Dum Pukht's Galouti Kebab

 

 

Ingredients

1/2 kg minced mutton (use mutton leg or mutton shoulder which is very fine and reddish in colour, double minced)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp kebab chini powder

1 tsp raw papaya paste (helps to tenderize the meat)

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

1 tsp ginger and garlic paste

1/2 tsp saffron (mixed in warm milk)

1 tsp browned onion, paste

1 tsp coriander leaves

1 tsp gram flour (besan)

1 tsp desi ghee

1 tsp gulab jal

A dash of ittar (a natural perfume oil derived from botanical sources)

1 tsp ghee to fry the kebabs

 Method

 Add to the minced meat, salt, chilly, kebab chini, green papaya paste, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, onion paste, saffron, desi ghee, gulab jal and a dash of ittar.

Mix all togethar and very finely. Mixing is a very important part of this recipe.

Once done, heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan. Make flattened rounds of the mixture. You can use little water so that the meat does not stick to your hands.

Fry the kebabs.

Serve hot. Goes best with sheermal or mughlai parantha.

Indian Bhindi masala

• 3 medium ripe red tomatoes or 150 grams or ¾ cup roughly chopped tomatoes
• ½ inch ginger/adrak
• 4 to 5 garlic/lahsun
• 1 to 2 green chilies/hari mirch
• 2 tbsp yogurt/dahi/curd
• 2 cloves/lavang
• 1 green cardamom/choti elachi
• ½ inch cinnamon/dal chini
• 1 single strand of mace/javitri

other ingredients:

• 250 grams bhindi/okra/lady finger
• 1 large onion or 2 medium onions or 100 grams onions or ½ cup finely chopped onions
• ½ tsp kasuri methi/dry fenugreek leaves, crushed
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves/dhania patta
• 1 small to medium tej patta or bay leaf
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi
• ½ tsp red chilli powder/lal mirch powder
• ½ tsp coriander powder/dhania powder
• ½ tsp cumin powder/jeera
• 2 tbsp oil for sauteing bhindi
• 2 tbsp oil for making gravy
• salt as required

INSTRUCTIONS

prepping up:

1. first rinse 250 grams okra/bhindi very well in running water a few times. then drain them completely in a strainer or colander.
2. wipe each okra with a kitchen napkin. there should be no moisture on them. you can also allow them to dry naturally at room temperature, by spreading them in a large plate or tray.
3. chop the okra into 1.5 to 2.5 inch pieces. keep aside.
4. in a grinder or blender jar, take ¾ cup roughly chopped ripe red tomatoes, ½ inch chopped ginger, 4 to 5 chopped garlic cloves and 1 or 2 green chilies, chopped.
5. add 2 tbsp fresh full fat curd/dahi/yogurt along with 2 cloves, 1 green cardamom, ½ inch cinnamon and 1 single strand of mace.
6. without adding water, grind or blend to a smooth paste. keep aside covered.
7. heat 2 tbsp oil in a kadai or pan. add the okra and saute them on a low flame.
8. stir and saute them till they are almost cooked, shrinked and lightly browned from the sides.
9. when done remove the sauteed okra and place them in a plate or tray.

preparing the gravy:

1. in the same kadai or pan, add 2 tbsp oil. add tej patta and fry for about 5 to 7 seconds.
2. add the ½ cup finely chopped onions.
3. stir well.
4. saute the onions till they start to turn light golden.
5. lower the flame. then add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and ½ tsp cumin powder.
6. stir the spice powders quickly. you can also switch off the stove top while adding and mixing spices powders, so that they don't get burned.
7. add the tomato- curd paste that we made before. be careful while adding ground paste as it splutters.
8. stir well.
9. on a low flame saute till the masala paste thickens and you see oil leaving the sides.
10. add about ¾ cup water and stir very well. you can also add ½ to ⅔ cup water for a thick gravy or ¾ cup water for medium gravy
11. season with salt as required.
12. add the sauteed okra. stir again.
13. bring the curry to a simmer on a medium flame. cook for about 5 to 6 minutes till the gravy get infused with the aroma and flavor of the okra. don't cook bhindi in the gravy for longer time as then they become mushy.
14. add ½ tsp kasuri methi, crushed. if you want, you can also add 1 or 2 tbsp of low fat cream at this step.
15. stir and then add 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves. stir again and switch off the stove top.
16. serve bhindi masala gravy garnished with a few coriander leaves or straightaway with chapatis or parathas.

Indian Chicken recipes

These day's people are interested in having only the balanced diet through which they can remain healthy and fit. One of the effective ways through which you can enjoy tasty food and remain in a good physical shape is by having Chicken Recipes. They can be prepared in a simple manner and you can easily prepare wide variety of dishes through chickens. In fact, this is one of the most commonly used ingredient in almost all the homes and it is completely natural food. People need to search for Easy Chicken Recipes and enjoy the pure food instead of having something that is full of preservatives and artificial flavors. People are recommended that they should follow some healthy tips and try out Indian Chicken Recipes through which they can remain physically fit.
Chicken dishes- Rich in vitamins and proteins
There are many people who consider chickens is a staple food and it is one of the most important part of your diet. People who are suffering from some diseases are recommended to eat two chickens on a daily basis. They are very rich in proteins and vitamins and provide the body with essential supplements and always remain healthy and eat good food. This is an era of fast-track technology which has greatly affected the chicken's quality. Today, more of farm managers are adopting the technical poultry practices and that has ultimately had a negative impact on the chickens. This tends to be one of the biggest reasons that more of people are interested in having organic chickens and they are best in terms of freshness, quality and size.
Chicken dishes- incredibly versatile
People who want to become the culinary expert need to find some books on Chicken Recipes and through which they can easily prepare tasty and appetizing dishes. You need to purchase an chicken cooker and that would save you're a lot of time and energy too. There are numerous authors who have written about different Easy Chicken Recipes and that can be used for serving your guests. It has been commonly observed that people usually don't have time for cooking breakfast during the morning time and therefore they can try out Indian Chicken Recipes. You can think of them as a modernized way and of cooking and this would not only remove your hunger, but you would remain physically fit and fine. Chicken dishes can be regarded as the perfect quick foods that are incredibly versatile and takes only few minutes for cooking.

Browsing on internet for the Chicken Recipes could be an eye opener for the people who are astounded by the flavor and aroma available at their disposal. There are attractive alternatives available that could be put into better use by the users so that they are able to enjoy the sumptuous dishes in cozy ambience. Oyster sauce is a very crucial ingredient which imbibes the stupendous chicken, cut into fine pieces to provide delectable taste to the foodies. It occupies top slot among most of the Easy chicken recipes, which are popular among the people and satisfy the pallets of the consumers. Lime juice along with the vinegar is a wonderful option since it helps to impart sour and sweet taste to the delicacies. Lure of the Quick chicken recipes has compelled people to learn the preparation method so that they can server their guest unparalleled delight.
Marinating the chicken to remove the extra water is a good option because it will help to eliminate the unnecessary fat from the meat. Once above process is accomplished, the oyster sauce is dropped into the mixture to make the dish amazing for the foodies. Oil should be kept in the frying pan and heated to a certain temperature so that it could be used for cooking the chicken. After boiling for 15 minutes, the dishes could be offered to the people so that they could soak in the taste and enjoy the amazing ambience.
Some of the Chicken Recipes provide a sneak preview of the mango chicken curry which is very popular in the east because it is combination of natural flavor enticing the taste buds of the foodies. Adorned with ripe mangoes and fine slices of chicken, the culinary has become one of the prominent food items served during the functions and events. Ginger powder with turmeric paste is similar to the strawberry sprinkled on the tasty cake to spice up the occasion. Mango is minced and added to different pieces of chicken to be fried on the pan for few minutes. Considered to be the Easy chicken recipes, mango curry is very popular among the people since it can be prepared at a very short notice and does not require elaborate arrangements on the part of the users. Garnishing meat with coriander leaves is extremely healthy for the people because they possess immense medical benefits in the form of iron and other essential vitamins. Quick
chicken recipes are one of the easiest ways to prepare healthy and quality cuisine for the people.

Indian Chicken recipe for occassions

For all those non vegetarians there, what is the best thing you will like to it? Unanimously it's chicken. For a country that has so many chicken lovers, it becomes almost a necessity to know as many as non-veg recipes as possible, to not just satisfy hunger but mind. Chicken is prepared differently in different parts of the world, depending upon the available resources. Interestingly two chicken dishes vary even in the immediate neighborhood.
For all we know is that non-veg recipes take a lot of time in getting prepared while there are many, quick chicken recipes that are latent. After years of cooking and eating chicken, people have come up with non-veg Recipes that do not take much time. You must not think that since these are getting prepared easily they have lost taste; Any or all of the recipes that one classifies as quick chicken recipes have the same taste as one that is made in longer time. It is true that making chicken, in its true is very difficult, because of various complexities involved in making it like precision in time, spices and cooking pattern. But of late, many chefs have suggested easy chicken recipes that do not involve much complexity. These are perfectly fit for people who find it difficult to take out enough time to cook a chicken. Easy chicken recipe will not only cut short the difficulties but will gain you time. If some one is to ask how some one can cook a chicken easily that usual, the answer would be with experience. After you have made chicken like thousand times, you will figure out ways in which the cooking can be made faster, how will spices mix properly even after lesser time and these are just some ways with which you can develop easy chicken recipes.
Similar to this many people have come up with their self devised methods that can help you reduce the time to cook chicken and removing unnecessary work thereby making it easier. For all those looking for easy Dinner recipes can surf internet and they will find shelter with people who have adopted cooking as a profession or people who are passionate about it. It is not at all difficult to find out method that can reduce the energy consumption and make chicken cooking hustle free. Chicken recipes came in handy and they are best found out in the neighborhood..

Indian Food

Indian Food - The Right Way to Enjoy the Flavors
Asian food tastes better when it is eaten using chopsticks. Similarly, the flavors of Indian food are better experienced when it is eaten using your fingers. Most often flat hard breads or rice is served with different spicy curries and other side dishes. While a spoon and fork can be used to eat the rice, the only way to eat the flat bread is to tear it with your fingers and use the pieces to scoop up the flavorful curries. However, purists say both rice and flat bread tastes better when you use your fingers.
As far as Indian food is concerned it is more important how much you eat than how you eat it. Westerns are more accustomed to meals with meat or fish as the main dish. However, rice or flat bread is the main dish in an Indian meal and the meat or fish curries and other accompaniments are to be consumed in much smaller quantities. The spicier the dish, the smaller the amount to be eaten and rice or flat bread serves to neutralize their strong flavors. Another indication of how much to eat is the size of the serving spoon provided for a spicy dish. Some very spicy dishes are provided with coffee spoons. However, it is always better to warn an unsuspecting guest about how hot or spicy a particular dish is to avoid discomfort.
Pappadams or crisp lentil wafers are always to be served in separate plates to preserve their crispiness.
The right way to serve a meal is to first serve the rice in the middle of the plate and then serve the curries and other accompaniments around it in relatively smaller amounts. Contrary to general assumption that all the accompaniments have to be mixed together with the rice, each side dish has to be savored separately with a piece of flat bread or a spoonful of rice.
Cool sparkling water is probably the most complimentary drink for a spicy Indian meal. If you must have alcohol then a light ale drink like cold beer would be good. If you prefer wine then go for a light wine punch. Fine wines, particularly dry wines are not very good with Indian food.
The best drink to accompany any spicy and delicious Indian food is mango juice or you can just sip rose flavored syrup with crushed ice.
The Unique Taste in Indian Food
Around the world, every person had a special thoughts regarding Indian food. This India food is so much interesting and sophisticated food in world wide. If you are very much savvy about food, then the Indian food is right choice for your. The flavor in India food is passionate and the spices are so rich. If you come from western part of globe or eastern part of the globe, no matter all kind of people are so much interested in India cuisine.
The India restaurants around the world are providing the delicious food recipes and tasting the world. If you want to prepare these foods, you must have all the local spices from the subcontinent. Some people around the Indian country are ordering their recipes from restaurants rather than making. Some times it is good, because preparing these recipes are hectic work to do. Especially preparing the ingredients for goof is quite a rough to do.
However, the truth is preparing Indian recipes are so easy when you compare with other countries recipes. For preparing Indian food you need not be an expert in recipes or big hardcore fan. The Indian spices will create your delicious food what you expected. You can find an alternate method for Indian passion of cooking every time.
In Indian cooking you will observe that basic ingredients are essential to prepare recipes, please make sure that you have all the basic ingredients with you while preparing this food. Red Onions are one of basic ingredients in Indian recipes. This ingredient will create exotic taste you food. And Ginger, Garlic and Green chilies are other basic ingredients. If you are interested about taste, you need to add some coriander leaves to the food. These important ingredients will give an enormous taste to the Indian recipes.
The main ingredient, red chili powder, is used as the strongest spice in preparations. And in some area around the country are using various spices like coriander seeds, cardamom and cumin seeds black pepper to add taste to the flavor.
Preparing the Indian food in your home is not a hectic issue, if you have these ingredients with you. You can plant these trees around you home.

To many individuals, what comes first once they consider India in your thoughts is its incredible range when it comes to religion, tradition and food. Food is something which is essential to India. It's nearly as though it's the foundation of its tradition. Each state in the united states has its food. Actually, a particular dish is made by each household differently, based on the palette of its people. Indian individuals are fabled for their food. Likely to any Indian home indicates that you'll be handled with areas of that family. If you should be attempting to comprehend Indian food but do not know how to start, continue reading.
1. Indian food may be the foundation of its very tradition.
Indians are extremely seriously interested in their food. Moms spread their dishes to daughters and daughters-in-law. Meals are for vegetables and fruits is just a daily program many men of your family simply take quite seriously almost always prepared from scratch and shopping. Indian 'bazaars' are crammed with men and women with shopping bags early each morning, getting their fill of clean seasonal vegetables and fruits for your day. People like to meet up for meals. People meet up for a minimum of one meal every day, or even for every meal. It's almost sure that he'll be asked to remain for the dinner, if a household is visited by someone. Indians enjoy discussing, discussing and thinking about food!
2. Asia is vegetarian (or not)
You might be of the idea that the whole of the nation is vegetarian, If you're just getting started to familiarize yourself with Indian food. But that's a false notion. Correct, a substantial proportion of the Indian community is vegetarian, but not really them all. Actually, Indian food is full of non-vegetarian foods. The folks of the region might not eat specific types of meats or veggies based on their faith. For example, beef won't be touched by some Hindus and many Muslims avoid chicken. Some Jains won't only steer clear from a myriad of foods, but additionally from ginger, garlic and onions. Nevertheless, Indians have an enormous selection of incredibly fragrant and flavorsome non-vegetarian meals. Their 'Biriyani', chicken curries, fish and fish specialties are certainly a goody to the feelings.
3. Indian food is definitely an merger of its rich history
The Indian people have often drawn in the lifestyle and food of the people who've turn into a section of their history. As a result, Indian food has had in British, Persian, Aryan, Portuguese and Mughal impacts very liberally. This type of number of influences has only made its food even more unique.
As you may well see, knowing Indian food means that you grab yourself familiar with Indian tradition and vice versa. The job might in the beginning seem overwhelming, If you like to make Indian food. Whenever we say that it's perhaps not but trust us! When you obtain the fundamentals directly, preparing easy Indian foods is really a matter of training. Have some fun!

Everything about indian food

Every part of the world has Indian restaurants and the reason is pretty obvious and i.e. delectable taste, color, and texture of Indian food. Also, you will find a lot of alternatives to pick from in Indian food. For instance a person who does not like non-vegetarian food can have limited options in vegetarian dishes, and majority of the time in western countries vegetarians are bound to eat raw vegetables but with Indian food there is no such limitation is there. A number of mouth-watering vegetarian Indian recipes are famous across the world. These recipes can savor the taste buds of vegetarian gourmets and they are not required to eat the same old stuff each time. Without any uncertainty, if you are a food lover, then give Indian food a try.
Numerous flavors are available in Indian food. Interesting to know that the basic ingredients such as turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, asafetida, cumin seeds etc. remain almost same in every dish yet every dish is so different from the other in terms of flavor. In addition to these spices if you wish to cook non-vegetarian dishes such as chicken, mutton, or beef you are required to have bay leaf, nutmeg, black cardamom, black pepper, cloves, garlic, ginger, brown mustard seed, mace in your kitchen.
Looking for a Weekly Food Delivery in Milton
India is a country which is known for its diverse cultures, traditions, and of course food. Food is one of the most important factors to unite people in India. The focal point of attraction of every festival and big occasion is food here. Punjabi weddings are known for its chole-bhature and butter chicken, Hindu weddings are known for its puri-aloo and appetizers such as samosa, bread pakora etc, muslim weddings are known for its beef recipes and chicken biryani.
Know about the Indian Tiffin Service in Kitchener
Furthermore, food is broadly categorized here in four regions which are Eastern food, Western food, South Indian food, and Northern food. Famous Eastern food dishes are bilahi maas, bengena pitika etc. Common Western dishes are Vada pav, Dahi Vada etc. Famous North Indian dishes are Naan, Rajma, chole-bahture, Dal makhani etc. Likewise South Indian dishes are Dosa, Idli, Bonda, and Upma.
You can give a try to cook Indian food in your home but if you are not well-versed with it, you will unable to place the rich aroma and flavor in it; so it is better to go out or call for home delivery as there are many restaurants outside India providing palatable Indian dishes.

Indian Food for weightloss

Indian food is renowned for its ability to keep healthy and fit. Indian recipe usually consist the healthiest ingredients. However, these days due to the faulty food habits and unhealthy choices has increased the obesity problems in many people in the country. This in turn has lead to the rapid popularity of western diet plans and crash diet weight-loss food and more. Adhering to these diet plans can be extremely difficult for an Indian.
An Indian food for weight-loss needs to be customized to suit the average Indian. It would be extremely different from the western diet plan for weightloss mainly because of the several cuisines in India. Also the diet food has to accommodate the variety in various states of the country. For instance, north Indians intake a lot of wheat (chapattis), which is factually much healthier choice when compared to that of Southern Indian, rice. In contrast, south Indians consume lot of vegetables and gravies whereas cuisines of north India contain lots of butter and fats. Thus, an Indian food for weight-loss must able to gratify everyone.
A traditional Indian food or meal in itself is highly healthy. Indian foods such as rice and chapattis have carbohydrates such as pasta, cakes, or bread in the other part of the world. The food also has more vegetables, cereals and fruits. Albeit, the Indian food is healthy, these days due to increased consumption of unhealthy food choices, junk foods by people have led to the obesity problems in India. Furthermore, the increases portion sizes of food also led to obesity.
The most popular weight-loss-food diet is low carbohydrate diets. However, it is quite difficult to avert carbohydrates in Indian food.This is because these foods are filled with different items rich in carbohydrates. You do not have to completely stop eating such foods instead it is better you consume them in a smaller portion. Also, the foods include vitamins, fiber and mineral which are required for the body to stay to fit.
Below provided is the typical Indian food to include in weight-loss diet;
1 Breakfast - 2 chapattis/2 dosas/2 idlis or one bowl of poha/upma.Tea or coffee with fat free or low fat milk.
2 Lunch -3 chapattis along with some green vegetables or one bowl rice, Sprouts salads and one serving meat.
3 Dinner -2 chapattis with vegetable gravy/ 2 idlis/ 2 dosas.
Suitable weight-loss-food is important for healthy and effective weightloss. Selecting the appropriate foods for your weightloss diet can be a dating task. The proven ways and best food that aids in your weightloss are mainly nuts, fruits, protein rich foods, fish, vegetables, eggs and lots more. However, ensure to consult dietarian or physician and seek the advice to lose weight and choose the best food to lose weight easily and quickly. Ensure you adhere to the diet to reach your weight-loss goals.

Thai Green Chicken Curry and Pepper Chicken with Fermented Beans

Looking for a change of taste? What we have here is Asian flavored Indian chicken recipes and Chinese chicken recipes. These recipes are also suitable for diabetics. Now, you can prepare more varieties of delicious and healthy food for your family. Below you will find a few different healthy chicken recipes.
Thai Green Chicken Curry
 


Serves 4-6
 10 meat, 4 fat, 2 vegetable
Protein 100g
Fat 86g
Carbohydrate 30g
Total Calories 1280
Ingredients:
1 small chicken (cut into large pieces)
Curry paste:
5 large green chilies
1 bunch spring onions (washed and trimmed)
1 bunch mint leaves
2 bunches fresh coriander including roots
2 stalks lemongrass (sliced)
5 cloves garlic
2 tsp lemon rind
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp shrimp paste or powder
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup water
1 cup baby eggplants (optional) /lady fingers/orca
Citrus leaves or curry leaves
Fish sauce to taste
Garnishing:
½ cup chopped coriander
½ cup chopped green chilies
Cooking Methods:
Place all spice ingredients in a food processor and grind into a fine paste. Gently simmer the coconut milk in a non-stick pan until reduced to half. Add curry paste and stir-fry in the reduced milk for about 20 minutes until the paste is thick and the oil separates out. Add chicken pieces and eggplants/lady fingers, cook uncovered until chicken is cooked through. Season with fish sauce and curry leaves. Garnish with chopped green chilies and coriander before serving.
Pepper Chicken with Fermented Beans
 


Serves 6
9 ½ meat, 2 vegetable, 1 ½ fat, ½ starch, ¼ sugar
Protein 97g
Fat 60g
Carbohydrate 43g
Total Calories 1100
Ingredients:
800g chicken pieces
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 Tbsp chopped ginger
1 tsp chopped aged orange peel
2 Tbsp (30g) black fermented soya beans/miso
3 green peppers (cut into bite sizes)
2 red peppers (cut into bite sizes)
Seasoning:
1 tsp Chinese rice wine
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 ½ Tbsp dark soya sauce
2 tsp corn flour
3 Tbsp water
Chop chicken into bite-size pieces and rub in the salt, set aside to drain. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a non-stick wok until smoke forms. Add chopped garlic and ginger and stir-fry until fragrant. Next, add chicken pieces and fry until they start to turn brown. Remove the chicken pieces, leaving some of the oil behind. Stir fermented beans and orange peel into the remaining oil. Stir fry for 1 more minute. Finally add in peppers and saute briefly until they are cooked buy still crisp. Return the chicken to the wok, sprinkle rice wine and pour in seasoning mixture. Cover and cook for 30 seconds over high heat. Serve immediately.

You can also do this recipe in an air fryer, Find out which are the best air fryers in India

How to Price a Restaurant Menu

One thing that restaurant owners often struggle with when they open a restaurant is menu pricing. There are some basic guidelines that you can follow to come up with the ideal prices for your restaurant concept and location. While you can learn a lot by observing the prices of your competitors, a large part of your pricing will come down to instinct. Find out exactly how to price a restaurant menu by reading the following article.
Pricing Just Right
It is important that you take the time to come up with menu prices that will optimize your profits. If you price your menu items too low then you will have trouble covering costs and you will struggle to make a profit. On the other hand, if you price them too high then you will scare away prospective diners and not get the volume of business that you need. It is crucial that you hit the target with prices that are competitive and profitable will still offering great value.
What are Other Restaurants Charging?
Visit a number of local restaurants, particularly those that are directly competing with you due to having a similar concept or being in the immediate vicinity of your establishment. Sample some of their dishes and check out what kind of service and atmosphere they offer in relation to their prices. These days you can also check numerous menus online by quickly going through restaurant websites.
Consider the number of competitors that are located around you. Other restaurants represent an alternative to customers who don't like the look of your prices. However if your restaurant is unique in your area or has a well established reputation then you may be able to get away with charging premium prices.
If there are two local options for Italian then customers may compare prices between the two. However, if you are the only Indian restaurant in town then customers may be prepared to pay a little more to dine with you if they just happen to feel like your specialty of cuisine.
Costs Affect Pricing
Keep in mind that some ingredients are subject to fluctuations in market prices, usually due to the fact that some items are seasonal. You can either limit these ingredients, add menu inserts with the latest prices for certain dishes or simply fix a price that you know will allow you to make a healthy profit most of the time. Some establishments, such as seafood restaurants have a chalk board where they can adjust the prices of menu items on a regular basis. Some menu items have to be priced differently due to the labor costs involved with their preparation if they take an exceptionally long time to prepare.
A Menu Pricing Formula
There are a lot of different menu pricing formulas that can help you set prices. Formulas offer a basic guide to get you started but you may have to make adjustments to the results as your unique situation will differ from other restaurants. Instinct and experience definitely count for a lot when it comes to pricing.
One common formula requires you to calculate how much a dish costs in terms of ingredients and then multiply that amount by three to allow for overheads, wages and profits. It is important to be aware of food cost percentages. This method automatically gives you a food cost percentage of 33.3% or one third.
This method can be a little overly simplistic though and non food related costs have risen a lot in recent years. However, many restaurateurs are able to get their food cost percentages much lower than this with some able to keep this ratio as low as 20%.
Price Promotions
Some customers are extremely conscious of price when they browse a menu. Market to this kind of customer by highlighting 'house specials' or 'chefs specials' that are discounted for a certain time period. You can also offer set menus that include a number of courses and beverages for a certain number of people for a fixed price. Discounts work well for most casual dining establishments and give people the perception that they are getting a great deal.
The Psychology Behind Pricing
Some consumers subconsciously respond to certain price points without realizing it. One example is how a price like $19.95 is considered by many consumers to be a much better deal than $20 would be.
Depending on your location and your concept some consumers may feel that main courses under $20 are a good deal and ignore those above that level. The key is in identifying the right price points for your target market.
Price Range and Minimums
Give some thought to the range of prices that your restaurant will offer and whether it will be perceived as being value, mid-range or expensive. Think about the minimum amount that you want to get out of each customer that comes through your doors. You may even go as far as having a minimum charge per head at times when your restaurant is really busy.
Once you know how to price a restaurant menu you will be able to find the perfect price points that allow you to fill your tables, offer value to customers as well as make enough money to be profitable.

Ways For a Healthy Night Out to Indian Restaurants

There has been all the time an issue about adjusting the Indian foods with your tummy and fitness. If you are not use to with the spice of Indian restaurant foods then it could be even worst for you.
So not all the Indian foods are bed for you and many foods are even good for your health. If you know what and how much to eat then you could still go out and take pleasure in your health. According to many Indian people going vegetarian is the best way for fit life style and it has also been adopted by many people in the Europe and America.
Vegetarian foods don't have any unnecessary fat or harmful oil and it has nearly all vital vitamins you need for livelihood. Some of the well-liked vegetarian foods in Indian restaurants that you can order are Alo govi, Bombay potato, Sag ponir, Brindle bazi, etc. This type of curries are great in taste and keep you free from any kind of food poisoning. you can also change the rice into Naan bread or Porata for a superior mixture. Naan bread has less fat than rice and doesn't make you feel lazy.
However, going vegetarian is not the only thing you can do for a healthy night out. Many people consume non-alcoholic drinks like lassi and borhani rather than bottle of Cobra. You can also ask the chef to use lees spice in your curry and avoid curries like Pal and madras.

India-British food link

One cannot think of the India without thinking of their diverse food variety, commonly known as the Indian Cuisine. The traditional Indian Cuisine is perhaps one of the most varied cuisines that there are in the world. Each of the various provinces of India has unique traditions and distinctive food choices. The common ingredients used for cooking in these provinces also vary besides their cooking methods and mediums.
It takes years for an Indian caterer to master the many different dishes which together make up the Indian cuisine. Besides the countless appetizers, there are vegetable dishes, lentil dishes, meat dishes and then of course there are many snacks and desserts which make up the delicious and rich Indian food.
Traditional Indian food cannot be cooked without the right and extensive use of the numerous spices. From cardamom, chillies, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, coriander, cloves to cinnamon, nutmeg and saffron, Indian Cuisine has it all. There are many ways these spices can be used and these different ways bring out the different tastes in each of the different meals. It is not easy to learn how and how much each spice has to be used in a dish.
The traditional Indian cuisine is very different from the English cuisine that is a part of British history. However it is true that their long association in the past has led to each other's influence on both the cuisines. Now Indian food is fairly common in Britain. But is the British Indian food and traditional Indian food the same? The simple answer to this question is 'No.'
There are many reasons why British Indian food and traditional Indian food are not the same. Some of these are listed below.
• First of all, many of the traditional Indian dishes are quite hot and spicy whereas the English cuisine isn't. Therefore when Indian Cuisine became popular in Britain it had to amend itself in order to be widely acceptable with the Britons. The Indian food found in Britain is not spicy as back home.
• Most of the Indians are vegetarians which is why meat is excluded from most of the dishes. There is no such restriction in Britain and therefore many of the Indian curries which are becoming popular in Britain include chicken and other meat.
• Some of the dishes, like Chicken Tikka Masala, are entirely new Indian dishes that took birth in Britain. Because the BBQ Chicken Tikka is a popular yet spicy food in India, the Britons made a few changes to it and added a bit of gravy to it to cut down on its spice.

How indian restauruants emerged in uk

Indian food is one of the very popular choices of cuisines that can be found in respectable restaurants in the United Kingdom. All kinds of typical Indian dishes can be found in Indian restaurants there; from Mutton Quorma and Biryani to Gulab Jamun and Palak Paneer. But how did this Cuisine gain such acceptability in a land that was once not familiar with such rich spices?
Perhaps the foundation for Indian food in Britain was laid almost 4 centuries ago with the formation of the East India Company. East India Company was formed to encourage trade between Britain and Indian Subcontinent. This led to the dual exchange of cultural influences on both cuisines. The British troops and traders who went back home desired to have more of the delightful Indian food that they had tasted in India.
Seamen from Bengal who manned the British ships also played a vital role in taking the Indian Cuisine to the United Kingdom. Many of these seamen dropped out in London in search of better work opportunities; these also included cooks who used to prepare meal for the other seamen. One of the first results that came out of this travelling was the publishing of Indian recipes and the commercial distribution of the famous curry powder in the late 18th century.
History tells us that the first appearance of the Indian curry was at the different coffee houses in London. Later however an Indian entrepreneur launched the first Indian restaurant in the early 19th century. This was the first Indian coffee house in London that was meant to serve quality Indian dining experience to the nobility.
It is true that this first Indian restaurant didn't survive for more than three years, it did however set the trend and later in that century many Indian restaurants of modest nature grew in order to cater for the growing Indian community. The first proper Indian restaurant to reach great heights of popularity was built in 1926 at the Regent Street area. Chefs in this restaurant were specially hired from back home to provide authenticity to the cuisine.
In 1950s the Indian sailors introduced the 'bombed-out' chip shops and cafes where they altered the Indian curries to meet the British tastes and this is how curry and chips came into being and how the British mainly became aware of the Indian Cuisine.
Indian Cuisine has only grown in the UK since then and now shares an integral part in the UK's food industry. The birth of the Chicken Tikka Masala in the British Indian Cuisine is one example of the wide acceptance of this kind of food over there.

Cookery of india

Indian cookery has become increasingly popular over the last few decades for a number of reasons. Primarily as a result of the popularization of Indian culture and migration, Indian cuisine is now a firm favorite almost universally. Centrally the curry, Indian food has taken off in Western society, and is something which many of us now like to try in our own kitchens.
One of the greatest myths about cooking is that before you can make something, you need a recipe. This is certainly not the case. Indian cuisine has remained largely similar for centuries, and you can bet your bottom dollar that families haven't always used recipe books. The curry is a style of preparing rotting meat in spices to avoid the taste. The early proprietors didn't have the advantage of refrigeration, but they managed round the issue by preparing curries. Thankfully today we don't have to eat rotten meat, but we can still use a variety of standard curry ingredients to improve the taste.
If you're looking to try Indian cookery, you need to get your hands on some spices. Turmeric, Cumin, Chili Powder, Garamasala and other spice blends are the best starting point. Throw these in with any meat and sauce and you're creating a top meal with a bit of a kick. Additionally, you should think about onions, yogurt and butter to add to the basis of a sauce. Alternatively, tomatoes finely chopped and blended can be a good foundation piece.
Indian cookery isn't specific to certain meats either, and you can make great meals out of beef, chicken and even fish. If you're preparing meat for use in a curry, you might like to try a quick marinade to add more intense flavor. Fill a mixing bowl with natural yogurt and throw in your spices mixture. Stir through the yogurt to create the desired marinade. Pop your meat (raw) into the marinade and leave overnight, simply cooking through the next day to eat. This absorbs all the spices and flavor into the meat, and will leave it tender and tasty in your curry.
Indian cooking lends itself to improvisation. New ingredients can add whole new dimensions to old favorites, and it's a great way to learn new techniques in the kitchen. What's more, you can prepare a curry in literally no time at all, making it a quick and easy meal for any occasion.

Myths and truths about indian food

 

Many first-timers to Indian food and cuisine carry age-old thoughts (read myths) about the food of India. In the article below, get to know the facts and background of some myths and some truths about Indian food.
All Indian food is spicy
Though Indian cooking is hot and spicier compared to European or Western cooking, there are many regions in India where the food is bland, even sweet. If you to try something less-hot, go taste some Gujarati dishes.
Gujarati cuisine has a touch of sweetness in almost all of its dishes. Traditional South Indian cooking (except Andhra Pradesh) is generally less-spicier than other regions in India. Kashmiri cuisine also incorporates sweet tasting dishes in its menu. So when someone tells you Indian cooking is spicy, don't entirely believe them.
Indian food is only vegetarian
This is partly true. Hindus, being the majority community in India, are mostly vegetarian. However there are so many different sub-sects with the Hindu religion, that many of them follow their own food practices.
Contrary to popular belief, many Indians are meat-eaters and cook them well too. Chicken dishes are perhaps the most popular meat in India. Cow is considered a sacred animal and is avoided by Hindus though Muslims and Christians eat beef. Sea food is also popular in coastal regions like Goa, Mangalore, Kerala, West Bengal and others.
There is no variety in Indian cooking
Many, especially foreigners and first time visitors to India, are of the opinion that Indian food doesn't have so much of choices. Indian cuisine is perhaps the most varied food-culture in the world!
With more than 29 states (counties), each region in India has its own unique style and flavor. Add to this, the many ethnic groups that have their own recipes for generations. While North Indian regions prefer Roti (Indian bread) as their staple dish, South India has rice as a must in the daily menu. Some specialty regional cuisines of India include Udupi cuisine (from Karnataka), North-eastern cuisine, Chettinad cuisine (from Tamil Nadu) and Marwari cuisine, to name a few.
Indian food = Chicken Tikka
This is a popular myth made famous by ethnic Indians in England. Chicken Tikka was originally a Persian dish brought to India by the Mughals. This was later adopted by the people of Punjab (in India and Pakistan). They created their own version of Chicken Tikka and took the recipe with them when many of them migrated and settled in Britain. Though it is highly popular in UK, it is not so much in India where it has to compete with hundreds of other local dishes.
Indian food is all about Curry
Curry is something that was again made popular by British-South Asian ethnic groups. in While Curry abroad may refer to a thick and spicy gravy dish, India takes a different meaning altogether. In South India, Curry may refer to a vegetable side-dish that is often served with rice.
These are generally fried vegetables without the gravy. Curry, in Tamil Nadu, South India actually means meat - either as a gravy or as a fried dish. Origins of British curry come from the Tamil word for Kari. In North India and other popular forms of Indian cooking, the word curry is not as popularly used. Sabji or Masala are common terms for gravy dishes in Indian cuisine.
Indians eat food with their hands
Sometimes shocking to a visitor to India is the practice of eating food with hands. This is true as Indians consider eating with their hands as tastier as well as ritualistic. Also, most Indian dishes are difficult to be eaten with forks and spoons. Many Indians today use their hands as well as forks & spoons.
You will also find that in certain Indian regions, food is served on a banana leaf or an areca nut leaf. These traditions have been passed on to families since many generations and many modern Indian continue to follow then regardless of caste differences.

Whether you are new to Indian food or you are a long time lover of the cuisine, you certainly can't deny the dishes are delicious. Yet, for many people from Western cultures, there are a lot of mysteries about Indian food. Indeed, there are also many myths. From the complexity of preparation to the healthiness of Indian meals, misconceptions about this cuisine abound. Here are some of the top myths about Indian food debunked.
Indian Food is Best Left to Expert Chefs
Because of its rich, complex flavours, Indian food seems like it would be incredibly difficult to cook, or at least difficult to cook well. While a beginner cook might face a few challenges when attempting to conquer Indian cuisine, this is probably true of most major cuisines in the world. For example, some Italian dishes take hours to prepare properly, but we don't normally hear people lamenting how difficult it is to make an Italian meal. So, if you are interested in whipping up some Indian delights, start by familiarizing yourself with the ingredients and the basic cooking techniques, and you'll find this food as easy (or complicated) as any other type of food to prepare.
Indian Food is Unhealthy
Some Indian dishes have a fair amount of oil, but like with other dishes you can adapt your recipes to your tastes. Moreover, rich, oily foods are not the only options available on an Indian menu; in fact, Indian cuisine is incredibly diverse. Depending on the region of Indian, you will find that the style of cooking and ingredients used will vary significantly. Many dishes are prepared by boiling, steaming, roasting, or grilling which are all considered healthy means of preparation. So, when it comes to whether Indian cuisine is healthy or not it really depends on what you are eating. Certainly, there are dishes that you do not want to eat for every meal, but there are many interesting, delicious, and healthy Indian foods that you can add to your diet guilt-free.
Indian Food is Too Spicy
Again, Indian dishes are very diverse, so while some dishes are very hot this does not mean that all Indian food is spicy. Plus, if you are cooking at home, you can adjust the spice level to your personal taste; if you prefer, you can leave the spicy ingredients out entirely.
All Indian Dishes Contain Curry
Finally, many foodies who are not familiar with Indian cuisine often believe that curries are synonymous with the cuisine. While curries are an important feature of Indian dishes, they account for a very small fraction of the styles of food available in India. Moreover, curry powder is actually not a common ingredient in Indian dishes, instead, many homes create their own unique spice blends that appeal to their individual palates.