Delicious & Tasty Chinese Food - Lemon Chicken Hunan Style

Chinese food has become a staple in the diet of many food fanatics all over the globe. It has been proved from many surveys that more than 25% of the world's population consumes Chinese food every single day! A Chinese restaurant or Chinese takeaway & parcel places can now be seen on famous food streets & renowned malls in all the big cities in India and the world. The great news is that you do not have to go to a restaurant anymore to feed your cravings. There are many websites and food recipe portals on the web that offer many mouth watering recipes at a single click. The goal of these websites is to offer you the choicest recipes for Chinese & Mandarin food that you can cook and feast on from your own home instantly. These portals share a number of favorite Chinese food recipes with the masses so that one can experience the goodness of these mouthwatering delicacies whenever you desire without any hassles. Authentic Chinese food is not the same Chinese food which is available at your local Chinese eatery or takeaway restaurant.

Authentic Chinese food is territorial, provincial, region specific whose specialty belongs to a certain section of the country. Hunan cuisine is one such unique cuisine which is a specialty and has originated from one of the food specific sector of China - The Hunan province. Unique specialty and exclusivity of Hunan cooking is the type of avant garde use of chillies. Dishes are often made using heaps of fresh chillies, complete with seeds, so if you're feasting on Hunan cookery for the first time, be sure to have plenty of yoghurt or ample loafs of bread to minimize the heat or you may find that beer is more delectable and identically efficient. If you are trying the Hunan cuisine for the first time, you will need paper handkerchiefs to mop up the tears of chilly heat as well as tears of delight.

Hunan cuisine is acclaimed for its exotic use of chili peppers, garlic and shallots, and for the utility of sauces to accent the fiery yet incomparable flavors in the platter of an authentic Hunan cuisine. Hunan dishes are often hit with the masses for its use of contrasts of flavors. It is quite common if the Hunan dish you order or prepare is a blend of many flavors like - hot and sour, sweet and sour, sweet and hot - pungent, spicy, tangy and sweet all at once. Hunan cooking experts are acclaimed for their dexterity to create a unique blend of different spices & herbs with their ingredients. An apt example for a perfect spicy Hunan cuisine would be Hunan spicy beef with vegetables. It is a cuisine that is very famous and almost a kind of staple cuisine in the Hunan province.

The uniqueness of this dish is that the beef is first immersed overnight in a citrus and ginger marinade, and then the marinated beef is washed and rubbed with chili paste before being mixed in a unique tasting brown sauce. The end result is a meat that is immensely tender which will melt on the tongue and it keeps changing its flavor to almost a new one even when you are chewing on it. Let us discuss a Hunan recipe which is sure entertain your spicy and tangy taste buds.

Lemon Chicken Hunan Style

Hunan Province is the home of the sweet and sour sauce.

3 large chicken breasts, boned and skinned, cut in half

1/4 cup flour

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Mix flour, egg, baking soda, cornstarch, oil, salt and soy sauce. Dip chicken into batter and fry until golden. Drain. Cut chicken crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange on a heated platter. Keep warm. Pour Lemon Sauce over and garnish with lemon slices.

Lemon Sauce:

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon catsup

1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon cold water

Heat water, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, catsup, chicken bouillon, salt and garlic to boiling. Mix cornstarch and water and stir in. Cook and stir for 30 seconds or until thickened. Serve hot.

India Food Network is a website that provides a number of recipes online. It is home to recipes of many types of cuisines like Continental, Chinese, Indian & Italian cuisines. You can enjoy a large number of recipes available on the web at the ease of a single click. Don't miss out on these exotic recipes and encourage the chef in you right away.

Indian Delicacies - A Definition of Tasty & Spicy Food

Indian food comprises of various types of cuisines from India as well as neighboring places in the sub continent. Ample amount of green vegetables, fresh fruits, fiery spices, and exotic herbs are used to create aristocratic Indian delicacies. There has been a boom in number of Indian restaurants coming up in the food market. Many popular Indian restaurants these days are generation old establishments or family-owned Indian food chains. Are you new to Indian delicacies? Are you looking to eat best delicacies that make up the perfect Indian food platter? If yes, it is very important to know what type of cuisine to order. Novelty in Indian delicacies is one of the most appreciated aspects about the food in the country. Food from Southern parts and that from the Northern parts of the country are vastly different, which proves as a vital point that makes the Indian delicacies a focal point of discussions. South Indian cuisine is more of chilly and coconut ingredients & exotic oils, with the majority gracing absence of non vegetarian food, while north Indian delicacies frequently have non vegetarian items and are fiery with add ons of spices and gravy made up of exotic herbs. Such delicacies are a result of religious beliefs among the two different regions of the country. But the effulgent part of such a difference is that people from both the regions, respect the cooking patterns of all the regions and take pride in eating them and promoting them, whenever the chance comes up. There has been a steep rise in the use of modern methods of microwave cooking. This has resulted in the process of cooking food items becoming hassle free. There are many regions in the country that follow the convential and traditional measures of Indian cookery. Scores of people in metropolitan cities and in developing towns cater to microwave recipes which help in bringing out a special taste. Thanks to some chefs with expertise and cooking connoisseurs, people in India are getting acclimatized to the art of microwave cooking, along with putting inputs from Indian culture and traditions. But the fact which is the talking point & still remains undeterred is the way Indian recipes are respected and get good in quality and repute amongst the world every day. The daily life of an Indian individual is never complete without a proper dose of Indian food. This has always been regarded as the essence of the Indian cuisine. Let us discuss one such recipe which oozes out the distinguished Indian flavor of the Indian recipe. India Food Network is a site that provides amazing yet quick to cook recipes at a single click. Do you have a knack of cooking spicy delicious Indian cuisine? So what are you waiting for? Log on to India Food Network and enjoy your favorite Indian cuisines now.

Aloo Gobi Methi Tuk (Crispy potatoes with cauliflower & Methi leaves)

Ingredients:

2 medium potatoes

1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets

1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)

1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)

1 1/2 tsp ginger-green chilli paste

1 cup finely chopped fenugreek (methi) leaves

2 tsp chaat masala

1 tbsp oil

Salt to taste

Other ingredients:

Oil for deep-frying

Method

Cut the potatoes into thick wedges (lengthwise) with the skin on.

Deep fry the potatoes and cauliflower separately till they are golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper and keep aside.

Heat the oil in a non-stick pan; add the cumin seeds and asafoetida and heat.

When the seeds crackle, add the ginger-green chilli paste and sauté for 1 minute.

Add the fenugreek leaves and sauté till the leaves are crisp and lightly browned.

Add the fried potato and cauliflower pieces, chaat masala and salt and mix well.

Serve hot.

Tips

An easy way to make a simple version of chaat masala at home is to mix equal parts of black salt, roasted jeera powder and amchur powder.

Quick and healthy recipes: Asparagus and Rice Soup

One can be in a happy state of mind if he has two things: health and wealth. An imbalance in either can make you discontent with your life. They say wealth is not in our hands but health most definitely is.  Today healthy food is replaced with junk food. Some may say it’s tastier, some may say it’s their comfort food etc. But in the end, it is still junk. Many of us are used to eating in a certain way and not really bother about what we eat. We should try and regularize our eating pattern to stay fit. This change can’t happen overnight. It will happen only if you consciously try. People tend to change their eating habits after they have a health scare. The more serious the health condition, the more serious the change, but it would be better if people made changes early and prevented health problems in the first place.

Another reason for health issues is that people overeat. A lot of people tend to skip breakfast because of their busy schedule. Breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day. Your breakfast should be the heaviest while your dinner the lightest. It is important to have small meals after every 2 hours so you don’t tend to hog when you get hungry. Drink lots of water as it helps in flushing out toxins from your body. As I said, staying fit and healthy is in our hands.

Asparagus and Rice Soup Fast Recipe

Ingredients:

·                     4 clove(s) garlic, crushed and peeled

·                     1/3 cup(s) extra-virgin olive oil

·                     2 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil

·                     2 cup(s) russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

·                     3 cup(s) leeks, chopped, 1/4 inch of white and all green parts

·                     2 bay leaves

·                     1 tablespoon(s) coarse sea salt or kosher salt, plus more to taste

·                     1 1/2 pound(s) fresh asparagus, cut into 1/3-inch chunks, plus more spears for garnish

·                     1 cup(s) Arborio rice

·                      Freshly ground pepper, to taste

·                     1/2 cup(s) grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more to taste

Directions:

·       Sauté garlic with 1/3 cup olive oil in a heavy-bottomed, 6-quart pot over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes.

·       Add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until crusty but not browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

·       Add leeks and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.

·       Add 5 quarts water, bay leaves, and 1 tablespoon salt.

·       Stir well, scraping potatoes from pot bottom.

·        Cover, bring to a boil, and add cut asparagus.

·       Lower heat to vigorous simmer and cook, uncovered, about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until reduced by a third.

·       Add rice, bring to a boil, and cook 10 minutes.

·       Remove from heat and season with pepper and more salt to taste.

·       Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 cup grated cheese.

·       If desired, steam remaining asparagus and garnish.

·       Serve hot.

Health Benefits of Organic Food – Eat Healthy, Live Healthy

Making a commitment to healthy eating is a great start towards a healthier life. Beyond eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats, however, there is the question of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. How foods are grown or raised can impact both your health and the environment. This brings up the questions: What is the difference between organic foods and conventionally grown foods? Is “organic” always best? What about locally grown foods?

Organic Food

Organic foods are the farming products that are produced using methods that do not involve modern artificial inputs such as synthetic pesticide and chemical fertilizers. Organic food items are in their most natural form and never been processed by means of irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives. These food products are produced in a manner that limits the use of synthetic materials during production.

Although organic foods have no unsafe chemicals and toxicants, but it does not conclude that organic production is return to traditional farming. Environmental science has contributed precise methods of non-toxic pest & disease control. Farm apparatus allows organic farming on a large scale to meet the growing demand for organic food items.

Benefits of Organic Food Items

Benefits of organic food items vary from health benefits to ecological rewards. Pesticides and toxic fertilizers are not used for organic farming, which result a healthier products with many benefits. The recognized benefits of healthy organic foods are:

·         Consuming organic food items keeps us away from poisonous pesticides, toxics and herbicides, which can reduce the risk of cancer.

·         Organic farming keeps pesticides out of streams and groundwater, thus it’s very beneficial for environment.

·         Organic food items are better in taste as there are no chemicals added to them.

·         Irradiation is used on non-organic foods to kill bacteria and it alters the molecular structure and live properties of the food, which further affects the taste, quality of the food.

·         Healthy organic food is safer to eat for babies and children. An average newborn baby has approximately 200 toxins in its body. Feeding them organic food items reduces the amount of toxins.

·         Organic natural foods are more healthy and enriched with higher nutritional content, more vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and proteins.

These are the known benefits in general, but there are many more benefits which are still under study by various scientists and organizations. We might tell you about those in one of our future blogs.

Since the benefits of organic food items are becoming better known the demand has increased throughout the world. Even in India, the people are being concerned about the food they eat and are adapting organic food items for healthy living. We inspire India to steer towards online food shopping and go organic for healthy living. Organic food is not just better for you and your family, but for the entire planet.

The Favourite Chicken Recipe You Always Wanted to Know

It is an age old stating that one must consume right to stay splendid. These days individuals live an exceptionally chaotic lifestyle. This lifestyle clearly does take a toll on a single's health. One must give careful consideration to their eating regimen and what it includes. It isthe key that the fixings in the day by day nourishment satisfy the essential nutritious needs of an individual. It should blanket all the territories of the vital strands & minerals which are must for everyday support of the human form. Distinctive individuals like diverse sorts of recipes. The taste changes from Mexican, Continental, Chinese, Indian and considerably more. It is not dependably that sound recipes are sure to be flat or uninteresting. Assuming that the sound elements are united with legitimate measure of flavours and showy include ones, it can effectively bring about fulfilling the taste buds of an individual. It might sound a pretty dull work for some individuals to cook the aforementioned solid recipes. At the same time one can state from private experience that it is not in any way drawn out. There are numerous alternate ways and cooking tips included to make cooking a cheerful rapture. The fundamental key to straightforward, solid and tasty recipes is ordering it legitimately. One must arrange the recipesin a particular order to be set aside a few minutes.

Garlic Chicken Wings

Time: 30 minutes and additional the marinating time (1 hour)

Ingredients:

6 chicken wings - pricked
1 egg - slightly beaten
1/2 cup corn starch/corn flour
1 Tbsp garlic paste
1 tsp red chilli - paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soya sauce
2 tsp vinegar
Oil - for deep frying

Method:

Blend the chicken, egg, corn flour, garlic glue, chilli glue, salt, soya sauce, vinegar and enough water, for the purpose that all the chicken pieces are covered with the paste or batter.

Keep aside for about an hour.

Heat oil and deep fry the chicken wings over elevated high temperature in the first place and after that bring down the heat till the wings are essentially cooked through.

Drain on an absorbent paper and keep separately.

Simply before serving, heat the oil again and fry the wings till it is brown.

Drain on an absorbent paper again and serve it in a wooden plate for the effect.

Chicken Curry:

Ingredients:

·         1 kg chicken pieces of your choice, skin removed

·         2 large onions sliced thin

·         2 large tomatoes diced

·         2 tbsps garlic paste

·         1 tbsp ginger paste

·         2 tsps coriander powder

·         1 tsp cumin powder

·         1/2 tsp turmeric powder

·         1/2 tsp red chilli powder

·         2 tspsgaram masala powder

·         4 tbsps vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil

·         Chopped coriander to garnish

This above all essential of chicken recipes is moreover one of the tastiest! Serve Chicken Curry with Chapattis (Indian flatbread) or plain simmered rice.

Method:

• Heat the oil in a cooking pan and barbecue the onions work brilliant till brown. Take out from the oil with an opened spoon and empty on paper towels. Turn off blaze.

• Grind the onions into smoothpaste and keep it in a separate bowl.

• Now grind the tomatoes, garlic and ginger paste together into a smooth paste.

• Heat the remaining oil again and include the onion paste. Sear for 2-3 minutes. Presently include the tomato and all the flavours. Blend well.

• Fry the masala work the oil starts to separate from it.

• Add the chicken to the masala and cook till it is brown.

• Add 1 1/2 measure of heated water to the chicken, stew and spread. Cook work the chicken is delicate.

• Garnish with finely chopped coriander and present with hot chapattis (Indian flatbread), Naans (tandoor-heated Indian flatbread) or plain boiled rice.

Healthy Chicken Recipes - Chicken with Mushrooms & Scallions

It is an age old saying that one must eat right to stay bright. Nowadays people live a very hectic lifestyle. This lifestyle surely does take a toll on an individual's health. One must pay special attention to their diet and what it comprises of. It is very essential that the ingredients in the daily food fulfill the basic nutritious needs of a person. It must cover all the areas of the necessary fibers & minerals which are must for day to day maintenance of the human body. Different people like different types of recipes. The taste varies from Mexican, Continental, Chinese, Indian and much more. It is not always that healthy recipes are bound to be bland or uninteresting. If the healthy ingredients are merged with proper amount of spices and elaborate add ons, it can easily result in satisfying the taste buds of a person. It would sound a pretty tedious job for some people to cook these healthy recipes. But one can say from personal experience that it is not at all time consuming. 

There are many shortcuts and cooking tips involved to make cooking a joyous bliss. The main key to easy, healthy and tasty recipes is organizing it properly. One must plan the recipes to be made well ahead of time. This helps in proper time commitment to each recipe and keeping it on a nominal cost. It can be a good idea to get the complete family included in the preparation of the meals. In fact children too small to cook can help out by setting out the dishes, cutting up vegetables, cleaning the table and cleaning the dishes. These healthy recipes mean good food & good diet that automatically brings out good health. It is like an art of turning simple recipe into a dish of healthy nutrients in a tasty plate. Let us discuss one such recipe which is high on the basic needful ingredients. Along with nutritional prowess it also doesn’t fail to satisfy the taste buds of each and every individual.

Chicken with Mushrooms and Scallions

Makes: 4 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 12 minutes

·         Ingredients

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 small bunch scallions, sliced, whites and greens separated

1 small garlic clove, finely chopped

4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps thinly sliced

4 cups water

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1 2-inch piece gingerroot, peeled and cut into 1/4 -inch rounds

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 -inch cubes

·         Directions

1. In a very large skillet or soup pot, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the scallion whites and garlic; cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

2. Pour the water into the pan. Stir in the soy sauce and ginger and let simmer for 2 minutes. Gently place the chicken pieces in the broth. Reduce heat to low; cover and poach until the chicken is just cooked through, about 7 minutes.

3. Transfer the chicken pieces to wide, shallow bowls. Ladle broth over the chicken. Garnish with the scallion greens and serve.

·         Nutrition facts per serving

190 calories, 28g protein, 7g carbohydrate, 5g fat (0.9g saturated), 1g fiber.