Indian Food

Tonight I made alotsa tasty Indian food. Mmmm, Indian food. I don't have time to post all the recipes right now, but here is a highlight.

Spicy Mashed Eggplant

2-3 long Asian eggplant or one big regular-old eggplant
oil
2 T ghee
1 t cumin seeds
2 dried red chillies
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 T julienned ginger
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3 small chillies, sliced paper-thin
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
1 t tumeric
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 c water
3 T chopped coriander leaves

1. Cut eggplants in half (or quarters if using big oval eggplant), brush with oil (or use your fingers) and roast in a 400 degree oven till soft, about 20 minutes. Let cool a bit and either chop/smash with knife (Asian eggplant) or discard peel and mash flesh (other kind).

2. Heat ghee and fry cumin seeds and dried peppers till aromatic. Add garlic, onion, ginger and chillies and sauté until golden brown.

3. Add sliced tomato, tumeric, salt and water; simmer 5 minutes over medium-low heat.

4. Add smushed eggplant and mix well; stir in cilantro and serve.

One thing I like about South Indian restaurants vs. North Indian ones is that they give you a whole set of food with the thali plate, that is to say, the selection that they think is appropriate. Often, when ordering à la carte from a North Indian restaurant, I feel I am not getting the right mix, or I don't even have enough people to order the appropriate range of dishes. Every now and again a helpful/dictatorial waitress will set you straight: "too many dry things! Must have black dahl!" Really, I think I should be having soup with every meal (this is pretty much a pan-Asian standard culinary belief), but I find it difficult to do so for some reason. John and I went to a sort of hipster Indian restaurant called Vansh last weekend, at which they helpfully offer an upgrade from any main course to a set meal with dhal, a curry, rice, and a vegetable dish. Cool idea. Also, nice location by the Kallang River, and cute presentation. Two thumbs up.

Comments

[djw]

I feel strangely compelled to make every vegetarian recipe Belle posts. That squash casserole sounded weird but it was really good. I saw this and immediately started hunting through the spice drawer for cumin seeds and coriander leaves, as if by reflex.

making Ghee sounds scary. Google's top hits have me lighting buttery paper on fire.

[Scott Lemieux]

If you have a recipe for Palaak Paneer, this would officially be the best website evah.

Alas, Dave cannot make your bolognese recipe, but it was first-rate. The chicken livers really do seem to be essential...

[djw]

I've tried to make the "paneer" part of palaak paneer, and I can't get it to turn out right. It always comes out too cottage-cheesy in texture.

[Phil]

That squash casserole sounded weird but it was really good.

What are you talking about!? That squash casserole was not just really good, it was AMAZING! Seriously, it was the best thing I'd eaten in a long time.

[belle waring]

see, doubting mandos!! squash casserole r00lz!