Sep 28, 2007

A curry and a drink

I know I am two days late for RCI and AFAM (what a shame!), but I am hoping Asha would include my entry in the roundup. I have been extremely busy last week and had no time to blog. My parents arrived in the US this Monday and the last few days we were busy cleaning the house, buying stuff, making trip plans, and cleaning some more.

RCI: Karnataka

Half cauliflower, couple of baby carrots, and few french beans...leftover vegetables in my refrigerator. No matter how many vegetables I use up in the week, some always remain and are carried forward to the next week. I mean, how much can 2 people eat?

I am always on the lookout for mixed vegetable recipes that give me the chance to clean my fridge of such leftover veggies. Pav bhaji, Kadhai vegetable, Vegetable Pulao are normal dishes. But after a while, we get bored of eating the same stuff again and again.

For RCI: Karnataka, I tried out a mixed vegetable curry from the book Curry Cuisine. This book contains veg and non-veg vegetable recipes from India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The Indian curries are categorized into North India (Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Lucknow, and Bengal), and South India. The book contains beautiful pictures of major spices used in these states.

Rasa Kayi are mixed vegetables cooked in tomato gravy and flavored with fennel seeds. This curry is a common preparation in Karnataka.


Rasa Kayi/Mixed vegetable curry
(Adapted from the book Curry Cuisine)
Serves:2-3


Ingredients:


  1. 1/2 cup carrots - washed and cut into 1inch pieces

  2. 1 boiled potato - cut into huge chunks

  3. 1/2 cup green beans - washed and cut into 1inch pieces

  4. 1 cup cauliflower florets

  5. 2 onions - cut into small pieces

  6. 3 tbsp vegetable oil

  7. 1 green chilli - slit lengthwise

  8. 1/2 tsp red chilli powder

  9. 1/2 tsp corainder powder

  10. 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

  11. Salt to taste

  12. 1/2 cup coconut milk

For the spice paste



  1. 2 garlic cloves - peeled

  2. 3/4 inch ginger root

  3. 1 green chilli - finely chopped

  4. 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)

  5. 2 tomatoes - washed and cut into huge chunks
Method:


  1. Grind all the ingredients for the spice paste in a blender. Add water if neccessary. Keep aside.

  2. Heat oil in a pan. Add the onions and green chilli. Cook untill the onions are soft. Add the carrots, red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt to taste. Mix well. Lower the heat and add the potatoes. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

  3. Add the cauliflower florets and green beans. Add the spice paste and mix well. Cook covered for 10-15 minutes.

  4. Remove pan from heat and slowly add coconut milk, stirring to blend well.

  5. Serve hot with puris/rotis/parathas or hot rice.

Verdict: This recipe is a keeper. The fennel seeds left out a beautiful aroma that wafted through my kitchen. The vegetables mixed with the curry were super tasty. As I said, this vegetable recipe is an excellent resource to use up leftover vegetables.


AFAM: Grapes


Grape Banana smoothie



  1. Add 2 ripe bananas and 2 handful of red/purple grapes in a blender. Blend to a smooth paste.


  2. Add 1 cup ice and crush it. Next add 1/4 cup milk and blend again.


  3. Serve cold.


Rasa Kayi is being sent to Asha for RCI: Karnataka, while the Grape banana smoothie is my entry for AFAM-Grapes.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

I am in love with the smoothie.... looks so delicious!!

Raaga said...

You can also send this to JFI Banana :-)

Timepass said...

Lovely recipes

musical said...

Hey Swaps, really great that your parents are visting, enjoy to the fullest! and these are two yummy recipes. Love the smoothie! Simple, filling and yummy to boot!
cheers,
musical.

Apple said...

I have had banana and grape smoothies seperately..this looks great...

FH said...

Swapna, I will gladly accept it, don't worry about being late sweetie!:))
Rasa Kai looks delicious, thanks for taking time. Smoothie is yum too. Enjoy your parents' stay!:))

Bindiya said...

Hi Swapna, isnt it great when parents come visiting , i am sure must be very exciting, both recipes look sooo good! enjoy yourself

Rina said...

Hi Swapna, the curry should be real good to enjoy with rotis or fried. Good smoothie with grapes too.

Tee said...

Loved the smoothie! never thought of adding grapes :)
Your refrigerator scenario resembles
mine :) Nice recipe to use the leftover stuff. Fennel seeds are always so refreshing...try adding them to phodniche pohe...you will love it. :)

Tee said...

oh and have fun with your parents...its always so nice to have parents around.

Swapna said...

Cinnamon:Do try it out. You will love it.
Raaga:I have something for JFI. Hope I make it on time.
Timepass:Thanks for the comment.
Musical: I am having a great time with my parents.Thanks!
Apple:The combination works out great too.Try it out.
Asha:Thanks so much. You are a sweetheart.
Bindiya:Yes, it's very very exciting to spend time with parents here.
Rina: Thanks for the comment,dear.
Tee: I can't imagine fennel seeds in fodniche pohe.But it seems interesting. Will give them a try.

Anonymous said...

I love the coconut touch in rasa kayi, Swapna. Enjoy your family :)

bha said...

mixed vegetable curry seems to be a good idea to use the leftovers....

Sig said...

Have fun with your parents Swapna... So your mom doing the cooking or you are cooking for them? Love that smoothie :)

Swapna said...

Linda and Bhags:Thanks for the comments.
Sig: Thanks dear. I am the main cook these days, while mom assists me. Our roles are now reversed:)