Shukto - Bengali vegetable medley

This recipe tastes absolutely wonderful even with vegetables like bitter gourd and pumpkin. Of course I added only the vegetables that I like. You can add pumpkin, brinjal and radish too.

Ingredients

Potato 1
Drumstick 1
Bitter gourd 1
Raw plantain 1
Parwal (pointed gourd) 4
Green chillies 2
Ginger grated 1 tsp
Milk 1 cup
Oil 2 tbsp


Panch phoron

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp.
Methi (Fenugreek) seeds 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds  1/2 tsp
Fennel seeds 1/2 tsp
Kalonji (onion seeds) 1/2 tsp


To be ground into paste

Mustard seeds 1 tbsp.
Poppy seeds 1 tbsp.
Fenugreek seeds 1/2 tbsp.

Soak the above for 15-20 mins and grind to paste. I added half a slice of bread to make the paste finer and easier to grind.

Method

Cut all the vegetables into equal sized pieces. Add salt to the bitter gourd and keep aside. After 15-20 mins, squeeze out the pieces and fry in oil till browned - this reduces the bitterness. Remove the fried gourd and to the same pan, add the panch phoron. Add the rest of the vegetables and saute. Add the ginger and saute for another minute. Add 1/2 cup of water and cook covered for 5-6 mins. Then add the paste and a little more water and cook till the vegetables are done. Add salt to taste and 1 cup of milk. Cook for another 5 mins and serve hot with rice or rotis.

Eggless Apple cake

I have always made apple cake with eggs. This eggless recipe is my mother-in-laws and tastes just as good if not better. Since I made this for the first time, I decided to go with the original recipe of plain flour. Next time I intend to try it with whole wheat flour. You can serve this with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Ingredients

1 cup Apple puree
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup refined oil
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp orange peel (optional)
1/4 cup walnuts (optional)


Method

Mix together sugar and oil. Add apple puree and milk and mix well. Sieve the soda and flour and add to the mix. Add orange peel and cinnamon and mix again. Grease a baking tray and pour in the cake mix. Sprinkle the walnuts on the top. Preheat the oven to 200 deg C  for 5 min. Turn down the temperature to 180 deg C and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes till done. To check, put in a fork and see that it comes out clean.

Tips from my mom-in-law's mom-in law

 

1. Use a wooden spoon for mixing
2. While preheating, keep both the coils on, then keep only the bottom coil on. Turn on both again after the cake rises.

Quesadilla from left over rotis

Leftover rotis used to be made into uslis which is not very appetizing. Found this wonderful way to use leftover rotis. Makes for a great snack. I have used corn, potatoes and capsicum as stuffing. However, the stuffing can be made with whatever you like - am sure for non vegetarians, chicken would make for a great filling.

Ingredients

Leftover rotis 2
Boiled corn 1/4 cup
Boiled and mashed potatoes 1/4 cup
Chopped capsicum 1 tbsp
Grated mozzarella cheese 1 tbsp
Oil as needed

Method

Spread the corn, capsicum and potatoes on 1 roti. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Cover with another roti. Heat a flat pan and put a teaspoon of oil. Place the roti sandwich on this. Fry for a minute and flip over. Add some oil from the sides and fry for another minute. Take off the heat and cut into quarters.