Bhakti Chai

My husband and I fell in love over a debate about the best chai!  One of our joint favorites: Bhakti Chai

It is spicy (rather than too sweet),...
comes in caffeinated, decaf, and unsweetened flavors,...
and is available for purchase online.
Mmm!

Cashew and Green Pea Bhaji

An easy recipe!  Especially with a rice cooker to make perfect brown rice!

CASHEW AND GREEN PEA BHAJI
Adapted from World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey

Ingredients
1 1/2 c whole raw cashews
1 1/2 T peanut oil
1 t whole mustard seeds
15-20 fresh basil leaves
1 fresh Jalapeno pepper
1 c fresh or frozen defrosted peas
3/4 t salt
brown rice

1. Soak the cashews overnight in water, covered by at least 3 inches.  Drain.
2. Heat oil in frying pan over medium heat.  Add mustard seeds.
3. As soon as the seeds start to pop, add the basil leaves and stir once or twice.
4. Add the cashews, chile, peas, and salt.
5. Cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes.
6. Serve over brown rice.

Dal Makhani

We are still talking about the amazing meal we had at Athidi Fine Indian Cuisine in Auckland! So, we decided to attempt making Dal Makhani, one of the dishes we had there. It was our first attempt at Indian food, ever...and it was delicious!

DAL MAKHANI
Adapted from Veggie Cookboook
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 c black lentils
1/3 c kidney beans
1 T chopped ginger
1 t turmeric powder
1 T red chili powder
1 t salt
3 T butter
1 T oil
1 t cumin seeds
1 T chopped ginger
1 T chopped garlic
1 chopped onion
1 t garam masala
1 can diced tomatoes or 2-3 diced tomatoes
½ c cream (or yogurt?)
Oil 1 tbsp.
Naan, rice, or roti

1. Wash and soak beans in 5-6 c water overnight.

2. Cook the soaked lentils and kidney beans in 5-6 cups of water with salt, red chili powder, turmeric, and grated 1 T ginger until beans are done/soft.  (This takes longer than you think!) Drain off some of the water and lightly mash bean mixture. Set aside.

3. Heat oil and butter in a thick bottomed pan. Add cumin seed and let it crackle. Add 1 T ginger, garlic, chopped onions, and cook till light golden brown in color.

4. Add garam masala and chopped tomatoes. Sauté till tomatoes are well mashed and fat starts to leave the masala. Add mashed beans to this mixture and little water (to desired consistency). Correct seasoning, and simmer at very slow flame for 15-20 minutes.

5. Add fresh cream and let it simmer for 5 minutes and turn off the heat.

6. Serve hot with naan, rice, or roti.

Aloo Matar

We tried a new recipe from our friend Angela and were simply delighted with the results! Who knew cooking Indian food could be so easy? Thanks, Angela!

ALOO MATAR

Adapted from allrecipes.com

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 medium onions, finely chopped

1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

1 bay leaf

4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup tomato puree

1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

naan or basmati rice

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onions, ginger garlic paste, and bay leaf. Cook until the onions are tender.

2. Mix in the potatoes and peas. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.

3. Stir the tomato puree, garam masala, paprika, sugar, and salt into the vegetable mixture. Continue cooking about 10-12 minutes.

4. Serve with naan or basmati rice.

Sri Lankan Sweet Potatoes with Cardamom and Chiles

Don't be scared by the spices in this recipe! It's really quite easy and all the ingredients were found in our local grocery store.

SRI LANKAN SWEET POTATOES WITH CARDAMOM AND CHILES

adapted from Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian

serves 6

Ingredients:

2 very large sweet potatoes (2 1/2 lbs)

1/4 t ground turmeric

5 T peanut oil or olive oil

3 whole dried hot (or mild) red chiles, broken into halves

2 whole cardamom pods

1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick

20 fresh curry or basil leaves

3 onions, cut into fine half rings

2 t crushed dried hot red chiles or chili flakes

1 1/2 t salt

1 1/2 T lime juice

rice

Directions:

1. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 3/4" chunks. Boil potatoes with the turmeric for 5 - 6 min, until sweet potatoes are tender, but still firm. Drain.

2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red chiles and stir until chiles darken (a matter of seconds). Add the cardamum and cinnamon. Stir once or twice and then put in curry leaves. Stir once and add onions.

3. Cook onions for 5-6 min or until they are lightly browned.

4. Add sweet potatoes and cook for 5 min.

5. Add crushed red chiles, salt, and lime juice. Stir and cook until sweet potatoes are tender to taste.

6. Remove half chiles, cinnamon, and cardamom before serving.

7. Serve with rice.