LactoVegan - Lacto vegetarian dishes from India and elsewhere...

Tamarind rice

2010-05-31T12:30:00.001-07:00

Quinou

2010-05-31T12:28:00.001-07:00

Chocolate chip cookies

2010-05-31T12:25:00.001-07:00

Tofu and vegetables in Thai coconut sauce

2010-05-31T12:23:00.001-07:00

Guacamole and Tortilla Chips

2010-01-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

Tindora bateta

2010-01-13T18:30:00.000-08:00

Cabbage thepla

2010-01-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

Paneer methi in cashew gravy

2010-01-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

Guvar dhokli

2010-01-03T00:26:00.000-08:00

Cluster beans cooked with gram flour nuggets.

Aakha ringna ane bajra no rotlo

2010-01-03T00:23:00.000-08:00

Spicy baby egg plant dish with flat bread made from pearl millet flour.

Chocolate dry fruit milk shake

2010-01-03T00:20:00.000-08:00

Sweet and spicy vegetables

2010-01-03T00:19:00.000-08:00

Noodles with veggies

2010-01-03T00:18:00.000-08:00

Sabudana wada

2010-01-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

Sago cutlets with sweet and spicy yogurt.

Khajur paak

2010-01-03T00:15:00.000-08:00

Dessert made from dates and dry fruits.

Chili bowl

2010-01-03T00:13:00.000-08:00

Shira/Aate ka halwa

2010-01-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

Sweet dish made from whole wheat floor cooked in ghee(clarified butter).

Twin bhakhari pizza

2010-01-03T00:08:00.000-08:00

Onion and spinach-brocolli pizzas with base was made from bhakhri.

Stuffed capsicum

2010-01-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

Stuffed green bell peppers. Stuffing made from scrambled paneer, onions and green chillies.

Stuffed tomato

2010-01-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Stuffed and baked tomato. Stuffing made from paneer cooked with sesame and green chillies.

Sindhi curry

2010-01-02T23:58:00.000-08:00

Sindhi specialty. Spicy curry with vegetables.

Achari baingan aloo

2010-01-02T23:55:00.000-08:00

Slices of egg plant and potatoes with a distinct achari (similar to dry mango pickle) taste.

Crispy tofu with red peppers

2010-01-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

Tikki chhole

2010-01-02T23:51:00.000-08:00

Potato cutlet stuffed with paneer. Served with spicy chick peas and tamarind chutney.

Gobi paratha

2010-01-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

Pan-fried Indian flat bread made from whole wheat flour stuffed with cauliflower. Served here with dry mango pickle.

Honey sesame tofu

2010-01-02T23:46:00.000-08:00

Honey sesame tofu with rice.

Vaghariyu

2010-01-02T23:44:00.000-08:00

Sweet and tangy dish made from raw mangoes cooked in jaggery sauce with Indian spices.

Pancake art!

2010-01-02T23:38:00.000-08:00

Paneer Bhurji

2010-01-02T23:36:00.000-08:00

Scrambled cottage cheese cooked with peas and onion.

Hare pyaz ke parathe

2010-01-02T23:34:00.000-08:00

Pan-fried Indian flat bread made from whole wheat flour stuffed with spring onions. Served here with a tangy mango pickle.

Baked potatoes

2009-08-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

Baked potatoes with sesame seeds.

Baked potatoes recipe:

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes

Olive oil

Sesame seeds

Salt

Garlic+coriander finely chopped (preferably in a chopper)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Wash potatoes thoroughly with a stiff brush and cold running water. Dry them and then cut wedges as shown in the picture.

For the coating, mix salt, garlic, coriander and olive oil in a bowl. Coat the potatoes evenly using a brush. Sprinkle sesame seeds.

Bake in a baking pan while keeping cut surface on the bottom (the skin should be exposed to air). Cooking time varies depending on the size of the potatoes and number of pieces but is usually 25-30 minutes. A good time to take them out is when you can run a knife through the potatoes easily. The skin is usually crisp by that time.

Pyaz/Onion paratha with mutter paneer

2009-08-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Pyaz paratha is a type of pan fried Indian flat bread made from whole wheat flour stuffed with onions. Served here with a curry made from paneer and peas.

Onion parata recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 Cup whole wheat flour
• 1 Large chopped or grated onion(I used spring onions for this dish but that is not what is traditionally done!)
• 2 Green chilies
• Cold butter chopped in to small cubes (about 0.5 x 0.5cm cubes)-about 20 such cubes
• Chopped coriander

Directions:

Mix chopped onion, chilies, butter* and coriander leaves add flour to the mixture and make soft dough. Careful not to add too much water. Onions release a lot of water and you will need to add only a small amount.

Make about 5cm wide balls from the dough. Roll them flat. Cook with a small amount of butter or ghee. If you use a not-stick surface you need not add butter. Cook it till it turns brown.

(*Adding butter to the dough makes the parathas flaky/layered)

Paneer and veggie skewers

2009-08-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

Paneer (Indian cottage cheese), green peppers and onions marinated with yogurt and grilled.

Paneer skewers recipe:

Ingredients:

-1.5 inch cubes of paneer
-Red chilly powder - to taste
-1/4 cup yogurt
-1 large onion cut into 1.5 inch squares
-1 large green pepper cut into 1.5 inch squares
-Salt - to taste
-Canola oil - 2 tbsp
-1 cup plain yogurt
-2 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

-Mix red chilly powder*, yogurt, oil and salt to make a smooth paste.
-Coat the paneer, onion and peppers with the above paste and keep in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
-Load the coated pieces on to bamboo skewer sticks
-Preheat your grill on medium. Put skewers on and brush with a little oil. Grill till paneer is light golden and the onions soft.
-Remove onto a plate and squeeze some lemon juice over.

(*Could use tandoori masala in stead of chilly powder if available)

Upma

2009-08-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

Upma is a South Indian breakfast dish made with refined wheat grains known as suji/rava.

Upma recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup rava /sooji (semolina)
1 inch chopped ginger
1 chopped onion
2 green chillies chopped
10 cashews (pieces)
1 chopped carrot
1/4 cup green peas
1 tsp mustard seeds (rai)
1 chopped medium sized potato
1 chopped medium sized green pepper
2 tbsp canola oil (or any other cooking oil)
4-5 curry leaves
3 tbsp chopped coriander
1 tbsp ghee
lemon juice to taste
1 tsp urad daal (black lentil)
1 tsp chana daal (split chick peas)
salt to taste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
red chili powder to taste

Directions:

- Heat ghee in a pan on moderate heat and add rava to it. Must stir constantly until the color is light brown.
- Set the rava aside. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add mustard seeds once the oil is hot. Once the seeds splatter add curry leaves, chana daal and urad daal. Cook until the chana daal is reddish.
-Add onion, ginger and green chilies. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
-Add turmeric, chili powder and salt to taste.
-Add the remaining vegetables and cashew pieces.
-Add 3 cups of water and cover the pan and allow it simmer on low heat until the carrots are soft.
· Add the rava to it and cook until it is the consistency of thick porridge.
· Take off from the heat and add lemon juice and coriander.

Tindora, Chaula (Lobiya) with Bhakhri

2009-08-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

Tindora (Coccinia indica or Coccinia grandis), Cowpea beans (black eye peas) with Bhakhri.

Bhakhri recipe"

Ingredients:

Whole wheat flour – 2 cups
Oil – 1 to 1.5 tbsp
Salt – 1 pinch

Directions:

Add salt and oil to the wheat flour and mix well. Slowly add water and knead into a tight dough. Be wary of adding extra water. The dough should be harder than that for chapati/roti. You should not need more than half to 3/4th cup water for 2 cup flout. 3-4 cm balls from the dough and flatten them. Roll with a rolling pin(belan) to make the bread. The thickness should be about 0.3 to 0.4 mm. You can make 5-10 'pressure dots' on the bhakhri with the side of the rolling pin. More clearly visible in this image.

Cook the rolled bhakhri on a tava/pan on low heat on one side until it gets light brown spots, turn it on the other side and let it cook till while applying pressure with a cloth ball or a wooden device made for this. Bhakhri is cooked when you see a pattern similar to the one in the picture.

Bread pakora

2009-08-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Bread slices coated with a thick batter made from chick pea flour and Indian herbs.

Bread pakora recipe:

Ingredients:

4 Bread slice triangles

1 cup chick pea flour(besan)

1/4th tsp turmeric powder

1 chopped green chilly

1/2 tsp ajwain (a.k.a. ajowan, Trachyspermum ammi)

Salt to taste

Red chili powder to taste

Cooking oil

1tsp split coriander seeds

1 pinch baking soda

Directions:

-In a bowl mix gram flour, salt, chili powder, green chillies, coriander seeds, baking soda, turmeric powder and ajwain seeds.

-Add water to the above mixture while stirring to make a smooth batter (thinner than porridge but thicker than soup!)

-Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat.

-Dip bread piece in the batter. Ensure it is coated well on all the sides and deep fry until crisp.

-Serve hot with tomato sauce or green chutney.

Cabbage and mirch bhajiya

2009-08-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

Cabbage fritters and stuffed hot jalapeno peppers coated with a layer of chick-pea flour batter and deep fried.

Cabbage bhajiya recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 chopped cabbage.

1 cup chick pea flour(besan, gram flour)

1/4th tsp turmeric powder

1 chopped green chilly

1/2 tsp ajwain (a.k.a. ajowan, Trachyspermum ammi)

Salt to taste

Red chili powder to taste

Cooking oil

1tsp split coriander seeds

1 pinch baking soda

Directions:

-In a bowl mix cabbage, gram flour, salt, chili powder, green chillies, coriander seeds, baking soda, turmeric powder and ajwain seeds.

-Add water to the above mixture make it semisolid (like thick porridge).

-Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat.

-Using two spoons drop lumps of the mixture in hot oil and deep fry until brown.

-Serve hot with tomato sauce or green chutney.

Chilly bhajiya recipe:

Ingredients:

Long chillies/jalapeno peppers. Preferably less spicy ones!

1.5 cup chick pea flour(besan, gram flour)

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1/4th tsp turmeric powder

1 chopped green chilly

1/2 tsp ajwain (a.k.a. ajowan, Trachyspermum ammi)

Salt to taste

Cooking oil

1tsp split coriander seeds

1 pinch baking soda

Directions:

-In a bowl mix 1 cup gram flour, salt, chili powder, green chillies, coriander seeds, baking soda, turmeric powder and ajwain seeds.

-Add water to the above mixture make the batter consistency that of thick soup. Set it aside.

-Heat half cup besan in a pan until it is light brown. Add sesame seeds and 2 tsp cooking oil to this flour. Work with hands to make the filling for the chillies.

-Slit the chillies longitudinally and core out the seeds.

-Fill the inside of the chillies with the filling described above.

-Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat.

-Dip the stuffed chillies in the batter and deep fry until brown.

-Serve hot with tomato sauce.

Masala Dosa

2009-08-24T18:45:00.000-07:00

Traditional south Indian dish. Dosa is the flat-bread made from rice and urad dal (split black gram). Masala is the potato-onion stuffing inside. It is often served with Sambar which is a soup consistency gravy made from toor dal (split yellow lentils) cooked in veggies and a number of Indian spices.

Banana split (with strawberries :))

2009-07-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Curd rice

2009-07-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Traditional south Indian rice dish. Made from fresh yogurt, rice, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, pomegranate seeds, mustard seeds, black peppers, curry leaves and chopped coriander leaves.

Curd rice recipe:
(Courtesy - Dhanarekha)

Ingredients:

Rice 1 cup.
2 chopped green chillies
few chopped coriander leaves
2-3 tbsp chopped cucumber
2-3 tbsp chopped carrots
1/2 tbsp chopped ginger
2 cups plain yogurt(curd)
2 tbsp butter or ghee
2-3 dried red chillies
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp urad dal (split black lentil)
2 tsp chana dal (split chick peas)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 pinch hing (asaphoetida)
Salt to taste

Directions:

Cook rice with water in the ratio of 1:3 for a long time - this is to make rice softer.

Take the rice out, spread it over a plate and let it cool well (for 1 hour) - this is important, otherwise the taste of curd will change.

In the mean time prepare - chopped green chillies and coriander leaves, chopped cucumber, chopped carrot, chopped ginger(very few). Small amount of each is enough. Don't let these things dominate the curd rice. The main flavor must be from curd. Also, u can add chopped nuts, fruits - anything according to your taste.

For tadka - heat butter/ghee and add red chillies, mustard seeds(few), urad dal, chana dal, cumin seeds(few). Once the dal turns brown, switch off the flame and add a pinch of hing. Add curry leaves immediately and let it cool.

Take the rice in a bowl. Add curd over this (as required). Add small amount of water, and mix this well. Add salt as required and add the veggies and mix. Now add the tadka and mix well.

Optional - add 1 tbsp of sour cream in the end and mix well - makes it taste more yummy.(obviously!)

serve with tomato or mango achar/pickle.

Doongli bateta nu shaak (Aloo pyaz)

2009-07-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

Indian curry made from diced potatoes (with skin) and onions.

Vaghareli rotli with corn

2009-07-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Roti (Indian flat bread) cooked in spicy buttermilk, sweet corn and usual Indian spices.

Vagharelu dahi

2009-07-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

Spicy yogurt (with finely chopped green chillies and coriander)

Methi bhajiya, Aloo Vada and Chutneys

2009-05-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

Aloo vada/Batata vada is made from spicy mashed potatoes coated with gram flour batter and deep fried.

Methi bhajiya (green) is made from fenugreek leaves mixed with gram flour batter and deep fried.

Green chutney is made from garlic, green chillies, ginger and coriander. Red chutney from peanuts, garlic and red chilly powder.

Aloo

2009-05-24T12:13:00.001-07:00

Traditional spicy potato curry.

Honey Chilly Potato

2009-05-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Potatoes cooked with red chillies and honey garnished with chopped onions.

Daal

2009-05-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Split pigeon pea curry.

Walnuts and Chocolate

2009-05-24T12:08:00.001-07:00

Walnuts, chocolate and grated coconut.

Fruit and Chocolate

2009-05-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

Condensed milk + melted chocolate spread of cut strawberries & bananas and chilled.

Chocolate Gajar Halwa

2009-05-24T11:59:00.001-07:00

Sweet dish made from shredded carrots, chocolate and condensed milk.

Lasagna

2009-05-24T11:57:00.001-07:00

Whole wheat lasagna with loads of veggies.

Strawberry Chocolate Cake

2009-05-24T11:56:00.001-07:00

Strawberry flavoured cake topped with chocolate icing and real strawberries.

Garlic breads

2009-05-24T11:54:00.001-07:00

Whole wheat garlic breads with cheeze, corn, coriander and green chillies.

White Dhokla

2009-04-08T06:22:00.001-07:00

Soft bread made from rice and urad dal (black lentil) flour.

Ingredients :

rice(3 cups), urad dal(1 cup), curd/plain yogurt (1/2 cup), chopped green chillies(2 medium sized), ginger paste(1/2 tsp), Baking soda(1/2 tsp), asafoetida (hing) (1 pinch), oil(3 tablespoons), salt to taste, sesame seeds (1 tablespoon), chopped onion (1 small), mustard seeds (1 tsp)

Method

Soak the rice and urad dal overnight in plenty of water and grind in a blender the next morning. Add yogurt and water to make thick paste. Ferment for ~8 hours. Add the baking soda, oil, asafoetida, green chillies, ginger paste and salt and mix well.

Apply a little oil to a metal thali ( flat metal with low rim). Pour enough batter so as to fill half the height of the thali. Sprinkle sesame seeds. Steam for about 10 minutes. (You can steam in a big container with a lid. Cover the lid with cotton cloth in order to prevent precipitated steam from dropping on the dhokla while it is being cooked.

Once cooked let it cool for 3-4 minutes. Cut into pieces and keep aside. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and 20-30 seconds later add chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn the burner off and add the dhokla and mix well. Garnish with chopped coriander.

Bhakhri, Chana, Aloo and Green Chilly Pickle

2009-04-04T14:49:00.001-07:00

Soy patty

2009-04-04T14:48:00.001-07:00

Veggies, Potatoes and Nutrella mish-mashed, coated with poppy seeds and deep fried.

Fried rice

2009-04-04T14:44:00.001-07:00

Vegetable fried rice

Suji Halwa

2009-04-04T14:42:00.001-07:00

Sweet dish made from semolina and ghee (clarified butter).

Sabudana Khichdi

2009-04-04T14:40:00.001-07:00

Khichdi (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khichdi) made from sago grains, peanuts and potatoes.

Veggie Pizza

2009-04-04T14:36:00.001-07:00

Methi Aloo

2009-04-04T14:35:00.001-07:00

White potatoes cooked with Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum).

Masala Bread

2009-04-04T14:33:00.001-07:00

Pieces of bread cooked with vegetables and corn in a spicy-tangy base.

Chilly Paneer

2009-04-04T14:31:00.001-07:00

Cottage cheese chunks and green capsicum cooked in thick and spicy red gravy. Served here with roti - the traditional Indian flat-bread.

Pancake

2009-04-04T14:26:00.001-07:00

Whole wheat chocolate pancake. No eggs.

Pakod(r)a/bhajiya

2009-04-04T14:25:00.001-07:00

These are traditional vegetable fritters with a spicy flavor.

Kadhi

2009-04-04T14:24:00.001-07:00

Spicy curry made from buttermilk and gram flour. With pakodas (vegetable fritters).

Apple pie

2009-04-04T14:21:00.001-07:00

Apple pie with whole wheat crust.

Strawberries and Ice cream

2009-04-04T14:19:00.001-07:00

Archer Farms Chunky Strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberries.

Mexican Rice

2009-04-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

Mexican rice with black beans.

Cake

2009-04-04T14:13:00.001-07:00

Dark chocolate cake with dates, raisins and walnuts. No eggs. Iced with Betty Crocker Chocolate Frosting and n different types of sprinkles!

Cabbage and Nutrella

2009-04-04T14:10:00.001-07:00

Bhakhri and vaghareglu dahi

2009-04-04T14:08:00.001-07:00

Whole wheat brittle flat-bread with spicy yogurt cooked with garlic, oil, cumin seeds and red pepper powder.

Ice cream and bananas

2009-04-04T14:01:00.001-07:00

Archer Farms Belgian Chocolate Icecream with Hersheys Lite Chocolate Sauce with Bananas and Pilsbury Sprinkles :))))))

Khaman

2009-02-01T14:44:00.001-08:00

Gujarati specialty. Steam cooked spicy-tangy gram flour soft bread, garnished with coriander and grated coconut. It's relatively harder version is called Dhokla[coming soon :)]!

Whole wheat penne rigate (pasta)

2009-02-01T14:39:00.001-08:00

Whole wheat penne rigate cooked with veggies in traditional Italian pasta sauce.

Dosa Sambar

2009-02-01T14:34:00.001-08:00

Traditional south Indian dish. Dosa is the flat-bread made from rice and urad dal (split black gram). Sambar is the soup consistency gravy made from toor dal (split yellow lentils) cooked in veggies and a number of Indian spices.

Aloo Gobi, Raajma, Rice and Roti

2009-02-01T14:30:00.001-08:00

Aloo Gobi , Raajma (red kidney beans in spicy sauce), Rice and Roti (whole wheat Indian flat bread).

Moong, Bhakhri and Green chilly pickle

2009-02-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

Dry preparation of Green Gram (Moong) and Green Chilly Pickle with Bhakhri (whole wheat, brittle flat bread).

Baingan Bhartha in the making! (Spicy egg plant)

2009-02-01T14:24:00.001-08:00

Ingredients

Big Eggplant (1 Large), Cumin Seeds (1 tsp), Mustard Seeds (1 tsp), Hing (asoefatida) (1 pinch), Tumeric (1/2 tsp), Salt, Chopped ginger (1 inch piece), Garlic (1-2 cloves), Chopped onion (1 medium sized), Chopped tomatoes (2 medium sized), Green peas (1/2 cup), Chilli Powder (to taste), Dhania powder(coriander powder) (2 tsp), Garam masala to taste, Chooped Coriander (for Garnishing)

Roasting the Egg plant:

For gas burners: Punch 5-10 holes in the eggplant with a knife/tooth pick. Heat the eggplant on the fire until the skin becomes charred and comes off easily. Keep turning the eggplant frequently to cook uniformly.

For oven: Pre-heat the Oven to 350 'f. Apply a little oil on the Eggplant & cook it the oven for about 45 min to an hour. Take it out & peel the skin. the skin will come off easily.

For electric stoves: Punch 5-10 holes in the egg plant with a knife/tooth pick. Heat the eggplant on the fire until the skin becomes charred and comes off easily. Keep turning the eggplant frequently to cook uniformly.

Peel and then chop/mash the eggplant finely. Heat a pan with little oil, season with mustard & cumin seeds.

Add Chopped onion & fry till translucent. Add chopped ginger and garlic. Cook for a minute and then add peas & tomatoes. Now add the turmeric, salt and coriander powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes and finally add the chopped Eggplant & mix everything. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Add garam masala and garnish with chopped coriander.

Modifications and suggestions:

1) You can omit green peas from the above recipe.
2) You can replace green peas by corn.
3) You can replace red chilly powder by chopped green chillies.
4) You can use butter in stead of oil.
5) You can use chopped spring onions in place of regular onions.

Aloo Poha (Potato-Flattened rice)

2009-02-01T14:22:00.001-08:00

Flattened rice cooked with diced potatoes and onions and peas.

Papdi in Besan (Green Hyacinth beans in Gram flour)

2009-02-01T14:20:00.001-08:00

Green Hyacinth beans cooked in gram flour.

Masala Pav

2009-02-01T14:17:00.001-08:00

Spicy Mumbai innovation consisting of pieces of bread cooked in Pav Bhaji . This one is not a great picture actually!

Bhakhri and Aloo Gobi

2009-02-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Whole wheat brittle bread with Potato-Cauliflower-Peas dish cooked in turmeric, cumin, garlic, red chilly powder, ginger, onion and green chillies and garnished with dried fenugreek leaves and coriander. Bhakhri is a traditional Gujarati bread made from whole wheat flour dough.

Black Beans

2008-12-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

Black Beans (Frijoles negros) is a Mexican dish.

Cooking time:
15 minutes, not including the time required for cutting vegetables.

Ingredients:

These proportions will last for at least 2 (possibly 3) meals.

Item	Quantity/number	Other information
Black beans	1 tin; 450 g.; 1 lb.	Use as is
Onion	1 medium-sized	Chop finely
Tomatoes	1 medium-sized	Chop finely, or use ½ tin of chopped tomatoes
Bell pepper	Half, remove seeds	Chop into 1” by 1” pieces
Garlic	1 tsp.	Paste, or use bottled minced garlic
Cheese	1-2 tbsp.	Grated cheddar (do not use mozzarella). Optional.
Hot sauce	1 tsp. or as needed	Tabasco, Chipotle etc. or use regular chilli powder
Black pepper	½ tsp. or less	Just a bit, don't overdo this
Lemon juice	1 tsp.	Optional
Oil	1-2 tbsp.	Use as needed
Salt	½ tsp. or to taste	Tinned ingredients may already contain salt
Cumin powder	½ tsp.	Also known as 'jeera' powder

Cooking method:

Heat the oil in a vessel and add garlic and onions. Once the onions are a little translucent, add the chopped peppers. Allow them to fry for about 5 minutes and then add the beans and tomatoes. Add grated cheese, hot sauce, ground black pepper, lemon juice, cumin powder and salt. Cover with a lid, keep flame on low-medium and allow it to boil for 5-7 minutes. Once the water (which came off from the tomatoes) has boiled off, turn off the flame and the beans are done.

Serving options:

Burrito-style: Put beans on a tortilla/chapati and roll it to make a burrito.
Layer on top of bread toast, garnish with cheese.
As a spicy dip, to be eaten with tortilla chips/nachos.
As an accompaniment to white rice.

What not to do:

This is a Mexican dish. Don't add other strong flavors like oregano, basil, thyme or Indian masalas.
Don't add an excess of salt or hot sauce. If you are not confident of proportions, wait till the whole dish is made, taste it and then add these in small increments. They do not need cooking and can be added once the dish is done.

Sabudana kheer (Sago pudding)

2008-11-14T20:01:00.001-08:00

Sago+chocolate pudding garnished with m&ms and served chilled.

Tikki chhole

2008-11-14T19:59:00.000-08:00

A tangy north Indian dish. The Tikki here is a potato+peas+carrots cutlet and Chhole are Chick Peas cooked in a distinct spicy gravy. Served with onion and tamarind sauce.

Sambhar Rice

2008-11-14T19:55:00.001-08:00

A south Indian staple. Dal/soup made from Toor Dal (split Yellow Pigeon Peas) with a distinct flavor. Served here with rice, plain yogurt, mango pickle and papad.

Grilled vegetable sandwich

2008-10-31T19:51:00.001-07:00

Mashed potatoes, peas, onions, coriander paste mixed with baby corn and pressed between two slices of whole wheat bread. Served here with 'Maggi Hot and Sweet' tomato ketchup and guacamole tortilla chips.

Dal Palak

2008-10-31T19:50:00.001-07:00

Curry made of Lentils and Spinach.Served here with rice, papad and mango pickle.

Egg plant curry with Pearl Millet bread (Baingan ka Bhartha with Bajra Roti)

2008-10-26T01:10:00.001-07:00

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) bread with spicy egg plant curry (with sweet peas) served with spring onions.

Ingredients

Big Eggplant (1 Large), Cumin Seeds (1 tsp), Mustard Seeds (1 tsp), Hing (asoefatida) (1 pinch), Tumeric (1/2 tsp), Salt, Chopped ginger (1 inch piece), Garlic (1-2 cloves), Chopped onion (1 medium sized), Chopped tomatoes (2 medium sized), Green peas (1/2 cup), Chilli Powder (to taste), Dhania powder(coriander powder) (2 tsp), Garam masala to taste, Chooped Coriander (for Garnishing)

Roasting the Egg plant:

For gas burners: Punch 5-10 holes in the eggplant with a knife/tooth pick. Heat the eggplant on the fire until the skin becomes charred and comes off easily. Keep turning the eggplant frequently to cook uniformly.

For oven: Pre-heat the Oven to 350 'f. Apply a little oil on the Eggplant & cook it the oven for about 45 min to an hour. Take it out & peel the skin. the skin will come off easily.

For electric stoves: Punch 5-10 holes in the egg plant with a knife/tooth pick. Heat the eggplant on the fire until the skin becomes charred and comes off easily. Keep turning the eggplant frequently to cook uniformly.

Peel and then chop/mash the eggplant finely. Heat a pan with little oil, season with mustard & cumin seeds. Add Chopped onion & fry till translucent. Add chopped ginger and garlic. Cook for a minute and then add peas & tomatoes. Now add the turmeric, salt and coriander powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes and finally add the chopped Eggplant & mix everything. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Add garam masala and garnish with chopped coriander.

Modifications and suggestions: 1) You can omit green peas from the above recipe. 2) You can replace green peas by corn. 3) You can replace red chilly powder by chopped green chillies. 4) You can use butter in stead of oil. 5) You can use chopped spring onions in place of regular onions.

Lima beans

2008-10-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

Lima beans cooked in 2 different kinds of gravies. Served with parathas (Indian stuffed bread).

Tindora- south Indian style

2008-10-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Tindora (a.k.a. Coccinia grandis or English ivy...did you know that!!!?) cooked in coconut based red sauce. Served with paratha (stuffed Indian bread), mango pickle and papad (Indian tortilla chip).

Aloo mutter

2008-10-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Spicy north Indian fare with green peas and potatoes cooked in onion/tomato sauce. Served with rice, roti (plain Indian bread) and mango-jaggery pickle.

Pav bhaji

2008-10-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

A favorite with Mumbaites. Basically a spicy-tangy mish-mash of potatoes, cauliflower, peas, capsicum, onion and tomatoes cooked in butter. Garnished with coriander and spring onions. Served with bread/bun.

Mutter Paneer

2008-10-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Sweet peas and chunks of cottage cheese cooked in a spicy onion/tomato gravy. Served with rice.

Vegetable noodle broth

2008-10-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

Noodles cooked with corn and veggies served with home made spicy crackers.

Masoor

2008-10-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

Masoor (lentils) cooked in a onion/tomato gravy. Served with raita (spicy vegetable yogurt), paratha (stuffed indian bread) and mango pickle.

Khichdi

2008-10-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

A hotch-potch of rice, split moong, carrots, peas, beans and corn. Served with papad (indian tortilla chip!), pickle and plain yogurt.

Bhajiya

2008-10-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Chopped onion and spinach mixed with spices and gram flour and deep fried.

Batata wada

2008-10-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Spicy mashed potatoes coated with gram flour batter and deep fried. Served with bun and garlic chutney.