Pumpkin Kozhaviri

If kids do not like any vegetable, probably it is because the parents didn't make them like it. I remember hating pumpkin when I was a kid and someday my grandpa exemplified to me how much on this pumpkin kozhaviri and I suddenly started developing a taste for it. He did not really give any long gyan, after all at the age of 6 such a gyan would have made me to detest the vegetable further; instead he lightly described how beautiful and fresh they are grown in the season and how this particular dish melts in his mouth and not just words but observing him relishing the dish made me give it a try and somehow it started tasting great for me then onward. It sounds crazy, but some frames of childhood are so clear that they stay long lasting; so, it is wiser to make such frames good ones. 

Ingredients:

1. Pumpkin cubed and boiled with salt and turmeric – 2 cups
2. Green chillies – 2 chopped fine
3. Oil
4. Mustard seeds – ¼ spoon
5. Urad dal – 1 spoon
6. Asafoetida – 1 pinch
7. Curry leaves – 1 sprig
8. Tamarind extract – ¼ cup
9. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:

Step 1: Temper mustard seeds, urad dal, green chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida in this order in3 spoons of oil.
Step 2: Add boiled pumpkin and pour some water and slightly mash it with ladle
Step 3: Pour tamarind extract to it and let it boil
Step 4: Garnish with coriander leaves finally
Step 5: Serve with hot steamed rice along with ghee

Masala Gatte ki Subji

Gatté is one of the many vegetable substitutes of Rajasthani side dishes. In Rajasthan, due to the limited availability of fresh vegetables, they have invented ways to store preserved vegetables and then use them in cuisines when needed.  Apart from these sun-dried, preserved veggies they also use lentil dumplings of different types like gatté to cook delectable subzis. 

Ingredients:

For gatté 

1. Bengal gram flour - 1 cup

2. Turmeric - 1/4 tsp

3. Garam masala - 1 tsp

4. Chilli powder - 1 tsp

5. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

6. Salt as per taste

7. Oil - 2 tbsp

For Gravy

1. Tomato - 1

2. Green chilies  - 2

3. Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp

4. Bengal gram flour - 1 tbsp

5. Turmeric - 1 pinch

6. Chili powder - 1 tsp

7. Salt as per taste

8. Curd - 1 cup

Method:

Step 1: Make a tight dough with all gatté ingredients and some warm water.

Step 2: Grind tomatoes and green chilies in a mixer.

Step 3: Roll into thing long rolls. Boil water and add cylindrical rolled dough of 2" diameter into it and boil for 10 min. These dumplings can be steamed as well.

Step 4: Let them cool, then cut into small 1” thickness gatte.

Step 5: Shallow fry the gattés in some oil and keep aside

Step 6: In the same oil fry the ground tomato and ginger garlic paste until raw smell goes.

Step 7: Then add water to required consistency and add fried gatté  to it. Spice up with chili powder, turmeric and salt.

Step 8: Lower the flame, mix gram flour in the beaten curds and add it to the pan, now bring to boil, check and adjust salt and spices. Keep stiring in low flame and switch off once done, overdoing will curdle the curds.

Step 9: Serve with rotis or phulkas or puris.

Cabbage Rice

As Kundan is an opposite of a big fan of cabbage, I am on research to make cabbage taste and smell not like cabbage, funny huh... I just tried to spice up the cabbage rice with other strong flavors to make it edible to him and it was a manageable success I would say.

Ingredients:

 1. Steamed rice - 3 cups

2. Shredded cabbage - 2 1/2 cups

3. Coriander powder - 1 tsp

4. Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp

5. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

6. Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp

7. Peanuts - 3 tsp

8. Curry leaves - 1 sprig

9. Asafoetida - 1 pinch

10. Garlic - 1 tsp chopped fine

11. Chilli powder - 1 tsp

12. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

13. Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp

Method:

Step 1: Heat oil in a pan, add peanuts add fry till it gets light brown color. Take out peanuts in to separate bowl.

Step 2: Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, pinch of hing, curry leaves, chopped garlic and saute till garlic gets nice golden color.

Step 3: Add turmeric powder, add shredded cabbage, mix, sprinkle some salt, mix.

Step 4: Add coriander powder, red chilli powder, cover and cook for 5 minutes or until done.

Step 5: Take boiled rice, add some lemon juice, mix prepared cabbage and roasted peanuts.

Step 6: Serve with raita or any fry.