Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Kachi Keri Nu Shaak

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In beginning of Spring, you start to see various varieties of mango in markets of India. Some unripe varieties are used for making pickles. Some of these mangoes are also used in making chaats, chutneys, curries and salads. This unripe (kachi) mango (keri) nu shaak (curry) is similar to mango chutney but uses pickle masala (made from fenugreek seeds) which is the same masala used for making mango pickle. This curry is a sweet and sour, and we usually eat with khichdi. It goes well with flat bread also, in picture it’s serve with bhakhri.

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Kachi Keri Nu Shaak

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Serves: 4

Sweet and Sour Unripe Mango Curry
Ingredients
  • 1 large unripe mango or 3 small unripe mangoes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup or more water
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • 2 whole dried chilies
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • ½ cup or more jaggary or brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons methi no masalo (fenugreek seed pickle masala)
Directions
  1. Peel and cut mango into ¾ inch chunks. Remove as much mango as possible around pit, even if they are small pieces. Taste piece of mango for sourness.
  2. Transfer mango pieces to medium sized sauce pan. Cover with ½ cup water and season with salt. Cover the pan with a lid and cook mango for 3 to 4 minutes. Alternately, you can cook mango in microwave safe bowl. Mango should be soft but not mushy.
  3. Remove mango from pan along with remaining water or keep in the bowl.
  4. Heat oil in the same pan until shimmering, 1 minute. Add mustard seeds and let it pop. Immediately add asafetida and whole chilies. Add mango along with water. If there is not enough water to cover mango, add ¼ cup water. Let it come to boil and add ½ cup jaggery or brown sugar. If mango is too sour, add 1 or 2 tablespoons more jaggery or brown sugar. Add turmeric and chili powder. Stir to combine everything and let mango cook uncovered until jaggery or brown sugar is completely melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Add more water if necessary to avoid contents sticking to pot.
  5. Add pickle masala, dhana-jeeru and let shaak cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Taste shaak and adjust seasoning. It should be sweet and sour with gravy, add more jaggery or sugar and water if necessary. Cook for couple of minutes more. Serve with khichadi and/or flat bread. It stores well in refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks.

 

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Street Food

Gota (fritters)

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Gota (fritters) are made with chickpea flour and vegetables. The most common type of gota is methi (fenugreek) ni bhaji (greens) na gota (fritters). Fenugreek greens are widely available during winter months. Gota is very popular street food and usually eaten as a snack with hot tea. When you buy gota from a street vendor or farsan (savory food) shop, you will also get kathi chutney,  Green Papaya Cachumber and stir fried green chilies, especially in Gujarat.

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Methi ni Bhaji na Gota

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Serves: 4

Fenugreek greens fritters
Ingredients
  • 2 cups chickpea flour or more
  • ½ cup coarse whole wheat flour or cream of wheat
  • ¼ cup yogurt or buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups packed chopped methi ni bhaji (fenugreek greens either fresh or frozen, thawed)
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 jalapeno or serrano chili, minced
  • 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons sugar
  • Water as needed
  • Canola or similar oil for frying
Directions
  1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup water, olive oil and yogurt or buttermilk. Add chickpea flour and ¼ cup of wheat flour or cream of wheat. Combine flour with water, if some dry flour remains, it is fine.
  2. Add spices, greens and rest of ingredients (except water). Combine with flour and if batter is too dry gradually add more water until thick fritter batter forms. Let batter rest for an hour.
  3. Heat oil in a frying pan until ready to fry.
  4. Just before frying, add remaining wheat flour or cream of wheat. Check the consistency of batter. If it too thick, add more water to thin out. If it is too thin, add more chickpea flour. Taste seasoning and adjust according to taste. If you want to make spicier, add more chili powder.
  5. Once oil is hot enough to fry, drop about 2 tablespoons of batter for a fritter with your hands or small ice cream scoop. Drop 6-7 fritters in hot oil and fry them until golden brown and crunchy, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat until all batter is gone. You can let excess oil drip from fritters on a paper towel lined plate or wired racked pan.
  6. Serve warm and accompanied with any one or more condiments like cilantro chutney, kathi chutney, green papaya cachumber and cucumber raita. Can be served as a snack or an appetizer.
Notes
You can also make this same recipe with spinach.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Panchrav Shaak

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During month of August or September (on the eight day of Shravan Vad in Hindu calender) people in India celebrate Lord Krishna’s birth. The festival is known as Janmashtami. This year it was on August 24, 2019. People observed fast on that day. The next day which is called Parna, feast is prepared as an offering to god as well as to break a fast. The Panchrav (mixed) shaak (vegetables) is prepared as an offering which includes variety of vegetables available in the market. Only on that day vegetable mongers in Gujarat sell prepared mixed vegetables known as Patrali. All you need to add are root vegetables to make panchrav shaak. In the recipe, quantity of vegetables might seem too much, but as you cook them it will reduce almost in half. If some vegetables are not available, it should be fine. Try not to add onion and garlic. That way you will taste each vegetable separately in the mixed vegetables. Remaining shaak can be frozen for further use.

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Panchrav Shaak

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Serves: 10

Ingredients
  • About 4 to 5 cups of mixed vegetables (like butternut squash, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, zucchini, etc.), finely cut
  • About 5 to 6 cups combined, green peas, green beans, corn kernels, papadi lilva, toover lilva (fresh pigeon peas), choli (Indian long green beans), suran (Indian yam), tindola (green ivy squash), etc. available in frozen section of Indian grocery stores
  • About 3 to 4 cups of mixed vegetables (like eggplant, potato, sweet potato, taro root, etc.) finely cut
  • About 2 cups methi (fenugreek leaves), frozen, available in frozen section of Indian grocery stores.
  • About 1 cup palak (spinach), frozen
  • 2 to 3 jalapeno or serrano chilies, finely chopped
  • ½ cup or more olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
  • 1 ½ teaspoons turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons red chili powder
  • 3 teaspoons dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • Salt to taste
  • Juice of one lime
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions
  1. Heat ¼ cup oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot until shimmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida, turmeric and 1 teaspoon chili powder. Immediately add first mixed vegetables and green chilies. Season with salt and stir to combine with spices. Cover the pot and let vegetables cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Occasionally stir vegetables so they do not stick to bottom.
  2. Uncover pot and add second mixed vegetables. Season with salt and stir to combine with other vegetables. Let vegetables cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Occasionally stir vegetables so they do not stick to bottom. If vegetables start to stick to bottom add more oil 1 tablespoon at a time.
  3. Uncover pot and add third mixed vegetables. Season with salt and stir to combine with other vegetables. Let vegetables cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Occasionally stir vegetables so they do not stick to bottom. If vegetables start to stick to bottom add more oil 1 tablespoon at a time.
  4. Uncover pot and add methi and palak. Stir to combine with other vegetables and cover pot. Let vegetables cook for 10 to 12 minutes until you start to see oil on side of pot. Occasionally stir vegetables so they do not stick to bottom. If vegetables start to stick to bottom add more oil 1 tablespoon at a time.
  5. Uncover pot and add remaining chili powder and dhana-jeeru. Stir shaak to combine with spices. Taste shaak and add salt if needed. Add lime juice. Let shaak cook on low heat for 10 to 12 minutes. If shaak looks dry, add more oil 1 tablespoon at a time. By the time shaak is fully cooked, it should be glistening with oil. Before serving garnish with cilantro. Serve with warm puri.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Everyday Cabbage (shaak)

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Everyday Cabbage (shaak)

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Serves: 6

This is a basic recipe to cook any vegetable in Gujarati style and it is referred as shaak. Usually there is some kind of a shaak with a meal (Gujarati thali). In vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, okra etc. mustard seeds are used whereas for potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and eggplant etc.; cumin seeds are used. You can cut down amount of oil and adjust seasoning according to your taste. The spices and its amount from recipe works for 3 medium size potatoes, one medium size eggplant, and 30 to 35 green beans (or 1 16 oz. bag of cut green beans or French cut green beans). You can also mix and match vegetables.
Ingredients
  • 1 medium size cabbage (cobish), shredded
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons dhana-jeeru (spice blend of coriander and cumin powder)
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro for garnish
Directions
  1. In a wok or a frying pan heat the oil until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida, turmeric and chili powder. Add cabbage and season with salt. Stir cabbage until coated with oil and spices.
  2. Cover the pan with a lid and let cabbage cook until fork tender, stirring from time to time, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Once cabbage is cooked, uncover, add dhana-jeeru. Stir and let cabbage cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Just before serving garnish the shaak (cabbage) with cilantro. Serve warm with any type of Indian flat bread.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Karela nu Shaak

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Karela nu Shaak

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Serves: 4

Karela (biiter melons) are usually available during mango season (April to July) in Gujarat. Here in US they are available all year around. This shaak is especially eaten with mango pulp. Both works well together as karela are bitter and mango pulp is sweet. Not all people like this shaak but once you get used to bitterness it is very delicious. It is very enjoyable with warm Rotli(puffed flat bread).
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. karela (bitter melon)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons dhana-jeeru (spice blend of coriander and cumin powder)
  • 3 tablespoons golden raisins
  • 3 tablespoons cashew bits
  • 3 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 golf ball size jaggery piece, cut into smaller pieces
Directions
  1. Wash karela. If karela are fresh and skin does not have any blemishes keep the skin otherwise remove the rough part. Remove ⅛ inch of karela from both ends. Cut bigger karela in half, again cut karela in half and slice into three to four slices. Remove tough seeds while cutting karela. Karela are extremely bitter. If you wish to remove some bitterness, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt and let it drain in a colander for ½ an hour. Skip salt later in recipe.
  2. In a wok or a frying pan, heat oil on medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle, 30 to 40 seconds. Lower the heat to medium. Add turmeric, chili powder and asafetida. Add karela, season with salt and stir everything well. Cover and let karela cook for 10-12 minutes or until karela are tender, stirring occasionally.
  3. Once karela are cooked, add rest of ingredients. Stir everything and let it cook uncovered on low heat until sugar and jaggery is melted and karela looks dry, about 7 to 10 minutes. Karela should be covered in caramel to reduce bitterness. Golden raisins help in reducing bitterness and use of more sugar. Check seasoning and add salt if needed. Serve warm with any type of Indian flat bread.

 

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Condiments, Recipes

Cachumber

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Raw vegetables eaten with meal as a side dish is known as cachumber (salad).  It varies depending on season and availability of vegetables.

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Everyday Cachumber

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 2 Roma or plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 serrano or jalapeno chilies, cut lengthwise into 4 pieces (optional)
  • ½ English cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1 carrot, thinly sliced
  • 3 to 4 radishes, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon chaat masala
  • Juice of ½ a lime
Directions
  1. Arrange slices of vegetables on a serving platter. Just before serving, sprinkle chaat masala and squeeze lime juice on vegetables evenly.

 

 

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Kakdi Cachumber

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Serves: 4

Stir fired cucumber
Ingredients
  • 1 English cucumber, shredded
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, cut lengthwise in 4 pieces
  • 7 to 8 curry leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon dalia (roasted and hulled split chickpeas) or roughly chopped peanuts
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Directions
  1. Put shredded cucumber in a colander on top of bowl to catch drippings. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt on cucumber and let it stand for 30 minutes. Squeeze out water from cucumber and transfer to a plate.
  2. Heat oil in a medium sauté pan on medium high heat until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add sesame seeds, asafetida and turmeric. Add chili, curry leaves and sauté for 30 to 40 seconds. Add dalia or peanuts and sauté for a minute.
  3. Add cucumber and sauté it for one minute. Season with salt, sugar and stir. Let cucumber cook for two more minutes. Off heat add lemon juice, cilantro and stir. Serve immediately as a side dish.

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Tameta Dungli nu Cachumber

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Serves: 4

Tomato-Onion Salad
Ingredients
  • 2 Roma or plum tomatoes, ¼ inch diced
  • 1 red onion, ¼ inch diced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a serving bowl and serve immediately as a side dish.

 

 

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Kachu Paku Cobis

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Serves: 4

Kachu (raw) Paku (cooked) Cobis (cabbage) - Stir fired cabbage
Ingredients
  • Quarter of cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, halved
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Directions
  1. Heat oil in a medium sauté pan on medium high heat until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida and turmeric. Add chili, curry leaves and sauté for 30 to 40 seconds.
  2. Add cabbage and sauté it for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and stir. Let cabbage cook for two more minutes. Add dhana-jeeru and let cabbage cook for a minute. Off heat add cilantro and stir. Serve immediately as a side dish.

 
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Kacchi Keri Nu Cachumber

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At beginning of spring season (vasant rutu), raw mangoes (kacchi keri) are available. When raw mangoes are available for few months, it is used in various ways, in making pickles, drinks and salad.
Ingredients
  • 1 small raw mango, seed removed, ¼ inch diced
  • 1 red onion, ¼ inch diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or jaggery or to taste
Directions
  1. Combine ingredients in a serving bowl and serve immediately as side dish.
Notes
With young raw mango, you should be able to cut through seed. With a late season raw mango, you can cut around mango to remove seed.

 
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Kacha Papaya nu Chhin

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Serves: 4

Where I grew up our house was surrounded by a garden. We had a couple of papaya trees and my mother used to make kacha (unripe) papaya nu chhin (shredded) frequently from papaya grown in our garden. This cachumber is also served with methi ni bhaji na gota (fenugreek green fritters), fafda (chickpea flour crisps), etc. When you buy gota or fafda from a street vendor or farsan (savory food) shop, you will also get this cachumber, especially in Gujarat.
Ingredients
  • Quarter of papaya, peeled, seeded and shredded
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, halved
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
Directions
  1. Heat oil in a medium sauté pan on medium high heat until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida and turmeric. Add chili, curry leaves and sauté for 30 to 40 seconds.
  2. Add shredded papaya and sauté it for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and stir. Let papaya cook for two more minutes. Add dhana-jeeru and let papaya cook for a minute. Off heat add cilantro, lime juice and stir. Serve immediately as a side dish or with methi na gota (fritters).

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Stuffed Vegetables

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Ringal Bataka na Ravaiya

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Serves: 4

The stuffed vegetables are known as Ravaiya or bharelu skaak.
Ingredients
  • 4 small ringan (Indian eggplant)
  • 4 small red or yellow bataka (potatoes)
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida or 1 clove of garlic, finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped, divided
Stuffing:
  • ¼ cup chickpea flour
  • 3 tablespoons ground peanuts (optional)
  • ¼ cup dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 4 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
  1. Wash eggplants and potatoes, and pat dry. Make an X cut on ⅓ of eggplant on stemless side, keeping the stem. Make an X cut on ⅓ of potato on one side. Repeat the same with rest of eggplants and potatoes.
  2. Combine stuffing ingredients plus 2 tablespoons of cilantro into a medium mixing bowl. Gently widen an eggplant and stuff it by gently pushing stuffing down by hand. Try not to break it and not over stuffed it. Repeat the same with rest of eggplants and potatoes. If any stuffing remains, keep it aside.
  3. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Once oil is hot, add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida or garlic. With garlic, sauté it for a minute. Lower the heat and arrange stuffed eggplants and potatoes in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let vegetables cook until tender, 12 to 15 minutes, stirring gently few times. Sprinkle any remaining stuffing on top of the vegetables during half way of cooking.
  4. Garnish with remaining cilantro before serving. Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.
Easier Method:
  1. Cut eggplants and potatoes into quarters.
  2. Combine stuffing ingredients plus 2 tablespoons of cilantro into a medium mixing bowl.
  3. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida or garlic. With garlic, sauté it for a minute. Lower the heat and arrange eggplants and potatoes in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let vegetables cook for 5 minutes. Uncover pan, stir the vegetables and sprinkle stuffing on top of the vegetables evenly. Cover the pan and let vegetables cook until tender, 7 to 8 minutes, stirring gently few times.
  4. Garnish with remaining cilantro before serving. Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.

 

 

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Bhinda na Ravaiya

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 lb. bhinda (okra)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
Stuffing:
  • ¼ cup chickpea flour
  • 3 tablespoons ground peanuts (optional)
  • ¼ cup dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 4 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ⅛ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
  1. Wash okras and dry it with paper towel. Okras should be as dry as possible otherwise it will become slimy. Remove stem, and ¼ inch end of okras, and cut large okras into half. Make a cut in okra almost to half point on one side and another cut almost to half point on other side in opposite direction. Repeat the same with remaining okras.
  2. Combine stuffing ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. Gently widen okra on one side and stuff it by gently pushing stuffing down by hand. Repeat the same on other side. Try not to break it and not over stuffed it. Repeat the same with rest of okras. If any stuffing remains, keep it aside.
  3. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida. Lower the heat and arrange stuffed okra in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let okra cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring gently few times. Sprinkle any remaining stuffing on top of the vegetables during half way of cooking. Once okras are cooked, lower the heat, uncover the pan and let okras cook until it becomes dry and crispy, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.
Easier Method:
  1. Wash okras and dry it with paper towel. Okras should be as dry as possible otherwise it will become slimy. Remove stem, and ¼ inch end of okras, and cut large okra into half. Cut okras into quarters.
  2. Combine stuffing ingredients into a medium mixing bowl.
  3. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida. Lower the heat and arrange okra in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let okra cook for 5 minutes. Uncover pan, stir okra and sprinkle stuffing on top of okra evenly. Initially okras will be slimy but as it cooks it will become less slimy. Cover the pan and let okras cook until tender, 6 to 7 minutes, stirring gently few times. Once okras are cooked, lower the heat, uncover the pan and let okras cook until it becomes dry and crispy, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.

 
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Maracha na Ravaiya

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 lb. small or baby assorted peppers (15 to 18 peppers)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
Stuffing:
  • ½ cup chickpea flour
  • ¼ cup ground peanuts (optional)
  • ½ cup dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 3 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 6 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ⅛ teaspoon garam masala
  • ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
  1. Wash peppers and pat dry. Make a T cut on one side of pepper and carefully remove seeds and membrane. Keep the stem.
  2. Combine stuffing ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. Stuff the peppers one by one with stuffing either by hand or with a ¼ teaspoon measuring spoon. If any stuffing remains, keep it aside.
  3. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida. Lower the heat and arrange stuffed peppers in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let peppers cook until soft but not mushy, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle any remaining stuffing on top of the peppers during half way of cooking. The bottom of peppers will caramelize during cooking and it will add nice flavor.
  4. Can be served warm as a side dish and/or with any Indian flat bread.

 
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Karela na Ravaiya

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Serves: 4

I have learned this recipe of stuffed bitter melons from my sister-in-law Ushabhabhi.
Ingredients
  • 5 to 6 small karela (Indian bitter melons)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish
Stuffing:
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium shallot, roughly chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 inch of piece ginger, roughly chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala
  • ¼ cup chickpea flour
  • 2 tablespoons ground peanuts (optional)
  • ¼ cup dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 3 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 6 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon aamchoor (dry mango powder)
Directions
  1. Wash and pat dry karela. Cut ¼ inch of both ends and peel the rough skip. Keep the skin aside. Cut karela in half and scoop out the pulp with seeds. Discard the big seeds and combine the pulp with saved skin.
  2. In a food processor, pulse shallot until finely minced.
  3. In small pan, heat one tablespoon olive oil on medium heat. Add shallots and pinch of salt. Let shallot caramelize on low heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  4. While shallot is cooking, add skin and pulp of karela, garlic, green pepper, and ginger in food processor bowl. Pulse until finely minced.
  5. Once shallot is brown, add above mixture and garam masala. Stir everything and let it cook for 2 minutes. Let it cool down for 10 to 15 minutes.
  6. Combine rest of the stuffing ingredients and remaining olive oil in a medium mixing bowl. Add cooled mixture and combine. Stuff melon halves with stuffing. If any stuffing remains, keep it aside.
  7. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Lower the heat and arrange stuffed melon halves in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let melon cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle any remaining stuffing on top of the vegetables during half way of cooking.
  8. Garnish with cilantro before serving. Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.
Notes
Karela is extremely bitter. If you want to remove some of the bitterness, before cooking it, sprinkle about teaspoon of salt on them and transfer them to a colander. Transfer colander to baking dish or a pan to catch drippings. Let karela stand for 30 minutes to an hour and proceed with the recipe.

 
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Stuffed Brussels Sprouts

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 lb. Brussels sprouts
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafetida
Stuffing:
  • ¼ cup chickpea flour
  • 3 tablespoons ground peanuts (optional)
  • ¼ cup dhana-jeeru(spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 4 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
  1. Wash Brussels sprouts and pat dry. Trim the dark end and wilted leaves. Make an X cut on ⅓ of Brussels sprouts on coreless side.
  2. Combine stuffing ingredients into a medium mixing bowl. Gently widen a Brussels sprout and stuff it by gently pushing stuffing down by hand. Try not to break and over stuffed it. Repeat the same with rest of Brussels sprouts. If any stuffing remains, keep it aside.
  3. In a large non-stick or cast iron pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida, sauté it for 30 seconds. Lower the heat and arrange stuffed Brussels sprouts in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let them cook until tender, 7 to 8 minutes, stirring gently few times. Sprinkle any remaining stuffing on top of the Brussels sprouts during half way of cooking.
  4. Uncover the pan; lower the heat to low and let Brussels sprouts caramelized for 3 to 5 minutes without stirring.
  5. Serve warm as an appetizer or side dish. Can be served with Indian flat bread also.

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Recipes, Sweets

Rice Pudding

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Doodh Pak

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Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 2 cups whole milk (doodh)
  • 2 cups half and half
  • ½ cup uncooked basmati rice
  • 1 tablespoon ghee (optional)
  • ½ cup sugar or more
  • ⅛ teaspoon saffron (kesar) threads
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom (elaichi)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (jaifal)
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds (badam), for garnish
Directions
  1. Rinse rice with water until water is clear. Let excess water drain and combine with ghee if using in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.
  2. In a small mixing bowl combine saffron with 1 tablespoon of milk and set it aside to dissolve.
  3. Combine milk and half and half in a large non-stick pot or a Dutch oven and bring to a boil on medium heat, 8 to 10 minutes. Lower the heat and let milk simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in between so that milk does not boil over.
  4. Change heat to medium. Add rice and immediately stir to keep rice kernels separate. Let rice cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring in between.
  5. Add sugar, saffron milk and let doodh pak simmer for 10 minutes or so to let sugar dissolved and the liquid from sugar to evaporate, stirring frequently. Add more sugar if needed.
  6. Off heat add cardamom, nutmeg and mix. Garnish with almonds and before serving. Can be served warm or chilled with Puri.

 

 

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Kheer

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Serves: 4

You will find this recipe in most region of India.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, if needed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted pistachios, finely chopped, for garnish
Directions
  1. Rinse rice with water until water is clear. Let excess water drain and set aside.
  2. In a non-stick medium pot or a Dutch oven bring milk to a boil on medium heat, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in between so that milk does not boil over.
  3. Add rice and immediately stir to keep rice kernels separate. Let rice cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring in between.
  4. Once rice is cooked add condensed milk and let kheer cook for 10 more minutes to make it creamy, stirring frequently.
  5. Add more sugar if needed. Off heat add cardamom and mix. Garnish with almonds and pistachio before serving. Can be served warm or chilled.

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Makai no Chevado

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Makai no Chevado

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Cook time: 

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Serves: 6 servings

This is my cousin Sukeshi's recipe of spicy corn (makai) pudding. The way she makes it, it tastes exactly like her mother's (my aunt Ramamasi) famous Makai No Chevado. In summer, we used to have Chevada party with friends and family and my aunt used to make Makai No Chevado.
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. Fresh corn, shucked and grated (about 3 cups corn pulp)
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons or more olive oil or coconut oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons brown mustard seeds
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon asafetida
  • 2 dry red chilies (optional)
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • 2 jalapeno or serrano chilies, minced
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, minced
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground clove
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh coconut
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, for garnish
Directions
  1. Heat oil in a wok or a frying pan on medium high heat until shimmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add dry red chilies, asafetida and sesame seeds. Immediately add curry leaves, green chilies and ginger and sauté it for 30 seconds.
  2. Add corn pulp in to this vaghar (tadka). Add dry spices to corn pulp. Stir the mixture to combine everything. Reduce heat to low and sauté the corn pulp until translucent and most of the water is evaporated, about 30 minutes. It will release some oil also. While sautéing if corn sticks on bottom, add more oil.
  3. Increase the heat to medium and add the milk, stirring constantly. Let milk come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan and let it simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir the Chevado in between so that it does not stick to the bottom and milk does not boil over.
  4. Once the mixture has reached soft pudding like consistency, add salt, half of coconut and lime juice. Stir properly and let it simmer on the low heat until it starts releasing oil, about 10 minutes. If the Chevado is too dry you can add some water.
  5. Remove from the heat and garnished with remaining coconut and cilantro. Serve warm as a side dish or with Puri. Serve lime quarters on the side.

 

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Grains, Recipes

Khichdi

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Plain Khichdi

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Serves: 4

This simple meal of grain and dal is a staple of Gujarati meal. In most Gujarati households, you will find Khichdi with dinner. It can be prepared many ways, even with vegetables, making it a one pot meal.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup rice
  • ¾ cup toover dal (split pigeon peas) or mung dal (with or without skin)
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 4 cups of water
Directions
  1. Wash rice and dal together in a bowl until water is clear. Add 4 cups of water to cover rice and dal. Let it soak for 1 to 2 hours. (Soaking is optional).
  2. Pour rice and dal along with water into a medium Dutch oven or a soup pot. Add turmeric and season with salt. Stir everything and cover pot with a lid. Let Khichdi cook for 40 to 45 minutes or until rice and dal are tender.
  3. To cook khichdi in an Instant pot: Follow step 1. Transfer dal and rice to pot insert. Add turmeric and season with salt. Stir everything and cover pot with a lid. Set instant pot to pressure cook setting and set time for 15 minutes. For unsoaked rice and dal increase time to 20 minutes. Once cooking is over release steam and follow step 4.
  4. Serve hot with yogurt or plain chass (lassi) or vaghareli chass.

 

 

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Vaghareli Khichdi

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 recipe plain Khichdi
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee (clarified butter)
  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 2 to 3 cloves
  • 1 inch piece of cinnamon stick
  • Pinch of asafetida
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 6 to 7 curry leaves
Directions
  1. Follow step 1 of plain Khichdi.
  2. In a medium Dutch oven or a soup pot, heat oil and ghee over medium heat until shimmering. Add fenugreek seeds and let it sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle as well. Add remaining Vaghar ingredients and stir contents of pot. Follow step 2 and 4 of plain Khichdi.
  3. To cook in an Instant pot: Follow step 1. Set instant pot to saute setting. Once inner pot is hot, heat oil and ghee until shimmering. Add fenugreek seeds and let it sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle as well. Add remaining Vaghar ingredients and dal and rice with water. Stir the contents of pot and cover instant pot. Set it to pressure cook for 15 minutes. Increase time to 20 minutes for unsoaked rice and dal. Once cooking is over, release steam and follow step 4 of plain Khichdi.

 
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Mixed Grain Khichdi

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup each quinoa, pearl barley, and cracked wheat (or millet)
  • ½ cup split pigeon peas (toover dal)
  • 2 tablespoons clarified butter or ghee
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
  • Pinch of asafetida
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 3 whole cloves
  • One inch piece of cinnamon stick
  • 7 to 10 curry leaves
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper (or to taste), finely diced
  • 3 cups of water or more
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Directions
  1. Combine quinoa, barley, cracked wheat and pigeon peas and rinse in a two to three of changes of water. Let it soak in 2 ½ cups water for at least 30 minutes (soaking is optional).
  2. In a medium Dutch oven or a soup pot, over medium-high heat, heat ghee and oil until it shimmers. Add mustard seeds and let it sizzle. Add curry leaves, all the dry spices and sauté until fragrant, for 30 seconds. Add the grain mixture along with water. Add green chili and ginger. Mix the contents of pot and season with salt. Add more water if necessary so that contents of pot are covered with water.
  3. Turn the heat up and bring contents of pot to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes or until all the liquid have absorbed and grains and dal are tender. Add more water if necessary.
  4. To cook in an Instant Pot: Follow step 1. Set instant pot to saute setting. Once inner pot is hot, heat ghee and oil until it shimmers. Add mustard seeds and let it sizzle. Add curry leaves, all the dry spices and sauté until fragrant, for 30 seconds. Add the grain mixture along with water. Add green chili and ginger. Mix the contents of pot and season with salt. Add more water if necessary so that contents of pot are covered with water. Cover instant pot and set it to pressure cook for 20 minutes. For unsoaked grains and dal set for 30 minutes. Release steam once cooking is over and follow step 4.
  5. Serve warm with plain chass (lassi) or vaghareli chass.

 
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Slow Cooker Vegetable Khichdi

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

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Serves: 8

Ingredients
  • 2 cups rice
  • 1 ½ cups toover dal (split pigeon peas) or mung dal (with or without skin)
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee (clarified butter)
  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
  • 3 to 4 cloves
  • 2 1-inch pieces of cinnamon stick
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 9 to 10 curry leaves
  • 1 small onion, small diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
  • 2 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 1 small potato, medium diced
  • 1 small carrot, medium diced
  • 2 to 3 cauliflower florets cut into bite size pieces
  • ½ cup frozen peas
Directions
  1. Wash rice and dal together in a bowl until water is clear. Transfer dal and rice to a 3-quart slow cooker pot and add 4 cups of water. Add turmeric and season with salt.
  2. In a separate frying pan, heat oil and ghee over medium heat until shimmering. Add fenugreek seeds and let it sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle as well. Next add curry leaves, cloves, cinnamon sticks, black pepper and chili powder. Add onions and sauté them until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and sauté for a minute. Add all the vegetables except peas and sauté for a minute. Pour everything on top of slow cooker pot.
  3. Stir the contents of pot, cover and cook on high for six hours. For the last half an hour add peas.
  4. Before serving check the seasoning. Serve hot with yogurt or plain chass(lassi) or vaghareli chass.
Notes
In this recipe you can use any vegetables (about 3 cups) you like. You can adjust the quantity of recipe depending on size of your slow cooker. The left overs can be frozen.

 
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Sabudana ni Khichdi

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Serves: 6

Many Indians keep fast during certain days. On those days they avoid eating foods with pronounced flavor which are called tamasic (bitter, sour, pungent, salty and dry) like garlic, asafetida, tamarind etc. They adhere to strict vegetarian diet which is sattvic (simple) like fruits, potatoes (root vegetables), rajgara (amaranth), singoda (chestnuts), sabudana (tapioca).
Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
  • 1 medium size potato, cut into ¼ inch dice
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil or more
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, finely diced
  • 10-12 curry leaves
  • 1-inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 3 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • ¼ cup roughly chopped roasted peanuts, for garnish
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro, for garnish
  • ½ cup plain yogurt, for serving
Directions
  1. Transfer sabudana to a mixing bowl and cover them with water. Let them soak in water for at least two hours or overnight. (it should be almost double in size).
  2. In a wok or frying pan heat oil on medium heat until shimmering. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add curry leaves and green chili. Sauté them until almost dry. Add ginger and potatoes. Add couple of tablespoons water and season potato with ½ teaspoon salt. Stir potatoes to cover them with spices. Cover wok or pan and let potato cook until tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir occasionally so that potato does not stick to bottom.
  3. Uncover wok or frying pan. Let water evaporate if any left in wok or pan. Drain sabudana (if there is excess water) and gently separate the pearls with a fork. Add sabudana to wok or pan and immediately stir them so that they do not clump together. If khichdi looks dry add more oil, a tablespoon at a time. Season khichdi with salt, sugar and stir. Cover wok or pan for not more than 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and garnish with peanuts and cilantro. Immediately serve with plain yogurt.

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Flower Bataka Vatana nu Shaak

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Flower Bataka Vatana nu Shaak

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 6

Cauliflower Potato Peas
Ingredients
  • 1 medium size flower (cauliflower), cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 medium size batako (potato), cut into ½ inch cubes
  • ½ cup vatana (green peas), frozen or fresh
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons dhana-jeeru (spice blend of coriander and cumin powder)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro for garnish
Directions
  1. In a wok or a frying pan heat the oil until shimmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida, turmeric and chili powder. Add cauliflower, potatoes and season with salt. Stir vegetables until they are coated with oil and spices.
  2. Cover the pan with a lid and let the vegetables cook until fork tender, stirring occasionslly, about 10 to 12 minutes. During half way of cooking, add green peas.
  3. Once vegetables are cooked, uncover, add dhana-jeeru. Stir and let vegetables cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Just before serving garnish with cilantro. Serve warm with any type of Indian flat bread.

 

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Condiments, Recipes

Chutney

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Cilantro Chutney

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Fresh coriander or Cilantro chutney
Ingredients
  • 1 bunch of cilantro
  • 1 to 2 jalapeno or serrano chilies or to taste
  • ½ inch piece of ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 3 to 4 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Water as needed
Directions
  1. Remove thick stems from cilantro and wash it immersing in water. Transfer into colander and wash it under running water. Let most of water drain from cilantro. Put cilantro into blender or food processor bowl. Add salt, sugar and lemon juice. Cut chilies into 2 to 3 pieces and add it. Peel ginger and cut into couple of pieces and add it. Make into smooth paste. If things do not move add little water. Makes about ¾ cup of chutney. Keep it refrigerated.
  2. You can also add roasted peanut and/or shredded coconut.

 

 

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Garlic chutney

Prep time: 

Total time: 

Ingredients
  • 8 to 10 large cloves of garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon of roasted cumin seeds
  • 3 to 4 teaspoon red chili powder
Directions
  1. Put everything into food processor and make it into fine paste.
  2. You can also add roasted peanuts, shredded coconut and roasted sesame seeds. This chutney will have coarse texture.
  3. Makes about ½ cup.

 
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Tamarind and Date Chutney

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Sweet and Sour Chutney
Ingredients
  • 10 to 12 whole pitted dates
  • 3 small pieces (golf ball size) jaggery (Indian raw sugar) or ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Water as needed
  • 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp
Directions
  1. Put dates, salt and jaggery or sugar in a small microwave safe bowl. Cover with enough water so that dates are immersed in the water. Cover with plastic wrap. Cut a 1 inch slit in the middle to escape steam. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes in the microwave. Remove the plastic wrap and let the mixture cool for 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked dates into blender and add tamarind pulp. If there is little water left in the bowl, add more water to cover dates and blend it into smooth consistency (slightly thinner than ketchup). Taste the chutney and adjust seasoning. Pass the chutney through a fine sieve and serve cold with samosa, fritters, etc. This makes about 1 cup chutney.
  2. You can also add ¼ teaspoon each of chili powder, cumin powder and coriander powder to make it more flavorful.

 
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Red Pepper Chutney

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Total time: 

Recently we visited my husband's cousin in Atlanta. His cousin's wife Dipti made this chutney with a meal, which was really delicious. This is her recipe.
Ingredients
  • 1 14oz. jar of mild or hot Piquante peppers or roasted red peppers, drained
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Juice of ½ a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika or chili powder (optional)
  • ¼ cup crumbled jaggery (Indian raw sugar) or dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender jar or food processor bowl. Process everything until smooth paste. Transfer to a serving bowl. This makes about 1½ cup chutney. This can be served with appetizers or a dip. It can last in a refrigerator up to a month.

 
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Tomato Chutney

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 3 Roma or plum tomatoes, ¼ inch diced
  • ½ jalapeno or serrano chili, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ⅛ teaspoon asafetida
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Directions
  1. Heat oil in a small soup pot until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add asafetida and turmeric. Add chili and sauté it for 30 to 40 seconds. Add tomatoes and season with salt and sugar. Let tomatoes cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Off heat add cilantro and stir to combine. Can be served as a salsa. Best served with stuffed paratha.

 
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Cranberry Chutney

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Several years ago I had this chutney when I visited west coast. Ever since then I make this chutney during fall. It goes well with potato pancakes, samosas, fritters and many more.
Ingredients
  • 6 oz. fresh cranberries (1/2 of 12 oz. bag)
  • 1 8 oz. can of mandarin oranges, drained
  • ½ bunch of cilantro
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, roughly chopped
  • 2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ⅓ cup sugar or to taste
Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl of blender or food processor. Process it until almost smooth, keeping some texture.
  2. Makes 1 cup.

 
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Kathi Chutney

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Kathi chutney is served with methi ni bhaji na gota (fenugreek green fritters), fafda (chickpea flour crisps), etc. When you buy gota or fafda from a street vendor or farsan (savory food) shop, you will also get this chutney, especially in Gujarat.
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup chickpea flour
  • 1 tablespoon yogurt
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • Pinch of asafetida
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • 5 to 6 curry leaves
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, cut lengthwise
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
Directions
  1. Combine chickpea flour, yogurt and water in a bowl until smooth paste. Heat oil in a small pot until simmering. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Add rest of the ingredients and sauté it for 30 seconds. Add chickpea flour mixture and immediately stir to avoid lumps. Keep stirring until chutney thickens, for 3 to 4 minutes. Consistency of chutney should be like ketchup. Remove from heat and transfer to serving bowl. Serve it warm, if chutney thickens too much loosen with warm water. Garnish with cilantro. Makes about ½ cup.

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