Indian Spiced Cashews Pistachios And Currants Food

SPICED NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spread the nuts out on a large baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are lightly toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Transfer the nuts to a serving bowl. Pour in the butter and toss to coat evenly. Serve warm or room temperature.

INDIAN-SPICED CASHEWS

Steps:

• On parchment paper-lined or greased rimmed baking sheet, toast cashews in 350°F (180°C) oven until fragrant and golden, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the sugar, salt, curry powder and cumin; set aside.
• In saucepan, bring water, remaining brown sugar and butter to boil, stirring constantly. Add cashews, stirring to coat; simmer until no liquid remains, about 3 minutes. Add to spice mixture; toss to coat well.
• Spread nuts on same baking sheet; roast until coating is dry and slightly golden, about 10 minutes. Let cool on pan on rack. (Make-ahead: Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.).

SPICY CASHEWS

Steps:

• Place a medium-size saute pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and cashews and toss to coat. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper and toss until warmed through. Remove from heat and serve. They will crisp as they sit.

INDIAN SPICED CASHEWS, PISTACHIOS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 with rack in the middle.
• On rimmed baking sheet with silpat or parchment toast cashews 4 minutes, rotate and 4 more minutes.
• Add pistachios and toast 2 more minutes then move to wire rack.
• Mix the spice mix together in a bowl.
• Bring glze to a bowl over medium high heat, stirring constantly.
• Stir in nuts and stir until shiny and liquid is evaporated, about 1.5 minutes.
• Put nuts and currants in spice bowl and toss well to coat.
• Put back on baking sheet to cool.

BASMATI RICE WITH CASHEWS, PEAS AND FRESH CORIANDER

Steps:

• In a small pan over a medium heat, bring the water to the boil; add the salt and turmeric; reduce to a simmer and cover tightly.
• In a larger - preferably heavy-based - pan, over a medium heat, heat the ghee or oil; add the yellow asafetida powder and chopped onion and stir to combine for 1-2 minutes, add the rice and sauté for about 2 minutes, or until the rice becomes whitish in colour.
• Carefully pour the simmering water into the pan containing the rice, stir briefly, and if the peas you are using are fresh, add them now; increase the heat so that the water is again boiling, then reduce to a very low heat and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid.
• Simmer the rice for 15-20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed by the rice and the rice is tender and flaky; if you are using frozen peas, add them 5 minutes before the end of this stage of the cooking; stir through the rice quickly, and replace the lid as soon as you can.
• Remove the pan from the heat and leave it covered and undisturbed for 5 minutes to allow the grains to firm up.
• Fold in the cashews, chopped baby spinach leaves and chopped coriander leaves, and stir well to combine the ingredients.
• Serve hot, garnished with the remaining herbs.
• NOTES: (i) I have suggested adding the chopped baby spinach leaves in step six, as baby spinach leaves wilt very quickly once they come into contact with something like hot rice. If you would like your spinach leaves not just wilted but cooked, add them when adding the frozen peas towards the end of the cooking time in step four. (ii) The Zaar Kitchen Dictionary suggests that either garlic powder or onion powder are suitable substitutions for yellow asafetida powder.

SPICED PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Make the Garlic Oil: Heat the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring to make sure the garlic cloves are coated in oil. Lower the heat to keep warm for an additional 35-40 minutes, moving the garlic around the pan every so often to prevent burning.
• Let the oil and garlic cool to room temperature. Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 30 days. Makes 1 1/2 cups.
• Do not discard the garlic cloves. They are just like roasted garlic and can be used in recipes or spread on toast.
• Make the Pistachios: Preheat the oven to 400°F Blend the Garlic Oil, oregano, and rosemary in a blender on high speed for 2-3 minutes, until the herbs are fully incorporated. Toast the fennel, coriander, and caraway seeds in a sauté pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, shaking the pan often to prevent burning.
• Transfer the seeds to a spice grinder or a mini food processor, add the chili flakes, and grind to a fine powder.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ground seed mixture, sugar, Aleppo pepper, paprika, and salt.
• Place the pistachios in a roasting pan. Combine the pistachios with the blended oil mixture, add the spice blend, and stir until evenly coated. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Makes approximately 2 cups. Can be stored at room temperature for three days.

CHAAT MASALA MIXED NUTS WITH CORNFLAKES

Steps:

• Whisk chaat masala, cayenne, and sugar in a small bowl to blend. Combine cornflakes, almonds, cashews, and pecans in a medium bowl.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add cornflake mixture and toss to coat. Cook, tossing often, until fragrant and beginning to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer cornflake mixture to a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle half of chaat masala mixture over; toss to coat. Sprinkle remaining chaat masala mixture over and toss to coat again. Let cool, then transfer to a large bowl. Do ahead: Nut mix can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

INDIAN SWEET SAFFRON RICE WITH RAISINS AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Bring water to boil in saucepan. Place the saffron threads in a small bowl and add 2 1/2 tablespoons of the boiling water and soak the threads for 10 to 15 minutes.
• In the meantime, add the basmati rice, cinnamon stick, cloves and salt to the saucepan of boiling water. Cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and let sit with cover on for 5 minutes.
• Optional: In small pan, lightly saute onion in oil and set aside.
• Next combine the saffron water (strain the water through a small sieve to remove threads), sweetener and cardamom seeds in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until the sweetener is dissolved. Lower heat and simmer 1 minute. Pour the syrup over the rice (and stir in onions if using) then re-cover pan.
• Heat the ghee or oil in small pan over medium-low heat until warm but not smoking. Fry the nuts and raisins until nuts are golden brown and the raisins swell. Stir the raisins, nuts and oil into the hot cooked rice and gently fluff with fork. Remove cinnamon stick and cloves. Spoon rice onto a serving platter and garnish with toasted nuts if desired.