American Thali (Salmon fry with a side of Mac & cheese, Garlic beans and some red wine !)

I have had this menu in many American restaurants and wanted to try it out at home. There is a Desi twist to all the recipes, but mac and cheese with salmon and beans along with red wine is a very good combination. Perfect as a "Hatke" dinner menu. Here we go...

Ingredients :

Mac and Cheese:

• Elbow Macaroni / Pasta- 1 cup
• Olive oil -2 Tblsp
• Garlic cloves - 4
• Milk - 3 cups
• All purpose flour - 1 Tblsp
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper- 2 tsps
• Red chilli flakes- 2 tsps
• Grated cheddar cheese - 3 Tblsp
• Nutmeg powder - 1 tsp

Salmon fry:

• Salmon fillets - 2
• Oil - 2 Tblsp
• Ginger Garlic paste - 2 tsps
• Fish Seasoning Masala - 2 tsps
• Red chilli powder - 3 tsps
• Turmeric - a pinch
• Kasoori Methi - 1 tsp
• Salt
• Lime juice- 2 tsps
• Water

Garlic Beans:

• Green Beans - 2 cups
• Garlic cloves - 4
• Salt
• Oil - 2 tsps
• Lime juice - 3 tsps

Procedure:

Mac and Cheese:

• Add a few drops of oil to water and boil macaroni / pasta in it.
• Once cooked, drain the water and soak the cooked macaroni in cold water. Drain the water after a couple of minutes and repeat this procedure 3-4 times. Once the macaroni is cooled, spread it on a plate.
• Boil milk in microwave.
• Mix all purpose flour in 2 Tbslps cold milk to form a paste with no lumps.
• Mash Garlic and keep aside.
• In a pan, heat some olive oil.
• Once hot, add mashed garlic to it. Saute for a minute.
• Add boiled milk to it. Keep stirring and add the all purpose flour-milk paste.
• Keep stirring. As the sauce starts to thicken, add cooked macaroni/pasta, salt, pepper, nutmeg powder and mix well.
• Note : If the sauce appears too liquidy, make some more paste of all purpose flour and milk and add it to the milk before adding the pasta. The all purpose flour thickens the sauce.
• Take a baking tray and spray olive oil in it. Pour half of the pasta along with the white sauce. Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese, red chilli flakes on this.
• Now pour the remaining half of the pasta and the sauce. Sprinkle some more cheddar cheese and red chilli flakes.
• Bake this at 375 F for about 20-25 minutes.
• Yummy Mac and cheese is ready !

Salmon fry:

• Thaw the frozen salmon fillets by soaking them in hot water for about 30 minutes.
• Marinate the salmon with olive oil (2 tsps), turmeric(a pinch), ginger garlic paste(2 tsps), fish seasoning masala (2 tsps), red chilli powder(3 tsps), salt, kasoori methi (1 tsp), salt and lime juice(1 tsp).
• Marinate the fish for atleast 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a pan. Once hot, add the marinated fish fillets.
• Let the fish fry on hot oil for a couple of minutes. Do not stir the fish.
• Now add about 3-4 Tblsps of water , cover with a lid and cook the fish on high flame.
• After about 4-5 minutes, once the water evaporates, flip the fish and let the other side fry for a couple of minutes.
• Now add more water, cover with a lid and cook for another 5-6 minutes.
• Check if the fish is cooked. If not, add more water, cover with a lid and cook for some more time. Do not add too much water, 2-3 Tblsps is enough to steam cook the fish.
• Once the fish appears cooked, remove lid and let the remaining water evaporate.
• The fish should be cooked on medium-high flame and should be browned from both sides.
• Finally sprinkle some lime juice and serve hot .

Garlic Beans:

• Microwave the green beans for 5-7 minutes. Drain the water.
• Heat some oil in a pan, once hot add mashed garlic to it. Saute for a minute.
• Add the cooked green beans and fry without covering with any lid for about 5-7 minutes until the beans start turning brown.
• Add salt and lime juice.
• Serve as a side dish !

Red Wine : I prefer Sangria as its made from fruits and good for heart :P