Showing posts with label Main Course. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Main Course. Show all posts

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Dahi Chicken or Doi Murgh



We are in the last week of January ..... Yeaah everyone knows that. But do you know that I have been able to keep my resolutions. So for all those pessimists who thought that resolutions are made to be broken or that they walk out of the door the very next day, it is indeed BAD NEWS !
Of course I am out of bed by 8am ..... I swear. Weekends are the only exceptions and that's allowed. I breathe my lungs out and get all the oxygen around me .... that is what Pranayama teaches right ? I even tried opening my windows early morning in the middle of the worst winter .... that was the stupidest thing to do.
I have emptied a pack of cereals in two weeks which means that I have not skipped Breakfast. And and I have not shopped anything other than groceries ( that's so not me) ..... Frankly I myself also find it difficult to accept.
And by now you must know my creative side.
Let me stop bragging before one of you asks me to ....
But there is one thing where I fumbled ...... Blogging and visiting all your blogs. Ahhh Obsession. But you like that right ..... me reading your blogs :D So that's one thing that I decided to compromise just for the sake of my blog friends.
But are you really happy for me ? Come one tell the truth .... at least once. No, it won't hurt me.
Any hooo let me come to the recipe and cut my crap before you decide to navigate away from this page.
This is my mother's recipe ...... so if you like it let me know. If you don't blame it on her.

Preparation Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken - 1 pound (with or without bones)
Curd - 1/3 cup
Red Chili Powder - 1 tsp (per taste)
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Chicken Curry Masala - 2 tsp
Onion - 2 big finely chopped
Ginger - 1 inch minced
Garlic - 5 cloves minced
Whole Black Pepper - 10
Bay Leaf - 1
Whole Cinnamon - 2 inches
Cardamom - 2
Salt per taste
Oil for cooking


Method of Preparation

1 Clean the chicken, remove skin and keep aside. I made this with boneless meat but it tastes even better with bones.
2 Add curd, red chili powder, turmeric Powder, salt and all the whole garam masala/ spices to the chicken. Marinate and keep aside in fridge for at least an hour.
3 Heat oil in a kadhai. When hot add the ginger and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the chopped onions to it and saute till they are brown.
4 Add the marinated chicken to the masala and mix well. Add the cumin, coriander and chicken masala. Mix in all the ingredients. Add more salt to adjust the taste if required.
5 Cover and cook. Make sure to stir intermittently else the masala would stick to the bottom of the kadhai.
Add a little water if required. Cook till the chicken is tender. Garnish with a little chopped coriander leaves.

Serving Tips

Serve hot with Naan or Roti

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Kankada Tarkari .... Crab Curry Odiya Style



What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear 'San Francisco' ? If your instant answer is the Golden Gate Bridge, please congratulate yourself. You belong to the category of normal or sane people walking on the surface of this blue planet. Why ? The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge of the world ? Oh sure you knew ....
Or did somebody whisper 'Crabs at Fisherman's Wraf' ? Welcome aboard. I don't want to be the only insane, crazy Crustacean eater. The Golden Gate and other things are secondary !
The first time I was at Fisherman's Wraf I just went crazy at the very sight of these one pound ones. They were huge as compared to their cousins residing in the Bay of Bengal. All I needed was salt, pepper, lime juice and a little space in those tight shops selling sea food. Forgetting all codes of conduct I started with my hands ... I didn't require any of those sophisticated tools for cracking the claws. J stared at me startled ...... "Crabby Girl" was his clear expression. I ignored all that and the crowd around me and continued cracking my crab trying to reach the sweet meat in every corner and then smacking it clean.
When I turned around to ask the shop guy for another one ...... the self looked empty. This Chinese guy selling crabs signaled that the crabs are gone. The only thing I understood from his broken english was that I needed to wait for two more hours if I wished for another one. The next trailer with this priced Pacific catch would arrive at 9.30 pm he said.
Was the wait worth, especially in the month of December when the chilled Pacific wind freezes you. Yes without a doubt !
The crabby affair continues till date. I go nuts at the very sight of these . Ask me if I am willing to take a six hours flight from New York to San Francisco ...... The answer is 'Yes' (Courtesy if it is a Business Trip).
For the time being I have to satisfy myself with the ones available in the neighborhood sea food stores. The guy selling those tells me that these crabs travel all the way from the Pacific coast to make it to my kitchen. I have no option but to believe him for the love of these beautiful creations of God !!

So get your hands dirty and enjoy !!

Preparation Time - 40 minutes

Ingredients
Crabs Cleaned Cooked and de shelled - 2
Potato - 1 medium
Chopped Onion - 1 medium
Ginger - 1 inch
Garlic Cloves - 2 big
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander Seeds - 1tsp
Dry Red Chilies - 2
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1 big pinch
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp (per taste)
Bay Leaf - 1
Salt per taste
Mustard Oil for cooking ( You can also use Canola/Vegetable Oil)


Method of Preparation

1. Cut potatoes into wedges. For the masala make a smooth paste of onion, ginger and garlic Coriander seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chilies and cinnamon in a blender.
2. Heat Mustard Oil in a kadhai and fry the potato wedges on both sides till golden brown. Remove and keep aside.
3 Reduce the heat and add the bay leaf. Add the masala, turmeric, red chili powder and salt. Fry till the masala is cooked and there is no raw smell.
4 Add water to make a gravy of diluted consistency. Add the Potato wedges and crabs. Simmer for 5 minutes. Sprinkle garam masala powder and cook for one more minute.

Serving Tips
Serve warm with plain rice.

Oops ...... Sorry I forgot about the normal people who are not crabby and who would visit SFO for reasons more than crabs .... Here is the list of things you can do when in this beautiful city .... But my last word - Do check out the Pacific Crabs ;-)
1 Golden Gate Bridge
2 China Town
3 Alcatraz
4 Embarcadero
5 Pier 39
6 Fisherman's Wraf
7 The Exploratorium
8 Cable Cars
9 Coit Tower



Thursday, December 9, 2010

Potala Tarkari (Parwal Curry) Another way .......



If you want fresh Potala/ Parwal in this part of the world ..... you must be dreaming ! And if you badly want it then there is a word for it 'Compromise'. Sure you can find them in the frozen vegetable section of most Indian Grocery Stores. But I am little against that word 'Compromise' although it is a part of our everyday life. I still try to minimize it when it comes to cooking and pleasing my palette. Like they say 'Every thing comes for a price', the price of owning these fresh ones was 4.99 $ a pound. From the moment I picked those parwals I started weaving dreams of a special dinner ...... the attraction 'Potala Rasa'. What's so special about it ...... well you got to check that here.
But I was in two minds about it ..... Why ? Coz that recipe was already sitting on my blog and this vegetable was a rare sight. It's rare to spot fresh ones even in the Indian Grocery stores. So do you have this question for me "Do you cook to blog or Blog to Cook " .... Well Both !!
So my quest for a special Parwal Recipe began on Google and ended with my maternal Aunt. This was her tried and tested recipe so I was in no two minds about it. Although it needed a little bit of convincing for J who badly wanted Potala Rasa. The end result was great if you can buy my words.
It came out better than what I had expected and J was licking his fingers.

Preparation Time 30 minutes
Serves 3

Ingredients
Potala/Parwal - 10 nos (medium size)
Thin chopped Onion - 1 cup
Milk - 1 cup
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaf - 1
Cinnamon - 2 inches
Green Cardamom - 2
Black Cardamom - 1
Cloves - 3
Salt per taste
Oil for cooking



Method of Preparation

1 Wash Potala/Parwal and pat dry. Scrape the outer skin lightly. Slit in between.
2 Add some oil to a Kadhai. When hot fry the Potala/ Parwal by adding a little turmeric and salt to it. Cover and fry to cook faster. When Potala/Parwal gets 2/3 cooked remove from heat and keep aside.
3 Drizzle little more oil in the Kadhai. When warm add all the whole garam masala and bay leaf.
4 Add the chopped onions to it. Add salt per taste and a pinch of turmeric. Fry till the onions no more have raw smell and are soft. Add the cumin powder now.
5 Add milk to the onions, cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Now add the fried parwal to it. Cover and cook till the gravy is of medium consistency. ( Milk reduces to 1/2 it's volume).
6 Sprinkle garam masala in the end.

Serving Tips
Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.




Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Paneer Butter Masala with a hint of fresh Methi Leaves



My friends son is worried these days. He doesn't mind getting late to school if mommy grants him few extra minutes to watch his favorite cartoon show in the morning 'Cat in the Hat'. He fears about growing up to become Daddy and go to office. So he pleads with mommy darling to let him watch his favorite cartoon.
I could not stop laughing when my friend told me about it .... I loved the innocence and the genuine fear of growing up and becoming like Daddy !! I am sure we all would have had similar thoughts during our years of growing up.
When I was of his age and I heard my mom and aunts talk during family reunions or even over the phone, I always used to wonder how these women never got tired talking about the same stuff. Their world revolved around their husband, children,in -laws, maid servant, clothes,jewelry, foot wear,hand bags, food, weight gain/ loss etc. I would make faces and pledge that I would never grow up to talk stuff like that. Per me whatever they spoke was boring. My world was all about Disney Princess, story books, Tom and Jerry, Coloring Books etc.

Unconsciously I have stepped into that phase of life where I am like my mom and aunts. My day starts thinking what I need to cook to feed hubby dear. Then as I begin my daily household chores I complain to the people on the other end of the phone about the difficulties of living in a servant less country. For a moment I refuse to accept the life of luxury I lead here ....... yes, I love being a hypocrite. I look for recipes and discuss about my cooking .... sometimes I brag about my culinary skills. I look for Sale and Offers and rush to the stores to get my hands full. I love to call my friends and cousins and boast about the new dress or footwear I bought and check for updates on the latest fashion trend. I look for any fine lines on my face, look for grey hairs and worry about the 'muffin top' that shows up below the old dress. I can talk for hours about calories and healthy eating. Every damn thing that I would have otherwise ignored hurts my ego. I no longer hang on to the Cartoon Network. It is more about Fashion TV, Food Network and Home Decor Channels. I am confined to the food, cosmetic and clothes aisle of department stores. I no longer venture in the Toys Section. Barbies and Dora's of the world no longer catch my attention.
I am sure the Generation Z would be looking at us as a bunch of boring people, the same way we used to do. And I could so much appreciate the genuine concern of my friend's son about growing up.



Preparation Time - 40 minutes
Serves - 4
Ingredients
Cubed Paneer - 2 cups
Fresh Methi Leaves - 2/3 cups
Chopped Onion - 1.5 cups
Chopped Ginger - 2 tsp
Chopped Garlic - 2 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Chopped Tomatoes - 2 cups
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Cummin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Green Chillies - 3
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp
Butter for cooking
Sugar - 1 pinch
Salt per taste
Method of Preparation
1 Bring any store bought paneer. Cut it into medium size cubes.
2 Finely chop onion,tomato,ginger,garlic and green chillies. Keep aside.
3 Heat some butter in a kadhai/ pan. Add cumin seeds to sputter. Add the chopped onion,ginger,garlic and chili and fry till golden brown and soft. Now add salt,chopped tomatoes,turmeric powder, red chillie powder, coriander and cumin powder. Keep stirring the mixture. Do not allow it to stick to the pan. Add about half a cup of water and simmer the masala/ sauce for some time.
4 Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Put the masala into a blender and grind it into a fine puree.
5 Add a little more butter (about 1 tsp) to the same kadhai. Add the ground/ pureed masala to the kadhai. Toss the cubed paneer and peas and stir well.Add one pinch of sugar.
6 Add the fresh chopped methi leaves to the gravy. Stir well.
7 Add little water if the gravy is dry and let the paneer simmer in it for 5 minutes.
Serving Tips
Serve hot with any Indian flat bread like Roti, Paratha or Naan.
Notes
If the paneer is in the refrigerator and hard to cube, place the entire paneer packet into a bowl of warm water. This will soften it.
Make sure that you cool down the masala before grinding it.
Variation
Use 3 tsp of canned tomato puree instead of fresh tomatoes.


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Buta Daali Alu Tarkari .. aka ... Chana Daal



One universal truth is ...... nothing can replace 'Ghar ka Khana" (Homemade food ). And no food can be more satisfying than home made ones and especially if it is made by mom. ...... Guess it has the Midas touch !!
But it was not always that I admired food from mom's kitchen as much as I do today, everything was better than her's . I used to be a very willful child when it came to food. The list of food that I didn't eat or didn't like to eat outnumbered the ones I ate. I used to give my mother, grandmother and aunts a tough time everyday ..... my tantrums were unending. And being the first grandchild I was pampered and spoilt. I used to piss my mother so much that she would threaten me about boarding schools and hostels.
And I used to dream of the freedom of staying in a hostel with nobody around to boss, nobody to force feed me with veggies. Little had I imagined about the food and other problems associated with hostel life. I still remember the first day in hostel when I walked up to the dining hall and served myself with cold rice, daal and eggplant curry. With moist eyes I walked to a corner trying to hide my tears as I ate that meal. No one was around to pamper me and none at whom I could throw my tantrums.
Laxmi Amma the cook stared at me as I struggled to finish that bland and disgusting food. "Don't waste food ..... you have to finish all you have on your plate", she told in a stern voice pointing at my plate. I struggled with every morsel as tears rolled down my eyes. I was missing home and more than that I missing the food from mom's kitchen. Slowly I befriended Laxmi Amma. She would fry me an extra pappad or make me an omelet. In return I would buy her jasmine flowers or get medicines for her aching knee. Each meal time I would remember 'ghar ka khana' and finish my food with a sigh. It was a lesson learnt the hard way. I remembered the words wisdom of my grandmother about God punishing children who wasted food.
Soon my semester was getting over ...... which meant that I was going home for vacation. Rather than making a list of lessons that I had to study, I made a long list of things that I wanted to eat. I would read out my wish list each time my mother would call to make sure that she remembers it all.
And the day I was home I ate like there was no tomorrow ..... everything that was on my plate !! As I licked my plate there was a burst of laughter. My mother, aunts and grandmother laughed their hearts out. It was sweet revenge !!


Preparation Time 30 minutes
Serves 3

Ingredients
Chana Daal - 3/4 cup
Potato cubed - 1 medium size
Chopped Onion - 1 tbsp
Chopped Garlic - 1 tsp
Chopped Ginger - 1 tsp
Green Chili - 2
Cinnamon - 2 inches
Cardamon - 2
Bay leaf - 1
Cumin seed - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/3 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/3 tsp
Clarified Butter - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 pinch
Turmeric - 1 big pinch
Fresh grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Cilantro for garnishing
Oil for cooking
Salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1 Wash daal and pressure cook till one whistle adding salt and turmeric. Keep aside.
2 Add a little oil in a kadhai. Fry the potato when the oil is hot. Fry till all the sides brown. Remove and keep aside.
3 Add some more oil if required. Add Cumin seeds, bay leaf, Cinnamon, cardamon to it and fry for a minute. Add the chopped onion, garlic and ginger. Sprinkle a little salt and fry till they are soft and there is no raw aroma.
4 Add a little turmeric, cumin powder and coriander powder. Fry for 2 -3 minutes. Add the potato and mix in. Add a little water and cover and cook till the potatoes get cooked.
5 Add the cooked daal and simmer.
6 Add butter and garam masala and stir in.
7 Before removing from heat add the shredded coconut and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Serving Tips
Serve warm with rice or roti.

Notes
Do not over cook the daal. You may also opt not to add the coconut.

Let me know what Ghar ka Khana/ home made food means to you. I would love to hear it from you all .....

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Brussel Sprouts and confessions of an imperfect wife .....

The husband is no more amused of visiting the neighborhood super market, neither does he stop by the old lady selling her favorite 'Malli Phula' (Jasmine flower) on his way back from office. And the forgetful and lazy wife doesn't care to make a list of things for the weekly grocery/ vegetables that needs to be bought. Thus making the husband run to the stores more than once a week. They both grumble but things don't change much. Life goes on .....

The moody wife cooks per her convenience and if not in a mood doesn't care to move a spoon or buzz by the kitchen. The poor fellow has to do with Maggi or anything that is ready to eat. The husband sits with his eyes glued on the television or on his laptop watching everything that disinterests her.

The 'Impress Me' game is long over. They both love being themselves and still enjoy each other's company.
But things were NOT the same few years back. Everything was a fairytale ...... ok not a fairy tale but like the Hindi movies from the 80's. I suppose it was meant to be that way.
The wife was (read as pretended) 'Pati vrata' and the husband 'Joru ka gulam'......


The wife would finish all her work, clean the house, cook some of his favorite dishes before he returned. She would line her eyes carefully with kajal,dab some talcum powder on her face, comb her hair and fill her parting with sindur ..... and wait with a smile on her face for the husband to return. Both of them would perch like two love birds sipping their tea and munching their favorite Haldiram Alu Bhujia after the husband returned from work. The husband would then empathize with the wife for the lonely hours spent and propose for a drive or shopping trip. In no time would the wife get ready and they soon would be headed towards their favorite shopping complex. The guy would insist on buying something for her to make her evening a little special and would never get bored walking up and down the aisles of the Women's section. They would come back late and the wife would still have all the energy in the world to impress him with the new recipe she learnt from the aunty next door. Sounds perfect isn't it ....... but perfection everyday too can be monotonous ! Boring for me .....


So like the most imperfect wife (self confession needs a lot of gut and that too in public) I refuse to make a list of things that needs to be bought. I love the disgust on J's face when asked to accompany me to the neighborhood store ..... he looks real cute that way ! And I was almost like a vegetable last week ..... I refused to see the work around me. I just wanted to spend 'my time' ..... but please don't get ideas .... I did cook and did make the morning tea too ...... no I lied a little bit. J made the morning tea on Tuesday and Wednesday.

But then I did dedicate my 100th post to him ..... And made his favorite Chicken Marsala although I had other plans. So the bottom line is ....... I love being an imperfect wife, if you call it that way.


Had enough of laugh ..... so better get back to some serious business - Recipe for Brussel Sprout curry.

Preparation Time - 30 minutes
Serves - 3
Ingredients
Brussel Sprout - 1 pound
Finely chopped Onion - 1/2 cup
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp
Chopped Tomato - 1/2 cup
Garam Masala Powder - 1 pinch
Turmeric - 1 pinch
Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp
Whole Cinnamon - 1 inch
Cardamon - 2
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Salt per taste
Oil for cooking
Method of Cooking
1 Chop the Brussel Sprouts into two half. Microwave it for 4-5 minutes by adding a little water to it. Keep aside.
2 In a pan drizzle a little oil. When warm add the cumin seeds and whole garam masala (cinnamon and cardamon).
3 Add the onions and fry till translucent. Then add ginger garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes.
4 Next add the chopped tomatoes and turmeric powder and chili powder. Fry the mixture for another 5 minutes.
5 Add the Brussel Sprouts now. Add salt per taste and mix well. Cover and cook on medium heat. When the sprouts are soft add a little garam masala powder and remove from heat.
Serving Tips
Serve warm with roti or rice
Notes
Do not over cook the Brussel Sprouts



Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Chicken Marsala & A Milestone



It was only couple of months back when I was a rookie in this blog world. After long hours of discussions and brain storming I and J decided to name our 'Blog Baby' - 'Food for thought' - Meaning something that tickles one's grey cells. Well it tickles our taste buds too .....
After long hours of selecting the layout, design etc I decided to make my first post. I was nervous like a small kid going to school for the first time. I wanted to start the blog with something sweet, so decided to post the recipe for 'Rasgulla'. Like a curious little kid I clicked on my blog every hour to check if I had any visitor. Not to forget I called my parents, in - laws and relatives ..... to make this very important announcement.


I was exhilarated the moment I saw my first follower and then the first comment. The excitement and happiness was nothing less than what I had felt when I got my first salary credited to my bank account.
Time flew and this space of mine became an open book ..... Something like a diary where I could pen down my memories, experience and thoughts without the fear of being judged.More than anything I was loving what I was doing ...... and this is what mattered to me at the end of the day.
If you are wondering why all this nostalgia. Well my friends ..... even to my own disbelief this happens to be the 100th post !!!
And if there is one person who has happily stood by me, encouraged me and has been a gleeful Guinea Pig to my 'food experiments' .....it's J.

I owe it all to my loving husband ........



I would love to say few lines from my favorite movie 'Julie and Julia' for him ....

'You are the butter to my bread and the breath to my life'

(No matter how much I irritate you and fight with you) I still love you :-)

He is the one who has been my friend, mentor and critic ....... So as a remembrance to this happy journey to my 100th post I would love to dedicate this post to J.

I also want to thank everybody who has constantly encouraged me through their loving comments.

Preparation Time - 30 minutes
Serves -2
Ingredients
Thin sliced chicken breasts - 3/4 pound
All purpose flour - 1/2 cup
Oregano - 1/2 tsp
Fresh Crushed Pepper - 1/2 tsp
Chopped Mushrooms (Baby Bella) - 2 cups
Marsala Wine - 1.5 cups
Olive oil for cooking
Method of Preparation
1 Wash the chicken breasts and pat them dry using a kitchen towel. Place them on a hard surface (chopping board) and pound them a little.
2 In a plate mix All purpose flour + Oregano + Pepper. Dust the chicken breasts on both sides on this flour mixture.
3 In a wide pan heat some olive oil. Take enough oil to coat the pan. Fry the chicken breasts on both sides for 2 minutes each. This gives a nice texture to the chicken pieces. Remove from heat and keep aside.
4 In the same pan, drizzle little more oil if needed. Add the chopped mushrooms to it. Do not crowd the mushrooms else they won't brown. Add one cup of marsala wine to it. Add the fried chicken pieces too. Cover and cook for 10 minutes on medium flame. Stir occasionally if required.
5 Add the remaining wine to it and cook for some more time till the chicken pieces get cooked.
Serving Tips
Serve warm with grilled asparagus/ mashed potatoes and red wine.
Notes
Marsala Wine by itself is salty, so add salt only if required.
Make sure you use thin sliced chicken breasts and do not forget to pound them.




Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Daal ..... The Common Man's Meat !!


Is a 2 Billion dollar home flamboyant enough ? And that too for a family of four ! To add to that there are 3 helipads and and parking space for 160 cars. Not to forget 600 people working to maintain this much talked about billion dollar home. I am not sure how many Indians are taking pride in this India's first Billion dollar house making it to the Forbes Magazine. But surely not me ! I get grumpy and upset when people discuss about this abode of Mr Mukesh Ambani in which he takes so much self pride. Does one really need all these ? Was the current 22 floor house of Mr Ambani not enough for four people that he had to move to a 27 floor mansion ?
Could Mr Ambani not find a better way to spend this 2 Billion Dollars ? I can think of a hundred more effective ways to spend the money.

A small percentage of this amount would have made a big difference for a lot of people who do not even get a meal a day.A charitable hospital, better education for the poor and needy, vocational school and colleges to make more people self employed. .Or how about funding a world class cancer research institute. These are few things that come to my mind in a blink .... I am sure there are many noble ways to spend this 2 Billion.


I believe making it to the list of 'Richest People of the World' on Forbes is not a measuring tape for your riches. It is about how much you give back to the society. I know many people whom I interact with ....... they are not even 0.0001 % as rich as Mr Ambani. But they have dedicated their time and money (whatever little they have) in the service of mankind. One such organisation is Seva Samarpita Charitable Trust. It is run by few retired doctors and teachers.

To me they are the real heros. One's life is not remembered by how much riches he accumulated or where he lived or what car he drove. It is important to have values in life and believe in serving the less privileged ones.
The world remembers JRD Tata just not for the industrial empire he set up but for his philanthropy and simple living !!




So as a silent protest to this 2 Billion Dollar lavish home, I decided to post the recipe for 'Garlic Daal', Daal being the common man's 'Meat'.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.


Preparation Time 30 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
Toor Daal - 1 cup
Garlic - 4 cloves
Green Chili -1
Dry Red Chili - 1
Panch Phoran - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp
Chopped Coriander leaves - little
Turmeric Powder - 1 pinch
Salt per taste
Method of Preparation
1 Wash the daal and soak in in water for 15 minutes.
2 Pressure cook adding salt and turmeric.
3 In a kadhai, add some oil. When hot add minced Garlic and chopped green chilies. Also add the panch phoran and red dry chili to sputter. Pour the cooked daal carefully to this seasoned oil.
4 Simmer for a minute. Garnish with chopped Coriander.
Serving Tips
Serve warm with rice. Add a little ghee or butter on top of it for flavor.
Variation
You may prepare using any other daal, Moong or Masoor Daal.