Bhendi Masala

This recipe is from a cooking show on television. What I, liked about this recipe is that, all ingredients used are readily available in the kitchen pantry. The gravy texture is smooth and thick. It's a mouthwatering , easy to make and taste very good. We had this Bhendi Masala with rotis, you can have it with steamed rice too.

This is my entry for the BM #50, theme Bookmarked recipes.

Ingredients

250 gms Bhindi / Okra
1 Large Tomato - grated
2 Teaspoons Desiccated coconut
2 Green Chillies - slit
1 Teaspoon Ginger-Garlic paste
1 Large Onion -  grind to paste
1 Teaspoon Cumin-Coriander Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
3 - 4 Tablespoons Oil

1/2 Teaspoon Sugar

A pinch Asafoetida

A sprig Curry leaves
Salt to taste

Method

Choose small size bhendis,  wash and wipe them dry.  Trim the top and the bottom .  

Cut them into 3 pieces and fry them in oil on high flame for 2 -3  minutes only ( do not cook them ). Remove and keep aside.

In the same pan fry the onion paste till light brown add asafoetida and garam masala, chilly powder, turmeric and fry till oil leaves. Add grated tomato and fry again till the tomatoes are cooked, then add desiccated coconut, cumin - coriander powder and fry well  till oil leaves the sides .  Add bhendi, stir fry till the masala coats the bhendi, then add 3/4 to 1 cup water  and let it boil well for 2 minutes.  Add salt,  ginger garlic paste,  cover and cook for 3 minutes till oil floats on the surface.  Add slit green chilly, curry leaves and switch off  the flame immediately.  

Serve with rice or rotis.  Enjoy !!!

Labels : Bhendi, Vegetarian, Okra, Main course 

Cabbage Poriyal

Cabbage is an excellent source of Vitamin C & K. It is also a very good source of fiber, manganese and vitamin B6. It has anti cancer properties. It is low in calories and high in nutritional value. 

Poriyal is a dry vegetable preparation flavored with generous amounts of fresh grated coconut. Cabbage Poriyal is a South Indian main course preparation . Poṟiyal serves as a side dish to a three-course meal of rice with sambhar or rasam and curd.

This is my entry for the BM #50, theme Bookmarked recipes.

Recipe source here
Ingredients

2 Cups  Cabbage - shredded
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Urad dal
1 Green chilly -  slit
2 Whole dry red chillies - broken
A sprig of Curry leaves
A pinch of Turmeric powder
1/4 Cup  Coconut - grated
3 Teaspoons Oil
Salt to taste

Method

Heat the oil, add the mustard seeds and urad dal and let the seeds crackle. Add the green chilli, dry red chillies, curry leaves and turmeric powder and stir for few seconds.

Add the cabbage, salt, sprinkle water and cook over a medium flame till the cabbage is tender. Add the grated coconut, mix well and serve hot.

This vegetable is very tasty,  we enjoyed it, the aroma of curry leaves and crunchiness of the urad dal  gives a unique taste to this poriyal. 

Labels: Cabbage, Vegetarian, Main course, South Indian, Vegan, Gluten free

Barik Methi

Barik methi means tender leaves of fenugreek seeds. This vegetable is grown in the sand. We in Mumbai eat this a lot since this is available throughout the year. It has a little bitter taste, hence this vegetable is not liked by my hubby and daughter ... they simply dislike this vegetable. On the other hand I simply love this vegetable, even make a salad of it and enjoy eating this veggie. This vegetable requires a lot of washing, cleaning and water because its grown in sand, hence time consuming. It has a lot of water content, when cooked reduces to 1/4 the quantity. To balance the bitterness of this vegetable you need an equal amount of onions. I make this vegetable using different masalas. But today I, am going to share a very simple yet tasty recipe.

This vegetable is available in bundles unlike other veggies which are sold in kilograms. This vegetable is highly perishable and needs to be prepared the same day.


Ingredients
15 bundles Barik Methi
2 Green chilles - finely chopped
2 Medium Onions - finely sliced
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
3 Tablespoons heaped Oil

1 Teaspoon Sugar
Salt to taste


Method

Washing the Barik Methi

Take the bundles in a deep bowl filled with water and keep them immersed for 5 minutes. The sand will settle down then gentle lift each bundle and keep aside, again do this process two or three times. The last washing I do under running water. Take each bundle and hold it under the tap and with you fingers just wash the leaves and stem. Keep them to drain in a colander for 5 minutes.

Then lay each bundle on the chopping board and chop a little tail end of it. Then cut the thread ( a piece of grass) and throw it way and chop this in three to four pieces only.

In a kadai, heat the oil. Add onions fry till translucent, add the green chillies and saute for a minute, add the turmeric powder, methi and cook till the methi, stirring after every two minutes. When nearly cooked add the salt and sugar, again cook till the methi is done and the water evaporates. Once the water has evaporated, remove from flame and serve hot . This taste excellent with bhakris.  Happy eating!!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#50.

Labels : Blogging Marathon, Vegetables, Methi

Methi Parathas / Fenugreek Parathas

These parathas are made with finely chopped methi / fenugreek leaves and spices. This paratha is a nice way of sneaking vegetables like methi leaves by stuffing it in rotis or parathas since in my house they do not like leafy vegetables. Methi paratha is a quick breakfast recipe.  Methi parathas are healthy alternative to plain parathas and are packed with more flavors and nutrition. Fenugreek leaves or methi leaves are very good for health as they are rich in antioxidants, iron and are also a good source of dietary fiber. 

Ingredients

2 Cups Whole wheat flour
2 Tablespoons Chick pea flour/ Besan
2 Tablespoons Rice flour
1 Cup Methi leaves -  finely chopped 
1 Large Potato - Boiled and mashed
1 Green Chilly
1 Teaspoon Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon chilly powder
1/2 Teaspoon turmeric powder
1 Tablespoon Coriander leaves - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Sugar - powdered
2 Tablespoon Curds
1 Tablespoon oil or ghee

Salt to taste
Ghee/Oil for frying 

Paratha Masala
1/2 Teaspoon Ajwain seeds - lightly roasted
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds - lightly roasted
1 Tablespoon Coriander seeds - lightly roasted 
1 Teaspoon Saunf - lightly roasted

Method

Grind the ajwain, cumin, coriander seeds and saunf to a fine powder  the paratha masala is ready.  Then add the green chilly , ginger, curds, sugar, salt, oil, chilly and turmeric powder, make a fine paste.

Mix the all the flours together well. Then combine the ground paste and rest of the ingredients, mix well. Add water as required and knead to a soft dough. Divide the dough into equal portions and roll out each portion into a circle. Heat a girdle and fry each paratha on medium flame using little ghee/oil, till golden brown spots appear on both the sides. I used pure ghee to fry the parathas as they taste yummy and also gives a lovely aroma. 

Serve these healthy and yummy methi parathas topped with white butter or chilled yogurt or a pickle of your choice. These can be packed as tiffin to kids as they remain soft. The potato in this paratha makes it soft and  the paratha simply melts in your mouth. 

My Notes:

This paratha  masala I make and store, and use it to make parathas of any type,  this masala give a nice aroma and taste to the parathas.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#50.

Labels: Parathas, Blogging Marathon, Rotis, Methi

Palak Methi Chicken

My daughter and hubby does not eat leafy vegetables unless it is made into a paste and then added to any gravy.  To make them eat leafy vegetables I, usually adopt this method.  My hubby is a vegetarian, where as daughter and me eat non-veg. I try my best to incorporate leafy vegetables in our diet, so this one way I can make her eat this.  Whenever, I make this chicken dish she enjoys it.  In this methi gives an extraordinary flavor to the chicken.   Try this I assure you, all your family members will enjoy it too.

I am send this to BM#50 Week 3 day 1 under the theme Methi dishes, so let's go to the recipe. 

Ingredients

 1 Kg Chicken - 16 pieces
2 Cups Spinach  -  finely chopped
4 Cups Fenugreek leaves -  finely chopped
1 Cup Onion - finely chopped
2 Tomatoes -  chopped
1/2 Cup Curd -  beaten
1 Tablespoon Ginger garlic paste
1 Teaspoon Garam Masala powder
2 Teaspoons Red Chilly powder
1.1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3 Green chillies - ground to paste

1/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Oil 

Method

Heat oil in  pan add the onions and fry till light golden brown, then add the ginger-garlic and chilly paste fry well brown. Add the tomatoes and fry well till soft.  Add salt, red chilly powder and chicken, fry well.  When well fried add the curds and stir well till blended, add water , cover, cook till chicken is 3/4th done. Add the palak and methi on top and cover, do not stir.  Cover  and cook till chicken is fully cooked, open and stir the palak, methi fry well,  add the milk, garam masala powder and stir again continuously till well blended and oil leave the sides.  Take down from flame.  Serve hot with rotis or parathas.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#50.

Labels : Chicken, Methi, Blogging Marathon, Palak