Dum Aloo gravy with French Beans Buttered Rice

Sunday Lunch calls for something special as all family members are home.

So here goes.....

Dum Aloo

Ingredients:

Potatoes- 2 medium diced or 10 baby potatoes

2 Onion medium chopped

3 Tomato medium pureed

2 Cloves

2 Elaichi (Cardomom)

1 inch Cinnamon

1 tsp Jeera (cumin seeds)

1 Bay leaf

1 Cup Coconut Milk (first milk)

Salt to taste

Pinch Haldi (turmeric powder)

4-5 Dry red Chillies

1 tbsp Ghee (Butter)

1 inch Ginger chopped finely

2-3 cloves Garlic (chopped finely)

1 tsp Garam Masala (all spice powder)

Method:

Peel potatoes, pierce with fork and soak in salt water for 1/2 hour. Drain and sprinkle haldi. keep aside.Grind ginger, garlic, red chillies to paste.

Heat Ghee in a pan or pressure cooker, add whole spices, let it splutter. Add finely chopped Onion, ginger paste and saute till raw smell goes off. Add tomato puree and cook again. Add salt, potatoes, haldi, coconut milk, garam masala, and little water if required. Pressure cook upto 2 whistles, garnish and serve with choice of breads or rice. (you can add little peas if you like for a variation).

French Beans Buttered Rice.

Ingredients:

1 Onion big sliced

1 Tomato big chopped

100 gms French Beans chopped

1 cup Basmati Rice

2 Cups coconut milk (fresh 1st and 2nd milk mixed)

Salt to taste

1 tsp Cumin Seeds

2-3 tsp Ghee/ Butter (can also take oil)

2 Cardamom, Cloves, Cinnamon (each)

3/4 tsp Garam Masala (all spice powder)

1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder or 3 green chillies slit

2 stalks Coriander leaves or Mint leaves for garnish

Method:

Soak rice for 15 mts. Take a pressure cooker, heat butter/ghee, add whole spices and cumin seeds. Let it splutter, add onions, green chillies and saute till light brown. Add tomatoes and saute. Add salt, garam masala, red chilli powder if not using green chillies, french beans and saute. Add rice, coconut milk and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Garnish with coriander or mint leaves and serve hot.

I have taken 1:2 ratio for cooking rice.

Simple Tomato Rice with Spicy Potato Fry

Do you always seem to have leftover rice on hand? If you've got some leftover rice that you'd rather not go to waste, here are some easy ways to turn your plain steamed leftover white or brown rice into a fabulous new meal or side dish! Read on for some uses for leftover rice.

Tomato Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup Leftover rice

1 tomato big chopped

1 green chilli chopped (big)

Curry leaves

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Urad dal

1 tsp chana dal

1/2 tsp Haldi

5-6 Cashews (optional)

Salt to taste

2 tsp oil

1 stalk dhaniya for garnish (coriander leaves)

Method:

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard, urad dal, chana dal, cashew and saute till light brown. Add curry leaves, green chilli and saute. Add tomato, salt, haldi, cook till it becomes a masala. Add rice and toss lightly. Serve garnished with coriander leaves.

Note: I have added some boiled peas to make it look colourful. Its completely up to you what all to add.

Potato Fry:

1 Potato (big cut into small pieces)

3 tsp oil

1/2 tsp haldi

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

Salt to taste

Curry leaves

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/2 tsp Urad dal

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard, urad dal and saute. Add curry leaves, potato, salt, haldi, red chilli powder and mix well. Cook covered till done. Serve hot.