Cooking web notes

Quite the North Indian dish this is, yet, another one that has made its way to the hearts of us Southerners. My daughter so loved it she was glad to eat leftovers too.



It's quite a favorite with me because I can make one dish, and be sure it's packed with multivitamins. Oh! well, That's what I would like to think, all healthy and all. But honestly, we are more of a eat good food and well, then if it's too much walk it off kind of people. Then why I like it really is because each spoon of the dish carries a mystery. Let me explain! Until I bite into a vegetable, since there are so many in it, how am I to know what I've got?! See the mystery? I don't know about you ,but I think it is like unraveling a surprise gift and who does not like mysteries and surprise gifts, now!?



I do like to make every cooking and eating experience fun and this one has been tremendous.

Ingredients:

Boiled veggies- 5 cups ( I took Bell pepper,Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrot, French beans, Green peas and Potato)
Tomatoes- 3(blanched and pureed)
Oil- 3 to 4 Tbsp
Onions, finely chopped- 1 cup
Ginger Garlic Paste- 1 Tbsp
Garam masala- 2 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder-3 tsp
Red Chilli powder- 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder- 2 tsp
Milk- 1 1/2cup
Heavy Cream- 1/4 cup(optional)
Cashews- 2 tbsp
Raisins- 2 tbsp
Ghee- 1 tbsp

Method:

1.Cut the vegetables into cubes and steam them to cook.I usually begin with the veggies that take long time to cook( in this recipe, Potatoes) and keep adding the rest one by one.
2.Blanch the tomatoes by keeping them in boiling water for a couple of minutes and washing immediately with cold water. Remove the skin and puree them.
3.Heat oil in a non stick pan and saute the onion till it turns golden brown.
4.Add the ginger garlic paste into this and saute till the raw smell leaves.
5.Mix in all the spices and saute for a couple of minutes.
6.Pour the tomato puree into this and cook till the oil starts leaving the sides.
7.Pour the milk into this and mix well.This is the time to add any cream if you are using.
8.Heat this mixture till it starts boiling.In another pan fry the cashews and raisins in ghee.Add this to the gravy.
9.Throw in the cooked veggies and cook for 5-6 minutes, or till the gravy gets thickened.Keep in your mind that the gravy gets thicker once it cools down.
10.Serve with roti or nan after garnishing with cream or coriander leaves.



Notes:

1.You could add just water instead of milk, but then the gravy won't be that creamy.
2.Heavy cream is optional.
3.You could choose the veggies of your choice.
4.This serves about 12-15 people.(I made this for a party!)
5.I made this keeping the kids in mind, so the gravy is on milder side.
6.You could replace one tomato with a tablespoon of tomato puree, if you would like to have a brighter color.

Contributor: Namitha