CHICKEN PAN ROAST WITH BRAISED VEGETABLES



CHICKEN PAN ROAST WITH BRAISED VEGETABLES
This simple and delicious Chicken Roast makes a perfect meal either for lunch or dinner on Christmas Day. The left overs make good sandwiches the next day. 

Serves 6   Preparation Time 1 hour
Ingredients
4 whole Chicken thighs and legs or one small whole chicken 
Salt to taste
2 teaspoons ground black pepper 
1 teaspoon Chillie powder
2 tablespoons oil or ghee
2 or 3 dry red chillies
A few whole pepper corns
3 carrots peeled and cut lengthwise
8 or 10 runner beans broken into halves

Marinate the chicken with the salt, pepper and chillie powder for about half an hour.
Heat oil or ghee in a thick -bottomed pan and add the chicken thighs together with the broken red chillies and pepper corns. Turn the chicken from side to side and fry on medium heat for about for about 5 minutes or till the pieces becomes firm. 
Add about half cup of water and mix well. Cover the pan with a tight lid and cook first on high heat then over low heat turning the chicken occasionally till the chicken is cooked and all the water / soup  is absorbed.
Add the carrots and beans and cook till just tender. Continue to cook till the chicken is roasted to a lovely golden brown. 
Serve with boiled or mashed potatoes and bread 


DING-DING - SUN DRIED MEAT CRISPIES - CHICKEN DING-DING




CHICKEN DING-DING
(An old Anglo-Indian Sun-dried, Savoury Crispy dish, usually made with meat and which originated when game was plentiful and the meat was dried in the sun and preserved for a rainy day. It was a Back Up Dish for those days when fresh meat was not available. A delightful starter at Parties and Dinners or as an ideal accompaniment to Pepper Water and Rice or Doll Curry and Rice. Now given a twist with fillets of chicken breast and without drying in the sun. The cornflour helps in giving the crispy effect) 
Serves 6
Ingredients
1 kg boneless tender chicken breast sliced very thinly into strips or fillets
3 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon mild chillie powder
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons corn flour

Marinate the chicken slices with all the above ingredients (except the corn flour) for atleast 8 hours or overnight.
When ready to fry, bring it to room temperature and mix in the corn flour.
Deep fry in hot oil till crisp and brown.
Serve with Tartar Sauce



MUTTON / LAMB PEPPER CHOPS



MUTTON / LAMB PEPPER CHOPS 
An old Colonial favourite, Lamb or Mutton Pepper Chops is a simple and easy dish to prepare and requires no elaborate preparation. You could have it as a main meal with mashed potatoes and steamed or sauteed vegetables or as a side dish with rice and dal 
This recipe is featured in my Cookery Book ANGLO-INDIAN CUISINE - A LEGACY OF FLAVOURS FROM THE PAST 
Serves 6 Preparation Time 45 minutes
Ingredients 
½ kg good Lamb chops (Flatten them)
3 potatoes (Boiled, peeled and cut in half lengthwise)
3 big onions sliced
2 teaspoons ground black pepper (as per choice) 
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons oil 

Mix the chops with the salt, pepper and turmeric and keep aside.
Heat the oil in a suitable pan and fry the onions till light brown. 
Add the chops and mix well. Fry on medium heat till the chops get firm. Add 2 cups of water and simmer till the chops are cooked and the gravy is thick. 
Add the boiled potatoes and gently mix in.


Celebrating Anglo-Indian Cuisine - Feature on me in the Business World


http://www.businessworld.in/article/Celebrating-Anglo-Indian-Cuisine/08-11-2019-178656/

Bridget White Kumar, a chip off the old block has been carefully preserving Anglo Indian cuisine through her books and collaborations with the hospitality industry. Her desire to fuse her passion with the need to keep her legacy going had her formally tread this path with gusto from the year 2000 when she left her full-time job at a national bank. Here in the capital to help curate a winter menu at the only-of-its kind restaurant Anglow, she says, “I am happy to be a part of any endeavour that strives to preserve and promote the culture. It is nice to see a renewed interest in the cuisine that is close to my heart.” Bridget reminisces of her time growing up in the Anglo Indian colony of Kolar Gold Fields where the meals would be a staple of curries made of seasonal vegetables and meat, stews, “fugad” or stir-fried vegetables and milk pudding that was the ultimate “comfort food”. Later the family shifted to Bengaluru for better opportunities and she continued to cook and take pride in her roots, feeding all those who showed the narriest of interest. Thus Anglo-Indian cuisine which evolved over many hundred years was the result of reinventing and reinterpreting the quintessentially western cuisine by assimilating and amalgamating ingredients and cooking techniques from all over the Indian sub-continent. Thus a completely new contemporary cuisine came into existence making it truly “Anglo” and “Indian” in nature, which was neither too bland nor too spicy, but with a distinctive flavour of its own. It became a direct reflection of the multicultural and hybrid heritage of the new colonial population. The cuisine developed differently from region to region, according to the local offerings. Bridget enlightens, “Even when it comes to the oil, in Kerala the same dish could be made with coconut oil, In the North with gingelly oil and in places like Calcutta mustard oil.” Some of the familiar creations that became local culture would be the Railway cutlet or the Calcutta chops that are now almost street food. With winters almost here, Bridget throws light on what comprises a typical “winter fare”; “Roasts, Soups, Stews, Baked Dishes and Casseroles made with meat. Fish and poultry are normally Winter Dishes using more of pepper, ginger, and root vegetables. Dry fruits and nuts are used in cakes and puddings.” Christmas time, of course, is that time when every family challenges their culinary skills. A typical Christmas lunch at an AngloIndian home, Bridget tells us would be “a large meal comprising of a Meat Pulao, Chicken Curry, Stuffed Roast turkey or Chicken Roast, Pork Vindaloo, Duck Vindaloo, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, bread, dinner rolls, Christmas pudding, cakes, sweets of all kinds, all washed down with a glass or two of Grape Wine, Ginger Wine or a peg or two of whiskey, brandy or other liquor.

CHICKEN LIVER PEPPER FRY



CHICKEN LIVER PEPPER FRY
Serves 6    Preparation Time 45 minutes
Ingredients
½ kg chicken liver cut into pieces       
2 large onions sliced finely
2 or 3 teaspoons ground pepper                             
2 green chillies slit
Salt to taste                                                               
3 tablespoons oil
½ teaspoon turmeric powder

Wash the chicken livers well.  Boil them with a little water and salt till done. Heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till golden brown.  Add the cooked gizzards and liver together with the slit green chillies, turmeric powder, pepper powder and salt and keep frying on low heat till dry and brown

STEAMED DATE AND NUT PUDDING




STEAMED DATE AND NUT PUDDING
A Steamed Pudding, served warm, is the ultimate comfort dish on a cold or rainy day. Often made as a dessert for dinner, steamed puddings can be made with a variety of tastes. Steamed Plum Pudding and Steamed Ginger Puddings are generally made at Christmas time. But a Steamed Date and Nut Pudding could be enjoyed at any time of the year. The pudding could be made and stored in the fridge. Just before serving, steam it once again for a few minutes so that its nice and warm. It could be served with any sweet sauce or Custard Sauce or just sprinkled with caster sugar. Sharing an easy recipe for Date and Mixed Nut Pudding that I’ve been using over the years. I’ve spread a layer of Apricot Jam on top.
Serves 6
Ingredients
250 grams pitted dates
100 grams mixed nuts such as walnuts, almonds, etc., chopped coarsely
1 cup water
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda / Baking Soda
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
¼ cup bread crumbs
Boil the dates and water in a saucepan on medium heat, till the dates soften.
Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Once cold, puree it in a blender and remove any sediments.
Meanwhile cream the butter and sugar together till smooth. Add the eggs one at a time and vanilla extract and mix to a very smooth consistency.
Add the date puree and mixed nuts and mix well.
Slowly add the flour, baking soda and bread crumbs and mix gently.
Grease a 1.5 litre pudding bowl and pour the mixture into the bowl.
Cover the pudding with a greased piece of greaseproof paper or foil.
Put the bowl inside a covered steamer or pressure cooker and steam for about one and half hours till the pudding is cooked. Test by inserting a toothpick.
If desired spread a layer of apricot jam on top or just sprinkle castor sugar on top.
Serve the pudding warm with vanilla sauce or ice cream






CHICKEN CURRY IN TOMATO AND COCONUT GRAVY


CHICKEN CURRY IN A COCONUT AND TOMATO GRAVY
A simple and tasty Chicken Curry in a Coconut and Tomato Gravy. Goes well with rice, bread or any Indian Bread)
Ingredients
1 kg chicken jointed and cut into medium size pieces
A small bunch of coriander leaves washed and chopped
2 large onions chopped
2 tomatoes chopped very finely or pureed 
4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 or 2 teaspoons chillie powder depending on choice of pungency 
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder 
2 cloves, 2 small pieces of cinnamon, 2 cardamoms, 1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
3 tablespoons oil 
Salt to taste
4 tablespoons thick Coconut milk

Heat oil in a pan and add the onions, Fry till golden brown. Add the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, ginger and garlic paste and sauté for a few minutes. 
Now add the chicken, salt, chillie powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder and fry for some time till the oil separates from the mixture. 
Add the tomato puree, coconut milk and mix well. Add just a little water and cook till the chicken is done and the gravy is thick

ANGLO-INDIAN GREENS FOOGATH


Ingredients
2 cups of any chopped greens of your choice such as Amaranth, Spinach, drumstick greens, kale, etc
3 green chilies chopped
1 onion sliced
1 tablespoon chopped garlic 
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
½ cup grated coconut (optional)
1 tablespoon oil
Salt to taste

Cut the greens finely and wash in a colander. Drain and keep aside. 
Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard, garlic and curry leaves. When the mustard starts spluttering, add the chopped onion and green chilies and fry till the onions turn slightly brown .
Add the greens and salt to taste and mix well. Stir fry for about 2 or 3 minutes till the greens wilt and are cooked but not mushy.  Add the grated coconut and mix well.
Serve as a side dish with rice and curry 

JELABI CUSTARD


Jelabi Custard


This was a Colonial Desert which was very famous in the olden day’s. An Indian sweetmeat Jelabi is given an English touch by baking it in custard. (Alternatively, you could just make a custard with Custard powder then pour it over the layer of Jelabis in the dish). This recipe is featured in my book A Collection of Simple Anglo-Indian Recipes. 
Ingredients 
6 to 8 Jelabis (available in any Indian Sweetmeat Stall)
3 Eggs Beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
1/2 litre milk
5 or 6 tablespoons sugar (reduce the quantity if you don’t like it too sweet)
A pinch of salt
4 tablespoons flour 
1 teaspoon butter
Take a flat bottomed dish and grease it well with butter. Boil the milk and keep aside.
Preheat the oven till slightly warm. 
When the milk is slightly cold, add the eggs, salt, vanilla essence, flour and sugar and beat well till there are no lumps. 
Pour a thin layer of this milk mixture into the baking dish and let it set in the warm oven till it forms a base.  Remove the dish from the oven and arrange the Jelabis in it. Pour the rest of the Mixture over the Jelabis, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes till the custard sets.  The custard should be moist not dry. Garnish with a few nuts or pieces of Jelabi. 
Alternatively, you could just make a custard with Custard powder then pour it over the layer of Jelabis in the dish. 


ANGLO-INDIAN CHICKEN PICKLE



ANGLO-INDIAN CHICKEN PICKLE
A simple and easy recipe to prepare Chicken Pickle Anglo-Indian style. Takes good with rice or as a side dish with bread or chapattis as well. The vinegar and fenugreek seeds powder enhance its taste. This recipe as well as other Anglo-Indian Pickle recipes is featured in my Cookery Books

Ingredients

2 kg chicken chopped into tiny pieces
120 grams garlic
200 grams ginger
50 grams red chilies
2 tablespoons mustard powder
1 teaspoon all spice powder / garam masala powder
1 teaspoon powdered fenugreek seeds
 3 cups vinegar
½ kg refined oil or Sesame oil
 ½ cup salt
Make a paste of the garlic, ginger, and red chilies with a little vinegar. Wash the chicken well and wipe dry. Heat oil in a vessel and fry the ground masala paste on low heat for about 3 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the vinegar, salt, spice powder, mustard powder and fenugreek powder and cook on low heat till the chicken is tender and all the gravy dries up. Simmer till the oil floats on top. Cool and store in bottles. This pickle will last for a month and can be had with rice, chapattis or bread. (keep in the fridge).

SWEET MANGO CHUTNEY




SWEET MANGO CHUTNEY PRESERVE
This Chutney is a sweet and sour Pickled Preserve made with semi ripe Polly mangoes and spices. Its a good relish with any Anglo-Indian Roast, Curry, side dish, etc and it could also be used while making Meat Glassy. A real competition to Crosse and Blackwell’s Major Grey’s Mango Chutney
Ingredients
 4 semi raw Mangoes (Polly Mangoes)
1 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons chillie powder
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped ginger
2 tablespoons salt
100 grams raisins
2 small sticks of cinnamon         

Wash the mangoes and dry them well.
Peel the skins and grate the mangoes. Discard the seeds. 
Cook the grated mango with the cinnamon, raisins, vinegar and sugar. 
Cook on low heat till soft. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix well. 
Simmer for 5 more minutes then remove from heat. 
Cool and store in bottles.


TRIFLE PUDDING




CLASSIC ENGLISH TRIFLE PUDDING
A Trifle is a dessert dish invariably made from thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or jelly and whipped cream.  These ingredients are usually arranged in layers in a beautiful glass dish with the sponge cake forming the bottom layer. The earliest known recipe for “Trifle” was published in a book called "The good housewife's Jewell" by Thomas Dawson. in 1596 in England. The ingredients for this first Trifle Recipe was thick cream flavoured with sugar, ginger and rosewater pored over slices of Sponge Cake. Sixty years later, milk custard was added to the list of ingredients and the custard was poured over alcohol-soaked bread.
A Trifle Pudding is often used for decoration as well as taste, incorporating the bright, layered colours of the fruit, jelly, jam, and the contrast of the creamy yellow custard and white cream. Some trifles contain a small amount of alcohol such as port, or, most commonly, sweet sherry or madeira wine. These Trifles are known as ‘TIPSY TRIFLES” The Non-alcoholic versions may, instead use fruit juices or soft drinks such as ginger ale, lemonade etc as the liquid is necessary to moisten the cake layers.
Trifle Puddings are often served in Anglo-Indian Homes at Christmas time, sometimes as a lighter alternative to the much denser Christmas pudding. No specific recipe need be followed for preparing a Trifle. It all depends on the availability of the ingredients. One can mix and match in a Trifle and just innovate. The contents of a trifle can be varied according to one’s choice. Here is a step by step Recipe for a simple Trifle that I made for my Granddaughter’s First Holy Communion Lunch

Ingredients
300 grams sponge cake
4 tablespoons mixed fruit jam
1 large tin of canned mixed fruit or 2 cups of chopped fresh fruit of your choice
1 cup prepared jelly
500 ml fresh cream
500 ml whipped cream
1 cup prepared custard

1. Whip the fresh cream and whipped cream separately to soft peaks consistency
2. Drain the excess syrup from the canned fruits. Mix 2 tablespoons of jam to this fruit syrup and mix well. (If using Fresh Fruit then use a cup of apple juice or any other fruit juice). Divide the fruit into 3 portions
3. Using a sharp knife, slice the cake horizontally into a layer so that it fits the bottom of the bowl in which the pudding is to be set.
4. Spread the layer of cake liberally with jam.
5. Place the cake layer in the glass bowl and soak with the fruit syrup Press down firmly down.
6. Now spread a layer of the fruit over the soaked sponge cake layer.
7.Top this layer with one portion of the fresh Cream. 
8. Repeat a second layer of the fruit.
9. Top this fruit layer with the custard
10. Repeat a third layer of fruit
10. Now spread a layer of whipped cream using a spatula.
11. Garnish with cubes of jelly, cut fresh fruit, cherries, walnuts etc.
Chill and serve when required.



STRAWBERRY BLANCMANGE




STRAWBERRY BLANCMANGE - An old Anglo-Indian Dessert 
This recipe is featured in my Cookery Book - A Collection of Simple Anglo-Indian Recipes

Ingredients
1 cup sugar 
3 tablespoons corn flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 litre milk
1 teaspoon strawberry essence
1 cup fresh strawberries for topping (optional)

Mix the corn flour and salt in a little water. Boil the milk and sugar. When boiling mix in the corn flour paste. Cook till the mixture thickens stirring all the time. Simmer for a few more minutes.
Pour into dampened jelly moulds and set in a refrigerator.
When set, remove from the refrigerator, then dip the bottom of the mould in hot water and turn out on a plate.
Top with fresh cut strawberries and cream and serve

CHOCOLATE EASTER EGGS




CHOCOLATE EASTER EGGS - MOULDED 
Makes 4 Eggs
Ingredients

500 grams cooking chocolate
4 Egg-shaped chocolate molds with a separate top and bottom cavity, about 2" long

Method
Lightly brush the inside of the molds with a little oil or melted butter
Break the chocolate into rough chunks, then finely chop into small pieces
Take a suitable sauce pan and half fill it with water. Heat the water over a low flame.
Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl and using a pair of tongs place it in the hot water. Allow the chocolate to melt completely, stirring occasionally.
Leave aside to cool. When still warm, spoon the melted chocolate into the molds, one tablespoon at a time.
Tilt the mold gently so that the chocolate covers the entire surface of the mold. It should form a layer about ½ cm in thickness.
Tip any excess chocolate back into the bowl.
Allow the chocolate to cool slightly, then, using a butter knife, scrape around the rim of the mold to get a clean edge. Keep aside
Repeat the same for the other molds
Place all the molds in the fridge for about half an hour to allow the chocolate to set completely.
To remove your eggs from the molds, squeeze the casing gently, working your way around the edge till it leaves the mold.
Fill 4 halves with gems or small candies or sweets of your choice
Brush the remaining melted chocolate around the rim of each of the chocolate egg halves, then gently press them together so they stick in place.
Leave for a few minutes until the chocolate sets.
Your Chocolate Easter Eggs are ready


MUTTON PEPPER FRY





MUTTON PEPPER FRY
Meat pepper Fry is a favourite and popular meat dish that is prepared very often in Anglo-Indian Homes. It could be prepared with either beef, mutton, lamb or pork. It is often an accompaniment with Pepper Water and Rice or Dol Curry (Dhal) and Rice. Goes well with Bread or dinner rolls or a Chapattis as well. It is also the perfect dish when recovering from the flu. This recipe is featured in my cookery book 'Anglo-Indian Cuisine - A legacy of Flavours from the Past'
Ingredients
½ kg Meat either Beef, Mutton or lamb (I used Mutton)
3 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon chopped ginger
2 big onions sliced finely
3 tablespoons oil
3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
Salt to taste

Heat the Oil in a pan and sauté the onions and chopped ginger for a few minutes till the onions turn light brown.
Add the meat, salt, turmeric and pepper powder and mix well.
Fry for 5 minutes on low heat turning the meat well till the pieces get firm.
Add sufficient water and the potatoes and cook on medium heat till done.
Continue simmering on low heat till all the water is absorbed and the meat and potatoes are brown.
Serve hot with bread or rice.
Alternatively, the same dish could be prepared in a pressure cooker. Turn off the heat after 15 minutes and let the pressure die down before opening the pressure cooker. Dry up any excess gravy before serving.

LADY’S FINGERS / OKRA AND TOMATOES




LADY’S FINGERS / OKRA AND TOMATOES 
A simple and easy dish that could be served as a side dish with rice or chapattis. 

Ingredients
½ kg tender lady’s finger / okra
1 teaspoon mild chillie powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder 
2 medium size onions sliced finely
2 small tomatoes chopped finely 
A few curry leaves
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons oil,                               

Wash the lady’s finger and dry them well with a kitchen towel. (This is to avoid them becoming gooey when cutting them).
Cut the lady's fingers into medium size pieces. 
Heat oil in pan and fry the onions till light brown. Add the chopped tomatoes, chillie powder, cumin powder, curry leaves and turmeric powder and fry for a few minutes till the tomatoes turn to pulp. 
Add the cut lady’s finger and salt and mix well. 
Simmer on low heat till the lady’s finger / okra is cooked and the gravy is thick. 
Serve as a side dish with rice or chapattis



ANGLO-INDIAN BOBO STEW / CHICKEN STEW



ANGLO-INDIAN CHICKEN STEW
This hearty, healthy one-pot meal can be eaten by itself or served with bread or rice. Perfection. A Stew is not only filling, but also low in calories, the fat content is remarkably low, since by trimming the meat the fat is further reduced. It is also an ideal way to get children to eat vegetables, and no vitamins are lost by throwing away the water. The great thing about stews is that they can be tailored to suit your family's personal tastes and preferences. Don't like carrots? Leave them out. Have a passion for popatoes? Double up on it. Want to add some wine? Add a dash. More spicy? Add a little more pepper or green chillies. So get  adventurous with the flavours and spices. Coconut paste makes stew even more delicious. Try the recipe below for a typical old time Anglo-Indian Bobo Stew otherwise known as Chicken Stew 
Ingredients

1 kg chicken cut into medium pieces
2 tablespoons oil
2 potatoes peeled and cut into quarters
2 carrots peeled and cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon pepper corns or crushed pepper 
1 tomato chopped finely
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste 
Salt to taste
2 green chillies slit lengthwise 
2 onions sliced
1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves          
2 tablespoons flour
Cook the Chicken along with the potatoes, carrots, peppercorns, green chilies, tomato, ginger, garlic, mint, salt, and sufficient water till tender. 
Make a thin paste of the flour with about ¼ cup of water. 
In another pan heat the oil and fry the onions till golden brown. 
Add the flour paste and fry along with the onions for some time. 
Add the cooked chicken stew and simmer for 5 minutes.  
Serve hot with bread or Hoppers.