Cardamom Lamb Chops

Lamb curry with a creamy gravy and mild spices.

Cardamom Lamb Chops

Chef's Name	:	Marut Sikka
Recipe Cook Time	:	1 Hour
Recipe Rating	:

Tags: cardamom, dinner party, lamb, meat, winter

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34

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg lamb chops
  
  1 Tbsp ghee
  
  4-5 green cardamom
  
  2 small cinnamon sticks
  
  1 large bay leaf, broken
  
  1 cup sliced onions
  
  1 cup almonds, blanched, peeled and sliced
  
  2 tsp garlic paste
  
  1 tsp ginger paste
  
  Salt
  
  1 cup yogurt
  
  1 tsp turmeric
  
  1 tsp red chilli powder
  
  1/2 tsp coriander seed powder
  
  1 Tbsp cashew paste
  
  Water
  
  Chopped coriander
  

Method

Take the half kilo of lamb and clean the bone out. Using the blunt edge of the knife, beat the lamb so that it flattens out.

Heat up the ghee in a pan and add green cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaf and roast. Once the spices start to splutter, add the onions and a cup of water.

Cook on low heat till onions caramelize. Then add the garlic paste, ginger paste and cook till they are brown.

Add the lamb chops, salt (to taste) and keep stirring till the lamb is braised on the outside.

Take a cup of yogurt and add the turmeric, chilli powder and coriander seed powder. Whisk well and add to the lamb.

Add the almonds and cook till the yogurt has roasted. Mix in the cashew paste and add water till the chops are submerged. Let it cook till the lamb is tender.

Garnish with coriander and serve hot.

Key Ingredients: Cinnamon, Bay Leaf, Turmeric,Coriander Powder

China lashes out at Japan's new defence plan, says Tokyo maintaining 'Cold War mentality'

File photo: Japanese soldiers prepare surface-to-warship missile launchers during a military drill on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. (Reuters)

Beijing:  China's military lashed out Saturday at Japan's plans to boost defense spending, accusing Tokyo of raising regional tensions under the pretext of safeguarding national security.

China "resolutely opposes" the five-year defense plan adopted by Japan on Tuesday, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

Japan "continues to deny its history of World War II aggression, challenge the post-war order, and harm the feelings of the people of those victimized nations," Geng said.

The strongly worded statement marks the latest salvo in the ongoing string of accusations over who is responsible for a sharp rise in tensions in the East China Sea.

China's military has taken an increasingly hawkish stance amid a bitter dispute with Tokyo over uninhabited islands in the sea controlled by Japan but claimed by China. Japan's nationalisation of the islands in September 2012 sparked violent demonstrations in several Chinese cities. In the months since, Chinese patrol vessels have routinely confronted Japanese ships in the area, sparking fears of an incident.

10 Best Vegetarian Recipes

The garden of leaves and vegetables will be no less than that of Eden, once you try some of these recipes.

Revolutionize your health with the power of vegetables. Green foods are packed with nutrients that form an extremely important part of our diet. They are the healthiest and most filling choices one can make. There are numerous options to choose from, and they can easily be incorporated into meals. From traditional authentic recipes to those loved by all, you'll find exactly what you need here.

Research proves vegetables ignite your metabolism, make a right choice by choosing these healthalicious food. Whet your appetite for a vegetable plot. Did you know that 1st October is celebrated as 'World Vegetarian Day'. This day initiates October as the vegetarian awareness month.

With plant based eggs and meat being created, vegetarianism is definitely the next big thing.

Here are our 10 best vegetarian recipes which we think are a must try! Just a few fresh ideas to inspire you.

Masala Channa
Recipe by Gunjan Goela

A bowlful of mouth watering masala channa topped with tadka aloo. Wah!


Soya Haleem
Recipe by Vicky Ratnani

Haleem is a popular curry prepared during Ramzaan with meat and various dals..Here's a vegetarian version of it made with soy granules. Hyderabadi Haleem is very popular in India.


Aamras Ki Kadhi
Recipe by Aditya Bal

Aditya Bal gets set to tackle Rajputana cuisine with a delicious Aamras ki Kadhi. A quick, easy and tangy curry.

Stuffed Karela with Cheese
Recipe by Vicky Ratnani

Bitter gourd in your vegetable basket -- does it sound like a turn off? Let Vicky help you fall in love with this usually despised vegetable. Sliced karelas stuffed with an aromatic filling, rolled in spices and pan fried.



Khoya Stuffed Matar Ki Tikki
Recipe by Marut Sikka

A great contrast of flavors. Sharper outside and sweet inside. Balance the flavors with a tangy pea tikki stuffed with a sweet khoya and date filling.


Stuffed Baby Eggplant
Recipe by Girish Krishnan

Baby eggplant stuffed with boiled nuts and spices, tossed in tamarind pulp, masala and lemon juice.


Bhutteyan Da Kebab
Recipe by Rajdeep Kapoor

Beautiful kebabs made from potato, corn, cheese and seasoning.

Georgian Eggplant with Walnuts
Recipe by Vicky Ratnani

A lip smacking Georgian side dish. Eggplant slices grilled and stuffed with a walnut mixture.

Paneer Tikka

Every lavish Indian dinner party is sure to have some tikkas. Paneer, capsicum and onions marinated in a yogurt based marinade. Skewered and grilled till brown.

Paneer Tikka

Chef's Name	:	Aditya Bal
Recipe Servings	:	4
Recipe Cook Time	:	1 Hour 20 Minutes
Recipe Rating	:

Tags: indian food, kebabs, paneer, punjabi, punjabi balle balle, tikka

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39

Ingredients

• 1/2 kg paneer
  
  1 tomato
  
  1 onion
  
  1 capsicum
  
  
  Marinade for Paneer Tikka:
  
  1/2 Tbsp cumin seeds
  
  1/2 Tbsp coriander seeds
  
  1 brown cardamom
  
  10 green cardamom
  
  1/2 Tbsp cloves 
  
  1/2 Tbsp black pepper 
  
  2 star anees 2 pieces
  
  1/2 Tbsp shahee zeera
  
  3 Tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  
  2 tsp turmeric powder
  
  2 tsp red chilli powder
  
  2 tsp coriander powder
  
  Salt
                      
  2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
  
  2 Tbsp refined oil
  
  1/2 lime
  
  1/2 Tbsp dry mango powder
  
  1/2 Tbsp chaat masaala
  
  2 green chilli, chopped
  
  100 gms whisked curd
  
  1/2 Tbsp garam masala
  
  Coriander leaves, chopped
  
  Mint leaves, chopped

Method

Marination for paneer tikka:

Dry roast and pound cumin seeds, coriander seeds, brown cardamom, green cardamom, cloves, black pepper, star anise and shahee zeera in a mortar and pestle.

In a bowl add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, salt, kashmiri chilli powder, refined oil, coriander leaves chopped, mint leaves chopped, lime, dry mango powder, chaat masala, green chilli, whisked curd and hara masala. Mix them all.


For grilling paneer tikka:

In a tray spread some paneer cubes, julienne onion, capsicum and tomatoes.

Mix the masala in the tray. Marinate the paneer cubes.

Skewer the tikkas for roasting.

Now keep the marinated paneer tikkas in the fridge for 45 minutes.

Then grill the tikkas till cooked.

Serve the paneer tikka hot.

Key Ingredients: Cottage Cheese

Kingfisher Calender Supermodels 2014 Grand Finale: Aditi Rao Hydari Ups The Glam Quotient

Gorgeous Lisa Haydon, ace photographer Atul Kasbekar and the new blue eyed girl of Bollywood, Aditi Rao Hydari will debate and decide the winner of Kingfisher Supermodels. As the Kingfisher calendar stepped into its twelfth year, the quest to find the flawless face leaped a notch higher. And as we embarked on a journey to discover that picture-perfect model that has the look, figure and attitude to compete with the rest of the supermodels on the calendar, the dramatic battle got bigger in principle and simpler in thought. The fabulous top ten finalists of KINGFISHER SUPERMODELS 2014. (l-r) Ruby, Sukanya, Amishka, Pardeep, Leno, Ana, Merrylin, Aasttha, Bianka, Preeti  Giving the hardcore reality and screaming girls a miss, KFC 2014 impressively highlighted the lives and personalities of ten extraordinary models over thirteen episodes. Every episode had a competition for which industry stalwarts like ace photographers Atul Kasbekar, Charudutt Chitrak, fabulous designers including Suneet Varma, Rina Dhaka, Mohan Neelkanthan, duo Shivan & Narresh, Gaurav Gupta and Vijendra Bhardwaj, the Fashion Director of GQ, India, groomed the girls and judged them on the final outcome. And with unconventional photo-shoots and top celebrities like model Milind Soman and Bollywood actress Pallavi Sharda as mentors, the pressure to win the coveted title was soaring high from the last six weeks. Girls portraying oodles of oomph on a truck  The "tasks" ranged from giving the perfect pose of an item girl to carry out a masculine-alike-sexy attire to leave behind their feminine side to bring out their boyish best and to perform a task never attempted on Indian TV. Notably, one of the task required the beauties to go indo-chic and portray oodles of oomph on top of a decked up truck, a theme inspired by Bollywood item girls. An epitome of beauty and grace, Bianca, with the right amount of confidence and unusual ways of teasing the camera, was the girl to watch out for. Another required them to perfect the art of being filthy and sexy, and give a football pin-up poster girl look, wearing athletic but sexier clothes. Girls limited by ropes but freely emote their seductive side.  Other tasks include enacting themes of 'Bondage' wherein models are "tied up like prisoners, and in a way they had to break free." Beautiful girls were also challenged to depict the cruelty their animal has to bear and create the perfect People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) picture, keeping it natural and earthy. Our ten fabulous posers with Rod Anker, the man behind the varied tresses of these sexy ladies!  7 Weeks. 10 Models. 1 Supermodel Now after six weeks of madness and challenging tasks, it's time for Week 7, the Grand Finale of Kingfisher Supermodels 2014. And what's in store? Well, it's time to shake things up and quite literally so! Ace photographer Atul Kasbekar in discussion with our top four finalists - Bianka, Pardeep, Ana and Leno.  The hunt is in its last spell and after six weeks of stiff competition, we get together to unveil a winner who has aced each grueling task with her picture-perfect looks and the right attitude to sustain in the freezing, barely breathable atmosphere of the modeling world. Our top four finalists - Bianka, Pardeep, Ana and Leno.  The tension is mounting and backstage the atmosphere is buzzing with energy as we have our top four finalists - Ana, Bianka, Leno and Pardeep fighting it out for the coveted title of being the ultimate Kingfisher Supermodels 2014 Girls at their sensuous best  In the finale task, the girls have to be their sensuous best and give their best striking pose on an acrylic sheet floating on water. We saved the best for the last. This week, witness ace photographer Atul Kasbekar will weave his magic behind the lens as he captures our top 4 finalists posing on water.  This task also sees ace lens man, Atul Kasbekar, behind the camera working his magic on the girls as they battle it out to be the new face of the calendar. Three's Company! Lisa Haydon, Atul Kasbekar and Aditi Rao Hydari Will debate and decide the winner of Kingfisher Supermodels 2014  To top it all, the finale is being judged by the very elegant, Aditi Rao Hydari gracing the podium alongside model-turned-actor Lisa Haydon and Atul Kasbekar, to reveal the winner of this year's hunt. Ssshh.. We are not saying anything beyond this! Our ten fabulous posers with Lisa Haydon, Aditi Rao Hydari and Atul Kasbekar.  Catch all the action as Lisa Haydon, Atul Kasbekar and Aditi Rao Hydari debate and decide the winner of Kingfisher Supermodels 2014 and unveil the Kingfisher Calendar Girl 2014 on 21st December 2013 at 10 PM only on NDTV Goodtimes #liveyoung.

No breast implants, please: Brazil samba school tells recruits

AFP Photo

A candidate to Queen of Rio de Janeiro's Samba Carnival 2014 performs during the selection of the Rio de Janeiro's Samba Carnival 2014 Court on November 8, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rio de Janerio:  Two months before Rio's famed Carnival gets under way, a samba school said it was looking for dancers "without silicone breast implants" and would offer a free costume in exchange.

The school wants to recruit 20 dancers "with beautiful and natural" breasts "whatever the size", the news website G1 reported on Friday, citing Paulo Menezes, Carnival producer for the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school.

In this tropical country where the female body is flaunted, plastic surgery is very common.

Brazil ranks second only to the United States for the number of plastic surgery operations, with more than 800,000 annually.

The most popular are liposuction, followed by breast implants, bum lifts and tummy tucks.

Many of the beauty queens parading atop Carnival floats have undergone plastic surgery.

G1 said the 20 dancers that will be selected by Mocidade will each receive free carnival attire, an estimated value of $211 to $504 this year.

Generally, dancers buy their own attire, except those hailing from underprivileged communities who in most cases get them for free.

G1 said the selected dancers "without silicone breast implants" will lead the parade for the Mocidade school, which will vie with 11 other samba schools to be the "2014 Carnival champion" based on their sumptuous displays.

The role of the dancers is seen as crucial as they will leave the first impression on the 70,000 spectators and on the jury in Rio's iconic Sambadrome.

Japan robot astronaut talks Santa in first chat with spaceman

AFP Photo / Kibo Robot Project

This undated handout picture released from KIBO Robot Project on December 20, 2013 shows Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata (L) smiling with the humanoid robot "Kirobo" (R) in the International Space Station (ISS) in space.

Tokyo:  The world's first robot astronaut has begun chatting to the Japanese commander of the International Space Station, in what was being billed as the first conversation of its kind.

Kirobo, a pint-sized android equipped with artificial intelligence and capable of learning how to respond appropriately to humans, even put a marker down for Christmas, telling Koichi Wakata he expected a visit from a certain man bearing gifts.

"Santa Claus will come to space," Kirobo, wearing a Santa hat, told Wakata as they drifted in zero gravity hundreds of miles (kilometres) above the Earth.

"What will you ask for from Santa Claus, Kirobo?" asked the Japanese astronaut.

"I want a toy rocket... let's ask Santa Claus."

The unscripted conversation, in Japanese, was held on December 6, with footage unveiled on Friday.

It is part of a longer-term project to see how a robot can act as a companion for isolated people, particularly to see if it can develop conversational skills.