BEGUN POSTO | EGGPLANTS IN POPPY SEEDS GRAVY

Poppy seeds are very much relished by most Bengalis. Many vegetables are cooked with poppy seeds paste. Tried 'Begun Posto' (Eggplants in Poppy Seeds Gravy) which is very simple and easy to prepare, it is cooked in mustard oil for an authentic touch and flavor. It is an absolute delicacy that goes extremely well with plain steamed rice or chapati.

Ingredients

1. Eggplants - 5-6 
2. Mustard oil - 2-3 tsp
3. Nigella seeds - 1tsp
4. Onion - 1 chopped
5. Poppy seeds, ground with some water - 1/4 cup
6. Green chilies - 2-3
7. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
8. Salt to taste
9. Coriander leaves (optional)

Process:

1. Heat oil & temper with nigella seeds. Saute for a few seconds & then add the onion & green chilies. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add the chopped eggplant, salt & turmeric powder. Saute for 4-5 minutes.

3. Add the poppy seeds paste and mix well. Saute for a minute. Add 1 cup water and simmer, covered till the gravy turns thick. Add coriander leaves and give it a toss.

4. Serve with rice or chapatis.

KASHMIRI PULAO

Kashmiri pulao is a delicious variant of rice pulao from Kashmiri cuisine made with nuts, dried fruits, saffron and fresh fruits. Generally, a pulao is rice that is flavored with various spices, then bulked up with the addition of vegetables, nuts or even meats. Mostly pulao variations are usually made with long-grained and fragrant basmati rice. The grains are cooked to perfection without any sticking so that each individual piece of rice keeps its shape. While some recipes call for making pulao with stock, broth or even coconut milk, this simple recipe for Kashmiri pulao requires only water and dried spices to flavor the grains. The northernmost Indian state of Kashmir rests high in the Himalayas and is often called “paradise on earth.” It is easily considered one of the most scenic and beautiful places in the world.

Primarily an agricultural state, Kashmir grows rice as the staple crop. As with this Kashmiri pulao recipe, much of the cuisine is based around this life-giving grain. Kashmir is also India’s leading exporter of saffron, the prized spice that is responsible for this pulao’s color and complex flavor.

Ingredients:

1. Basmati rice - 1 cup
2. Cinnamon - 1 inch
3. Shahi jeera - 1 tsp
4. Bay leaf -1 
5. Green cardamoms
6. Black cardamoms
7. Cloves
8. Funnel powder - 1/2 tsp
9. Saffron strands - 1 pinches
10. Ghee - 2-3 tsp
11. 2 cups of water or as required
12. Salt as per taste
13. Onion - 1 sliced
14. Cashew nuts
15. Almonds
16. Fresh fruits 

Process

1. Rinse basmati rice a few times in water until the water is clear of starch. Soak the rice in enough water in a bowl for 20 to 30 minutes. Later drain all the water and set the soaked rice aside. On a low or medium heat, heat oil or ghee in a deep pan or pot.

2. Add cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves, green cardamoms and black cardamoms. Fry the spices for some time until they crackle and the oil becomes fragrant. Now lower the heat or switch the heat off. Add the fennel powder. Mix and stir well taking care that you do not burn these ground spices.

3. Add the soaked basmati rice. Mix gently and saute for a minute. Add whole or crushed saffron strands. Mix and saute. Pour water and add salt as required. Stir and mix again. Check the taste of the water and it should taste a bit salty. Cover the pan tightly and simmer on medium-low heat until the rice grains are tender. When the rice is cooking, prepare the garnish.

4. Once done, for garnish, heat 2 tablespoons ghee or oil in a frying pan. Add the sliced onions. Also add a pinch of salt and saute the onions till they are golden or caramelized and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper tissues. Stir often when sauteing the onions. Some ghee or oil will be left in the pan. To the same ghee or oil, add the cashew nuts. Fry them until they become crisp and crunchy. Remove and place fried cashew nuts on kitchen paper tissues. 

5. Cook the rice until softened, fluffy, tender and all the water has been absorbed. When done, fluff the rice with a fork. While serving top Kashmiri pulao with the caramelized onions and the fried nuts. I have added freshly chopped mango and pineapple pieces. You can also apple or  pomegranate. Serve hot with raita or any curry of your choice. We have enjoyed with Chicken curry.

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Baby potato in mango curry || Aamras wale Aloo

This super delicious Khatte meethe mango recipe is inspired by Master Chef Kunal Kapoor. So presenting my version of Khatte Meethe aamras wale aloo with baby potatoes.  

Ingredients

1. Baby potatoes - 500 gram
2. Asafoetida (Heeng) - 1/2 tsp
3. Dry red chilli - 1
4. Curry leaves 
5. Fenugreek seeds / Meethi dana - 1 tsp
6. Saunf / funnel seeds - 1 tsp
7. Ginger - chopped 1 tsp
8. Salt to taste
9. Nigella seeds / Kalonji
10. Green chilli - 2
11. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
12. Chilli powder - 1 tsp
13. Mango puree - 1 cup
14. Raw mango - 1/2 cup (cut into small pieces)
15. Onion - 1 small (chopped)
16. Ghee - 2 tsp
17. Kashmiri chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Process

1. The main thing of this recipe is the flavor, that will come alive when there is a balance between sweet and sour, so taste the curry and if you think that it needs more sweetness, you can add some sugar and if it needs more sourness you can add more raw mango pieces or you can use amchur powder also.

2. Heat a pan and drizzle oil, sprinkle heeng, red dry chilli, methi, kalonji and funnel seeds. Stir well and add chopped ginger. Add onion and raw mango pieces. Cook them for few minutes and add boiled baby potatoes. Add little salt and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium flame.

3. Now add powder spices, turmeric, red chilli powder and give a quick toss. Add freshly made mango puree and let it cook till the curry thickens. Sprinkle little water and bring it to boil and simmer for 2 minutes. 

4. Here at this stage, check the taste and adjust the seasoning. 

5. In another small pan heat ghee and add kashmiri chilli powder and then immediately add it on the potatoes. Mix this tempering of ghee and chillies nicely with the curry and remove it from flame. Serve hot with roti or parathas. 

KASHMIRI MUTTON ROGAN JOSH

Rogan josh is an aromatic curried meat recipe of Kashmiri origin. It is made with red meat, traditionally lamb or goat. It is coloured and flavoured primarily by alkanet flower or Kashmiri chillies. It is one of the signature recipes of Kashmiri cuisine and really takes time and much effort to prepare this dish. I made this Rohan Josh using @elthecook Kashmiri Rogan Josh tadka with a very less effort and my family loved it. They have a great range of veg and non veg tadka. 

Ingredients

1. Mutton - 500 gram
2. EL THE COOK Kashmiri Rogan Josh Tadka - 2 tsp
3. Salt to taste
4. Curd - 2-3 tsp
5. Oil of Ghee - 2 tsp
6. Hot water - 1-2 cup (or as required)

Process

1. Marinate the mutton pieces with salt and the Kashmiri Rogan Josh tadka masala and let it rest for at least 1-2 hours.

2. Heat 2 tsp of oil / ghee in a deep bottomed pan and pour the marinated mutton in it. Add salt if required. Let it simmer on high flame. Add hot water and let it simmer on mid-high flame, covering with a lid till the mutton pieces become soft and tender. (You can also do it in the pressure cooker to save time)

3. Serve hot with steamed rice or plain chapati. Your quick and easy Mutton Rogan Josh is ready.