How to cook indian food using microwave oven

First, I'd have to disagree that microwaves can not be used for ''creative'' cooking. Just because microwaves r used by most people in simple ways, & for reheating, does not mean they *can not* be used in other ways.

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

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

If u want recipes that work well in a microwave, it is 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://microwaveassociation.org.uk/recipes/recipes/chicken_korma.htm
(that site probably has more recipes u might like too)

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

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

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

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




HTH,

Diane B.

You can not 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, & put the oven on. How long u need to cook it for depends on the type of rice, the wattage of the oven, & the amount of rice. The packet often has instructions.

For plain vegetables, u 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 & quantity of vegetable you're using.

The microwave is not designed for creative cookery. If u want to cook korma or flavoured vegetables or rice, u really need to do so on a stove or hotplate.