Thursday, December 11, 2008

Califlower and Edamame with Mint and Ginger



I wanted to finish the mint leaves leftover from making the salad.
You need
Mint Leaves - 8 or 9 Washed
Ginger - an inch piece, peeled and chopped
Grind them both to a fine paste, add 1/4 cup water...
To Make the Subji
Canola Oil - 1 Teaspoon
Jeera - 1 Teaspoon
Cauliflower - 1, cut in flowers
Frozen Edamame - About 1 and 1/2 cups
Salt - as needed
Method
---> In a Pan, add the oil on a medium fire and then add the jeera
---> Once it sizzles, add the mint and ginger paste you made
--->Then add the cauliflower and kind of coat the mint mixture all over, so that all of the pieces get the mint on them
---> Now add the Edamame
---> Cover and cook, make sure the water is always there otherwide it will get burnt
--->Once the water is all evaporated, the cauliflower and the edamame should be cooked, turn the stove off and add some salt to taste.


[If you want, you can add some chili powder or green chillies to make it spicier.]
I served this with Rotis and Sprouted Mung and Masoor Dal.


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Black Eyed Beans in a Salad!


This recipe is from Bairavi, my cousin's wife. She got it from a sindhi friend of hers.
I just loved the taste of this when I had them and had to share...
It is kind of a mix of a salad and sabji...
You can substitute Chick Peas instead of the Black Eyed Peas..., but if you use chick peas, you have to soak it overnight. With black eyed peas, i just washed them and used them.

You need
For the Masala;
Mint leaves - 1 bunch - Washed and Drained
Garlic - 2 Cloves
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Green Chillies - 2
Coriander - 2 handfuls - washed and drained
Salt - to tast
When I use coriander, I just cut off the ends, and use the stalk also, it gives more flavor.
To make:
Canola oil - 1 Teaspoon
Jeera - 1 Teaspoon
Black Eyed Peas - 1 Cup
Cucmber - 1 english cucumber which equals 3 indian cucumbers, chopped
Red Bell Pepper - 1 chopped
Juice of 1 Green lime
Salt to taste
Method
--->Grind the stuff forthe masala to a smooth paste.
--->In a pan, add the oil and jeera, when it sizzles, add this paste and saute for two minutes, all on a medium high pan
--->Add the washed black eyed beans to this and mix well.
--->take the whole thing and transfer to a vessel which you can pressure cook in, and give it 3 to 4 whistles and then turn the fire to a low heat and let cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
---> Once the pressure goes down, check the beans, it has to mash when pressed wih two fingers.
--->Transfer to a big bowl, add the chopped cucmber, chopped red bell pepper and add the juice to it and add salt if needed
--->Garnish with a mint leaf, and take a picture!!!

I made this for dinner yesterday, served with 2 rotis, Beetroot subji and Kadhi...

Chutney for Chutney Sandwich


This is my friend, Mina's recipe. This is for making chutney sandwiches. I made them in the same food processor as the pesto.
You need
Coriander or Cilantro - 2 bunches, just cut of the ends and wash thoroughly (3 times under water and drained)
Green chillies - 10 to 12 (depending on your spice level
Skinned Peanuts - 1/2 cup
Garlic - 5 cloves
Salt - 1 to 2 Teaspoon (more or less)
Sugar - 1/2 Teaspoon
Lime - 2 to 3 (take the juice out and pour directly into food processor)
Method
Just grind everything to a chutney, Do not add any water to this, if needed add more lime juice....
You can use this to make the famous bombay chutney sandwich......
In Chennai, in the 80's we used to get this outside Prince Plaza, Egmore.
It is so delicious, spread it on a slice of bread, top with
Slice of tomato
Slice of cooked potato
Slice of cucumber
top with a dash of salt and pepper
Top with one more slice of bread spread with this chutney.... Yumm..........

Pesto - (my sister's recipe)

I made pesto for the first time yesterday. I also made Chutney for Bombay chutney sandwich for the first time. My daughter, my husband and me like the chutney but my son hates it, so When we all have the chutney, he can have pesto!

This is my sister's recipe,

You need
Pine Nuts - 1/2 cup
Olive Oil - 4 Tablespoons
Basil leaves - Approx. 2 cups, Washed and drained (chop it if your mixer will not grind)
Sundried Tomatoes - 6 or 7 (I only had that much)
Garlic - 4 or 5 cloves
Salt - less than 1 teaspoon
Black Pepper - 1 Teaspoon

Method
Just put everything in your food processor and grind to a smooth paste.

You can use this as
-->A spread for a sandwich, The one on the left is a whole wheat flax seed bread and the one on the right is a sourdough bread. The sandwiches were just great!
---> A spread of this on a slice of bread and melt some cheese on it, for, instant pizza!!
-->A sauce for pasta.
-->A sauce for Pizza.