the three eyed beast

i *heart* indian food.  if they made pins of this (and i will find one..) i'd pin it on my backpack next to my fav reduce-reuse-recycle.  yes, that much.  that doesn't mean i know how to cook the stuff.  or really what i am eating while ordering...hey, i grew up in small town ontario!  but i know what i like..such as how my taste buds can hop up and down pushing and shoving each other in anticipation of each bite.  i enjoy how eating indian is more of an experience for me, still.  an opportunity to be savoured, cherished.  beyond reach, other than in an eclectically decorated aromatic public setting.  until now that is.  sure i've tried to make a few dishes before, none of them have really turned out unfortunately..but i think..today might be different.  new to this blogging biz, i've found a site i really like called Budget Bytes, here is a link to the recipe which inspired me today: http ://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2011/02/quick-curried-chick-peas-316-recipe-053.html

and here is a recipe i found for naan bread:

INGREDIENTS

6 cups white flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 egg, beaten

4 tsp melted ghee or oil

fresh cilantro sprigs, to garnish

Naan Bread Instructions

• Sift the baking powder, sugar, flour and salt together in a large bowl. make a small well in the center.
• Mix water and egg together and add to dry ingredients.
• mix together until a heavy dough forms. Shape the dough in to a ball.
• Soak a clean dish towel in hot water. Wring it out and use to cover bowl. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Take dough and roll it out on a counter brushed with melted ghee or oil and flatten with a rolling pin.
• Occasionally sprinkle the dough with ghee or oil and kneed in little by little until it's completely incorporated.
• Shape dough in to 10 equal sized balls.

• Resoke the dish towel in hot water and wring out again. Place over dough balls and let sit for 1 hour to rise.
• Meanwhile put 1 or 2 cookie sheets or stoneware in the oven to preheat at 450 degrees.
• Use a slightly greased rolling pin to roll the dough balls in to tear drop shapes about 3 mm or 1/8inch thick.
• Add a little ghee or oil to cookie sheets or stoneware. arrange nanns on cook wear and bake for about 5-6 minutes.
• They will appear golden brown and slightly puffy.
• As you take out of oven brush with ghee or oil and serve immediately. garnish with cilantro

and then the recipe i found for butter chicken:

Ingredients

1/4 pint yogurt, plain
1 teaspoon ginger, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
3 lb chicken, skinless; cut in pieces
1 oil
2 oz butter
1 cinnamon stick -- 1 inch
6 cloves
6 green cardamoms
1 bay leaf
1/4 pint sour cream
1/4 teaspoon saffron; crushed
1/4 pint cream
1 salt; to taste
2 teaspoon almonds, ground
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon ; water



Directions: How to Cook Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken)

Mix yogurt, ginger, salt and red coloring and rub into chicken. Let it marinate overnight.

Place in an ovenproof dish and brush with oil. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40-50 minutes. Save the liquid, if any.

In a saucepan, melt butter and fry cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms and bayleaf for 1 minute. Add sour cream and chicken liquid. Add crushed saffron, and cream. Cover and simmer gently for 5-6 minutes. Add chicken pieces and adjust seasoning. Add ground almonds. Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to the chicken.

Let it thicken. Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.

i have to be honest here and say..that pretty much all of it was a fail, but it all tasted good if that makes any sense?  the butter chicken tasted nothing like butter chicken, but i beefed it up last minute with a few dash of this and that and i have to admit it WAS actually delicious.  the channa marsala was ok, not as spicy as i would have liked but i only had mild curry powder.  i also made raita which was a huge success, and equally huge..the naan bread was awful.  not sure what i did there.  moving right along it was a great inspiration to acknowledge that i was able to come at least close to procuring a typte of food i both admire and enjoy so much.  hope you try it out! x