First Few Recipes

So I have been trying to get a handle on the cooking over here- its hard since there is no oven, no microwave, and a lot of the food is just really different. I don't remeber ever being just so totally at a loss as when Ujwala our maid fixed rice the first time in the middle of the day, and then I realized I need to re-heat it at dinner. No microwave and already cooked rice are not a good combination, just sort of burns onto the bottom of the pan, or gets really mushy if you add more water. At least, thats the best I have been able to figure.

So here are a couple of the recipes we have had so far, and they seem fairly consistent. Andy doesnt eat meat, so we are pretty heavy on vegetables over here. The big thing is the spices. There are about 6 spices that are in almost everything, I have pictures them here: Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder, Hot Red Chile Powder, Cumin Seeds, and and Masala Mix (our household seems to be heavy on the Sabji Mix, basically "vegetable spices"). The last spice is a mix of onion, red chile, turmeric, coriander, garlic, salt, and ginger, gong by the name of Kanda Lasoon.




The okra and eggplant purchased from the little boy who runs the vegetable stall at the bottom of our building.

Bhindi Masala:
Cut 1/2 kilo okra into 1/2 inch rounds. Rough chop one small onion. Fry onion in oil in a hot pan on low-ish heat til soft. Add okra, big sprinkle of red chili, tumeric, chili powder, and a smaller sprinkle of salt. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes.












Brinjal Masala:
1/2 kilo small eggplant, cut into thin-ish strips. Chop one small onion, fry on low heat in hot pan until soft. Add eggplant, let cook. Add one roma tomato, chopped or cut into strips. Add 1 tablespoon salt. Add sabji masala, tumeric, coriander, medium sprinkle of each. Add 1 Tablespoon oil if needed, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Yellow Dahl:
Heat 3/4 cup cooking oil, add small sprionkle of coriander, tiny bit of caraway seed. Cook for 2 minutes, and one small chopped red onion, one roma tomato chopped, cook til all soft. In pressure cooker, cook 1 cup dried yellow lentils with water til pressure cooker is ready- should rattle or squeal. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric to lentils. Add tomato & onion to lentils, should look soupy. Cook down til not watery anymore.