BACHELOR’S KITCHEN

BACHELOR’S KITCHEN
Welcome to the bachelor pad. Zoom into the kitchen and peak into his fridge, his grocery rack and his masala case. Is it well stocked up? The odds are 50-50. With so many people living away from their family these days (men and women), quickie recipes are the need of the hour. Something that you chop, toss and serve in a jiffy. If you browse our recipe section you will find lots of hot stuff you can cook in minutes, but chances are that if your schedule is choc-a-bloc and driven by the throb of a hectic lifestyle, you will be starved of cooking time. So we decided to assort a variety of easy-to-make recipes. Just take a print out and head for the kitchen. Happy Cooking!!! ESSENTIAL COOKING SECRETS FOR BACHELORSCooking can be a hassle for men living alone especially when they work long hours and have no time. Typically, they end up eating unhealthy, fattening food from restaurants. Instead, use these tips to optimize your cooking and minimize your cooking time! 1)Organise your kitchen: Whether you have a large kitchen or a small space to just stock your gas range and some food, keeping your kitchen space organized will help speed up your cooking. Piles of unwashed dishes and cutlery stored in three different locations will only hamper your speed and efficiency when you get around to it. Instead of letting chores add up, do a little everyday so you aren’t daunted by the task at hand.2) Make a double serving: When the soup you make is so delicious, why make only one serving? Make two or more servings and save the extra for a small breakfast snack or mid-day snack the next day. No more need to start cooking again to satisfy those hunger pangs.3) Use leftovers: Leftovers can be made into a really delicious meal all by themselves. Bread crumbs, vegetable leftovers etc can be combined to make a small snack for the next day. 4) Be prepared: Keep a ready stock of canned food in the fridge at all times. You never know when it will come in handy to make a complete meal along with the leftovers you already have. No need to look at the leftovers and think, “If only…”.5) Plan your cooking: Plan a day when you want to cook from scratch and avoid any major cooking till then. Going through the whole cooking process everyday can be tiresome, so a little planning never hurts. There you have it! Five simple tips to make your cooking life simpler and less time consuming. Now you just need to figure out what to cook! EASY RECIPES FOR BACHELORSFor unfortunate bachelors lost in the kitchen or for the man on the move struggling to look for easy to make recipes, there might be hope yet. Take a look at some delicious yet simple recipes. EXPRESS TOMATO CURRYIngredientsRipe Tomatoes - 3Green chillies - 4 (slit lengthwise)Onions - 2Tomato ketchup - 4 tbsp Oil - 1 or 2 tbsp Red chilly powder – ½ tbsp Turmeric powder – ½ tsp Mustard seeds – ½ tsp Curry leaves – 3 to 4 Preparation Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and when they begin to splutter, add chopped onions, curry leaves and sauté till light brown, on a low flame. Add green chillies, red chilly powder, turmeric powder and cook for a few minutes. Add sliced tomatoes and cook, till your required standard. Switch off the flame. Add tomato ketchup and stir well. Serve hot with rotis. Serves 2 EASY RASAMIngredientsTomatoes (medium) - 3Tamarind juice/paste (thick) - 1 tbspGarlic pods (crushed) - 2 - 3 Turmeric powder – ½ tspRasam powder - 2 tbspCurry leaves – 2 to 3Coriander (chopped) – 1 tbspOil - 2 tbspWater - 3 cupsSalt to tasteMustard seeds - 1 tspDry red chillies - 1 (broken into 2 pieces) Preparation Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add mustard seeds and when they crackle, add red chillies and sauté for a while. Add crushed garlic and stir for a minute. Add chopped tomatoes and salt and stir, till the tomatoes blend well. Add turmeric and rasam powder and stir for a few seconds. Add the tamarind paste and mix well. Add curry leaves, coriander leaves and water. Boil it on low flame for about 7 to 10 minutes. Finally, you can sprinkle asafoetida powder (optional as asafoetida is usually contained in Rasam Powder). Serves 4 PASTA AND CHICKEN SALADIngredients• Pasta, acc to the quantity needed• 4 cups chicken cooked and cut • 3 shredded cabbage and carrots • Frozen peas, thawed • 2 onions finely chopped • ½ cup Italian dressing • Salt & pepper powder to taste. Mix all the ingredients well and chill. Serve after a min refrigerating of 6 hrs. Upma Ingredients• Semolina: 1 cup • Onion: 1 nos chopped finely • A mix of carrots, cauliflower, potatoes and peas, roughly chopped: 1 cup • Curry leaves: 4 nos • Green chilies: 2 nos (slit) • Ginger: ½ inch grated • Mustard seeds: 1 tsp • Fenugreek seeds (optional): 1 tbsp • Oil: 2 tbsp • Buttermilk (thin consistency) optionally you could replace buttermilk with water: 1 glass • Salt as per taste • Grated coconut and finely chopped coriander (for garnishing): ½ bowl Method• Roast semolina in a wok (without oil). • When slightly brown, remove from heat and set aside. • Add oil to a wok and toss in the cumin seeds (and fenugreek seeds). As they start spluttering add the curry leaves, green chilies and grated ginger. • Let these cook for a minute and add the onions. • When onions turn slightly pink toss in vegetables and continue cooking for a minute or so. • Add buttermilk/water and cover the vessel. • When the mix comes to a boil add the semolina and salt and mix well. • Cover the semolina and let it steam for a minute or so. • Remove from heat and garnish with grated coconut and coriander while serving