Mushroom Capsicum Curry - served with Pita Bread

• Cut capsicum (1 large) and mushroom (6-7 large white) into pieces - not too small
• Create a puree by grinding tomatoes (1-1.5), dry coconut, red chillis, cloves (4-5), cinnamon sticks (1-2), ginger and garlic. You can add onions to this for more body.
• Fry some chopped onions. After they turn golden, add the puree. Add a tsp of tomoato paste (adds good color and look and feel to the dish.
• Side by side - saute capsicum and mushroom.
• When the masala is kinda cooked, add the veggies. Let it cook for a few minutes.
• Add a cup of water and cover and let it simmer for a while.
• Garnish with cilantro. Serve with warm pita bread.

Palak Paneer

• Microwave spinach for 10 minutes with a few teaspoons of water. Soak 4-5 cashews.
• Grate onions finely.
• Peel 2-3 tomatoes (for peeling - slit the tomato - and microwave for <1>
• In a mixie create a puree using - peeled tomatoes, cashews, salt, red chilli powder, turmeric.
• When the spinach cools, using the mixie blend it.
• In a frying pan, heat some oil. Add 2-3 elaichi to it when hot.
• Saute the onions.
• Add the puree - and let it cook (till masala seems to separate)
• Add spinach to it.
• Add paneer.

Cooks fast and is good to eat. Tastes better the next day :)

Kofta curry with Falafel

- Heat oil in a pan and fry finely chopped onions + paste of (ginger + garlic + chillies) till they turn golden [High heat]
- Add Turmeric + red chillies + salt + 1/2 tbsp sugar + coriander powder and heat for 3-4 min [High heat]
- Add tomato puree + fresh cut tomatoes - 3-4 min [High heat] - till the oil looks separate from the masala
- 4 tbsp of curd + 1/2 -1 cup of milk + paste of cashew (in mixie) + milk powder - 2-3 min of heat
- Add 1 - 2 tbsp Kashmiri masala (some exotic masala) - 5-6 min [Add water or milk based on consistency required]

Just before eating add Falafel - cook for 2-3 min.
Chopped coriander for garnishing

Bean Sprout Salad

• Soak beans overnight. Remove water next day. After couple of hours, boil these for 3-4 minutes.
• Add very small amount of salt.
• Add raisins, walnuts and chopped apples.

We love this salad and this is my own recipe - yay!!

Quick and Easy Tomato Soup

• 2-3 tomatoes; 1-2 carrots and 1 spoon moong dal.
• Pressure cook them with salt.
• Let it cool - blend it using blender.
• Before serving - Add butter, black pepper (onion powder - optional) - and let it come to a boil.

Tips - Dhania is a good garnishing for this soup.

Pav Bhaji

• Boil 3-4 potatoes. Mash them.
• Finely chopped 2 carrots, 10-15 beans, 1 large capsicum, little bit of cabbage - and a cup of peas. Microwave these veggies (with a little water and covered) for 5 minutes
• In 2 tablespoon of butter, fry 2 medium sized onions to golden brown.
• Add salt, laal mirch and ginger.
• Add 1-2 tomoatoes and/or puree.
• Add the potatoes, veggies and a cup of water
• Add 2 spoons of Pav Bhaji masala.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes.
• Serve with onions and lime and butter

Tips -
1. Boiling the potatoes in pressure cooker is faster.
2. Serves 4-5 people.