Saffron, Mace and Nutmeg

May 11, 2006

With temperatures soaring to all time highs, it’s time for quiet stay-at-home dinners. Simple meals in the cool comfort of home. Rice and dal (lentil).As simple as it can get.Ofcourse the add ons of a cool salad and yogurt . Okra and a tangy tomato chutney.
Dessert-A chilled, mixed fresh fruit salad-drizzled with lime juice to which the juice of a little ginger* and honey have been added.
*To extract ginger juice-press a little grated ginger between your thumb and index finger.

Dinner Tonight

Steamed Rice and Rotis (flattened Indian bread)
Yellow Lentil curry
Cumin Potatoes
Tomato Chutney
Fresh cultured yogurt
Fresh Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad

Yellow Lentil Curry

½ cup each of red and yellow lentils
2 cups water
Pinch turmeric powder
½ tsp red chilli powder
1 tomato grated to pulp
Salt

For the tempering*:
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp ghee/butter

Soak the dals for about an hour before cooking (preferable).Wash well. Drain water. Add the 2 cups of water, the tomato puree and the spices to it, cook in a dutch oven/casserole on medium heat. Takes about 15-20 minutes to cook well. Add more water, if the dal looks too dry.
Heat ghee/butter in a small sauce pan. Add the garlic. Cook till it is light brown.
Pour into dal. Mix well*.

*Fine chopped onion, and chopped tomatoes can be used for tempering.
The tempering is often added on top of the dal, and not mixed –so that it’s like a garnish.

Okra and Onions (Bhindi)

1 red onion sliced fine, lengthwise
½ kg okra, washed and dried using an absorbant kitchen towel
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons coriander powder
¼ spoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon red chilli powder
½ teaspoon garam masala
Salt
2 tablespoons oil

Cut the okra into small pieces, discard the “head”.Set aside.Heat oil, and temper the cumin till it splutters.Add the onion and garli.Saute till light brown. Add the okra.Cover and cook on high heat for 6-8 minutes.Add the spices, except salt.Stir.Add salt just before removing from the fire.

Tomato Chutney

4 cups peeled and chopped tomatoes (blanch, cool and peel)
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 cup red onion, finely chopped
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
A pinch of turmeric powder (optional)
½ teaspoon fennel powder
4 teaspoons sugar
Salt
3 tablespoons oil

Heat oil, and sauté the onion, ginger and garlic, till soft and light brown in color. Add the pureed tomatoes and the chopped cilantro. Season with spices. Cook on medium heat till water evaporates. Add sugar, cook for 2 minutes.
Garnish with cilantro.Serve hot.

Fresh Salad

Drizzle fresh lime juice over cut pieces of tomato,lettuce, cucumber , sliced red onion,small red radish, spring onions.Sprinkle a little salt.

Fresh Cultured Yogurt

Rotis or Indian flatbread-usually made of whole wheat flour-a daily accompaniment to our meals.

This one is a spiced roti-one in which the flour is mildly spiced with red chilli powder ,salt and chopped onions .Dotted with a little butter or ghee.