Methi/Fenu greek leaves Rice

I had some methi leaves with me and did not want to make the usual methi parathas(that I always make). I thought I"ll use the internet to search recipes for methi pulao or methi rice and I land up with so many recipes and each one is different. WOW, that speaks volumes on how tasty and flavored this dish could be. Not to mention, the different varieties in cooking it. Finally, I closed my browser and decided that I would be trying my own recipe because I did not have some ingrdients from some recipes or some other. Here is my recipe.Trust me, this is a very simple recipe. No roasted powders and no grinding. It is a fast fix recipe. Pack it in your lunch box and you are good for lunch. Or have it for dinner too. The smell of methi leaves as you cook the dish will fill your kitchen.

Here's what you will need:

Cooked rice - about 2 cups

1 small bunch of methi leaves, washed well and chopped

1 small onion, chopped finely

1 medium tomato, chopped

Cooking oil - 3-4 tablespoons(this is not a super healthy dish - the flavor comes from the excess oil used for methi leaves)

1/2 spoon mustard seeds

a few curry leaves

Lemon juice for garnish

Salt to taste

In a skillet/pan, heat all of the oil and once hot, add mustard seeds,asofoetida and curry leaves. Now add onions. Allow them to get cooked for 3-4 minutes;follow by tomatoes. After a couple of minutes, add the chopped fenugreek leaves and mix well. Allow it to cook till it wilts. This will take just a minute. Now, add salt and turn off the stove. Add the cooked rice and lemon juice and mix well. Serve hot or warm.. This can be eaten with pickle/yoghurt.

Dhaniya chutney - sandwich style

This is a different flavor to the usual Corriander chutney/Cilantro dip. This was the version that my mom used to make for sandwiches and I loved them as it gave a completely different taste to sandwiches.
We are planning a road trip for the Independence day week end and I thought it would be a good idea to pack a few sandwiches for the drive(being vegetarians we hardly find anything to eat on travel)




Here's the list of ingredients:
Cilantro - 1 medium bunch
Onion - 1 small,chopped
Bell peppers - 1/2 medium,chopped(Optional)
Green chillies/jalapeno peppers - to taste
ginger garlic paste - 1 spoon
sugar - 1 spoon(Yes,sugar!!!)
Lemon juice - to taste/1 Tbsp
Salt - to taste
Cooking oil - 1 spoon

There are two ways to make this chutney: One is by sauteeing the onion and bell peppers in a spoon of oil and then, on coolong,blending it together with the other ingredients; the other is to add all the ingredients in the blender. I used the first method.

In a skillet, add cooking oil for the saute and add onion pieces followed by bell peppers. Give it couple of minutes and switch off. allow it to cool.
In a blender jar, add all the ingredients along with the onion and bell peppers and grind to a smooth consistency.

This recipe will make about 6-8 sandwiches and stays good for about a week in the refrigerator.

To make sandwiches:
Slice Sandwich rolls or use bread loaves. Apply this dip to one side and stuff the rolls with veggies of your choice. I add grated carrots, sliced cucumbers,sliced tomatoes, few pieces of olives. Yum! I'm already drooling . You could also add mustard sauce/tomato ketchup/mayonnaise or pickle to other other side of the sandwich.

Cauliflower Stir-fry

This is a typical cauliflower stir-fry recipe and is a very common one too.

Here is the ingredient list:

1 medium cauliflower head,chopped

1 small onion,finely chopped

Green Chillies/jalapenos - to taste

1 spoon,kitchen king masala

ginger-garlic paste- 1 spoon(I used store bought)

cooking oil,for the saute

Cilantro leaves for garnishing

Ingredients for tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1/2 spoon
Curry leaves - few
asafoetida- a pinch(optional)

Soak the chopped cauliflower florets for 10-15 minutes in water to which turmeric powder has been added. This ensures faster cooking of the florets and also removes any germs that might be present.

Heat cooking oil(I used 2 tbsp) in a pan and add the temepring ingredients one after the other. Next add chillies/jalapenos followed by onions. Saute for a couple of minutes till onion is partially cooked. In the meanwhile,drain the water from the cauliflower peices. Add the pieces to the pan.Let it cook for about 10 minutes. Now add salt,kitchen king masala and mix well. the florets tend to give out water while cooking, hence wait till all the water has been absorbed.Switch off the stove. Serve as a side to rice/dal or rotis.

Paneer recipes

This dish is my own and tried out in my kitchen. It did come out pretty well and does taste similar to paneer makhani(or is it paneer makhani???!!! :) ). I love paneer and I am a little lazy to sometimes chop other vegetables for paneer dishes like Kadai paneer or Palak paneer. This dish of mine just needs onion and tomatoes. I am yet to name this dish. May be, one of you reading this recipe could suggest a name :)

Here is the list of ingredients:

2 cups paneer,diced into small cubes

1 medium onion,chopped

2 medium tomatoes,chopped

About 1 cup,milk or water

Chilli powder,to taste

1 spoon,Corriander powder

Salt to taste

1 spoon,Cumin seeds

cooking oil

cilantro leaves,for the garnish

In a skillet,heat 1 spoon oil and saute the chopped onions and tomatoes. Allow it cool and blend it to a smooth paste in a blender without any water.

Next, add 1-2 spoons oil in the same skillet. Once hot,add cumin seeds followed by the onion and tomato paste. Let it cook for about 4-5 mins. Next, add salt,chilli powder,corriander powder and mix well. Let it cook for a couple of minutes(This paste tends to burn if left unattended).

Now, add milk or water. Once it comes to a boil, add the chopped paneer pieces and give it one final mix taking care that the paneer pieces do not break. I do not generally fry paneer. But, if you wish then you can fry paneer in a teaspoon of oil in a separate pan and add it to the dish. Switch off the stove. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Serve hot with rotis,parathas or rice.

I served this with methi parathas.

Strawberry Smoothie

This is a strawberry smoothie that I just tried and am now blogging it. I wanted to have some refreshing fruit juice or smoothie and with strawberries lying in my refrigerator I made a strawberry smoothie. I faintly recollect reading somewhere that orange juice gives a nice zesty taste when added to fruits like strawberry. I wanted to verify this too :)

Toss in 3-4 medium sized chopped strawberries, a little orange juice and a couple of spoons of yogurt with sugar in a blender jar. Blend till smooth. Enjoy chilled.

                                                   I am sending this entry to this event

Also, I am sending this recipe to Divya for the event hosted at Dil Se here

Corn rice

I had a packet of frozen corn lying in my refrigerator for a long time. I was in no mood to preapre soup as it is already peak of summer. I did not know any other dish either. Finally, I discovered a recipe! Here is the link to the original recipe . I was delighted to find this. I have altered the recipe a little to suit the spices and ingredients that were available with me. To my pleasant surprise it turned out good. This is a simple dish and can be even cooked in the morning to pack up a quick lunch. Thanks to Divya

You will need:

1.5-2 cups cooked rice

1 cup corn, frozen or fresh

1/2 medium onion ,chopped lengthwise

2 spoons pulao masala(Store-bought)

1/2 cup,Grated Cheese

cooking oil for saute

In a skillet, add oil and then add the pulao masala. The pulao masala has a tendency to burn and we need to be quick to keep stirring it into the oil. In the next 2 minutes, add the onions, followed by corn. All the ingredients to get flavored in the oil with the pulao masala,about 3-4 minutes.Switch off the flame. Add the rice and grated cheese. The cheese will melt in the heat and give a wonderful taste to the dish.

Serve with pickle and/or raita.

Watermelon milkshake

This drink is extremely refreshing in hot summers. It makes us feel completely recharged after having it. Apart from this it has many health benefits as well. Watermelons are a good source of anti oxidants and many vitamins. This is a fat-free fruit full of energy.
This smoothie recipe is a very simple one and needs just watermelon,milk and sugar.

Watermelon - 2 cups
Milk - 1 cup
ice cubes - 1
sugar - 2 spoons
Mint leaves - 3 or 4,optional
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend to a smooth consistency. Serve Chilled.

I am sending this recipe to this event hosted at Dil se
and
sizzling summer contest. Here is the link to this event .