Indian vegetable curry

[senior citizen]

VEGETABLE CURRY
This is a simple vegetarian Indian recipe that is delicious and flavorful.
Good way to incorporate a variety of vegetables in your meal.
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Recipe will serve 4 or make some nice leftovers for singles
Serve with rice of your choice........Indian Basmati rice is very good.

Ingredients:
About 2 cups cauliflower cut into florets
1 cup green peas
1 carrot diced in about 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 zucchini small cut into bite size pieces with skin
If you wish, add a few potatoes, diced; they are optional in this recipe.
6 tomatoes medium size
1/2 inch ginger root
1 green chili
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon red pepper, optional
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon salt ; adjust to taste
1 tablespoon corn starch
1/2 teaspoon garam masala, spice mix available in Indian grocery store
Note: Garam Masala also available on amazon.com (it arrives quickly)
Approx. 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Method
Mix the cornstarch with ¼ cup of water and set aside.

Blend 5 sliced tomatoes, green chilies and ginger to make a puree.

If you prefer mild, take the seeds out of green chili before blending.

Slice 1 tomato length wise into 8-10 pieces and set aside.

Heat the oil in a saucepan.

Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil.

If the cumin seed cracks right away, the oil is ready.

Add the cumin seeds; as seeds crack add tomato puree, coriander, turmeric, sugar and salt.

Cover the pot and cook for about 5 minutes.

Add all the vegetables and ¼ cup of water. If adding potatoes, add a bit more water.

Cover the pan and let it cook for about 10 minutes over medium heat stir few times in between.

Vegetables should be tender not mushy.

Add cornstarch mixture and let it cook for 2 more minutes.

Cornstarch is added to thicken the gravy.

If gravy is too thick add some HOT water as needed.
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Turn off the heat add additonal tomato slices, garam masala and cilantro, stir and cover the pan for few minutes before serving.

You can turn the "heat" up or down on this Indian recipe....by adjusting or eliminating the chili, etc.
　

　

[rubicon]

I am not fond of Indian cooking and especially curry

[senior citizen]

I am not fond of Indian cooking and especially curry

Well, then.........you get a bowl minestra /minestroni...kapeesh/Capiche ??

Followed by some lasagna? Who doesn't like that?

However, the Indian spices are very healthful.....for many many reasons. Plus, tasty.

Before my very best adult friend/neighbor passed away at age 51, way too soon, in 1999, she would host a yearly *Diwali celebration for her husband, who was born in India, a chemical engineer in U.S. We looked forward to those celebrations and her Indian food which she had perfected. Her guests were all highly educated folks. Nice people.

The dishes she prepared, made Diwali celebrations so much more special.

*To me, Diwali sounded like Divalia. They would string little white lights on the mantle, etc. and outdoors.

Although these close friends/neighbors were NOT vegetarians, all of the husband's Indian friends were, including the doctors.......the ones in Vermont and the ones from New Jersey who would travel up for Diwali.

We'd also go with them to a great Indian restaurant in New York which did the lamb skewers over fire.........delish.

My petite female neighbor was strawberry blonde, green eyed , born and raised till age 19 in Budapest Hungary............came to West Liberty Ohio with her grandmother and mom, sponsored by the wonderful Mennonites, following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

Here, she prepared endless vegetarian dishes which we all enjoyed.......along with their NAAN bread. (She also did her Hungarian specialties as well......this entire neighborhood where we raised our families, was really into buffet dinner parties on a major scale.....so we were treated to all kinds of cooking.........from down home New England to various ethnic specialties......not just the same old, same old. One of our other favorites was Hannukah/Chanuka with the potato latkes, home made applesauce, etc. with our Jewish neighbors.

Now, when the "vegetarians" were not up visiting..........we enjoyed TANDOORI CHICKEN grilled outdoors, etc. and lovely marinated cucumbers, not too much different than Japanese cukes or even Jewish pickles from Zabars in Manhattan.....light, delicate and natural. Great rice, etc. all the time. Plus, authentic Hungarian Goulash, etc.

Both of our children, like us, were not fussy eaters and still love all the cuisines of the world. Ditto for her kids.......all now adults.

The only thing I didn't care for was the Hungarian/Russian caviar she would put out at Christmas parties. So, although not a fussy eater...........I'd say that (caviar/fish eggs) and my Italian grandmother's baby octopus in the jar, is the only thing "offputting" for me.

I even made my elderly mom "baby calves liver/bacon and onions" when she was living with us for six years. I soaked the liver in milk before dredging in flour and sauteeing in the bacon grease from the crisply fried bacon......served it all with home made mashed potatoes............mom had simple tastes.......and was not hard to please; she also loved her childhood Ukrainian pierogies and stuffed cabbage......plus my Dad's Italian foods.

So, I can do it all....or did it all, in my day. We've all slowed down and the big parties are over.

But coincidentally, after we sold our house following our daughter's wedding ((our kids were all GONE for years to university, out of state, etc.)) moving to a beachfront condo in Venice Florida........selling their childhood home back in 1994..............eventually returning to same neighborhood where we've now been for the past twenty years..........and ready to do it all over again...........in between this.....our Indian friend and neighbor, lost his wife (my Hungarian friend) which was a sad happening for our entire neighborhood......thinking back..........but when he shook off his grief, later remarried, he sold that home next door to our old "family home"..................and moved up here, higher on the hill, right next door to us again.

I think that says it all in a nutshell. Perhaps this is why it's taking us so long to actually list our home........we've had wonderful , compassionate, kindhearted neighbors in same neighborhood since 1970. But, we are getting there. Hubby just blacktopped the driveway on Sunday; looks like new. Just a few more things to do before we call in the realtor.

It was a tight neighborhood with lots of good memories and lots of good ethnic foods ; I particulary enjoyed the Indian cuisine as it was "different"......hate to say this, but just like you would not care for curry, which I "get" and do understand.......I never cared for the basic Vermont cooking which seemed to lack spices.

Namaste