Haute Cuisine

I STARTED cooking seriously as a reaction to all the eating out I had to do after winning the Miss India pageant. At one point, I was orderi...

I STARTED cooking seriously as a reaction to all the eating out I had to do after winning the Miss India pageant. At one point, I was ordering out at least once a day! As a result, I developed stomach problems8212;it took me almost six months to recover. Since then, I am much more careful about what I eat. Lunch is usually a salad and I enjoy experimenting with all kinds of dressings. I love non-vegetarian food and eat chicken or mutton at least five days a week. I normally use the microwave to cook, it saves so much time.

CHILI CON CARNE

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp oil
500 gm lean
mutton mince
2 tbsp chili masala or to taste
Salt to taste
200 gm tomato pureacute;e
1/2 cup water
450 gm rajma, cooked
3-4 cheese cubes, grated

METHOD
To make the chili masala, mix equal quantities of coriander powder, oregano powder, garam masala, granular garlic powder, paprika, red chilli powder and some dried, crushed basil.

Heat oil at a 8216;high8217; setting in the microwave in a flat, round bowl. Crumble the meat into it and add the chili masala, salt, tomato pureacute;e and water. Cover and cook on 8216;high8217; for about 2 minutes, stirring well halfway through. Then add the rajma and cook for a minute. Let the dish sit for five to seven minutes, top it with lots of grated cheese and serve hot with fajitas, hunks of bread or cucumber/carrot/radish crudites.

CHICKEN STEAK

INGREDIENTS
Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper for marinade
2 large boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large tomato
2 onions
8-9 cloves of garlic
1 capsicum or red/yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup tomato pureacute;e or sun-dried tomato paste
1/4 tsp sugar
4 cheese cubes

METHOD
Marinate the chicken for anywhere between two to five hours. Chop the vegetables finely. Heat the oil in a flat microwave-safe bowl, add the onion, garlic, tomato, capsicum or bell pepper, tomato pureacute;e or paste and sugar in that order and cook for 2 minutes on 8216;high8217;. Slit the chicken breasts horizontally so that a cavity is formed, like an envelope. Add the chicken to the sauce and cook for 1.5 minutes on 8216;high8217;. Before flipping the chicken over, place cheese cubes in the breast cavity. Cook again for 1.5 minutes. Sprinkle oregano and basil over the dish and let it stand for 10 minutes.

I like my chicken steak really juicy, but if you like it well done, cook a while longer.