Ready Made Soup - Maggi Hot and Sour Soup

The days are getting longer here in the UK. And the temperatures have started to touch double digits (in the positive). The chaos that the snow had caused in december seems a distant night mare now.

I'll be planting my herbs soon - weather permitting, this weekend. I have got all the required stuff for it. Lets hope they survive and grow this time.

I am sure everyone feels lazy during the winter months. Atleast I hope I am not the only one. So on those lazy winter nights, the ready made packet soups (that I got from India) came to my rescue.

Now... before you think I give my 2 year old this, let me tell you that I have frozen some of his food (either soups / rice with dal, veg or spinach) for emergencies. I am not such a bad mother. :-)

I have finished all the soup packets I have got from India. Waiting for my parents to get me more. I managed to click only one soup. Its the Maggi Veg Hot and Sour Soup.

I'll click more next time. But this is not such a bad option during those bad winter nights when all you want is comfort food. The soup is very close to the one we get in the restaurants back home. Here is the photo...

Thai Green Curry

Me and P fell in love with Thai food when we went to Thailand for our first Anniversary. We freaked out on the food. Before we came to UK, there were no decent Thai restaurants in Hydereabad. When we came here, we frequented one restaurant as we thought that was the most authentic Thai we had eaten after Thailand.

But after V was born, its quiet difficult to go out and enjoy food. So we don’t go out much as we think there’s no point in going to a good restaurant and not enjoy the food. We do eat the food – but don't enjoy it.

A few months back, we went to this huge Asian (Not Indian) supermarket where I was looking at a Thai Green Curry paste. I had put it in my shopping basket when a lady (a complete stranger) told me that the paste I took is good but this other one is much better. She bought 2 packets in front of me and went.

Me and P thought may be we should try it. When we followed the instructions, cooked it and took a bite, it took us back to Thailand. The taste was really good.

Its quiet simple to make. Just boil the bite size chicken pieces in coconut milk and add the paste. That’s it.

This is seeing our dinner table quiet regularly from then. And since P can make it, I can relax. And enjoy the food.

We have it with regular white rice. This is one of the best ready made pastes I’ve had. I am sure people of Thai Origin can make it even better from scratch. But this paste is good enough for us.

Happy New Year and Shan Chicken Curry Mix

Happy New Year every one... Hope you've had a wonderful 2010 and here's wishing every one an even better 2011.

My cousin had come from Australia a few days back and he wanted to make Biryani for us. As usual, I was happy to get away from the kitchen. He said he wanted Shan Masala. So we had gone to the Indian store. They were running an offer. Each Masala packet was 69p or 2 for 1 Pound. After dilly dallying, I got Shan Chicken Curry Mix.

We made it today and it was really spicy and strong. We didn't follow their instructions though. Here's how we made it.

Ingredients:
1.5 kg chicken on the bone
1 Onion sliced
2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 pack Shan Chicken Curry Mix
1/2 tsp Turmeric
2 tbsp Oil
Salt to taste
Chopped Coriander leaves for garnish

Method

1. Wash the chicken and marinate it with the Turmeric, Shan Chicken Curry Mix and Salt for atleast 30 mins.
2. Heat oil in a pan and when the oil is hot, fry Onions till brown.
3. Then add the Ginger Garlic Paste and fry till the raw smell goes.
4. Now add the marinated chicken, combine well and let it cook. If you want a thin gravy, add in water. Do remember that the chicken will leave water.
5. When the chicken is done, remove and garnish with coriander leaves.
6. Serve with Roti / Rice.

Do take care that the chicken mix is extremely spicy. If you do not want it spicy, you might be better off marinating the chicken with half a packet (which I might try next time).

Also, I am changing my copyright for the photos. Will update the old photos soon.