When the weather starts to cool down and the outdoors are more welcoming, then it’s time for a barbecue. Being a vegetarian, I love to explore, a whole lot of options that are out there to cook on the grill. We all love mushrooms and when marinated in a basil pesto sauce and grilled , they are delicious. Tandoori potatoes are spiced and marinated potatoes, cooked in a clay oven or tandoor . Alternatively they are cooked in a barbecue , for the charred flavour or even baked in an oven .

Ingredients :-

For the potatoes-

4-5 large potatoes

1 cup hung curd

3 dry red chillies

1 tsp garlic paste

1 inch piece of ginger

1 cup grated paneer or cottage cheese

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp amchur or dry mango powder

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

1 tsp chaat masala powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Method :-

Slice the potatoes into half lengthwise, without peeling them. Par boil them in salted water , till almost done. Take the potatoes out of the water and cool them . Now scoop out the centre of each potato , to form a boat. In a bowl , mix the scooped potato centre and the grated cottage cheese. Add all the dry spices and mix well . Make a paste of the chillies, garlic , turmeric , ginger and salt. In another bowl mix the chilli paste with the hung curd and whisk well to form a smooth paste. Now take each potato boat and fill the centre with the cottage cheese mixture and press it with the fingers . Dip each piece of potato in the yoghurt mixture and coat both sides , well . Repeat with all the potato pieces and keep in the refrigerator to chill. Grill them on the hot barbecue grills or in a greased, baking tray in an oven. They will be ready to serve when the marinade is dry on both sides and the potatoes have charred a bit.

Ingredients:-

For the mushrooms –

2 packets of mushrooms

1 cup fresh basil

1/4 cup pine nuts

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 tsp black peppercorns

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Method :-

Wash the mushrooms well and keep aside. Grind everything for the pesto together. In a bowl gently toss the mushrooms , in the pesto to coat well. Leave aside to marinate. Put them on skewers and grill on the barbecue or bake in an oven till the mushrooms are tender and juicy .