Khanakhazana

I live with my dear darling husband with both in-laws visiting us on and off. Cooking food is quite an easy job for us as I and my Husband both are not fussy about any particular taste.


But then we have taxing jobs and so cooking all meals everyday is difficult, this made way for my loving maid who behaves as if she is my Mom-in-law!! But many a times she doesn't turn up and  my dear Husband who reaches earlier than me has to start cooking  :) Other day he was asking me about how to cook rice, how many spices to add.. etc etc!! 


It made me think that Indian traditional home cooking is quite similar in most parts and so a general tip and guideline would help all of us. Tried to come-up with a general guideline for working couples so that food is tasty and holds taste of main veggie and not just spices!!


Spices that suit most Veggies
 Zeera
Turmeric
Mirchi--> green or Red powder
Corrainder Powder or Sauf ka Powder


Other Common Ingredients
Onion
Tomato
Ginger
Garlic


Recipe for simple Bhindi, beans and other dry sabji.
Take oil in Pan(kadhai), add Zeera, add green chilli/red powder, add turmeric if required, add veggies.
Keep Stirring throughout. Depending on vegetable either shallow fry and add water or cook in Kadhai without water.


Spices/ingredients that bring extra taste but needs some cooking knowledge!!


Rai(Mustard seeds)
Fenugreek seed
corrainder seeds
nutmeg
दालचीनी
लॉन्ग
green and black cardamon (elaichi)
Garlic-ginger paste
Garlic powder(saunth)
Hing(Asofoetida)
Red chillies साबूत

पेप्पर black/white pepper

Parsley/fresh कोर्रैंदर

Curd

कड़ी पत्ता 

Ingredients for thickening the gravy

Cashews

Coriander powder/fennel पावडर सौंफ 

Opium Poppy(खस खस)

Groundnuts

Onions and tomatoes

Milk Cream/Coconut Milk

Dry Coconut

Recipe for simple मटर  आलू, मटर पनीर,  beans एंड aloo and other gravy sabji.

Cut Onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic. quantity as required. you may skip onions and garlic if you don't like their smell.

Make paste of onions, tomatoes etc in Mixer, and then put that in pan( without oil), cook them for some time on low flame.

In another pan add zeera, green chilli/red chilli, add the paste prepared earlier or add cut garlic,wait till it is light brown, then add cut ginger and onions, again keep stirring and wait till onions turns brown, add tomatoes, other spices you wish.  keep stirring and when tomatoes have mixed well with other ingredients add your veggies.

In case of Cottage cheese(Paneer) you can deep fry it or just shallow fry and add to main pan or shallow fry in main pan itself. peas should be boiled in cooker and then shallow fried.

And yup don't forget salt!!

Easy recipe for rice


1) It is easiest to cook in Electric Rice cooker


2) Pressure cooker: I mostly use Pressure cooker as it is quick and have no fear of maid doing any harm to my electric cooker, procedure for simple plain rice. 
             a) Clean Rice, wash with water once. 
             b) add double the quantity of water, put lid wait for 4 whistles and you are done!!


Sometimes depending on rice quality it may need less water than double so, do check when trying your rice stock first time.


3) Any open lid vessel: I don't cook in it but many people feel that for Basmati this is best as grains don't stick. Open lid vessel need more water, 30-40% more than Pressure cooker.


There are two ways to cook in them:


1) boil rice for some time and when little soft, drain the water and then sprinkle some water on top and cook on low flame.
2) boil rice  and when water has been absorbed, put gas on low flame.


It is up to you guys which one u choose, some of friends also add salt in rice.


Happy Cooking.. btw it is weekend and let's try something not so common :)