Cabbage and Peas

Another nice vegetable which if cooked right can be really tasty and flavorful. The nice thing about cabbage is that other vegetables can be added in small quantities to give it more taste, flavor or color.  I add some peas, small pieces of potatoes or grated carrots.  Top it off with cilantro and it tastes awesome!!

Ingredients (serves 4)

1. One small cabbage
2. One third cup of peas, small pieces of potato or/and grated carrots
3. Few sprigs of cilantro chopped in small pieces
4. 2-3 tsp of oil
5. Half tsp cumin seeds
6. Half tsp of turmeric powder (haldi)
7. Salt and red pepper to taste
8. Half tsp garam masala

Process

1. Cut the cabbage in nice long strands (for a good appearance)
2. Wash the cabbage and drain the water.
3. In a large wok add 2-3 tsp of oil; add the cumin until it is brown.
4. Add the cabbage to the cumin in the wok.
5. Add the salt, pepper and turmeric powder.
6. Add the peas or potatoes or carrots at this point.
7. Mix everything and cook on low heat. I try to cook it without any water, the cabbage has enough water in it to cook, but if you want you can add little water as the cabbage is getting cooked.
8. Stir occasionally until the cabbage is to your suitable tender level - some people like it very soft, I like it little firm and brown. It is still cooked but has a different flavor.
9. Once done, garnish with the chopped cilantro and serve.

I enjoy the cabbage as it is (like a snack) or with yogurt, or with rice or parantha.

Vegetable Lasagna

This is not an Indian dish, but it one of my favorites of the Italian dishes. Of course I make the vegetarian kind.  I have never tried the white lasagna - one day.....

Ingredients

1. 8 lasagna noodles
2. 2 cups pasta sauce
3. 1/2 or more onion diced
4. 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic (I bought the chopped-bottled one)
5. 2-3 cups of mixed vegetables (I had bell peppers, carrots, broccoli and spinach)
6. 1 cup ricotta cheese
7. 1 egg
8. 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
9. 2 cups mozzarella cheese
10. 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil

Process

1. Break the lasagna into half pieces - I made my lasagna in a medium size pan so I wanted to make sure it fit in that pan.  Boil to cook the lasagna in boiling water. When cooked, wash with cold water.
2. Cut all the vegetables in small pieces and steam them.
3. Dice the onion.
4. In a frying pan pour the oil, add the garlic and onion. Saute them until slightly brown.
5. Add the steamed vegetables and cook for a few minutes.
6. Add the pasta sauce and let cook for 5-10 mins. (Add salt and pepper if you want)
7. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese and 1 egg. Mix it well.
8. In a 9x9 inch baking dish pour a little bit of the sauce/vegetable mixture.
9. Spread one at a time, each lasagna noodle at the bottom of the pan.
10. Add half the ricotta mixture and spread it on the noodles. (Add mozzarella cheese if wanted - I did not - too much fat!)
11. Spread half of the remaining sauce/vegetable mixture on the ricotta cheese.
12. Repeat again with noodles, ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese spreads.
13. Top it off with the mozzarella cheese.
14. I also sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top of the mozzarella.
15. Bake the lasagna for 40 mins at 375oC in the oven.
16. Take it out and let it cool.
17. Enjoy!!!

Chilli Paneer - Sapna's style

My take on chilli paneer (cheese) is a little different. I don't like all the water that is given out during the cooking of the peppers.  It just makes everything too wet for me. I tried this new recipe to give a new twist: there is no water in the end; the peppers retain their shape AND....I added a new flavor!!

I enjoy this as a snack or with rice...tasty in both cases! And best of all - it is so colorful!

Ingredients

1. 6 medium bell peppers - all colors (I am showing only the red ones in the pictures below - but I have made this using red, yellow and green bell peppers - see picture above). 6 medium peppers makes for about 4-5 servings.
2. 2 medium onions - the red ones give a great color to your dish. (I am showing yellow in this one).
3. Paneer - as much as you like; one cup cubes is what I used. (I buy the pre-made paneer/cheese from the Indian store).
4. 2 tbsp Tandoor masala.
5. 1 tbsp ginger paste.
6. 1 tbsp garlic paste.
7. 1 tbsp chilli paste or 3-4 green chilli peppers (optional).
8. Salt and pepper to taste.
9. 2-3 tbsp olive oil.

Process

1. Wash and cut the peppers in large 2 inch pieces.
2. Cut the onions into large 2 inch pieces.
3. Cut the paneer into small 1 inch cubes.
4. Place all the above in a large bowl; add the oil and Tandoor masala. Mix and let sit for 10 mins or so.  
5. Broil the entire mixture on high for 10-15 mins or until peppers are tender. You may need to stir the mixture under the broil so it does not burn.
6. After its all done - take it out from the broil. (Enjoy the smell!!)
7. In a large pan, add a little oil and fry the garlic paste, ginger paste and chilli peppers. 
8. Once a little brown, add all the peppers/onions/paneer mixture.  Add salt and pepper and stir for about 5 mins or so or until you are satisfied with the look and softness of the peppers/onions.
9. Enjoy it warm!! I also freeze this to enjoy at a later time (I usually end up making soooo much of it!)

Okra

This is a simple and tasty dish. It does not need a lot of spices and as any okra goes, it is high in fiber. I will post another way to cook okra later...its with onions and equally tasty!

Ingredients:

1. Okra - whatever quantity you get is fine, just add the required spices accordingly. The spices below are for about 1 lb (this serves about 4 people)
2. Salt and red pepper - to taste
3. 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 
4. 1 tsp ground dried fennel seeds (saunf)
5. 1/2 tsp tumeric powder

Process:

1. Wash and cut bhindi - lengthwise or round - as you wish to eat. (do not wash okra after cutting it)
2. Add 1 tsp oil to frying pan and when hot, add the cumin seeds.
3. Add the okra to the pan.
4. Add salt, red chilli and haldi and mix.  Cover and cook on low to medium heat.
5. Stir occasionally so it does not stick to the bottom.  It cooks very fast, within 10-15 mins.
6. When almost cooked (check with a spoon - the okra should cut easily), add half tsp of ground fennel (saunf) powder. Mix well.
7. Stir the okra in the uncovered pan on high heat to give it a nice roasted flavor. This will also remove any of the slippery texture.  Add little more oil at this step and stir a bit more if you want a roasted and fried type okra.

I eat the okra with parantha (a type of chapathi or naan). You can eat it as a side vegetable with any lentil soup, or with rice.