Masala Dal Adapted From Julie Sahni Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine chick peas, tomatoes and tomato paste. Set aside. In a large pan heat the oil over moderately-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, cumin and coriander. Cook, stirring often, until the onions turn light brown, about 8 minutes. Add zucchini, bell peppers and salt and black pepper to taste. Pan roast the vegetables, stirring regularly, for 5 minutes.
• Add chick pea-tomato mixture to the onion mixture. Add water and bring contents to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes, or until the flavors are blended and the sauce is very thick. Serve ragout topped with yogurt.
• For the topping: Combine yogurt, cucumber, scallion, coriander and hot green chilies.

Steps:

• Wash and rinse the peas in three changes of water.
• Bring to a boild in 4 Cups of water then reduce the heat to medium-low to keep the peas simmering.
• Cook for an hour or until peas are cooked and tender.
• In the mean time add the ghee (or oil) to a medium sized skillet at medium-high heat.
• Once ghee is hot add cumin seeds and ground pepper and tumeric for 10-15 seconds.
• Next add the onion and cook until brown 10-15 minutes.
• When the onion mixture is cooked add to the split peas.
• Now deglaze the skillet you cooked the onion in with ~1/4 cup of water and add this to the split peas.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve with naan or your favorite other bread.

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed pan, preferably with a nonstick surface, heat 2 tablespoons oil over high heat. When oil is very hot add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and sear until browned on all sides, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove chicken to a plate and continue until all pieces are browned.
• Add remaining oil and onions to pan, reduce heat to medium-high and fry 30 minutes until light brown, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add garlic and ginger and fry 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and cardamom and fry 2 minutes, until spices are puffed and beginning to brown. Add turmeric and cayenne and stir rapidly 15 seconds. Return chicken to pan and stir in tomatoes, salt and 2 cups boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook about 45 minutes, until chicken is tender and gravy has thickened. Check frequently, and add a little water if sauce is evaporating too quickly. Turn off heat and let dish rest, covered at least 1 hour, preferably 2. When ready to serve, reheat, fold in cumin and cilantro, and adjust seasonings if needed.

Steps:

• Prick the eggplant with a thin-blade knife. Grill over or next to very high heat, turning as necessary until the skin is blackened and the eggplant collapses. Or broil, or roast on a heated cast-iron pan in the hottest possible oven. It will take about 20 minutes.
• When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel (this will be easy) and trim away the hard stem. Chop or mash in a bowl, with lime juice.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and chiles and cook for another minute. Add the tomato, turmeric and salt. Cook until the tomato is soft, 5 minutes or so.
• Stir in the eggplant purée and cook, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and garam masala and turn off the heat. Serve hot with warm chapati bread or pita, or over rice.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 3-quart sauté pan over medium heat. Add almonds and cook, stirring, until light golden. Remove from heat and transfer almonds to a plate or bowl; set aside for garnish.
• Add onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, chili pepper flakes and salt to the unwashed sauté pan, and return to medium heat. Sauté until the onion is tender and begins to fry, about 4 minutes.
• Add coconut milk and green beans. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until the beans are tender, about 6 minutes.
• Sprinkle beans with lime juice, and toss lightly. Transfer to a warmed serving dish and garnish with almonds and cilantro. If desired, serve accompanied by plain cooked rice or roti flatbread.

Steps:

• Combine the chana dal, turmeric, cardamom, bay leaf, salt and 4 cups water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently, cover partly and cook for 40 minutes. At that point, the mixture should still be quite moist; if it is not, add 1 cup additional water and continue cooking, covered, until the dal is tender, about 20 minutes; turn off the heat. Remove the bay leaf. Use an Indian mathani (see related article) to purée the dal for about 1 minute; the dal should be saucy but not soupy.
• To make the tadka, put the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the cloves; let sizzle for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until medium brown. Stir in the chili flakes if you're using them, and turn off the heat.
• Pour the tadka into the dal; stir gently to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Steps:

• 1. Lay the paneer, farmer's cheese, or tofu pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels and let dry for 10 minutes (this will enable them to hold their shape better during cooking).
• 2. Puree the spinach and green pepper together in a food processor or blender. The puree should be as fine and velvety as you can make it.
• 3. Heat 4 tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy, nonstick pan over medium heat. Dust the paneer pieces lightly with flour and add them to the pan. Fry them in batches, turning and tossing them until they turn light golden (about 2 or 3 minutes per batch). Watch carefully to ensure that they do not burn. Take them out and put on a dish and set aside.
• 4. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil to the same pan, along with the onion. Fry the onion, stirring constantly, until brown (about 20 minutes). Add the ginger and fry for an additional 2 minutes. Add the turneric and green chilies, stir for a few seconds, then add the spinach puree along with 1/2 cup water, salt, and sweet red peppers. Mix well and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook, covered, for 2 minutes. Add the fried paneer pieces, mix again thoroughly, and continue cooking for 2 more minutes. Stir in the garam masala.
• When ready to serve, heat thoroughly and, if desired, fold in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to glaze and mellow the sauce.