Heat oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Fry kalonji seeds and whole green chilies for a few seconds, then add onion and fry until it is richly browned but not burnt. Add chopped green chili, turmeric, salt, sugar and tomatoes. Simmer, covered, until tomatoes disintegrate into sauce, about 10 minutes.
Add the eggplant and simmer, covered, at least 10 minutes to blend flavours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes to help develop flavours. Add cilantro & green onions. Mix and serve.
Like most Indian dishes, this is one that improves drastically with age. I usually make it the day before the meal & then reheat just before serving.
Put the shrimp mixture in the coconut halves with the mustard oil and the whole chiles. Put the two halves of the coconut together and use a thin rope of dough to seal the joint. Put the coconut in the oven and bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees. The author suggests that the preferred method is to barbeque the coconut among coals --- The coconut is left in the dying embers until the outer layer is well charred --- about 1/2 hour.
To the hot oil add cabbage. Sprinkle with salt. Stir and cover. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove cover. Add the turmeric, chili paste, cumin, coriander and ginger. Stir and fry until the spices are well blended with the cabbage. The cabbage should be nearly cooked at this stage. Add 1/2 cup water and add potatoes. Adjust salt and add sugar to taste. Simmer over medium heat until potatoes are cooked and there is practically no gravy in the pan.
In a frying pan, heat butter. Add the bay leaves and garam masala. Stir fry a couple of minutes and pour over bandhakopir dalna. Stir the cabbage and remove from heat. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Don't cook the cabbage for more than 5 minutes... the sulphurs in cabbage double between minute 5 and 7 of cooking, causing considerable digestive distress!
Robibarer Murgi (Bengali Savoury
Sunday Chicken)
8 large servings
Vegetable oil
3.5 lb chicken pieces, skinned
1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into 1.5 inch cubes
2 cups finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon sugar
1.5 tablespoon peeled fresh ginger, paste or grated
1 tablespoon garlic, paste or minced
1 teaspoon seeded chopped fresh green chili (or more, to taste)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground sumac
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice (or equal parts cinnamon, allspice and clove),
ground
1.25 cups water
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon garam masala
3-5 stalks green onion, chopped
1 large bunch cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken pieces
in 2 batches, turning frequently, until opaque and lightly browned. Remove with
a slotted spoon.
Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and reheat over medium heat. Fry potatoes
until they turn medium brown, turning frequently. Remove with slotted spoon and
set aside. (Omit this step for a lower fat dish)
Add 2.5 tablespoons oil to the skillet and heat over medium-low heat. Add onion
and fry until richly browned but not burnt, stirring constantly. Stir in
turmeric and sugar. Add ginger, garlic, green chili, cumin, coriander, sumac, 1
teaspoon garam masala and 5 spice; fry for a few seconds. Add water. Blend in
tomato paste. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices. Simmer, covered, 10-20
minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer, covered, until both chicken and potatoes
are tender, at least 20 minutes. (The longer this dish simmers, the tastier it
gets.)
Remove from heat. Add salt, yogurt, remaining garam masala and mix well. Let
stand about 10 minutes, then mix in green onion and cilantro. Serve.
Lebur Bhat (Lemon Laced Rice)
4 large servings
1.5 tablespoon vegetable oil (mustard oil preferred)
1 bay leaf
10 whole cardamom pods, bruised
2 inch cinnamon stick
4 whole cloves
1 tablespoon peeled, minced, fresh ginger
1.5 tablespoon raisins
1 cup basmati or other long-grained rice
a lemon wedge (1/4 lemon, seeded)
1.5 cups water
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 teaspoon black mustard seeds
Heat 1.5 tablespoons oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Fry bay leaf, cardamom,
cinnamon, and cloves for a few seconds. Add ginger and fry until lightly
browned, stirring often. Add raisins and rice and fry until rice is opaque,
about 3 minutes. Add lemon wedge, water and peas. Bring to boil, then stir and
lower heat to minimum. Simmer, covered, 18-20 minutes. Resist the temptation to
look while simmering! The rice won't steam properly if you open the lid.
Sprinkle with lemon juice and sugar but do not stir. Simmer 1-2 more minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.
Heat remaining oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. When oil is hot but
not smoking, add mustard seeds and fry a few seconds until they begin to pop,
covering if necessary to prevent the seeds from flying out. Remove from heat.
Pour oil and spice mixture over the rice and mix gently. Discard lemon wedge and
serve.
Plain Boiled Rice
This is one of the basic rice preparations. Always wash the rice in several
changes of water and soak it for 20 minutes in warm water or 30 minutes in cold
water.
2-cups of long-grain or basmati rice
3 cups of water
Salt to taste
Place the rice and water in a deep saucepan with a heavy bottom; put over medium
heat and bring to a boil -- cook until rice and water level becomes same.
Cover the pan and cook about 10 minutes over a very low flame.
Take pan off heat and serve hot.
Rice With Coconut
This is a delicious rice preparation. Serve
this with a main meal, to eat with a curry and other side dishes.
3 table spoon ghee
1 tea spoon white cumin seeds
Pinch of turmeric
2 - 4 cloves
4 black peppercorns
2 brown cardamom pods
2 cups dried coconut
2 cups long-grain or basmati rice
3.75 cups of water
1.5 teaspoons salt ( or to taste )
1 table spoon chopped almonds,
cachews and golden seedless raisins
Heat the ghee in a heavy saucepan and saute' the cumin untill golden brown. Add
turmeric, colves, peppercorns and crdamom and stir about a minute.
Stir in coconut and saute' unteel golden. Then add rice and continue saute'ing,
over medium heat, another 2 minutes.
Pour in water; add salte and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover pan and continue
cooking until rice is cooked and water has evaporated -- about 20 minutes.
Sprinkle nuts and dried fruit over preparation and serve hot.