Kung Pao Vegetables - Chinese style

 

          Kung Pao Vegetables is amazingly a very satisfying comfort dish. This is a vegetarian take on the classic Kung Pao Chicken. If you are a fan of Chinese food, you will simply love it. This spicy, sweet & sour dish is popularly found in the menu of all Chinese restaurants. 

          Wholesome and hearty, this colorful Chinese style veggie preparation is a very simple side dish that goes absolutely well with any Chinese fried rice or noodles. It is light on the tummy and is extremely easy to whip up. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this healthy veg. delight. 

• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1-2 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. garlic, chopped
• 1 onion, cubed
• 1 cup bell pepper & capsicum, cubed
• 1/4 cup frozen green peas
• 5-6 French beans, cut 1" size, steamed
• 3 baby corn, cut 1" size, blanched
• 8-10 broccoli florets, blanched 
• 1 tbsp. chili sauce
• 1 tbsp. tomato ketchup
• 1 tsp. soya sauce 
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• pinch of salt or to taste 
• 1 tsp. corn flour mixed with 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp. roasted peanuts
• 1 tsp. sesame seeds, dry roasted

          Heat oil in a wok and temper with dry red chilies and garlic. Sauté till the garlic changes color. 

          Add the cubed onion and sauté for a minute. Now add the cubed bell peppers, capsicum and green peas. Give it a stir and cook for 1-2 minutes. 

          Then add the blanched broccoli, baby carrots and steamed French beans. Sauté for a minute.

          Now add all the sauces, followed by the corn flour slurry. Simmer till it thickens slightly. Then add the roasted peanuts and give it a toss.

          Switch off the flame and sprinkle dry roasted sesame seeds. Serve hot with Chinese fried rice or noodles.

                         Heat oil & temper with dry red chilies and garlic. Sauté few seconds.

                                   Add the onion & sauté for a minute. 

                           Add the bell peppers, capsicum & green peas. Cook for 1-2 minutes. 

 Add the broccoli, baby carrots & French beans. Sauté for a minute.

                                  Add all the sauces,

                             followed by the corn flour slurry. Simmer till it thickens slightly. 

                                  Then add the roasted peanuts and give it a toss.

                                 Switch off the flame & sprinkle dry roasted sesame seeds. 

                                  Serve hot with Chinese fried rice or noodles.

Peri Peri Sauce - Nando's Style

          Tried this amazing South African Peri Peri Sauce - Nando's style for the first time and I must confess that I really fell in love with it. Turned out so yummy. It is the base of all the recipes served in a Nando's restaurant. It is so easy to prepare and is such a simple recipe. It is both tangy and spicy, real chatpata, just the way I like it. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

          So now there is absolutely no need to go in for those expensive store bought ones. Make it at home and refrigerate it for later use, so that you can dish out all the yummy Nando's style restaurant recipes in the comfort of your home. 

          You can enjoy it as a dip with some veggie crudités / chips, use it as a marinade, as a spread on sandwiches / parathas, as an accompaniment to appetizers or prepare a gravy with it. The options are numerous. 

• 5-6 long fresh red peppers, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 7-8 garlic cloves, chopped
• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/4 tsp. pepper powder 
• 1/2 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice 
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. red chili powder

          Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the onion, chilies, bell pepper and garlic for 2 minutes or till they turn translucent. Set aside to cool.

          Blend with the remaining ingredients to a puree. Transfer to a clean airtight bottle / jar and refrigerate for 10-12 days. 

                      Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the onion, chilies, bell pepper & garlic 
                      for 2 minutes or till they turn translucent. 

                                              Set aside to cool.

                                          Blend with the remaining ingredients to a puree. 

                      Store in clean air tight bottle / container and refrigerate for later use.

Lemony Chicken & Bell Pepper Soup

          It is a clear soup with the goodness of chicken, vermicelli and bell peppers. For a veg. version, you can substitute the chicken with mushrooms, peas or just plain bell peppers. The addition of kaffir lime leaves gives a punch and a lemony flavour to this exotic soup. Have it with some bread sticks for a wholesome light meal.

• 1/2 cup chicken mince
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 7-8 kaffir lime leaves
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 litre chicken stock / water
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder or to taste
• 1/2 cup assorted bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fried vermicelli, broken
• mint leaves to garnish

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the garlic till it changes colour. Add the onion and stir fry till light brown. Now add the chicken mince, salt and pepper powder and fry till dry.

          Add the stock and lime leaves and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 4-5 minutes on medium flame. Add the seviyan and continue to simmer till soft.

          Add the sliced bell peppers and cook for a minute. Serve hot, garnished with mint leaves.