Healthy Fish Curry with Vegetables

This is one of my favorite recipes that my mom makes. This quintessential Bengali dish is tasty and easy on your stomach. I love this so much that I can eat it almost every day! The best part about this dish is--it has vegetables that are healthy and uses very little spices. It can even be served to children and ailing people, as it is full of nutrients.

Ingredients: Rohu or Katla fish(cut into pieces and smeared with turmeric and salt), 1 Potato, 3/4 Pointed Gourds(in Bengali it is called "potol" and in Hindi it is called"parwal"), 1 Eggplant, 1 tomato, Bori(this is especially a Bengali delicacy made from dal paste), Green beans, 1 Green Banana, 1 Cauliflower.
Spices: Ginger paste, Cumin seeds paste, Red chilli paste, Turmeric, Salt to taste, Vegetable oil.

Procedure: Fry the fish separately and keep aside. Fry the boris and keep separately. Pour oil into a shallow pan and add some ungrounded whole cumin seeds. Then add the diced vegetables and saute for a while. Fry until light golden brown. Now add ginger paste, cumin seed paste, chilli paste, turmeric, and salt and mix properly. Add proportional water in it. When the vegetables get boiled, add the fried fish. Before removing from flame, add a pinch of garam masala(spice) and serve hot with steamed rice.

P.S. --Sprinkle some fresh lemon juice as you enjoy with steamed rice, for enhanced taste!

Paneer(Cottage Cheese) Fried Rice

I learnt this recipe from my mom. I'm sure, this one's going to be a real favorite among veg food enthusiasts.

You will need: Cottage cheese(paneer) 200 gms, 1 medium-size Carrot(shredded), Green beans(chopped), Green peas, 1 large Onion(chopped), cooking oil, salt and sugar to taste, Soya sauce, Tomato sauce.

Procedure: Cut the cottage cheese in small cubes and fry lightly. Steam the vegetables and prepare the rice. Now saute the onions lightly in a shallow pan and mix the steamed vegetables with it. Add the sauted vegetables and the fried cottage cheese with the rice. Add salt, sugar, soya and tomato sauce and mix well. Serve hot.

Veggie Recipes With Rice

Few of my gourmet friends suggested me to put up some veggie dishes, which they can eat with rice, for lunch or dinner. So here's some really easy to prepare and great to taste veg dishes for you all. Enjoy!

Steamed Spinach:

You need: Spinach(chopped), black pepper, mustard oil, green chillies 3/4, poppy seed paste(we call it posto in Bengali), coconut(shredded).

Procedure: Boil the spinach properly after cleaning it. Drain the excess water. Heat mustard oil and add black pepper and chillies. Now add the spinach and saute for a while. When it becomes soft, add the poppy seed paste and shredded coconut. Saute for a while and remove from heat. Add little mustard oil on top and serve with steamed rice.


Spicy Okra(Masala Bhindi)

You need: 1 kg fresh okra(bhindi), mustard oil or any cooking oil, 1 large onion(sliced), 2/3 large tomatoes(sliced), 1 tsp cumin seeds, 6 garlic cloves(minced), 1 tsp coriander powder(or chopped coriander), 2 green chillies(chopped), salt to taste.

Procedure: Heat oil in a shallow pan and add the cumin seeds. Fry for a while. Add the onion slices, minced garlic, and green chillies and saute, until the onions turn golden brown. Now add the chopped okras(bhindi) and mix well. Add the coriander powder and light fry for few minutes. Add the tomato slices and cook for another 5 minutes. When you see that the okras are cooked and fried completely, remove from heat. You can eat this with rice, chapati or parathas.

Eggplant(brinjal) and Yogurt Curry


You need: 1 big or medium size eggplant, mustard 1 big tsp, poppy seed 1 tsp, yogurt 2 big tsp, red chilli powder 1 tsp, salt to taste, cooking oil, sugar to taste.

Procedure: Cut the eggplant(brinjal) into small cubes and fry lightly in a shallow pan. Keep aside. Now add two tsp oil in the pan and saute the mustard seed paste and poppy seed paste. Add the chilli powder and yogurt. Saute for a while. Now add the eggplant cubes, salt and sugar to taste. Cook for few minutes and serve hot with rice or chapati.

More veggie recipes to come next!

How To Make Vegetable Stew

Now with the onset of summers, we all love eating veggies. I am slowly becoming a lover of vegetarian food. It is good for your stomach and easy to digest, especially during the sweltering heat of summers. More and more people are turning toward veg food and coming up with exciting new recipes. We all love eating stews and soups throughout the year. Here's an easy to prepare and delicious recipe for a stew that you'll love!

You will need: 1 cauliflower(small), potato 2/3, carrots 2, beans 10-12, onions 2/3, tomato 2, cardamom, clove, bay leaves, cinnamon(few), white cooking oil 2 tsp, ginger 1 inch(chopped), butter 1 big tsp, milk 1 and half cup, black pepper 10-12, sugar 2 tsp, 1 lemon.

Procedure: Wash cauliflower and all other vegetables and chop them in cubes. Heat oil in a shallow pan or kadai and saute the vegetables lightly. Keep them aside. Now heat the butter in the pan and add cardamom, clove, cinnamon, bay leaves, black peppers, and tomato slices. Stir for a while and sprinkle some white flour. Add milk and mix everything well and add 3 to 4 cups of water in it. When it comes to a boil, add salt, sugar, and sauted vegetables. Cover with a lid. When the stew thickens, add some lemon juice and serve hot.