Ginger-orange tofu triangles

After coming to USA i have started to experiment with food a lot and started to learn various cuisines. One of the best experiment in my opinion was ginger-orange tofu. Let's get started with it. 

Ingredients - 

1 pound firm tofu

1 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 rice vinegar

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/8 cup oil

4 teaspoons dark sesame oil

3 cloves minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 green onions, cut into 1-inch strips

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 dried chipotle chile pepper (optional)

Directions -

1. Turn the tofu on its side, and cut it into 4 thin slices. Lay the tofu flat again, and cut the block diagonally to make 8 triangles. Without separating the pieces, place tofu on a cutting board. Cover, with a paper towel, and place a heavy skillet on top. Set aside for 30 minutes, allowing time for excess water to drain from the tofu.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, oils, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Separate the pressed tofu pieces, and arrange in a baking dish in a single layer. Cover with the marinade, and sprinkle with the green onion and cilantro. Cut the stems off the chiles, remove the seeds, and place the chiles in the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, and up to overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Pour off some of the marinade, so the tofu is covered halfway. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, without turning, until the tofu is golden and most of the marinade has been absorbed.

Paneer Fried Rice

This recipe is one of the finest ways to consume as many veggies as possible and no one will fuss about including fussy eaters, as everyone loves indo-chinese.

Ingredients - 

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

2 cup Basmati rice (long grain rice)

1 cup Paneer cubes

1 Medium size green bell pepper

1/4 cup carrot julienned

1 Medium size onion

1 Teaspoon soy sauce

1/2 Cup peas (fresh/ frozen) 

1/2 Cup chopped onion greens 

1 Teaspoon oil

1 Tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

1 Tablespoon green chili paste

Directions - 

1. Cook basmati rice as per instructions on the packet. 

2. Cut the green bell pepper and onions lengthwise. 

3. Heat the oil in a pan and saute ginger-garlic paste. Once it is fragrant add green chillies, saute for few seconds then fry onion till translucent and add green bell peppers, peas, carrots. Saute for 5 mins.
4. Add paneer cubes. I shallow fried them and then added it.
5. Add soy sauce, salt and pepper.
6. Add cooked rice and mix well but gently.

Serve hot with vegetable stew.

Spinach Soup

I love greens in any forms and in any meal. However, S is little fussy about it. He keeps telling me that I cook hospital food. To make sure that he eats spinach I had to google recipes. I didn't want to make the usual indian curries from it and that is how I stumbled upon a recipe from a website called allrecipes. This is one of the yummiest soups and it is healthy. 

Ingredients - 

1 1/2 cups water

1 bundle of fresh spinach (washed and chopped)

1 tablespoon butter

3 cups milk

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (optional)

1/8 cup minced onion

salt and pepper to taste 

2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

1 clove minced garlic

1/4 cup chopped and boiled carrot (optional)

Directions - 

1. In a saucepan, combine water and spinach. Bring to a boil, and cook till spinach is tender. 

2. Melt butter in another sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic and cook till translucent. Gradually whisk in milk and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add carrots and let it cook for few minutes till it all blends. 

3. Stir in spinach to the mixture. Once everything is cooked and blended well, pour mixture in a blender and blend if you have any chunks of veggies. heat it a little add cream and serve hot with croutons. 

Tips:

If you want soup thicker, you could stir in some all purpose flour in melted butter and then add other ingredients. I skipped all purpose flour and heavy whipping cream to make it healthier. 

You could also use chicken bouillon if you wish to. You can add this step 1 with water and spinach. 

You can try to make soup with other veggies of your choice e.g., mushroom, broccoli, asparagus, etc.