Broccoli Butter Masala ( Navratri Special )

When it comes to 'sattvik' or 'niramish' fare, i.e., cooking without using any onion or garlic, many of us have a mental blockade. "Will it taste good ?" or even "there can be no substitute for fish/chicken/or any other meat of your choice", are some of the common nags that I have come across. But over a period of time I have explored the sattvik fare from various regions of India and most of it has turned out to be delicious. For example, let us take the Monday/Thursday meals cooked in most households in Odisha. Rice, dal with veggies, minimal spices and a ghee tadka, a sweet-sour chutney kind of thing, stir fried veggies and greens (either stir fried or cooked with moong dal). Simple and, nourishing yet delicious enough to qualify for an everyday meal. People who prefer rotis over rice can opt for a simple 'vrat ke alu' or 'kachey kele ki subzi' with rotis or parathas made with Rajgire ka atta.

Having tackled the first question, let us move on to the second one. But what is one supposed to serve if guests drop in ? Well, there are 'no onion no garlic' versions of most curries like the Navratan korma, matar paneer and butter masala (and it is also available on my blog) along with delicious sattvik 'no onion no garlic' biryanis that one can choose from.

The 'Broccoli Butter Masala' is just an addition to this list and the fruit of my efforts to marry Indian cooking with exotic ingredients. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 25 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 medium sized tomatoes
• 10 cashews
• 15 raisins
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp fresh cream
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
• a pinch of garam masala
• 2 pinch turmeric
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp kasuri methi
• few whole spices ( 1 green cardamom, 2-3 cloves, 1" cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, 6-7 peppercorns )

Preparation - Boil sufficient water in a saucepan.Once it gets to a bubbling boil, add the broccoli florets and let it cook for a minute or two.

Remove and immediately dunk in cold water. Drain the water after 5 mins. This helps bring out the gorgeous green hue of the broccoli.

Soak the cashew and raisins in 1/2 cup warm water for 20 mins. Grind into a smooth paste.

Puree the tomatoes.

Make a paste out of the coriander powder, garam masala, red chili power and turmeric along with a little (2-3 tsp) water.

Cooking - Heat the oil and butter in a wok. Add the masala paste and fry for 2 mins.

Add the tomato puree and fry till oil starts to separate.

Add the cashew and raisins paste and cook for 3 mins.

Finally add the milk and 1/4 cup water along with the blanched broccoli florets. Sprinkle Kasuri methi on top.

Bring to a boil on low heat and let it simmer for a while till the broccoli turns soft and the gravy coats the florets evenly.

Add the cream. give it a mix and remove from flame.

Serve hot with puris or a simple pulao.

Wishing all my Readers a very Happy and Auspicious Navratri !!

May the Mother Goddess shower You with all Her Blessings !!

Nine glorious days of festivities. Of prayers. And ofcourse family gatherings. Most of us await eagerly for this time of the year.

Here is a quick list of some of the delicious dishes and offerings one can prepare during these 'no onion no garlic days' -

• Instant Sabudana Kheer
• Sundal
• Banana Chips
• Sabudana Vada
• Khichdi
• Kaddu ka raita
• Matar Paneer
• Rajma Masala
• Navratan Korma 
• Pulihora
• Sattvik Biryani

For more recipes click here .

Dahi Waley Tinday

Yes. It is yet another tinda recipe ( plz excuse me for doing those back to back). And a quite simple one at that. It reminds me of the 'Dahi-aloo' that I make quite often. Lazy, refreshing and quite good with a couple of rotis. Perfect for the hot summers .

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup apple gourd /Indian baby pumpkin /tinday (peeled and chopped into medium sized cubes)
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp grated ginger
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1 green chili
• 1 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• cilantro for garnishing

Preparation - Take the cumin and fennel seeds. Pound them into a coarse mixture.

Take the yogurt in a mixing bowl and beat lightly to break any lumps. Add a little salt .Mix.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a pressure cooker. Add the asafoetida followed by the mustard seeds and the broken  green chili. Once the chili turns somewhat brown, add the pounded spices. Stir fry for 10 seconds.

Add the chopped apple gourd and mix with the spices. Add very little water (3-4 tbsp), salt and close the lid. Cook for 1 whistle on medium flame.

Remove from the flame and keep aside for 10 mins.

Open the lid and transfer the contents into the mixing bowl containing the curd. Sprinkle chopped cilantro.

Serve at room temperature with rotis or jeera rice. 

Gatta Pulao ( No onion No garlic version )

For someone living south of the state of Rajasthan, the term 'gatta' sounds almost alien. Quite a few of us have grown up thinking that 'gatta' is just another vegetable that could be native to the arid lands of the state. So, it was quite a surprise when I had a chance to taste the famous delicacy. 'Gatta' is nothing but 'besan'/'gram flour dumplings that are first cooked in boiling water, cooled, fried and then later added to any dish. It serves as a substitute for vegetables which are hard to come by in a desert.

It is when most of us want to try such exotic dishes, that we seek to connect with someone who has had experience/expertise with it. And that is where 'TalkToChef' comes in with help at hand. It is  a platform that allows one to connect with real chefs and get any cooking queries answered on a real time basis. TalkToChef is not about recipes but real folks who are ready to dish out information with their vast culinary experience. Make your meals healthier and fix any last minutes issues with expert help so that you do not have to rely on takeaways or frozen meals.Their mantra is simple and can be summed up in the following words - "we envision every table adorned with a home cooked meal as if it were prepared by a professional chef". 

If spicy curries are not your thing and you prefer the sheer comfort of rice dishes, this is another 'gatta' recipe that you must try. While chopped onions and garlic paste do form a part of this rich pulao, I have kept this version 'niramish' so that it can be had on fasting days too. Read on -

Preparation Time - 30-45 mins

Ingredients -

For the Gatta -

• 1 cup besan
• 2 tsp curd
• 2 tsp oil
• 1/3 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp crushed coriander seeds
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• a pinch of asafoetida
• salt to taste

For the pulao -

• 3 cups cooked rice ( use Basmati or Jeera rice )
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder (optional)
• 1/5 tsp garam masala
• 2 pinch turmeric
• 2-3 green cardamom
• 1 1/2 inch cinnamon stick
• 3-4 cloves
• 1 black cardamom
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 3-4 tbsp raisins
• 3-4 tbsp broken cashews
• 3 tsp ghee
• 1 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• cilantro for garnishing

Preparation - Take all the ingredients for the 'gatta' in a mixing bowl. Mix together into a tight dough. If it feels too dry, sprinkle a few drops of water. Cover with a cloth and keep aside for 10-15 mins.

Divide into 3-4 portions. Roll each portion into a sausage like cylinder .

Boil water in a saucepan. Add the cylinders into the water and allow to cook for 12-13 mins. Remove from the water and keep aside till cool. Cut into smaller portions of about an inch long.

Cooking - Heat the oil and ghee in a wok. Add the 'gatta' and fry lightly for 2-3 mins. Remove and keep aside.

Add the whole spices and cumin seeds. Fry till fragrant and then add the raisins and cashews. Add the green peas after 30 seconds. Fry for 2-3 mins.

Add the powdered masalas, fried gatta and salt.  Fry for 1 minute. 

Finally add the cooked rice along with the chopped cilantro. Switch off the flame and mix everything together.

Serve it hot with fresh curd.

Matar Paneer (Without onion and garlic)

Sometimes fine recipes are born purely out of need. This Ganesh Chaturthi my husband wanted something different from the puri-buta dali combo that is the staple dinner on festival days. With it being a no onion - no garlic day, I was hard pressed for choice. Then I zeroed in on this 'Matar-Paneer' recipe that I had jotted down in my notebook. It is a simple one with a combination of sweet, sour and spicy flavours without being too rich.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 20 mins

Ingredients -

• 200 gm Paneer cubes 
• 1 1/2 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
• 1 big tomato 
• 1 inch ginger
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 Kashmiri chili
• 5-6 almonds
• 7-8 cashews
• 10-12 raisins
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 green cardamom (powdered)
• 1 1/2 tbsp Kasuri methi
• 1/4 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
• a pinch garam masala
• 1 1/2 tsp honey
• salt to taste
• 2 tsp butter

Preparation - Chop the tomato and transfer into a cooker. Add the raisins, cashews, almonds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, whole red chili and cumin seeds along with a little salt. Add 1/2 cup water. Cook for 2-3 whistles on medium flame.

Keep aside for steam to escape. Once the steam escapes, peel the almonds. Drain the water ( but do not throw it ) and transfer all the contents of the pressure cooker to a blender. Buzz till you get a smooth paste.

If using frozen peas, thaw them.

Add the panner cubes to a bowl of hot water.

Cooking - Heat the butter in a wok. Add the ground tomato-masala paste along with coriander powder, chili powder and garam masala. Rub the Kasuri methi between your palms to warm it a bit before adding to the wok.

Cook for 5-6 mins before adding the paneer cubes and green peas. Add about 1 cup hot water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 mins.

Add the honey and remove from flame.

Serve hot with puris/phulkas.

Sev Tamatar ki Subzi ( sev tamatar nu shak )

Happy Janmasthami to all my readers!!!!!

Nal Lal. Bal Gopal. Kanhaiya. Devakinandan. Makhan Chor. Govinda. Murlidhar. These are some of Lord Krishna's popular names. Most of us would visualize him as a chubby toddler stealing 'Makhan' or as a teenager playfully teasing the Gopikas but most commonly as the charioteer cum adviser of Arjuna during the Mahabharata. Today as we celebrate his birthday with the breaking of the 'Dahi handi', I am sharing a simple no onion - no garlic recipe for all those who will be keeping a fast today. It is the simple 'sev tamatar  ki subzi' that is a favorite among most of my Jain friends and me too!!
 ( To know more about the story of Lord Krishna's birth , click here )


Recipe -

Preparation Time - 10-12 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 medium sized tomatoes
• 1/4 tsp chili powder ( one can reduce/increase the quantity )
• 1/3 cup sev
• 2 pinch turmeric
• a pinch of asafotida
• a pinch of garam masala
• a pinch of cumin
• salt to taste
• 1 1/2 tsp oil ( one can also use ghee )
• coriander leaves for garnishing (optional)
• 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

Preparation - Finely chop the tomatoes.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the cumin seeds and allow to splutter. Add asafoetida followed by the chopped tomatoes.

Cover with a lid for 1-2 mins to soften the tomatoes.

Add turmeric, chili powder, garam masala and salt along with 3-4 tbsp water. Cover till the tomatoes are completely cooked.

Add the sugar and stir in. Then add the sev and switch off the flame.

Finally garnish with some coriander leaves and serve hot with roti/parantha/puris.

Note - One can also add onion , ginger and garlic to this recipe on non-fasting days.

Jain Pav Bhaji

Jain food happens to be an extension of the Jainism philosophy of 'Ahimsa' or non-violence. Hence it does not include any ingredient which is harvested in a manner that causes death or injury to any living being. That eliminates all the root vegetables as it involves uprooting/killing the plant and displacing small organisms living in the vicinity. Also, foods that stimulate feelings of anger/negativity ( 'tamas') like onions and garlic are also prohibited.

My first taste of Jain pav bhaji came during my stay in Pune. This is a city that offers some really amazing jain food though I have forgotten the names of the places after so many years. Coming back to the Pav Bhaji, it is a really simple one made without using onion, garlic or even potatoes. Hence it is something that can be eaten/served to guests on 'Vrat' or fasting days. One just needs to buy a 'Pav Bhaji Masala' that eliminates onion and garlic among its ingredients and one is good to go. I got the 'no onion-no garlic' masala from a brand called 'Kapol'.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 25-30 mins ( this includes a standby of 10-12 mins )

Ingredients -

• 1/2 raw banana
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1 1/2 cup cauliflower florets
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 medium sized capsicum
• 2 medium sized tomatoes
• 1 tsp pav bhaji masala
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 2 pinch cumin seeds
• 3 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 4-5 pav/buns
• butter as required
• coriander leaves for garnishing
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• lemon wedges for garnishing

Preparation - Wash the cauliflower, cabbage and green peas. Transfer to a pressure cooker.

Wash and peel the raw banana and cube it. Add to the cooker along with 1/2 cup water, a pinch of turmeric and salt. Cook on medium flame for 2-3 whistles.

Keep aside till steam escapes. Use a hand blender to mash up the boiled veggies into a coarse/chunky paste. ( one can also use a traditional masher instead )

Chop the capsicum and tomatoes into small pieces.

Cooking - Heat 3 tsp oil and a bit of butter in a pan.  When sufficiently hot, add the cumin seeds.

Once the seeds stop spluttering, add chopped capsicum. Fry for 1 minute before adding the tomatoes. Cover with a lid for 1 min. Remove lid and crush the softened tomatoes with a spatula.

Add all the powdered masalas along with a little salt. Fry for 1-2 mins before adding the mashed veggies.
Cook for 8-10 min to blend all the flavours. Adjust salt if required and add a few teaspoons of hot water if it is getting too dry. Sprinkle coriander leaves and remove from flame.

Heat  1-2 tsp butter in a separate pan. Fry the pav to a light golden.

Garnish the bhaji/curry with a dollop of butter, more coriander leaves and lemon wedges. Serve hot with the pav.

Note - Use Kashmiri red chili powder if you want a reddish hue to the bhaji. Also, I have kept the quantity of chili powder quite less as I was making it for my toddler. Add more if you want it hot.

Shakarkand ka halwa (sweet potato halwa)

Shakarkand or sweet potato is a rich source of fiber with almost twice as much fiber as compared to other potato varieties. Thus they are digested slowly and do not spike sugar levels as is the popular belief. Also they are rich in Beta-carotene, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. They are also loaded with manganese. All there nutrients make it good for the heart/arteries, regulating sugar levels and ofcourse a low-cost 'beauty food'. Yup, it is the combination of Beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E which go into the making of the beauty capsules for hair, skin and nails.

I like to have boiled sweet potato as an evening snack at times or even make it into a sweet-sour gravy. But very recently that I go to know that it can be made into a delicious halwa. This is Tarla Dalal's recipe which I have followed with some minor changes. This halwa is also consumed on fasting days especially during the ongoing Shravan month.

Preparation time - 20 mins ( including 10 mins standby )

Ingredients -

• 1 medium sized sweet potato
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp ghee
• 2-3 tsp chopped dry fruits ( almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts )
• a pinch of saffron
• 3 tsp sugar ( or to taste...I prefer less )

Preparation -  Wash and clean the sweet potato. Boil in a pressure cooker ( with 1 cup water )for 3-4 whistles . Keep aside till steam escapes. Peel and grate it.

Cooking - Heat the ghee in a wok. Add the nuts and fry for a minute. Remove and keep aside.
Add the grated sweet potato and fry till it is a little brown.

Add the milk, saffron and sugar at this stage. Mix till the milk is absorbed and it forms a creamy mixture. It should start leaving the sides of the wok once it is done. Finally add the nuts and remove from flame.

Garnish with a few strands of saffron and nuts. Serve hot or cold ( both taste good ).

Methi Poori

This is a delicious flavoured poori I prepared last Monday. I have paired it with a yellow peas curry (ghuguni) that i made without onion & garlic. An ideal dinner option for Kartika masa somabar. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation time - 20 mins

Ingredients - 1 cup maida, 1 cup atta, 3 tsp oil, fistful of kasuri methi leaves, 1/4 tsp salt, water to make into a stiff dough.

Preparation - Take the maida & atta in a plate with vessel. Rub in the salt and oil in to the flour. Sprinkle kasuri methi.

Add water little by little and knead into a smooth yet stiff dough.

Keep it covered for 1-2 hours.

Divide into small lemon sized balls. Take a little atta and roll out into medium thickness rounds (not to thin thin nor thick).

Cooking - Heat oil in a deep wok.

Take a pinch of the dough and add it to the hot oil. If it sizzles and rises to top, oil is hot enough.

Slide the puris into the oil one at a time. Pour little oil with the help of the ladle over each one and allow to them puff up. Flip over and allow to cook on the other side as well.

Remove and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Repeat with the remaining rounds.

Serve hot with Ghuguni.

Cabbage Poriyal

'Poriyal' or vegetables lightly stir fried with a generous amount of freshly grated coconut is one of my favorites. I call it the south indian version of the oriya 'bhajja'. It is light and healthy. And takes minimum amount of time and effort. While one can make it with various vegetables (especially gourd), Cabbage poriyal is the diah that one encounters most frequently at the South indian restaurants serving thali meals. It is also called 'Thoran' in Kerala.

Last time I made this recipe without using onions ( it was a Monday ) and it turned out pretty well. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 10-15 mins

Ingredients - 1 small cabbage (shredded into small pieces), 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut, 2 green chillis, 1 sprig of curry leaves, 4 tbs split urad/channa dal, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp asafoetida, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 3 tsp oil, salt to taste.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds and allow to splutter. Add channa dal/urad dal and fry for 2 minutes till they turn a few shades darker.

Make slits in the green chillis and add them to the wok. Follow with the curry leaves.
Finally add the asafoetida and then the cabbage. Mix in.

Sprinkle salt and turmeric. Mix and cover with lid for 3 minutes.

Remove lid and stir lightly at regular intervals till done.

Enjoy with piping hot rice and sambhar.

Sagaa Bhajja ( Osa Bara Randha )

Sagaa Bhajja or fried Amaranthus leaves is one of the regular items in a oriya meal. It is a simple and yet flavorful dish. The wide variety of green leafy vegetables available in Orissa add a lot of versatility to this recipe. Kosala sagaa , Leutiya sagga, Khada sagaa, Kalama sagaa, Pita sagaa and Sunisuni sagaa are some of the commonly available ones.

As my grandma said the ideal sagaa bhajja is one in which the leaves should not be bunched together and it should be cooked just right (with a little bite left in it....somewhat like pasta ) and not mushy. She made sure that I perfected this recipe. She is no more but i think about her every time i make this dish.

Usually onions and garlic are added to this recipe but when cooking on a fasting day (osa bara) we rely only on pancha phutana, red chillis and freshly grated coconut to bring alive the flavours of this dish. One has to sure that the oil is heated to the right temperature so that the spices release all their flavours.

During the ongoing Kartika Masa, this is a must have on the Mondays along with a Habisa Dalma and Oou khatta. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 10-12 mins

Ingredients - 4 cups of shredded ( finely cut ) sagaa ( I have used Khada sagaa), 2/3 tsp pancha phutana, 2 red chillis, 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut, 3 tsp oil, salt to taste.

Preparation - Heat the oil in a wok. One has to sure that the oil is heated to the right temperature so that the spices release all their flavours. Too cold a temperature will not allow the phutana to splutter while too hot will burn it and ruin the taste.

Add broken red chilli and pancha phutana. Allow the spluttering to start.

Add the shredded sagaa in small batches and mix with the spices.

Cover and cook for 1 minute on medium to high flame. Remove the cover and stir gently to prevent leaves from bunching/sticking together.

Repeat the above step alternately till saga is done and excess water evaporates. Add the salt and mix in. Switch off the flame and sprinkle freshly grated coconut. Mix thoroughly.

Serve hot with arwa anna, Habisa Dalma and Ouu khatta.

Makhane ki Kheer

Phool Makhana or Lotus seed is more commonly available in North India where it is used during vrats. As it not regarded as a cereal its atta is also used for making rotis and it finds use even in curries. It can even be consumed as a snack in the roasted form.

It is free from fat and cholesterol, rich in iron and phosphorus and is also a good source of antioxidants. Its nutritional profile makes it ideal for weight-watchers or people suffering from high blood pressure/cholesterol. It also helps digestion, reduces frequent urination, strengthens body and improves energy levels.

I used 'Phool Makhana' to make this delicious and nutritious kheer during the Navratri days. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 15-20 mins

Ingredients - 1 cup phool makhana, 2 cups whole milk (boiled), 3 tsp sugar, 6-7 tbs milk powder/3-4 tbs condensed milk, 1 tbs ghee, handful of almonds, 3-4 glazed cherries, 2 pinch ground nutmeg, 1 pinch cardamon powder.

Preparation - Chop the almonds and cherries.

Cooking - Heat a pan. Add ghee and then the phool makhana. Roast for 3 minutes on a low to medium flame till crisp. Remove and keep aside to cool down.

Crush all the makhana lightly ( do not powder) except for 5-6 nos.

Add the almonds to the pan and roast for 2 minutes.

Bring the milk to a boil. Dissolve the sugar in it.

Add the crushed phool makhana and almonds. Boil for 10-12 minutes on a low flame.

Add the whole/intact phool makhanas and the milk powder along with the nutmeg and cardamon. Remove from flame after 1 minute.

Allow to cool down. (one can also refrigerate it)

Garnish with the cherries and serve.

Chaunk wala Raita

This is one of my favorite raita recipes and one that i usually make on a Osa-bara (Vrat) as it does not use onion. As is quite common in Orissa, I use a lot of tempering to add flavour to this otherwise plain Cucumber raita. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 10 minutes or less

Ingredients - 1 medium sized cucumber, 2/3 cup fresh yogurt, 1 tbs chopped coriander roots, 1 sprig of curry leaves, 1/2 inch long ginger, 2-3 green chillis, pinch of asafoetida, 1 tsp mustard seeds, salt to taste, 1-2 tsp oil.

Preparation - Peel and cut the cucumber into small pieces.

Take the yogurt into a mixing bowl. Add salt and whisk lightly. Add the cucumber pieces.

Take the green chillis, coriander shoots and ginger in a mortar and use a pestle to crush them lightly. Alternatively use a small stone to crush the ingredients.

Cooking - Heat oil in a tempering pan (if you do not have one, use a small frying pan instead). Add the mustard seeds and when they start spluttering add the crushed ingredients. Fry for 1 minute till they release all the flavours.

Add the asafoetida and curry leaves. Remove from the stove and allow to cool for 1 minute. Pour over the contents of the mixing bowl. Mix in the tempering, add a little water if the raita is too thick and adjust the salt if required.

Serve with rice/rotis/puris/parathas and curry.

Khatti Meethi Dal

The humble 'Dalma' (link here) used to reign supreme on my menu on the fasting (Osa-bara) days till I discovered its tantalizing Western counterpart. Like a willful seductress it threatens to steer me away from my ever dependable wife 'dalma'. When I first glimpsed her while leafing through a Tarla Dalal cookbook, i was hardly impressed. But the supremely impossible task of feeding vegetables to my kiddie made me try it out. And i have been re-visting her ever since while side-stepping the risk that it poses to my digestive system ( Tamarind and my system are not exactly compatible ). But for the more fortunate beings, this tangy-sweet-spicy Gujrati Dal is a must try.

With Mahalaya today, the nine day Navaratri fasting/celebrations have begun and most of us will be avoiding the use of onion/garlic in our meals/snacks. I have adapted the original recipe for fasting days as the former makes use of onions. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 20-25 mins

Ingredients - 1 cup toor dal, 1/2 cup whole/skinless masoor dal, 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced pumpkin, 1/2 cup diced carrot, 1/2 cup diced eggplant, 1/2 cup peeled and diced raw banana, 1 cup diced potato, 2 tbs powdered jaggery, 1 1/2 tbs tamarind paste, 1/2 tsp turmeric, salt to taste.

For tempering - 3 tsp oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 2 whole red chillis, 3 cloves, 1 inch long cinnamon stick, 2 sprigs of curry leaves, a pinch of asafoetida, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder (optional).

Preparation - Take the jaggery and tamarind in a bowl. Add 5-6 tbs water and make it into a paste.

Cooking - Wash and transfer the dals to a pressure cooker with 2-3 cups water. Add salt and turmeric .Cook for 2-3 whistles.

Allow to stand till steam escapes. Open lid and beat the dal with a heavy spoon to get a smooth mixture.

Boil the vegetables with 2-3 cups of water, little salt and turmeric. Remove from stove when done.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the mustard seeds, broken red chilli, cloves and cinnamon. Fry for 20-30 seconds. Add the asafoetida and curry leaves followed by red chilli powder.

Add the dal an boiled vegetables to the wok. Boil for 2-3 minutes.

Add jaggery-tamarind paste. Simmer for 5-6 minutes.

Remove from flame and serve with rice.

Re-posting: Pariba Ghanta ( Dwitibahana Osa Special )

Dwitbahana Osa is a fast observed by childless women in Orissa ( Do not worry if you are unable to relate to this....this custom started centuries ago before the DINKs first appeared on the scene ) . Once a woman observes a fast, she usually continues the tradition throughout her life. The presiding deity 'Dwitibahana' is offered a variety of fresh vegetables and soaked legumes/pulses to appease him. These offerings are used to prepare 'Ghanta', an Oriya delicacy and consumed the next day by these fasting women and their families. As 'Ghanta' is usually made in huge quantities and distributed among the neighbors.

The sprouts, raw banana and raw papaya used in this preparation are rich in folic acid which is usually prescribed by doctors to women who are trying to conceive. Folic acid is also very important for the early stages of fetal developement.

'Dwitibahana Osa' is being marked on 26th September this year . Though I prepare 'Ghanta' on special occasions, this year it is going to be special as my MIL is here with us. Check out Hypercity @ Kundanahalli ( You can get chopped vegetables here ) or Total @ Murugeshpallya for the vegetables and sprouts. Since the chopping of the vegetables is the most time consuming step, try to do it the day before. Here is the recipe:

Preparation Time - 20-25 mins ( I have excluded 30 mins required for chopping all the vegetables and grating the coconut )

Ingredients - Diced pumpkin/Kakharu ( 1 cup ), Ash gourd/Pani Kakharu ( 1/2 cup ), Raw Banana/Kancha Kadali ( 1/2 cup ), Suran/Yam/Mati Alu ( 1/2 cup ), Colocassia/Saru ( 1/2 cup ), Raw Papaya/Kancha Amruta Bhanda ( 1/2 cup ), Aubergine/Baigana ( 1/2 cup ), String beans/Jhudunga ( 1/2 cup ), Lima beans/Simba ( 1/2 cups ), Oau/Amba ( 1/2 cup ) or Desi Tomato ( 1 cup ), Ripe Cucumber/Budha kakudi ( 1 cup ), Parwal/potola ( 1/2 cup ), spine gourd/kaankada ( 1/2 cup),  Soaked and sprouted mixed pulses 4 cups ( yellow peas/matar, chick peas/kabuli chana, green moong/gota muga, bengal gram/kala chana ), 1 whole coconut ( half grated and half chopped ), turmeric ( 1 1/2 tsp ), ginger (  2 inch ), jeera-lanka gunda ( 2-3 tsp ), ghee ( 4 tbs ), dry red chilli/sukhila lanka ( 3-4 nos ), jeera ( 1 tsp ), bay leaves ( 2 nos ), garam masala ( 1/2 tsp, optional), sugar ( 4 tbs ), salt to taste.

Garnishing - 1/4 cup raisins, 1/4 cup cashews, 4 tbs chopped coriander leaves. (optional) ( You can keep aside 2-3 tbs of the grated coconut for garnishing. )

Cooking - Put all the vegetables into one pressure cooker. Add salt and turmeric and cook for 1 whistle. Remove from flame and keep aside till steam escapes.

Put the sprouts and chopped coconut slices in to another pressure cooker. Add salt and turmeric and cook for 2 whistles. Remove from flame and keep aside till steam escapes.

Heat 2 tbs of ghee in a large wok. Add the jeera, bay leaves, broken red chilli and chopped ginger. Fry for 1 minute maximum.

Add all the sugar, boiled vegetables and sprouts.

Mix well and cook covered for 4-5 minutes.

Add the jeera-lanka gunda and grated coconut. Mix together and remove from the flame.

Garnish with fried raisins, cashews and chopped coriander leaves. Sprinkle the remaining ghee over the ghanta.

Serve with arua (raw) rice and khatta.

Santula

Santula is one of the most popular vegetable dishes of Orissa. It is essentially a mixed vegetable preparation minus the spice which makes it easy to digest. Highly recommended for high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, constipation, ulcer and postpartum patients, it is full of nutrients and dietary fiber. It is also popular as pani(water)-santula and khira-( milk )santula.

It is also consumed on vrat/osa bara days. The onion and garlic is replaced by jeera-lanka powder and ghee is used instead of oil for the tempering. I find it to be the best way to use/cook all the leftover/excess veggis from the week and hence one can usually find it on the Friday dinner menu at my home. But for best results( read taste) prepare with fresh vegetables.

Preparation Time - 20-25 mins

Ingredients - chopped pumpkin ( 2 cups ), chopped green papaya ( 1 cup ), chopped string beans ( 1 cup ), chopped ridge gourd ( 1 cup ), green peas ( 1 cup ), boiled kabuli chana ( 1 -2 cups ), chopped spinach or any green leaves ( 1 1/2  cup), chopped raw banana ( 1 cup ), chopped potato ( 1 cup ), finely chopped onion ( 1 no., small ), garlic flakes ( 6-7 nos ), dry red chilli ( 2 nos ), salt to taste, oil ( 3 tsp ), turmeric ( 1/4 tsp ), pancha phutana ( 1/3 tsp, optional ), chopped coriander for garnish.

Cooking: Heat 2 tsp oil in a wok. Add all the vegetables and green leaves along with salt and turmeric.

Cover with a heavy lid and cook till vegetables soften. Stir at regular intervals to avoid sticking to the bottom of the wok.

Heat the remaining oil in a tempering pan. Add the red chilli and pancha-phutana.

Follow with the onions and cook till translucent. Finally add the crushed garlic flakes. Fry for 5-10 seconds and then pour over the cooked vegetables. Garnish with coriander and remove from the flame.

Serve hot with rotis/paratha.

Rajma Chawal ( without onion and garlic )

Rajma-chawal remains one of my favorites right from my childhood days. I love this amazingly tangy curry with copious amounts of onion in it. But since it cannot be savored on certain no onion-no garlic days, I have been planning to find a way to substitute the onions. The current onion crisis which has hit us hard seemed to be the perfect excuse for some action.

I have used ginger and cumin liberally to get the desired pungency, and lots of yogurt and tomato puree for an added tang. Even the amount of chilli powder is more than I usually add .The sweetness provided by the sugar balances it out and all the flavors come together beautifully.

Preparation Time - 30-40 mins

Ingredients - Rajma/kidney beans ( 1 1/2 cups ), yogurt ( 5-6 tbs ), tomato puree ( 5-6 tbs ), whole spices ( 1 small bay leaf, 4-5 cloves, 1 inch long cinnamon, 1 tsp cumin seeds ), ginger ( 1 1/2 inch julienned ), red chilli powder ( 1 tsp ), cumin powder ( 1 tsp ), coriander powder ( 1 tsp ), turmeric ( 1 tsp ), sugar ( 1 tsp ), oil ( 2-3 tsp ), salt to taste.

Preparation - Wash and soak the rajma overnight.

Transfer to a pressure cooker, add salt and half of the turmeric and cook for 1-2 whistles. They should be cooked but left with a little bite ( not too soft ).

Take the remaining turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder and cumin powder in a bowl. Add 3-4 tbs of water and make into a paste.

Beat the yogurt lightly and keep aside.

Cooking: Heat the oil in a wok. Add the whole spices and then follow with the ginger. Fry for 1-2 mins.

Add the masala paste and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add a little water if it is getting too dry.

Add tomato puree, sugar and salt, and cook till it thickens and darkens in color.

Add the yogurt and stir it for 3-4 minutes till it starts leaving the sides of the wok.

Finally add the boiled rajma along with 1/2 - 2/3 cup water. Allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Remove from flame.

For the Basmati rice -

Take 1 cup of washed Basmati rice in a cooker. Add 3/4 cup milk and 1 cup of water. Sprinkle salt and 1/4 tsp of ghee over it. Close lid and cook for 10-12 minutes on a medium flame.

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Sending this to Priya's event CWS-Cumin : August 2013 .

Phalahari raita

This is a fruit raita i had made on Sankranti along with some vegetable biryani( w/o the onion and garlic ). Had it been a regular day, i would have paired it with some yummy Dahi Pacchidi.

The sweetness of the pomegranate offsets the acidic sourness of the fuji apples and black grapes, and the heat of the cumin-chilli powder, bringing together all the flavours. Add some fresh mint leaves for more zing.

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients - fresh yogurt ( 1 cup ), chopped apple ( 2 tbs ), pomegranate seeds ( 2 tbs ), black grapes ( de-seeded & peeled, 12-14 nos ), rock salt/regular salt to taste, jeera-lanka ( roasted cumin-red chili) powder ( 1/5 tsp ), sugar ( 1 tsp, optional ).

Preparation - Take the curd in a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and beat well to remove lumps. Add salt, sugar and jeera-lanka powder. Mix well.

Add the fruits and mix them with the yogurt.

Garnish with some grapes and pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle some jeera-lanka powder on top. Serve cold.

Bandha Kobi Muga dali tarkari ( cabbage-moong dal curry )

Preparation time: 15-20 mins

Ingredients: Cabbage ( 1 no., medium sized ), muga dali/moong dal ( 1/2 cup ), ginger ( 1/2 inch, juliennes ), cinnamon powder ( 1/4 tsp ), coriander powder ( 1 tsp ), red chilli powder ( 1 tsp ), ghee/oil ( 2 tsp ), turmeric ( 1/4 tsp), salt to taste.

Preparation: Chop the cabbage into small pieces.

Dry roast the muga dali till it gives off a faint smell.

Cooking: Transfer the muga dali along with 1 cup water, salt and turmeric into a pressure cooker and cook for 1 whistle.

Heat the oil in a wok. Add the turmeric and red chilli powder masalas followed by the ginger juliennes and fry for 1 minute. Add the chopped cabbage and fry for sometime till it starts releasing water. Add the cooked muga dali at this stage and mix well.

Transfer the wok contents into a presure cooker and cook on medium flame for 1 whistle. Remove and serve hot with rice/rotis.

Note: This recipe can be had on Osa bara/ Vrats as it does not contain onion and garlic. For added flavour garnish with freshly grated coconut and coriander leaves before serving.