Mushroom Mutter

This North Indian dish is one of my favorite dishes to make, especially in the cold months, the spices and flavors just warm you up. It is easy to make, healthy and it tastes great. I use non-fat yogurt as a thickening agent but you can also use cream. This dish can also be made vegan with the omission of yogurt or the cream. Here is my mother's recipe, enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 8 oz package of chopped white mushrooms
¾ 14.5 oz can of stewed tomatoes
2 cups frozen peas
2 tsp of coriander powder
1 tsp of turmeric powder
1 tsp of chili powder
1 tsp of Garam Masala
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tsp of shredded ginger
1 tsp of sugar
3 tbsp of yogurt
3 tbsp of olive oil
¾ cup of water

Heat the olive oil in the pan. Then add the onions & garlic and sauté them until the onions are golden brown. Add the tomatoes and 3/4 cup of water and stir all the ingredients.

Add the coriander, turmeric, chili, and garam masala to the dish and mix all the ingredients well. Add the peas, mushrooms, shredded ginger, and sugar to the dish.

Whisk yogurt in a bowl until it is of a smooth consistency, and then add it to the dish. Cover the pan and reduce heat, and simmer until the peas are soft and tender. Garnish with parsley or coriander. Serve with roti, “Indian bread” rice or bread.

Servers 2-4 people

This recipe is featured on The Leather District Gourmet , written by Jacqueline Church. Jacqueline was a panelist at a recent Povo Blogger's event that I had attended and she invited me to submit a recipe on her blog. Check out her website and every Tuesday she has a meat free post.

Curried Black Bean and Corn

Here is my recipe for curried Black Bean and Corn Dish. As a kid my mom used to make this dish with just corn and I loved it. Beans are healthy and filled with protein so I thought, why not add some black beans to this dish? Its yummy, healthy and easy to make.

Ingredients

1 can of black bean
1 can of corn
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2tsp Garam Masala Powder
1tsp Chili Powder
2tsp Cumin Powder
2tsp Coriander Powder
1 cup water
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp of grated ginger
1 Tbsp of lemon juice


Salt to taste

Saute onions and garlic in pan with olive oil until onions are a golden brown. Add tomato sauce and water and stir. Add garam masala, chili powder, coriander powder, and ginger to the pot. Add corn and beans to gravy and then stir the ingredients in the pot. Cover and reduce heat and let it simmer for five minutes. Add lemon juice to dish and stir . Serve with roti, bread or rice.

Cucumber Raita

Growing up in an Indian family, Raita has always been a favorite of mine especially in the summertime. Raita is great as a snack or a side dish that complements the spicy flavors of curry dishes. I have been cooking Indian food since I was 14 ( thanks to my mom). Here is my recipe for Cucumber raita. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 Cucumber, peeled, grated or diced into small pieces
1 tsp Coriander power
1 tsp Chili powder ( as desired)
1/2 tsp of grated Ginger (Optional)
1 tsp Cumin powder
2 cups Nonfat Plain Yogurt
1 tsp Sugar
Salt & Pepper to taste
1tbsp fresh coriander/cilantro leaves (Garnish)

Serves : 4-6

Beat or blend two cups of yogurt and add water for desired smooth consistency. Mix all the ingredients together and add salt, pepper and sugar. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve chilled.

Hints: If you can find roasted cumin powder this makes this dish even better. My mom makes this at home by roasting cumin seeds in the toaster oven or a pan and then blends the seeds to create a powder. Gives this dish a bit of a smoky taste. You can also add tomatoes and onions to this dish as well as a spoon of mint green chutney if you have some.