The Making of Indo Chinese

Author: lalas kitchen   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General

Indo Chinese cuisine is basically a blend of two culinary cultures. One can see it as Chinese food made adapted to Indian taste. It is basically made when Indian ingredients like garlic, ginger, chilli peppers and onions are seasoned with chinese sauces like soy sauce and vinegar to  make the rather raw chinese cuisine more flavourful and spicy.

This amalgamation has spread amongst Indians like wildfire, to the extent that it has become a favourite. It has also been adopted in street food and has become evergreen.

But, how was this cuisine born? 

Let’s explore its origin here.

Calcutta’s Chinatown

Our story begins in 1778 when Chinese tea trader, Yang Dazhao, moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata), then India’s capital, in search of better business opportunities. While Dazhao was the first, a lot of Chinese settlers followed in his footsteps and they collectively formed Chinatowns in the city. It was in Calcutta’s second Chinatown, located in Tangra, where Indian Chinese would be invented.

The Origin

The Hakka Chinese settled in Tangra opened up restaurants. In order to service the Indian clientele, they started making food with a lot more chilli to appeal to their palate. These were the first origins of Indo Chinese.This brought on a wave of the famous Hakka Chowmein/Hakka Noodles and Fried rice to India. 

Later, the second generation of Chinese settlers began migrating to other places in India and familiarised the places with Indo Chinese. In fact, the most famous dish, manchurian – cornflour coated balls that are deep fried and stirred in chinese sauces – is associated with Mumbai where Nelson Wang opened up China Garden and invented chicken Manchurian. Various vegetarian alternatives such as Gobi Manchurian, vegetable Manchurian and Paneer Manchurian were also made. This made for a perfect companion with drinks at bars and became very popular.

The Expansion

Indo Chinese cuisine is now a favourite. In fact, chowmein, fried rice and hakka noodles are common dishes sold by street vendors. So are more Indian variations like chinese bhel. It has achieved global recognition and is served in most countries of the world in restaurants set up by Indians.

Lala’s kitchen serves some amazing Indo Chinese dishes like Manchurian, paneer chilli, chicken chilli and many more too. So book a table and enjoy this mouth-watering mixed cuisine today.

Make Your Own Paneer / Cottage Cheese

Author: lalas kitchen   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General • Recipe

Cottage cheese or Paneer is a common ingredient in vegetarian Indian cuisine. Not only is this cheese delicious, it is healthy as well.

Cottage cheese is high in protein and hence is good for healthy bones and muscles. It is also great for weight loss and contains good fats and is thus used as a vegetarian option in diets such as Keto. Apart from this, it is a source of Vitamin D and contains antioxidants that help keep cell damage and Prostate Cancer at bay.

However, the best part is that you don’t need to go to the market to buy it because you can make your own at home.

While there are various ways to make cottage cheese, we are listing down 3 ways to make this super healthy dairy products.

Method 1:

Ingredients:

  • 1L whole milk
  • 4 drops liquid rennet
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 6 tablespoons heavy cream (or half and half)

Preparation:

  • Take a non-reactive saucepan and heat the milk at low heat until it reaches 85 degree Fahrenheit.
  • Turn off heat and stir in the rennet, gently for 2 minutes.
  • Cover the mixture with a clean towel and let it stand at room temperature for 4 hours.
  • The mixture would have now formed curds.
  • Cut the curds with the help of a knife and break them by cutting several times in one A and several times in the opposite direction.
  • Now sprinkle the salt and cook over low heat by stirring gently until the whey is not separated from the curd.
  • Strain the mixture in a strainer covered with cheesecloth and let it sit for a few hours, while stirring occasionally, so that soft curdles remain.
  • Place the curd in a clean bowl and add the cream to it.
  • Add salt as per taste.
  • Store in refrigerator or serve immediately.

Method 2:

Ingredients:

  • 3.8 L pasteurised skimmed milk
  • ¾ cup white vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • ½ cup heavy cream (or half and half)

Preparation:

  • Heat the milk on medium heat till it reaches 120 degree fahrenheit.
  • Now add vinegar to the saucepan and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Cover with a cloth and let the mixture rest for 30 minutes.
  • Pour the mixture into a strainer lined with cheesecloth and let the whey drain for 5 minutes.
  • Gather the edges of the cloth and hold the curds under a stream of cold water.
  • Then squeeze the curds in the cloth till dry.
  • Add in the cream and salt to taste.
  • Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator.

Method 3:

Ingredients:

  • 1L whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon citric acid or lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 6 tablespoons heavy cream (or half and half)

Preparation:

  • Heat the milk on medium heat till it is heated but doesn’t boil over.
  • Now add lemon juice in warm milk and stir for several minutes till the mixture curdles.
  • Cover with a cloth and let the mixture rest for an hour.
  • Pour the mixture into a strainer lined with cheesecloth and let the whey drain for 5 minutes.
  • Gather the edges of the cloth and hold the curds under a stream of cold water.
  • Then squeeze the curds in the cloth till dry.
  • Add in the cream and salt to taste.
  • Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator.

If you love cottage cheese and want to try it’s lip smacking Indian variations, we serve some amazing Paneer-based dishes for you to enjoy.

The Mythical Origin of Pani Puri

Author: lalas kitchen   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General   |   Tags:

Pani Puri, Gol Gappa, Puchka, Gup Chup, Phulki – One delicacy with so many names. This Indian Street food will always leave you craving for more because of its low satiety quotient. Pani Puri is the tantalizing culinary chaos of flavours that tickles your taste buds. The puri is a crispy hollow ball made of semolina or wheat and filled with spicy potatoes. The puri is then filled with Pani – a tangy, spicy combination of tamarind water made fragrant by mint leaves and black salt. No one can actually pinpoint the origin of this lip-smacking delight but two stories always come to surface when spoken about the history of this heavenly spice affair.

Story 1 

It is believed that Pani Puri is the successor of Phulkis which first originated in Magadh. One of the 16 great ancient Indian kingdoms in Sanskrit, the kingdom of Magadh was situated on the banks of the holy Ganga river which is now what we call west-central Bihar.

Story 2

Here’s another story that comes from the legend of Mahabharata. This epic tale tells us that when the new-wedded bride Draupadi came home, Kunti wanted to test her daughter-in-law. She wanted to know if her daughter-in-law could manage the household with scarce resources as Pandavas were on exile at that time. Kunti gave Draupadi a few vegetables and leftover potatoes along with very little dough. 

Draupadi made round bread which was known as Puri with the help of that little dough and filled the vegetables and leftover potatoes in them. The Pandavas loved the dish and mother Kunti was happy to see her daughter-in-law succeed in the given task. 

This Indian delicacy has many names but has never seen even the slightest decrease in its popularity. Head over to Lala’s Kitchen now to have a blast of flavours by ordering the lip-smacking Pani Puris.

The Magic of Vegetarian Diet

Author: lalas kitchen   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General   |   Tags:

Did you know processed meat including ham and bacon can cause cancer? Well, we are not saying this but it has been reported by the World Health Organisation. The study also suggests that even 50g of processed meat a day which is even less than two slices of bacon increases the chances of bowel cancer by 18%. We understand a vegetarian diet can be boring and has no variety like the choice of meat but there are ample reasons to go vegetarian.

Vegetarian diets not only help in weight loss and weight management but also combat many forms of chronic diseases and provide a healthy glow to your skin. A vegetarian diet is a perfect way to stay healthy and happy. A vegetarian diet is a complete balanced diet. It consists of fibre, vitamins C and E, folic acid, magnesium, unsaturated fat, and numerous phytochemicals. Many meat lovers would be surprised to know this but a vegetarian diet is considered to be more healthy than the non-vegetarian one.

Vegetarian food gets easily digested and vegetarians have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and also there is a reduction in heart diseases. Here are some of the reasons proving the magical power of vegetarian food that might make you swap your beef burger for a beet burger.

Gut Health

We are what we eat. We know about the bacteria in our digestive system but very few of us actually notice the great relationship shared between good bacteria and a healthy diet. Plant-based foods support a diverse microbiome which is associated with good health. The vegetarian diet provides us with the bacteria that support our immune system, reduce inflammation, regulate ghrelin and the hunger hormone.

Glowing Skin

Vegetarian diet not only improves internal but also external health. If you swap your dairy products, sugar, and high-glycemic foods for carotenoid-packed vegetables, it will work wonders for your skin. The dark green, red and orange hue veggies are known to have vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that give you healthy hair, glowing skin and rich nails.

For rich and healthy scrumptious vegetarian options visit Lala’s Kitchen – the Indian restaurant in Australia.

Naan

The Curious History of Classy, Soft and Pillowy Indian-Style Flatbread- Naan

Author: lalas kitchen   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General • Recipe   |   Tags: • •

Whether it’s a cheese,  garlic-scented fluffy naan to the minced-meat-stuffed keema, for many, an Indian meal isn’t complete without a fresh naan bread.  It is a bread with an illustrious history and one that has seen a great deal of change over the years.

Here are some reasons why Naan bread is one of the most popular Indian foods:

  • The naan dough is composed of flour, water, yoghurt, and yeast, then traditionally cooked in the tandoor oven. It’s served warm with any Indian curry. The hotter the naan, the fresher it is.
  • It’s gooey, which is the best texture for any doughy bread.
  • It’s versatile. It is just one among plenty of delicious Asian bread.
  • Some examples are:

Chapati: This Indian flatbread is made combining the same flour for Naan with water and salt, but without yeast.

Paratha: It is a traditional bread famous in many regions of South-East Asia. The dough is made with flour, water, and vegetable oil, then cooked in Tawa, the Indian cast iron skillet.

At Lala’s Kitchen, we serve a variety of naan with authentic Indian cuisine. We serve laccha paratha, plain naan, butter and garlic naan, chilli cheese naan and more.  Visit our restaurant, order our authentic Indian gravy and have our naan your way!

  • You definitely won’t be hungry after eating a meal with naan, or even on its own.
  • It’s perfect for dipping. Indian cuisine is all about varieties and naan is the perfect food to soak up delicious sauces, curries, and those last few flavours on your plate.
  • It’s for everyone. Whether you’re an adventurous or picky eater, naan caters to every type of diner. Kids love it, too!
  • It’s authentic. Naan is a cultural Indian staple cuisine. It is traditionally cooked in a clay tandoor oven, as with many other meats and dishes.
  • It’s delicious. This bubbly flatbread tastes oh so good! Between the cooking technique, the preparation, and the fixings, naan is one of those foods you can’t resist.

Looking for authentic Indian curries and dishes to accompany your curry and naan? Visit Lala’s Kitchen.

New Website Launch

Author: suadmin2   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General

We are launching a new website to ease your visit to Lala’s Kitchen and to enhance the presentation of the content with new features.
Our team is excited to come up with the new website and to offer you a better experience in terms of usability and accessibility. As always your comments, ideas, and suggestions are welcome.
STAY TUNED!

Father’s Day Special

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Race along with dad into Australia’s Favourite Indian Restaurant this Father’s Day—Sunday 6th September—for a lunch or a dinner and give him an unforgettable experience. This Father’s Day Lala’s Kitchen is offering a Four Course Royal Feast along with a Beer or a Wine for $45 per person. Lala’s Kitchen opens for lunch from 11:30 to 3:30 PM and dinner from 5 PM till late night.