Paneer Bhurji

Paneer for a vegetarian is a special delicacy which goes well with absolutely any kind of gravy. Paneer bhurji is one of the simplest kind of paneer sabji i have ever made. Usually my cooking/recipes are dictated by the time i have on hand & if you don't have any fancy ingredients in your pantry & the time; this is a good bet!

Ingredients

~ 1 cup of paneer crumbs

1 green bell pepper chopped

1 medium sized onion chopped

1 tomato diced

3-4 chopped green chillies

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1 tbsp jeera, 1/2 tbsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tbsp garam masala, 1 tsp amchur powder

Method

1. Heat some oil in a pan & add the jeera seeds. After the jeera seeds flutter, add ginger-garlic paste. Let them cook for 30 secs, then add the onions & chillies. Let the onions saute for 3-4 mins & add the bell pepper.

2. Let them cook for 2-3 mins & add chili powder & tomatoes. Let the chili powder cook for a minute & add the paneer crumbs. Let this cook for 2 mins & dust the masala & amchur powder. Add salt for taste. Garnish with coriander leaves. Tastes best with roti/parathas.

पाव भाजी- पिंकी के रसोई से

Damn it's so cool that I can write my recipe blogs in हिन्दी now!! और हमे ये बहुत पसंद आ रहा है!!! Moving forward, I don't think I have ever come across somebody who does not like Pav Bhaji, its real handy & brings that much needed variety to a vegetarian's plate! I have heard of several places in Nagpur which serve awesome Pav Bhaji but never really tried it myself since we always cooked it at our home which was very close to being restaurant style. I think this is also a very good way of getting your vegetable intake if you don't like all the vegetables by themselves. The recipe in this post is contributed by Pinky & sounds eqaully yummy. I just don't use beans like she has, but I know people who do. So here is the recipe to a delicious Pav Bhaji & Pulav.

Pav Bhaji Ingredients:
Pav Bhaji Masala 2 tbl sp, Red Chiili Powder, Turmeric, Cummin powder, Coriander powder, Potato 1 Cup (Boiled and mashed), French Beans 1 Cup (Boiled), Carrots 1 Cup (Boiled), Green Peas 1 Cup (Boiled), Capsicum 1 Cup (Boiled), Onions 3 Cups (Finely Chopped), Tomatoes 3 Cups (Finely Chopped), Cabbage 1 cup (Finely chopped), Ginger 2 tsp (Finely Chopped), Garlic 2 tsp (Finely Chopped), Coriander leaves, Salted Butter to taste, Lemon to taste, Salt to taste,Water, Pavs

Method:

1. Heat butter / oil in pan and add garlic and ginger.Fry until garlic turns slightly brown.
   Add onions and fry until transparent. Add the tomates, capsicum, cabbage and fry for 2 minutes.
2. Add turmeric, red chiili powder, cummin powder, coriander powder and fry for 2 minutes. Add Pav Bhaji Masala, Add all the vegetables, Salt and some water. Mash the vegetables properly and bring to Boil. Remove from flame. Garnish with Coriander , finely chopped onions and Butter.
3. Slit pavs horizontally leaving one edge attached. Apply butter (as desired) and roast open on a griddle till hot and soft with the surface crisp on both sides.

Veg Pulav Ingredients:
Basmati Rice, Finely chopped Mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, cabbage, beans), Finely chopped onions, Finely chopped tomatoes, Ginger garlic paste, Red Chilli powder, Cummin powder, garam masala powder, Hing, Coriander powder, Salt to taste, Bay leaves, Black pepper seeds, cloves, Cummin seeds, Coriander leaves
Method:
Heat oil in a vessel and add bay leaves, cummin seeds, black pepper seeds and cloves.
Add ginger garlic paste and fry for two minutes.
Add finely chopped onions and fry till they turn brown. Add cabbage and fry for two minutes.
Add all the spices and then add mixed vegetables and tomatoes. Fry for 3-4 minutes.
Add Basmati rice, salt, mix well and add water (double the quantity of basmati rice).
Allow it to boil (do not close the lid).
Simmer and close the lid only when little water remains. Let it cook for another 5 mins.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Methi Zunka

Zunka is an integral part of Maharashtrian food plate. Several types of zunkas are very popular like methi zunka, cabbage zunka, besan zunka etc. It's really easy to make & adds variety to the mundane routine of veggies in the diet of a vegeterian. Also, since besan in high in protein content, it is a good protein source for vegeterian people.

Ingredients

A bunch of methi leaves (~ 1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped onions (lengthwise)
1/4 cup besan
1 tbsp red chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
salt for taste

- Heat oil (4 tbsp)in a pan & add mustard seeds. Zunka tastes better when cooked in some
extra oil than normal since besan absorbs oil quickly. Once the mustard seeds temper, add a
pinch of hing.

- Add onions & let them simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add chilli & turmeric powder to this.

- Add methi leaves & let them cook for about 5-6 minutes. Add salt for taste & a pinch or two og
sugar to this mix. After methi leaves look cooked/tender, add besan.

- Let the turn a little golden by cooking for abt. 5-6 minutes or so & turn the stove off. Garnish
with cilantro. This tastes best when served with chapatis.