How’s the summer treating you? Kind and cool I hope….While I prefer the heat over cold wintry days any day, the summer month’s here in Mumbai have been sweltering hot.Perhaps most of you would agree that the last thing on one’s mind is cooking in the heat.
Well the dear son is here on his holidays from Montreal and yes I’ve been pampering him with his favourite meals.He often hear’s me complain about the heat and of course the eternal debate on what to cook for dinner! I for one have been trying to simply meal times at home. At least the dinner’s. A couple of posts ago I wrote about focussing on easy and fuss free cooking ideas.This dinner idea is just that.A oven grilled boneless chicken accompanied with the starchy goodness of some Hasselback Potatoes and a healthful serving of pan charred Zucchini and carrots. Well balanced,nutritious and gets done in just about 30 minutes.Yes that’s my new kitchen mantra.Well for the summer’s at least.
So how’s that for an ultra quick and family friendly recipe that’s light and refreshing and one that can just as well become a part of your weeknight repertoire? Do share some of your easy meal ideas here.I would love to hear from you.
For The Chicken:
- 300 grams Boneless Chicken( cubed)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon thick cream or hung yogurt
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 2-3 pods garlic (chopped finely)
- Hand full of Rosemary or Thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes (optional)
1.Marinate the boneless cubes of chicken in olive oil,cream,salt,pepper and minced garlic along with some chilli flakes.
2.Lay the cubes on a grill pan and bake for about 25 minutes at 180C.
Hasselback Potatoes
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 large potatoes
- 4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Few pods of garlic crushed
- Crushed Rosemary or thyme
Directions:
- Heat the oven to 200 C.
- Wash and scrub the potatoes well and dry them
- Make slits in the potatoes across the width ensuring that you do not cut to the bottom
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and brush generously with butter or olive oil.Add in the garlic pods,rosemary and thyme around the potatoes.
- Lay the potatoes on well oiled baking tray and bake for about 30 minutes, gently separating the layers.
- You may add some melted butter between the layers.
- Bake further for about 20 minutes till the potatoes are crisp and cooked.
For Zucchini and carrots:
1.Slice the Zucchini and carrots into rounds. Par boil the carrots for about 10 minutes.
2.Drizzle a grill pan with some olive oil and lay the rounds on the pan.Grill on each side for a couple of minutes till grill marks appear.
Cookingwithshy 
Sounds like a delicious meal! 🙂
Yes it was…Thank you:))
My daughter is home from school for the summer too, and is enjoying home-cooked meals. It is so nice to have her home. I bet your son loved this chicken dinner. It looks so healthy and delicious!
Yes thanks Shari…he loved the meal..I’m sure you are enjoying cooking for your daughter as well…have fun with her over the summer..happy cooking:))
Looks like the perfect family meal…I hope you enjoy the time with your son!
Yes Nancy…easy and quick to put together..yes indeed it’s great to have him with us for the summer:))
Great that your son is home from Montreal and enjoying your cooking, I can tell he is well pampered in the cuisine department – that meal looks and sounds amazing! Is he a student there? I love Montreal. I had plans to barbeque some chicken on the grill, but with the welcome cooler weather and rain predicted today, this will be my substitute. Love the use of yogurt in your chicken, without the Indian spices 🙂
Thanks so much Loretta…Yesindeed we are loving that my son is here for the summer…Yes he studies at Mcgill in Montreal…Yes do try the chicken out..it’s quite easy to make up..Thanks for stopping by.
This absolutely my kind of meal! Those potatoes and veggies are grilled just perfectly and the chicken looks so moist!
Hi Julie…yes it’s a quick fix dinner!!! Best for weekdays:))
Even though chicken like this is easy to prepare, the taste is always wonderful and comforting. I’m sure your son enjoyed the meal, I know I would.
Yes indeed and quick to make up for weekdays…My son loved this and I’m enjoying cooking for him while he’s down for the summer…Thanks for stopping by Karen:))
Who wouldn’t enjoy this meal? Flavorful chicken, veggies and I love the hasselback potatoes. Still have not made them – great for entertaining as the presentation is enough to perk diners’ tastebuds 🙂
Yes the Hasselback potatoes are quite amazing…and the presentation does steal the show…do try it out some time:))
those potatoes! A work of art 🙂
Ha ha…all though quite easy to make up…the key is not to cut them to the bottom…Thanks for stopping by:))
Despite the heat you manage to churn out such delicious meals for your son. That is why moms are always special. Have a nice and enjoyable time with your son. I can relate to this because my son is also on a vacation and I want to try making different dishes for him. But he is on a fitness spree and wants only low calorie food. This oven grilled chicken looks like just the right dish to make. ..healthy and delicious ☺
Thanks so much for your lovely comment and for stopping by!! Yes indeed…mom’s are always doing that extra bit for their kids…I do hope you make this up for your son sometime…enjoy your time with him;))
mmm. . . this sounds like a wonderful meal.
Thanks Sheryl…yes and easy fix for dinner:))
Wow you made me hungry..so delicious!!
Thanks…This is an easy quick fix dinner:))
This sounds really good. We are supposed to get hot and humid here for the next while and I was looking for things to do on my grill. Thank you!
Yes it is a easy recipe with just a few ingredients…I do hope you will try this out…Thanks for stopping by:))
Yummy!!
Thank you…yes it was:))
You’re welcome!!
This is my family’s kind of food too! Looks so delicious with the hasselback potatoes!
It’s a fuss free dinner idea when one is short of time…glad you like it:))
This looks awesome!
Thank you:))
That is a really healthy meal… you don’t need any more carbs to go with it!
Absolutely Rafeeda…it’s quite a meal in itself:))
Shy, I LOVE the seasonings on your chicken, the look of your Hasselback potatoes, and the char on your veggies… goodness on one plate, or in one oven-baked meal!. (It’s hot in Oklahoma, too — that’s what air-conditioning is for. 🙂
Ha ha yes Kim thank good for air conditioning and some respite in the heat with the rains here in India…Thanks for your comment…yes trying to keep it simple for weeknight cooking esp with the dear son down from Univi…
Sounds yummy and healthy!!!
Thanks…yes have used very little oil and grilled too..thanks for stopping by:))
look so Delicious
Thanks:))
Sounds like a delicious meal!:)
Thanks yes it was a great and easy to make up meal:))
Great post!
Thank you:))