Glorious Garlic Lasooni Dal

Garlic cannot bestow immortality but it can make you lead a longer life. Garlic is making news in all fields for having antibiotic, anti cancer and many other properties. Although it has a strong flavor it is a good spice to have on hand as it vastly improves the flavor of many dishes. Take for example the humble dal, we make it almost three times a week and I like to have variations to the recipe and this one makes a soul satisfying dish! Lasooni, means garlicky and this Lasooni Dal is a hit with even the kids.

Lasooni Dal

Ingredients

1/2 cup each Moong and Masoor dal, cooked until soft

2-4 tbsp chopped garlic

2 dry red chillies

2 tbsp ghee

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves for garnish

Method

Heat ghee in a pan and add the dry chillies, cumin seeds, garlic and cook for a minute or two, then add the red chili powder and turmeric. Pour this, on the salted and cooked dal. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with rice or rotis.

Carb your spending: Cauliflower and Potato curry

The cauliflower is very low in Carbohydrates making it very attractive in low carb diets as it's very filling, it doesn't hurt that a head of Cauliflower is also easy on the wallet...

Regardless, I'm very fond of Cauliflower....well our whole family is and so it finds its way to our dinner table at the very least twice a week. I make several different dishes, but the dish we love hands down is Aloo Gobhi masala. 

A very humble dish that requires very few easily found ingredients. In most North Indian style dishes, one uses garlic, ginger, onion and tomatoes as the base....like the holy trinity/ mirepoix in Creole cuisine ( onion, celery and bell pepper) this is the holy quartet!

Aloo Gobhi Masala

Ingredients

1 large medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets

2-3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1 inch cubes

3/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp minced ginger 

1/2 tbsp minced ginger

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp garam masala ( optional )

1/4 tsp cumin seeds

2 tbsp oil

1 green chili slit

Coriander leaves for garnish

Salt to taste

Method

Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, garlic, ginger, onion, and  green chili. When the onion turns translucent add the tomatoes, turmeric powder and salt. Cook on a low flame till the tomatoes turn pulpy. Add potatoes and salt, stir and cover the pan. Cook until the potatoes are half cooked. Add the cauliflower and cook until the cauliflower are soft. When the cauliflower has softened, sprinkle garam masala and coriander leaves. Serve with roti or rice.

Cultivated, Colorful and Casual: Caprese Salad

What is summer without a Salad made with sun ripened tomatoes? While at a gourmet food store I picked up a "Made in India", Bocconcini. This fresh Buffalo Mozzarella cheese is made in Haryana and let me tell you it was impressive!

The beauty of this dish is from the creamy cheese, flavor of the tomato and basil and a drizzle of balsamic reduction....oh its Caprese heaven for sure.

Caprese Salad

Ingredients

2-4 large ripe tomatoes

100 gms Bocconcini

10-12 fresh basil leaves

4 tbsp balsamic reduction (cook 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar down till it becomes syrupy)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Slice tomatoes into thick slices place a basil leaf on the tomato, top with sliced boconcini and drizzle with mixture of balsamic reduction and olive oil. Serve at room temperature. Sprinkle salt and pepper just before serving.

The gentle lentil: Khatti Masoor Dal

I acquired this recipe from a very traditional Ghaziabad Agarwal family, where this type of dal is a regular item in their daily cuisine. While I was living in Delhi, our neighbor was a wonderful woman who took pity on us students living the dorm and offered us home cooked meals once in a while. One of the dishes in her repertoire was this very simple, Khatti Masoor Dal; I.e Whole Masoor dal ( pink color) stewed with tamarind and ginger. Just as simple as that and on a cold winter day it was a soul satisfying dish eaten either with rocks or rice....just divine!

You can substitute any whole lentil for this dish, it will taste just as good.

Khatti Masoor Dal

Ingredients

1 cup whole red lentil/ sabut masoor dal, soaked and cooked until fork tender

1 tbsp tamarind paste

1 tbsp chopped ginger

1 finely chopped green chili

1 tbsp oil/ghee

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp asafoetida

Coriander leaves to garnish

Salt to taste

Method

Soak the lentils for about half an hour (optional) and cook until the lentils are soft when pressed between your fingers ( approx 10 mins cooking time ). Don't drain the lentils, keep the water aside for thinning down the lentils while simmering.
Heat oil/ ghee in a pan, add the asafoetida, cumin seeds, ginger, garlic and let it sputter, add the tamarind paste and cooked lentil along with the boiling liquor. Add salt to taste and allow it to simmer on a low flame for 10-15 mins. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with roti or rice.

Dinner in minutes: Eggplant Rice aka Vangi Bhath

While at the store the other day, I came across a spice blend called Vangi Bhath. Vangi means eggplant or aubergine and Bhath means Rice. This melange of fried aubergine said and rice with the spice blend makes a divine dish in minutes and tastes heavenly when served well th a side of Yoghurt.

Vangi Bhath is a dish commonly prepared in most South Indian states. Tempted, I picked up a packet of MTR Vangi Bhath powder in hopes of making a one pot dish on nights that I'm not in the mood the cook.

The hubby loves eggplant, I'm not particularly fond of it, however I will eat Eggplant in this form without complaints as it tasted so delicious. Using the elongated thin skinned asian variety of eggplants work best for this dish, sliced in long batons, the eggplants should be sprinkled with salt to remove extra moisture and bitterness. Allow the eggplants to sit for a few minutes on a colander and then lightly squeeze out any moisture. Having precooked rice is a plus, or just make a fresh pot cooked al dente (90% cooked) so that the rice absorbs some of the spices in the final stages of cooking.

Vangi Bhath

Ingredients

250 gms eggplant, chopped and salted and set on a colander

4 cups cooked rice

1-2 tbsp tamarind paste

2-4 tbsp peanuts

2 tbsp MTR Vangi Bhath powder

1/2 cup water

1 sprig curry leaves and 2 dry red chillies ( optional )

2 tbsp sesame or peanut oil

1/2 tbsp channa dal, raw

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 tsp asafoetida

Cilantro leaves for garnish

Method

Allow chopped and salted eggplant to release its moisture, squeeze out any remaining moisture and set aside. Heat oil in a large pan and when hot add the channa dal, mustard seeds, peanuts, curry leaves allow everything to sizzle and then add the eggplant. Cook on a high flame until the eggplants acquire a light browning. Add the tamarind paste, MTR Vangi Bhath spice mix and half cup water. Allow the spice to blend and then add the cooked rice, toss gently to prevent rice from breaking up. Cover and cook for about 5 mins on a very low flame. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves and serve with a bowl of yoghurt or raita.