49. Sopp Saar/ Saru (Leafy green saar)

Final outcome: Nice!

        Again another Havyaka recipe:-). Anyone who likes south Indian food will love this saar.

Recipe:
Ingredients: (for 4 people)
Coriander seeds: 1 large spoon ( not table spoon)
Bengal gram/ Chana dal: 1 large spoon
Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
Green Chile: 1 or 2
Fresh grated coconut: 1 cup
Spinach/ Palak: 1 small bunch
Butter milk: 1/2 cup
Oil
Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida: a pinch

Method:
1. Soak Coriander seeds, Chana dal and cumin seeds together for about 1 hour. Drain out excess water and grind it together with Fresh coconut and green chile. Keep aside.
2. Wash and chop spinach. Add about 1/2 cup water to a pan. Add spinach and cook till most of the water has drained out and spinach is cooked. ~ 8-10mins
3. Add paste from step 1 to the cooked spinach. Add 1 cup of water and mix well. Let it cook for about 5 mins or till the mixture comes to a boil. Take off heat.
4. Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds. When the begin to splutter add asafoetida and take off heat. Pour this seasoning over the saar prepared in Step 3.
5. After the saar cools a little add buttermilk and serve with rice.

48. Paneer Snake Guard Curry ( Paneer-Padwal Kurma)

Final Outcome: 

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Padwal (Snake Gourd).. ~250 gm.
Paneer - ~ 100 gms
Potato  - 1
Tomatoes - 3
Green Chili - 1
Ginger - one big piece
Oil
Cumin seeds (1/2 spoon)
Hing
Turmeric (~ 3/4 spoon)
Coriander powder  ( ~ 1 spoon)
Garam masala (~ 1/2 spoon or less)
Red chili powder ( ~ 1/4 spoon)
Freshly chopped coriander
Salt

Method:
1. Grind chopped tomatoes (big pieces), 1 green chili and a big piece of ginger (cut into 2-3 pieces). Keep this tomato paste aside.
2. Cut paneer into cubes, potato (medium) and snake gourd (peeled and finely chopped),
3. Heat some oil in a pan on a low flame. Add Potatoes to the pan. Cook/ fry the potatoes until they are about 80% cooked.
4. Add cumin seeds, after they splutter add hing , turmeric.
5. Add paneer and cook it for about 2-3 minutes.  Add the tomato paste made earlier, stir the mixture well.  Add coriander powder , red chili powder and stir the mixture. Add salt as per the taste
6. Boil the mixture for about 2 minutes. Add snake gourd, stir the mixture well. 
7. Snake guard typically takes long time to cook. Cover and cook for about 5-8 minutes on a low flame. Stir the curry intermittently.
8. Now add finely chopped coriander leaves and garam masala and stir the mixture well.
9. Cook for another few minutes until the snake guard is cooked well.
10. Add a little more coriander and serve.

47. Asamee Baingan

Final Outcome: Good and different

        My colleague gave me this recipe. She loves to cook and try different cuisines. I hope to learn many more recipes from her:-)

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Small Brinjal/Egg plant: 8-10. Make 2 cuts at the base but do not chop them completely (they should remain whole).
Onion: 3 finely chopped
Tomato: 2 pureed
Curd: ~ 1 cup
Ginger-Garlic paste: 1 tsp
Chili powder: 1 tsp
Coriander powder: 2 tsp
Cumin powder: 1 tsp
Turmeric powder: 1 tsp
Garam Masala: 1 tsp
Fresh coriander
Salt
Oil:1 tbsp

Method:
1. Add cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and Chile powder to curd. Mix well. Soak  Egg plants (which have 2 cuts at the base ) into the curd and leave for 1/2 hr.
2. In a pan heat oil. Add chopped onion to it and fry till its well done. Add Ginger-garlic paste and saute till fragrant. Add tomato puree and salt to it and cook till it is done.
3. Remove egg plants from curd and add them to the gravy. Add a little water if necessary.Cook covered till they are done.
4. Once the egg plants are completely cooked , add garam masala and curd (in which egg plants were soaked). Cook for a few mins and take off heat. Serve garnished with fresh coriander.

46. Fajita Burrito

Final Outcome: Yummy!

        This recipe is a little bit of a short cut compared to all other recipes that I have tried this year. I used ready fajita seasoning since it is very difficult to find all of the ingredients to make a perfect burrito.

Recipe: (serves 3-4 people)
Ingredients:
4 chapatis or roti rolled out of maida ( I used chapati)
1 pack of fajita seasoning (I used about 3/4th of the pack)
Button Mushrooms: 1 pack chopped
Paneer: 100 gms cubed
Onion: 1/2 finely chopped
Garlic cloves: 2
Carrot: 1 small chopped
Potato: 2 thinly sliced
Cheese grated: As per taste

This is the seasoning mix that I used.

Method:

1. Heat a little oil in a pan. Add chopped garlic and onion. Cook till onion is soft.

2. Add Carrot and Potato , cook covered till they are almost done.

3. On a tava heat a little oil. add paneer cubes and shallow fry from both sides till they turn golden brown.Set aside.

4. Add Mushrooms to the carrot and potatoes and cook uncovered stirring occasionally. Fry till all the water evaporates. Add Paneer and toss.

5. Add seasoning mix. ( I used about 3/4th pack to make 6 burritos)

NOTE: Do not add salt since seasoning contains all the ingredients.

6. On a tava place chapati and heat it from both sides. Place ready veggies at the centre sprinkle cheese and fold the chapati as shown in the picture.

Enjoy!!!

45. Narangi Shorba (orange shorba)

Final Outcome: OK

        I am back after a very long break. I was busy/tired/lazy and a combination of all of those. This dish is a called narangi shorba since it contains many orange ingredients.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Pumpkin chopped: 1 cup
Carrots chopped: 1 cup
Onion chopped: 1/2 onion or about 1/4th cup
Fresh coriander chopped: 1/2 tbsp
Cumin powder: 1 tsp
Orange Juice: 1/2 cup
Fresh cream: 1/2 tbsp (I forgot to add this!!!)
Salt
Oil : 1 tsp

Method:
1. Heat oil in a pan. Add onions and cook till tender. Add carrots, Pumpkin and a little water. Cook covered till they are done.Add 1/2 of chopped coriander, green chile and take off heat.
2. After the above mixture cools, grind it to a fine paste. Transfer back to the pan and add salt and cumin powder. Let it cook for a couple of mins.
3. Add orange juice, mix well and take off heat.
4. Just before serving add fresh cream. Serve it garnished with coriander

44. Paneer Masala

Final Outcome: Good

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Paneer: ~ 250 gms cubes(I used home made paneer so i don't know exactly how much it was:-))
Onions: 2 chopped
Tomato: 1 chopped
Ginger garlic paste
Garam masala: 2 tsp
Coriander powder: 1 tsp
Fresh coriander : 1 tbsp chopped
Fresh cream: 2 tsp
Salt
Red Chili powder: 1 tsp
Oil

Method:
1. Chop paneer into about 1 inch cubes. Shallow fry them till they turn golden brown from all sides. Set aside.
2. In a pan add oil. Add onions and fry till they turn golden brown. Add Ginger garlic paste and fry till fragrant. Add tomato and cook till it turns mushy. Add  half of fresh coriander and garam masala. cook for another 2-3 mins and take off from heat.
3. Once the above mixture cools grind it into a fine paste. Transfer the paste back into the pan. Add 1/2 cup water and bring it to a boil.
4. Add salt, Coriander powder and red Chile powder. Mix well. Add paneer cubes and cook for 1-2 mins.
Take off from heat and serve topped with fresh coriander and fresh cream.

43. Lemon Coriander Soup

Final Outcome: Very Good!

        This soup is usually prepared using coriander leaves, but I made this using coriander stems (source: mother in law). Separate leaves from stems and chop off the roots. Use these stems to make the soup. Good use of stems which normally we throw away.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Coriander stems (or leaves): 1 small bunch or about 1 bowl washed.
Cumin/ Jeera: 1 tsp
Green Chile: 1/2
Water 2 cups
Corn flour: 1 Tbsp mixed with 1/4th cup water
Salt
Pepper crushed: a pinch
Lemon juice: 2 tsp

Method:
1. Grind together Coriander stems, cumin and green chile.
2. In a pan add 2 cups of water and the above mixture and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer for 8-10 mins.
3. Strain it through a strainer. Add Salt and corn flour mixture. Keep it on low heat and stir until it thickens slightly.
4. Add lemon juice and crushed pepper just before serving. Serve hot.

        I have to take an important career decision. To do or not to do???? I am confused. I have another 15 days so hmm let me think a little more.