December 31, 2010

Bengan Masala (Bringal / Eggplants in a spicy gravy)

Bengan is a different vegetable I feel. What I like most about it is its color.... :))  Well Bengan is also cooked in lot of different ways. Bengan bharta, Bharvan bengan , Masala Bengan , Sukhi bengan ki sabzi and so many more. Bengan is also cooked in many different gravies. I got this recipe from my paternal aunt. Thanks to her :)


Ingredients:

Serves 2

2-3 Bengans (Bringal/Eggplant)
1 1/2 tbsp dry Coconut grated
2 Cups finely chopped Onion divided
1 tbsp Sesame seeds (til)
1 tbsp Poppy seeds (khus khus)
Slits of 2 Garlic Cloves
2 tbsp roasted Peanut crush
Red Chili powder as per taste
Salt as per taste
2-3 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Turmeric powder
2-3 tbsp Oil
Mustard and Cumin seeds for seasoning
1-2 tsp Sugar


Method:

1. Wash the Eggplants. Take off the stems and cut into 4-6 vertical slits each.

2. Heat just a 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add 1 Cup onion and saute for 4-5 minutes. Now add sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic slits and coconut and saute again. We want to get the roasted flavor of these ingredients. Mean while you can microwave the eggplant slits and half cook them.

3. Now grind all these in a grinder. Add just enough water and make a paste.

4. In a same pan heat the remaining oil, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds and when they sizzle add remaining onion to it. Saute again till it turns translucent.

5. Now add the paste from the step 2 and the masalas. Saute till the oil separates out from them. Stir occasionally.

6. Add about 2 Cups of water, salt,sugar, peanut crush and eggplant slits. Cook till everything blends and the eggplant cooks well

Tips:

  • If  dry coconut is not available you can also use the fresh grated coconut.
  • I have a masala called as Kanda Lasun masala which I use instead of regular Garam Masala. This Kanda Lasun masala is unique to Maharashtra so I guess many would not be aware of it.
  • Try having curd in your meal along with this sabzi. Curd goes very well with this sabzi.

Sending to Dish out-Brinjal & Garlic guest hosted by Sangee,event by Vardhini..

December 28, 2010

Cucumber and Tomato Open Sandwich

This is one of the favorite snacks at home. Its very easy, tastes so good and most important is very satiating. I never knew about the concept of open sandwiches until this recipe was introduced to me after marriage. Open sandwiches as the name suggests are open with some toppings on top of the bread. There are hundreds of varieties of them but this one is the first and the only one I have ever tried or eaten. Try to make this one on a sunny day as the taste and the combined flavors of all the ingredients are really refreshing.

Ingredients:

1 bread loaf(white or brown)
1 bowl peeled diced Cucumber
1 bowl diced Tomato
Sev


Method:

1. Take a bread slice and spread green chutney on it.

2. Top it with diced cucumber and tomato.

3. Spread tamarind water on the slice as required.

4. Sprinkle sev.

Tips:

Both the chutneys when made ahead of time, the open sandwich is just a 4 step snack.

December 23, 2010

Simple Mix Vegetable

Capsicum always does well with onion and also with cabbage. The combination of these 3 also tastes great. This is a simple sabzi good to go into lunch boxes. Very little preparation is required and there is lot scope for variations.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Onion Julienned
1 Cup Capsicum Julienned
1 Cup Cabbage Julienned
Red Chili powder as per taste
2 tsp Cumin-Coriander powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder
1-2 tsp Punjabi Garam Masala (if not available then regular Garam masala)
Salt as per taste
1 1/2 tbsp Tomato ketchup
Generous pinch of Sugar
Oil, Cumin seeds for seasoning



Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds to it.

2. When they sizzle add onions. Saute them till they turn transparent. Now add capsicum. Saute for a while.

3. Add all the powders, tomato ketchup, sugar, and mix well. When the capsicum is about to cook add cabbage. Now mix everything well and adjust the masalas. Lid for 5 minutes or till all veggies cook.



Tips:

This is a simple and quick mix vegetable recipe. You can add your own masalas , different veggies like broccoli, carrot, peas etc. If you have more time and want to something special try out vegetable jaipuri which has a little different steps than this one.

December 17, 2010

Its the Award Time

I was crazy busy with my course work and could not post about the awards. Thanks to all these 3 ladies for remembering my blog and giving me these beautiful awards.

Awards

The first award which is One Lovely Blog Award is from PaakShalee . Thanks. She started to blog in July 2010 and so preety new to this world. But if you visit her blog you will conclude that she is not new to the cooking world. She has got some fantastic recipes. The best thing I like about her collection is that she has got the recipes which we can make in our day to day life. Do visit her blog.





The next one which is Sunshine award is from Soumya.  She is newer and very active blogger. She has got some lovely desserts on her blog. Do check them.




Last is from Rupali of RecipeGrabBag. She like to cook the quick recipes. (jhatpat khana :) ) which we all are always in search of. The recipes will definately help us to save our time. Visti and find them out.
Thanks Rupali for  'U r the best blogger' award.


Passing Time

I would like to pass on this award to following:


Sunshine Award

Akheela - TorviewToronto
Usha Rao - My Spicy Kitchen

One Lovely blog

Pavithra - Binge On Veg !!!
Jagruti - Joy Of Cooking

U are the best blogger

Rachana Kothari - Veggie Fare
Yummy Team - Yummy O Yummy

Thanks to all and let the awards flow in :) :)...........

December 16, 2010

Tirangi Vada - The TriColour Bread Pakodas - make a perfect snack

The name itself tells us what this snack would look like. Yeah it has three colors which look like India's national flag and therefore the name goes as Tirangi Vada. This is a perfect snack on a rainy day with a garama garam chai and when junta is very hungry :). 

Ingredients:

Bread loaves
Tomato Ketchup

For Besan Paste:

Gram flour as per need (Besan aata)
Pinch Turmeric powder
Red Chili powder as per taste
Salt as per taste
1 tsp Asafoetida
Oil for frying

For Green Chutney:
Bunch of Coriander
Mint Leaves (pudine ke patte)
Cumin seeds
Green Chilis as required
Salt as per taste
Pinch of sugar


Method:


1. In a grinder take all the ingredients listed under Chutney , add little water and grind it to make a Chutney. Adjust pudina, water, salt , chili as per liking and taste. Make this a little pungent in taste.

2. Take a bread slice and spread green chutney over eat. Place another slice on top of it and spread tomato Ketchup on it. now cover this with a third slice.

3. Cut this sandwich into small pieces as you want.

4. Mix Gram flour, salt , red chili powder, turmeric powder and water to make a paste. (Saw way as one makes for Onion pakoras)

5. Heat oil in a skillet (kadai). Take a piece of above bread sandwich , dip it in the besan paste so that there is a thick layer of besan paste on it and deep fry in oil. Fry till it gets a slight brown color.


Serve hot :)

December 14, 2010

Healing Events - Broccoli

Recipes for Healing Food Events - Brocolli

Thank You to all who sent the recipes....Enjoy Broccoli :)..
Visit the lovely blogs of all the following ladies.....

Neha


Priya




Supriya

Blog: Queen Of My Kitchen



Rupali

Blog: RecipeGrabBag



HoneyBee

Blog: Honey Bee

  

Akheela

Blog: To View Toronto



Usha Rao

Blog: My Spicy Kitchen

  

Jayasri