Cottage Cheese & Spinach (Palak Paneer)

Cottage Cheese & Spinach (Palak Paneer)

Ingredients:

1 lb. chopped spinach

1 onion, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1 large tomato, pureed

1 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 lb. cottage cheese

1 tsp. salt or to taste

2 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onion, tomato, ginger and garlic, together with cumin and coriander powder for five minutes. Add cottage cheese, chopped spinach, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm water and cook on medium low heat for half an hour.

Cottage Cheese & Peas (Paneer Matar)

Cottage Cheese & Peas (Paneer Matar)

Ingredients:

1 lb. shelled green peas

1 onion, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1 tomato, pureed

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 lb. cottage cheese

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

1 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onions, ginger and garlic, together with cumin and coriander powder for five minutes. Add tomato puree, cottage cheese, green peas, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm water and cook on medium low heat for fifteen minutes. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves.

Green Beans & Potato Curry

Green Beans & Potato Curry

Ingredients:

1 lb. French style cut green beans

1 onion, pureed

1 tbsp. ginger paste

1 tbsp. garlic paste

2 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 lb. potatoes, cooked and cubed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

2 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onions, ginger and garlic, together with cumin and coriander powders for five minutes. Add potatoes, green beans, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm water and cook on medium low heat for fifteen minutes. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves.

Peppers & Potato Curry (Shimla mirch ki sabzi)

Peppers & Potato Curry (Shimla mirch ki sabzi)

Ingredients:

1 lb. green bell peppers, sliced fine

1 onion, pureed

1 tomato, pureed

1 tbsp. ginger paste

1 tbsp. garlic paste

2 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 lb. potatoes, cooked and cubed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

2 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic, together with cumin and coriander powders for five minutes. Add potatoes, green bell peppers, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm water, and cook on medium low heat for fifteen minutes. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves.

Peas & Potato Curry

Peas & Potato Curry

Popularly known as "Alu Matar", this one's a vegetarian veteran.

Ingredients:

1 lb. shelled green peas

1 onion, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 large potato, cooked and cubed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

1 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onions, ginger and garlic, together with cumin and coriander powders for five minutes. Add potato, green peas, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm water and cook on medium low heat for fifteen minutes. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves.

Okra & Mustard: (Shorshe Dharosh)

Okra & Mustard: (Shorshe Dharosh)

Originally a Bengali dish, I have used ingredients easily available in the West. This is one of those recipes that can be ready in a few minutes and still taste great.

Ingredients:

1 lb. whole okra.

1 tbsp. mustard powder, made into a paste with equal amounts of water (this is the recommended amount, but feel free to use more paste if you're fond of mustard).

1 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. mustard seeds

1 tsp. salt or to taste

2 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the mustard seeds for half a minute, followed by the mustard paste for a minute on low heat. Add okra, turmeric and chilli powders and salt, and cook on medium low heat for ten to fifteen minutes.

Okra Curry (Masala Bhindi)

Okra Curry (Masala Bhindi)

Okra is one of the commoner vegetables used all over India; it has a place in most regional cuisine's.

Ingredients:

1 lb. okra, sliced lengthwise or chopped into small pieces.

2 onions, pureed

2 tsp. ginger paste

2 tsp. garlic paste

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 potato, cubed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 large tomato, pureed

2 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onions, ginger and garlic, together with cumin and coriander powders and tomato for five minutes on medium low heat. Add potato, okra, turmeric and chilli powders and salt and cook on medium low heat for half an hour.

Mustard Greens (Sarson ka Saag)

Mustard Greens (Sarson ka Saag)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. oil

1 large onion, pureed

1 large tomato, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/2 tsp. each cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders.

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 lb. chopped mustard greens

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onion and tomato, ginger and garlic pastes, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders together for five minutes. Add the chopped mustard greens, and cook for twenty five minutes on medium low heat with a cup of lukewarm water.

Potato & Spinach Curry (Alu Saag)

Potato & Spinach Curry (Alu Saag)

Ingredients:

1 lb. chopped spinach

1 lb. potatoes, cooked and cubed

2 tbsp. oil

1 large onion, pureed

1 large tomato, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/2 tsp. each cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders.

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onion and tomato, ginger and garlic pastes, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders together for five minutes. Add the chopped spinach and the potatoes, and cook for twenty five minutes on medium low heat with a cup of lukewarm water. Stir well to let the spinach blend with the spices and cover with a lid during cooking.

Chickpea & Spinach Curry (Chana Saag)

Chickpea & Spinach Curry (Chana Saag)

Spinach is a popular ingredient used as a base for the curry.

Ingredients:

1 lb. canned chickpeas

1 large potato, cooked and cubed

1 large onion, pureed

1 large tomato, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/2 tsp. each cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders.

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 cup of spinach leaves, pureed

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onion and tomato, ginger and garlic pastes, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders together for five minutes. Add the spinach paste and the potatoes, and cook for twenty five minutes on medium low heat with a cup of lukewarm water. The chickpeas are added, and the curry allowed to simmer for two minutes, before serving.

Paneer (Cottage Cheese curry)

Paneer (Cottage Cheese curry)

Ingredients:

1 lb. cottage cheese

1 tbsp. oil

1 large onion, pureed

1 large tomato, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/2 tsp. each cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders.

1 tsp. green chilli, chopped fine

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onion and tomato, ginger and garlic pastes, cilantro/coriander leaves, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders together for five minutes. The cottage cheese is added, and the curry allowed to simmer for five minutes, before serving.

Eggplant (Baigan Bharta)

Eggplant (Baigan Bharta)

Ingredients:

1 lb. eggplant, cooked in the microwave or the oven, peeled and mashed

1 tbsp. oil

1 large onion, chopped fine

1 large tomato, chopped fine

1 tsp. green chilli, chopped fine

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

Method:

Cook the eggplant in the microwave after piercing with a fork (or roast in the oven) until done. Peel off the skin and mash well. Add the oil, chopped onions and tomatoes, green chilli and cilantro/coriander. Season with salt and serve hot.

Chickpea Curry (Chole Masale)

Chickpea Curry (Chole Masale)

Curried chickpeas have been going strong for years.

Ingredients:

1 lb. canned chickpeas

1 large potato, cooked and cubed

1 tbsp. oil

1 large onion, pureed

1 large tomato, pureed

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/2 tsp. each cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders.

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onion and tomato, ginger and garlic pastes, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders together for a couple of minutes. Add the potatoes and chickpeas and 1/2 cup of lukewarm water and cook until done. Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves.

Mushroom Curry

Mushroom Curry

I've noticed that fresh whole button mushrooms are a better option than the sliced ones sold in the supermarkets.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. mushrooms

1 small onion, chopped

1 tomato, sliced

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1/4 tsp. cumin powder

1/4 tsp. coriander powder

1/4 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 large potato, cooked peeled and cubed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat the oil in a small non-stick frying pan (or skillet), and fry the onion and tomato, ginger and garlic pastes together with cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powders five minutes. Add the mushrooms and potatoes, season with salt and cook for another five minutes until done.

Mixed Vegetable Curry

Mixed Vegetable Curry

Ingredients:

6 small onions, quartered

6 small tomatoes, quartered

6 cauliflower florets

6 baby potatoes

1/2 lb. chickpeas

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1 tbsp. oil

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a non stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the onions, ginger and garlic, tomatoes and potatoes for five minutes. Next, add the cauliflower florets, chickpeas and salt. Cook till done.

Cabbage, Carrots & Potatoes

Cabbage, Carrots & Potatoes

Strictly speaking, this is not a curry, but can be served as the main course nevertheless.

Ingredients:

1 lb. cabbage, shredded

1/2 lb. cooked potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/2 lb. carrots, shredded

1 tsp. mustard seeds

1 tsp. ground mustard

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. salt or to taste

2 tbsp. oil

Cilantro/coriander leaves

Method:

Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan (or skillet), and fry the mustard seeds and ground mustard for half a minute, then add the carrots, cilantro/coriander leaves and the shredded cabbage. After 15 minutes, add the cooked potatoes with lemon juice, chilli powder and salt. Serve.

Cauliflower & Mashed Potato Curry

Cauliflower & Mashed Potato Curry

The cauliflower curry has several variations in the regional cuisine's, but this one's a very simple

recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb. cauliflower florets

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin seeds

1 potato, cooked and mashed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (or skillet) and fry the cumin seeds together with the ginger, for a couple of minutes on low heat. Add potato, cauliflower florets, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm water and cook on medium low heat for fifteen minutes.

Cauliflower & Potato curry (Alu Gobi)

Cauliflower & Potato curry (Alu Gobi)

Cauliflower holds a special place in the Indian heart, especially since it is a seasonal vegetable to

be prized in the all-to-short winter months.

Ingredients:

1 lb. cauliflower florets

2 onions chopped fine

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 tsp. garlic paste

1 tsp. turmeric

1 tsp. chilli powder

1 tsp. cumin powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

1 large potato, cooked and cubed

1 tsp. salt or to taste

Cilantro/coriander leaves

1 tbsp. oil

Method:

Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan and (or skillet) fry the onions, ginger and garlic, chopped

cilantro/coriander together with cumin and coriander powders for five minutes. Add potato,

cauliflower florets, turmeric and chilli powders and salt together with half a cup of lukewarm

water and cook on medium low heat for fifteen minutes. Mix well to ensure that the vegetables

blend with the spices. Be careful not to over cook the cauliflower. Garnish with

cilantro/coriander leaves.