Dear Komal (birth name), When I think about my own history of abuse and my path to healing, I realize that grief comes up. I grieve for the lost innocent child who was astonished and shocked to be slapped out of the blue, for no logical reason. With each unfair transgression to the child I […]
Psych Central describes triggers as: “A trigger is something that sets off a memory tape or flashback transporting the person back to the event of her/his original trauma.” Wikipedia defines a trauma trigger as: “A trauma trigger is an experience that causes someone to recall a previous traumatic memory, although the trigger itself need not […]
The common Indian spice turmeric has been coming up a lot in various news stories and studies Awareness of its benefits seem to be growing everyday. I am being prompted to cook more and more Indian food which normally includes turmeric. http://wakeup-world.com/2014/11/01/turmeric-extract-improves-brain-function-in-one-dose/
I recently saw a commercial parody on SNL that highlighted some of my issues with the term and label “Asian.” It’s such a catch-all term that just seems to indicate how lazy the Western world can be in learning the actual country someone is from, so they choose a big continent as label instead. Take […]
Book Review: Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick
In Threading the Needle, Marie Bostwick discusses friendship lost and then found. She explores the ways we create the experiences of our past and future, along with the impact of relationships with family and friends. Bostwick uses as the background of her story the recent economic downturn in the US. One character becomes the wife […]
Share your story of reconciling your bi-cultural heritage and seeking authenticity, anonymously. Email it to priamba6@gmail.com. You may find that sharing is cathartic and healing. You may also find support and connection. I will make certain that there is nothing to identify you (unless you state otherwise).
We all grow up with a certain sense of how we perceive the mothering we receive and the role of motherhood in our lives- whether as mothers ourselves or as children in need of mothering. This role evolves throughout our lives – whether it is about our changing how we parent while keeping in mind […]
For many South Asians, summers have meant a trip back home, especially while growing up in the states. Our parents wanted to make sure we were getting a good dose of our heritage to balance out all the Western exposure and values we were subject to the rest of our time. For most of us, […]
When we are “American Born Confused Desis” or even become “American Born Confident Desis,” how do we reconcile past cultural expectations of us with our quest to be our own empowered authentic women? Do expectations of our upbringing fit with our quest to be true to ourselves or do we have to make adjustments? If so, what are they?
One of the key differences I’ve observed and experienced as differences between the culture of my heritage and that which I’ve grown up in is the level of focus on individualism. Much in the Western and particularly American culture is based on the value and importance of the individual.
Curried Quinoa
I sauteed some red onion and a little chili pepper in coconut oil with cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric, and chopped ginger. I added a can of diced tomatoes and chickpeas. I threw in some chopped spinach from the yard for more nutrition. I let this cook and added it to the cooked quinoa, which I had made in the rice cooker just like rice – 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa.
It satisfied my family, and most importantly, my picky toddler.
Pakoras
I mentioned I would make these and post on my site to a gal on my Facebook page for “Raising Vegetarian Kids,” so here it is:
1 cup chickpea flour
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3/4 cup water
1 quart oil for deep frying
1/2 head cauliflower florets
2 onions, sliced into rings
Directions
Sift the chickpea flour into a medium bowl. Mix in the coriander, salt, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala and garlic.
Make a well in the center of the flower. Gradually pour the water into the well and mix to form a thick, smooth batter.
Over medium high heat in a large, heavy saucepan, heat the oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Coat the cauliflower and onions in the batter and fry them in small batches until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels before serving.
I used a very small amount of oil to shallow-fry. Other vegetables can also be used, as desired. I used sweet potato. Try using eggplant slices and consider them for veggie burgers! I have even used the pakora batter for chili rellenos! They were crispy, like my husband and I like.
* Note: if you like spicy food, you could add more chili pepper or diced green chili to the batter
Source: Vegetable Pakoras (All Recipes)
Uppama
Uppama is normally eaten for breakfast, perhaps with coconut chutney on the side, but can also be eaten for lunch or dinner. It can also be used as a stuffing for vegetables like tomatoes and green peppers, which I plan to try. The recipe is adapted from Madhur Jaffrey’s “World of the East Vegetarian Cooking.”
Semolina – 1.5 cups
Ghee – 1 T + ½ tsp
Oil – 1 T
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Urad dal – 1 tsp (optional)
Channa dal/split garbanzo beans – 1 T
Curry leaves – 5 to 6
Dried red chillies – 2 broken into pieces (use the seeds please)
Cashew nuts – 1 T, roughly chopped (optional)
Asafoetida – 1/8th tsp
Water – 3 cups
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup mixed vegetables
Salt – 1 tsp or to taste
Coconut – 1 T, grated
* Heat 1 T of ghee in a sauté pan and sauté the semolina until it slightly changes color.
* Transfer the semolina to a plate
* Heat oil in the same sauté pan and when the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, urad dal, channa dal, curry leaves, chillies, cashew nuts and asafoetida.
* When the channa dal starts changing color, add onion and saute for a few minutes. Add mixed vegetables (or other vegetable(s), coconut and salt.
* Slowly stir in the semolina while continuing to stir with the other hand, alternating with water.
* Reduce the heat to medium low. All the water will be absorbed. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for roughly 3-4 minutes
Great with a side of Indian pickle and plain yogurt!
Eggplant sambar
I like eggplant and like it even more in sambar. The addition of carrots adds a sweet taste in contrast to the sour from tamarind. Coconut adds more sweetness and texture. The dal is packed with protein. Enjoy a tasty and healthy addition to your diet, and an option to regular dal.
Here is how I made it; feel free to modify it to your taste. Measurements are approximate.
* diced eggplant (about 1 medium size)
* 1/2 cup diced carrots
* 1/2 cup onion
* toor dal (about 1 cup rinsed and soaked)
* 1 tblsp coconut oil
* 5-6 curry leaves
* 1 tsp mustard seeds
* 1 tsp turmeric
* 1 tsp tamarind
* 1 green chili
* 2 cups water
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 tblsp cilantro
* 1/4 cup coconut (optional)
Saute spices with onion, carrots and eggplant. Add dal, water, and cook until dal is tender. Mash it to the consistency desired. Try it in a slow cooker!
I love to improvise and play around with Indian cooking. To me, spices are like paints for an artist. Therefore, cooking is more of an art rather than a science. I like to use what I think would taste good. I often replicate a method rather than using a specific recipe. Substitutions are a rule rather than exception in my kitchen. In this case, I made my version of potatoes and tofu, Indian style.
Adjust oil and spices according to the amount of potatoes and tofu you are cooking, along with your preference. I used about a tablespoon of oil and 1/2 tsp of each spice for about 5 medium potatoes and 1/2 a lb of tofu.
Ingredients
* cumin
* oil
* potato
* tofu
* onion
* curry leaves
* ginger/garlic paste
* turmeric
* coriander powder
* mango powder (amchur)
* coconut
* mixed vegetables
* yogurt (optional)
Directions
Sauteeing diced potatoes with onion
With the addition of tofu and coconut
Potato and Tofu Curry with Coconut
Alloo Gobi
“This North Indian dish, supplemented with stuffed Parathas and Sour Lime Pickle, is put into small, brass “tiffin-carriers” and taken as lunch by thousands of school children and office workers. Rolled in the same parathas, it may be taken on picnics or long car journeys.
(serves 6)
2 lbs cauliflower (1 smallish head)
2 medium-sized boiling potatoes (about ¾ pound)
6 tblsps vegetable oil
¼ tsp whole fenugreek seeds
1 tsp whole cumin seeds
1 to 2 whole dried hot red peppers
¾ tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander seeds
1 to 1 ¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp garam masala
Discard leaves and coarse stem of cauliflower. Break head into 2-inch long flowerets. Now cut each floweret lengthwise into very slim flowerets, with the heads never wider than ½ inch. Soak in cold water for half an hour.
Peel the potatoes. Cut them into dice, about ½ x ½ x 1/3 inch. Soak in bowl of cold water for half an hour.
Drain cauliflower and potatoes and dry them in a dish towel. Heat oil in a large 12 – to – 14- inch skillet over high heat. When the oil is smoking, scatter in the fenugreek seeds, the fennel seeds, the cumin seeds, and the red peppers. Stir once and quickly add the cauliflower and the potatoes. Stir again and turn the heat to medium. Sprinkle the turmeric, coriander, salt, and pepper over the vegetables and sauté them for about 8 to 10 minutes. Now add ¼ cup water and cover immediately. Turn heat to very low and steam vegetables gently about 7 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle the garam masala over the vegetables, stir once, and serve.”
optional: I like to squeeze about 1/2 a lemon to it at the end.
Source: Madhur Jaffrey’s World of the East Vegetarian Cooking cookbook
Masoor Dal
* 1 cup masoor dal
* 1 quarter-sized slice of fresh ginger
* 3/4 tsp salt
* 2 tblsps vegetable oil or ghee
* a pinch of ground asafetida
* 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
* 2 whole, hot dried red peppers
Pick over the dal and wash in several changes of water. Drain, then add 4 cups of water and bring to boil. Skim away surface residue. Add ginger and turmeric. Turn the heat to low and cover so that the lid is a little ajar.
Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until dal is no longer grainy. It can be mashed for a smoother consistency and to quicken the cooking time. Stir, add salt, and keep covered.
Heat the oil or ghee in a small skillet or pot over a medium flame. When hot, put in the asafoetida followed by the cumin and red peppers. Turn the peppers so all sides turn dark and crisp. Pour the mixture into the dal. Cover and allow the dal to absorb the flavors for at least a minute prior to serving. It can be garnished with lemon juice and cilantro.
Source: Madhur Jaffrey’s World of the East Vegetarian Cooking cookbook
Improvised Indian Fried Rice
I started with a little asafoetida, some cumin and diced red onion that I sauteed in a little sunflower oil. I added some mustard seeds, a little turmeric, mango powder and maybe some coriander. Sometimes my powdered spices look a little similar and I just go around in my steel spice holder getting about a quarter tsp of each using my tiny spice spoon that sits in the container. The kitchen was starting to smell wonderful with the Indian spices cooking, a scent that is very familiar, comforting and appetizing to me.
I added a can of washed kidney beans, the potatoes and then the rice, adding some water to get the consistency I wanted. I added some salt, garam masala, and a little Brewer’s Yeast for added nutrition.
I heated some saag I made previously and had the rice mix with that. However, having it by itself with a little pickle and yogurt would have been just fine as well. I topped the Indian fried rice with a little diced red onion I had set aside. Yumm! I was done just in time for my daughter to wake up, who shared it with me.
After finishing my meal, I discovered some left-over broccoli that I could have used. I just added it to the leftover fried rice for next time.
Modified Alloo Gobi
I’ve made this Alloo Gobi recipe for a friend of my husband’s who loves the dish for a cooking class and for my family.
“This North Indian dish, supplemented with stuffed Parathas and Sour Lime Pickle, is put into small, brass “tiffin-carriers” and taken as lunch by thousands of school children and office workers. Rolled in the same parathas, it may be taken on picnics or long car journeys.
(serves 6)
2 lbs cauliflower (1 smallish head)
2 medium-sized boiling potatoes (about ¾ pound)
6 tblsps vegetable oil
¼ tsp whole fenugreek seeds
1 tsp whole cumin seeds
1 to 2 whole dried hot red peppers
¾ tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander seeds
1 to 1 ¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp garam masala
Discard leaves and coarse stem of cauliflower. Break head into 2-inch long flowerets. Now cut each floweret lengthwise into very slim flowerets, with the heads never wider than ½ inch. Soak in cold water for half an hour.
Peel the potatoes. Cut them into dice, about ½ x ½ x 1/3 inch. Soak in bowl of cold water for half an hour.
Drain cauliflower and potatoes and dry them in a dish towel. Heat oil in a large 12 – to – 14- inch skillet over high heat. When the oil is smoking, scatter in the fenugreek seeds, the fennel seeds, the cumin seeds, and the red peppers. Stir once and quickly add the cauliflower and the potatoes. Stir again and turn the heat to medium. Sprinkle the turmeric, coriander, salt, and pepper over the vegetables and sauté them for about 8 to 10 minutes. Now add ¼ cup water and cover immediately. Turn heat to very low and steam vegetables gently about 7 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle the garam masala over the vegetables, stir once, and serve.
My variations: add sauteed tofu and other vegetables. I made it recently with the addition of tofu and green beans that I had left-over.
Alloo Gobi Plate
I’m about to make chole for dinner tonight. I already made some rajma (kidney bean curry) earlier and have chickpeas to use up. Chana Masala or Chole (chickpea curry) is a standard dish at most Indian restaurants and a protein-rich choice for vegetarians. It’s a great comfort food. Best of all, it’s easy to make.
Chana Masala is generally served with Indian Breads such as : Poori, Chapati, Bhatura etc. Many restaurants serve Chana – Bhatura as a snack or a dinner item. You can make this chickpea curry with lots of gravy or not depending on how you’re serving it. If you’re serving it over rice, then use more gravy. If you’re having it with a bread, like I am tonight, then use less (you can cook it down by leaving the cover off). I found the following recipe on-line that I will follow:
chickpea-curry-chana-masala-chole
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How to make Chickpea curry:
Ingredients:
* Dry white Chickpeas – 1 cup
* Red ripe tomatoes – 2 (I used a can of organic diced tomatoes and a small can of organic tomato paste)
* Green chillies – 2
* Onion – 1 large
* Garlic paste – ½ tsp
* Ginger paste – ½ tsp
* Salt – 1 tsp or to taste
* Oil or ghee(clarified butter) – 2 tablespoons
* Cumin seed – ½ teaspoon
* Asafetida – a big pinch.
* Garam masala – 1 tsp
* Red chili powder – ½ tsp or to taste.
* Coriander leaves – ½ cup chopped.
Preparation:
* Use white large chickpeas. Wash the chickpeas. Add 3 cups of water. Soak for 6-8 hours or overnight.
* Boil or pressure cook till chickpeas are soft. It will take about 20 minutes. Add a little salt while cooking.
* Chop onions, coriander leaves finely. Chop/slit green chili.
* Puree tomatoes.
Cooking Method:
1. In a deep pan, heat oil/ghee.
2. Add cumin seeds. When they stop spluttering, add onion. Fry till onions turn transparent.
3. Add ginger and garlic paste. Fry for about 5 seconds.
4. Add tomato puree. Cook for about 7-8 minuts or till oil starts separating (floating on top).
5. Add garam masala, asafetida, red chili powder and cooked chickpeas along with the water. Cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add salt. Cook for 5-8 minutes more.
7. Add chopped coriander leaves.
Channa Masala is ready. Garnish with more chopped coriander leaves, onion rings. Serve with any Indian Breads, Such as bhatura, poori, paratha, or chapati (a wheat tortilla). I ended up having it inside a toasted pita, with cheese. My son had it on toast, with cheese. Growing up, we used to stuff an Italian loaf with it, along with some Indian pickle like lime, sprinkled with cheese. Great comfort food!
Source: Vegetarian Cooking, Recipes, Tips