How to cook indian food using microwave oven?

Question

I want to make simple Indian/Pakistani meals like rice or Chicken Qorma or vegetables using the microwave oven.

Answer 1

First, I'd have to disagree that microwaves can't be used for "creative" cooking. Just because microwaves are used by most people in simple ways, and for reheating, doesn't mean they *can't* be used in other ways.

The main thing to keep in mind is that (unless you use a special browning paper or buy a special browning surface for the microwave... or your microwave oven is a combination microwave-convection), you won't be able to apply heat from the outside of a food directly, which can create browning... and you can't "fry" in oil in a microwave.

Other than that, microwaves are good for many things (steaming, poaching, even braising, etc), and can be used in many creative ways.

If you want recipes that work well in a microwave, it's best to find them from sites (or books) that deal with microwave recipes only or many general food sites will have a special section for just microwave-prepared food.

Here is a recipe for chicken korma cooked in a microwave, for example:
http://www.microwaveassociation.org.uk/recipes/recipes/chicken_korma.htm
(that site probably has more recipes you might like too)

And here are many, many more microwave recipes, some oriented toward Indian/Pakistani food:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=microwave+recipes

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=microwave+recipes+Indian

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=microwave+recipes+Pakistani




HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 2

You can't really make chicken korma in a microwave oven, unless you're just reheating it.

For plain rice, put the rice in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with film, pierce the film a few times, and put the oven on. How long you need to cook it for depends on the type of rice, the wattage of the oven, and the amount of rice. The packet often has instructions.

For plain vegetables, you can steam them in a microwave following a similar procedure. Put them in a container with a few drops of water, cover with film, pierce film, cook for some time, depending on what type and quantity of vegetable you're using.

The microwave isn't designed for creative cookery. If you want to cook korma or flavoured vegetables or rice, you really need to do so on a stove or hotplate.

Answer 3

consider revising your thoughts.