Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Aloo Methi

Aloo Methi in Marathi

Time: 30 to 40 minutes
Serves: 2 to 3 persons

Ingredients:
3 cups finely chopped Methi leaves
1 medium Potato, (peel and cut into medium cubes)
1 small onion, finely chopped (around 1/2 cup after chopping)
1 small tomato, pureed
For tempering:- 1.5 tbsp oil, 2 pinches mustard seeds, 1 pinch cumin seeds, 1 pinch hing, 1/4 tsp turmeric
2-3 green chilies, slitted lengthwise
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Tomato Puree - Immerse the tomato into a water-filled glass bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Then drain, puree and strain.
2) Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, turmeric and green chilies. Saute for few seconds. Add onion and cook 50 %. Then add potato cubes (Tip 1). Mix well, cover the pan and let the potato cook. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking.
3) Add tomato Puree and cook over high heat. Stir until tomato puree reduces and becomes very thick.
4) Now add chopped methi and 2-3 pinches of salt. Do not add too much salt as methi will shrink after sauteing. Stir over high heat.
5) Once methi reduces in size and water content in methi almost evaporates, reduce the heat and cook for couple of minutes. Add salt at this moment (only if required).
Serve hot with chapati.

Tips:
1) Boiled potato can be used to save time. In that case, follow the same steps except add boiled potato cubes at the end.
( tempering + Add onion and cook completely + Add tomato puree and cook until thickens + Add methi leaves and wait till the it shrinks + add potatoes cook for few minutes)
2) This sabzi tastes good without any spices. However, spices may be added as per your choice (garam masala, coriander - cumin powder).
3) Onion can be substituted by Garlic paste. Use 1 tsp garlic paste.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Fruit Salad

Fruit Salad in Marathi

Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Serves: 4 to 5 persons

fruit salad, indian fruit salad, fruit dessertIngredients:
1 medium banana
1 medium apple
1 medium orange
1/2 cup grapes
1/2 cup papaya, small cubes
Dry Fruits: - 2 tbsp sliced almonds, 1 tbsp sliced pistachio, 2 tbsp golden raisins, 1 tbsp cashews
1/2 cup condensed milk
1/2 cup milk

Method:
1) Preparation
Grapes: Use whole grapes. If the size is big, cut them into two halves. Also, use seedless grapes.
Orange: Peel the orange. Separate the wedges. Now remove skin and take out the fleshy part.
Papaya: Peel the papaya. remove seeds. Chop the papaya into medium cubes.
Banana: Peel the banana and make medium cubes.
Apple: Always cut the apple when you are ready to mix all the ingredients. Cut the apple, deseed and make small cubes.

Mix all the fruits. Add condensed milk and plain milk. [Amount of milk may vary. So first, add 1/4 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of condensed milk. Taste the fruit salad. If it is sweet enough then only add plain milk, if required.]
Add dry fruits, save some for garnishing.
Chill the fruit salad and serve as a dessert.

Tips:
1) You may add your choice of fruits like Chickoo, Pomegranate kernels, strawberries, Alfonso mango etc. [use any sweet or sweet and sour tasted fruits]