Candied Cashews with a hint of Spice

For a long time we had resisted becoming Costco members but once we became members probably about five or six years ago, I have become one of those people who can't be without going there. I will make a trip at least once a month if not every week :( Recently I found these Organic Raw Cashews. When I grabbed the box all I having were visions of these candied cashews, thought it took another few weeks to actually end up doing it.

It takes all of 20 minutes and some delicious and sweet snack is in your hand.

Here is the recipe in pictures,

Roast the cashews in the toaster oven at 400F for 6-8 minutes.
Take sugar in a sauce pan with a tsp of water and heat for 3-4 minutes till the sugar syrup coats a back of a spoon.
Add the roasted nuts to the sugar syrup and mix it quickly and transfer to a wax paper.

A quick snack is ready.

Candied Cashews
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients

1. 1 cup of raw cashews
2. 2 1/2 tbsp of raw sugar
3. a pinch of red chili powder
4. a pinch of salt

Method

1. Dry roast the cashews either on a stove top. I used a toasted oven to roast them. Takes about 6-8 minutes at 400F. Watch closely so you don't over roast it.
2. Now take the sugar in a sauce pan with a 1/2 tsp of water and heat it for 3-4 minutes, till the sugar melts. Add in the spice and salt.
3. In medium continue boiling till the sugar coats the back of a spoon.
4. Add in the roasted nuts mix them up quickly and spread them on a wax paper.
5. Let them cool and store them.

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Radish Greens Stir Fry - Mullangi Keerai Poriyal

Spring time is the best time for some amazing and fresh greens. While fresh radish is tasty in its own right, the greens are also tasty. With a slight barely noticeable bitter taste the greens get a slight sour taste with the addition of tamarind extract. This recipe isfrom a friend and it was how her mom cooked the radish greens.

So if you buy radish with greens don't throw them away.

Here is a quick and easy recipe. What if you don't get radish greens, you can use this recipe for kale, chard or even amaranth greens.


Not all greens are made the same. I am glad I gave this a try instead of throwing it out like I have done sometimes.

Radish Greens Stir Fry
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients

1. 3-4 cups of Radish Greens washed and chopped
2. 2 tbsp + 1/2 tbsp of finely chopped red onions or shallots
3. 5-6 green chilies slit
4. 2 tbsp of tamarind extract from a small piece of tamarind
5. seasonings - split urad dal - 2 tsp, cumin seeds and mustard seeds
6. 1/2 tbsp of oil
7. salt to taste

Method

1. Heat oil in a wide mouthed pan or kadai, add urad dal and when it starts to brown add cumin seeds and mustard seeds and when it starts to pop add the 2 tbsp of onions, green chilies and saute till onions are translucent.
2. Add the chopped greens and then add the other tbsp of onions pounded and let it cook for about 5-6 minutes.
3. Add salt and the tamarind extract and cook till the moisture is evaporated.

Serve as a side for rice.

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Palak Paneer in an Instant Pot - Indian Cottage Cheese in Spinach Sauce

Palak Paneer is one of those things that I have avoided for a long time. I did not like the cream slathered spinach puree with paneer thrown in. It took me a while to realize that it does not have to be cooked with all that cream and I could cook it the way I liked.

Sauteed Paneer

I am glad that I did because with some fresh spinach and some soft paneer there is nothing better and tastier. I cook it the way I do the spinach chutney. A few extra spices to permeate the bland paneer is all that is different. With an Instant Pot it is all done in one dish.

Recipe in pictures,

Heat ghee in the Instant Pot in Saute mode and saute the cubed paneer for a minute or so.
Chop the onions, chilies and get the spices ready.
In Saute mode, heat oil and add the onions and green chilies, and saute till the onions are translucent.
Add the ginger and garlic and saute for a minute and then add the spice powders.
Add the chopped spinach, salt and saute for a couple of minutes and then add a 1/4 cup of water and cook in Manual mode for 5 minutes and let the steam release naturally.
Use a hand blender and blend the spinach to a puree and then add the sauteed paneer.

With some soft phulkas or chapatis this is the perfect balanced meal.

Palak Paneer
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients

1. 14 oz block of paneer cubed
2. 1/2 lb of Spinach washed and chopped
3. 2 tbsp of chopped onions or shallots
4. 1 garlic clove chopped (optional)
5. 1/2 tbsp grated ginger
6. 3 green chilies
7. 1/4 tsp cumin powder
8. 1 tsp black pepper powder
9. 2 tsp coriander powder
10. 1 tsp ghee + 1/2 tbsp oil
11. salt to taste

Method

1. Put the Instant Pot in Saute Mode, adjust the heat to 'Less'.
2. Add the ghee when the pot says hot and in half a minute add the cubed paneer and saute for a minute or so. Remove to a paper towel.
3. If the Instant Pot does not have any bit of paneer stuck to the pot, add the oil and continue with cooking. Else clean the pot and then add the oil.
4. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and green chilies and saute till the onions are translucent.
5. Add in the grated ginger and garlic and saute for a a minute.
6. Add in the cumin, pepper and coriander powders and saute for a minute more.
7. Add in the chopped spinach and salt saute for a couple of minutes and add a 1/4 cup of water and then put the Instant Pot in Manual mode and cook for 5 minutes.
8. Once cooked let the pressure release naturally and using a hand blender, blend the spinach to a smooth puree.
9. Add in the sauteed paneer and mix.
Serve with any kind of Indian bread or even rice.

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