Chef Hari Nayak

"Balsamic and Spice" Grilled Summer Vegetables

Posted on 24. Jun, 2008 by Administrator.

This recipe is one of my favorites. Spice it up and eat healthy with this recipe full of flavor. You do not have to wait for summer to make this recipe and enjoy the thrill of the grill!. simply use a cast iron char grill indoors. This is the least amount of work you will ever have to do to be considered the Queen or King of the Grill. Be gentle with the ripe avocado, since it tends to fall apart easily.
enjoy!

Marinate

Serves 4

1 medium yellow squash, sliced on bias
1 medium zucchini, sliced on bias
1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch thick circles
1 red onion, sliced in 1/2-inch thick circles
2 Roma tomatoes, sliced in 1/2 lengthwise
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and quartered
2 Avacado, peeled, seeded, and cut in half
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoons coriander seeds, toasted and ground
1/2 tablespoons fennel seeds, toasted and ground
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Preheat grill to high.

Prepare all vegetables. Place vegetables in a roasting pan. Season vegetables generously with salt,pepper, spices and toss with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Place vegetables, cut side down, on the hot grill and cook for a couple minutes on each side, or until tender and nicely marked by the grill.

Remove from grill and toss with an additional 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Serve

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Nawabi Style Lamb Roast

Posted on 13. May, 2008 by Administrator.

“Nawab” means king in Urdu and Hindi. This dish is for a true celebration and a festive dinner meal fit for a king. It takes a bit of work and preparation time but it is well worth the effort. This sure is a crowd pleaser! A 3 pound leg of lamb will serve approx 6 to 8 people! Serve this with rice pilaf and raita.

1 pound fresh spinach, chopped ½ lb button mushrooms, chopped
1 cup almonds, chopped
¼ cup cranberries, dried
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon garam masala
Salt to taste
3 ½ pounds leg of lamb, trimmed of visible fat, de-boned and butterflied
¼ cup malt vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon dark chili powder
1 cup sour cream
1 medium onion, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 tablespoons melted honey, plus extra for drizzle
1 teaspoon clarified butter
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon white pepper powder

Mix together the chopped spinach, mushroom, almonds, cranberries, cilantro and garam masala.Make 2-inch long, deep cuts, each about 2 inches apart, over the entire outside surface of the leg of lamb.

In a bowl, mix together the malt vinegar, oil, salt and chili powder and rub well over both sides of the meat, making sure you work it into all the cut sections. Spread the spinach mixture on the entire inside surface. Then roll the lamb into a log. Tie the roll with a kitchen twine crosswise and lengthwise to secure it.

Mix together the sour cream, onion, garlic, honey, clarified butter, coriander, cumin, and pepper and rub well over the outside surface of the meat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator at 6 to 8 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400° F

Transfer the lamb to an oven proof dish, along with its marinade and roast for 30 to 40 minutes. Reduce the heat to 300° F and cook until the lamb is golden brown and tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the string from the roast, cut the lamb into 1-inch slices and serve hot, drizzled with honey.

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Hot Summer Grilling Ideas and Tips

Posted on 13. May, 2008 by Administrator.

Summer is around the corner, try something different this summer.
One thing is hot this season is skewers. A lot of chefs and home cooks are giving the skewer a sophisticated makeover.
Whether it’s a spicy chicken with chillies, sweet scallops with peppers or fragrant lamb with preserved lemon one ting is for sure there will be no cutlery is necessary.

Tips and ideas when cooking with skewers:

When using wooden skewer, make sure you soak them before you cook.

Skewers can be done ahead of time: simply marinate overnight

Experiment with different mediums such as rosemary or lemon grass to skewer meats or vegetables

Create a colorful contrast and flavor by adding cherry tomatoes, peppers or mushrooms between layers of meat

Create a grilled dessert by skewering pieces of your favorite fruit

“Double up” use 2 skewers so that it is easy to cook and the meat will not roll over when flipping.

Do not have a grill a cast iron char grills with handles which fit over two burners is perfect for those crosshatch lines on grilled meat, seafood and vegies.

Stay tuned for interesting recipes………

Above images clockwise

Green Chili and Thai Basil Marinade
Chicken Tikka Skewers
Lemon and Sage Chicken Skewers
Cheese and Vegetable Skewers

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"Taste for life" – An culinary event with a commitment to ending violence

Posted on 12. Apr, 2008 by Administrator.

TASTE FOR LIFE

“Cooking for Life” Presents TASTE FOR LIFE

Join Honarary Lead Chef Vikas Khanna from New York City

and Chicago’s Top Chefs

Featuring Master Sommelier Alpna Singh (Host of Check. Please!)

Tantalize all your senses with culinary samplings from Chicago’s hottest restaurants and tastes of fine wine from around the globe. Stir your soul with the sounds of live entertainment from singer Greta Pope, Enjoy a whiskey tasting with your dessert and bid on exciting live and silent auction prizes.

Touch the world with your commitment to ending violence.

Thursday, April 17, 2008
River East Art Center
435 East Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Watch Past events organized by cooking for life

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Modern Indian Cook's Essentials

Posted on 24. Mar, 2008 by Administrator.

There is no single right way to cook any Indian dishes, nor is there a single proper way to serve an Indian meal. The Indian recipes can be made using a variety of techniques – experimentation and practice are the keys to success!

Spices are to Indian cooking what basic stocks, sauces and dressings are to the Western cooking.The exotic spices add warmth, pungency, heat, and subtlety to dishes. Cooks are judged on their skills in blending seeds, powders and pastes. Adventurous chefs may juggle a dozen or more spices in one dish, but most good Indian home cooks do just fine with around six mainstays, although you may want to keep other spices handy for adding extra flavor dimensions to particular dishes.

Essentials

* Chilli powder
* Cumin seeds
* Garam masala
* Coriander powder
* Turmeric powder

Handy spices

* Black peppercorns
* Cinnamon sticks
* Cloves
* Coriander seeds
* Fennel seeds
* Fenugreek seeds
* Nigella seeds
* Nutmeg and mace
* Dried red chillies

Buying and storing spices
Spices are at their best when used within three months of purchase. To ensure maximum freshness, buy whole spices rather than powders, and grind only what you need. Buy spices from an ethnic grocer rather than a supermarket. Prices are surprisingly low and quality is top-notch. Store whole spices in tightly lidded jars or in the freezer.

Cooking with spices
Toasting whole spices before grinding them intensifies the flavors. To toast, or dry-fry, heat a griddle over a moderate heat, add the spices, and shake the pan until you catch a warm, nutty aroma – it doesn’t take long, about 30 seconds. Similarly, dropping whole spices into a spoon of hot oil also releases essential oils – ‘Tadka’

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