Alu-tamatar ki sabji

Potato-king of all vegetables. A great companion to most of the vegetables. Mix it with any other vegetable and a new sabji is ready.

This is a very jhatpat  kind of sabji can be prepared in no time. No time to boil potato just prick them here and there using a fork or knife and put in a microwave and cook for 4-5 min.on high(2 medium potatoes). By that time can do other preparations.

serves :2

Ingredients:

• 2 potatoes boiled or cooked in microwave for 4-5 min 
• 1 tomato cut into wedges
• 1 green chili chopped
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder/haldi
• 3/4 tsp red chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• salt to taste

Method:
Peel and cut potatoes in wedges.

Heat oil and add cumin seeds.
when cumin crackles and turns brown Add all the ingredients, mix.
Cover and cook on low heat for 1 min..
serve with roti or rice.

Since its a dry veg, can be packed and carried in tiffins.

Nutty potato masala

"आज कौन सी सब्जी बनाये"।   this is a very common problem among most of us, Indian housewives... This question arises in my home almost every-other day. Per day we need at-least three to four types of vegetable side dishes to go with roti and rice, of-course for both lunch and dinner together. Picky, Fussy family with varied tastes and above that limited number of vegetable choices available in the market nearby.
 Need to make a list of all simple sabjis and what better medium than my blog. So here we go with my first  veg- potato, liked by majority probably this is one of the reason it is also called as the king of all vegetables.

Serves : 4

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp oil
• 4 medium sized boiled and peeled potatoes diced or 15-16 baby potatoes
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 2 tsp corriander powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp seasame-peanut powder (equal quantities of seasame seeds and peanuts coarsely powdered)
• few(10-12) curry leaves (optional)
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Method:

1. Heat oil and add cumin seeds, then curry leaves.
2. Add the potatoes and saute in oil for 1 min.
3. Add turmeric p'dr, chili p'dr and coriander p'dr . Saute for another min.
4. Add seasame-peanut powder, saute until oil separates for 1 or 2 min.
5. Add salt and 1/2  cup water and cook covered for 2-3  min. If you need little gravy then use more water.
6. Mix in coriander leaves. 
7. Serve hot with roti or rice.

Lauki Halwa

Festive season !!!. SALE is ON everywhere with heavy discounts online and offline both. Ha Ha good for shopoholics.

Today is the sixth day of Navratri. For nine days people worship nine forms of Goddess Durga. Tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashmi or Dusshehara signifying victory of good over evil. 
People observe fast for eight days and on the ninth day the fast is broken. 
During fasts people are not supposed to eat salt, onions, garlic and anything that belongs to the cereal group .One can consume fruits, vegetables and milk products. but ya in place of salt rock salt can be used. 
Many people observe ekasan where you can eat the regular meals sitting in one place once a day.
Anyways there are so many fast or vrat recipes flooding in these days that you dont really get bored of eating only fruits. Pizza hut has also introduced its vrat special pizza, I haven't tasted it yet..

Lauki(bottle-gourd) halwa I made while fasting .

2 cups grated bottle gourd
1/2 litre milk and 100ml condensed milk )
3 tbsp ghee
1/2 tsp cardamom powder or crushed cardom seeds
1/2 tsp saffron dissolved in 1 tsp milk(optional)
5-6 broken cashews
almond and pistachio slivers for garnishing.

Heat ghee and saute grated lauki for 5 min. 
Then add milk and simmer stirring frequently until the mixture is reduced. Do not let the milk stick to the bottom of pan it gives a bad smell, so keep stirring, scratching the bottom of pan. 
When reduced completely add condensed milk and simmer again until it thickens. 
sweetness can be adjusted to one's taste. If you want sweeteer add a few spoons of sugar.
Add the remaining ingredients and serve warm or cold.

To make without condensed milk Replace it with 1/2 litre milk and 1/4 cup sugar. First boil one liter milk, simmer it and reduce it to near about 1/2 the quantity and then follow the same procedure.