Beetroot Curry

Here I am again taking part in another food blog event.

Healing Foods was started by Siri of Siri's Corner. This month, its hosted by Priya of Mharo Rajasthan's Recipes, the topic being "Beetroot".


When I was a kid, I never liked the "look" of beets. But once I had Beetroot Pulusu and I was hooked onto it after that. When came to the UK, I couldn't find the beets in the supermarkets. I got the pre-cooked and preserved varieties. But not the raw type.

Some one told us about this new Asian shop. I was so excited when I saw the raw beets there. I had to get them and cook. From then, I kept getting beets every now and then.


Ingredients:
1 Kg beetroot - peeled and cubed into 1/2 inch pieces.
2 big onions - chopped finely
5 tbsp chopped tomato
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
10 to 15 curry leaves
salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds.
2. When they pop, add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Then add the curry leaves and fry for 1 min.
4. Now add the onions and fry till they turn brown.
5. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell disappears
6. Add the chopped tomato and fry till the curry comes together.
7. Now add the raw spices (Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Cumin Powder) and salt and mix well.
8. Add the beets and 1/2 cup water. Pressure cook for 3 whistles or till the beetroot is done.
9. If needed, boil uncovered to get the consistency required.

Alu Matar (Potato with Green Peas)

One of the easiest dishes to make to have with chapati. Finishes by the time the chapatis are done. It goes well with rice as well. Its very similar to my Alu Palak. Infact, its the same. Instead of Palak (Spinach), I put in Peas.


Ingredients
3 medium size potatoes - peeled, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1 medium onion chopped
1 tsp chilli powder (adjust)
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
a handful frozen peas(you can add more)
salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat some oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds.
2. Once they start spluttering, add the onion and fry it till brown
3. Now add all the dry spices and salt and fry for 2 mins (take care the spices don't burn).
4. Add some water and put the potatoes and the peas.
5. Cook till the potatoes are done. Adjust water as needed.
   
6. Get the desired consistency and take off the stove.
   
7. Serve with roti or rice.

Palak Dal - Akkoora Pappu

Another post to another food blog event. Hopefully, I'll take part in more events and keep updating my blog.

Healing Foods was started by Siri of Siri's Corner. This month, its hosted by Divya of Dil Se, the topic being "Spinach".


I like spinach and am glad even my one and half year old son likes it too (atleast he doesn't say no to it).

I am sure many people make Palak Dal in a lot of different ways. Here's my take on it:


Ingredients
300gms Frozen chopped spinach
1 cup toor dal - washed
1 medium sized onion - sliced
5 green chillies - slit length wise
1 tomato - chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garlic paste
lime sized tamarind soaked in water and deseeded.

For the tadka (popu / tiragamata):
2 red chillies
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi / mentulu)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
few curry leaves
2 tbsp vegetable / sunflower oil

Method

1. Pressure cook spinach, toor dal, 3/4 of the onion, green chillies and turmeric powder with 3 cups of water for about 3 whistles (till the toor dal is done). You can blend it if you want it really smooth. I prefer not to.
   
2. In a separate pan, heat the oil and break the red chillies. Add the fenugreek seeds and fry for 30 seconds. Now add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves.
3. Once the mustard seeds start spluttering, add the garlic paste and fry for 30 seconds - taking care it doesn't burn.
4. Now add the rest of the onion and fry till it starts turning brown. Then add the tomato and cook till its done.
5. Add the tamarind paste and bring to a boil.
6. Add this to the pressure cooker and add the salt.
7. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat.
8. Serve hot with rice.

Alu Palak (Potato with Spinach)

Tried out this recipe today... Came out pretty well... For the record...

3 medium size potatoes - peeled, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1 medium onion chopped
1 tsp chilli powder (adjust)
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
4-5 cubes of frozen spinach (you can add more)
salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat some oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds.
2. Once they start spluttering, add the onion and fry it till translucent.
3. Now add all the dry spices and salt and fry for 2 mins (take care the spices don't burn).
4. Add some water and put the potatoes and let cook for 10 mins (on sim) stirring frequently and adding water if necessary.
5. Now add the spinach and cover and cook till the potatoes are done (again adding water when necessary).
   
6. Mix well and serve with roti or rice.

Its quiet simple and gets done quiet fast. Its healthy at the same time.