Utsav is participating in the International food festival to showcase our Indian delicacies and also to raise funds for the organization.The food festival will be held on August 9th, 2006 at Empire State Plaza, downtown Albany(around the lake in front of the egg center). We welcome Utsav members and guests to attend this event and get a taste of Utsav's culinary talents. Utsav's talented culinary artists and organizers
Madhuri Sharma
Kalpana Basu
Bipasha Banerjee
Tanushree Mallik
Aparna Aitch
Sangeeta Lahiri
Lopamudra Chakraborty
Our Menu
Vegetarian Meal: Ghoogni with choice of puri or rice pulao - Non-Vegetarian Meal: Chicken Tikka Masala with choice of puri or rice pulao - From the grill: Chicken Tikka kebab wrap - All meals are served with a side salad. Above items may be purchased a-la carte. Also available: Bhel puri - Mango mousse - Bottled water -
Grilled Chicken Tikka in a wrap
Chicken Tikka Masala - A mild curry dish of chicken in a tomato-based sauce, cooked tandoori style (in a charcoal-fired oven). TRANSLATION: chicken tikka, a traditional Indian dish, means pieces of tandoori chicken; masala is a blend of spices. Chicken tikka masala has a truly postcolonial history, produced when one of the world's greatest cuisines found itself confronted by a British palette unused to anything spicier than table salt. Legend has it one obstinate diner demanded gravy on tandoori chicken. A bemused chef responded by adding tin of Campbell's tomato soup and pinch of spices, unwittingly partaking in early example of fusion cookery.
“Chicken Tikka Massala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences. Chicken Tikka is an Indian dish. The Massala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy. “
- Extract from a speech by British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook..
Ingredients - 6 servings
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
4 long skewers
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Steps:-
In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat a grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.
Traditional Indian Thali
Thali is an Indian meal with contents varying from one regional cuisine to another. A thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray. Typical dishes might include rice, dal, vegetables, chapati, papad, curd (yoghurt), small amounts of chutney or pickle,and a sweet dish to top it. We have here a medley of delicacies from eastern India consisting of shrimp and aromatic rice pilaf made from aromatic basmati rice and flavored with Indian spices, green pea curry ( ghughni) , chicken curry, luchi (fried flour bread) , bhel puri (rice puff with veggies and flour condiments), mango dessert served with green salad.
Rice pulao with Carrots and Green Peas
6 tbsp Vegetable oil 1 medium Onion, thinly sliced 1 Garlic clove, chopped 10 Whole cloves 1 Cinnamon stick 10 Cardamom pods 2 each Bay leaves ¼ tbsp. Turmeric powder (optional) 1 ½ cup Basmati rice 3 cup Hot water 1 tbsp. Salt 1 cup Frozen mixed peas & carrots ½ cup Golden raisins ¼ cup Almonds or cashews
Heat the oil in a large pot. Saute the onion until soft, and add the chopped garlic. The "splutter fry" the cloves, cinnamon cardamom, bay leaves and turmeric powder for 30 seconds to 1 minutes. Lower the heat and add the rice. Continue to fry and stir until the rice is well coated with the spices and starts to become transparent. Add hot water (exactly double the measure of basmati rice), add salt and cover the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Stir in peas and rice and cover. Check the rice every 5 minutes or so to see whether the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Taste a grain and see. When the rice is done, fry the raisins and almonds in a little oil and mix into the rice. Do not overcook the rice - it will get sticky.
Chholar ghughni(Green Pea Curry)
2 ½ tbsp Vegetable oil 1 each Bay leaf 2 ½ cup Onion, finely chopped 1 tbsp Garlic, minced 1 tbsp Ginger, minced ½ tsp Turmeric 2 tsp Cumin, ground 2 tsp Coriander, ground 1 tsp Green chile, seeded & minced ½ cup Tomatoes, chopped ¼ tsp Salt 1 ½ cup Chick peas, cooked Mild raw onion rings Roma tomatoes, chopped Cilantro, chopped
Heat oil in skillet & add bay leaf & onion. Fry until richly browned, but not burnt, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir often while cooking. Stir in the ginger & garlic & cook for several minutes. Add turmeric, cumin, coriander & chile, mix well. Add tomatoes & salt. Slightly reduce heat, cover & cook until the tomatoes begin to disintegrate & a thick sauce forms. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, adding a little water if necessary. Add cooked chick peas & cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat & let stand for a few minutes. Serve with garnishes. This dish is excellent with hot potatoes.
Utsav is participating in the International food festival to showcase our Indian delicacies and also to raise funds for the organization.The food festival will be held on August 9th, 2006 at Empire State Plaza, downtown Albany(around the lake in front of the egg center). We welcome Utsav members and guests to attend this event and get a taste of Utsav's culinary talents.
Chicken Tikka Masala - A mild curry dish of chicken in a tomato-based sauce, cooked tandoori style (in a charcoal-fired oven).
Thali is an Indian meal with contents varying from one regional cuisine to another. A thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray. Typical dishes might include rice, dal, vegetables, chapati, papad, curd (yoghurt), small amounts of chutney or pickle,and a sweet dish to top it.
