Prawn Aglio Olio Recipe

Aglio Olio pasta recipe was first introduced to me by my sister, she made it home and I liked it instantly.  I tried to do same here Fusilli with stir fried veggies but as you can see I totally modified the recipe and added veggies, I still do this too as it’s again one of the easy pasta recipe.  Coming back to aglio olio it has to be one of the most easy and quick pasta, the main flavour to this dish is garlic and olive oil so make sure to use good quality of olive oil.   If you have last minute guest then this recipe can work as a charm, pair it up with a salad or soup and you have a grant meal to impress your guest or your family.  And you will be amazed how easy and quick to make aglio olio, if you wish to have vegetarian version then just skip the prawns, it taste delicious with out it too but be generous with olive oil. 

Ingredients: [Serves 2]

For Pasta

Spaghetti – 180 gms [ to serve 2] – I used wheat spaghetti

Water – to Boil

Salt – 1/2 tsp

Oil – 1 tsp

For Sauce

Olive Oil – 3 tbsp

Garlic Large Pods – 4 [chopped 2 tbsp]

Chilli Flakes – 2 tsp [divided]

Red Chilli – 1 [fresh or dry]

Prawns – 12-14

Parsley – 3 tbsp [chopped]

Salt – to taste

Method:

1. Bring a large pot/pan half filled with water to boil, add salt, oil, pasta and cook as per instruction in pack or around 10-12 minutes in medium flame until al dente (cooked and tender to tooth).

2. Reserve 1/4 cup of water and drain rest of it, give spaghetti a cold bath ie keep under tap water and toss it, keep aside until ready to use.

3. Remove the shells and veins from the prawns.  Mix 1/2 tsp salt with prawns and keep aside.

4. In a pan heat olive oil add garlic, chilli flakes and sauté in slow heat until oil is infused with garlic flavour but garlic is not burnt.

5. Add prawns, 1 tbsp of parsley. chopped chilli and cook both sides in slow-medium heat for 3-4 minutes, add 2-3 tbsp of reverse water and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Add more water if required to cook prawn. 

6. Add spaghetti and toss well.  Add salt (keep in mind we already have salt in prawns and pasta) and toss again.  Garnish with remaining parsley and chilli flakes.

Serve hot/warm with any drink.

Variations:

~ Use any pasta of your choice.

~ You can use chilli padi instead of chilli flakes.

~ For vegetarian version, just keep the prawn and follow rest of instruction,  It taste great by itself. 

Have a nice day ~~

Eggless Strawberry & Banana Muffins

I was in happy mood over weekend as my work was appreciated and I achieved what I was targeting for 2 years, as they say hard work does pay offs,  & to celebrate that I shopped, ate and baked!  I tried this combo of strawberry and banana and it came out so good it was way better than I expected, banana & strawberry together works as charm and the flavour is just so delicious.  I didn’t follow any recipe but did on my own and made this muffins as eggless butter-less, if you don't add strawberry emulco (and it’s fine) it will still have light pink color as strawberry and milk is grinded and added. Have along with any juice, tea/coffee as breakfast or snack.  We had it with Pear and Orange Juice for breakfast and others disappeared in no time. 

Ingredients: [Yields 12 regular size Muffins]

Granular Sugar – 1/2 Cup

Brown Sugar – 1/2 Cup

Oil – 3/4 Cup

Silken Tofu – 1/2 Cup [whipped] I used Oranigc

Ripe Banana – 2 Large

Vanilla Extract – 1 tsp

Plain Flour – 2 Cups + 1 tbsp

Baking Powder – 1 1/2 tsp

Salt – 1/4 tsp

Orange Zest – 1 tsp [optional]

Strawberry – 1 Cup [chopped]

Milk – 3/4 Cup

Strawberry Emulco – 1 tsp [optional]

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.  In a bowl mix white and brown sugar with oil until sugar almost dissolves.

2. Add orange zest, whipped tofu and mashed banana and mix well. 

~ I didn’t whip tofu but add and mix well with other ingredients.   It’s better if you whip it and then add. 

3. In a another bowl or plate sieve flour, salt, baking powder and mix with wet ingredients in small batches and stir, do not over mix.

4.  Beat 1/2 cup of strawberry pieces with milk until smooth and add to muffin batter and mix well.  Now add vanilla essence and strawberry emulco (if using) and give a good stir. 

5. Coat remaining 1/2 cup of strawberry with 1 tbsp of flour and mix with batter, this is to prevent fruit from sinking on bottom. 

6.  Line muffin tray with liners and scoop batter until 3/4, if you wish add few strawberry pieces on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. 

~ Keep eye after 20 minutes, I used baked muffin liners and cupcakes cups to bake, though in these cups the batter is more than double of normal size muffins.

Cool in wire rack for 5 minutes, remove muffins and allow to cool completely.

Relish these cute and delicious muffins.

Have a nice day ~~

Pear & Orange Juice

Like my papaya & pear passion, this recipe again I made to consume next batch of pears and it fitted my bill perfectly for morning rush breakfast, have a large glass of this juice and you are done and now it has made it to my one-of-those regular juice recipe! I had fresh batch of mandarin oranges so I combine both and made this refreshing drink.  Orange freshen up and pear adds texture to this easy and quick drink.   If you don’t like pear then it’s a good way to consume the fruit.  Not much of recipe here, just mix everything and grind and enjoy this fruit cooler. 

Ingredients: [Servers –2]

Pear – 1 1/2 cup [chopped]

Orange – 2

Sugar – 2 tsp [to taste]

Orange Zest – 1/2 tsp

Ice Cubes – few

Water – 1 Cup

Method:

1. Wash, peel and chop pear,  de-seeds oranges and pulse with rest of ingredients until smooth.  Pour in serving glass and serve.

Note:

1. You can extract juice from orange and add with pear and other ingredients if you wish.

2. You can use blender filter to put direct orange with out remaining orange seeds etc.

3. You can add soda instead of water. 

4. You can replace sugar with honey.

Have a nice day ~~

Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice

Craving to try pineapple fried rice came after I had it for lunch in one of our office food court’s Chinese Vegetarian Stall, it was actually bad and that reminded me to try it myself.  I had fresh, juicy pineapple and thought of making this one day for my lunch.   I always make vegetarian fried rice and now a days skip doing it as cutting all the veggies takes time, if you are like me then this easy pineapple fried rice recipe is for you.  I never guessed making pineapple fried rice can be so easy and breeze, a great way to have Thai Food at home comfort.  A simple, easy recipe to please your guest or family and perfect for lunch box, am sure you will like this too if you try .  If you think color of rice is different in pictures then it’s due to poor light I had, it has nice yellow color and tasted better than most of Thai restaurant’s pineapple fried rice seriously. 

Ingredients: [ Serves 2-3]

Cooked Long Grain Rice – 2 Cups [I used basmati rice]

Pineapple Chunks – 3/4 Cup

Finely Chopped Garlic – 1 tbsp

Red or Green Chilli – 2

Onion – 1 [medium]

Whole Cashews – 10-12

Peas & Corn – 1/2 Cup [I used frozen]

Carrot – 1 [small]

Raisins - 1 tbsp

Soya Sauce – 1 tbsp

Curry/Sambar Powder – 1 tsp

Pineapple Juice/Water – 2-3 tbsp

Salt – to taste [only if required]

Oil – 3 tbsp

Cilantro – 2 tbsp [chopped]

Method:

1. Finely chop garlic, chillies, carrot, cilantro and keep aside.

2. Mix  1 tbsp oil with rice and keep aside.  Use rice at room temperature or chilled.

3. Heat remaining oil in wok or pan, fry cashews until golden brown and keep aside.  Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.  Add onion, chillies  and sauté for 1 minute, add 1tbsp of pineapple juice or water to sizzle ingredients.

4. Add carrot and sauté for 1 minute, add corn & peas, stir and cook for 1-2 minutes until cooked, add 1-2 tbsp of juice or water if required to get peas, carrot cooked. 

5. Add curry or sambar powder and mix well.  Now add pineapple chunks, rice, soya sauce, raisins and cashews and mix everything well gently over medium-high heat, cook for 4-5 minutes or until rice ‘dances’ (makes popping sounds).

6. Remove from heat, if required add salt or soya sauce.  Garnish with cilantro (I didn’t use).  

Variations:

1. You can add prawns, add along with carrot and peas so prawns gets cooked.

2. If you wish you can add 1 beaten egg, add it after step 3.

3.  Add any other veggie of your choice. 

4. If using fresh peas and corn, you have to sauté it for more time so it’s get cooked or used boiled.

Have a nice day ~~