Methi (No)Malai Matar

Some days are different. In a lazy luxurious kind of way. Some days when the routine is banal, when the mundane will just not cut it. Days when we linger just a little longer in bed, luxuriate in the bath, indulge in a hot tea while soaking in the morning sun. I am sure you have these days in your life too.

Such days call for a special meal. A rich, creamy, sinful dish around which a deeply satisfying repast can be planned. Today was such a day. A day to be extravagant, yet sensible. A day to savor. Time to gratify the tongue, body and soul with gastronomic hedonism, yet, not feel the pain of sin later. Time for another recipe to get the Healthy Slurps tweak.

Before you wonder any more, let me share this winner of a recipe with you. Winter is a season of amazing variety of produce in India. Fresh green peas are an irresistible part of this season. Every year, I buy fresh green peas in bulk, shell them, and freeze to use later through the year. After gorging on them in various avatars through the winter, that is. Punjabi and other North Indian cuisines have several dishes with peas as the star ingredient. Of these, I have been wanting to try this Methi Malai Matar for a long time. Translated from Hindi, it means a gravy/curry of fragrant fenugreek leaves and green peas laced generously with fresh cream. I could never bring myself to add cream in the quantities mentioned in most recipes. I just had to find a good healthier substitute.

Today, the idea just presented itself and I went along with the inner flow. The result was a rhapsody of aromas, flavours, an appearance that was alluring and beckoned us to the dining table! Substituting skim milk curd/yoghurt for cream was a fitting idea. The almond meal also added to the richness and added to the good fats in the meal. I prefer almonds over cashews to thicken a gravy as the former has a better fatty acid profile. In plain speak, it means, almonds have more heart-healthy fats than cashew nuts have.

The dish gets done in 4 simple steps. Soak the almonds in warm milk. Fry all ingredients for grinding. Grind along with almonds.  Simmer chopped fenugreek leaves with the gravy. Add boiled peas, season, and the dish is ready!

I am so happy to share this recipe with all of you. So here goes -

ALLERGY INFORMATION

• Does NOT contain corn, soya, gluten.
• Suitable for people with gluten intolerance.
• Contains lactose from milk. Those with lactose intolerance can substitute milk with same volume of water in the recipe.
• Contains nuts. Those with nut allergy can substitute almond in the recipe with pureed silken tofu.

Preparation Time – 15-20 minutes, Cooking Time – 20-25 minutes, Serves – 4-6.

You Need -

Cookware – Saute pan, Small saucepan/Glass bowl, Mixer grinder

Ingredients -

1. 3/4 cup fresh or frozen green peas
2. 2 cups loosely packed fenugreek leaves ( Methi saag)
3. 1/4 cup almond meal OR 2 tbsp whole almonds powdered with skin OR 1/4 cup pureed silken tofu
4. 1/2 cup skim milk OR 1/2 cup water
5. 1 heaped tsp salt
6. 1 cup skim milk yoghurt
7. 1 tbsp grated jaggery Or sugar (optional)

To fry and grind -

1. 1 heaped cup chopped onions
2. 3-4 tomatoes
3. 2 tbsp chopped ginger
4. 2-3 garlic cloves
5. 2-3 green chillies depending on heat preference
6. 1 inch stick of cinnamon
7. 3 cloves
8. 2 green cardamom pods
9. 1/4 cup chopped green coriander leaves
10. 1 tbsp cooking oil

Method -

1. If you have whole almonds, soak in measured warm milk OR measured warm water(use warm water if you have lactose intolerance). If you have almond meal, soak those in warm milk too. Set aside. If you have nut allergy, omit the almonds, thaw the silken tofu, puree and set aside.
2. Heat a fry pan, add oil, toss in the chopped onions, saute for a minute. Then tip in the chopped ginger and peeled garlic. Fry another minute. When the onions take on a light pink tone, add the chopped tomatoes. Also stir in the cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Fry over a medium flame. Do not brown the onions. After 3-4 minutes of frying, when the tomatoes look slightly mushy, take off the flame.
3. Grind this mixture along with chopped coriander leaves, and the soaking almonds+milk/water, or the pureed tofu. Blend to a smooth paste.
4. Return this blend to the first fry pan, and set to simmer again.
5. Chop the cleaned fenugreek leaves finely and add to the simmering sauce. Add 1/4 cup water if too thick and let the greens simmer in the sauce for 3-4 minutes. Stir in between to avoid charring at the bottom.
6. Meanwhile boil the fresh or frozen green peas over stove top or microwave. Cover the peas with 1/2 cup water and cook for 3-5 minutes until soft and cooked. Add this cooked peas along with any remaining cooking water to the simmering sauce too.
7. Add salt, sugar, curd, and mix in well. Bring to boil over medium heat. Switch off and let the gravy rest for 10-15 minutes.
8. Serve warm with phulka/kulcha/pita bread/jeera rice/any mild pulao/pilaf. i served it with fragrant jeera rice and a carrot salad.

 

Technorati Tags: Methi Malai Matar,Winter produce,Punjabi cuisine,Healthy gravy,Healthy dinners

Instant Gojju Avalakki / Beaten Rice with Tamarind Sauce / Aval Puliodharai / Attukulu Pulihora

Gojju Avalakki is a popular breakfast dish in Karnataka. It packs health and flavour in big measure. Each family has their own version of the recipe. Mallika makes a weekend favourite breakfast out of this humble beaten rice at her blog Veg bowl. Sailu’s Kitchen makes it with a different technique at her space.
While I make this breakfast dish similarly at our home too, I find the soaking time a deterrent when I need an instant breakfast on somedays. And then, I discovered an instant method of making the same dish minus the soaking and waiting time. Traditional recipes require a soaking time of at least half an hour prior to seasoning and cooking. In this method, I have eliminated the soaking time completely. Who can say no to 30 whole minutes saved in the morning rush hour, or at any time of the day!
Excited, I felt this new method has to be documented for my own reference as well as for all my dear readers. For, what is a discovery if not shared with all, correct? Well, here goes.
Do you know that the humble beaten rice is a powerhouse of health? Poha or beaten rice has 20 times more Iron than white rice, and double its Calcium, besides having higher Potassium and fibre content too. So if you were to substitute a cup of  raw rice with a cup of poha/beaten rice, you have made a very smart choice in increasing the nutrient density of your meal! Not to mention it is an easy substitute for rice too. With near zero cooking time, beaten rice also has a similar taste profile as rice, making the replacement fuss free. Did I mention it is naturally gluten free as well?
Well, what are we waiting for? Ah yes, the recipe. I forgot that I’ve not shared it with you yet. Here it is.

ALLERGY INFORMATION

• Does NOT contain gluten, soya, corn, eggs, lactose.
• Contains peanuts in this recipe. Not suitable for people with nut allergy.

Cooking time – 15 minutes, Preparation time – 15 minutes, Serves – 4-6.
You Need -
Cookware - Mixer grinder, large wok with fitting lid
Ingredients -

1. 3 cups ‘medium thick’ poha/ aval/avalakki/beaten rice
2. 2 tbsp cooking oil
3. 2-3 tbsp raw peanuts
4. 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
5. 1/4 tsp turmeric powder  
6. a pinch asafoetida powder
7. 2 tsp jaggery powder
8. 1/2 tsp salt
9. 1 tsp sambhar powder (MTR or any brand or home made)
10. 2 tbsp MTR Puliotharai Powder ( Puliogare Powder)
11. 1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh water
12. fresh coriander leaves to garnish (optional, though highly recommended)

Method -

1. Powder dry aval/poha in several batches in a mixer grinder. To do this effectively, fill about half cupful of aval in the mixer, pulse for a few times until it resembles coarse rawa.  Remove to a bowl. Repeat until all the aval has been ground in this way. Set aside. Take care so you do not over do it and end up with aval powder. We need some texture to the dish.
2. Heat cooking oil in a large wok. Add peanuts to it and fry until lightly browned. Do not burn the peanuts, keep stirring. When the peanuts are giving out a fried aroma, add mustard seeds, turmeric, asafoetida, jaggery, salt, sambhar powder and puliotharai powder to the oil. Stir over medium heat. Add 1/2 –3/4 cup water and simmer until the mixture is homogenous.
3. Now tip in the powdered aval, mix well. Sprinkle the water all around the wok, stir well, cover and simmer on the lowest heat possible for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, taste the mixture, adjust seasonings if needed. You may sprinkle some more water if the aval does not feel soft enough.
4. Stir in the chopped coriander leaves, cover and switch off flame. Let the contents rest for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, toss and fluff up the aval puliotharai and serve with thick probiotic curd. Serve at breakfast or as an anytime snack.
5. Only aval/poha with medium thickness can be made in this way. Thick aval needs longer soaking time. Do not use thick aval for this recipe.

Technorati Tags: Gojju Avalakki,Puli Aval,Instant breakfast,Quick meal,probiotic meal,Poha,Tamarind Poha

Mysore Pepper Rasam

The nippy afternoons and cold nights are a great time to warm the innards of body and soul with steaming hot soups. A few days ago, I had two people in the family with a running nose and cough. Just the right time to stir up some peppery, tangy, rasam. Every region has its own signature soup. Rasam is ‘the go-to soup’ of most South Indians when nursing a fever or cold. It features prominently in the menu for convalescents and nursing moms too. Well, even if you do not belong to any of these categories, you can still enjoy a hot mug of this delicious ambrosia.

I learnt this recipe for Mysore Rasam from my sister in law, Geeta. She is as creative in the kitchen as with her poetry. A truly inspiring person. We had this hot rasam at their home paired with steamed rice and a runner beans stir fry. Fond memories of that meal still linger, long after. Special people and some meals have that effect on us, don’t you agree? Well, I just had to recreate this at our home. Here, I have added extra pepper to suit our requirement. Everything else remains the same as Geeta’s rasam. Balmy, soothing, tangy, fragrant, instant comforter of stuffed noses and reliever of misery. Go on, make some for yourself.

Mysore rasam is unique in that it uses dry coconut apart from regular spices. Besides, the spices are always freshly roasted and ground. The effort of roasting fresh spices, grinding them and adding that magical powder to the rasam makes the end result so worth it.

ALLERGY INFORMATION

• Does NOT contain gluten, soya, lactose, corn, nuts.

Preparation time –10 minutes, Cooking time – 35 minutes, Serves - 4-6

You Need -

Cookware - Pressure cooker of 2 or 3 litre capacity, 1 Sauce pan/stew pot/steel pot of at least 5 litre capacity, 1 smaller steel pot, mixer grinder/coffee grinder, colander, Small ‘tadka’ pan or fry pan.

Ingredients -

FOR POWDER 

1. 1 tbsp Coriander seeds (Dhania/Sabut dhania/Malli verai/Kothambri beeja)
2. 1/2 tbsp Cumin seeds (Jeera, Jeerige, Jeeragam, Jeelakara)
3. 1 tsp heaped Black Pepper
4. 1/2 tsp heaped Fenugreek seeds (Methi dana/Menthulu/Menthiam/Menthya)
5. 1/4 tsp heaped dry coconut (copra) grated
6. 5-6 Curry leaves
7. 1/4 tsp ghee (clarified butter) OR 1/4 tsp cooking oil for vegan

FOR RASAM

1. 1/4 cup Tuvar dal (split pigeon peas)
2. 2 tbsp Tamarind paste OR pulp and juice extracted* from 3 tbsp packed tamarind
3. 2 medium Roma or Vine tomatoes
4. 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
5. 1 tsp salt (more if needed)
6. 1 tsp jaggery/sugar/brown sugar (optional)
7. a pinch of asafoetida
8. 2 tbsp chopped coriander

FOR SEASONING

1. 1 tsp ghee (clarified butter) OR 1 tsp cooking oil for vegan
2. 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
3. 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
4. 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
5. a few curry leaves
6. a pinch asafoetida

Method

1. Rinse the tuvar dal, place in a suitable container that fits inside the pressure cooker. Top the dal with double the volume of water, and pressure cook for 4 whistles. Let the pressure release on its own. If you do not have a pressure cooker, rinse the dal, place in a saucepan with 3 times volume of water. Bring to boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Check if it is cooked. The grains should be mash-able between 2 fingers. Else, top up with more water as needed and cook until done.
2. * To extract tamarind water, soak 3 tbsp packed tamarind in 1 cup warm water. After 10 minutes, rub the tamarind with fingers to extract juice. Sieve the juice into another container. Repeat once or twice more with half a cup of water each time. Collect this tamarind juice and use in recipe. Discard the pulp and fibre or seeds.
3. Measure all ingredients for the Powder. Fry with the ghee over a medium to low flame. Keep stirring to avoid burning. Remove to a mixer when they are golden brown in colour and begin to smell fragrant. Powder to a fine texture.
4. Chop tomatoes. Place all the ingredients (except tuvar dal and chopped coriander) mentioned under ‘Rasam’ in a saucepan, set to boil on stove top. Once it comes to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Mash the cooked tuvar dal well. You could use a potato masher, or electric churner for this. Mix this into the simmering rasam. Add water  to thin down if needed. We are looking for a thin soup consistency.
6. Add ghee to a small saucepan. Heat with the ingredients for ‘Seasoning’. When mustard splutters, pour over the simmering soup. Add the chopped coriander and remove from stove. Cover and set aside for the seasonings to infuse.
7. Pour into mugs and enjoy warm/hot with a piece of crusty bread. Or ladle onto steamed rice and eat with a crunchy papad or a crispy stir fried vegetable curry.

Technorati Tags: Mysore Rasam,pepper rasam,hot soup,winter special,gluten free,vegan,kids recipe,low calorie soup.

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Of New Year Resolutions

Hello and Happy New Year to all! May 2015 bring you closer to your dreams, give you comfort and company of loved ones, fetch greater happiness than ever before.

For several years, I bucked the trend of making New Year resolutions. I felt making resolutions at New Year’s time are a sure way to not follow up on them. How many of us have not gone through the soda water effervescence of well meaning, lofty-intentioned un-attainable goals of New Year resolutions only to break them even before the month ends?

So, this year, instead of setting such impossible goals for this year, I thought of a different approach. Have a few, simple, defined goals and try to meet them, one month at a time. Set goals only for January. Continue with them for the next month if you feel they are relevant, doable. Then move on to the next month and the next goals.

For starters, how about an indulgent, doable goal such as “Enjoy your food daily’'. On the face of it, this sounds like, well, not even a goal. But pause to think, and you will find more meaning to it.

People of my parents’ generation were born either soon after the Second World War or around Indian Independence. (1939 – 45 – 47) Food was scarce, living conditions frugal, people were happy with a couple of simple meals in a day. Such Spartan existence also brought out qualities like gratitude, contentment, sharing whatever we had, setting aside for the tomorrow. Folks of my parents’ generation are usually like this. They enjoy every meal with gusto, relish every mouthful and arise sated fully in body and spirit.

I feel, we should take a lesson from this. Be happy for the hot meal in front of us. Be thankful for the nourishment it gives us. Be grateful to the farmers who toil in the hot sun daily for us.

Enjoy each meal. Eat with all your senses.

Cherish the experience of eating. Create a peaceful ambience at the table.

Be in the present while eating your meal. Do not be distracted by other seemingly pressing tasks.

Smile or talk politely to fellow diners. Be thankful for the meal.

Relish the colour that each ingredient brings to the dish. Savour the texture in every bite, inhale the aromas of the food. Be mindful of each mouthful.  Appreciate whatever you can about the meal.

Do you think that by doing these, we could enjoy every meal better? Can we, in this manner, enjoy our food daily? Do you think this is a good goal to achieve in January?

What are the goals you have set for yourself? I would like to hear from everyone. Please share in the comments box below.