cauliflower dal

I have been searching for recipes to incorporate more vegetables into my little man's diet. He loves dal and rice so I have been making different dal (lentil) recipes with vegetables in them and the following recipe is one of the best ones' yet

Cauliflower Dal (Lentils with Cauliflower)

Cauliflower Dal

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup lentils
2. 1 to 1.5 cups cauliflower cut into small florets
3. 1 tomato chopped fine
4. 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
5. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, kalongi (nigella seeds), ginger garlic paste, turmeric
6. 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
7. 1 tablespoon oil
8. 3/4 teaspoon salt
9. 2 green chilli chopped

Cook the dal with 3 cups Simmer until the dal is tender, about 20 to 35 minutes. Set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add all the seeds and fry for a minute. Add the onion and fry for a couple of minutes. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add the tomatoes, cauliflower, add half of the salt cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Add cauliflower to the dal and simmer for 10 minutes. Also add the green chillies. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Yummy Cauliflower fry and Karela Khatta

Cauliflower is one of those vegetables which people either love or hate. I haven't met anybody who is just 'ok' with Cauliflower. Mr. Phool Gobi is truely kind of bland. If you don't cook him right, he will just become mushy and aukky. But if you cook it right, it will become one of the most delicious vegetables you will ever eat.
            Today, the Cauliflower fry I am making is a delicious variation of your regular Cauliflower stirfry. And to go with it, I made Bitter gourd khatta. I know many people hate bitter gourd because...ofcourse, it is bitter. But if you know how to cook it, let me tell you, it tastes great. People who haven't tried it should try this recipe or the Karela Fry which I will post soon

Cauliflower fry (Stir fried Cauliflower with sesame seeds and spices)

Yummy Califlower fry

Ingredients:

1. 1 tablespoon each of poppy seeds, sesame seeds
2. 2 tablespoons cashew
3. 1/2 teaspoon cumin
4. 1 medium head of cauliflower broken into pieces
5. 1 medium small onion chopped fine
6. 1 green chilly chopped
7. 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
8. 1 teaspoon coriander powder
9. 1/2 teaspoon salt, chilly powder, turmeric
10. 2 tablespoons oil
11. Handful of chopped cilantro

Dry roast the ingredients from 1-3 and grind them to powder without any water and set aside. Microwave on high for 3 minutes the cauliflower pieces and set aside. In a pan heat the oil and fry the onions till they start to turn brown. Add green chillies and ginger-garlic paste and fry for a couple of minutes. Add drained cauliflower pieces and cover and cook for 5 more minutes. Open the cover and fry for 5 more minutes. Add all the ingredients stir to combine and fry for 5-8 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy

Karela Khatta (Bitter gourd cooked in tamarind juice)

Karele ka khatta

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb light colored bitter gourd scarped and cut into 1/2 cm circles
2. 1/4 cup juice of tamarind
3. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
4. 1 tablespoon oil
5. 1/2 cup chopped onions
6. 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
7. 1/2 teaspoon salt, chilly powder
8. 1 teaspoon sugar
9. 2 cups tamarind juice
10. Cilantro for garnishing

In a pressure cooker add the karela pieces along with 1/4 cup tamarind juice and turmeric and cook for one whistle. Open the cooker and drain the pieces and set aside. Wash the cooker and heat the oil and fry the cumin for 3 minutes. Add onions and fry till they start becoming dark brown. Add all the ingredients except karela pieces, cover and cook for 2 whistles. Let the steam escape, open the cooker, add the karela pieces and cilantro and simmer for 10 minutes. Enjoy with hot white rice