QUICK VEGETABLE KURMA

Kurma is a delicious side dish which can be served along with  pulao, rotis, naans etc.  This dish is basically from the northern part of India & has taken different forms in different parts of the country.




Preparation Time: 15 mts   Cooking Time: 30 mts  Serves: 4 




Ingredients:



Onions           -  2 nos
Tomato          -  2 nos
Garlic             -  2 pods (scrapped)
Ginger            -  1/4 inch piece (scrapped)
Beans             -  150 gms
Carrots           -  150 gms
Potato            -  2 nos
Green peas     -  1/2 cup
Cauliflower     -   1 cup of small florets
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp chopped finely
Chili powder   -  1 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Dhania powder   -  2 tsp
Jeera powder     -  1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Milk                  -     1/2 cup
Corn flour         -  2 tsp
Refined oil         -   2 tbsp
Cinnamon          -  1/4 inch piece
cardamom         -  1 no
cloves               - 2 nos
Salt                   -   to taste








Method:


Mix the milk & corn flour & keep it aside. Chop the onions finely.  Cut the tomatoes in to small pieces.  Cube all the other vegetables into same size.  Heat oil in a pan & fry the cinnamon, cardamom & cloves.  Then add the chopped onions & fry till the onion turns brown.   Add the scrapped ginger & garlic & fry till you get a nice aroma.  Then add the tomatoes & fry till oil comes out.  Slowly add all the powders & fry for some more time.  To this mixture add the cubed vegetables & mix it all together.  Saute it all for sometime till the raw smell of carrots & beans goes off.  Then add salt & enough water to immerse all the vegetables & cook  till they are soft.   Add the milk mixture & bring it to a boil.  Add chopped coriander leaves & garnish it.  
Quick veg. kurma is ready.




Variations:


We can make this kurma using just one or two vegetables also.  We can even add soy chunks to it to make it healthy.




Tips:


1)  Making the kurma in a pressure cooker will help save time. If using the pressure cooker, allow it to whistle just once.
2) We can add coconut milk instead of plain milk to enhance the taste.
3) Chili powder can be added according to one's taste.

ON A COMEBACK

Finally, I've decided to come out of my hiatus & start putting posts in my blog.  I know that its a long gap & all of you would have got fed up waiting.  I hope i can make up for that by posting interesting recipes for you all.  Keep reading & encouraging me.  We have been travelling a lot domestically & visiting some interesting places in India.  One of the best places i visited is Amritsar - especially the Golden Temple.  Beautiful & serene.  Maintained spic & span by the temple authorities.  The public also chip in by doing voluntary service.  I also visited some century old temples of south India & was saddened by the way they are maintained.  Most of the temples have huge properties attached to them & get good revenue.  Still authorities are so callous & have an indifferent attitude towards the upkeep of the temples.   I hope they will change their attitude & try to improve the condition of our temples at least after seeing places like this.  


We also visited kullu & manali for a few days.  It was an enjoyable trip & we even got to do white water rafting.  My husband has put a post on this trip in his blog  www.the-kasl.blogspot.in.  Those interested can visit this site & read about this trip.


Will catch up with you all soon.