Palak Paneer

Ingredients

600 grams tender spinach washed
2 green chillies chopped
2 cups cottage cheese cubes
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
salt to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons cream
lots of finely chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Method

Blanch the spinach in lots of boiling salted water for about 3 minutes. Refresh in chilled water. Squeeze out excess water gently and blend to a fine paste with the green chillies. Deep-fry the cottage cheese cubes in moderately hot oil till light golden in color. Drain on absorbent paper.

Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan. Add the cumin seeds and let them crackle. Add the garlic and ginger. Fry briefly till the raw smell goes away.

Add the chopped spinach puree, salt and mix well. Add water if required to get gravy of desired consistency and bring to a boil. Add the deep fried cottage cheese cubes and stir to mix gently. Mix in the lemon juice. Simmer for about 4 minutes. Put off the heat and mix in the cream.

Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with chapati or rice.

Dal Fry

Ingredients

3/4 cup toor dal.
Two medium tomatoes
A bunch of coriander leaves.
2 tsp coriander powder.
Some red chillies(around 10) or
2-3 teaspoons of chilli powder.
2-3 flakes garlic.
A small piece of ginger.
1/4 stick butter.
Three small onions.
1 teaspoon cumin seeds or powder.
1 each cardamom, cinammon, cloves.
salt to taste.

Method

Boil the toor dhal in the cooker for only two whistles.
It should be just boiled and not too soft.
In the blender, grind together two onions, garlic,
ginger, coriander leaves, tomatoes,cumin seeds,coriander
powder and the red chillies(or powder).
Slice the other onion finely.
Melt the butter in a pan and fry the sliced onion with
the cardomom,cinammon and cloves.When the onions are turning
a little brown, add the ground masala and fry for around
15-20 minutes(all the water should have evaporated, and the
paste should be dry). Now add the boiled dhal to it and add a little water to
make a gravy. Add salt to taste. Boil for a while till you get the required consistency.


Eat it hot with rice and papad!!!