Spinach and Potato curry

Ingredients:
1 bunch of fresh spinach can substitute with frozen
2 cups of chopped cubed  potato
3 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon of paprika or red chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon of garam masala

Preparation:  Wash and cut the spinach.

Heat a pan with 3 tablespoon of oil, when hot add cumin seeds, when cumin seeds sizzle add turmeric powder and paprika powder immediately add the washed spinach and chopped potato after five minutes add salt.  Let it cook until uncovered for 18 to 20 minutes till the potato is done.  Add garam masala mix and cook for another two minutes.  

Serve with rice or chapati.  Serves 2.

Spinach and potato go so well together.  Both are available fresh throughout the year.  Buy spinach with the crisp leaves.  

Cauliflower curry

1 medium size cauliflower, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, half a carrot all washed and chopped
4 turmeric root about 2" inches, with skin removed can be substituted with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1 tablespoon of chopped ginger
3 tablespoon of oil
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1/2 salt or to taste

Heat oil in a pan.  When hot add cumin seeds, when cumin seeds sizzles add ginger and whole turmeric.

Saute for about a minute add chopped vegetables, cover and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

The vegetables taste best when cooked el dante.  Add salt turn the heat high mix cook for about 2 minutes and turn the heat off.  Serve with rice or chapati.  Serves 2.

Buy cauliflower with a compact head and no blemish.  Cauliflower is the member of the mustard family.  Using mustard oil for seasoning in this recipe enhances the taste.

Tomato Coconut Chutney

1 small tomato
1/2 cup fresh ground coconut
1 red chili adjust to taste

For Seasoning
2 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon channa dal
1 teaspoon urad dal
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
some cilantro for garnish

Chop tomato and grind it with coconut.  If necessary add some water.  The tomato has enough water you may not need to add water.  Remove the ground tomato and coconut from jar and pour it into a bowl add salt.

Season:  Heat oil in a pan on medium heat.  When hot add channa dal, urad dal, when dal turns brown add mustard seeds, when mustard seeds crackle add the seasoning to chutney.  Garnish with cilantro leaves.  Serves 2.

There is so many ways to make chutney.  This is another one of them.  This is a nice way to use up ripe tomatoes.  Serve with dosa, idli, upma or pongal.

Quinoa Kichadi

1/2 cup of Quinoa
1/4 cup of moong dal
2 cups of mixed vegetables
1/4 cup of frozen peas
8 cloves
2" stick of cinnamon
3 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 tablespoon of chopped ginger
1 teaspoon of green chili or to taste
1/2 teaspoon of Turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of asafoetida
3 tablespoon of oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Enough water for preparation

Boil one cup of water to it add cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and bay leaves.  Turn the heat off and let it come to room temperature.  When it is cool strain it with a tea strainer.  Discard the spice but keep the spice water.

Wash the quinoa and moong dal together and keep it aside.

Place a pan on medium heat with 3 tablespoon of oil.  When the oil is hot add cumin seed, after the cumin seeds sizzle add ginger and green chili, saute for about 30 seconds add turmeric powder, paprika, stir, add mixed vegetables and frozen peas, stir and add asafoetida and the spice water and let it cook covered for five minutes.  Keep it aside.

Take another pan with 2 cups of water on medium heat, add the washed quinoa and moong dal to it and let it cook for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes add salt and the cooked mixed vegetables to the quinoa-moong dal and cook till the water has evaporated - takes about 5 minutes.  

Serves 4.  Serve with raita or chutney.

Wonderful healthy Quinoa.  It is actually a seed which is eaten as a grain.  It has now become very popular in United States.  It has a nutty flavor and is easy to cook.  I use my rice recipes to make quinoa dishes it works out perfect.