Usma's Kitchen

10/03/2022

04/03/2022

AFGHANI CHICKEN

Afghani cuisine is known for its mild spicy and lip-smacking flavors. Afghani Chicken is a delicious super creamy dish made with a mixture of yogurt, cream and spices. This recipe can be marinated ahead of time and cooked for a quick weeknight dinner. It can be served warm with rice, naan bread or roti.

Ingredients:
- 1 pound chicken
- 1 large sized onion
- 15-16 garlic cloves
- 2-3 inch ginger piece
- 1 small bunch of coriander leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon dry fenugreek leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 2-3 pieces green cardamom
- 4-6 pieces cloves
- 1 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2-3 green chilies
- 1/3 cup cooking oil

Method:
1️⃣ Blend together onion, garlic, ginger, coriander leaves into a smooth mixture. Add few tablespoons of water if needed.
2️⃣ Add salt, black pepper, dry fenugreek leaves, garam masala powder, lemon juice, yogurt and cream to the mixture.
3️⃣ Apply the marinade over chicken pieces and leave it for few hours or even overnight.
4️⃣ In a pan heat cooking oil & sauté cardamom & cloves for about a minute.
5️⃣ Add the chicken mixture and cook over medium heat for about 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally until water dries.
6️⃣ Garnish with fresh green chilies.

                                    

02/03/2022

CREAM CHEESE FLAN

Cream cheese flan is combination of cheesecake and flan into one rich and creamy dessert. This recipe gives you a melt in your mouth velvety textured flan topped with caramel sauce for extra sweetness.

Ingredients:
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 6 eggs
- 8 ounce cream cheese
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown sugar

Method:
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350 degree F or 175 degree C
2️⃣ Combine sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs, cream cheese, milk & vanilla extract and blend until a smooth mixture.
3️⃣ Place sugar in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until it melts into caramel sauce. 4️⃣ Spread the sauce into baking pan & pour the blended mixture on top go it.
5️⃣ Fill a large oven-safe pot with boiling water and place the baking pan in it.
6️⃣ Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
7️⃣ Chill in the refrigerator for few hours and serve cold topped with berries of your choice.

                                              

21/02/2022

If cooking is your passion then having an abundant & organized spice cabinet in your kitchen is essential.

South Asian cooking uses a lot of spices in their cooking that gives aroma and bold flavors to their dishes. There are hundred of spices that you could add to your collection. However, there are a few essentials that can breathe a new life into your cooking. Here are my top 5:

✅ Turmeric
✅ Red Chili Powder
✅ Coriander
✅ Cumin
✅ Garam Masala

What’s your most used or favorite spices?

14/02/2022

SHRIMP SCAMPI & VEGGIES WITH LINGUINE

This combination of shrimp scampi, spinach & mushrooms over linguine is super easy and delicious that can be cooked under half hour and makes a perfect weeknight dinner. The shrimps are sautéed with fresh garlic, tossed in lemon butter sauce and served with perfectly cooked linguine. Garnish with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes to kick it up a notch. Use zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice instead of linguine for low carb alternative.

This Valentine’s Day if you want to go fancy right at home and in no time then Shrimp Scampi is great for a romantic date night!

Ingredients:
- Linguine 1 lb
- Shrimps 2 lbs
- Spinach 6 oz
- Mushrooms 8 oz
- Butter 4 tablespoon
- Olive Oil 4 tablespoon
- Fresh Garlic, minced 6 cloves
- Onion powder, 1 teaspoon
- Lemon juice, 2 tablespoon
- Red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon
- Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon
- Salt, per taste
- Black Pepper, 1/2 teaspoon
- Fresh Chopped Parsley 1/4 cup

Method:

1️⃣ Cook linguine according to package instructions until al dente.
2️⃣ In a separate pan, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
3️⃣ Add garlic and fry for 1- 2 minutes or until golden brown.
4️⃣ Add shrimps and season with salt, pepper & onion powder. Cook until shrimp turn pink & opaque, about 3 to 4 minutes.
5️⃣ Add spinach and mushrooms and sauté for about 2 minutes.
6️⃣ Stir in lemon juice & parsley.
7️⃣ Combine pasta & shrimp sauce. Toss well to combine everything.
8️⃣ Serve warm with parmesan cheese and red chili pepper flakes.




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14/02/2022

SHRIMP SCAMPI & VEGGIES WITH LINGUINE

This combination of shrimp scampi, spinach & mushrooms over linguine is super easy and delicious that can be cooked under half hour and makes a perfect weeknight dinner. The shrimps are sautéed with fresh garlic, tossed in lemon butter sauce and served with perfectly cooked linguine. Garnish with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes to kick it up a notch. Use zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice instead of linguine for low carb alternative.

This Valentine’s Day if you want to go fancy right at home and in no time then Shrimp Scampi is great for a romantic date night!

Ingredients:
- Linguine 1 lb
- Shrimps 2 lbs
- Spinach 6 oz
- Mushrooms 8 oz
- Butter 4 tablespoon
- Olive Oil 4 tablespoon
- Fresh Garlic, minced 6 cloves
- Onion powder, 1 teaspoon
- Lemon juice, 2 tablespoon
- Red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon
- Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon
- Salt, per taste
- Black Pepper, 1/2 teaspoon
- Fresh Chopped Parsley 1/4 cup

Method:

1️⃣Cook linguine according to package instructions until al dente.
2️⃣ In a separate pan, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
3️⃣ Add garlic and fry for 1- 2 minutes or until golden brown.
4️⃣ Add shrimps and season with salt, pepper & onion powder. Cook until shrimp turn pink & opaque, about 3 to 4 minutes.
5️⃣ Add spinach and mushrooms and sauté for about 2 minutes.
6️⃣ Stir in lemon juice & parsley.
7️⃣ Combine pasta & shrimp sauce. Toss well to combine everything.
8️⃣ Serve warm with parmesan cheese and red chili pepper flakes.

            

       

12/02/2022

GRILLED LAMB CHOPS

Grilled lamb chops are quick & simple to cook and a satisfying meal. They are seasoned with aromatic spices and grilled to perfection. For additional taste, drizzle some lemon juice on top. Serve them with grilled onions and tamarind & mint chutneys as dipping sauces.

These make perfect food for parties & quick dinner. Make these for the Super Bowl tomorrow! 🏈

Ingredients:
Lamb chops 2 pound
Salt 2 teaspoons or per taste
Crushed red chili peppers 1 teaspoon (or use less for milder version)
Crushed coriander seeds 1 teaspoon
Crushed cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
Onion powder 1 teaspoon
Black pepper 1 teaspoon
Garlic powder 1 tablespoon
Ginger powder 1 teaspoon
Lemon Juice 2 tablespoons
Olive Oil 1/4 cup

Method:
1️⃣ Mix all ingredients and make a paste.
2️⃣ Rub the paste on both side of lamb chops & marinate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
3️⃣ Heat a grill pan over high heat until smoking hot.
4️⃣ Add the chops and sear for about 5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness is achieved.
5️⃣ Enjoy!

                        

07/02/2022

ALOO PALAK ( SPINACH & POTATO STIR FRY)

Aloo Palak is a delicious & nutritious Indian and Pakistani vegetarian dish. This recipe is potato & spinach stir fry where vegetables are cooked together with spices. With cooking time under half hour, it makes a quick and healthy weeknight dinner that can be paired with naan bread or steamed rice. It can also be used as a side dish with grilled meats or chicken.

Ingredients:
- 1 pound fresh or frozen spinach
- 2 medium sized potatoes cut in small cubes
- 1 medium sized onion thinly sliced
- 1 tomato cut in small pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt (or as per taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2-3 dried red chilis
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 cup cooking oil

Method:
1️⃣ Heat oil in a pan & add sliced onions.
2️⃣ Saute onions until golden brown.
3️⃣ Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds & dried red chilis and let them sizzle.
4️⃣ Add chopped tomato and cook until soft.
5️⃣ Add salt, red chili powder and turmeric.
6️⃣ Add cubed potatoes along with some water & mix well with the spices.
7️⃣ Cover and cook for about 5 minutes or until potatoes are half cooked.
8️⃣ Add spinach & mix well with the potatoes and gravy.
9️⃣ Cover and cook for about 10 minutes on medium flame until spinach softens.
🔟 Aloo Palak is ready to be served.

🌱

05/02/2022

GREEK YOGURT CUPS

These pretty greek yogurt cups are packed with protein, calcium & vitamins. They’re quick & easy to put together and keeps you feeling full for a long time!

You can use variety of fresh fruits like mixed berries, bananas, pineapples, etc. Top with plain or flavored yogurt of your choice. I used Manuka honey for its health benefits but you can use whatever honey is available to you. Mixed chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds or pistachios give it a texture. It’s like having dessert for perfect healthy breakfast or snack!

Ingredients:

1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup mixed berries
2 teaspoon Manuka honey
1 teaspoon chopped pistachios

Method:

1️⃣Place berries in a cup or bowl.
2️⃣Top with yogurt, honey and nuts.
3️⃣Enjoy!

02/02/2022

CHICKEN JALFAREZI

Jalfrezi is a South Asian stir fry dish that is of British origin & has a touch of Chinese cuisine. It is curry of marinated & fried pieces of meat, generally chicken 🍗, mixed with bell peppers 🫑 & onions 🧅 in a spicy tomato 🍅 sauce. It is generally served with steamed rice 🍚 or naan bread 🫓 but will go with fried rice or noodles🍝 as well.

The ingredients list may seem long but it is very easy to prepare & quick to make after a long day at work. You can even marinate the meat & cut the veggies in advance and cook the curry when you’re ready to eat.

Ingredients:
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breast cut in small pieces
-Salt per taste
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder (use Kashmiri Red Chili Powder for less hot)
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon White Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 1 tablespoon Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Ginger
- 4 medium sized tomatoes or 10oz tomato sauce
- 1 medium sized green bell pepper cut in medium sized pieces
- 1 medium sized white onion cut in medium sized pieces
- 1 to 2 green chilis
- 1/2 cup cooking oil

Method:
1️⃣ Marinate the chicken with garlic, ginger, 1/4 cup oil, and all the spices. You can cook it immediately or leave in the refrigerator overnight.
2️⃣ Heat half of the remaining oil in wok or large pan. Add the marinated chicken chicken and cook on high heat for about 5 minutes.
3️⃣ In a separate pan cook tomatoes and crush them to make sauce. Alternatively, you can use canned tomato sauce.
4️⃣ Add tomato sauce to meat. Cover & cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes.
5️⃣ Add bell peppers and onions. Saute until veggies are tender.
6️⃣ Add green chilis. Combine & cook for about a minute.
7️⃣ Enjoy!

29/01/2022

NEW YORK STRIP STEAK 🥩

Ingredients:
-1 lb Steak
-1 tablespoon coarse salt
-1 teaspoon black pepper
-1 tablespoon garlic powder
-1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
-1 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds
-1 teaspoon onion powder
-1/2 cup cooking oil

Method:
1. Mix all the spices in a bowl.
2. Rub about 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mix on each side of steak piece & sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of oil.
3. Transfer the steak pieces to a hot grill or pan.
4. Cook until desired tenderness is reached.
5. Remove from heat and serve immediately with veggies of your choice.
6. Enjoy

26/01/2022

Everything But the Elote 🌽 Scrambled Eggs 🍳

Elote means “corn cob” in Spanish & is a common street food sold throughout Mexico and in some cities across U.S. It usually comes slathered in mayo & dusted with chili powder, cheese and lime.

The highlight of this recipe is Trader Joe’s Everything But the Elote Seasoning Blend which gives a distinct flavor to the eggs. The seasoning contains everything that you may find on elote - chile pepper, Parmesan cheese, chipotle powder, cumin, dried cilantro, sea salt, etc.

Try it. You won’t be disappointed with your morning eggs. 😎

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon Everything but the Elote Seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon cheddar cheese
1/4 avocado(to garnish)

Method:
1. Heat butter in pan.
2. Beat eggs and add the spices.
3. Cook eggs on medium heat until well done
4. Sprinkle cheese and turn off the flame.
5. Top with sliced avocado.
Enjoy!

26/01/2022

DESI STYLE CHOW MEIN

Ingredients:
-1 pound spaghetti
-1/2 pound chicken breast, thin strips
-1/2 pound shrimps, deveined
-4 cups of mixed vegetables(broccoli, sliced mushrooms, carrots, spring onions)
-2 tablespoons minced garlic
-2 tablespoons tandoori masala
-3 tablespoons soy sauce
-2 tablespoons black pepper
-4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce or ketchup
-2 tablespoons Nando’s medium hot garlic sauce( or any other sauce like Sriracha or hot sauce)
-1 tablespoons worcestershire sauce(optional)
-1 packet Shan chow mein masala
-1/2 cup cooking oil

Method:
1. Sauté shrimps with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp minced garlic & 1 tbsp black pepper. Take out in a plate.
2. Sauté chicken with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp minced garlic & 2 tbsp tandoori masala. Take out in a plate.
3. Sauté mixed vegetables (except the green part of spring onions) with 1 tbsp soy sauce & 1 tbsp black pepper.
4. Add shrimps & chicken to vegetables.
5. Add all sauces and sauté for 2 minutes.
6. Boil spaghetti as per box instructions until al dente.
7. Add boiled noodles to vegetables & meat mixture.
8. Sprinkle with Shan chow mein masala, oil & green part of spring onions.
9. Mix well and leave on low flame for about 5 minutes.
10. Enjoy!

Hope you enjoyed this recipe. Stay tuned for many more!

26/01/2022

Hello & welcome to my page! A little about myself: I am a wife, a mother & a software engineer by profession. Cooking is one of my hobbies. I make all different kinds of food: Pakistani, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, American, to name a few. From this page, I plan to share my love for food & healthy living with you. I hope you will enjoy it!