It was one of those days, when I had a lot of vegetables in refrigerator which needed to be used. I was exhausted after a busy day at work. So I decided to make a one pot dish packed with vegetables. The mild spices give an amazing aroma. Beetroot gives a touch of sweetness. It was a very filling and delicious pulav. Other vegetables like green beans, carrots etc also can be included in this, but I didn’t want vegetables to totally overpower the pulav. I suggest using all fresh spices and freshly made ginger garlic paste for best results. I served it with a simple raita.
Ingredients: 2 cups basmati rice 1/2 cup sliced onion 1 cup beetroot finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped spinach 1/2 cup vegetables – green peas, cauliflower 2 bay leaves 2 cardamom Ghee/oil 1 tea spn coriander seeds 1 tea spn cumin seeds 4-5 cloves 1″ cinnamon 1 and 1/2 tea spn chilli powder 1 tea spn chopped ginger 1 tea spn chopped garlic Salt
Method: Heat oil and add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon. Grind to a smooth paste with ginger and garlic (I use mortar and pestle to make the paste). Heat a little ghee and add bay leaves, cardamom, onion, spice paste. Fry till onions turn slightly brownish. Add chopped beetroot, fry for a minute. Pour in about 2 tbl spns water, cover and cook for about 2-3mins (helps in cooking beetroot faster) till water is absorbed. Now add rice and all other vegetables, spinach and fry for few minutes. Add salt, chilli powder, about 4 cups water. Mix well. Cover and cook on a medium heat till done. Serve hot with a cool raita.
Serves : 4-5 Preparation time : 40mins
This is another classic recipe that I got from V’s grandmother. Kadi is usually a very thin-almost watery dish. I would think this is more like tambli than kadi . She called it amla kadi. So I thought of mentioning both names. Few pieces of the dried gooseberries are fried with spices and then ground with coconut to make a thick gravy. The gravy is not cooked. It is served at room temperature.
Lightly salted sukkil (dried) avaLe(gooseberry/amla) is a childhood favorite. During my college days, my friends used to bring these dried gooseberries. Eat one or two pieces and drink a glass of water – the sweetness you feel in the mouth is heavenly. We get these at Indian store here. They are good for health due to the high Vitamin C content. I bought these to eat as it is. We both enjoyed this kadi very much.
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh/frozen coconut 1-2 tbl spn dried gooseberries (amla/avaLe) 1 tea spn cumin seeds 1/2 tea spn pepper 3-4 green chillies Oil Salt
Method: Heat oil and add gooseberries, cumin seeds and pepper. Fry for a few minutes. Grind along with coconut, green chillies and salt. Serve with hot rice.
Serves : 2-3 Preparation time : 15mins
