CELEBRITY MASTER CHEF DR KAVIRAJ KHIALANI
Egg is one of the best-known useful commodities known to us. The very significant role of eggs in our life is the number of us who include eggs from the start to the end of the day meals. From a filling morning breakfast with varied egg preparations to brunch menus, adding them to salads, sandwiches, dressings and dips too. Eggs are truly easy to adapt to and its role has been quite important in not only cooking but baking as well from cakes to fancy exotic goodies.
Eggs are among the most nutritious foods you can find, providing virtually all the vitamins and minerals you need. To top things off, eggs are cheap, taste awesome and go with almost any food. They really are an exceptional superfood.
Eggs provide the highest-quality protein – while also containing 13 essential vitamins and minerals, alongside necessary omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
60% of the high-quality protein in eggs can be found in the egg white, while the yolk contains the rest, along with vital healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – all compounding for a valuable contribution to your daily nutritional needs.
Eggs whites and yolks being the two components within the shell need to be checked for quality and freshness before being broken and blended into our recipes. Egg fried rice, egg curry, egg Akoori or bhurji concept, baked eggs with spinach and cheese, eggs with chicken sausages/ fish/ prawns and quick munchies are great to try as well once in a while.
Here are a few simple recipes using Eggs:
BRUNCH STYLE PAN SET EGGS
Ingredients
Eggs- 3-4 no
Oil-2 tsp
Butter-1 tsp
Garlic-1 tsp chopped
Green chilies-1 tsp
Onions-1 small chopped
Tomato-1 med sized chopped
Potatoes-1-2 cut into cubes
Salt and pepper to taste
Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Green capsicum-1 no cubed
Water-1/2 cup
Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp. chopped
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe and keep aside.
- In a pan heat oil and butter add in the garlic, onions, chilies and saute for 2-3 mins, add in the tomatoes and potatoes, salt- pepper and all spices and saute for 1-2 mins, add in little water and allow to simmer few min until potatoes are cooked.
- Now add in the capsicums and eggs and allow eggs to set in for a few minutes.
- Add fresh coriander leaves and serve hot.
EGG MUSHROOM FLORENTINE
Ingredients
Oil-2 tsp
Butter-1 tsp
Garlic-1 tsp chopped
Onion-1/2 chopped
Mushrooms- 5-6 sliced
Peas-1/2 cup boiled
Eggs- 3-4 no
Salt and pepper to taste
Mixed herbs and chili flakes to taste
Fresh cream-1/2 cup
Cheese-2 -3 tsp.
Fresh herbs like basil- 4- 6 no.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the brunch type dish called egg mushroom Florentine.
- Heat oil and butter in a pan and saute the onion and garlic, add in the salt and powdered spices, add in the peas, mushrooms and blanched spinach.
- Cook the mixture for 4-6 mins and break in the eggs and allow to set and cook on a bed of the spinach and mushrooms, check for salt, pepper, herbs and seasonings.
- Once done we shall be plating it and serving with a portions of bread rolls/ toasts etc.
EGG SALAD IN LETTUCE LEAVES ON TOAST
Ingredients
For the base– assorted lettuce leaves -1-2 cups
For the salad mixture:
Boiled cubed eggs- 2-3 no
Salt and pepper to taste
Capsico/ tabasco sauce- few drops.
Mayonnaise sauce- 2-3 tbsp.
Boiled macaroni pasta-1/4 cup
Boiled potato cubes-1/4 cup
Assorted sprouts-1/3 cup
To serve on: toasted bread slices/ french bread slices etc.
For the garnish: parsley, mint, micro-greens.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the salad recipe.
- In a mixing bowl combine together the ingredients for the salad and add in the dressing for the dressing and give it all a nice toss, chill the salad for 20 mins.
- Remove and arrange the lettuce leaves as a base on the serving plate.
- Top with the interesting garnishes like olives, cherry tomatoes, parsley sprigs, nuts and seeds of your choice.
- Portion the salad onto the base of the lettuce leaves and garnish appropriately and serve chilled.
HEALTHY EGG BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE
Ingredients
Eggs-4-5 no
Oil-2 tsp
Butter-1 tsp
Onion-1 small chopped
Green chilies- 1 tsp chopped
Tomato-2 med sized chopped
Salt to taste
Kasuri methi- 1 tsp
Red/yellow/green capsicums-1/2 cup
Coriander powder-1 tsp
Cumin powder-1 tsp
Red chili powder-1 tsp
Water-1/4 cup
Sunflower seeds/ flax seeds/ melon seeds- 2 tsp.
Fresh coriander leaves- ½ cup chopped
Olives -2 -3 no sliced.
To serve with
Bread rolls, multi-grain bread/ toasts etc.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe as listed.
- Heat oil and butter in a pan add in the onions and chilies, methi, and saute for a few seconds, add in the chopped tomato.
- Continue to add in the capsicums and salt, powdered spices and mix well add in a little water to prevent burning, cook 2 mins.
- Break in the eggs one by one and allow them to settle and slowly scramble them as they start cooking.
- Reduce the flame and allow to cook for 2-3 mins, add in the seeds and coriander leaves and mix well, serve hot with assorted breads, butter, cheese and cup of tea/coffee, add shredded boiled chicken or sliced chicken sausages to the same recipe for variation.
EGG MASALA DUM BIRYANI
Ingredients
Eggs- 4-6 no hard boiled, peeled
Basmati rice-2 cups boiled.
For the masala
Oil-2 tsp
Ghee-2 tsp
Bay leaf- 2 no
Peppercorns- 4-5 no
Green cardamom- 1-2 no
Onions-1 cup sliced
Ginger-garlic paste-1 tsp
Green chilies- 2 tsp chopped
Tomatoes-1/2 cup puree
Curd- ½ cup beaten, thick
Water-1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Red chili powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1 and a half tsp
Cumin powder-1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder-1/2 tsp
Kasuri methi-1 tsp
Coriander and mint leaves- 2 tbsp. chopped
Rose water-2 tsp
Saffron solution-1-2 tsp
Fried nuts-2-3 tsp
Browned fried onions-1/2 cup
Kewra water/essence-1 tsp
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the egg masala biryani as listed.
- Heat oil and ghee in a pan add in the whole spices and add in the sliced onions and lightly brown them, add in ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, and cook for 1-2 mins. Add in tomatoes.
- Add salt and all powdered masalas and cook for 1-2 mins, add little water as needed, add the thick beaten curd and mix well, cook on low flame for 2-3 mins.
- Add kasuri methi and the boiled eggs and cook in the masala for 2-3 mins and layer the cooked rice on top, add in the onions, nuts, rose water, saffron water, kewra water etc and top with mint and coriander leaves, cover and give dum to the egg biryani for 10-12 mins. Open and serve hot with raita, papad, pickle.
JHATPAT AKOORI KA ZAIKA
Ingredients
Eggs- 6- 8 no
Oil- 2 tbsp.
ghee- 1 tsp
Cumin seeds- ½ tsp
Fennel seeds-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves- 6- 8 no
Slit red/ green chilies- 3-4 no
Sliced onions- 1 small
Tomatoes- 2 med sized, diced
Salt to taste
White pepper powder to taste
Garam masala powder-1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Coriander powder-1/2 tsp
Parsley/ spring onions/ coriander-2 tbsp. chopped
Lime juice- 2 tsp
Method
- Pre-prep all the ingredients for the recipe as listed above.
- In a mixing bowl beat up the eggs with a pinch of salt and few drops of cold water and add in all the ingredients from salt to powdered spices and all the assorted veggies as well, give it all a nice mix.
- Heat oil and ghee/butter in a pan add in the curry leaves, slit chilies, jeera and fennel and saute for 15 seconds, add in the entire egg mixture into the pan and allow to settle for a couple of mins, cover and cook on a medium flame for 2-3 mins.
- Using a spatula or flat spoon gently mix the contents of the pan and add in the greens and a dash of lime juice and serve it hot with roti, phulkas, naans, parathas or even cheesy garlic toasts.
Celebrity Master Chef Dr Kaviraj Khialani is a Mumbai-based hotel-restaurant and food consultant. He is specialised in over 33 international cuisines and has quality experience with hotels and airlines as a part of his long journey of over two decades in his chosen field. Chef Kaviraj is a renowned author, academician, food designer, writer and has also been awarded several national awards and global recognitions for his talent & outstanding achievements. Besides having been featured on several food shows on ColorsTV and Star Plus he is a mentor, coach and guide to aspiring to be future chefs and hoteliers of tomorrow.
He can be contacted at twitter: @kaviraj_chef, Mobile: 91 9820939336. Mail: chefkaviraj249@gmail.com
