Bitter gaurd Curry

This is one of my favorite vegetable. I know......... its bitter, very healthy. I like this vegetable since my childhood, as my mom used to make curry out of this. The way she used to make it, used to be really bitter. But there are some ways to reduce the bitterness. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
4 bitter gaurd/Karela ( chop into small pieces)
lime size Tamarind
Sambar powder
Salt
Sesame powder- 1 tbsp
Jaggery - lime size
tuemeric powder.

method:
Chop the bitter gaurd into small cubes ,(finely) add little salt and turmeric powder. Mix well keep aside for an hour. soak tamarind in some water. After 1 hr, squeeze the water out of bitter gaurd, discard the water.

Now in a heavy pan, add oil. once it is hot add mustard seeds,jeera,curry leaves,urad dal, chana dal, bitter gaurd. Fry for 4-5 mins, add tamarind juice (sueeze tamarind in the water) using strainer. let it cook for few more mins. Now add sambar powder, salt(very little becoz the vegetable might have already absorbed salt initially) jaggery ,sasame powder. Garnish with chopped coriander.

Goes well with chapathis / rotis/ cooked rice.

Tips: Use light green bitter gaurd, as they are less bitter than the dark ones.

Spicy Baingan Bartha

Indian Eggplant ( baingan In hindi ) Curry is one of the loveliest brinjal recipes for sure.
Its simple yet delicious.......

Ingrdients:

5 Indian Eggplants( i used round ones, can definitely use long ones too)
1 big onion chopped finely
1 big tomato chopped finely
Red chilli powder- 2 tbsp
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1 tsp
salt to taste
Garam masala- 1 tbsp
frozen peas- 1/2 cup
2 chopped Green chillies
Seasoning- mustard,jeera,urad dal, channa dal,curry leaves

Method:
There is two ways of preparing this.
slit the eggplant, brush it with oil and microwave for 5-6 mins in high. Depending on microwave minutes may vary, just make sure its almost boiled. cool it for few mins, peel off the skin and mash it or put it in food processor. keep it aside.

Another way is cut the eggplant and put it into boiling water.Add some salt and boil the eggplant until tender. Strain the water , cool it for few mins, peel the skin off and mash it in food processor keep it aside.

I have tried both the ways and both turned out good.
Heat the oil in heavy pan,add seasonings and ginger garlic paste. Add oniond, stir fry for 5-6 mins . Add tomatoes and simmmer it until oil seperates. Now add all the spices and saute for few more mins. Add mashed eggplant and mix well.Now add peasd, salt, little water to get thick consistency. Keep stirring it for 5-10 mins so it doesnt stick to the bottom of pan. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Goes well with chapathi/Roti/Naans. Adding lemon juice to it will bring up the flavor .

Basil Fried Rice

Basil is a member of the Mint family, and like most other mints, is mainly used in medicine for its digestive and anti-gas properties. I just love to put few leaves of basil in every dish i make. Initially i hated the basil flavor to the core, i tried 3-4 times before i started liking it. And today i love the falvor.
Here is the simple Fried Rice recipe. Try it and i'm sure you will enjoy it too.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked Rice
4 cloves of Garlic
4 Green chillies
1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper(chopped lengthwise)
1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper(chopped Lengthwise)
1 cup basil
Salt
Soya sauce
Ketchup(optional)

Method:
mash the garlic and green chillies finely, so that the you dont get big chunks of chillies.
I used Kuttani(copper one which my mom gave me).You can already smell the flavor by this time.

In a kadai , heat up the oil and add mashed garlic chillie , fry for few mins (2-3 mins) and now add green and red bell peppers. Fry it for 3 mins again. Add cooked rice, salt, soya sauce mix everything well. Leave it for 2 mins and now add basil to it. Mix well, cover the lid and simmer it for 3 mins.

Flavorful basil fried rice is ready to serve with ketchup