Simple Eggplant Fry - Vankaya Vepudu

I was in a hurry to prepare something quickly  as it was getting late for dinner and yet wanted to try something new. I had absolutely no hopes on this recipe as I wasn't sure how it will come out. Somehow everything looked disappointing. I was so disheartened that I couldn't even focus on taking good pictures. But when we actually ate it, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the taste was heavenly and the eggplant pieces literally melted in our mouths. I would say, one of my best experiments ever. :) 

Ingredients:
Eggplant- 5, wash and cut them into long strips
Onion - 1 small, cut into small pieces
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tbsp
Garlic pods - 2
Coriander powder - 1/2 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Salt as per taste
Turmeric- a pinch
Oil - 2 tbsp
Fresh coriander chopped - 1 tbsp

Method:
In a pan, add oil and when it is hot, add garlic pods and onion pieces and saute till onions are translucent. Switch off the heat and keep the pan aside to cool

In a mixie jar, add the ingredients from the pan, salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder and Ginger garlic paste and grind coarsely and keep aside. (sorry the picture is not very pretty)

Now, In a pan remaining oil and when it is hot, add eggplant pieces, salt and turmeric and fry on medium heat till eggplant pieces turn soft but not mushy

Add the masala prepared earlier, sprinkle some water from the top, mix well and fry for 5 minutes on medium heat. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Yummy eggplant fry is ready to  be served. Goes well with Roti and hot white rice!

Cauliflower Beans curry

Ingredients:
Cauliflower - 1, wash and cut into small pieces
French Beans - 1 cup pieces
Tomatoes - 1, wash and cut into small pieces
Onion - 1, chop finely
Butter - 1 tbsp
Oil - 1/2 tbsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Fresh coriander chopped - 1 tbsp
Few curry leaves
Turmeric - 1/4 tbsp
Salt as per taste



Method:
In a pan, add oil and butter and when it is hot, add red chillies, onions and curry leaves

Add turmeric and salt and mix well and saute till onions turn translucent. Now add ginger garlic paste and mix well and fry till raw smell of ginger garlic paste vanishes

Add tomatoes to the pan. Mix well and cook till tomatoes turn soft

Now add cauliflower and beans pieces to the pan and mix well.

Cover the pan with lid and cook till beans and cauliflower florets are well cooked. Garnish with fresh coriander and mix well and fry for 2 more minutes

Very tasty cauliflower beans curry is ready to eat. Goes well with hot roti

Turnip Kootu Tamilnadu style

Ingredients:

Turnip - 1,wash peel and cut into 1 inch pieces

Moong Dal - 1/2 cup

 

For seasoning:

Tomato - 1 medium sized

Onion - 1 small sized

Turmeric - a pinch

Salt as per taste

Red chillies - 2

Mustard seeds - 1/4tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1/4 tbsp

Few curry leaves

Chana dal - 1/4 tbsp

Butter - 1 tbsp

Red chilli powder - 1 tbsp

Asafoetida - a pinch

Fresh coriander leaves - 1 tbsp finely chopped

 

Method:

In a pressure cooker, add washed moong dal, turnip pieces and enough water and pressure cook for just one visil. Switch the heat off and let it cool down

 

In a pan, add butter and when it is hot, add Red chillies, cumin, chana dal, mustard and curry leaves and fry for a min

Now add onions and sprinkle asofoetida and saute till onions are translucent

Add turmeric, salt and  finely chopped tomato pieces to the pan and let it fry for another 2min till tomato pieces turn soft.

  Add red chilli powder and stir well and cook for a minute

 Now add cooked dal to the pan and mix well.

Add a cup of water and chopped coriander and let it boil for 3 min and turn off the heat.

Yummy Turnip kootu is ready to be served. Goes well with rice and as a side dish to Roti. Enoy!