Take the basic semolina pancake recipe up a level: fortify it with carrot and cucumber, flavor its base with a dash of dahi, spice it up with ginger and chilies. Carrot cucumber rava cheela works really well for brunch or in the lunchbox with tomato pickle on the side.
Vegetables
Aloo Tinda ki Sabzi: Potato Apple Gourd Curry
Home-style aloo tinda ki sabzi, cooked with tomatoes and spices.
If tinda is unfamiliar to you, here’s an intro:
Karela Masala Fry: Bitter Gourd Side Dish
In this karela masala fry recipe, spice-coated bitter gourd slices are pan-fried on low heat leisurely till they crisp up and lose all but a hint of their native bitterness. Serve karela masala fry to folks who shun bitter gourd – watch them be pleasantly surprised at how mellow this dreaded vegetable can be!
Methi Toor Dal Dry, with Caramelized Onions
Methi toor dal dry was a revelation when I first tasted it. I was keen to learn what ingredients and techniques went into preparing this flavorful dish. My friend’s mom who had cooked the meal for us assured me that the secret was just a generous addition of onions, and the patience to caramelize said onions on low heat.
Patta Gobhi Aloo Matar: Cabbage Potato Peas Curry
You will find a delicious mix of flavors, textures and colors in this patta gobhi aloo matar ki sabzi (cabbage potato peas curry). There’s crunch from cabbage, tender starchiness from potatoes, a slight sweetness from peas, all ensconced in a mustard and spice flavor base.
Tomato Rice: Lunchbox Recipe
Tomato rice – this vividly colored one-pot meal is just right for boxing up and carrying to school or office. Plan ahead for rushed mornings: boil some extra rice at dinnertime, stash it away in the fridge overnight and, when it’s time to pack your lunch the next morning, put together tomato rice.
Sem Til ki Sabzi: Broad Beans in Black Sesame Sauce
Tender broad beans / fava beans (sem in Hindi) are cooked with an unusually colored, delicious black sesame sauce in this recipe. The dark, nutty flavor of the sauce brings out the earthiness of the broad beans.