Vegetarian Congee with sauteed turnip and tofu

Ingredients: (Serves two)

For congee:
3/4 cup rice
10 cups water
1 stock cube
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper powder

Accompaniment:
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 turnip diced
1 bunch of spinach - finely chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chili powder

1/2 cup diced tofu
Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds
Salt

Method:
Congee:
1) Take a heavy bottomed pan and wash the rice. Add water, stock cube and bring it to boil.
2) Once it starts to bubble, reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Stirring it once every 10 minutes
3) Add ginger, salt, pepper powder and soy sauce. Continue to simmer for another 30 minutes until the rice half dissolves and becomes creamy in texture. Take care to stir every 5 minutes.

Sauteed turnip:
1) Heat sesame oil in a frying pan. Add turnip and fry for a minute.
2) Add 1/2 tsp salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and mix. Lower the heat, cover and cook for 2 minutes.
3) Add spinach and cook for 2 minutes

To serve:
Take 3-4 ladleful of congee in a bowl. Add 2-3 tbsp sauteed turnips on the side, diced tofu. Garnish with sesame seeds and soy sauce.

DONE!!! 

Tomato saaru

Ingredients: Serves 6

1 cup toor dal
9-12 cups water
2 tomato - sliced in half
1-2 tbsp rasam powder
1 tbsp jaggery powder - optional
1 tsp coriander powder - optional
Salt
3 tbsp oil
2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
2-3 sprigs coriander leaves - finely chopped
3 dry red chilli - optional
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp asafoetida

Ingredients:
1) In a pressure cooker, wash toor dal, add 8 cups of water and tomato. Close the lid, place the weight and wait for two-three whistles. Keep aside and wait for pressure to be released.
2) Open the lid, add more water if you want a thinner consistency. I added 2 more cups :)
3) Add 1 1/2 tbsp of rasam powder, jaggery powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and bring to boil. Check for salt. Add remaining rasam powder if you want it spicy.
4) Heat oil in a skillet for a minute. Add mustard seeds and wait for it to splutter. Add cumin seeds, red chilli, asafoetida and fry for 10 seconds. Add it to saaru. Garnish with coriander leaves.
Done!

Tip 1: Do what appa does and add 1 garlic pod to the tadka.
Tip 2: I like to try different herbs for garnish. Dill goes really well as well :)

Cauliflower thyme soup

Ingredients:
Cauliflower - 1 bunch, cut into florets
1 potato - chopped
1 onion chopped
2 garlic pods - chopped
4-5 cups vegetable stock
2 cups water
1 Tbsp cream
5-6 sprigs thyme - chopped
1 sprig thyme - cut into 1 inch pieces
1 green chilli (optional)
1/4 tsp pepper powder
2 Tbsp olive oil
Salt

Method:
1) Heat oil in a sauce pan. Fry garlic pods until they change colour. Add onion, green chilli and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add potato and cauliflower and fry for two minutes.
2) Add stock and water. Cover and cook on low heat for 30 minutes. Allow it to cool and blend it into fine soup.
3) Take the soup in the sauce pan(high flame). Add pepper powder, cream and thyme. Check for salt.
4) Bring to boil. Garnish with thyme.
DONE!!!

Serve with toasted buttered bread! :)

Vegetable noodle soup

Ingredients (Serves 2):
2-3 cups chopped mixed vegetables
1/2 cup soy
1 shallot - sliced
3 garlic pods - chopped
1 can creamed corn
3 green chilli - chopped
1-2 cups vegetable stock
2 cups water
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp grated galangale
2 tsp chopped coriander
Salt to taste

Ingredients:
1) Heat oil in a wok, add garlic and fry until it turns golden brown. Add onion and fry until it turns translucent. Add green chilli, cumin seeds, bay leaves and fry for 2 minutes
2) Add vegetable stock, water, creamed corn and mixed vegetables. Bring to boil.
3) Add soy sauce, check for salt. Boil for another 5-10 minutes
4) Add noodles and wait for it to be done as per instructions.
5) Remove from heat, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve
DONE!!!