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.

Podalangai Curry

Also called Snake Gourd, the narrow, soft-skinned fruit can reach 150 cm long. Its soft, bland, somewhat mucilaginous flesh is similar to that of the luffa and the calabash. It is most popular in the cuisine of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The shoots, tendrils, and leaves are also eaten as greens.

Ingredients:

2 Podalangai
¼ cup Moong dal soaked
½ cup Coconut grated
1 tsp Oil
½ tsp Haldi
1 tsp Urad dal
1 Red chilli
Salt to taste
1 tsp Mustard seeds

Method:

Wash and cut the podalangai into small pieces.

Soak the moong dal for 10-15 mts. Take oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add urad dal, red chilli and saute till brown. Add podalangai, moong dal, haldi, salt and little water. Cook till done with cover. After done, remove from fire, add coconut and serve hot..

Aloo Podimas

Aloo fry is a regular at everyone's home but how about adding some cocnut to it and give it that pakka south indian touch.....

Ingredients:

6 Potatoes medium size
1 tsp Urad dal
1 tsp Chana dal
1 inch Ginger chopped finely
3 clove Garlic (chopped)
1 Onion big ( chopped)
7 Green chilli (chopped)
Juice of 1 small lemon
¼ cup Fresh coconut (grated)
3 Tbsp Oil
Salt to taste
1 stks Dhaniya
½ tsp Mustard seed
Curry leaves



Method:

Boil and peel potatoes. Cut roughly and keep aside. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard, urad dal, chana dal and saute. Add curry leaves, onion, garlic, green chilli and saute.











Add haldi, aloo, salt, and fry on low flame till crispy.

Remove from fire, add lemon juice, coconut and serve.