Mince & Brinjals, Panna Cotta, Balsamic Strawberries And Dahi Bhindi by Zarnak Sidhwa

Ingredients for Panna Cotta:

• Milk  120 ml
• Orange zest  2
• Vanilla essence  1 tsp
• Caster sugar  150 gm
• Cream  1-1/2 liters
• Gelatin  2 tbsp

Method:

1. Soak gelatin in milk and set aside.
2. Place orange zest, caster sugar and vanilla essence in a pan, add 800 ml cream and boil.
3. Simmer till mixture is reduced.
4. Heat milk on a low flame till dissolved.
5. Add warm cream, pass through a sieve, let cool.
6. Fold remaining cream into mixture, place in ramekins or molds, to set and chill.
7. When set, tip out the panna cottas from the remakins and serve with balsamic
8. strawberries on the side.

Ingredients for Balsamic Strawberries:

• Strawberries  450 gm
• Balsamic vinegar  75 ml
• Caster sugar  25 gm

Method:

1. Marinate strawberries and balsamic vinegar with sugar for 2-3 hours.
2. Toss to coat well.
3. Serve panna cotta with it.

Ingredients for Mince & Brinjals:

• Mutton mince  1/2 kg
• Brinjal, sliced in circles  2 large
• Tomatoes  4
• Green chilies  2
• Onions, finely  4
• Ginger garlic paste  2 tbsp
• Ground clove  1/4 tsp
• Ground cinnamon  1/4 tsp
• Red chili powder  1/4 tsp
• Turmeric powder  1/4 tsp
• Oregano  1/2 tsp
• Grated mozzarella cheese  1/2 cup
• Tomato puree  6 tbsp
• Salt  to taste

Method:

1. Firstly, apply a pinch of salt, red chili powder and turmeric powder to the brinjal slices.
2. Keep aside for 5 minutes.
3. Shallow fry the brinjal slices lightly and drain on clean paper towels.
4. Keep aside.
5. Heat oil, toss in green chilies and onions and stir fry, add tomatoes and ginger garlic paste and fry it for a minute.
6. Add mince, powdered cinnamon, cloves, chili powder, tomato puree, half the quantity of the oregano and salt to the mince.
7. Mix well and then add water.
8. Allow it to cook until the mince is nearly dry.
9. Line bottom of a greased dish with half the fried brinjal slices.
10. Then, on top of these brinjals slices, put the mutton mince.
11. Then again, put a layer of the brinjal slices.
12. Cover the top most layer with the grated cheese.
13. Sprinkle a little oregano over the top of the cheese.
14. Then cover the top of the baking dish with a foil.
15. Bake at 180 degree C for 15 minutes, remove the foil and let the cheese brown.

Ingredients for Dahi Bhindi:

• Lady fingers 200 gm
• Yogurt  2 cup
• Turmeric powder  1/2 tsp
• Rice flour  1 tsp
• Oil  2-3 tbsp
• Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp
• Fenugreek seeds  1/2 tsp
• Dried red chilies  2-3
• Onion, sliced  1 medium
• Curry leaves  6-8
• Green chilies, slit  2
• Salt  to taste

Method:

1. Whip yogurt with turmeric powder and rice flour till smooth.
2. Heat oil in a non stick pan and add mustard seeds.
3. When they splutter, add fenugreek seeds, red chilies, onion, curry leaves and green chilies and saute.
4. Cut ladyfingers into 2 inch pieces and add and saute well.
5. Add whipped yogurt and mix well.
6. Add 1/2 cup little water and salt and mix well.
7. Cover and cook for 2 minutes on low heat.
8. Serve hot.