01/8 Easy Indian curries sans vegetables

There are often when we do not want to put in the effort that cooking requires but still want to have something delicious. After running out of instant noodles, the only way left with us is to cook something with as few ingredients as possible but, must taste great. Luckily, we have some dishes for you from the states of Rajasthan and Punjab that are loaded with flavours and also use almost no vegetables. Just some indispensable veggies like onions, ginger and garlic can rarely be kept out of food if we cook food without other vegetables. Both these states are among major agricultural states in India and have a large population of farmers. With adverse weather conditions and lack of fresh and delicate vegetables, it is more of a necessity rather than a choice to prepare food without them. But the lack of ingredients should never be the reason for your food to be flavourless. So, here are some delicious recipes that you can make in no time:

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02/8 Papad Ki Sabzi

Papad ki sabzi is a Rajasthani delight and is savoured widely in various cities in Rajasthan. With time, this delicacy is gaining fame among people from other states too. It is also one of the easiest dishes to prepare when you run out of vegetables or just don't want to put in the extra effort. To begin, finely chop 1 onion and mince 1 tbsp of ginger and garlic paste. Now heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan and 1 tsp of jeera or cumin seeds in it. Now add the ginger-garlic mince and stir for about 30 seconds. Now add in the chopped onions and let them cook for about 3 minutes. Add in 1 tsp of garam masala, 1 tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp haldi powder and 1 tsp coriander powder. Give it a good mix and add ½ cup beaten curd and let it simmer for about 2 minutes or until the oil comes to the surface. Meanwhile, take 2 papad and roast them on a high flame until crisp. Be careful while doing this and try not to burn the papad. Now, break the papad into big bite-sized pieces and add to the curry. Mix thoroughly and serve!

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03/8 Boondi Ki Sabzi

Boondi curry or boondi ki sabzi is yet another delightful curry dish that can be prepared with minimal and basic ingredients available in your kitchen. Just like boondi raita, this curry is also loved by people of all ages. To begin making Boondi Curry, heat some oil in a pan and add 1 tsp of cumin seeds to it. Finely chop one onion and add it to the pan with some ginger and garlic paste and stir. Let this cook for 1 minute and then add ½ tsp of garam masala, 1 tsp of red chilli powder, ½ tsp of haldi powder and salt as per your taste. Let this cook and add 1 tbsp of malai to the pan along with ½ cup milk. Let this cook for 1 minute and add ½ cup of water. Once this mixture comes to a boil, add boondi and turn the flame off. Enjoy with fresh rotis or parathas. (Image courtesy: Instagram/@meena_ki_rasoi)

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04/8 Gatte Ki Sabzi

A fresh and delicious Gatte ki sabzi goes a long way with its unique flavour and smart preparation. To make Gatte ki sabzi, we will begin by preparing Gatte and for that, add 1 cup besan in a bowl and add ½ tsp of carom seeds, ½ tsp or coriander seeds, ¼ tsp haldi powder, ½ tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder, ½ tsp of salt, 2 tbsp of ghee, 1 pinch hing, 2 heaped tbsp of curd, mix all these ingredients to form a stiff dough. You can add 2 tbsp of water also to combine it nicely. Now that you have a smooth dough, take small balls out of it and roll them into thick and long cylinders. Boil 3 cups of water and add 1 tsp of oil in it and add the long besan cylinders to it, let it boil for 10 minutes. Take another pan and heat 2 tbsp oil in it and add 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 pinch hing, 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste. Let this cook for 30 seconds and add 1 finely chopped onion and 1 green chilli (optional) and stir it until the onions turn golden brown. Add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, ½ tsp of haldi and 1 tsp of coriander powder. Add 1 cup fresh dahi or curd and mix it thoroughly. Cover and let it cook until oil comes to the surface and the curd combines well. Meanwhile, take the boiled besan strings out and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Add these pieces to the pan and let it simmer on low flame for about 10 minutes. Keep stirring in regular intervals until everything is well combined. Your Gatte ki sabzi is ready to be served.

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05/8 Punjabi Kadhi

Straight from the state of flavours and richness, Kadhi is one thing that we all adore. While Kadhi is prepared in several ways all across the country, this recipe for Punjabi Kadhi is not just delicious but is also grandma approved. Kadhi is a mix of besan and curd, so to begin with, we will take 1 cup of curd and ½ cup of besan and mix it until a smooth paste is formed. Now add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, 1 tsp of haldi powder and some salt. Add 2 cups of water, mix everything well and keep this to boil on high flame. Meanwhile, we will begin making the Pakoras for Kadhi. It is not important to add different vegetables to your pakoras to make them delicious, it is about getting the spices right. Take 1 cup besan in a bowl and add 1 finely chopped onion, green chilli and 2 tbsp of ginger and garlic. To this, add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, salt to taste, 1 tsp garam masala and 1 tsp of coriander powder. Mix all these ingredients and add ⅓ cup water and it should form a semi-thick paste. Nor too thick, neither too watery. Heat 2 cups of oil in a Kadhai and start frying the Pakoras in batches and keep them aside. By this point, your kadhi should have thickened with all the simmering. For tempering, take a small pan and add some 2 tsp of ghee to it and add 7-8 cloves of garlic finely chopped, 1 dry red chilli and 1 ½ tsp of hing with ½ tsp of fenugreek seeds. Add this hot tempering mix to the kadhi and mix properly. Now add in your prepared Pakoras and your dish is ready to be served with some steamed rice!

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06/8 Malai Paneer

It is one of those dishes that are as delicious as their names. Paneer is already one of the most adored ingredients to be used in Indian cooking and has been loved by people of all ages. To start with Malai Paneer, thinly slice 2 onions, 1 pinch of hing powder, slit 2 green chillies and cut ginger in juliennes. Take a kadhai and add 2 tbsp of oil in it and add 1tsp of cumin seeds with the sliced onions. Let this cook until the onions are translucent. Now add in the ginger and green chillies and stir well. Add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, ½ a tsp of haldi powder and ½ cup of cream or malai. Without wasting much time, add in your cubed paneer pieces and mix it thoroughly. To finish, add some garam masala on top and garnish with some coriander leaves.

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07/8 Punjabi Chitt

Famous in most Punjabi and Rajasthani households, Punjabi Chitt is a ginger and garlic special dish that is usually had in winters to keep the chills away. It is healthy and tastes in a single bowl. To prepare Chitt, you need to put 2 tbsp of oil in a kadhai on high flame and add about 2 tbsp of finely chopped ginger and garlic to it. Roast them for about 15 seconds and add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, 1 tsp of haldi powder, salt to taste and 2 tbsp of malai. Mix this thoroughly and add 1 cup of milk to and 1 cup of water. Let it come to a boil and your Chitt is ready to be served with hot, fully blown rotis. (Image courtesy: Instagram/@holisticwellnesswithmanveen)

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08/8 Dahi Ki Sabzi

A quick, easy and yummy recipe prepared with curd, Dahi ki sabzi is also low on calories. It is one of those recipes that get prepared in a jiffy. To begin with, chop an onion, ginger and 1 green chilli and keep them aside. To a pan, add some oil and add in the 1 tsp of cumin seeds with onion, ginger and green chillies. Let this cook for 2 minutes and add 1 tsp of red chilli powder, salt as per taste, ½ tsp haldi powder, 1 tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala. Add 1 cup of curd or dahi to this and mix properly. If you want a thin gravy, you can add some water but if this consistency works for you then just garnish it with coriander leaves and you are good to go! (Image courtesy: Instagram/@pammis_kitchen)

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