Soya Kala Masala
1 cup soya chunks
2 medium onions
7-8 garlic cloves
3-4 dry red chilly peppers
1/4 cup cilanto hand shredded
2 tbsp grated dry coconut
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
1 pinch of love
—————–
Soak the soya chunks in warm water. You can add a pinch of salt to the water, gives a good flavor to the chunks
Pound the garlic in a pestle
Flash roast the grated coconut, add the chili peppers in the end and take it off the heat. 1 min is plenty
Roast the onions directly on the flame for 5 mins, let it cool.
Grind the roasted coconut n chilies in the grinder, add the roasted onions and cilantro to the same mix and grind to a coarse paste.
Chop the soaked soya chunks to smaller size if you like
Heat oil in a pan
Add the cumin seeds and bloom them
Add garlic, turmeric, garam masala and stir
Add the onion coconut paste and fry well until it looks glazed
Add the soya chunks and stir fry until the masala coats each piece, stir and fry on low heat for a couple mins.
Add salt, stir and cover, cook on low heat for 5 mins.
If you like to have a runny curry, add 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil.
Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, a pinch of love and serve steaming hot.
Serves 3-4 people
This is a good cheat meat curry ! Wonderful for Vegans
Tag: spicy
BAINGAN BHARTA
BAINGAN BHARTA
A simple, super yummy and popular side dish, that goes with anything, even as a dip, with corn chips 😊
1 medium Asian eggplant
1 onion fine chopped
1 medium tomato fine chopped
1/2 tsp turmeric
3/4 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp coriander seeds powder
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp salt
2tbsp Fresh chopped cilantro
————–
Smear the eggplant with an oil swipe
Roast it well directly on the flame, uniformly by turning over to cover all around
Keep it covered under a bowl for 5 mins ( the steam makes the charred peels come off easily)
Take a small bowl of water to dip your fingers in, to prevent the peels from sticking to your hands.
Shred the roasted, peeled eggplant
Heat oil in a pan, bloom the mustard seeds,
Add turmeric, chilly powder, coriander powder
Followed by the chopped onion, tomato and half of fresh cilantro.
Flash fry, stir for a minute
Add the shredded eggplant, stir
Add salt
Cover it for 2 mins.
Serve garnished with fresh chopped cilantro and a pinch of love !
PS:
You can make this with japanese eggplants too
Variation:
You can also just shred the roasted eggplant,
add fine diced purple onion, 1/2 tsp salt or as per taste
Put 1/2 tsp chili powder, don’t mix it yet
make the seasoning separately and add on top of the chili.
Mix well, add fresh cilantro
Add 2 tbsp of plain/ greek yogurt
Classic Aloo Sabji
Classic Aloo
3-4 medium boiled potatoes
1 onion Julienned
2-3 green chilies julienned
1 tsp Urad dal/ popped chana daal
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ginger garlic rough chopped
1 tsp fresh cilantro
2-3 sprigs kadhipatta/ indian curry leaves
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp black mustard seeds
1 pinch Asafoetida/ hing
1 tsp lemon juice ( optional)
1/4 tsp salt
1 pinch of love
——–
Peel and cube the boiled potatoes upon cooling
Heat oil and add the Urad dal, bloom the mustard and cumin seeds
Add ginger garlic paste, chilies and kadhipatta
As soon as it sizzles add the onions
Add turmeric and Hing, flash fry the onions for one minute.
( should stay crunchy, but not raw)
Add the potatoes and stir gently, folding the mix outside in
Takes altogether 5 minutes to assemble this when the potatoes are already cooked.
Add salt, fresh cilantro, a pinch of love and lemon juice.
Fold it once more and it is ready to be served.
with Masala Dosa also.
Classic Uppama
Classic Upama-
This all time favorite, instant snack, classic dish was also my launchpad into the culinary world, forced by my grandmothers.
1 cup fine Rava ( semolina)
1 medium onion fine diced
1 small red tomato (roma)
2-3 red chilli peppers
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp Urad Dal( butter lentils)
5-6 cashews halved
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp ghee
1/4 tsp black mustard seeds
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 pinch Hing ( asafoetida)
1 pinch of love
1/2 lemon for juice
2 sprigs of kadhi patta( indian curry leaves)
1 1/2 cup of warm water
Fresh cilantro for garnish
Optional-
Fresh grated coconut 2 tsp
————
Roast the semolina and keep it aside
Heat oil in a thick bottomed wok
Add the Urad dal and let it fry till pinkish
Add the cumin and mustard seeds and let them bloom, add cashews.
Add the chili peppers, grated ginger,diced onion and fine diced tomato, followed by curry leaves.
Add hing and briskly stir once.
Add the roasted semolina and stirr well folding it outside in and bottom of the pan to up
Roast for 2-4 mins
Add salt and sugar, and pour the warm water from the sides, with one hand while stirring with the other. Smoothen the lumps if any
Make a indented well in the centre and drizzle the ghee in. Fold the mix on top of it
Lower the heat and cover the wok
Let it steam for 3-5 mins.
Stir once and squeeze the lemon juice on top, mix.
Plate it in a nice mound, with an upturned bowl
Garnish with fresh fine chopped cilantro and fresh coconut
You can also add crisp Sev on top if you like.
Akkhaa Massoor (lentils)
Akkhaa Masoor
1 cup whole Masoor ( common lentil)
1 tomato cut in 8 pcs
1 onion chopped fine
1 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
1/2 ” fresh ginger root
6-7 peeled garlic cloves
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp coriander seeds powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp salt / as per taste
Cilantro fine chopped
————
Wash the Masoor and put it in a container, add the chopped tomato in it with enough water to cook. Average 2 cups
Pressure cook the masoor lentils for 15 mins/ or boil until soft
Bruise the fennel seeds slightly to release aroma
Grate the ginger root
Garlic to be rough pounded
( if you are using frozen garlic, grate it frozen, on the braiser strip)
Heat the oil in the pan
Add the bruised fennel seeds and black mustard seeds
Quickly add the ginger garlic, followed by chopped onions and stirr
Add turmeric and chilli powder
Leave the onions slightly crunchy
Add the cooked Masoor and add salt
Sprinkle part of the chopped cilantro to add aroma
Cook for 3-5 mins
Serve hot with buttered rice or Parantha
PS: you can also add more water to it and make it soupy, enjoy with a warm buttered dinner roll or a slice of Sour dough
Bhutte Ka Keis
Bhutte ka Keis
A heart warming Malwa dish!
A Must Eat in the Indore itinerary.
4 large but tender Corn cobs
1 1/2″ fresh ginger root
6-7 peeled garlic cloves
1 medium purple onion fine diced
4-5 green chili peppers
Fresh cilantro fine chopped( with the stalks)
1 lemon, juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/4 tsp hing ( asafoetida)
1 pinch of Love
1/2 tsp salt
—————–
Break the cobs into halves and grate them on a medium hole grater
Pound the ginger garlic and green chilies coarsely
Heat oil in a thick bottom wok or frying pan
Add black mustard seeds and bloom them, add hing
Follow by adding ginger garlic and chilies, stir, immediately add the fine diced onion.
Flash fry for one minute and add turmeric
Add the grated corn and stirr well, add salt
Saute in open pan for 5 mins. Folding it briskly centre out to in.
This helps the excess moisture to evaporate faster.
When the mixture starts consolidating, lower the heat and cover the pan, let it cook for 4-5 mins.
Repeat folding it briskly again. Loosen the mix, by breaking it with a spatula in a quick chop/ shred movement
Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon and stir once.
Add the fine chopped cilantro and a pinch of love. Serve hot with a lemon wedge
You can add a pinch of Jiraman or Chat masala if you like.
PS:
Using generic corn will always give the best results. Sweetcorn tends to linger the sweetish taste.
Raseelii Gobhi
Cauliflower in tomato sauce
1 small head of fresh cauliflower
( sorry the Fleurette dont work the same)
2 large ripe roma tomatoes/ or country tomatoes if you like a sweetish flavor
1″ piece of fresh ginger root grated
1 purple onion medium cubed
1 tbsp coriander seed powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder ( preferably kashmiri mirch)
1/4 tsp turmeric
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp roasted cumin seeds powder
1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp besan
2-3 cups of warm water
1/2 tsp salt
1 pinch of love
————
Cut the stem off and cut out 1″ Fleurette, cube the remaining stems too, you can use the core of the center stem
Boil a pot if water. Add the turmeric in the water.
Blanch the cauliflower lightly in boiling water, turn the heat off. Let it sit for two minutes and drain the water. Let it cool
Grate the tomatoes, and add the coriander seeds powder and chili powder and mix well until the powders soak the juice in
Heat the oil in the pan
Bloom the mustard seeds,
Add the grated ginger, saute for 1 minute and add the Besan, and bay leaves,
stirr around and add the diced onions. Flash fry for one minute, as soon as the onions are all coated with a sheen of oil, add the grated tomato mixed with the masala
Saute till the tomato paste starts glistening.
Add the cauliflower Fleurette and stir till all pieces are wrapped in the sauce
Add salt and a pinch of love
Add the warm water, stir well and bring it to a boil
Garnish with fresh cilantro
Serve with hot buttered rice.
DILKHUSH CUTLETS
1/2 cup minced chicken
1 boiled potato peeled and mashed
1/4 cup fresh corn kernels
1 medium onion fine diced
2 tbsp besan
1 tsp red chlli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup fine chopped fresh cilantro
1 pinch of love
1/4 cup semolina ( for dredge)
Oil to shallow fry
————
Mix all the ingredients to a nice homogeneous mix.
Take a fist full lump of the mix and pat it on your hand. You can grease your palm with a drop of oil.
Shape the mix in a flat oval or round.
I usually point one end and broaden the other n indent the top to make a heart out of it
Take the semolina in a flat shallow bowl
Dredge the patty thru it very gently and lightly on all sides
Lift it out and pack it with gentle compression with your fingers
Heat a shallow frying pan with a light brushing of oil on medium heat
Slide in the patties and cover the pan. Cook 5 mins on each side on a tsp oil.
Garnish with cilantro
Serve with a chutney or ketchup
BHARWAAN TINDE’
This is my dad’s recipe. I can never best him in taste nor perfection.
Tinde (Apple Gourd)are called Dhemse in maharashtra ( which i feel is really an ugly name)
7-8 very tender Tinde
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp salt.
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
———–
Wash the tinde and scoop the top out
Core the inside and save it aside.
Remove the tough seeds if any.
Add the dry ingredients to the cored mass. Crush it well n blend it with fingers.
Stuff the Tindas with this mixture and put the tops back on, sealing it gently.
Heat oil in a fry pan
Bloom the cumin seeds, add a dash of turmeric
Gently place the Tinde in the pan
Roll them around gently till all are coated with oil
Cover the pan with lid and steam for 10 mins.
Turn them around till all sides are golden fried.
Garnish with fresh cilantro and a pinch of love.
PS: if you dont get much of cored mass, too many seeds, add a fine chopped onion to make up.
Alternatively you can also stuff it with moong dal soaked n dry cooked. With a tinge of garam masala. Or stir fried soya chunks.
Serve hot with paraanthas
RAMPURAWALA DAHI BHALLA
for bhalla- (dumplings)
1 cup Urad daal
1/2 inch fresh ginger root
1/2 tsp salt
Oil to fry.
2 cups water for soaking the fried bhallas,
1 tsp ground black salt
For Dahi-
3 cups plain yogurt ( you can use Nancy’s plain yogurt or greek yogurt too)
1/2″ fresh ginger root fine grated
1/4 cup sugar ( no, the brown sugar doesn’t work)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp roasted cumin seeds powder
1/2 tsp red chilly powder
For tamarind chutney-
1/4 cup tamarind
1 cup jaggery
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp coriander seed powder
——–
Soak the Urad daal in hot water for 45 mins- an hour,
Remove water , add ginger & salt and grind to a coarse paste
Set aside
Whisk the yogurt and add the fine grated ginger, salt and sugar and give it one more whisk lightly, add half a cup of water if you like it a bit thinner.
Let it chill in the fridge till you prep the rest
Soak the tamarind in warm water for 30 mins. Crunch it with your fingers and remove the undissolved parts to gain a smooth paste. You can also run it through a grinder.
Add jaggery to the paste and cook on low heat, stirring all the time till jaggery melts.
Add chili powder, coriander seeds powder and salt, stir well.
Remove in a separate bowl and let it cool to room temp
Take two cups of water in a bigger bowl and dissolve th black salt in it.
Heat oil
Wet your fingers n palm, keep a tiny bowl in front of you to do that each time
Take a small amount of the urad paste, size of a golf ball and pat it flat on your damp palm
Slide it gently into the hot oil and fry both sides.
Strain it out and dunk in the salt water.
Pull out each bhalla and squeeze the water out by gently pressing it between your palms
Set aside in a bowl until all the bhallas are done
Now assembly is the easiest
Put 2 bhallas in a plate
Pour the dahi mix on top till it drowns the dumplings
Drizzle the tamarind chutney on top
Sprinkle cumin seeds powder and red chili powder
Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and serve cold