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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Tofu Forward

Singapore Noodles

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Singapore Noodles

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Serves: 4

This noodle recipe is the result of influence of Indian and Chinese cuisine in Singapore.
Ingredients
  • ½ cup neutral oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • ¼ teaspoon or to taste cayenne pepper
  • 8 oz. rice noodles (vermicelli)
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 package of firm tofu
  • 2 shallots, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, sliced
  • 1 large carrot, cut into 2 inch strips
  • 2-inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup green peas
  • Juice of ½ a lime
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
Directions
  1. Drain tofu and remove excess liquid from tofu by putting it between two baking sheets covered with paper towels and weighing it down with cans or a heavy pan. Cut into ½-inch dice.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a wok or a skillet until shimmering and sauté curry powder and cayenne pepper for a minute or until fragrant.
  3. Soak rice noodles in 8 cups of boiling water for 5 minutes or until soft. Once soft, drain water and toss with curried oil, soy sauce and sugar in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
  4. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a wok or a skillet until shimmering, Stir fry tofu until light golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain excess oil from tofu and transfer tofu to noodle bowl.
  5. Add remaining oil to wok or skillet until shimmering. Stir fry shallot, red pepper and carrot for 2 to 3 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and stir fry with vegetables for a minute. Season with salt and black pepper.
  6. Add ¾ cup water or vegetable broth to wok or skillet. Add noodles with tofu and let everything cook together until water or broth is absorbed. Add peas, lime juice and stir.
  7. Before serving, garnish with scallions and cilantro. Serve warm.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Thanksgiving 2018

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Follow the link below for recipe. This recipe makes a center piece for vegetarian thanksgiving. Use sauce from recipe as gravy. http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/whole-roasted-cauliflower-with-poblano-vinaigrette-and-goat-cheese-cream-clinton-Kelly. Serve with nan and/or plain rice.

 

 

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Mashed Potatoes

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 4 large or 6 medium Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Directions
  1. Peel and cut potatoes into 1 inch chunks. Transfer them to a Dutch oven or a large soup pot. Cover the potatoes with water and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover the pot and let potatoes cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile combine milk, heavy cream and 4 tablespoon of butter in a small sauce pan and warm it.
  3. Drain potatoes once they are cooked and transfer them to same pot. On low heat, mash the potatoes with a potato masher or a ricer. Stir in half of milk mixture with mashed potatoes. If mashed potatoes are dry add more milk until potatoes have creamy consistency. Save some milk if you are not going to serve mashed potatoes immediately. Season with remaining salt and pepper.

 
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Mexican Corn Stuffing

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Serves: 6

Ingredients
  • 4 cups corn bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped, green, light green and white part separated
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, minced
  • 2 cups frozen or fresh corn kernels
  • 1 red pepper, finely diced
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup crumbled queso fresco or finely shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup or more vegetable stock
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread out corn bread cubes in even layer into two baking pans. Bake corn bread cubes until bread is almost dry, 25 to 30 minutes. Let bread cool down.
  2. In a medium sauté pan, heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter until butter is melted. Add white and light green parts of scallions and sauté it for a minute. Add garlic, green chili, red pepper and corn. Season with ½ teaspoon salt, pepper and paprika. Sauté vegetables for 2-3 minutes to soften them slightly. Let vegetables cool down for 10 minutes.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise and vegetable stock. Add corn bread, ¼ cup cheese and vegetables, and stir until bread and vegetables are well coated. Add more stock if mixture looks too dry.
  4. Butter 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Transfer stuffing to buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake stuffing for 35 to 45 minutes until top is browned.
  5. Before serving garnish with green part of scallions and cilantro.

 
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Charred Brussels Sprouts Salad

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 lb. Brussels sprouts
  • 1 navel orange
  • ½ cup pomegranate seeds
  • ½ cup cilantro or parsley leaves
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
  1. Wash and trim Brussels sprouts. In food processor with a slice blade, slice Brussels sprouts.
  2. Heat large cast iron pan on high heat. Transfer Brussels sprouts to pan and sauté them until they are charred in several places, 10 to 12 minutes. Add minced ginger and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Let Brussels sprouts cool down for 10 minutes.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cut orange segments. Squeeze juice from remaining orange. Add maple syrup and season with salt and pepper. Combine juice and orange segments with olive oil.
  4. Add cooled Brussels sprouts and stir with dressing. Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle pomegranate seeds and cilantro or parsley.

 
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Cranberry Chutney
Click on chutney to find recipe.

 
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Apple Pie Bars
You can find the recipe on NYTimes Cooking.

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Flat Breads, Recipes

Puran Poli

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Puran Poli

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Serves: 6

Puran (filling) Poli (flat bread) is one of my husband and his family's favorite dishes. During a holiday/festival you are bound to find it during meals at his family home in Gujarat, India.
Ingredients
For filling (puran):
  • 1 cup toover dal (split pigeon peas)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
For dough:
  • 2 cups chapatti or whole wheat flour
  • 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon neutral oil
  • Pinch of salt
  • ½ cup or less all-purpose flour, for rolling and dusting
  • ¼ cup or less ghee (clarified butter), for brushing
Directions
  1. Wash split pigeon peas few times. For oily dal make sure all the oil is washed off. Soak in about 2 cups of water for 1 to 2 hours or until peas are soft in a medium size soup pot. (Soaking is optional).
  2. Cover dal with a lid and cook it with water on a medium heat until peas are very soft, about one hour. Dal can also be cooked in a pressure cooker, according to manufacturer’s direction.
  3. While dal is cooking make dough. Put chapatti or whole wheat flour in a medium mixing bowl. Add salt and 2 tablespoons oil and mix it with hands. Gradually add water and knead until it makes soft and smooth dough. Cover the dough with a plate or a kitchen towel and let it rest while dal is cooking and you make the filling.
  4. Once dal is cooked, add sugar and cook until mixture thickens, stirring frequently, about 25 to 30 minutes. (You can also cook filling in microwave uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes). Let filling cool for 45 minutes to an hour or until cool to handle. Add cardamom and nutmeg and stir to combine. Divide filling into 12 to 15 equal portions and roll into balls.
  5. Pour 1 teaspoon oil on top of the dough and knead it few times until smooth. Divide the dough into 12 to 15 equal portions and roll into balls.
  6. Put about half a cup of all-purpose flour into a flat dish. Dip the ball of dough into flour and flatten it on a smooth cutting board (wooden or marble). Dip the flatten dough into flour again on both sides. First roll out a biscuit size (about 3 inch in diameter) small circle. Put one ball of filling in the middle. Gradually make folds around the edges to cover filling. Pinch the folds together, twist the dough on top and press the dough down so that it makes small circle. Dip the circle into flour on both sides .Roll out into a circle about 6 inches in diameter, dusting with flour if the dough starts sticking to the board. If some stuffing comes out or dough breaks, it’s fine.
  7. Heat a griddle or a flat non-stick pan on a medium heat. Transfer puran poli on to heated pan. Let the first side cook for 30 seconds to 40 seconds or until small bubbles appear on surface and flip to the other side. Let the other side cook for one minute. Remove from the heat. Brush the first side with about 1 teaspoon of ghee. Repeat the process with all the remaining dough and filling balls. Stack cooked puran poli. Serve warm with a shaak (vegetable) like okra, tindola or bataka ni sukhi bhaji.
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Recipes, Street Food

Pav Bhaji

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Pav Bhaji

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Serves: 6

Pav (bread) Bhaji (mixed vegetables) is a street food available all over India. The bhaji should be soft and mashed which you can scoop up with a pav. This recipe uses small quantity of variety of vegetables which is great use of left over vegetables. You can also use left over mashed potatoes for this recipe.
Ingredients
  • Quarter of cabbage, shredded
  • 3 to 4 florets cauliflower, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, shredded
  • 1 Japanese eggplant or ½ of large eggplant, peeled and ½ inch diced
  • ½ dhoodhi (Indian squash), peeled, deseeded and ½ inch diced (optional)
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, boiled and mashed
  • 2 large red onions, finely diced (reserve ½ cup for serving)
  • 3 large Roma tomatoes, ¼ inch diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons canola oil or butter
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt or to taste
  • ¾ cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 2 teaspoons pav bhaji masala
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro, for serving
  • 1 lime, cut into quarters for serving
  • 6 soft buns (pav), any kind
  • Butter for brushing on buns
Directions
  1. Combine cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, eggplant and doodhi in a large microwave safe bowl or large soup pot or Dutch oven. Cook vegetables in microwave (7 to 8 minutes) or stove top (10 to 12 minutes) until soft. Vegetables will release some liquid, keep that liquid. Mashed vegetables with potato masher and set aside. (You can use same soup pot or Dutch oven to make bhaji. You can transfer cooked and mashed vegetables to a mixing bowl).
  2. Heat oil or butter on a medium high heat in a large soup pot or a Dutch oven until oil is shimmering and butter is melted, 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium, add garlic and sauté it until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add onions and sauté them until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Next add all dry spices except pav bhaji masala and sauté with onions and garlic for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and sauté them until softened, 2 minutes.
  3. Add mashed potatoes and combine with sautéed vegetables. Let potatoes warm through before adding rest of mashed vegetables, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add rest of mashed vegetables, season with salt, stir and cover with a lid. Let bhaji cook for 7 to 10 minutes on low heat until flavors meld, stirring frequently. If bhaji is sticking to bottom, add some water. Uncover, add peas, pav bhaji masala and let bhaji cook for 5 to 6 minutes on low heat.
  4. Spread butter on buns and toast them on a griddle or frying pan until light golden brown but still soft.
  5. Serve hot bhaji with pav (buns). Garnish individual serving of bhaji with 1 tablespoons of cilantro. Serve reserved onion and lime on side.

 

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Flat Breads, Recipes

Methi na Dhebra

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Methi na Dhebra

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Serves: 6

Millet flour flat bread with fenugreek greens (fenugreek greens are bitter greens, especially eaten during winter months)
Ingredients
  • 2 cups bajri (millet) flour
  • ½ cup bhakhri flour or cream of wheat
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 4 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 3 cups fresh chopped methi (fenugreek) leaves or frozen, thawed
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 jalapeno or serrano chili, finely minced
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • ½ cup yogurt (not Greek)
  • Neutral oil for semi frying
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour for dusting and rolling
Directions
  1. Combine millet and wheat flours, olive oil, salt, sugar, turmeric and chili powder in large mixing bowl with hands. Add methi, cilantro, chili, ginger, garlic and yogurt. Mix them with hands and knead into soft dough. If mixture is dry, add some water to knead into soft and smooth dough. Cover dough with a plate or a kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
  2. Divide dough into 20 to 25 equal parts and form into balls.
  3. Place all-purpose flour into a flat dish. Roll a ball of dough into flour and flatten it on a smooth cutting board (wooden or marble). Dip the flatten dough circle into flour again on both sides. Roll out into 4 inch diameter circle, dusting with flour if the dough starts sticking to the board.
  4. Heat a griddle or a flat non-stick pan on a medium heat. Transfer the dhebra on to heated pan. Let the first side cook for 30 seconds to 40 seconds or until small bubbles appear on surface and flip to the other side. Let the other side cook for one minute. Pour about one teaspoon of oil on the top surface of dhebra and flip. Cook the dhebra by pressing with a spatula on top surface for 30 to 40 seconds and flip. Cook the other side same way. Remove from the heat. Repeat the process with all the remaining dough balls.
  5. Serve as a snack or lunch with cilantro chutney and/or tomato chutney. Can also be served with a vegetable.
Notes
You can also use greens like spinach or kale in this recipe instead of fenugreek greens.

 

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Flat Breads, Recipes

Bajri na Rotla

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Bajri na Rotla

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Serves: 4

Traditionally millet flour flat bread (bajri na rotla) is made with hands (without use of rolling pin and flat surface) and cooked in a griddle made of clay.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup bajri (millet) flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • Water as needed
  • ½ cup bajri or all-purpose flour, for dusting and rolling
  • ⅛ cup or less ghee or melted butter for brushing (optional)
Directions
  1. Combine salt and bajri flour in a medium mixing bowl. Gradually add water and knead into soft and smooth dough. Divide into 5 to 6 equal portions and roll into balls.
  2. Start heating a skillet or a griddle on medium high heat.
  3. Place flour for dusting and rolling in a plate. Dip a ball into flour and gently flatten it with your hand. Flip it on other side and roll it in flour. Start rolling dough on a wooden or marble cutting board either with a rolling pin or with your hands by gently pressing on dough and moving in a circle, until it makes a circle of 4 inch diameter. To roll this dough easily you will have to constantly dust flour on both sides.
  4. Transfer it to a heated skillet or a griddle and cook it on one side for 40 seconds to a minute or until small bubbles appear on surface. Flip it and cooked it on other side for a minute to minute and a half. Remove a skillet or a griddle from heat and increase heat to high. Place the first side of rotla on open flame and let the rotla puff up. Flip it to other side and let it cook for a 10 to 20 seconds. Remove from heat and transfer to a plate. Replace a skillet or a griddle over medium high heat. Dust off extra flour from rotla and brush the first side with ghee or melted butter. Repeat the process with remaining dough balls. Stack cooked rotla, and to keep rotla warm, wrap it in kitchen towel. Serve warm with a vegetable or bean dish and garlic chutney. Children love to eat rotla with ghee and jaggery (Indian raw sugar).

 

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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

Cauliflower Manchurian

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Gobi Manchurian

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Serves: 4

This recipe is a fusion of Chinese and Indian cuisine to suit Indian taste. It is believed to be created by Chinese community living in city of Kolkata (State of Bengal), eastern part of India.
Ingredients
  • 1 medium sized cauliflower (gobi), cut into 2 inch florets
  • Neutral Oil for frying
For Batter:
  • ½ cup AP flour
  • ½ cup corn starch
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste, see Note.
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • Water as needed
For Sauce:
  • ½ cup tomato ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 jalapeno or Serrano chili, minced
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
Directions
  1. To prepare sauce, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a small sauce pan until shimmering. Add chili, ginger-garlic paste and white parts of scallions and sauté them until soft, 2 minutes. Add ketch up, honey and soy sauce and stir to combine. Let sauce come to boil and let it simmer for 7 to 10 or until sauce thickens. Cover sauce and set it aside.
  2. While sauce is simmering, combine batter ingredients except water in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add water to make thin batter (like tempura batter). Add cauliflower florets and gently stir florets to coat evenly with batter.
  3. Heat oil in a frying pan until hot enough to fry. Shake off excess batter from florets and fry them in batches of 6 to 7 until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess oil on paper towel lined plate.
  4. Once all florets are fried and drained transfer to a large mixing bowl. Pour sauce over florets and stir to coat with sauce. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with green parts of scallions. Serve immediately as a side dish and/or Scallion Paratha
Notes
Ginger-garlic paste is available in Indian grocery stores.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Buffalo Cauliflower Florets

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Buffalo Cauliflower Florets

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Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 medium sized cauliflower, cut into 2 inch florets
  • ½ cup fine corn meal
  • ½ cup corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • Neutral Oil for frying
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley
Buffalo sauce:
  • ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1 tablespoon pieces
  • ½ cup hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
Ranch dressing:
  • ¼ cup yogurt
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon ranch seasoning powder
  • 1 teaspoon chives, sliced thinly
Directions
  1. In a small mixing bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce. Transfer cauliflower florets to a large mixing bowl. Pour buttermilk mixture over florets. Stir gently to coat florets with buttermilk. Let florets marinate for ½ to 1 hour.
  2. Meanwhile prepare Buffalo sauce by heating hot sauce and honey in a small sauce pan. Once hot sauce is bubbling, add butter 1 tablespoon at a time and whisk to combine until all butter is added. Cover sauce and set it aside.
  3. In a small mixing bowl combine ingredients of ranch dressing and transfer to serving bowl.
  4. In small mixing bowl, combine corn meal, corn starch, salt and pepper. After cauliflower florets are marinated, drain buttermilk. Sprinkle flour mixture all over florets. Gently stir florets to coat evenly with flour mixture.
  5. Heat oil in a frying pan until hot enough to fry. Shake off excess flour from florets and fry them in batches of 6 to 7 until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess oil on paper towel lined plate.
  6. Once all florets are fried and drained, transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Pour Buffalo sauce over florets and stir to coat with sauce. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with scallions and cilantro or parsley. Serve immediately with ranch dressing on side.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Baigan Bharta

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Baigan Bharta

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 2 large eggplants (baigan)
  • 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
  • 2 medium Roma or plum tomatoes, ½ inch diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt or taste
  • ¼ cup regular yogurt (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with non-stick spray.
  2. Wash and cut eggplants in half. Arrange them on baking pan cut side down, leaving some space in between. Roast the eggplants until tender, about 30 to 35 minutes.
  3. Let eggplants cool for few minutes. Scoop out the pulp from eggplants, discarding the seeds. Cut the pulp in small pieces or mash with a potato masher.
  4. Heat oil in a frying pan or a wok until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let it sizzle. Add garlic and sauté it until light golden brown, 2 minutes. Add scallions, green chili, all dry spices and sauté them for 2 to 3 minutes. Next add tomato and sauté until the mixture is almost dry, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Add eggplant pulp, season with salt and stir everything. Cover the pan or wok and let eggplant cook for 7 to 10 minutes to blend all the flavors, stirring occasinally. If you want to add yogurt, add at this point, and let it warm through with eggplant for a minute.
  6. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm with Nan or Paratha. Can also be served as a dip.

 

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Recipes, Vegetable Forward

Bhindi Masala

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Bhindi Masala

Prep time: 

Cook time: 

Total time: 

Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 lb. okras (bhindi)
  • 1 medium yellow or red onion, ½ inch diced
  • 1 medium plum or Roma tomato, ½ inch diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano chili, finely chopped
  • 1 inch piece of ginger, finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt or taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions
  1. Wash okra and dry it with paper towel. Okra should be as dry as possible otherwise it will become too slimy. Cut into ½ inch thick pieces, discarding top and ¼ inch bottom pieces.
  2. Heat oil in a non-stick pan on a medium high heat until shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mustard seeds and let it sizzle. Add onion, garlic, green chili, all dry spices and sauté them until onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Next add tomato, ginger and sauté until the mixture is almost dry, 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Add okra, season with salt and stir everything. Cover the pan and let okra cook until tender, 7 to 8 minutes, stirring few times. Initially okra will be slimy but as it cooks it will become less slimy.
  4. Uncover the pan, lower the heat and let okra cook until curry is almost dry, 7 to 10 minutes.
  5. Garnish with cilantro and serve warm with Nan or Paratha.

 

 

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