Palak Paratha

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

You will need:

1. Spinach/Palak: 2 cups - roughly chopped
2. Green chillies: 2-3 nos.
3. Garlic pods: 2 nos.
4. Wheat Flour: 3 cups
5. Salt: According to taste
6. Cooking Oil: 1 tsp
7. Water

Palak Paratha

To cook:

• Boil water in a pan and add the chopped spinach. Let it simmer for at least 5 minutes. Then set it aside and let it cool
• Once cooled, puree the boiled spinach along with the green chillies and garlics in a blender
• Now mix the wheat flour, spinach puree, salt and oil in a bowl. Add water and knead into a dough
• Roll the dough into 6" chapatis and cook on a skillet spreading oil on both sides
• Serve hot with your favorite curry!

Simple Dal with a twist

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4 people

You will need:

1. Toor Dal: 1 cup
2. Chana Dal: 1/4 cup
3. Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
4. Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
5. Garlic pods: 1 no.
6. Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp
7. Red chillies: 3-4 nos.
8. Coriander
9. Water: 1 cup
10. Oil: 1 tsp
11. Asafoetida/Hing: 1 pinch
12. Salt: according to taste

To cook: 

• Boil the toor and chana dal in a pressure cooker. The chana dal adds thickness to an otherwise liquidy dal. 
• Once the dal is cooked, add water, salt and coriander and bring to boil.
• Temper this with oil, hing, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies and garlic. 
• Makes a great combination with rotis!

Easy Capsicum Stir Fry

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2 people

You will need:

1. Capsicum/Green Pepper: 1 nos - chopped
2. Potatoes: 2 nos
3. Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
4. Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
5. Curry powder: 1 tsp
6. Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp
7. Red chill powder: 1 tsp
8. Besan/Gram flour: 2 tsp
9. Peanut powder: 1 tsp (optional) 
10. Water: 1/2 cup
11. Salt: according to taste

Capsicum Stir Fry

To cook:

1. Heat oil in a skillet and add the mustard and cumin seeds.
2. Once the seeds start to splutter, add the turmeric powder, chopped peppers and potatoes. 
3. Once the vegetables are done, add salt and red chilli powder. 
4. Add the water and let it simmer. 
5. Once the water starts to boil, add the gram flour. Stir quickly to avoid getting lumps. 
6. Then add peanut powder and mix well.
7. Serve hot with chapatis!

Spinach Rice

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4 people

You will need:

1. Spinach:1 bunch - roughly chopped
2. Onion: 1 no. - diced
3. Green chillies: 2-3 nos.
4. Garlic pods: 1 nos.
5. Cumin seeds:  1/2 tsp
6. Cloves:  3-4 nos.
7. Cardomon: 3-4 nos.
8. Black Pepper seeds: 3-4 nos.
9. Cinnamon: 1/2 inch stick
10. Bay leaves: 1 no.
11. Cashews: 3-4 nos. 
12. Dhaniya-Jeera powder: 1/2 tsp
13. Cooking Oil: 1 tsp
14. Salt - according to taste
15. Rice: 1 1/2 cups: washed

Spinach Rice

To cook:

• Heat water in a pan and add the chopped spinach. Once done, keep it aside and let it cool
• In a blender, puree the cooked spinach, green chillies and garlic.
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add the cumin seeds and the rest of the spices. 
• Once you get an aroma of the spices, add the diced onions and saute until golden brown.
• Now add the pureed spinach mixture and stir for about 2 minutes.
• Add the washed rice and the dhaniya jeera powder and mix well. 
• Add about 3 cups of water and salt. Close the lid and let it cook until you get a couple of whistles. 
• Serve hot with raita!

Baby Lentils - Masoor dal

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Serves: 2 people

You will need:

1. Baby Lentils/Whole Masoor dal: 1 cup
2. Tomato: 1 no.
3. Onions: 1 no.
4. Ginger: 1/2 inch - finely chopped
5. Garlic cloves: 2 nos. - finely chopped
6. Garam Masala: 1/2 tspn
7. Coriander/Dhaniya powder:1/2 tspn
8. Cumin/Jeera powder: 1/2 tspn
9. Yogurt: 2-3 tbsp
10. Cooking Oil: 1 tbsp
11. Salt: according to taste

 

To cook:

• Pressure cook the masoor dal for a couple of whistles. Do not overcook, else it will become mushy.
• In a blender, puree the onions and tomatoes and keep the paste aside.
• Heat oil in a pan and add the ginger and garlic and saute until you get a nice aroma.
• Then add the onion-tomato puree and keep stirring until the raw smell disappears. 
• Now add the cooked masoor dal and give it a quick stir.
• To this, add the garam masala and dhaniya-jeera powder.
• Then add about 1 cup of water and salt and bring to boil.
• Turn off the heat and add the yogurt and mix well. Do not boil the gravy once the yogurt is added.
• Garnish with coriander and serve it hot with rice or chapatis!