Spinach Pasta and Black pepper shrimp

Hope u guys had a wonderful long w/e.. Mine was busy celebrating my SIL's birthday and then cooking...My heart felt thanks for all the participants in FIC event...

Spinach pasta was originally prepared by Indira of Mahanandi. Basically it is basil and spinach combo with pasta.. I didn't have basil so i omitted it.. It tasted different.. I have to try it with basil...Lets see the ingredients..




Ingredients:
1 cup of basil and 1 small bunch of spinach ( I didn't use basil)
Medium red onion and tomato - one each, cut into big pieces ( I used white onion)
6 to 8 green chillies and
4 garlic cloves - sliced into big chunks
Half cup of cashews
Salt and peanut/olive oil to your liking (I used corn oil)
Pasta of your choice (I used linguine)

Checkout the original version from Indira's site....

Preparation:

saute all the ingredients in a pan except pasta. Saute till the spinach wilts and the raw smell of the ingredients vanishes..Remove from heat..allow to cool. Use blender to make them into smooth paste. Don't add water, the mixture has to be thick. Heat a teaspoon of oil and pour in the pureed mixture. Stir in half to one cup of water. Have a taste, add salt if needed and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the sauce reaches the desired thickness. Meanwhile cook the pasta on boiling water until al dente. Strain and add the pasta to the sauce.. Pasta is ready..


Black pepper Shrimp

Shrimp/prawn is my all time fav.. I tried Black pepper shrimp in a Chinese restaurant.. It tasted so good.. I tried to imitate it with Indian ingredients.. It was 90% close to the original version.. I think there should be a secret ingredient which gives a punch to the recipe...

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked shrimp
1 tsp pepper powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp soy sauce
salt to taste

Seasoning:
8 big garlic cloves finely chopped
8 redchilli ground to flakes

Preparation:
Marinate the shrimp with specified ingredients for 3-4 hrs. Heat oil in a pan, add chopped garlic and red chili flakes. Fry for few minutes. Add the marinated shrimp. saute for 5 -7 mts. Shrimp cooks very fast. Don't cook shrimp more than 10 mts (if ur using jumbo shrimp cook accordingly). Once the water is absorbed, the shrimp becomes dry.. Remove from heat.. Serve hot with Sambar or rasam rice...

Shrimp/Prawn Masala

Shrimp/prawn doesn't make any difference to me. In Chennai we used to buy prawns all the time. I never know anything about shrimp!!!! Till date I couldn't find out the difference between prawn and shrimp. Who cares whether its a shrimp or prawn.. I absolutely love it..

Ingredients:

1 Packet peeled and cooked prawn/shrimp

1 onion finely chopped

1 tomato finely chopped

1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp garam masala

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp fennel seeds

salt to taste

Oil for seasoning

Preparation:

Clean the prawn and marinate with turmeric powder. Leave it aside. Heat oil in the pan and add fennel seeds.. once the aroma comes out add onion. Fry onion till they became translucent. Add Ginger garlic paste. stir for a minute. Add chopped tomatoes and fry till tomatoes become mushy. Now add all the powders and fry till the raw smell evaporates. If this sticks to bottom, U can sprinkle water. Add soy sauce & salt and saute for 2 mts. Add marinated prawn. The prawns are already cooked so it will take about 10 mts to absorbs the gravy. Mix well. It should be dry side dish... Garnish with coriander leaves...

Serve Hot with Chappathi, Biriyani or Sambar!!!