Aloo Gobi

Oil - 2 tbsp.

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Asafetida - 1 tsp

Onion - 1, diced

Green Chilli - 2, minced

Ginger Garlic paste - 2 tbsp.

Tomato - 1, diced

Turmeric - 1 tsp

Chilli Powder - 1 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

Cumin Powder - 1 tsp

Garam Masala - 1 tsp

Amchur Powder - 1 tsp

Cauliflower - 2 cup, florets

Potato - 2 cup, cubed

Peas - 1 cup (optional)

Kasoori Methi - 1 tsp

Salt

Cilantro

Heat Oil and temper Cumin seeds and Asafetida.

Saute Onion and Green Chilli until translucent.

Add Ginger Garlic paste and cook until the raw smell goes away.

Add the Tomatoes and cook closed for about 5 mins, until the Tomatoes are soft.

Season the mixture with Turmeric, Chili, Coriander, Cumin, Garam masala, Amchur powder and required Salt.

Once the raw smell of Masalas goes away add the Potatoes and Cauliflower florets along with crushed Kasoori Methi and 1/4 cup Water. Mix well.

Cook closed for 12 minutes or until the Potatoes are done.

Garnish with cilantro.

Serve hot with Paratha or Chapati.

Key Lime Pie

For the Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Filling:

3 large eggs, separated

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup fresh lime juice, preferably made from Key limes

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime zest, plus more for garnish

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch glass pie plate. Bake the crust for about 15 minutes, or until firm. Let cool.

In a large bowl, whisk the 3 egg yolks with the lightly beaten whole egg until thickened. Beat in the condensed milk, then beat in the lime juice and zest.

In a large stainless steel bowl, beat the egg whites until firm peaks form. Fold one-third of the beaten whites into the custard, then fold in the remaining whites. Pour the custard into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes, or until barely set. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely, then refrigerate over-night. Serve with sweetened whipped cream and garnish with lime zest.

Kadai Vegetable

For kadai masala

• ▢ 1 tablespoon coriander seeds

• ▢ ½ teaspoon cumin seeds

• ▢ 2 cloves

• ▢ 2 green cardamoms

• ▢ ½ inch cinnamon

• ▢ 3 to 4 dry kashmiri red chilies – broken and seeds removed

• ▢ 1 teaspoon kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)

• ▢ 8 to 9 cashews – whole and not halved

• ▢ 4 to 5 black peppercorns

Vegetables

• ▢ 100 grams carrots or ½ cup carrots cut in batons

• ▢ 100 grams potatoes or ½ cup potatoes cut in batons

• ▢ ⅔ cup green peas – fresh or frozen

• ▢ 100 grams bell pepper or 1 medium-sized or ½ cup sliced bell pepper (capsicum), any colored variety

• ▢ ⅓ cup sliced onions

• ▢ 1 tablespoon oil – for sautéing bell peppers and onions

Other ingredients

• ▢ 2 tablespoons oil

• ▢ ¼ cup chopped onions

• ▢ 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste or ½ inch ginger and 3 to 4 garlic – crushed to a paste in mortar-pestle

• ▢ 200 grams tomatoes or 3 medium tomatoes pureed – about ⅔ cup tomato puree

• ▢ ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Red Chili Powder or cayenne pepper

• ▢ 1.5 to 2 cups water or as required

• ▢ salt as required

• ▢ 3 tablespoon light cream or cooking cream (low fat) or 1.5 tablespoons heavy or whipping cream

• ▢ 2 to 3 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves

• ▢ 1 inch ginger – julienne for garnish, optiona

INSTRUCTIONS

making kadai masala

• Heat a small frying pan. Keep heat to a low and add the following spices – coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cloves, green cardamoms, cinnamon, dry kashmiri red chilies, kasuri methi, cashews and black peppercorns.

• Stir often and roast on a low heat until the spices become fragrant. No need to brown the spices. Set aside.

• When the ingredients cool at room temperature, add all of the roasted ingredients in a mixer-grinder or spice grinder.

• Grind to a fine powder. Remove the kadai masala in a bowl and keep aside.

Preparing vegetables

• Blend tomatoes and make a smooth puree in the same mixer-grinder if its big enough or in another blender or mixer. No need to blanch tomatoes before pureeing. Set aside.

• In a pan heat 1 tablespoon oil and add the sliced onions and sliced bell pepper. Use any colored bell pepper.

• Stir very well and saute the onions and bell pepper on a low to medium heat.

• Saute till the bell peppers are half cooked. Some crunch is desirable.

• Remove the sauteed onions and bell peppers aside. Chop the potatoes and carrots in 2 inches batons and keep them aside too.

Making veg kadai

• In the same pan, then heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add ginger-garlic paste. Stir and sauté for some seconds on low until the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.

• Next add finely chopped onions.

• Stir and saute the onions on medium-low to medium heat until they become light golden.

• Add the prepared tomato puree. If using ready tomato puree, then add ⅔ cup tomato puree.

• Add turmeric powder and red chili powder or cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.

• Sauté the masala stirring often on low to medium-low heat till the tomato puree cooks, the masala thickens and you see oil releasing from the sides.

• Then add the potato, carrot batons together with the green peas.

• Stir and saute for a minute.

• Add 1.5 to 2 cups water or as needed. Season with salt according to taste. Stir well.

• Cover the pan. On a medium heat simmer and cook the veggies. Check from time to time and if required, add more water.

• The veggies need to be cooked well yet still retain shape. They should not become too soft.

• Then add the ground kadai masala reserving 1 teaspoon of it for garnish. Stir very well.

• Add the sautéed bell peppers and onions. Mix and stir again.

• Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes on low to medium-low heat. If the kadai vegetable gravy looks dry, then add some water.

• Then add 3 tablespoons of light cream or low-fat cream or 1.5 tablespoons of heavy or whipping cream.

• Stir and mix the cream with the rest of the gravy. Switch off the heat.

• Lastly add chopped coriander leaves. Stir again very well.

• Serve veg kadai gravy hot garnished with some chopped coriander, ginger julienne and sprinkled with the reserved kadai masala. 

• Accompaniments for veg kadai are tandoori roti, naan, chapati, paratha, bread. Also goes well with steamed rice, jeera rice or saffron rice.