Cabbage - Tomato Dal

Cabbage - Tomato Dal is a gravy dish. Dal is nice to have with almost all the main dishes. This is an easy and simple dish and all age group of people can njoy having this cabbage - tomato dal.

I have used tomatoes, cabbage and Moong dal.
Let us see some benefits of having " Garam Masala in our diet ".
Garam Masala is mixed spice powder. Coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom, clove, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, pepper pods, nutmeg and other spices are roasted slowly and then ground together to prepare home made garam masala powder.
Garam Masala helps to fight disease and build immunity. It helps to relieve pain and inflammation.
It slow down the aging process. It helps to lose weight. Garam Masala helps the food to digest easily and keep our body warm. It helps to lower the blood sugar level and detoxify the body. They also hep the bad breath away.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this "Cabbage - Tomato Dal".

Ingredients :

Moong dal/Toor dal  : 1/2 Cup
Cabbage : 2 Cups
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Tomatoes : 2 to 3
Garam Masala Powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Rasam Powder : 1 Teaspoon
Salt : As required
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Dry ginger powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Coriander leaves : 1 Tablespoon

Method 

1. Wash and cut cabbage into small pieces. Wash and remove the seeds and cut tomatoes.
2. Wash and cut green chilly.

3. Wash and cook moong/toor dal in a pressure cooker and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and jeera.
5. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves and cut green chilly.
6. Add cut cabbage and fry it for a minute. Now add cut tomatoes and mix it well.

7. Add turmeric powder and a glass of water. Let the cabbage and tomato cook nicely till soft.

8. Add cooked moong dal and mix it well. Add salt and let it boil for a minute.

9. Add garam masala and rasam powder and mix it well and water if required.

10. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

11.Shift the curry to a serving dish. Add ghee and coriander leaves.
12. Serve it with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Pressure cooking the dal mixes well with cabbage and tomatoes. Adding any spice of your choice is optional. Adding more/less spice and oil is optional. Adding ghee is optional. Adding onions and garlic to the curry is optional.
Time : 25 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4.

Kadaayi Paneer My style

Kadaayi Paneer is one of the famous yummy dish which most of the people love to have it with rotis, chapatis or any type of bread (Naan).

I wanted to prepare this Kadaayi Paneer since long back. One of the friend in Face book, Roopa Satish requested me to prepare this long back. My sons like Paneer and I am not a big fan of Paneer. Once in a while it is ok to have, though it is one of the milk content. I am fond and big fan of milk and ghee.
Let us see some benefits of having " Paneer" in our diet.
Paneer is made from milk and it has good source of proteins. Paneer is very popular in India. Paneer is known as cottage cheese, Paneer takes longer time to digest so it keeps the hunger away. Paneer is loaded with calories and it is very good for hard working people. Paneer contain calcium and good for healthy bones and teeth. It also help in improving the metabolism of our body. Paneer is one of the nutritious food for vegetarians.
Kadaayi means a pot, which is used for cooking. I have used 200 grams of Nandini Paneer, which is one of the reliable good suppliers for milk and milk product here in Karnataka.
I have used tomatoes, fresh roasted spices, cashews and fresh milk cream here.
NO ONIONS OR NO GARLIC IS USED IN THIS ' KADAI PANEER' .

Lets see the recipe :

Things Needed :

To Cook:
Paneer : 200 grams (Nandini)
Capsicum : 1

To Grind 
Tomatoes : 2 (Medium size)
Ginger : half inch
Cashew Nuts : 1 Tablespoons
Tamarind : A small marble size
Dry roasted spices

To Dry roast 
Coriander seeds : 2 Tablespoons.
Jeera: 1/2 Teaspoons
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Red chilly : 3 to 4

To Season 
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Jeera : 1/2 Teaspoon

 To Add :
Ground spice paste
Garam Masala powder : 1/2 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Kasoori Methi ( Raw Methi powder ) : 1 Tablespoon
Fresh Cream : 2 Tablespoons
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Cut paneer into small pieces.

2. Wash and boil tomatoes for 2 minutes. Remove the outer skin and cut into small. Keep it aside.
3. Wash and cut capsicum (remove the seeds and bulb) and cut into small pieces. Soak Paneer pieces in Hot water. 

4. Keep a pan and dry roast coriander seeds, jeera, pepper and red chilly. ( I used byadagi chilly).

5. Grind it with tomato pieces, cashews, ginger, tamarind and roasted spice mixture.

6. Keep a little pan and heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and jeera. Let jeera turn slightly brown.
8. Add cut capsicum and fry nicely till it turns soft. Put off the fire.

9. Keep little bigger pan on the fire and put ground spice, cashew mixture. Add salt and garam masala powder . Mix all the ingredients nicely. Add a pinch of turmeric powder. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add water if required.

10. Add Paneer pieces (only the paneer pieces) and mix it nicely. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.

11.Add Kasoori Methi and mix it. Add fried capsicum and mix it well. Let it boil for a minute.

12. Kadaai Paneer is ready to serve. Shift the ready Kadaai Paneer to a serving dish.

13. Add cut coriander leaves and fresh cream on the top and serve.

14. Serve with your choice of Roti/poori/naan/chapati ...

Note :

Frying paneer pieces in oil is optional. (Not that healthy).
Put the fried Paneer in Hot water so that paneer pieces will be soft and yummy.
Adding more spice like chat masala or any other spices is optional. Adding butter/fresh cream according to your wish. (More calories :) ). Use of fresh roasted spice adds to the taste. You can also use coriander powder and jeera powder instead of roasting the spice. Use of any brand " Paneer " is optional.
Time : 20 to 25 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5 

Lady Finger - Tomato Curry

Lady Finger/Bendekai/Okra is liked by many. It is loaded with healthy medicinal values. 

I have used tomatoes and lady finger and prepared this curry.
Lets see some benefits of eating Lady Finger in our diet. 
Lady finger is loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber. It helps in easy digestion of food and good for people who suffer from constipation. It is good for diabetes. It contain Vitamin K and it is good for strengthening bones in our body. It is said that it is good for sun stroke. It does contain good nutrients and good for obesity. Lady finger contain Vitamin C and good for healthy skin. It controls the levels of cholesterol and improves the immunity system in our body. Lady finger is loaded with antioxidants.
Lets see the recipe Now : No Onion or No garlic is used in this Lady Finger - Tomato Curry .

Things Needed :

To cook :
Lady Finger : 250 Grams
Tomatoes : 2
To Add : 
Masala Powder : 2 Tablespoons
Jaggery : 1 Tablespoon
Lemon : 1 Teaspoon
Sat : Required
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.
Green chilly : 1
To Season : 
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/ Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 3 to 4
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1. Wash and remove all the moisture from lady finger and cut into thin slices.
2. Wash and cut tomatoes (remove the seeds) and keep it aside.

3. Wash and cut coriander leaves, curry leaves and keep it aside. Slit green chilly.
4. Keep a pan and put oil. Put mustard seeds and let it splutter.
5. Add jeera/cumin seeds, methi seeds, curry leaves and ingh.
6. Add cut lady finger pieces and fry nicely till they turn soft.
7. Add tomatoes and jaggery and fry nicely till it is cooked. (On medium flame). Add cut green chilly.

8. Add salt, masala (spice powder) and mix it well. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes. Add lemon extract (1/2 Lemon) and put off the fire.

9. Shift the ready curry to a serving dish and add cut coriander leaves.

10. Serve as one of the side dish with rice, chapati, poori or roti.

Note :

No need to add any water. Fry lady finger pieces nicely in oil. So it does not become sticky. Adding any spice powder to curry is optional. (I have added home made spice powder). Adding onions and garlic is optional. Adding jaggery is optional.
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 2 to 3 

Home Made Spice powder Recipe :

Dry roast :

4 to 5 Tablespoons of Coriander seeds
1 Teaspoon of Jeera /Cumin Seeds
1 Teaspoon of Channa dal (Kadale bele)
1 Teaspoon of Urid dal
8 to 10 Red byadagi chilly
Ingh /Asafoetida : a littel
Curry Leaves : One handful.

Dry roast each ingredients separately till they turn slightly brown. Dry grind once they turn cool.
Store in air tight bottle.