Homestyle Rajma Masala Curry | Step by Step Recipe

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We are a family of dal-lovers. We were a family who took many short road-trips, to be out of the city and to get some fresh air into our lungs. It was during one of those trips at a roadside dhaba, I ate the most flavorful and simply-made bowl of rajma with fresh roti from a tandoor. It was all that it promised - creamy, not-too-spicy and with a big dollop of cream & fried chilli on top. I was an enthusiastic 11-year old, discovering new food (with the help of my mother) and that combination simply bowled me over. I still remember my school friends from Northern part of India just couldn't understand the zealousness and what was such a big deal about it!. Till today, the memories of that first bite are fresh and this recipe for red beans curry with rice or bread is (and will be) my absolute definition for comfort food. Enjoy!

This recipe is an entry to My Legume Love Affair # 81, hosted this month by me. Have you sent yours yet?

Update: Here is a lovely roundup of all recipes submitted to MLLA 81.

Chickpea Sundal

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Chickpea Sundal

Typically made on Navarathi days as 'neivedyam', Sundal prepared with any kind of legumes is a very healthy and highly nutritious snack cum side dish. It is interesting how you make a dish all-the-time but never care to blog about it. :-). Well, that happens to me all the time. Blame my laziness or the hectic life-style juggling between work & home. This is one such simple dish and Enjoy!

Preparation:

1. Open up 1 can of chickpeas. Drain the liquid and wash with water couple of times. Keep aside. (or soak overnight and pressure cook until 4-5 whistles).

2. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a skillet and add 1 tsp of mustard seeds & asafoetida. Add minced ginger and finely chopped green chillies. (optionally curry leaves and red chillies can be added)

3. After a minute, mix in chickpeas. Season with salt and little amchur powder (raw mango powder). Cook for 5-6 minutes. Finally sprinkle 2 tbsp of shredded coconut. Cook for couple of more minutes. Serve warm as-is or as a side dish.

the same was also blogged by -

Nags
Raaga
DK

Before I say bubye, here is a song I heard recently and instantly loved it.

Hope you all have a relaxing weekend ahead.

until next time,
Siri

A Week without Shopping: Day 7

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....though I was invisible from my blog on days - 4,5 & 6 - I am so glad to let you all know that I stuck to my week-long resolution 'to go without shopping!'. Yeh Yeh!..and the best part is my freezer is almost empty now. As promised to myself, I cooked yummy, healthy food too :)) Here is what I did..

February 23rd Day 4: Shivaratri

I kept my first fast on this year's Shivaratri and I DID it! 'Fasting' is one thing I thought I could never do it as when I attempted last time, I almost fainted. Now, its all fine. I drank 2 cups of fruit juice with plenty water all-day-long and in the evening we visited Durga temple. I made some 'Aloo tikkis' to break my fast. No pics as I was busy hogging over them. :)

February 24th Day 5:

Breakfast: Dosas with my left over dosa batter.

Lunch: (Greens cooked in olive oil) with 2 rotis

Dinner: Amchur Aloo served with rice.


Preparation:

Peel off the skin of 2 medium sized potatoes and cut into cubes. Heat oil, add cumin seeds with chopped garlic, green chillies and some coriander. Add potatoes and cover & cook for 5-6 mins on medium-low flame. Season with salt, turmeric and add 1 tsp of Amchur (Mango) powder. Mix well and Serve!

..this potato dish is as simple as it could be but the addition of 'Amchur' gives it a very different taste and everybody in my office loved it when I took to lunch next day. :)

Off this dish goes to EC's RCI:Haryana :)

February 25th Day 6:

Breakfast: (Everything bagel + cream cheese) - this is my favorite breakfast combo ever. :))

Lunch: Amchur Aloo with Rice.

Dinner: Simple Mung Dal with Paratha.



Preparation:

Pressure cook 1 cup mung dal with enough water and a bay leaf. Heat oil and add cumin seeds with chopped onion & tomatoes. Cook well with little water until mushy. Add cooked dal and season with salt, turmeric and chilli powder. Mix in some fresh coriander and psst psst.. a teaspoon of ghee at the very end!!. :))

February 26th Day 7: Today

Breakfast: Instant Oatmeal (apple and cinnamon flavor) with milk

Lunch: Dal with rice

Dinner: Spicy Okra stew with rice.

On a different note, do you know about culinate.com. Though I am a member here from quite some time and am regularly recieving their newsletters, I must confess that I never actually read their content. Today when I did from my office, I was literally glued for an hour. I am in absolute love with their recipes and their useful trivia about almost everything related to food!.

Check out an interesting article about 'Kitchen Cleanup' on Culinate.

What all other foodie websites do you visit? Any personal favorites? I would be glad to know from you all.

Good night for now,

Siri