Salams & Hello All. Hope everyone is doing good! So we’re in Lockdown 2.0. How crazy has this year 2020 been. We have had to make so many drastic changes in our lives 😔 We just have to still be grateful for everything we have or going through wether good or bad. Subhanallah

So this blog post recipe is one that has been requested so many times however due to the fact it involves a few dishes I think I was just procrastinating having to write it up (and also to take step by step pics) This dish is one of my faves but I just hate the fact you end up with so many pots to wash (unless you have a designated pot washer in your household – ahem ahem Aisha!)

So kichri Kari is one of those comfort foods, and I guess is something that originated in Gujarat? I haven’t researched it much tbh however it’s something we grew up eating, in India in our village I know it’s cooked everyday in most households. Also in Ramadhan most people have it for Suhoor too, some of my family here still have to have it for Suhoor in Ramadan. I don’t think I could personally stomach it that early in the morning but I guess it keeps you going for the rest of the day.

Anyways let’s start with the recipe..Bismillah

KICHRI

Ingredients:
2 cup of rice with 1/2 cup oily toor daal (washed thrice and soaked in warm water for 30 mins)
Approx 3 cups of water (boiled)
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 large onion thinly sliced
1 tsp Whole cumin seeds
1 cinnamon stick
3 or 4 cardamom pods

In a deep pot add around 1/4 cup oil and heat, add the sliced onion, cumin seeds, cardamom pods and cinnamon sticks and fry until lightly golden. Add the boiled water and bring to the boil again. Lower the heat, Drain the water from the rice and then add rice to the boiling water, let this come to a boil again and then as the water reduces also reduce the heat until the water has reduced completely. Cover the pot and leave in medium heat until the rice and daal is fully cooked. (I leave in oven to keep warm)

KARI

Ingredients:
2 cups Natural or Greek Yoghurt
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 ginger/garlic paste
1 TBS Curry Masala (coriander, green chilli, garlic blended to a paste)
1 TBS gram flour
Cold water
1 tsp Whole Cumin seeds (Jeera)
1 tsp Mustard seeds
Few Curry leaves

Mix the yoghurt with the salt, turmeric, ginger/garlic paste, curry masala and the gram flour, add enough cold water to thin the yoghurt mix (not too thin and not too thick)

In a pot add around 2 TBS oil and add the Curry leaves, mustard and cumin seeds. Let this sizzle and pop. Now add the yogurt mixture and heat on medium heat while slowly stirring ensuring the yoghurt does not curdle and mixture has heated through. Turn off and leave on the side.

POTATO FRY 🥔

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes (sliced but not too thinly)
Salt to taste
2 tsp Mustard seeds
10 Curry leaves
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chilly powder
1 tsp Coriander/cumin powder
1 tsp garlic paste

Heat some oil in a non stick pan and add some mustard seeds and curry leaves and let these pop, then add sliced potatoes with salt, turmeric, red chili powder, coriander/cumin powder, garlic paste and salt. Mix all together and cover and let this cook on low heat until potatoes are cooked. Keep stirring every so often to make not sticking and if it is sticking then add a little water.

SPINACH CURRY 🥬

1 bag of baby leaf spinach (washed and chopped)
2 small onions (sliced)
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp red chilli powder
2 tsp coriander/cumin powder
1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
1 tsp garlic paste
3 fresh tomatoes (small cubes)

In a non stick pan heat the oil and add the spinach and the sliced onions, mix gently and on medium heat let the spinach wilt. When the oil comes to the surface add all the spices and the cubed tomatoes and mix. Cover and let this all cook gently.

Kichri Kari is best served with lots of sides and different condiments. I usually make a tomato chutney and a cucumber Raita, sometimes a date chutney or mango pickle. Also serve with poppadoms or colourful far far. I also sometimes make an Aubergine or courgette Curry too.

Salams and Hello everyone. Hope you’re all well. I think it’s become a kind of tradition for me to write a blog post in Ramadhan.

Well this time round it’s not a recipe for you however it’s something that I am excited and grateful to have been gifted by a beautiful soul. I’m not one of those people who asks for things but Alhumdulillah when least expected I receive messages from lovely people.

When I received a message from Kausar of Indigo Artisans that she wanted to create a bespoke recipe journal for me I was so overwhelmed that she wanted to do this for me, this was because I knew after having followed her page for quite a while it’s something that is such hard work to make but I also knew that it’s something she’s very passionate about and she also knew that with my passion for cooking it’s something that I would cherish and utilize for years to come aswell as the book becoming somewhat of an heirloom that I can pass down to generations after me.

If anyone who knows me I am very organised but when it comes to cooking I am somewhat a ‘messy cook’ I have spoons flying about, sink overloaded, scrappy bits of paper with half written recipes or trying to read from my notes or screenshots on my phone. Oh and another thing is I am very forgetful, ask me for a recipe and it will never just roll off my tongue so this beautiful recipe book is going to be a lifesaver as I’ll be able to write all my recipes in there and like I said earlier I can pass it onto my daughters and their children inshallah.

I just wanted to share a bit about the background of Indigo Artisans in Kausar’s own word so you can all understand how she started her business. Please do read it so you can also understand her passion for what she does;

‘My business is called Indigo Artisans and you can find me at http://www.indigo-artisans.com/

I have a background in fashion and was a globetrotting designer for many years before switching careers and taking up the mindful art of bookbinding. I have a little home studio in Leicester and make bespoke books (journals, sketchbooks, recipe books, wedding guestbooks, travel journals and more) all made entirely by hand. Hand cut leather, hand folded paper, all stitched by hand without the use of machinery, only a needle and thread, to form a bespoke book. I’ve also just recently added complimentary products to do with calligraphy and hand writing like inks and dip pens.

Most of my work is custom made to order so if you have a dream book, I will do my best to work with you to bring it to life. I work predominantly with leather (its all cow hide (but I do have a small line of faux leather too) and have about 15 different leather colours and 25 different thread colours that you can choose from to create your customised book. I have a whole selection of styles on my website but I also work with clients to create totally bespoke books which I love to do.

I offer a very bespoke and personalised service and most of my items can be personalised with custom printed title pages, monograms or names stitched onto the cover, little envelope pages to slip in loose notes, charms, lined and grid printed pages, maps and more.

The recipe books especially, are lovely heirloom pieces that you can pass down to your daughters or make gorgeous gifts for a bride to be. I know they may seem a little pricey, but I use the most gorgeous pull up leather that just gets better with use and wear and develops a character of its own the more you use it. The paper is a beautiful heavy weight cartridge paper that is a joy to write on. Everything is also totally bespoke, custom made and entirely hand made so it’s a labour intensive process but a really artisan product that you won’t get anywhere else that really is made with love and passion.’

So there you go in Kausar’s own words she’s beautifully explained how much work and passion goes in to what she creates.

I personally am totally happy with Kausar’s service and would highly recommend her if you are looking for something meaningful to gift to a loved one that they will adore and love for the rest of their lives. With Kausar she offers that personal one to one service as she asked me what I wanted every step of the way, she consulted with me in regards to all the finer details, from the colour/cut of the leather and thread to what kind of pages I wanted she also offered her professional advice and opinion on what would look good or not. With her knowing that I have millions of recipes she recommended I go for the maximum pages in the book so I know that I will literally get all my recipes in there. As you will be able to see from the photos of the book the neatness of the stitching and binding is second to none (I just about manage to sew on a shirt button)

Kausar also created a contents page for me, although she did suggest whether I wanted sections I thought I’d just have a contents page so I can write the recipes in no particular order. One of my fave parts of the book is the title page which Kausar personalised with my caption from my blog. The book was delivered beautifully wrapped firstly in tissue paper and placed in a sturdy gift box with a ribbon bow so you know the recipient of this gift like I was is going to be excited as soon as they receive it. I was actually nervous to see it, not in a bad way but nervous that I am going to damage it as it’s hand stitched but the stitching on it is so well done and the book looks strongly held together.

OMG one more thing guys how can I forget one of the main features of the book, as you can see from the pictures Kausar has beautifully hand stitched ‘Hajra’s Kitchen’ on the front of the book. That is surely one of my fave parts of it.

I have always had ugly notebooks that I have written my recipes but I am now absolutely in awe and love with this book and can’t wait to start writing in it. All I need to do now is find some beautiful pens to write in ‘MY’ gorgeous book.

Please do check out and follow Indigo Artisans on Instagram by clicking https://www.instagram.com/indigo.artisans/ and the link to her website is above and will also be on her Instagram bio. She has kindly given a discount code for all my followers so please check out my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/hajras_kitchen/ there will be more details on there.

Once again thank you so much Kausar. My Duas will be with you everytime I open those beautiful pages 💙

Hello People, yes yes Hajra’s Kitchen is still alive and kicking. Lack of blogging and recipes is due to a number of personal reasons. Thanks for understanding ❤️

So recently the amazing Aldi contacted me and asked if I wanted to do a feature on their products. They very kindly sent me some vouchers to use in their store. I am a huge Aldi fan as I shop their regularly and I think their products are great value for money, the quality is brilliant and the fact they now do certain branded items its even better.

These are some of the lovely items I purchased today!

Anyways after racking my brain I thought as we are still in kind of a Summer I’d make a main…the Lamb Sliders and dessert was a mango & Passionfruit cheesecake and also added on a refreshing Passion fruit mocktail.

I’ve tried to take some step by step pics but any questions please feel free to message me.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 KG Lamb Mince

1 and half tsp Chilli powder

1 TBS Tandoori powder

2 TBS Tandoori Paste

1 tsp Salt (add more of needed)

1 tsp Peri Peri Seasoning

1 TBS Lemon Juice

2 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tsp Coarse black pepper

Aldi Brand brioche sliders

Cheese Slices

METHOD:

Wash and Drain the Lamb mince. Add the rest of the ingredients and marinate overnight or at least 2 hours.

Make into small patties and bake for 15 minutes. Once par baked grill in a griddle pan or George Foreman Grill.

To assemble: Slice a slider in half and then layer the Salad in and then add the patty, add some yoghurt mint chutney, add a slice of cheese. Put a skewer through the middle with a cherry tomato.

Mint chutney: Aldi Greek yoghurt, Aldi mint sauce, salt to taste, fresh lemon juice.

Served with a side of Aldi Curly Fries.

Add all the spices to the lamb mince

Mix well and leave to marinate overnight or at least a couple of hoursShape into pattiesGrill in a griddle pan or George Foreman grill Layer Salad into the buns, add the lamb patties and top with a slice of cheese and mint yoghurt chutney.

Now onto the dessert…one of my fave Cheesecakes!

Mango & Passionfruit cheesecake

INGREDIENTS:

For the base:

300g Milk Chocolates digestives

50g melted butter

Blitz some chocolate digestives, add the melted butter to the digestives and mix well. Layer on the bottom of a springform cake tin and press well. Chill for half an hour.

For the topping:

600g soft cheese (Aldi)

150 ml elmlea double cream (whipped separately till soft peaks)

60g icing sugar

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Mango & Passionfruit Coulis (from Aldi)

Whip all the of the above topping ingredients together and then spread on top of the biscuits base. Spread the Aldi Mango & Passionfruit coulis on top.

Chill for a few hours.

All ingredients except the butter are from Aldi

Add the digestives to the chopper and blitz

Blitz until they resemble breadcrumbs

Add the melted butter to the crushed digestives and mix and then press into a springform cake tin and then put in the fridge to chill

Whip the elmlea cream until soft peaks

Add 600g (3 tubs Aldi soft cheese) into a bowl

Add the icing sugar and whisk the cream cheese and sugar

Add the whipped elmlea and lemon juice and whisk well until nicely combined and smooth. Taste for sugar and sourness.

Add the creamy mixture on top of the chilled biscuit base

Spread the mix evenly onto the biscuit base and then add the mango & passionfruit coulis on top

Chill for a few hours until ready to serve

Salams and Hello all! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods…over here winter is well and truly on its way…I am so not a winter person at all, I’m one of those who can feel the cold going right through my bones 😭😭 during winter I just want to be wrapped up all cosy and don’t want to leave the house, if only I was a hedgehog hey? (Why isn’t there a hedgehog emoji 🤔) Lol sorry for all the waffling I just needed to let that out. 

So I recently made this kheema pulao after a long time, as I don’t make it too often I tend to forget about this dish. I hadn’t written it down so had to give my mummy a quick call to run me through it again. Mum was like chuck that in and throw that in. So this time I thought I’d better write everything down as I go along. I have used chicken mince in this recipe but have previously made with lamb mince too, if you do like beef you can make it with that too.  Hope you enjoy making and eating it if you do decide to give it a go. Any questions as always just contact me…lots of love 

Let’s begin Bismillah….

INGREDIENTS:

1 KG or 2lb Chicken Mince (washed and drained completely)

1 1/2 Cup Sunflower Oil

5 onions (slice thinly)

2 tsp Ginger/Garlic Paste

3 TBS Green chillies (blended)

3 TBS Coriander cumin powder 

1/2 tsp Turmeric 

2 1/2 tsp Salt (add more or less according to taste) 

1 TBS Whole Cumin

2 TBS Lemon juice 

1/2 Coriander (chopped fine)

4 Tomatoes (small cubes)

5 Potatoes (large chunks)

1 Cup frozen Petit Pois

1/4 Cup Natural Yoghurt (whisk lightly)

3 Mugs Basmati Rice

3 tsp Salt

1 TBS Whole Cumin Seeds

1 Cinnamon Stick 
3 Cardamon Pods

METHOD:

In a large pot heat the oil and add the slice onions, fry till lightly golden, add the washed mince and also to that add the green chillies, the coriander/cumin powder, turmeric, whole cumin, ginger/garlic paste and salt, keep the flame on medium heat stir well, keep breaking up with a wooden spoon so that the mince does not form lumps.

As the mince changes colour add the chopped tomatoes and yoghurt and let this all cook, when the water is mostly burned off add the frozen petit pois and the potatoes, after around 5 minutes add coriander and allow to cook further until all moisture has burned off. Keep stirring every so often to ensure it’s not sticking to bottom of pot. Turn of once you can see that all moisture has burned off and the mince is nicely cooked.

While the mince mixture is cooking boil the rice by boiling a pot of water, when water comes to boil add the drained rice with the salt and 1 TBS whole Cumin . Cook the rice until it’s par boiled. Drain out into a colander. Run some cold water over the rice to remove the starch.

Once the mince has cooked you will need layer it all. So in another separate large pot, line a sheet of foil at the bottom and layer 1/3 of the rice, then layer the mince mix on top and then the remaining 2/3 of rice. Add some blobs of butter on top and sprinkle some more chopped coriander. 
Cover the pot with another sheet of foil and cover with lid.
Put the pot on the stove again on low to medium heat and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes.

Preheat oven to gas Mark 3 or 170 electric…place pot in oven and allow to finish cooking for around 30-40 minutes. 

Check that potatoes are tender. 

Serve with yoghurt gravy, raita and poppadoms! 

Enjoy 😇

PS: sorry for the pic quality 🙈

Thinly slice onions 

Heat the oil and add the sliced onions 

Fry until lightly golden

Add the mince with all the spices 

Give it all a stir and cook

Add the chopped tomatoes 

Also add the yogurt 

Next goes in the petit pois and potatoes 

And the Coriander 

Give it all a stir slowly

Parboil the rice and layer 1/3 on bottom of a large pot 

Layer the mince mix on top and then another layer of the remaining rice 

Add blobs of butter and Coriander on top of the final layer of rice

Serve the Kheema Pulao with a yoghurt gravy (chaas) and cucumber raita