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PARATHAS |
NON-VEGETARIAN |
PULAO
VARIETIES |
KABABS |
VEGETARIAN |
DESSERTS |
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The northern region
of India comprises the valley -filled Kashmir to the vast field- lands of Punjab.
The cuisine also varies widely in this region but the predominant one is the
Mughlai one.
The staple food of the Kashmiris is rice and plenty of meat dishes,
which includes "Gustaba", "Kaahwa", etc. The Kashmiri cuisine
is a blend of its major produce, which includes red chillies, fruits, nuts,
saffron and rajma.
For the Punjabis,
the Rotis and Lassi give them the vigor and energy they are noted for. The sarson
ka saag and the makke di roti is a good combination. The Punjabis
also place a lot of stress on the ginger, garlic, onion and tomato combinations.
Altogether the northern part is famous for its tongue tickling Mughlai dishes.
They are a gift to us from the Mughals who probably got it from their Persian
ancestors. The succulent kababs, kormas and the parathas are good examples.
The blending of spices over low heat is an important factor of the Mughal style
of cooking.
Most of the vegetarian and non-vegetarian
dishes are famous for their distinctive tastes. Though rice is sparingly used
throughout northern India, Wheat is their staple food. They take wheat in the
form of rotis and chappathis. They come in a wide range, which includes parathas,
puris, naans, kulchas, rotis and chapathis, and stuffed parathas.
PARATHAS
AND ROTIS
SHAHI
PARATHA
|
Ingredients
- Wheat flour 1
cup
- Minced meat 500
gms
- Eggs 2,
beaten
- Onion 1,
chopped
- Tomato 1,
chopped
- Green chillies 5,
chopped
- Ginger, garlic paste 1
tablespoon
- Coriander leaves a
handful, chopped
- Oil 2
tablespoons
- Ghee 2
tablespoons
- Salt and red chilli powder
To taste
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Method
- With the flour add some
water and knead into smooth dough.
- Heat oil in a pan and fry
the onions till pink.
- Also fry the ginger garlic
paste and keep aside.
- Cook the minced meat, salt,
red chilli powder and ½ cup of water till the meat is cooked and dry.
- Add tomatoes to the egg
and also salt and make two omelettes.
- Take two portions of the
dough and make two thin chapathis.
- On one chapatti place one
omelette, spread a tablespoon of minced meat over it, sprinkle some
green chillies and coriander and cover with the other omelette.
- Top this with the next chapatti
and press the edges of the two chapattis tightly.
- In a tava fry the paratha
with a little oil, till both the sides are well done. Serve hot.
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NAAN
|
Ingredients
- Maida 250
gms
- Milk 125
ml
- Butter ¼
cup
- Sugar 1
tablespoon
- Yeast 30
gms
- Salt ½
tablespoon
- Baking powder ½
tablespoon
- Poppy seeds 1
tablespoon
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Method
- Mix the flour, baking powder,
salt and sugar well in a bowl.
- Mix the yeast with 2 tablespoons
of milk and warm the remaining milk.
- Add the warmed milk to the
yeast with 1-½ tablespoons of butter and mix well.
- Pour the yeast mixture into
the maida and knead well to form smooth dough.
- Cover it with a cloth and
keep aside for 2 hours.
- Divide the dough into 8
portions with floured hands, cover and keep for some 15 minutes.
- Flatten the balls into circles
of 5 inches diameter and brush the top with melted butter and sprinkle
some poppy seeds over it.
- Place the dough circles
in a greased baking tray and bake for 10 minutes at 230 degrees till
the naan is puffed.
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MUGHLAI
PARATHA
|
Ingredients
-
Wheat flour 250
Gms
-
Egg 2
nos
-
Oil 6
tablespoons
-
Baking powder 1
teaspoon
-
Salt
to taste
|
Method
-
Mix well the flour, baking
powder and salt.
-
Rub the flour with 2 tablespoons
of oil and make it into a smooth dough.
-
Divide the dough into 8
balls and and roll them into flat thick rounds.
-
Apply little oil, sprinkle
some flour and fold it into semicircle.
-
Again apply some oil and
flour and fold it lengthwise.
-
Roll it, press down and
roll out into square of 8 inches by 8 inches.
-
Brush the surface of the
paratha with beaten eggs and turn all four corners towards the center.
-
Heat a girdle and apply
oil liberally.
-
Cook the paratha in it
applying oil along the edges.
-
Fry on both the sides till
brown patches appear and serve hot.
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NON
- VEGETARIAN DISHES
MASALA
GOSHT (Spicy fried meat)
|
Ingredients
- Meat 500
gms
- Onion 1
- Ginger garlic 1
tablespoon,paste
- Curd 300
ml
- Pepper corns 6
- Cloves 4
- Cinnamon 3
- Cardamoms 2
- Red chilly 3
- Turmeric powder 1
teaspoon
- Ghee 2
tablespoons
- Salt
to taste
|
Method
- Cut the meat into small
cubes after washing.
- Heat the oil in a pan and
add the meat along with the rest of the ingredients.
- Seal the pan and cook for
45 minutes without adding any water.
- Open the pan, add 2 teaspoons
of ghee and fry the meat till it is reddish brown in color.
- Serve hot with rotis.
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GOSHT-E-AKBARI
(Rich and Spicy Mutton curry)
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Ingredients
- Meat ½
Kg
- Milk
½ cup
- Onion
1, chopped
- Ginger, garlic paste 1
tablespoon
- Coriander powder ½
tablespoon
- Chilli powder 2
teaspoon
- Cumin powder ½
tablespoon
- Garam masala 1
teaspoon
- Saffron
few strands
- Flour 1
tablespoon
- Ghee 1
tablespoon
- Salt to
taste
For seasoning
- Green peas 100
gms, boiled
- Onion 1,
chopped
- Oil 1
tablespoon
- Cardamoms 4
- Cloves 4
- Cinnamon 1
inch piece
- Black pepper corn 8
- Bay leaf 1
- Red chilli 2
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Method
- Cook the mutton with all
the ingredients except the saffron, flour and ghee.
- Sauté the flour with ghee
in a pan for sometime.
- Then gradually add some
water to form a batter and add that to the gosht and keep stirring for
5 minutes.
- Add saffron and cook for
another 5 minutes.
- In another pan heat oil,
add the onions, garam masala and bay leaf and fry till brown.
- Add the green peas and the
red chillies and stir for 2 minutes.
- Then add the gosht and mix
well and remove from fire.
- Garnish with onion rings,
coriander leaves and lemon wedges.
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HARI
MACCHI (FISH IN MINT AND CORIANDER CHUTNEY)
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Ingredients
- Pomfret 1
large
- Salt 2
teaspoon
- Coriander leaves ½
bunch
- Mint leaves ½
bunch
- Pomegranate seeds 15
Gms
- Green chillies 4
nos
- Garam masala 1
teaspoon
- Sugar 1
teaspoon
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Method
- Clean the pomfret and make
small slits on the flat sides and add some salt and keep aside.
- Grind the rest of the ingredients
and fill in the slits very liberally.
- Grill for 5 minutes on medium
flame on each side.
- Serve hot with onion rings
and lemon wedges.
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KARAHI
CHICKEN (HOT AND SPICY CHICKEN CURRY)
|
Ingredients
- Chicken 1
medium size
- Onion 3,
chopped
- Ginger, garlic paste 1½
teaspoon
- Tomatoes 2,
chopped
- Red chilli powder 1
teaspoon (kashmiri red
chilli)
- Whole chilli 2
nos
- Coriander seeds 1
teaspoon
- Garam masala
10 gms
- Bay leaf 3
- Oil 100
ml
- Coriander leaves ½
bunch, chopped
- Salt
to taste
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Method
- Cut the chicken into pieces.
- Heat oil in a pan and add
oil, bay leaves, red chillies, coriander seeds, garam masala and roast
till they splutter.
- Add the onions and sauté
for sometime till it browns.
- Add the ginger, garlic paste
and fry till the oil floats on top.
- Add the tomatoes and continue
cooking.
- Add the Kashmiri chilli
powder and cook for some time.
- Now add the chicken and
stir a little, then add some water for cooking.
- When cooked remove form
fire and garnish with chopped coriander leaves and fried Kashmiri red
chillies.
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PRAWN
CAPSICUM BALLS (CAPSICUMS WITH PRAWN FILLINGS)
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Ingredients
- Capsicum 400
gms
- Prawns 400
Gms, shelled
- Onions
2, minced
- Ginger 1
inch piece
- Garlic 1
pod
- Peppercorns 1
teaspoon
- Coriander seeds 1
teaspoon
- Cumin seeds 1
teaspoon
- Aniseeds 1
teaspoon
- Cinnamon 2
sticks
- Cloves 6
- Green chillies 4
- Egg 2
- Gram flour 1
teaspoon
- Bread crumbs a
little
- Ghee 3
tablespoons
- Tomato 2,
chopped
- Turmeric powder ½
teaspoon
- Salt to
taste
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Method
- Slice the tops of the capsicums
and scoop the pulp inside.
- Apply some salt and keep
upside down for sometime.
- Devein the prawns and mince
it. Fry the onions till brown. Also add the minced prawns
- Grind the ginger, garlic
and other masala items to a fine paste.
- Add this to the fried onions
and also add the mince prawns.
- Then add the chopped tomatoes
and chopped coriander leaves and fry well.
- Fill this mixture into the
capsicums, attach the stalks and seal the opening with gram flour.
- Now dip the capsicum in
beaten egg, roll it over the breadcrumbs and deep fry till golden brown
color.
- Serve hot with tomato sauce.
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PULAO
VARIETIES FROM THE NORTH
Most of the parties in the north
are incomplete without a biryani or pulao. In olden days in India, biryanis
were made in huge earthern pots and served with wooden spatulas, which gave
them a distinct aroma and taste. But nowadays, the modern Indian woman too makes
such delicious meals using her modern gadgets in no time, which the earlier
cooks used to take hours. Biryanis and Pulaos are mostly of Chicken and mutton,
but there are varieties for the vegetarian too.
MURGH
DUM BIRYANI (Chicken Biryani)
|
Ingredients
- Chicken 750
Gms, cut into 8 pieces
- Basmati rice 350
Gms, washed and soaked
for 20 minutes
- Ghee 120
gms
- Garam masala 1
teaspoon
- Shahjeera ½
teaspoon
- Onion 150
gms, sliced
- Curd 150
ml
- Ginger,garlic paste 70
gms
- Chilli powder 2
teaspoons
- Lemon juice 40
ml
- Cream 50
ml
- Onion 25
gms, browned
- Mint leaves 25
gms, chopped
- Coriander leaves 25
gms, chopped
- Saffron a
few strands
- Salt to
taste
|
Method
- Heat ghee in a pan and add
the garam masala and the shahjeera. Saute, add the onions and fry till
brown.
- Add the ginger, garlic paste,
salt and chilli powder, fry and then add the chicken pieces.
- Put the curd and sauté for
2 minutes. Add 500 ml of water and bring the mixture to a boil, cover
and cook till the chicken is done.
- Squeeze the lemon juice
on top.
- Take1 litre of water in
a pan and bring it to boil.
- Then add the rice, the remaining
garam masala and salt and cook till the rice is half done.
- Sprinkle half of the cream,
browned onion, mint leaves, coriander leaves and saffron over the chicken
preparation.
- Then spread half of the
rice over the chicken.
- Repeat the layers and cover
it with a moist cloth.
- Put the sealed pan in a
pre-heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes and serve hot.
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YAKHNI
BIRYANI (Mutton Biryani with garam masala)
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Ingredients
- Basmati rice 350
gms, washed and soaked for 30 minutes.
- Lemon juice 5
teaspoon
- Cloves 8
- Cardamom 6
- Cinnamon stick 5
cms
- Salt to
taste
For the Yakhni
- Mutton 400
gms
- Onion 200
gms
- Chopped onion 50
gms, sliced and browned for garnishing
- Curd 200
ml
- Ghee 25
gms
- Ginger, Garlic paste 25
gms
- Garam masala 1
teaspoon
- Cardamom mace powder ¼
teaspoon
- Pepper powder ½
teaspoon
- Mint leaves a
few, chopped
- Salt to
taste
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Method
- Heat the ghee in a pan and
season with the whole garam masala.
- Add the chopped onions and
fry till brown.
- Add the mutton, ginger,
garlic paste and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the curd and fry for
another 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients
and fry for 2 minutes and then add water and cook till the meat is done.
- In 1 litre water take salt,
cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and lemon juice along with the rice and cook
till half done.
- Take the yakhni and put
it on low fire.
- Sprinkle some chopped coriander
leaves and add the rice on top.
- Cover with a moist cloth
and seal it and put it on dum for 15 minutes.
- Garnish with browned onions
and serve hot with raitha.
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MATTAR
PULAO (Green Pea Pulao)
|
Ingredients
- Basmati Rice 500
gms, washed & soaked for 1/2 an hour
- Onion 1,
sliced
- Green peas 2
cups, parboiled
- Ghee 170
gms
- Bay leaf 1
- Peepercorns 8
- Cinnamon stick 3
inches
- Cardamom 2
- Cloves 8
- Cashews 50
gms
- Raisins 100
gms
- Salt to
taste
|
Method
- Fry the onions in a pan
with the ghee till brown.
- Fry the cashews and raisins
and keep aside.
- Add cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns
and cardamoms and fry for a minute.
- Then add the rice and fry
on low heat so that the rice grains are coated with the ghee.
- Add the green peas and fry
for another 3 minutes.
- Add salt and cover the
rice with double its amount of boiling water.
- Bring to a boil and then
simmer till the water is absorbed.
- Garnish with the fried cashews
and raisins and serve hot.
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PANCHRANGI
PULAO (MIXED VEGETABLE PULAO)
|
Ingredients
- Basmati Rice 350
gms,soaked for 20 minutes
- Ghee 120
gms
- Onions 100gms,
chopped
- Potato 100
gms, peeled and cubed
- Carrots
100 gms, cubed
- French beans 100
gms, diced
- Green peas 75
gms, shelled
- White Pumpkin 100
gms, cubed
- Green chilli
8
- Ginger, garlic paste
50 gms
- Chilli powder
10 gms
- Ginger
1 inch, cut into juliennes
- Garam masala 5
gms
- Saffron a
few strands, soaked in warm milk
- Mint leaves 20
gms, chopped
- Coriander leaves 20
gms, chopped
- Cardamom a
pinch
- mace powder
a pinch
- Salt to
taste
|
Method
- Saute the garam masala
in a pan with the ghee till it crackles. Add the onions and fry till
brown.
- Add half of the ginger,
garlic paste green chillies, chilli powder and salt and sauté for 5
minutes.
- Add the vegetables and fry
till they a re well coated with the masala.
- Add water and cook till
the vegetables are done. In one litre boiling water add salt and some
whole garam masala and rice and cook till half done.
- Take the pan with the cooked
vegetables and sprinkle half of the ginger juliennes, green chillies,
saffron milk, mint leaves, coriander leaves and spread half of the rice
over the vegetables.
- Repeat the layers and cover
with a moist cloth.
- Seal the pan and put on
dum or in a pre-heated oven for 15 minutes.
- Serve hot with raitha.
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KOFTAS
AND KABABS
 |
Most of the Kababs, which we
relish these days originated in the northern part of India. They are believed
to be brought into India through the Persian connection of the Mughals but
were later modified according to the local tastes. Kababs consist mostly
of minced meat with maslas which are essentially roasted over charcoal fire
to give them their distinctive aroma and taste. Nargisi Kofta, Kathi
Kofta, Hariyali Kofta, Pathat Kabab are some of the notable varieties.
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HARA
KABAB ( A VEGETARIAN KABAB)
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Ingredients
- Paneer 250
gms
- Palak puree 50
gms
- Cornflour 60
gms
- Garam masala 1
teaspoon
- Chilli powder 1
teaspoon
- Pepper powder
1 tabelspoon
- Coriander powder 1
teaspoon
- Salt
to taste
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Method
- Grate the Paneer and mix
with the palak puree.
- Add the salt, pepper, garam
masala and other powders along with the cornflour and mix well.
- Divide into equal sized
balls and grill in the oven, frequently basting with oil.
- Serve hot with onion rings
and mint chutney.
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KASHMIRI
KABAB
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Ingredients
- Mutton 1
kg, minced
- Onions
2, quartered
- Green chilli
4, chopped to big pieces
- Ginger 1½
inch piece
- Egg 1
- Red chilli powder 1½
teaspoon
- Roasted jeera powder 1
tablespoon
- Salt and pepper to
taste
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Method
- Mix all the ingredients
except the egg.
- Add the raw egg and blend
well and shape into oblong pieces.
- Boil 2 glasses of water
in a shallow pan and while boiling gently slide the kababs inside it.
- Let it simmer till the whole
water evaporates.
- Then deep-fry the kababs
in a shallow pan till brown.
- Serve hot with onion rings
and lemon wedges.
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JHINGA
KABAB (PRAWN KABAB)
|
Ingredients
- Prawns 500
gms
- Green channa 2
cups, boiled and mashed
- Onion 3,
chopped
- Garlic 10
flakes, chopped
- Ginger 10
gms
- Green chilli 7,
chopped
- Coriander leaves ½
bunch, chopped
- Egg 1
- Bread 5
slices
- Chilli powder 1
teaspoon
- Chaat masala 1
teaspoon
- Garam masala 1
teaspoon
- Oil a little for
frying
- Salt to
taste
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Method
- Clean, shell and devein
the prawns.
- In a bowl mix all the ingredients
except the egg and oil.
- Beat the egg and blend well
with the mixture.
- Shape into kababs and deep
fry and serve hot.
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VEGETARIAN
DISHES FROM THE NORTH
MASALA
BAINGAN (SPICY BRINJALS)
|
Ingredients
- Brinjals 500
gms, small and round
- Tomato 300
gms, chopped
- Onion 1,
chopped
- Coconut 150
gms, grated
- Sesame seeds 3
tablespoons
- Ginger, garlic paste
1 tablespoon
- Chilli powder 1
tablespoon
- Coriander powder 3
tablespoons
- Garam masala 2
tablespoons
- Turmeric powder ½
tablespoon
- Poppy seeds ½
tablespoon
- Cloves 3
- Bay leaf 3
- Cardamoms 2
- Coriander leaf a
little
- Mint leaf a
little
- Oil 7
tablespoons
- Salt to
taste
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Method
- Roast the sesame seeds and
the poppy seeds till brown and pound them well.
- Fry the onions in the oil
till brown.
- Grind the sesame, poppy
powder, tomatoes and coconut gratings into a fine paste.
- Cut the brinjals into long
and thin slices.
- Fry the brinjal pieces till
soft.
- Add cloves, cardamoms and
bay leaves to oil and also the coriander and mint laves for flavor.
- Add ginger, garlic paste,
coriander powder and fry for a minute.
- Add the ground masala paste
to the above and fry for 3 minutes.
- Add chilli powder, salt,
turmeric powder and garam masala and fry till the oil floats on top.
- Add the fried brinjals
and cook on low heat for a few minutes covered.
- Garnish with coriander leaves
and serve hot with chapattis.
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NAVRATAN
KORMA (Cottage cheese mixed nine vegetables)
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Ingredients
- Paneer
50 gms, diced and fried.
- Mixed vegetables
3 cups, (potato, green peas, beans,
carrot, cauliflower, cucumber,
etc)
- Tomato 4,
chopped
- Onion 3,
chopped
- Ginger, garlic paste 1
tablespoon
- Milk 11/2
cup
- Fresh cream 4
tablespoon
- Ghee 4
tablespoons
- Turmeric powder ½
tablespoon
- Coriander powder 2
tablespoon
- Chilli powder 3
tablespoons
- Garam masala 1½
tablespoons
- Salt to
taste
|
Method
- Fry the onions. Add the
ginger, garlic paste and fry for another 2 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, turmeric
powder, coriander powder, chilli powder, garam masala and salt and fry
for 5 minutes.
- Add all the vegetables,
milk, cream and fried paneer and cook for a few minutes till the vegetables
are done.
- Serve hot.

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PINDI
CHANA (Chana preparation from the Punjab)
|
Ingredients
-
Kabuli Chana
400 gms
-
Gram flour 20
gms
-
Oil 5
tablespoons
-
Ajwain ½
teaspoon
-
Anardana powder 3
tablespoons
-
Amchoor powder 2
tablespoons
-
Chilli powder 1
tablespoon
-
Black salt powder ½
tablespoon
-
Kasoori methi powder ½
tablespoon
-
Cumin powder 1
tablespoon
-
Soda bicarbonate a
pinch
-
Salt to
taste
|
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For the pouch
-
Black cardamoms 6
-
Cimmamon sticks 2
inches
-
Cloves 4
-
Ginger 20
gms
-
Tea leaves 1
tablespoon
|
For garnishing
- Tomato 2,
sliced
- Onion 1,
cut into roundels
- Green chillies 2,
slit
- Lemon 3
cut into wedges
- Ginger 10
Gms, julienned
|
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Method
-
Soak the Kabuli chana overnight.
-
Tie the ingredients for
the pouch in a muslin cloth.
-
Cook the chana with the
soda powder and 1 litre of water.
-
Add 4 tablespoons of oil
and the pouch and simmer until cooked.
-
Heat the remaining oil and
add the ajwain, stir till it crackles.
-
Add the gram flour and
stir till the aroma comes.
-
Add the rest of the ingredients
and stir for a minute.
-
Add the cooked chana and
mix well.
-
Garnish with the items mentioned
for garnishing and serve with kulcha.
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DUM
BHINDI MASALEWALI (Lady's finger with curd and spices)
|
Ingredients
-
Bhindi 750
gms
-
Curd 300
ml
-
Garam masala 1
tablespoon
-
Red chilli powder 2
tablespoons
-
Green chilli 2
tablespoons, chopped
-
Ginger, garlic paste 1
tablespoon
-
Turmeric powder 1
tablespoon
-
Oil 4
tablespoon
-
Ghee 2
tablespoon
-
Salt to
taste
|
Method
-
Blend the curd, garam masala,
salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and half of the chopped green
chillies.
-
Trim the bhindis and make
slant slits in them.
-
Soak the bhindis in the
curd mixture for10 minutes.
-
Heat oil and fry the ginger,
garlic paste, green chillies.
-
Add the bhindis with the
curd mixture and cook for 10 minutes.
-
Top with the ghee and garam
masala and steam on low heat for 5 minutes , covered.
-
Cook till dry and garnish
with tomato slices, onion rings and serve hot.
|
SWEETS
(North India)
KESAR
PHIRNI (Rice and milk based sweet)
|
Ingredients
-
Milk 500
ml
-
Sugar 50
gms
-
Rice flour 75
gms
-
Saffron a
few strands
-
Cardamom green, 8
nos
-
Pistachio 25
gms
-
Almonds 25
gms
|

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Method
-
Boil the milk so that it
reduces to half its quantity.
-
Add the rice flour to this
and mix well so that no lumps are formed.
-
Add the sugar and cook for
sometime so that the sugar dissolves.
-
Dissolve the saffron in
warm milk and add this to the above mixture.
-
Pour the phirni in earthen
bowls and garnish with pistachios and almonds.
-
Allow it to cool and set
in the refrigerator and serve cold.
|
KULFI
(Indian ice cream)
|
Ingredients
|

|
|
Method
- Dissolve the cornflour in
the milk to from a paste.
- Boil the rest of the milk
and add the cornflour paste and cook till the mixture thickens.
- Remove from fire and add
the powdered cardamoms, almonds and pistachios and cool.
- Cool it in the fridge for
8 hours to set after pouring the mixture in kulfi moulds.
|
JALEBI
(Crisp coils of fried batter in syrup)
|
Ingredients
- Maida 2
cups
- Sugar ½
cup
- Water 1¼
cup
- Curd ¼
cup
- Rose water 1
teaspoon
- Soda bicarbonate
a pinch
- Oil
for deep-frying
- Salt
a pinch
|

|
|
Method
- Mix the flour, salt and
curd to get a thick batter.
- Allow the mixture to ferment
for 7 hours.
- Boil the sugar to get a
syrup. Cool and add the rose water to this.
- To the batter add the soda
powder and mix well.
- Heat the oil for deep frying
and force the batter through a piping bag to form spirals.
- Deep fry till golden brown
and soak it in the sugar syrup and serve.
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