Cook Without Book

Bengali  Khichdi Bengali-style khichdi is aromatic and also laden with veggies and dal. In short, it is a flavoursome and power-packed meal. The use of crushed spices instead of whole or powdered ones brings about a significant change in the recipe – you will notice it when you prepare the khichdi. Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  25 mins Makes 6 servings Ingredients 1 cup   rice (chawal)  , soaked and drained 1/2 cup   masoor dal (split red lentil) 3 tbsp   ghee 2   bayleaves (tejpatta) 1/2 cup  finely  chopped onions 2 tsp   ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste 1/2 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) 1/2 cup   green peas 1/2 cup   french beans  , cut into 1” pieces 6 to 7  small  onions  , peeled 4 to 5   baby potatoes  , peeled 2 1/2 tsp  finely  chopped green chillies salt  to taste To Be Ground Into A Coarse Powder 4   cloves (laung / lavang) 2 ...

Masala Dal Dal is healthy, plain or spicy. But, this is one excellent dal you just cannot resist! comprising of four key varieties of pulses, cooked with onions and tomatoes, and perked up with a range of carefully chosen spices, masala dal is just the thing to have with hot rice and rotis. Preparation Time:  20 mins Cooking Time:  20 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients 2 1/2 tbsp   yellow moong dal (split yellow gram) 2 1/2 tbsp   masoor dal (split red lentil) 2 1/2 tbsp  chilkewale  urad dal (split black lentils) 2 1/2 tbsp   toovar (arhar) dal salt  to taste 1 tbsp   ghee 1/4 cup   grated onions 1/2 cup  finely  chopped tomatoes salt  to taste To Be Ground Into A Smooth Paste (using Little Water) 3   garlic (lehsun) cloves 1 tsp   coriander (dhania) seeds 1/2 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 1/4 tsp   turmeric powder (haldi) 1 tbsp   chopped coriander (dhania) 4   whole dry ka...

Mulligatawny Soup A spicy soup with an unmistakeable indian feel to it, it is said that this used to be a hot favourite amongst the british officers when they were in india. Mulligatawany soup features a large set of ingredients including coconutmilk, onions, carrots, tomatoes, rice and dal, spiced with an elaborate masala and hints of ginger, garlic and lemon juice. You can have it as a filling brunch or supper! Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  17 mins Makes 4 servings Ingredients For The Masala Powder 2 tsp   coriander (dhania) seeds 2 tsp   cumin seeds (jeera) 2 tsp   aniseeds (vilayati saunf) 1/4 tsp   fenugreek (methi) seeds 2  small sticks  cinnamon (dalchini) For The Soup 3/4 cup   masoor dal (split red lentil) 2 tbsp   oil 1/2 cup  finely  chopped onions 3/4 cup  finely  chopped carrots 12   ginger (adrak) 1 tsp  finely  chopped garlic (lehsun) 3/4 cup   chop...