Thursday, September 10, 2009

MISSION MADE POSSIBLE: COOKING VEGETARIAN FOR GUESTS!!!

In a place, where both of us are living far far away from our loved ones, it is almost necessary to have some good friends to spend time with. As I am a stay-at-home mom so I got less opportunity to interact and meet with people, let alone being friendly. But, my husband has a very good social circle, some old friends from School, office colleagues etc and we love having them and their families at our place. We like having guests, they are blessings and have you ever heard this famous verse in urdu,


Shukr kar razzaq ka, buddil na ho mehmaan sey,
khata hay woh rizq apna , terey dastarkhwan sey!!!



Last month we invited one of his office colleague with his family, who were visiting from San Antonio over for a dinner. I usually make a rice dish, 2 meat dishes and a vegetable dish with some salad, chutney and raita, but our friends are vegetarian so I had to think of all vegetarian dishes, I started googling and blog hopping and finally decided the menu which was quite simple....

NOTE:

The credit of photography goes to my husband who took bird's eyeview kindaa shot..he forgot to take snaps of each dish separately but no problem picassa hai naaa!! I cropped out photos and here they are, ENJOY!!!


MENU

Main course

Zeera rice
Malai kofta

Side Dish


Channa Daal

Corn-potato Sabzi


Accompaniments

Raita

Salad

Green chutney


Dessert

ice-cream

and Tea










I am sending this spread to Rak's kitchen for her lovely event.






ZEERA RICE



INGREDIENTS


2 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

1/2 CUP ONION (FINELY CHOPPED)

2 CINNAMON STICKS

5-6 CLOVES

7-8 BLACK PEPPERCORNS

2 BAY LEAVES

4 CARDAMOM

2 CUPS RICE

SALT TO TASTE


STEPS OF PREPARATION


1.Heat oil in a pot, add all the whole spices, once they start to splutter, add onions and fry till golden brown.

2.Now add rice and salt, mix well and then add almost double the volume water and cook covered till all the water dries up.

3.Fluff the rice with a fork, place the pot on a griddle or tawa at low heat for 10 minutes.

4.Serve hot.


MALAI KOFTA

Inspired by Sia's malai kofta


INGREDIENTS


FOR KOFTAS:


1 CUPS PANEER (GRATED)

1/2 CUP GREEN BEANS

1 LARGE CARROT

2 POTATOES (BOILED AND MASHED)

1 MEDIUM ONION (FINELY CHOPPED)

2 GREEN CHILLI (MINCED)

1 TBSP CORIANDER LEAVES

3 GREEN CHILLI (MINCED)

4-5 TBSP CORN FLOUR

11/2 TSP GARAM MASALA

6-8 ALMONDS (CHOPPED)

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

Oil (TO DEEP FRY)


FOR GRAVY

2 ONIONS

1 INCH GINGER

3-4 GARLIC CLOVES

1 CINNAMON STICK

1 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

A PINCH OF ASAFOETIDA(HEENG)

3 CLOVES

3 GREEN CARDAMOMS

4-5 LARGE TOMATOES, PUREED

1 TBSP ALMOND

¼-1/2 CUP FREASH CREAM

1-2 TSP GARAM MASALA

1/2 TSP SUGAR

SALT TO TASTE

½ TSP TURMERIC

½-1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1 TBSP DRIED FENUGREEK LEAVES (KASURI METHI)


STEPS OF PREPARATION


FOR KOFTA

1.Mix grated paneer and mashed potatoes, onions, coriander leaves and chillies. The mixture should be free of limps.

2.Boil green beans and carrot and corn in water. Grate carrot and mash finely chop green beans.

3.Add it to potato-paneer mixture along with corn.

4.Now add salt, garam masala, red chilli powder, cashews and corn flour to the vegetable-paneer mixture and mix well with hands. The consistency of whole mixture should be similar to that of chapati dough and you should be able to make lemon sized balls without breaking them.

5.Heat oil for deep frying and on medium-low heat, deep fry them in batches of 3-4 balls at time. If the koftas start to break, add 1-2 tbsp of corn flour to the mixture, mix them well and make small lemon sized balls.

6.Fry them till they turn golden brown and crisp and place them in a bowl lined with kitchen towel to absorb excess oil.


FOR GRAVY

1.Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and heeng.

2.Make a paste of (onion,peeled and quartered, ginger, peeled, cloves, garlic, cinnamon stick, clovesand green cardamoms and cashews) and add it to the pan when cumin seeds start to splutter.

3.Stir it continuously for 10 minutes till the paste turns golden brown and the raw smell of onion disappears. The paste should be cooked through otherwise the end result would be bitter.

4.Add kasuri methi, salt and sugar, saute for a minute or two.

5.Now add tomato puree and stir well. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.

6.Then add garam masala, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt to taste and mix well. Bring this whole gravy to boil, about 5 minutes.

7.Mix in fresh cream and ½-1 cup of water (adjust the thickness of gravy and seasoning accordingly and let it cook for few more minutes.

8.Add coriander leaves and just before serving add koftas, and serve.

CHANNA DAL




INGREDIENTS

1 CUP CHANNA DAL

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1 TSP TURMERIC POWDER

5-6 BLACK PEPPERCORNS

1 BAY LEAF

3-4 CLOVES

2 CINNAMON STICKS


FOR TEMPERING

1 SMALL ONION (CHOPPED)

2 GREEN CHILLI

1/2 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

1 TSP GINGER/GARLIC PASTE

1 ROMA TOMATO (CHOPPED)

CORIANDER LEAVES

STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Boil channa dal with all the spices and water. (I pressure-cooked till 3 whistles)

2.Now in a pan, add cumin seeds, splutter add onion and fry till golden brown.

3.Add whole green chilli, tomato, ginger/garlic paste, fry till oil separates. (if u want to add water, add it now to avoid burning.

4.Pour this tempering over dal, add coriander leaves, mix everything and cook till the tempering and dal looks well blended. (10 minutes atleast)


CORN-POTATO SABZI



INGREDIENTS


2 POTATOES (BOILED AND CUT IN TO SMALL CHUNKS)

1 CUP SWEET CORN KERNELS (MICROWAVED)

SALT TO TASTE

1/2 BUNCH MINT LEAVE1 TOMATO (CHOPPED)

1/2 TSP MUSTARD SEEDS

HANDFUL OF CHOPPED CORIANDER LEAVES

1 TSP RED CHILLI POWDER

1 TSP GARAM MASALA


STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, allow to crackle.

2.Add corn, potatoes, saute, add tomato and all spices, mint leaves and mix it well, till all spices coat it properly.

3.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.


RAITA


INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 CUPS YOGURT

SALT TO TASTE

1 TSP CUMIN SEEDS

5-6 BLACK PEPPERCORNS


STEPS OF PREPARATION

1.Dry roast cumin seeds and black peppercorn on a tawa or pan.

2.Let it cool, grind it coarsely.(I grounded it with the help of mortar and pestle)

3.Whisk yogurt, add salt, grounded cumin and black peppercorn, mix well, add water (according to the required thickness) and serve chilled.


GREEN CHUTNEY


I blogged about it here.


22 comments:

  1. You have a delicious spread of vegetarian dishes! Pls collect an award from my blog @ http://seduceyourtastebuds.blogspot.com/2009/09/and-another-one.html

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  2. Nice spread of vegetarian dishes... perfect for me a vegetarian... everything looks yummy esp loved your malai kofta... looks good... nice entry :)

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  3. My my that's a spread....my refresh my memories of my bday celebration ;)...looks awesome...love the malai kofta...shall try some time...gr8 gal

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  4. Wow....in the earlier days of my marriage cooking for vegetarian guest means aloo and poori/roti...later aloo khorma and vegetable fried rice with riata......as the time pass by...i too leant some recipes for my veg guest.....this combo of recipes sound very yum....thanks for sharing.....will try this feast next time....

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  5. Beautiful shaeri.I often run out of ideas serving just vegetarian on special occasions,the meal looks delish.I'm sure your buddies enjoyed it a lot :)

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  6. thanks PJ, Padma, Priti, Lubna and Yasmeen for ur nice words.

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  7. amazing spread Shaista...and i must say, hubby is great at clicking!!

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  8. Wow Shaista....what a gorgeous platter...everything looks so delicious :)

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  9. Hi Shaista, how are you ?? This spread is just awesome !! So many mouth-watering dishes...have to try out your malai kofta...!! I had been busy with applications for residency, so cudnt blog in last 2 weeks. Now will go thru your posts.
    Hey, btw, I have passed my exam that I took last month :)
    How's your little angel doing ?? take care... :)

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  10. Fabulous and awesome spread:)

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  11. Lovely platter... Looks great! I know loads of people have trouble with a whole vegetable menu...
    Your kofta looks so good...

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  12. It feels great to see your comments :) Yeah, I do need best wishes and luck in the coming days !!
    Give my love to your cutie-pie :)

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  13. Wow,thats a perfect spread to host a guest :) Thanks for sending across :)

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  14. thanks gita, rush, sireesha, raks kitchen, home cooked oriya food and tulip for liking the spread..

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  15. The rice--that looks like something I could do. Very interesting blog you have here. I like it.

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  16. thanks for liking it romaine...do try out my rice dishes..

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  17. Oh my i absolutelyyy love the picture!! iTs so pretty! nice selectipon of vegetable dishes :)

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  18. Wow what a feast! When can i come for dinner? :)

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  19. @PARITA: U R WELCOME ANYTIME DEAR

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  20. First time to your place.. the meal looks so inviting and wish to taste all the foodies... Wonderful menu too... will be ur follower. Peep in my blog when u find time.

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  21. 1st time here..Blog is great..The table has been put very well

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A very warm welcome, Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts here. Do visit again...

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