After a very long unavoidable gap,i thought i’l give you a combo pack of Ramadan special recipies,for the lost times….

For the rice

250 gms basmati rice,washed and soaked for 30 minutes

100 gm,onions sliced

1/2 tsp.cummin seeds

6 cardamons

4-5 cloves

2 inch pieces of cinnamon

few curry leaves

oil to fry the onions

1/4 cup cashews

2-3 tblsp.ghee/clarified butter

4-5 tsp.of sugar (preferably brown sugar)

salt to taste

Caramelise the sugar in a pan,and once it turns brown,add 1 cup water.Simmer untill smooth for 5 minutes and set aside.

Heat oil ,and fry the onions and set aside.

Heat ghee in the vessel you have set to  make the rice.Add all the spices, curry leaves,cashews and saute till cashew is light brown,Add rice and saute for a further 5 minutes.Add half of the fried onions and the caramelised water,and enough water.(the liquid should be just 1 inch above the rice level).Add salt to taste.Simmer covered till rice is cooked .Garnish with fried onions.

Next recipe is a dish made with mutton and dhals and vegetables which is called the Dhansak.

500 gm mutton

2-3 tomatoes

100 gm brinjals

100 gm masoor dhal(red lentils)

100 gm toor dhal

100 gm small red onions

a small piece of pumpkin(cubed)

1- 3/4 tsp chillie powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

2 tblsp oil

4 tsp.ginger-garlic paste

1-2 tsp cummin powder

1 tsp.pepper corns

2-3 tsp dhansak masala powder(powder 2 tsp dried fenugreek leaves+2 tsp.cloves+2 tsp.black cardamons)

lemon sized ball of tamarind or 2 tsp.amchur powder(you could add fresh raw cut mango too,

in place of tamarind.

coriander leaves

salt to taste

Put the meat,the lentils and the the vegetables add 4 cups of water and pressure cook  on a slow heat till the dhals and meat are cooked .Once the steam is released from the cooker,mash lightly the dhals and vegetables.

Heat oil in another vessel,add onions,ginger garlic paste and tomatoes and cook till tomatoes are soft Add salt,chilli powder turmeric powder,and the dhansak masala and saute for a minute and add the meat mixture,add tamarind .and cook for 10 minutes on a low flame,add chopped coriander leaves.Serve hot with rice.

Note:chilli powder can be adjusted to ones taste.

Next the easiest kabab

500 gm mutton mince

2-3 oniions chopped fine

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

2 tsp. ginger garlic paste

mint leaves chopped fine

3-4 green chillies chopped fine

2 tsp worcester sauce

2 eggs

3-4 bread slices

1 tsp/garam masala powder

1  tsp.chilli or pepper powder

salt to taste

Soak the bread slices in water for a few minutes,squeeze the water out, and mix all the ingredients together except the bread crumbs and egg.Form into balls,dip in egg ,roll in bread crumbs and deep fry till golden brown,

Serve with lemon wedges and sliced onions.