Microwave Khoya Aloo Matar Recipe | Potato Peas curry with Khova | Step by Step Recipe

When Monika decided to showcase Potatoes for this month's Microwave Easy Cooking Event, I planned that I should make atleast couple of them for the event. Though I made a very quick Potato Roast, which I had sent for Konda's lunch, I couldn't make anything. When I suddenly realized that it was almost the end of the event deadline, I quickly wanted to make something.

I took out the cookbook that came along with the microwave and flipped through it. I saw that there weren't that many Potato recipes that I could make. Then I saw this Khova Peas Curry. I had the left over Khova that I used to make the Kesar Kulfi, so it was good that I get to use it in another new dish. Since the recipe ought to be more of a potato, I thought I should make a kofta and use the base. But seeing that I didn't have that many fresh peas, this dish can be called Potato as it had more Potato in it.

Step by Step Recipe with pictures to make Khoya Aloo Matar at home:

Ingredients Needed:

Potatoes - 2 large
Peas - Handful
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Salt to taste
Khoya - 100 gms
Cashew nuts - 10

For the paste
Onions - 2 medium
Red chilis - 2
Ginger - 2"

Spice powders

Red Chili powder -1  tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch

How to make Khoya Aloo Matar:

Before starting with the paste, make sharp marks with knife on the potatoes and microwave the Potatoes for 6 mins. Once done, soak in water, peel the outer skin.

Meanwhile, make a paste of onions, Red chilies and ginger. Keep it aside.

Microwave cashews, cubed potatoes, peas for 2 mins.

Then in a microwave safe bowl, add 2 tsp oil and the onion paste. Microwave for 6 mins.

Next add the tomato puree, spice powders, micro for 2 mins. Once done, add 1 cup water and microwave for 6 mins.

Then add the khova, mix well. Micro for 2 mins. Finally Add the cashew, potatoes and peas. Micro for 3 mins.

Serve hot with rotis.

Sending this to Monika who is guest hosting the MEC themed on Potatoes this month.

Will be back tomorrow with a quick Roast.

Microwave Carrot Kofta Curry Recipe | Step By Step Recipe

I made this Carrot Kofta Curry to be paired with Subz Pulao. It was quite a combo, though I felt it would have been much better with Naans. I felt the pulao was spicy on its own and would be fine with a raitha. This was the first time I was ever making a Koftas with Carrot and I was wondering how a kofta would hold up it's shape in microwave. I was pleasantly surprised that the shape was retained.

Just two more days to go for the school to close for the boys and they are so restless. But imagine my plight when Konda's and the twins common holiday is only for May. Come June I will again have to plan for lunch boxes. It becomes quite a task getting them agree to something they will want to eat. So when I made this Subz pulao, one wanted only the beans, while the other carrot. So it was a lunch that was exclusively for the elders at home.

This was another recipe I adapted from MW recipe book. The recipe called for Raisins to be stuffed in the Koftas but I avoided it completely. Though later I realized that might have balanced the spice in the koftas.

The book has many such pretty looking gravies, that I am planning to make. so look out!

Step by Step pictures.

Microwave Carrot Kofta Curry Recipe

Ingredients Needed

For the gravy

Onion - 1 medium, puree
Tomato - 2 medium, puree
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Garam masala - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves for garnish

For koftas:

Carrots - 2 medium, grated
Bread slices - 2 (churned in mixer)
Green Chili, chopped - 1
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Yogurt - 1 tbsp

Method to prepare:

For the gravy:

Mix onion paste with oil, turmeric powder, garam masla and red chilli powder in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 5 minutes.

Add the tomato puree, mix and microwave for 5 more minutes.
Add 1 cup of water, microwave for 6 more minutes and keep aside.

For the koftas:

Grate Carrots. Then mix carrots with all the ingredients for koftas.

Mix well. Make round balls. Place them on a greased micro safe plate, microwave for 3 minutes.

At the time of serving, place koftas in a serving dish pour the curry over them and microwave for two minutes and serve warm.

Notes:
I made small koftas and got about 12 of them.
Original recipe calls for Chaat masala and Raisins to be added to the koftas but I didn't add them.
If you want to add the raisins, stuff them in the middle when you make the balls.

Sending this to Lataji who wanted us to make a lunch box menu using Microwave for Microwave Easy Cooking event that she is guest hosting this month.

Microwave Curries & Gravies Round up

I almost forgot that I was yet to do the round up of the entries that came in for MEC Curries and Gravies. Only when I felt I was yet to do something, I had a look at my pending emails did I realise this overlook. So before I could do anything else, I thought I should get this round up done.

I know Microwave Easy Cooking Event is not really an event where I get flooded with entries but I always end up feeling happy with the entries that come by way. I have few friends who always support me and each time I get an entry from them, I feel so excited.

Before I go, of course this month it is being hosted by  Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal themed on Rice. Do check on the details and send us your entry.

Now lets see what we have for Curries and Gravies.!

First we have a rich Paneer Makhane made entirely in mw from Deeksha

Then from Nivedita comes a potato curry that reminds her of her mom's cooking.

Next comes Priya Suresh with two entries, Batata Humman made in mw & Zucchini Moru Curry

Richa Priyanka sending us a peas and carrot kurma

If those are not enough, then check out MW Kofta Curry made by Supriya

Then from me a Mixed Vegetable Kurma

Next we have two non veg entries.

A great looking bowl of prawns from Sudeshna

Sukanya sends in Microwave green chicken curry


I know the entries were less but I do hope I haven't missed any entry!

Thank you for sending in and I hope you make these and enjoy! Have a great weekend ahead.

Microwave Mixed Vegetable Kurma | Step by Step Recipe

After being in the drafts for many months this wonderful Microwave Mixed Vegetable Kurma gets published. Making a kurma in a microwave sound easy and quick to get done. Doing the 7 Day Blogging Marathon with 25 other bloggers is one exciting thing. But as always I plunged in without any preparation and have to cook them and post. Yes that fact it becomes all very hectic is another thing. Microwave Easy Cooking Event has come for a second round of gravy dishes.

Announcing the MEC based on Curries and Gravies, I ought to post microwave gravies right. So here I am with a dish that gets cooked quite well in Microwave. If you see I haven't updated my 365 days of Microwave Cooking with more of such dishes but will surely do them soon.

Step by Step to make the Kurma in Microwave.

Have the vegetables all washed, chopped into small pieces, keep them ready.

Potato gets microwaved for 7 mins, while coconut paste is ground and ready.

In a microwave bowl, take the oil and whole spices. Micro for 1 min.

Then add julienne onions, green chilies and microwave for 1 min.

Next goes the ginger garlic paste. Microwave for 1 min again.

Followed by tomatoes. You can microwave both for 2 mins.

 See how mushy the tomatoes look.

Using the ladle mix well.

Then add the vegetables.

Mix well and add Red Chili powder.

Saute everything and micro for 1 min.

Add the coconut paste (ground with fennel seeds)

Saute and cook again for 2 mins.

Pour water as required to get a consistency and for the vegetables to get cooked.

Microwave for 10 mins before removing it.

Microwave Mixed Vegetable Kurma

Ingredients Needed:

Onions - 2 medium
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Green chilies - 2 long
Mixed vegetables - 1 & 1/2 cups (Carrot, Beans, Cauliflower, Potatoes, peas)
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Coconut paste - 1 cup
Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Water as required

Whole spices:

Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 2"
Cardamon - 2


Method to prepare:

Microwave potatoes for 7 mins by making marks over it

Grind coconut along with fennel seeds to a smooth paste

Chop all vegetables and keep it aside

In a microwave safe bowl, take the oil along with the whole spices. Microwave for 1 min.

then goes the onions with green chilies. Micro again for a minute.

Next add the ginger garlic paste and micro for 1 min, followed by chopped tomatoes. Micro for 2 mins.

When it is soft and mushy, mash with the ladle.

Then add all the vegetables. stir well. Add the coconut paste and mix well. Micro for 2 mins.

Add water as required and micro for 10 mins.

Remove and garnish with coriander leaves.

This goes for my MEC Themed on Curries and Gravies, be sure to send in your entry!

Low Calorie No butter Paneer Butter Masala | Microwave Paneer Butter Masala | Step By Step Recipes

Ten years ago or more, when I wasn't aware of the blogs, I was always searching the net for the Paneer Butter Masala recipe that you get in restaurants. Finally I had to settle to the one on this blog which is popular as it was adapted from the popular Chef, Sanjeev Kapoor. Since then we have modified the recipe in many ways that each time we get a feeling that we are making a new dish.  Even then, this is one recipe that comes quite closest to what I have in mind.

That reminds me of the time we bloggers met, where Sra got a Paneer dish.(Will have to ask Sra if this was the dish she got) All of us were drooling over it as it was so rich and creamy. Infact over this weekend dinner I tasted one of the best Paneer Butter Masala, in that it was really really rich and so creamy. You can't feel the gravy, something nice just slides in as you tuck in succulent paneer pieces. And you never keep count of how many naans went in.

Talking of all these rich creamy paneer dishes, I really wonder how a low calorie no butter Paneer Butter Masala still tasted so good. This happened in the Microwave Demo sessions. The chef is a young girl who can whip up some wonderful creations in Microwave within minutes. The session merits some enthusiastic Microwave buffs, who want to use their microwaves "Beyond Reheating". So one can be sure of some really quick and tasty recipes coming out from the session. One onlooker even confessed of loosing weight after started cooking for herself completely in microwave. Now that is something I can wish for!

Even though I assumed and presumed that I will end up adapting lot of recipes to Microwave cooking, I only make handful. And this recipe that the chef showed us, I made it the same night with amazing good results. And yes I was left wondering how this dish tasted so good without even a pinch of butter in it.

She made Paneer Butter Masala along with Naans. I came back and tried her version of Naan too. I make my Naans differently but this was very good too. I thought I might as well capture 3 ways of making Naans at home as a ready reckon.

For today it is going to be Low Calorie No butter Paneer Butter Masala! Quite a mouthful right!

 Step By Step Method of making Microwave Paneer Butter Masala


Grind Onions to a smooth paste.

Puree the tomatoes using water.

In a microwave safe bowl, add oil along with all the whole spices. Micro for 1 min.

Then add the onion paste, stir well.

Micro for 3 mins.

Then add Ginger Garlic paste in between, mix well. Micro again for the remaining time.

Meanwhile wash the paneer cube.

Cut into small pieces.

The onion mix is almost ready, will look like this.

Add the tomato puree to the onion paste, stir well. Micro for 5 mins

After 2 mins, the Onion tomato paste will look like this.

To that add Red chili powder, store bought powder was used, hence it is so bright.

Give it a quick stir!

Micro for the remaining 3 mins.

Remove, add cashew paste.

Add 1 cup of water, mix well and micro for 5 mins.

Remove and add the paneer pieces.

Add more water if required. Micro for 10 more mins.

Low Calorie No butter Paneer Butter Masala

Ingredients Needed:

Paneer - 250 gms
Onions - 2 medium
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 2"
Bey Leaf - 1
Cardamon - 2
Fennel Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Cashew Nuts - 10 whole
Red Chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
OIl - 2 tsp

Method to prepare:

In a microwave safe bowl, add oil along with whole spices. Micro for 1 min.

then add the ground onion paste, micro for 3 mins.

When it is 2 mins, remove and add ginger garlic paste. Stir well and cook for the balance 1 min.

Add the tomato puree, micro for 5 mins.

Meanwhile soak cashews and grind to a smooth paste.

At this stage cashew paste can also be added.

Add 1 cup water for more consistency and micro for 5 mins.

Wash and cut Paneer into cubes. Remove the bowl, add the paneer pieces, salt, and add water if required.

Micro for 10 mins.

Total Cooking time in Micro mode is 20 mins.

You may feel that it is quite a hassle checking on it at such intervals. But it doesn't appear so when you actually make it.

Without butter or cream, this dish turned out very creamy. The bright red colour is because of store bought powder, you may use a pinch of red food colour if you prefer. But it is normally not required.

Some may add Tomato Sauce in this recipe, but I don't recommend that.

Went very well with Naans. This gravy being so quick and easy, I am sure you can try and enjoy it yourself!

This of course goes for the party I have on the blog for celebrating 3 years of blogging! Hope you are joining in..
Happy week ahead!