The Ant Blog

It took me less than 10 minutes to bring this together over a Thursday, and I was over the moon with the final product! Sangria and wine are the two things I absolutely adore, and when I came across this recipe I knew I had to try it at home.  Deby and I have been partners in crime for too long to keep a count, so who better than her to share my recipe with! Ingredients for Red wine Sangria Red wine- 1 Bottle,  preferably Merlot   Lemon- 1, cut into wedges Orange- 1, cut into wedges Sugar- 2 Tablespoon fine sugar (Castor sugar works well) Apple- 1, Peeled and cut into small pieces Brandy- 1 shot (optional) Ginger Ale or Club Soda- 2 cups Method for Red Wine Sangria: Pour wine in a pitcher and squeeze in the lime and orange wedges (ensure you remove the seeds out). Toss in the fruit wedges in the pitcher. Add in the apple pieces. Now add the sugar and brandy. Chill this mix for a good 3-4 hours (preferably overnight)...

I have grown up in a family which loves seafood, and more so I have grown up in Goa. So the smell of the sea calls out to me. However, growing up I do not remember seeing my mother cook crabs at home. So I  thought of breaking the tradition by cooking some at home and sharing it with mom. I live in Mumbai now, for over a decade, but this is also the coastal belt and the produce are a lot similar. So I borrowed this recipe from a dear friend, a few weeks back and tried my hands on it.                                                    Crab Masala cooked Maharashtrian style It looks gorgeous, but is quite a simple recipe. Ingredients for Crab Masala: Crabs- Cleaned, 4-5 medium sized Garlic- 10 cloves, crushed and chopped roughly Bay leaf- 2 Asefoetida- 1/4 teaspoon Onions- 2 large Tomato- 1 large Chili Powder- 3 teaspoons Turmeric Powde...

This dish happened to us, on a weekday night! I say so because we were very happily surprised with the outcome of my little experiment on that evening. With some left over minced Chicken and about 200 g of Prawns in my freezer, I could make nothing out of them. Then I thought of blending the two together and balancing the flavors, and it did turn out to be quite palatable.  So to begin with, I threw in the Chicken and Prawns in the blender, with 1 chili, 1/2 inch of ginger, 1 teaspoon of garlic, for the binding 1 slice of bread (cut into pieces) and some salt. For some added color and heat one can also add some Red chili powder (optional). Within seconds, this blitz was ready. I removed the contents in a mixing bowl and added 1 egg, and mixed the ingredients together. This mixture needs to be slightly firm and form lumps, in the form of balls or mini cakes. The Minced Chicken n Prawn mini cakes in all their glory! Ingredients for  Minced Chicken n Prawn mini...

As surprising as it may sound, I was not fond of sweets as a child. I feel sorry for myself now to think that I have missed out on all the home made sweets that my mother used to make and everybody used to adore. Now, i do not miss out on any such sweet or desserts. This one is a famous and a very favorite Indian dessert made with Carrots or  Gajar . This recipe is as simple as it’s flavor is gorgeous! Inspired by the famous Indian Chef late Mrs Tarla Dalal, below is the recipe. In the Making: Gajar ka Halwa Ingredients for Gajar ka Halwa: 2 cups grated Carrots 1 tbsp desi Ghee 2 tbsp Milk 4 tbsp Sugar 4 tbsp Mava (khoya) 1 tbsp Raisins 1 tbsp chopped Almonds 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder Procedure for Gajar ka Halwa: Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker; add the carrots and sauté on a medium flame for 4 to 5 minutes, while stirring continuously. Add milk, mix well and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Transfer into a broad non-stick pan, add the sugar, ...

This is another one of those signature recipe dishes that my mother in law cooks, she had prepared this during my last visit to Kolkata. Over time as I have come to know her, did I understand her love for cooking. She would just about make any new dish in her kitchen if she found it interesting and she still does. She tells me that when she cooks, she forgets her worldly worries :) This particular dish looks vibrant and so like the Italian flag..that I included the word Tricolor in the name there. This kebab will suit the ‘Western’ palate as it goes slightly easy on the heat, but sure tastes brilliant nonetheless.  Chicken Makhmali Kebab ready to be eaten Ingredients ( Tricolor Chicken Makhmali Kebab) Chicken- medium sized, boneless 12-15 pieces Curd- 3 heaped Tbsp Salt- 1 tsp Roasted & Ground spices - 1 tsp (see below) Cashew paste- 4-5 tsp Ginger paste- 1/2 tsp Garlic paste- 1 tsp Onion paste- of 1 medium sized onion Lemon juice- of 1 lemon Vegetable oi...

This recipe is inspired by one of my fave celebrity Chefs.. Nigella L . I just love the way she weaves a story of her culinary trails. So this is a very simple yet delicious dish. She also adds a dressing in the end, which I have skipped here, because I love the Aubergine roast flavor playing the hero in this dish. Halve the baby aubergines, keeping the stalks intact to heighten their beauty! Dunk them, face upwards on a baking tray, add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder (optional), sugar, chili flakes, and finely chopped garlic cloves. Add about 2-3 Tablespoons of Olive oil on this. Now turn the aubergines, face downwards, and swish them around so that the spices and garlic pieces mix and mingle and lodge themselves on the aubergine. Now pre-heat the oven for a good 8 mins, before putting this tray in for another 15 mins. Rest for another 1 min, and then serve hot.              Baby Aubergines marinated Ingredients for Baby Auberg...

Kebabs have always been one of my favorites..and Seekh kebab almost tops that list. Last month I got this special recipe passed down to me by my mum in law, well she is a great home cook to say the least :)  I must say that I was overwhelmed with the final product :D It’s a reasonably simple recipe for such a delicious kebab and the taste is absolutely restaurant quality, I thought that I must share it..and here is my take on it-                                  Chicken Seekh Kebab ready to be eaten! Ingredients for Chicken Seekh Kebab : Minced chicken- 250 g Salt- 1 and 1/2 tsp or as per palate Roasted ground spices- 3-4 tsp Ginger paste- 2 tsp Garlic paste- 3 and 1/2 tsp Curd- 5 Tbsp Lemon juice- Juice of 1/2 a lemon Red chili paste- 1/3 tsp Green chili- 1 and half, finely chopped Coriander leaves- finely chopped, few sprigs Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp Sattu or Roasted...

Most of the days I am really tired after a long day at work, so I just warm the left overs of the previous day and we have our dinner. But sometimes through the week, I feel the need to visit my kitchen and make something nice and kickback with a drink just to make the weekdays a little bearable. Well this one, I made on such a night. Ingredients for Grilled Chicken: Place these in a mortar and pestle/ grinder to make a fine powder Black pepper- 1Tbsp Paprika/ Red chili powder- 1Tbsp Chipotle pepper- 1/2 tsp Garam masala- 1Tbsp Cumin seeds- 2 tsp Oregano- 2 tsp Salt- 1 and 1/4 tsp Garlic cloves- 2 medium sized Transfer this in a zip-loc bag, add  2 Tbsp of Lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp of Sour cream or Yogurt.                                           Spicy Indian inspired Grilled chicken  Place the  Chicken breasts (450 g ) into this ba...

This is one of the most delightful easy cook dishes. Very simple yet really delicious. During my last visit home, I spent some time in the kitchen while my Mom quickly cooked these up.So thought of sharing it here!  To get the flavor of the fish, one should use really fresh fillets of fish. Marinate this in garlic, ginger paste, lemon juice and salt for about 3-4 hours. Take vegetable oil in a wok, and let it heat up to boil, then dip the fillets into a bowl of beaten eggs, and then dust on both sides with bread crumbs. Gently lower into hot oil. They will  turn brown, make sure they do not turn dark.  Ingredients for Fried fish fillet : For marinating Fish fillets- 15 pieces Lemon juice- of 1 lemon Garlic paste- 2 and 1/2 Tbsp Ginger paste- 1 Tbsp  Salt- as per palate For frying Egg- 2 beaten Bread crumbs Vegetable oil Fish fillets in marination                         ...

The week gone by was one of the most hectic weeks for us in recent times. Needless to say that when Friday arrived, both my husband and I were breathing a sigh of relief so to say! But to add to this, I was pleasantly surprised to return home on Friday and find him busy in the kitchen making one of his favorite dishes. He is very comfortable around the kitchen and he enjoys cooking occasionally, unlike many Indian men.  So Mac and Cheese takes about half hour to bring together and can be a great comfort food for a Friday night.  Ingredients for Mac n Cheese: 2 cups of elbow Macaroni 3 Tbsp of Butter 1/4 cup of Flour 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper 1/2 tsp dried Thyme 1/2 tsp dried Rosemary 1 and 1/2 cup Milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Spring onion- 4 stems, chopped roughly Garlic- 4-5 cloves, roughly chopped Green Bell pepper or Capsicum- 1 chopped Hot dogs- 3, cut up  First boil the macaroni according to package instructions. In ...

These babies go as perfect accompaniments as party starters. They are light, crispy, delicious and hardly any sweat. As finger foods, they will taste great and the canapes look great don’t they. Ingredients for Canapes of Lemon Pickled Prawn Tortilla Prawns- med sized 250 g Sweet Lime pickle Ginger Yogurt Tortilla                                            Canapes of Lemon pickled Prawn Tortilla Blend this to get a smooth paste. Ensure that the lemon pickle is the sweet version. If it is the salt based pickle, then you would need to balance the taste of the blended mixture by adjusting the flavor as per taste. Marinate the prawns in this mixture for about 20 mins. Place these on the griddle with a dash of oil, for a couple of minutes. Do not overcook the prawns.  Place these on  tortillas over small cubes of cheddar ...

I have baked this many a times, and it has been a family favorite. A luscious chocolate cake is a great holiday treat. The lovely baking aroma of the rich chocolate cake draws my loved ones into the kitchen and makes it truly special.   Ingredients for Traditional Chocolate Cake Flour- 1 and 1/2 cup Sugar- 1 cup Baking powder- 1 tsp Baking soda- 1/2 tsp Vanilla essence- 2 tsp Sour cream- 2/3 cup Butter- 3/4 cup Cocoa- 1/3 cup Eggs- 2 Transfer the entire contents in a food processor and blitz together. Alternatively, mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately and then mix them together and mix them until they all blend together.  Pour the contents into a tin (buttered and floured beforehand) and bake for 35-40 mins at 350 deg F or 180 deg C. Check with a knife, if done it will be clean after dipping in the cake. *Pre-heat oven at 350 deg F or 180 deg C before baking. For the icing , I double heated the dark chocolate 175...