It was our first valentine’s day in the US, we had never celebrated this day before. I had just got a new job. So we thought of celebrating the day. I knew V does not like any non-Indian food, but I insisted that we go to an Italian restaurant. He booked in Zio’s restaurant which is close to our apartment. We went there and it was packed full. After waiting for a while, we got a place to sit. I had tasted Italian food only once before this, few years ago. So I started acting as if I knew everything about Italian dishes and told V that I want to eat lasagna. I told him it is the best dish they have. He took quite a while to read the whole menu and carefully selected Grilled Chicken Amalfi .
Are you still interested to know what happened or have you already guessed? As usual, I hated my dish. Not that it was bad, but it was not like how I had thought it would be. I just ate few spoons and left a huge portion. V was enjoying his amalfi like anything. It had totally turned him into an Italian food lover. The chicken was very tender, just the way he likes and it was served with angel hair pasta. After that day, we ate at Zio’s almost once in every 2 weeks and every time we ordered same dish. We are so crazy about this dish.
Now we have become such a huge fans of Italian dishes that, when we eat out, it is usually Italian food. We have tried many dishes in different restaurants. We love them all, but amalfi is still one of the favorites. I have been trying to learn Italian cooking these days. Not that I have been very successful, but I keep trying. V’s only request every single time is – please learn to make amalfi. So this time, I read the menu carefully and made my version of it. I still don’t know what they use for the chicken, but atleast I know they use lemon cream sauce for the pasta. I tried this and it was just out of the world. I just fried the chicken in a skillet because I don’t have access to grill. But I am sure when grilled this would taste the best. I am not calling my version as amalfi, because this may not be the way they make it, its just my version.
This is my entry to Sig’s Grill It event .
Ingredients: 1/3 rd pack (about 125gms) of angel hair pasta 2 chicken breasts 1/4 cup sliced onion 1/2 tea spn chopped garlic 3 sun chopped dried tomatoes 1/2 cup cream 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1 tbl spn lemon juice Pepper 1 tea spn butter Olive oil Salt
Method: Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper and salt on both sides of chicken breasts and keep it aside for 30mins (Usually pepper and salt are added and immediately it is cooked, but I thought 30mins resting time would help chicken pieces to absorb the flavors). In a skillet, spread some olive oil. Heat the skillet to screaming hot. Now add the chicken pieces. Do not disturb the pieces for few minutes. After a while, turn them upside down. When they are completely done, take them out on a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep them hot. Cook angel hair pasta in water according to packet instructions. In the same skillet used to cook chicken, add butter. Keep the flame on medium. When butter is melted add onion and garlic. Take care these two should not turn red. Fry only till they are translucent. Now add lemon juice heat for half a minute. Add cream(take care not to boil the cream. Just heat it till the cream is warmed up). Mix well. Add sun dried tomatoes, salt and pepper. Add Parmesan cheese, mix. Add the drained pasta, mix. Serve the pasta with chicken piece.
Serves : 2 Preparation time : 20mins
Pulav is a complete one pot dish loved by rice lovers. It is an elegant complete meal in itself and very nutritious because of all the vegetables in it.
Pulav was not a common dish at our place 20 years ago. People here prefer rice and gravies to these dishes. I started making different types of pulavs at my home because my husband and kids loved these. There are still many houses where pulavs are never prepared, though they are becoming part of functions these days. One of the reasons for this may be, basmati rice is very expensive compared to normal rice.
I got this recipe from a book when I was newly married and moved to my new home. Over the years I have made a few changes to the original recipe. The version I have posted below is something I have been following for many years now. It is very simple and gets ready very quickly. Everyone at home loves this dish. I serve this with a simple raita – (tomatoes, onions, green chillies, coriander leaves mixed with yogurt).
Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice 2 cups vegetables – green beans, carrot, fresh peas, potato, cauliflower 1/2 cup onion Ghee Coriander leaves and tomato slices for decoration Salt
To be ground to a paste: 1 tea spn ginger pieces 1 tea spn garlic pieces 1 tea spn chilli powder 1 tea spn coriander seeds
Method: Soak the rice in water for about ten minutes. Drain the water and spread the rice on a paper towel for drying. Cut the vegetables into small cubes. Heat the ghee in a vessel and fry the onions for three minutes. Add the paste and fry for 3 – 4 minutes. Add the rice and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add vegetables, salt and enough water to cook(about 2 and half cups). Cover the vessel and cook on a medium heat till the water is absorbed and rice and vegetables are cooked. Decorate with tomato slices and coriander leaves. Serve hot.
Serves : 2-3 Preparation time : 25mins
