Iyengar Tomato Gojju

Owe this mouth-watering Iyengar special to my friends' moms.. Nagajyothi and Divya :)

Ingredients:
2 tomato - finely chopped
1/2 onion - finely chopped
2 Tbsp oil
1-2 tsp rasam powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1-2 Tbsp Jaggery powder
1/4 tsp tamarind concentrate
1 sprig curry leaves
1 tsp urad dal
2 tsp mustard seeds
1 green chilli
1/2 to 1 cup of water
Salt

Method:
1) Heat oil in a frying pan. Add urad dal and fry until it starts to change colour. Add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter.
2) Add curry leaves and green chilli and fry. Add onion and fry until it starts to change its colour.
3) Add tomato and fry for a minute or two
4) Reduce heat to medium heat. Add 1 1/2 Tbsp jaggery powder, 1 tsp rasam powder, turmeric powder and fry for a minute or two.
5) Add 1/2 cup of water, tamarind concentrate. Check for salt. And boil for 2-3 minutes.
6) Add more jaggery/rasam powder depending on whether you like it sweet/hot. Boil for 5 minutes until tomato pieces are squashed.
DONE!!

Kaju-Peas Curry

Ingredients:
Cashew nuts - 1 cup
Peas - 1 cup
Tomato - 2 - roughly chopped
Onion - 1 roughly chopped
Onion - 1/2 finely chopped
Roasted Peanuts - 2 Tbsp
Yogurt - 3 Tbsp
Garlic clove - 1 roughly chopped
1 inch ginger - roughly chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 Tbsp coriander seeds
2 Tbsp kasoori methi
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 green chilli
Oil
Ghee
Salt
Water

Method:
1) Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a pan - Fry garlic until it turns golden brown. Add ginger, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and green chilli and fry for another minute
2) Add onion and fry until it starts to change colour. Add tomato and fry for 4-5 minutes. Allow it to cool.
3) Grind it into a fine paste along with yogurt, roasted peanuts, pepper powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder.
4) Heat 1 Tbsp ghee in a pan. Fry finely chopped onion for a minute. Add cashew nuts and fry for another minute
5) Add paste and fry for another minute. Add peas. Add water to get the correct consistency. Check for salt. Remove from heat once it begins to boil.
6) Add kasoori methi and mix.
DONE!!!!

Serve with hot chapathis :)

Palak-Paneer Paratha

Ingredients:
2 cups wheat flour (some more for rolling)
1/4 tsp ajwain seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
3-4 coriander sprigs - finely chopped
1/2 onion - finely chopped
3/4 cup paneer (cottage cheese) - grated
3/4 cup spinach - finely chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
1/4 tsp grated ginger
Ghee
Water
Salt
Oil

Method:
1) Take wheat flour, water, oil, 1 tsp salt in a large bowl - and knead it into a dough. Keep aside.
2) Heat oil in a frying pan, add ginger, ajwain seeds, cumin seeds
3) Add onion and fry for a minute or two.
4) Add spinach and fry for a minute.t
5) Add paneer and fry for few minutes until spinach and paneer loses its moisture.
6) Add coriander leaves, coriander powder, garam masala powder, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and mix. Check for salt
7) Take a fistful of dough and roll it into a roti about 3 inches in diameter.
8) Take a spoonful of paneer-spinach mix and place it at the centre. Pull the edges together, make it into a ball and seal it.
9) Roll it into a 3 inch circle. Pat it in wheat flour on both side.Roll it into a 6 inch circle.
10) Heat a pan, and place the paratha on the pan for a minute.
11) Flip to the other side and spread a few drops of ghee on the paratha.
12) When the under side begins to get golden-brown spots flip to the other side. Add a few drops of ghee on this side as

well.
13) When the other side as well begins to get golden-brown spots. Flip again for a few seconds.
DONE!!

Serve with yogurt and pickle :)

Crystal cake

Ingredients:
Sago - Soak overnight
1 1/2 cup purple potato - cut into small cubes
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup grated coconut

Method:
1) Drain water from sago. Mix sago, purple potato, coconut and sugar.
2) Grease a tray (I used ghee). Spread the mixture - ensure that it is not more than 2cms thick.
3) Steam it for an hour. Allow it to cool. Cut into squares.
DONE!!

Heat up in microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving :)