Green Soya Keema

 

            Soya in any form is always a healthy option and is a great substitute to any non-vegetarian dish. Full of protein, you will be surprised to know that it tastes just like mutton / chicken mince. So let me share a yummy recipe of soya keema matar with a twist. The gravy is a green based with some coriander-mint-dill leaves, along with other basic ingredients as the base of the gravy. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing veggie dish.

 

         This dish is a vegetarian version of the classic Mumbai style Green Mutton Keema. The original recipe, bought to India by the Persians, is typically served for breakfast with buttered pav in all Irani restaurants across the city. 

         The dill leaves along with coriander and mint leaves imparts a distinct flavor to the dish. Moreover, the vibrant green color makes it further more appetizing. You can drizzle some lime juice over the end product and serve along with buttered pav, steamed rice, jeera rice or any variety of Indian bread. 

• 1 cup soya granules
• 1 cup coriander leaves
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• 2 green chilies
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/3 cup yoghurt, whisked
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/2 cup green peas (I used frozen peas)
• 1/4 cup dill leaves, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 2 green chilies, slit

          Boil sufficient water in a pan and add the soya granules. Cover and keep aside for 10 minutes. Drain and keep aside. 

         Blend together 2 green chilies, coriander leaves and mint leaves along with some water into a smooth paste. Keep aside. 

         Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onion till light brown. 

         Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder mixed with 2-3 tbsp. water. Mix well and sauté till the oil separates.

         Add the whisked yoghurt and keep stirring continuously for 2 minutes.

          Add the drained soya granules, salt, the green paste and green peas. Give it a nice mix and add 1/2 cup water. Simmer on a medium flame till the gravy comes to a desired consistency.

          Now add the chopped dill leaves, garam masala powder and 2 slit green chilies. Mix well and serve with any form of Indian bread, steamed rice or jeera rice.

              Heat oil in a pan & sauté the onion till light brown. 

Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder & cumin powder mixed with 2-3 tbsp. water. Mix well & sauté till the oil separates.

      Add the whisked yoghurt & keep stirring continuously for 2 minutes.

                 Add the drained soya granules, salt, 

                  the green paste and green peas. 

Give it a nice mix and add 1/2 cup water. Simmer on a medium flame till the gravy comes to a desired consistency.

Now add the chopped dill leaves, garam masala powder & 2 slit green chilies. 

Mix well & serve with any form of Indian bread, steamed rice or jeera rice.

Squasher Korai Bhapa (Chow Chow Karahi Dum - Bong style)

 

          Squash is nothing but Chow-Chow cooked in a Bengali style. This is my version of a simple everyday recipe prepared in a dum style. It is called Korai bhapa as it is steam cooked in a karahi / pan with all the ingredients, mustard oil and spices added to the sliced chow chow. So the process is extremely simple. You can enjoy with steamed rice or chapatti / paratha. This humble veggie is generally considered good for the stomach as it has a cooling effect. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare  Squasher Korai Bhapa.

          Chow-Chow or squash is a form of gourd, which is not a very common vegetable. Nevertheless, when cooked, tastes very delicious. Here I prepared it in a Bengali style ina veg. form. For a non-veg. version, prawns or shrimps can be added.

• 2 medium squash, (Chow Chow), peeled & sliced
• 2 tbsp. + 1 tsp. mustard oil
• 1/2 tsp. nigella seeds
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4-5 garlic cloves, sliced
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• handful of coriander leaves, chopped

         In a bowl, add the sliced squash, sliced onion, green chilies, garlic, salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder and 2 tbsp. mustard oil. Mix well and marinate for 5 minutes.

         Heat 1 tsp. oil in a pan and temper with nigella seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

         Add the marinated squash. Cover and cook on a low flame till done. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of water if needed and stir at intervals, so that it does not stick at the bottom. 

          When the veggie turns soft and the moisture has evaporated, add the chopped coriander leaves. Give it a gentle mix and serve with steamed rice or chapattis. 

Heat 1 tsp. oil in a pan & temper with nigella seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

Add the marinated squash. Cover & cook on a low flame till done. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of water if needed & stir at intervals, so that it does not stick at the bottom. 

          When the veggie turns soft & the moisture has evaporated, 

                 .....add the chopped coriander leaves. Give it a gentle mix.

                      Serve with steamed rice or chapattis. 

Amloki Dal (Amla / Gooseberry Lentil Curry - Bong style)

 

           Here is a simple no-frills dal cooked in a Bengali style. It has a tempering of just some mustard seeds and dry red chilies for a smoky flavor. Add a tsp. of ghee to the end product to enhance the taste. It is a great comfort food and tastes absolutely great with hot steamed rice, papad or some aloo bhaja (fried potatoes) as an accompaniment. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing regional recipe.

           

          It is no secret that Amloki (Gooseberries / Amla) has a very wide range of benefits. To name a few, they are a very rich source of vitamin C, fibre, iron and zinc. They are equally good for our hair / scalp, heart, controls blood sugar and is also good for our stomach. 

• 1/3 cup masoor dal (red lentil), soaked for 30 minutes
• 3-4 amlas (gooseberries), chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. mustard oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 2 dry red chilies, broken
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. ghee

          

           Pressure cook the dal in 1 & 1/2 cups water for 3-4 whistles. Give it a whisk.

           Add turmeric powder and the chopped amlas and again pressure cook for a further 2 whistles. Mix everything well.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with the red chilies and mustard seeds. Allow it to splutter. 

          Now add the boiled dal, 1/2 cup water and salt. Simmer for 3-4 minutes on a low to medium flame. 

          When done, add the ghee and serve with hot steamed rice and some papad / fried potatoes for a great comfort meal. 

Pressure cook the dal in 1 & 1/2 cups water for 3-4 whistles. Give it a whisk.

Add turmeric powder and the chopped amlas and again pressure cook for a further 2 whistles. 

                   Mix everything well.

Heat oil in a pan & temper with the red chilies & mustard seeds. Allow it to splutter. 

Add the boiled dal, 1/2 cup & salt. Simmer for 3-4 minutes on a low to medium flame. 

                   When done, add the ghee and give it a stir. 

Serve with hot steamed rice & some papad / fried potatoes for a great comfort meal. 

Horse Gram Sambar

 

           Horse Gram Sambar (Kulthi / Kollu / Ulavalu) is a yummy South Indian dal that contains an amazing number of nutritional benefits. It is a very common dish prepared in the South Indian states of Telangana, Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This lentil is a very rich source of protein, calcium, iron and is low in fat and diabetic friendly too.

          So here is an amazing and a healthy sambar / Dal recipe, prepared from boiled and blended Horse Gram lentil. It is light on the stomach and is best enjoyed with hot steamed rice. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this spicy and tangy delicacy.

                Traditionally, sambar is prepared with tuvar dal (Pigeon pea lentil). However, in this recipe it is replaced with Horse Gram. I have followed a very easy method of making this sambar which takes very little time to dish out. You can adjust the consistency according to your taste.

                 I have just added tomato to this sambar recipe. But to make it extra nutritious, you can always add in few veggies of your choice. Horse Gram can also be sprouted and made into salads, pulao, cutlets with the boiled and mashed dal or into delicious soups. 

Ingredients - 

• 1/2 cup Horse Gram lentil
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 2 tbsp. sambar powder
• 1/2 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1-2 tsp. tamarind paste mixed with 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup water or as required

Tempering - 

• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1/4 tsp. asafoetida
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Pressure cook the soaked lentil / dal in 1 cup water for 10-12 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Set aside to cool. 

          Then blend into a smooth paste. 
       
          Transfer it to a pan along with sambar powder, red chili powder, salt to taste, turmeric powder, curry leaves, sliced tomato, tamarind water and 2 cups water. 

          Bring it to a boil and simmer on a low flame for 10-15 minutes or till you get the desired consistency. Keep aside. 

          Heat ghee in a tadka pan and temper with mustard seeds and cumin seeds. 

          After it stops spluttering, add asafoetida and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds. Pour this tempering over the prepared sambar. 

          Garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy with hot steamed rice or any South Indian breakfast for a wholesome and a comforting meal.

                   Soak the Horse Gram dal overnight.

Pressure cook the soaked lentil / dal in 1 cup water for 10-12 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Set aside to cool. Then blend into a smooth paste. 

          

Transfer the blended lentil to a pan along with sambar powder, red chili powder, salt to taste, turmeric powder, curry leaves, sliced tomato, 

                        tamarind water 

and 1 cup water. Bring it to a boil & simmer on a low flame for 10-15 minutes or till you get the desired consistency. Keep aside. 

Heat ghee in a tadka pan & temper with mustard seeds & cumin seeds. After it stops spluttering, add asafoetida & curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds. 

Pour this tempering over the prepared sambar. 

                       Garnish with coriander leaves.

Enjoy with hot steamed rice or any South Indian breakfast for a wholesome & a comforting meal.

Raw Jackfruit Tikki

 

          Raw Jackfruit or Kathal is a common and a favorite summer vegetable. It is cooked in various ways. So I bring to you this all time favorite appetizer or a tea-time snack in a tikki form prepared with raw jackfruit. You can also substitute it with potato or potato-paneer combination. So do try them and enjoy with sweet tamarind chutney, tomato sauce or green chutney. Do check out an easy step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing treat.

              Raw Jackfruit is a veggie in the unripe form and is known as a vegetarian's Non-Veg. dish as the texture resembles that of mutton. As a vegetable, it is high on protein and low in calories. It also boosts our immunity and is a great meat substitute for the vegetarians. 

               This humble vegetable has not much found its way to the dinner table.  However, one can make a variety of yummy dishes like appetizers, salad, bharta and also in a curry form. The seeds too are palatable and tastes very yummy after it is cooked. 

• 1 small jackfruit, boiled & mashed
• 1/3 cup roasted gram flour
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. nigella seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1-2 green chilies, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. roasted coriander-cumin powder
• 1 tsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• oil to shallow fry

           In a mixing bowl, add all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil) and combine everything well.

          Divide the dough into equal portions. Take each portion and give it a round flat shape. 

          Make similar stuffed tikkis with the remaining dough and refrigerate for an hour. 

         Heat 1-2 tbsp. oil in a pan and shallow fry them in batches till golden brown in color.

         Drain on a tissue paper and serve them hot as an appetizer with sweet tamarind chutney, green chutney or tomato sauce. 

         

Divide the dough into equal portions. Take each portion & give it a round flat shape. 

Heat 1-2 tbsp. oil in a pan & shallow fry them in batches till golden brown in color.

                         Drain on a tissue paper.

Serve them hot as an appetizer with sweet tamarind chutney, green chutney or tomato sauce.