Asparagus Kurma

Ingredients:

Vegetables
Asparagus - 1 bunch
if using frozen -5 Way veggie mix - 1 cup
else 1 cup of carrot, peas, beans together
Potato - 2 medium
(optional) Onion - 1 medium - diced
(optional) Paneer - 10 medium sized cubes

Masala to Grind
Coconut (wet) - 1 cup
Jeera - 1 tbsp
Clove - 3 nos
Pattai/Cinnamon - 1 stick
Kasakasa - half tsp
Green chilies -5
Tomato- 1 big

To Splutter
Oil -2 tablespoon
Mustard seeds -1 teaspoon
Bay Leaf - 1
Turmeric powder - 2 pinches

Salt to taste
Curd - 1/4 cup
Additional diced green chilli to taste

Method De Prep:
1. Cut veggies into medium sized cubes.For asparagus, take off the tip and the bottom and cut into medium size.
2. Cook Asparagus in the microwave on high for 6 mins. Asparagus cooks pretty quickly, so depending on your microwave you may need more or less time. Check on the veggie every 5 mins.
3. Cook the potatoes. You may choose to leave the skin or peel it off
4. Grind the coconut, jeeera, green chilli, clove, pattai, kasakasa and tomato in a pulp
5. In a thick bottom vessel, add oil, splutter the mustard seeds.
6. Add the bay leaf, green chillis, onions and fry until the onions are transparent
7. Add the paneer cubes and fry till the paneer turns slightly brown (optional line)
8. Add the ground pulp and cook on medium heat. Add salt, turmeric and water as much required
9. Once the gravy comes to a boil, add the cooked vegetables. Slowly turn the kurma so as to not smash the veggies.
10. Add curd, cook on low for 5 mins and turn off.

Delicious kurma is ready to be enjoyed w/ Rice, Roti or Parota!
Bon App!

Chow chow Kurma

I personally like this vegetable: Chow Chow or Chayote. B isn't a big fan of this vegetable. I wanted to get him to enjoy this vegetable and could think of no other way but to try a kurma with it. Here is what I did

Ingredients:
1. Chayote: 2 nos peeled and diced
2. Coconut - wet - 1 small cup
3. Green Chillis - 5 nos
4. Jeera - 1 tsp
5. Oil - 1 tbsp
6. Clove - 3 nos
7. Pattai/Cinnamon stick - 1
8. Bay Leaves - 2
9. Onion - 1 medium diced

Method De Prep
1. Cook the diced chayote in pressure cooker without the whistle. Once the spout of the cooker starts steaming fast, you can remove the chayote. Chayote is high in water content and doesn't need to be completely pressure cooked
2. In a mixie, blend coconut and green chillis
3. In a pan, splutter jeera, add clove, cinnamon, bay leaves and fry. Add the onions and fry well till the onions are transparent
4. Add the ground mix of coconut and chillis
5. If you want some color, you may add a pinch of turmeric
6. Add the cooked chayote and simmer. Add salt to taste
The Chayote Kurma is ready to be enjoyed!

Bon App!