Vegetable Biryani

Vegetable Biryani (Feeds 4)

Gravy

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Garlic – 2 pods

Onion – 2 large

Tomatoes – 2 large

Cream/curd/coconut milk – 2-3 tablespoons

Coriander Powder - 2 teaspoons

Chilly Powder – 1 teaspoon or as per taste

Turmeric - a pinch

Cloves – 2-3

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece stick

Bay leaf – 2-3

Garam Masala – 1 teaspoon 
Vegetables

Beans (Diced) – 20

Carrots (Peeled and Diced) – 2 large

Peas (Shelled) – 1 cup

Cauliflower (diced) – 1 cup

Fried onions
2 onions large sliced long and thin
Other ingredients

Rice – 1.5 cups basmati

Oil for frying and cooking

Ghee - 2 teaspoons

Salt to taste

Coriander(destalked and finely chopped) - 3 tablespoons

Mint (destalked and finely chopped) – 1 tablespoon

Method of preparation: Normally I make this in three parts, four if you consider the rice used. Cook good quality Basmati rice in the cooker. Follow the instructions on the packet carefully to ensure that the rice comes out white and fluffy. The normal rule of thumb for basmati rice is to use and one and quarter measure of water to one measure of rice.

The next step would be to prepare the vegetables and either cook them in the Microwave on high for 6 minutes with a little salt or if you do not have a microwave, steam the vegetables without water. Make sure that they are not cooked till they are too soft or soggy.

Fry the onion slices in oil till they are golden and crisp. Keep aside. Process or grind the tomatoes, onions, garlic and ginger to a rough paste. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in pan add cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf. Fry for a minute and then add the onion-tomato-garlic-ginger mix. Cook for 7-8 minutes and then add the Dhaniya powder, chilly powder and turmeric. Cook till the oil starts to come out on the sides and then add the salt and garam masala and cook for one more minute. Add Cream/curd/coconut milk and cook till mixture has a creamy texture.

Vegetable Biryani



Onion Tomato Raita

Assembling the Biryani: Take a large flat vessel (it should fit into the cooker for steaming or in case you are microwaving, it should be suitable for that). Spread a layer of rice(one third), sprinkle some of the ghee. Then add one third of the gravy on top, spread over the rice. Spread on third of the steamed vegetables. Then crush lightly with hand and add one third of the crispy onions. Sprinkle with one third of the chopped mint and coriander. Then start the next layer and then the next in the same sequence. Once you are done, cover the vessel with a lid and pressure cook for a 5-8 minutes without the whistle. In case you are microwaving then do it on high for 3 minutes.

Serve hot with a simple onion, tomato, coriander and green chilly raita.

Khaman dhokla

Khaman dhokla

Besan (kadala mavu) - 1 cup (200 gms)

Rava -1 teaspoon

Sugar -2 teaspoons

Lemon juice - 1 spoon

Salt to taste

Ginger and chilli paste - 1 teaspoon

Asofetida -1 pinch

Sour curd -2 teaspoons

Oil  -1and half tablespoons

Turmeric -1 pinch

Eno fruit salt (plain) -1 teaspoon

Water -for mixing

For tadka (tempering)

Oil -1 tablespoon

Mustard seeds -1 teaspoon

Til(sesame) and jeera(cumin) - one pinch each

Green Chilli - 1 finely chopped

Drinking water -4 table spoons

Coriander for garnish

The first step in this item is to oil a flat vessel for steaming the dhokla and boiling the water in the cooker in which it is going to be steamed. The vessel should easily fit into the cooker and should not touch the boiling water at the bottom. So place a smaller vessel; half filled with water to serve as a stand.

Combine besan, rava, sugar, lemon juice, salt, ginger-chilli paste, asafetida, sour curd, oil, turmeric and enough water to make a batter that is similar to that used for Bhajjis or pakoras (almost like dosa/idli batter). It is easier to do this with a tablespoon. When the batter is smooth add Eno. The batter will froth a little. Immediately transfer it to the oiled flat vessel and steam for 15-18 minutes.

Check with a knife to see if it is cooked. The knife should come out dry.  Remove from fire. Prepare the tadka by heating oil and adding mustard seeds, jeera, til and green chillies. Remove from fire and add the drinking water to the tadka and pour over the khaman. The water will get absorbed and soften the khaman. Cut into cubes once cooled and garnish with coriander.

Note: Ensure that the Khaman Dhokla is cooled before cutting otherwise the pieces may not come out intact as you can see from the picture.

Quick and Easy Pizza

Quick and Easy Pizza (without using oven)

Quick and easy pizza

Pizza Toppings

Ingredients:

Whole wheat pizza base - 2 (medium)

Smith and Jones Pizza sauce - 2 table spoons (you can use any pizza sauce of your choice)

Sweet corn (boiled) - 2 tablespoons

Tomato (de-seeded and cut into small dices) - 1 large

Onion (peeled and cut into small dices) - 1 large

Capsicum  (de-seeded and cut into small dices) - 1 medium

Rajma (kidney beans- soaked overnight and boiled)/ rajma curry - 2 table spoons (optional)

Pizza masala -a mix of 1 clove grated garlic with a teaspoon of dried oregano and a teaspoon spoon of chilli flakes.

Cheese (of your choice) - 50 gms grated ( I personally prefer Britannia Milkman)

Butter  - 1 teaspoon

Cooking oil - 2 teaspoons

Method of preparation:

Mix sweet corn, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, chopped capsicum and rajma with Pizza masala. Add salt to taste. Adjust for the saltiness of the cheese. Spread pizza sauce on to the Pizza base. Spread half the topping mixture and cover with cheese.

Heat butter (1/2 spoon) and oil (1 spoon) on the cooker pan. To add zing you can throw in  some grated garlic. Gently place the prepared pizza on to the heated butter-oil-garlic mix. Lower the flame to the lowest setting possible and cover with lid. The pizza should be ready in 5-8 minutes. The base should be crisp and the cheese should have melted. Cut into slices and serve hot.

If you wish the same topping-sauce-cheese combination can be used for sandwiches also. Just butter the outside of the sandwich and grill on the stove using a nonstick sandwich press.

Rustic Roti

Rustic Roti ( makes 14-16 rotis)

Rustic Roti

Wheat flour – 2 cups

Besan (gram flour) – 1 cup

Dried or kasuri methi – 3 table spoons

(if you are using fresh methi a medium bunch destalked and cut finely should do)

Green chilly – 1

Ginger – 1 inch piece (grated)

Grated Garlic – 1 clove (substitute with a pinch of asafetida if you prefer)  

Turmeric – a pinch

Oil  - 2 teaspoons

Jeera – ½ teaspoon

Salt to taste ( 1 and quarter teaspoons approx)

Grated Bottle gourd (Lauki/ sorakka) – 2 tablespoons

( you can avoid adding this if you are using fresh methi instead of kasuri methi)

Method: Mix all ingredients together to make a firm dough. Divide the dough into 14-16 rounds. Roll into relatively thin chapattis. Roast the chapatti on a dry tawa like a phulka. Apply a drop of ghee if you want. Serve hot with subzi or can be eaten as a snack.

Stuffed Brinjal

Stuffed brinjal

Stuffed Brinjal

Raw ingredients

Roasted ingredients

Ingredients

Peanuts -  2 table spoons

Dried Coconut (grated) - 2 table spoons

Dhaniya seeds - 1.5 table spoons

Jeera  - 1 teaspoon

Til or sesame seeds – 1 table spoon

Tamarind - 2 inch pieces

Jaggery – a lemon sized ball

Red chilly powder – 1 teaspoon

Asafetida – 1 pinch (substitute with one grated garlic if you prefer)

Turmeric – ¼ powder

Garam masala – one pinch

Oil for cooking – 3 tablespoons

Mustard seeds – 1 teaspoon

Stuffing

Brinjal – 500 gms. (pick ones which are small and tender and if possible of the same size)

Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing – 1 table spoon

Raw stuffed Brinjals

Roast all the ingredients, except for the chilly powder, turmeric and jaggery. Cool and grind to a powder along with chilly powder, turmeric and jaggery. You can prepare a double batch of the stuffing and keep it in an airtight box or bag in the refrigerator. Remove the stalk of the brinjals after washing. Slit carefully on top ensuring that the bottom is still closed. Make two or three cuts to make about 6 sections. Stuff the prepared powder into the slits. Heat oil in a cooker pan, add the mustard seeds and once they crackle lower the flame and add asafetida/ garlic. Then gently place the stuffed brinjal in the pan. Pour 1 cup of water and let it cook for one whistle. Open the cooker once the pressure is released and fry the preparation till most of the excess water is gone. Add garam masala and chopped coriander (if desired) and serve hot with rotis.

Baby Corn With Cherry Tomatoes

Baby Corn With Cherry Tomatoes

Baby corn with Cherry tomatoes

Baby corn (peeled) - 300-350 gms

Onions - 2 large 

Cherry tomatoes - 100 gms

Capsicum - 1 medium

Garlic - 1 clove

Oil - 1.5-2 table spoons

Freshly cracked pepper - 1/4 teaspoon

Salt and chilly powder to taste

Method of preparation:

Halve the baby corn lengthwise and chop them into inch long pieces. These need to be cooked  with a little salt mixed in the microwave oven on high for five minutes or steamed in the pressure cooker for 1 whistle. Chop onions and garlic into small pieces. Heat oil in pan and add the onions. Once the onions look glassy, halve the cherry tomatoes and add it to the heat. Cook for about 3 minutes.

Now add the cooked baby corn and stir. Add capsicum cut into thin long strips and cook for just one minute before adding pepper, salt and chilly powder. This dish can be eaten with Roti, bread or as a pasta sauce. To use as pasta sauce add some dried oregano, basil and 2 teaspoons of tomato ketchup.

Mixed Vegetables

Mixed Vegetables (feeds four)

Mixed vegetables

Potato -1 large

Carrots - 2 medium

Beans - 10-15

Peas (shelled) - I cup or 100 gms

Onion - 2 large

Tomatoes- 2 large

Garlic - 1 clove(small) 

Oil - 1.5 tablespoons

Dhaniya Powder - 2 teaspoons

Garam Masala - 1 pinch

Red Chilly powder and salt to taste.

Jeera - 1/2 teaspoon

Coriander - a handful. chopped finely for garnish

Method of preparation:

Peel potatoes, carrots and remove the strings from the beans. Chop all three in thin long strips about an inch long. Microwave all cut vegetables along with peas, a teaspoon of water and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt on high for 8 minutes. If you do not have a microwave oven, simply steam the vegetables with salt (do not add water) in the pressure cooker for one whistle.

Chop onions and garlic finely. Add oil to the pan ( kadai) and when the oil is hot add jeera, once it crackles, add the chopped onions and garlic. While it is frying, chop the tomatoes finely. Once the onion  becomes softer, add tomatoes. Wait till tomatoes soften and meld into the onions before adding dhaniya powder and chilly powder. 

Fry for about 3-4 minutes till  the raw smell of the masalas are gone. Add the cooked vegetables, cook everything together for 2-3 minutes. Check and add salt. Mix well. Add the garam masala and keep it on heat for about a minute. Garnish with coriander and serve hot with Rotis.