Warm within

This option might be warm from inside as well as help you create the much needed heat over chilled winter dinners. “What makes it warm is the chicken fibre. This is served sizzling hot with rice and noodles,” says chef Badri Nath of Yo China.

Recipe

ingredients– Four large chicken breasts-boneless,ginger paste,garlic paste,one cup onions-finely chopped,two tbsp coriander leaves-chopped,two green chillies-finely chopped,tbsp black pepper powder,one tbsp vinegar,salt to taste,sizzler plates (Iron plate preferrable),oil as required

4Wipe the chicken breasts and beat with a mallet or a knife to flatten.

* Cut each into two pieces.

* Mix the chicken with the other ingredients,except oil.

* Put aside to marinate for 2 hours or so.

* Heat a frying pan with a thin layer of oil and add the chicken to it,over high heat.

* Turn the chicken and then lower the heat and cook till tender,turning once so that it is brown on both sides.

* Before placing the chicken on the sizzler plate,heat the iron plate very hot.

* Place the iron plate on a wooden tray so that you can handle it.

* Keep some Cabbage leaves,chopped onions (which are fried till golden brown),fried curry leaves,dry red chilli and if you think carrot can add more colour and nutrients value,please add that too.

* Before serving put some butter on the plate

Gajar ka halwa

It seems Hindi filmmakers knew the ‘hot’ effect of Gajar ka halwa,else,they wouldn’t have glamourised this favourite desert of millions by associating it with the warmth of a mother’s love. “The very fact that gajar ka halwa is made in pure ghee with a lot of dry fruits,the effect of this dish is certainly warm. Further,carrot,the main ingredient also has a hot effect on the human body,” says chef Sanjay Mitra of Le Meridian. He further adds,”We use tender red Delhi carrots instead of the regular un-seasonal ones. They are juicy as well as the apt choice for making authentic gajar ka halwa.”

Recipe

Ingredients– Pure desi ghee,cashew nuts,khoya,red Delhi carrots,milk,almonds,resins

* Put milk and grated carrots in a heavy base kadhai,deep saucepan and bring it to boil. Cook over medium heat until all the milk gets dried up. You should stir the mixture occasionally to prevent any sticking.

* Add sugar,cardamom powder,1/4 cup dry fruits and continuously stir for 5-7 minutes.

* Add ghee and khoya. Stir well and fry on low heat until ghee starts separating.

* Decorate with remaining dry fruits and serve hot

Red rice soup

A chilly winter night,a hot bowl of soup and a favourite book to read- doesn’t this look like the perfect recipe for a memorable evening? Well,what can add warmth to this evening is a perfect selection of soup. “Soups are certainly the best and healthier alternatives for a hot cup of tea or coffee. The Red rice soup is known to beat the winters in China the temperatures where can go down to negative degrees. The specialty of the soup is assorted seasonal hubs imported from China,” says Richard Chung,chef,Red Dragon.

Recipe

Ingredients– Red rice,herbs,shallots,tomatoes,oil,basil leaves,salt,pepper

* Heat the oil in a large saucepan,add the shallots and fry gently for 4-5 minutes or until softened.

* Add the rice and stir to coat all the grains evenly with the oil,then cook gently for 30 seconds. Add the stock and the tomatoes with their juice.

* Bring to the boil,then cover and simmer for 35-40 minutes or until the rice is just tender.

* Stir in the chopped oregano or basil,and season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into serving bowls. Top with a few basil leaves. Serve hot.

Chocolate truffle cheese cake

Here’s another reason to have chocolate during this time of the year. “It is a special cake that includes truffles,cheese along with chocolate inside the cake. Many prefer to have it with black coffee. A favourite in America,the dish is warm because of the cocoa leaves in the chocolate create the warming effect,” says US chef Lisa Baig of Coffee Jar restaurant.

Recipe

Ingredients– 1/2 Cup of crushed chocolate sandwich cookies,two teaspoon melted butter,softened cream cheese,sugar,one teaspoon vanilla essence, Semi sweet chocolate,three eggs

* For Crust: Mix crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven 10 minutes.

* For Filling: Mix cream cheese,sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Blend in melted chocolate. Add eggs,mixing on low speed just until blended. Pour over crust.

* Bake in preheated 325°F oven 55 to 60 minutes or until center is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.