Wednesday 1 February 2012

Aap ke Liye

P tells me I should only write about fancy food because everybody knows how to make regular khana. I don't agree. As a youngster I knew how to make biryani but could not make a tasty dal. Because I thought, like P still does, that normal dal roti everyone makes, I want to excel in the exotic. Then you grow up & start on your own & you realize that you cannot possibly eat exotic cuisine everyday. And before you know it, you are craving for the ghar ki dal subzi!


There are too many people who eat out everyday because they think cooking is cumbersome. A friend,on an onsite, ate at a burger joint for 21 days till he was warned by the kindly waitress that too much of it was not good for his health! Snehendu ate out for 4 months till his wife joined him & took charge of the kitchen.


Cooking is therapeutic. It gives you a deep sense of fulfillment.You also start appreciating all those people who have fed you in life & who you never ever thanked. Because you took them for granted. Because they were merely doing what they were supposed to do. You never respected the art enough because you were not paying for it.Think of your mother, sister, wife, all those female relatives who cooked for you with love & waited for that one compliment from you. And all you said was bhalo hoyechche, ektu jhaal hole bhalo hoto...theek bana hai, thoda tikha hota toh aur sahi lagta...


This is for all you men out there.  Don your apron & chef's cap & make this simple Alu Gobi today. Decide on the tikha for yourself :)


All you need is
1. 1 big potato-cut in cubes/long
2. 1 small cauliflower - florets separated
3. Paanch phoron/5 spices(comes as a packet in Indian stores):
(cumin,black cumin, aniseed,methi,randhuni/mustard)- 1/2tsp
4. Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
5. Red chilli powder- acc to taste
6. Salt to taste
7. Oil- 1tbsp





Step 1: Heat oil & put the spices till they crackle.


Step 2Add turmeric powder, chilli powder & put the alu & gobi & fry on medium heat.









Step 3: Cover the pan & let it cook for 10 mins. DO NOT add water.


When you get the all-familiar aroma of gobi fill up the kitchen, open lid & see if it is cooked.


If done, take it off flame. If not, cook for 5 mins more.








Insight : Depending on which part of the world you live, food will take time to cook. Higher the altitude,colder the place, longer does your food take to cook.





Your alu gobi looks done just right. Good job! Yes, you do need rice/roti & dal too. One doesn't eat only alu gobi you see :)


Ok Master, I will cut the gobi smaller the next time.Sigh!!!




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