Tasty and Easy Recipes

Ingredients:
3 cups mixed vegetables, chopped & boiled
(peas, carrots, potatoes, beans, capsicum etc)
1/2 cup water (or water from the boiled veggies)
1 tbsp lime juice
salt to taste
cilantro for garnish

To Grind:
1/2 tsp jeera
2-3 cloves
2″ piece of cinnamon
5-6 peppercorns
1/2 cup coconut
1 medium onion
3-4 green chilies (or to taste)
1/5 tsp turmeric
2 tsp poppy seeds
2 tsp dalia or raw rice
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
Asafoetida

Method:
Pressure cook vegetables in a little water for 1-2 whistles. Alternately, you could microwave them for 4-5 minutes on high or boil them on stovetop with water. Strain & keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan. Add the tadka ingredients. Once the seeds start to pop, add the ground masala and fry for 5-6 minutes, until the smell of raw onion is gone. Stir in the boiled veggies and water. Add salt and lime juice. Bring to a boil.
Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with cilantro.

Ingredients:
150 gms Kidney Beans (Rajma)
2 medium sized Onion (Pyaj)
1 large Tomato (Tamatar)
2 Green chilli (Hari mirch)
1 tblsp Ginger-garlic (Adrak-Lasun) Paste
1/2 tspn Garam masala Powder
1 tsp Coriander (Dhania) Powder
3/4 tsp Salt (Namak)

Method:
Soak the rajma overnight.
Boil in a pressure cooker till tender.
Heat oil in a pan and add the chopped onions and ginger garlic paste. Cook till brown.
Add the tomatoes, green chillies and cook till pulpy.
Add coriander powder, salt and 2 cups water and boil well.
Add the rajma and cook on a low flame for about 10 minutes.
Add the garam masala powder and cook further for another 15 minutes or till the gravy thickens.
Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Ingredients:
250 gms Potato (Aloo)
2 tblsp Oil
1/4 tsp Turmeric (Haldi) Powder
2 Green chilli (Hari mirch)
4-5 Curry Leaves (Kari Patta)
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds (Rai/Sarson)
As per taste Salt (Namak)

Method:
Boil, peel and cube the potatoes.
Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds, slit green chillies, curry leaves, fry till the seeds start spluttering, add salt and turmeric powder and cubed potatoes, add little water so that the potatoes absorb the masala and simmer for 4-5 minutes till well blended.
For a different taste you can substitute mustard seeds with cumin seeds.

Ingredients:
2 cup Makhana (Lotus seeds)
250 gms Cottage Cheese (Paneer)
4 Onion (Pyaj)
4 Tomato (Tamatar)
1 ” long piece Ginger (Adrak)
4 – 5 cloves Garlic (Lasun)
1/2 cup Cream (Malai)
2 cup Milk
1 tsp Red Chily Powder (Lal Mirchi)
1/4 tsp Turmeric (Haldi)
1/2 tsp Dried Pudina Leaves
1 cup Cashewnut (Kaju)
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1 tblsp Poppy seeds (Khuskhus)
Coriander Leaves (Dhania Patta)
4 tblsp Clarified Butter (Ghee)

Method:
Heat clarified butter in a pan.
Fry makhana in the ghee.
Cut cottage cheese in samll pieces.
Mince onion, tomato, garlic, ginger.
Cut cashewnut in samll pieces.
Soak poppy seeds in 1/4 cup of water.
After 1 hour grind the soaked poppy seeds to a fine paste.
Chop coriander leaves very finely.
Heat clarified butter in a pan.
Add onion, tomato, garlic, ginger paste and brown it, stirring continously.
Add poppy seeds and fry for 2 minutes and then turn off the gas.
To this mixture add makhana, cottage cheese, cream , salt, red chili pepper, turmeric, dried pudina
leaves. Keep this mixture aside for half an hour.
After half an hour put the pan on the flame and add milk.
When it comes to a boil add 3 cups of water.
Simmer it till the makahana are completely done and soft.
Then add cashewnuts and garam masala.
After 1 minute put the flame.
Transfer the mixture to a dish and sprinkle some corainder on it.
Serve it hot with nan, roti or parantha.