How to remove poultry smell from chicken

How to remove smell from chicken: We always face the trouble of getting rid of poultry smell or the raw chicken smell coming from the chicken. Though most people like cooked chicken, the poultry smell is disliked by most of the people. Here I give some easy tips to get rid of the smell from raw chicken. 

Tip1: To remove poultry smell from chicken, rub chicken with turmeric powder and then wash off.

Tip 2: Pour 1/2 a cup of white vinegar over the chicken and mix well to coat all the chicken. Leave aside for 4-5 minutes. Now wash the chicken thoroughly under running water.

Tip 3: Rub the chicken with salt. Leave it aside for 5 min. Then wash off with running water

Try these tips and let me know how it worked for you... 

Also if you follow other tips instead.. Share it here...

Chicken Image: freeimages

Bitter gourd Pulao | Pavakkai Pulao | Easy Pulao Recipes

Bitter gourd Biryani or Bitter gourd Pulao what ever you may say, is the one which I planned to try long before, but due to my doubt how the taste would be, I kept postponing the recipe from trying out. But after seeing the recipe here, I got guts to try my version and finally I tried it and came out good. It was not that much bitter as I expected, but still has light bitter taste, and I loved it. 

You can check the other biryani/pulao recipes here.

Peas Pulao
Potato Pulao
Spicy Tomato Pulao
Channa Pulao
Capsicum Pulao
Sweet Corn Pulao

Bitter gourd pulao

Preparation time: 35 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 4

Recipe Category: Main | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients I - To soak for 30 min (To remove the bitterness)

Bitter gourd - 1
Sour curd - 3 tbsp
Tamarind - 1 amla size
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Water - 1 cup

Ingredients II
Biryani Rice - 1.5 cup
Water - 2 cups
Coconut milk / milk - 1 cup
Cloves - few
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Bay leaf - 1 crushed
Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
Annasi poo - 1
Big onion - 1 cut length wise
Biryani masala - 1 tsp
Green chilli - 1 (cut lengthwise)
Mint and coriander leaves - a handful
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Curd - 1 tbsp

Method 

1. Soak the rice for 20 min.

2. Cut the bitter gourd into medium sized. Not too thick or too thin. 

3. Add the sour curd, tamarind, salt and water and mix it.

4. Add the bitter gourd pieces and soak for 30 min.

5. After 30 min, remove them and wash nicely.

6. Squeeze out the water completely and keep it aside to dry and start preparing the biryani.

7. Add the oil and when hot add the spices one by one and fry for a min.

8. Add the onions. Sauté it. Add the ginger garlic paste. Sauté till raw smell goes off.

9. Add the chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves and green chilli.

10. Add the biryani masala.

11. Add the bitter gourd pieces. 

12. Add little curd/yogurt.

13. Sauté the bitter gourds.

14. Add the water and milk or coconut milk. Allow to boil. 

15. Add the soaked rice.

16. When booking close the cooler lid.

17. Cool in low to medium flame for 10 min. 

18. Open the lid, when the pressure reduces and add the ghee.

19. Mix well without breaking the rice.

20. Serve the Bitter Gourd Biryani.

Yummy Bitter Gourd Pulao is ready.

Notes:

1. Instead of biryani masala, you can add the garam masala also.
2. You can even add the chilli powder, turmeric powder and tomato to make it as pure Biryani.
3. The bitter gourds will have slight bitterness.
4. You can skip the milk/coconut milk and add only the water.
5. You can even add half tbsp of lemon juice while sauting the bitter gourds, which is again done to reduce the bitterness. But i did not do that.

Tags: Bitter gourd pulao, Bitter gourd biryani, Paavakkai biryani, Paavakkai pulao, Bitter gourd recipe, Paavakkai recipe, Bitter gourd rice, Paavakkai rice

How to store lentils without bugs or insects

How to store lentils without the insects for a longer time: Saving lentils like toor dal, Chana dal etc would be a great headache for the ladies that too who stay outside India. Because our mother and inlaws give the lentils in a large quantity and saving them from the black small bugs or insects is a problem. Finally we need to throw the whole packets out. 

No need to worry now. Just follow the simple tips here and try to store the lentils for a longer time. 

Tip 1: Add little castor oil to the lentils like toor dal and mix well. It helps to keep away the insects like small black ones. 

Tip 2: Add few neem leaves or dry red chillies along with the lentils and save in a air tight container. 

Tip 3: Transfer the lentils to a freezer safe containers and you can keep it in the freezer. Whenever you want you can take small amount. 

Tip 4: Add little turmeric powder and mix with the lentils. 

Tip 5: If buying in very large quantity, mix the lentils with boric powder. But take care to wash them very nicely before using it. 

Note:

1. Always try to buy the fresh or recently packed lentils. If the lentil packet has little powder like stuff, discard it. 

2. Always use a clean and dry spoon. Any moisture content may bring in the insects. 

So do you follow any other tips in storing the lentils away from bugs??? Share with me. 

Cooking tips: How to clean Oily Vessels

Tips to clean oily vessels: Cleaning oily vessels is always a tough job for the ladies. It's not like other vessels as the oil will stick and does not go easily.  I have some tips to make your job easy and you can clean the oily vessels with an ease and no need to fight with it.

Image credit: freeimages

Tip 1: Using Tamarind

This is age old method which is used in many Indian households to clean oily brass lamps and to make it shiny. Take a small piece of tamarind and clean your vessels first with tamarind or tamarind pulp and then with your soap as usual. 

Tip 2: Lemon

Wash the oily vessels with plain water and then apply the leftover lemon on all the parts. Leave it for sometime and wash with dish washing liquid.

Tip 3: Baking Soda

Wash the vessel with baking soda first and wash it with dish washing liquid normally. 

Tip 4: Vinegar

Like lemon vinegar is also used to clean the oily vessels. Soak the vessels in warm water mixed with vinegar for few minutes. Then wash it off.

Tip 5: Kitchen tissue or paper towel

Before washing the vessels, wipe the oil using the tissue or the paper tower. The paper towel absorbs the oil completely. Now wash as usual. 

Tip 6: Use Hot water

Soak the vessels with hot water for a while before washing. It eases your job.

Tip 7: Concentrated soap

Use the concentrated soap or liquid directly on the oily vessels. Soak for a while and then wash it off. 

Tip 8: Flour (APF or Wheat flour)

Rub the oily vessels with the flour. It makes your job easy by absorbing the oil. Then you can wipe it with a cloth or paper. Then you can wash the vessels. 

So which method are you following to clean the oily vessels??? Share your tip in the comments.