size of my waistline was of little or no concern!
Grilled Fish in a Lemon Sauce
Mildly spiced baked veggies
Toasted bread
Carrot and Raisin Salad
Bread pudding
Grilled Fish in Lemon Sauce
6 fillets of fish (sea bass, pomfret, sole), washed, pat dried and rubbed over with lemon juice
2 cloves garlic
Salt, pepper and red chilli powder
6 tablespoons of oil-or use cooking spray
Rub the salt ,pepper and red chilli powder, along with the crushed garlic over the fish
Heat oil in a flat non stick pan, alternatively use cooking spray.
Lay fish fillets I the pan.Cook on high heat till brown on both sides. Fish cooks fast.Arrange in a flat serving dish.Pour the lemon sauce over it.
Lemon Sauce
1 cup whipping cream (low fat)
¼ teaspoon zest of lime
Juice of 2 limes
1 teaspoon cornflour dissolved in ¼ cup milk
Salt and pepper
Warm the cream in a small pan over low heat.Add the zest, salt and pepper.
Add the dissolved cornflour, and let mixture thicken a little. Remove from heat, cool and add lemon juice.
Mildly Spiced Baked Veggies
2 cups mixed veggies-cubed carrots, peas, cut french beans, baby corn, halved mushrooms
½ a cup chopped spinach leaves
1 ½ cups milk
2 table spoons flour
1 tablespoon grated cheddar
4 tablespoons oil (use butter if you want-but oil works just fine)
2-3 cloves garlic , crushed
¾ teaspoon red chilli powder
Salt
Boil the veggies in mildly salted water , till they are just crisp tender.Drain, keep aside.
Heat oil-brown the garlic in it. Add flour-saute till light brown.Add salt and red chilli powder.Lower heat, add milk stirring all the while.Once a smooth “roux” is formed ,add the veggies and spinach.Add more milk if you feel that the mixture is dry.
Put in a baking dish, top with cheese (optional).Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes , or till the top is slightly brown.
Carrot and Raisin Salad
3 carrots, peeled,and grated
1 tablespoons raisins, soaked for about 10 minutes in warm water
1 teaspoon cilantro leaves, washed and chopped
Juice of 1 lime
A pinch of powdered sugar
Salt and pepper.
Chopped cilantro-for garnish.
Mix ingredients. Chill.Serve!
Bread Pudding
6 slices bread, quartered
11/2 cups milk
2 eggs whipped
½ cup sugar or equivalent substitute
¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon raisins
6-8 figs (dehydrated) soaked in water,stewed and coarsely pureed
1 tablespoon dark rum
Warm the milk,add sugar. Let it cool, and add the beaten eggs.Add the cinnamon powder.
Soak the bread in the milk mixture . Make a layer with these in a greased baking dish.Place pureed figs and raisins on this layer.Cover with more soaked slices of bread.
Sprinkle with the brown sugar and the dark rum.
Bake in a moderately hot oven for 15-20 mins.Serve hot.
Grilled Fish in a Lemon Sauce
Mildly spiced baked veggies
Toasted bread
Carrot and Raisin Salad
Bread pudding
Grilled Fish in Lemon Sauce
6 fillets of fish (sea bass, pomfret, sole), washed, pat dried and rubbed over with lemon juice2 cloves garlic
Salt, pepper and red chilli powder
6 tablespoons of oil-or use cooking spray
Rub the salt ,pepper and red chilli powder, along with the crushed garlic over the fish
Heat oil in a flat non stick pan, alternatively use cooking spray.
Lay fish fillets I the pan.Cook on high heat till brown on both sides. Fish cooks fast.Arrange in a flat serving dish.Pour the lemon sauce over it.
Lemon Sauce
1 cup whipping cream (low fat)
¼ teaspoon zest of lime
Juice of 2 limes
1 teaspoon cornflour dissolved in ¼ cup milk
Salt and pepper
Warm the cream in a small pan over low heat.Add the zest, salt and pepper.
Add the dissolved cornflour, and let mixture thicken a little. Remove from heat, cool and add lemon juice.
Mildly Spiced Baked Veggies
2 cups mixed veggies-cubed carrots, peas, cut french beans, baby corn, halved mushrooms
½ a cup chopped spinach leaves
1 ½ cups milk
2 table spoons flour
1 tablespoon grated cheddar
4 tablespoons oil (use butter if you want-but oil works just fine)
2-3 cloves garlic , crushed
¾ teaspoon red chilli powder
Salt
Boil the veggies in mildly salted water , till they are just crisp tender.Drain, keep aside.
Heat oil-brown the garlic in it. Add flour-saute till light brown.Add salt and red chilli powder.Lower heat, add milk stirring all the while.Once a smooth “roux” is formed ,add the veggies and spinach.Add more milk if you feel that the mixture is dry.
Put in a baking dish, top with cheese (optional).Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes , or till the top is slightly brown.
Carrot and Raisin Salad
3 carrots, peeled,and grated
1 tablespoons raisins, soaked for about 10 minutes in warm water
1 teaspoon cilantro leaves, washed and chopped
Juice of 1 lime
A pinch of powdered sugar
Salt and pepper.
Chopped cilantro-for garnish.
Mix ingredients. Chill.Serve!
Bread Pudding
6 slices bread, quartered
11/2 cups milk
2 eggs whipped
½ cup sugar or equivalent substitute
¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon raisins
6-8 figs (dehydrated) soaked in water,stewed and coarsely pureed
1 tablespoon dark rum
Warm the milk,add sugar. Let it cool, and add the beaten eggs.Add the cinnamon powder.
Soak the bread in the milk mixture . Make a layer with these in a greased baking dish.Place pureed figs and raisins on this layer.Cover with more soaked slices of bread.
Sprinkle with the brown sugar and the dark rum.
Bake in a moderately hot oven for 15-20 mins.Serve hot.
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