Dal-Cauliflower Chutney

I know that the name sounds a little weird. I too felt the same when I first came across this recipe in a book. But the picture tempted me to try out the recipe and believe me, it was very tasty. Moong dal (Yellow mung beans) has a odd smell when cooked, and also the smell of cauliflower after it is cooked is not so inviting. Thinking about combining these two?? I thought it would either get into the fridge for decades and then land into the trash can or may be directly.
But then I took a chance, it came out so well that I wanted to share it with you guys.


Ingredients

2cups cauliflower (washed and cut into florets)
1cup moong dal
1tsp turmeric
1 tomato (optional)
chopped cilantro

For tempering

1/4 tsp mustard
1/2 tsp cumin
4 green chillies
Asafoetida
curry leaves

Preparation

combine Dal-cauliflower, turmeric and pressure cook it for two whistles. Add very less water to cook it. Water should be just sufficient to cook the dal well. Cauliflower gets cooked very fast.
Using a steel ladle slightly mix and mash the cauliflower and dal so as to get a thick puree like consistency.
In a frying pan add 2-3 tsp oil and temper with mustard, cumin, curry leaves, asafoetida, green chillies slit length wise and finely chopped tomatoes. When the tomatoes get cooked, add the dal-cauliflower mix and fold in well. Don't forget to add salt and cilantro. Enjoy it with Dosa, Idlies or rotis.

Potato Masala Sandwich and Mixed Fruit Custard

This weekend we had a lavish breakfast with some spicy potato-peas stuffing into the bread. I also prepared a custard with some berries and other fresh fruits. This one is for my beautiful friend Trupti's event WBB.



Ingredients for the potato masala.

3-4 boiled potatoes
2cup chopped onions
1cup fresh or frozen peas
1tbsp finely grated ginger
1/2 tsp garam masala (found in Indian Grocery store)
1/2 tsp tavafry masala (found in Indian grocery store)
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1tsp cumin seeds
oil
Salt
fresh chopped cilantro

Preparation

In a frying pan, add about 2-3tbsp oil and to it add cumin seeds. When they splutter, add ginger and onions. Fry well. Add potato and peas to this and fold them all together. Add all the other masala ingredients including salt and cook for about 10 minutes until the flavors blend in.
The Potato masala is ready for the sandwich.



Making Sandwich

4-6 slices of wheat bread. White bread lovers can use white bread. Spread butter to one side of the bread and top it with the masala and cover it with another bread. Now this goes in to the toaster until crisp on the outside. Depends on how crispy you want it to be. Yummy sandwich can be enjoyed with tomato ketchup and cuppa tea.


Fruit Custard

Ingredients

1cup raspberries
1cup grapes
1 cup sliced bananas
1cup chopped apples
1/2 cup strawberries
1tsp crushed green cardamom
dash of Saffron
2tbsp of custard powder
2 cups of milk
2-3 tbsp sugar
whipped cream for topping



Preparing the custard

Warm the milk and add custard powder and sugar to it. Do not add custard powder to hot milk as it will form lumps. While the milk starts heating up in 2-3 minutes the custard powder should be added. Also Add crushed cardamom to this and keep stirring in medium-low heat. keep stirring slowly till the custard get a semi thick liquid consistency.
See the picture.


let it cool. Add saffron to this and stir well. now add all the fruits and decorate as you wish. If you want to let it stay in the fridge, that will be great. You can serve chilled topping it with whipped cream.

Gajar ka Halwa (Carrot Halwa)

I made this sweet for all my dear friends in the blog sphere, who visit me every day, care, share and comment on all my recipes weather good or bad no matter what. I am so glad that I am among you lovely people.
I give this treat to all my lovely friends in the blog sphere on the occasion of my birthday.


Ingredients

2cups grated fresh baby carrots.
1cup sugar
2-3tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
1/3tsp crushed green cardamom
7-10 cashews and raisins
Almonds to garnish


Preparation

In a heavy bottomed pan add ghee and when it melts add grated carrots. I use food chopper to chop the baby carrots. Makes job easy. Carrots can also be crushed in blender without adding water to small pieces. Fold the ghee and carrots together, cover it with lid and let it cook on low heat for about 20 minutes.
Add sugar and crushed cardamom to this and mix well. Let it stay in medium flame till the moisture is evaporated.
In a separate pan, fry cashews and raisins till golden brown and add to the Halwa. Yummy Gajar ka halwa is ready. Garnish with Almonds or Pistachios.