OKRA MASALA /BHINDI MASALA

Okra Masala is a perfect dish for a vegetarian meal with rice or flat bread.  This lightly spiced Okra Masala is great on its own.

If you never cooked Indian food before, this is a nice recipe to start with.  It comes together quickly, leave room for slight adaptations and taste absolutely delicious.

Spices are always a matter of individual taste.  Start with the ones in this recipe and adapt to suit yourselves especially the chili powder.

If you are lucky to find this versatile vegetable fresh, make sure to select the smallest and firmest pods.  If okra pod gets too long, it often becomes hard to eat.

CAULIFLOWER & PUMPKIN CURRY

To all my Muslim readers, HAVE A BLESSED EID!

Get bored with your stir fry vegetables?  You might just change your mind, when you discover this simple and healthy  Cauliflower & Pumpkin Curry.

This is an easy recipe but make sure you have all the spices on hand before you try this Cauliflower & Pumpkin Curry.  A combination of Indian spices transforms this simple vegetarian dish into a delight for the senses.

Here is my tips for perfect Cauliflower & Pumpkin Curry

1.  If possible cut the vegetables almost the same size and thickness. This to ensure uniform cooking time

2.  Do not add water, the veggies will ooze out water while cooking.  This is sufficient to cook the vegetables

3.  After you cover the pan, stir in between and check for tenderness. Don't overcook, the pumpkin will lose the shape and becomes mushy

BOTTLE GOURD DHAL CURRY

Bottle Gourd or sorakkai (Tamil) or lauki (Hindi) was found in every Indian kitchen. Not only it was inexpensive but easily available in the market.

In fact this Bottle Gourd Dhal Curry is loaded with fiber, vitamin C, zinc, iron and magnesium but low in fat. It is great for treatment of acidity, weight loss and constipation.

The combination of bottle gourd and mung beans produce a delicate and awesome flavor that you can consume it by itself but equally great with steaming hot rice and freshly baked chapati.

STIR FRIED CABBAGE

A meal isn't complete without a side dish especially vegetable.  My family prefer a simple and non spicy version of vegetable.

Here is a quick delicious recipe that you could serve with rice or as a stuffing for flat bread. This is a basic stir fry but feel free to substitute with other veggies or add shredded chicken or meat if desired.

If you have delicate palate, this is a perfect choice and isn't spicy. I like my veggies with some crunch but if you prefer a softer one,  cook it a bit longer.

STIR FRIED CABBAGE

A meal isn't complete without a side dish especially vegetable.  My family prefer a simple and non spicy version of vegetable.

Here is a quick delicious recipe that you could serve with rice or as a stuffing for flat bread. This is a basic stir fry but feel free to substitute with other veggies or add shredded chicken or meat if desired.

If you have delicate palate, this is a perfect choice and isn't spicy. I like my veggies with some crunch but if you prefer a softer one,  cook it a bit longer.

CHANA (GARBANZO) MASALA

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)  add lots of flavor and protein to all kind of  dishes.  These are a staple in Middle Eastern cooking. Chickpeas are common ingredient in soups, salads and stews.

Here is a recipe for delicious chickpeas simmered in  fragrantly spiced  and slightly tangy gravy. It can be easily adjusted to suit your palate.

Readily available in a can but I had used the dried garbanzo beans that require soaking overnight. They are then rinsed and boiled until soft before you can proceed in  making any dishes.

Chana (Garbanzo) Masala  always make a popular side dish and a regular on our table.

GREEN GRAM/CHERUPAYAR CURRY

When fresh peas are not available or when you want to try a nutritious legume, green gram (mung bean) is the perfect choice. They are available any time of the year.

Not only these are an excellent source of cholesterol lowering fiber, protein and important minerals, they can be served as dessert, pancake, porridge or beverage.

This Green Gram/Cherupayar  Curry  is prepared using dried whole green gram, soaked in water for 2-6 hours before boiling them until soft. The longer you soaked, the shorter time is needed to cook them.

This spicy curry goes well with  puttu, dosa, rice or roti.

CAULIFLOWER STIR FRY

Stir fry is an easy way to bring out the flavor of the vegetables and it is a healthy way to eat them. I realized that you can stir fry pretty much any vegetable, carrot, spinach, potato, french bean, long bean and many more with the same method with fantastic result.

This time I have used cauliflower to go along with rice or flatbread.   Cauliflower Stir Fry  is most requested by my kids. 

KADAI VEGETABLES

Vegetables are a great source of nutrition in our diet. Not to mention, pulses and lentils are absolutely needed to compensate your protein if you are on vegetarian diet. This simple and delicious recipe of  colorful vegetables cooked in spicy gravy makes a flavorful meal and easily made ahead. It is also low fat and on the table in less than half an hour.

Since I needed extra gravy, have added a bit more water than the usual quantity but this is entirely up to you.

KADAI VEGETABLES
Serves   4

1 medium carrot cubed
1 medium potato cube
2 C  cauliflower cut into floret
2 tomato chopped
2 onion chopped
1 green chili sliced
1 TB ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 TB  chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
5 garlic chopped
1/2 in ginger chopped
1 tsp garam masala
2 TB cooking oil
salt to taste
cilantro for garnish

DIRECTION

Heat the oil, fry the onion until translucent. Add in ginger and garlic, fry until fragrant.

Now add the tomato, cook until soft. Mix in chili powder, green chili, coriander, cumin, 1-2 tablespoons water and salt. fry until raw smell goes.

Add in carrot, potato and little water, cover the pot.

Once they are half cooked, add in the cauliflower, stir and cover the pot again.

When the vegetables turn soft, add in the garam masala and check for salt. Stir for 1 minute remove from heat.

Garnish with cilantro  leaves at the time of serving.

PAPPU CHARU

Famous lentil gravy from Andhra Pradesh, a state situated on south eastern coast of India.  Pappu charu is a milder version of lentil gravy, done without sambar powder. Vegetables like eggplant, drumstick, radish,  sweet potato , pumpkin and carrot can be added to this gravy.

This fantastic dish has a  tangy and less spicy than other lentil stew  but nevertheless it is excellent combo with dosa, idli or even rice.

POTATO SALAD

This Potato Salad may be simple but it has plenty of flavor from mayonnaise, sweet corn. potato and lemon juice.  It is perfect for potluck or cookout activities. Potato salad can be flavored in a variety of ways with or without vegetables.

You can tweak this recipe by adding spicy sauces, boiled egg or even mustard. Best potato salad  is made  by experimenting  with different ingredients as you put it together This is a quick and easy way to enjoy your salad less than 20 minutes.

SPINACH DAL

This  classic Indian dish combining  mong dal with spinach  which  makes a healthy, nutritious and fabulous tasty dish  that  may be served  with rice or bread.

Including garlic, ginger and turmeric which had been shown to contain cancer-fighting substances and protein packed  ingredients in our diet not only delicious but at the same time a health booster too. Adjust the spicy level to your preference.

BEANS & CARROT FRY

Eating vegetables is one of the sources of vitamin and mineral. It is important that vegetables are included in our diet. We have to choose a fresh and colorful veggie so that they are tasty as well as attractive especially for fussy kid.

Stir fry is much easier to prepare and hardly utilized much time. Just cut up any vegetable you want to use almost same size to ensure uniform cooking. It uses least spice but very delicious.

CAULIFLOWER MASALA

This is a simple and easy side dish to go along with steaming white rice or flat bread. Although my son is not a big fan of this veggie but this one is an exception. Using sliced onion, tomato and right balance of spices, this turns out incredibly delicious.

CAULIFLOWER MASALA

300g cauliflower cut into bite size piece
2 Onions chopped
2 Tomato chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seed
1 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp ginger paste
3 garlic chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 T coconut milk
2 T cooking oil
1/4 tsp mustard seed
salt to taste
1 sprig curry leaves
1/4 C water

METHOD

* Soak cut cauliflower in hot salty water for 10 minutes, drain.

* Heat the oil, fry the cumin seed and mustard seed until fragrant, add in the onion, cook until light brown.

* Add in ginger,  garlic, salt and tomato, cook until tomato turns soft.

* Now add the chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric, cook until raw smell goes.

* Add the cauliflower,  coconut milk and  1/4 cup of  water,  stir then cover the pan and cook until cauliflower turns soft.

* Sprinkle curry leaves and check the salt. Remove from heat.

CARROT STIR FRY

This is pretty simple to prepare and does not involved grinding. Despite its easy method, this is truly delicious and healthy stir fry. Moong dhal is added along with carrot. The dhal is soaked then boiled until soft but still retains its shape.

Besides moong dhal you could substitute with grated coconut, using the same method.This vegetable dish is great if served with rice, capati or roti as the side dish.

CARROT STIR FRY

4 Medium carrot
1 Big onion
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tsp split black gram (urad dhal)
1 tsp cumin seed
2 green chili
2 dry chili
1/2 C moong dhal (soaked and boiled)
2 T cooking oil
salt to taste
curry leaves

METHOD

* Scrap the outer skin of the carrot, cut into small pieces. Slice the onion and green chili.

* Heat the oil, add the mustard seed, when it pops up, add urad dhal, cumin seed , stir until urad dhal turns light brown.

* Now add the onion, green chili, dry chili and curry leaves, cook until the onion is translucent.

* Add the carrot and salt, stir and add a few spoons of water, cook until carrot turns soft using medium heat and close the lid.

* Now add the cooked moong dhal, stir well and remove.

HOT & SPICY FRIED CHICKEN

Any time of the day, fried chicken sounds great and appetizing snack for chicken lovers especially the aroma at the time you're frying them. It is a great appetizer or side dish to serve along with main course. It is quite easy to prepare, just require time for marinating, the longer time it takes will make them more tastier.

Using dry chili but chili powder works well too, adjust to suit your taste. If you're using wet blender, kindly add some water to grind. In case the lemon grass is not available at your place, do omit them, this is for fragrance only.

This is my favorite recipe, do you believe that one of my sons can complete them in one sitting. What you need are:

HOT FRIED CHICKEN

12 pieces chicken drumstick/breast
salt to taste
oil for shallow frying

GRIND

1 in ginger
4 cloves garlic
2 stalk lemon grass
15 dry chili - soak to soften
1 tsp turmeric powder

METHOD

* Place cleaned chicken, ground ingredients and salt in a bowl. Mix well.

* Marinate for at least 1 hour in a refrigerator.

* Heat the oil, shallow fry the marinated chicken until both sides turn golden brown. Transfer onto plate lined with kitchen towel to absorb excess oil.

* Serve hot.

BAKED POTATO WEDGES

Once a while, my kids love to eat western food and instead of buying from popular fast food joint, I cook my own, not only cost effective but healthier and delicious.

For the potato, you could leave the skin on but I peeled them, first half the potato, then cut into wedges. If possible cut almost all the same size to ensure even baking. Do adjust the chili used according to your taste. These tasted great even without any chili or tomato sauce, just eat on its own.

FISH CUTLET

For ages we didn't had this  Fish  Cutlet, there are various ways to prepare this dish but mine differs from the usual method of frying the ingredients before shaping then re-fry again after dipping with egg and bread crumbs.

My preparation does not involve cooking before hand. What I did are mixing all the ingredients together, turn them into round shape then flatten. Before shallow frying, I coated the cutlet with rice flour and fried until golden color. It came out perfect, flavorful and yummy, great as an appetizer or side dish.

BOMBAY PAV BHAJI

Pav bhaji is a famous street food of Indian, especially Mumbai and Pune. It consists of pav (bread) and the bhaji (gravy) made of potato, carrot, capsicum or other vegetable cooked with pav masala, onion, tomato and ginger garlic paste.

It is so convenient and also a complete meal for busy workers who are rushing for time. Now you can find this in many parts of the world including Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, UK and many more.

In my recipe, I have used whatever vegetables available in my kitchen and added chili powder since my family loves spicy food, green chili can be added instead of chili powder. It is entirely up to you to adjust the spice level according to your taste. I didn't mash the veggies but let them fully cooked and turns soft.

It is so delicious and will definitely cook this Bombay Pav Bhaji often. I halved the recipe, another alternative you could use this bhaji for stuffing your puff or bun. They become as great snack to be enjoyed by whole family during picnic or party.

SAMBAL GORENG (FRIED TOFU & TEMPEH)

Sambal Goreng (Fried Tofu & Tempeh)  is a vegetable dish made of soya bean cake, tempeh (fermented soya bean cake), long bean and spices simmered in aromatic coconut based gravy.

 It is so popular in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia easily obtainable from food vendors around these countries. Normally fresh prawn or beef slices are added along with the vegetables but am omitting them in my preparation.

Sambal Goreng (Fried Tofu & Tempeh)  is served along piping hot white rice or during Eid to accompany lontong (rice cake). The tofu and tempeh are cubed then lightly fried before cooking this dish. Besides the vegetable, dry chili, red and green chili, ginger, garlic, lemon grass, lengkuas and tamarind juice are used for making this delicious and spicy food. Do adjust the chili needed according to your preference.

This is how I make my sambal goreng: