40. Gajrela

Final Outcome: Excellent!!!

        I made this for Holi. Custom dictates 'Pooran Poli' for holi but I ...... well good food is what matters right?

Recipe:
Ingredients:
Carrots: 2 small grated
Milk: 1 litre
Rice: soaked and coarsely ground.
Cardamom powder: 1/2 tsp
Ghee: 1 tbsp
Cashew nuts roughly chopped: 8-10
Raisins: 8-10
Sugar: 1/4th cup
Khova/condensed milk: 1 tbsp (optional)

Method:
1. Heat Ghee in a pan. add Cashews and raisins. Fry till they turn golden brown.
2. Add Grated carrot and let it cook for a couple of mins. Then add milk. Let it cook for about 15 mins stirring continuously.
3. Add sugar, cardamom powder and ground rice.
4. Stir continuously for about 10 mins until it thickens.

It is thicker than it looks in the picture.

37. Veggies Dal

Final Outcome: Very Very Tasty!!!

        This is a very tasty dal, completely worth the effort.

Recipe:
Ingredients: (please note all veggies have to be coarsely chopped as shown above)
Toor Dal: 1 cup
Carrots: 2
Potato:1
Raw Banana: 1
Egg Plant/Brinjal: 2
Pumpkin: about 200 gms (a handful of pieces)
Drumstick: 1
Ash Gourd: 7-8 pieces
Cumin: 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder: 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder: 1/2 tsp
Turmeric: A pinch
Garam Masala: 1 tsp
Oil
Salt
For the masala paste
Cumin: 1/2 tsp
Coriander seeds: 1/2 tsp
Grated fresh or dry dry coconut: 1/4th cup

1 or 2 red chilies
Onion chopped: 1
Ginger paste: 1 tsp
Tamarind juice: about 1 tsp
Green Chili: 1

Method
For the masala 
Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin and coriander seeds. Add the dry red Chile, green Chile and onion and cook. After onion is tender add grated coconut stirring continuously till the mixture becomes golden brown. Add the ginger paste and tamarind paste and blend into a smooth paste. 

For Dal
1. Soak the toor dal for about 30 minutes. Add turmeric powder and 3 cups of water and pressure cook till the dal is done. Once done mash it well.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds. Add the Drumsticks, ash gourd,  potato, carrots . Let it cook (covered) for some time (these veggies take more time to cook).
3. Add raw banana, brinjals, pumpkin, coriander powder, cumin  powder and garam masala and stir for some time. Add water and salt, cover and cook till the vegetables done.
4. Add the cooked dal, masala paste (from above) and about 1 cup of water.
5. Bring it to a boil. Its ready!

        Its 11.30 p.m so no chit-chat. I better get some sleep. Have a very hectic day ahead.