Recipes Keywords: vegetarian

Vegetable biryani recipe

Main courseServes 06-Aug

Rinse the masoor dhal at least 3 times in warm water, then drain and place in a large pan with 650ml of boiling water. Bring to the boil, then simmer over a medium heat for a couple of minutes until it starts to foam. Skim the froth from the surface, add the teaspoon of oil and simmer three-quarters covered for 18–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the dhal is soft and cooked through. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside. Heat the frying oil – about 20cm deep – in a large pan (or deep fat fryer, if you have one). Test the temperature by dropping a potato cube into the oil – when it is hot enough, the potato will immediately start to sizzle and bubble. Reduce to the heat to medium. Carefully lower the potatoes into the oil and use a wooden spoon to move them around so that they cook evenly all over. Fry for 4–5 minutes, or until golden brown and just becoming crisp. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and leave to rest on kitchen paper while you fry the other vegetables. Fry the carrots for 2 minutes, moving them around so that they cook evenly, then remove and leave to rest on kitchen paper. Next fry the pepper pieces for 2–3 minutes, then remove and leave to rest with the potatoes and carrots. Finally, fry the onions for 7–8 minutes and add to the other fried vegetables. Crush the chillies, garlic and ginger together with a pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar (or a blender), to make a fine masala paste. Rinse the rice twice in warm water, then drain. Heat the 100ml of oil for the rice in a large pan over a high heat for 30 seconds. Add the rice, salt and masala paste and stir gently. Fry together for a minute, then pour in 650ml of boiling water. Boil the rice uncovered over a high heat for 10–11 minutes, until almost all the water has evaporated and it starts to look dry. Put a large square of foil on top, tucking it round the sides, then put a lid on the pan, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and leave to cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside. Tip the dhal into a large bowl. Add the garam masala, salt and bay leaves and mix gently. Add the rice and butter and gently mix again to combine. Spoon about a third of the rice / dhal mixture back into the rice cooking pan to form a layer roughly 2cm thick, followed by half the fried vegetables. Add another layer of rice / dhal mixture (about half of what's left), followed by the rest of the fried vegetables. Use the remaining rice / dhal to create a final layer. Put a large square of foil on top, tucking it round the sides, then put a lid on the pan and place it over a high heat for 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and leave to cook for 18–20 minutes or so, then remove from the heat and set aside to rest, covered, for at least 10 minutes. Serve piping hot, spooning up from the bottom of the pan to make sure each serving contains all the different layers (removing the bay leaves as you come across them). Enjoy it with a glass of chilled mango lassi. – This recipe is taken from Prashad: Indian Vegetarian Cooking by Kaushy Patel

Stuffed Butternut Squash

StarterServes 1 - 2

1. Cut the squash lengthways, remove seeds, brush with olive oil, season and put in a baking tray, then place in a medium oven for 30 minutes until cooked through. Scoop out a little of the flesh, dice it and put to one side. 2. Prepare couscous by seasoning in a bowl and rubbing olive oil through it with your fingers. Cover with boiling water then seal the bowl with clingfilm and leave for 5 minutes to steam. Fluff up with a fork. 3. Sweat the onion (& red pepper) in oil for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes. Add the tomatoes and sugar and reduce down for 10-15 minutes. 4. Blanch the spinach/chard for a minute then squeeze out the water, chop roughly and add to the tomato sauce, mix through adding couscous and vinegar, toasted pine nuts, spring onions, herbs and finish by folding through the squash and feta. 5. Season, return to the squash case and bake for 10 minutes. Serve with green salad

Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Mozzarella & Tomato Bake

Main courseServes 2

Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the leek and cook gently for 8 mins to soften. Steam or boil the broccoli for 2 mins. Drain and refresh in a bowl of cold water. Drain again. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Toss the broccoli in a shallow baking dish with the leeks, tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter over the breadcrumbs. Bake for 20-25 mins, until the cheese has melted. Drizzle over a little olive oil to serve.

roasted carrot & chickpea salad with tahini dressing

Main courseServes 4

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Toss the carrots in a baking dish with the oil, chilli, cumin, coriander and paprika. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 30-40 mins, until tender. Remove from the oven and toss in the chickpeas, coating them with the spices. Leave to cool slightly. Scatter the salad, chickpeas, preserved lemon rind and carrots over a large serving plate. Make the dressing: stir the tahini with the yoghurt until you have a smooth paste. Whisk in the rest of the ingredients with a few tbsp water, just enough so the dressing has the consistency of pouring cream. Drizzle over the salad.

Prashad’s Bombay Bataka – Tamarind, Tomato and Potato Curry

Main courseServes 4

Boil the potatoes in their skins for 40 minutes or so, until a knife tip will slide in easily, then peel and cut into 2cm cubes. Soak the dried tamarind in 200ml of boiling water for 10 minutes, then pulp with your fingers and sieve into a small bowl. Crush the ginger using a pestle and mortar (or a blender) to make a fine pulp. Heat the oil in a large pan for a minute over a medium heat and add the dried red chillies, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start to pop, reduce the heat to low and stir in the asafoetida, tomatoes and jaggery. Stir over a low heat for a minute or so, until the jaggery has dissolved. Increase the heat to high and stir in the tamarind water, crushed ginger, chilli powder, ground coriander, turmeric, salt, half the fresh coriander and 400ml boiling water. Cover and cook for 10 minutes to bring the spices together and intensify the flavours. Add the garam masala and stir well – this is a strong flavour and needs to be thoroughly mixed in before you add the dish's main ingredient. Stir in the potatoes gently to avoid breaking them up, then remove the pan from the ehat, sprinkle with the remaining chopped coriander and leave to rest, covered, for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Reheat over a medium heat and serve with puri (unleavened, deep fried indian bread) and kakadhi raitu (a cool cucumber and yoghurt dip).

The 1875 Restaurant’s Daal Turka with Sauteed Yorkshire Asparagus

StarterServes 4

Carefully wash and pat dry the asparagus Pour 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil into a wide pan on medium heat. When medium hot gently place the whole washed asparagus onto the pan and lower heat Cook gently and add 1 clove of minced garlic and a small pinch of cumin seeds. Gentle sauté both sides of the asparagus until done. Do not cook too much or over heat – ensure a there is still slight crunch in the bite. *Preparing and cooking the daal (lentils)* Wash the daal well and soak for approximately half an hour Chop 3 of the garlic cloves and separate other 2 also chopped Soak the tamarind in about 100ml water and leave to stand for about half an hour Bring about 2.5 pints of water to the boil in a deep cooking pot. Add the daal, return to the boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Then add the cumin, onions, tomatoes, 3 garlic cloves, ginger, green chillies and the coriander then cook over medium heat for about another half an hour. Through a strainer add the tamarind and lime juice. Boil further until the daal is soft. As garnish chop the remaining 2 cloves of garlic and sauté in pan with the remaining sunflower oil and add this to daal when ready to serve, Serve immediately with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or Parathas (pan-fried Indian flatbread). Place your asparagus on plate and add daal in bowl. Enjoy with some hot chapatti or parathas.

Sukhu Bhinda Bataka – Mustard Seed, Okra and Potato Curry

Main courseServes 4

Wash and carefully dry the okra. Trim the tops, cut in half lengthways, then cut each piece into 3 chunks (each about 2cm long). Spread out on a baking tray and leave uncovered to oxidise and dry for about 24 hours. Crush the chillies and garlic together using a pestle and mortar (or a blender), to make a fine masala paste. Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks roughly 1 x 4cm. Heat the oil in a large frying pan for about 1 minute over a medium heat, then add the fenugreek and mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start to pop, stir in the asafoetida and potatoes, ensuring that the potatoes are well coated in oil. Increase the heat to high and fry for 1 minute, then stir in the okra and return the heat to medium. Gently stir in the salt and turmeric, then cover the pan and leave to cook for three minutes. Add the masala paste, ground coriander, ground cumin and chilli powder and stir gently to mix, being careful not to break the delicate okra. Cover and leave to cook for 5 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through. Stir once more, then remove the pan from the heat and leave to rest, covered, for about 5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Reheat over a low heat until piping hot, then sprinkle with the chopped coriander and serve.

Roasted Beetroot with Bombay style Potatoes topped with crème fraiche & orange zest

StarterServes 4 - 6

Can be served either as a side dish with meat or fish or as a stand-alone dish with a salad or veg. - Chop the potatoes into a small dice and part boil (10 mins) - Boil the beetroot until soft, cool and peel off the skin. Cut into similar size dice as the potatoes - Meanwhile fry the onions & ginger until soft. Lower the heat - Add the spices and simmer to release the flavours and natural oils. - Add the tomatoes and potatoes then the beetroot and fry for a further 2-3 minutes or until excess liquid has evaporated - Serve with a good helping of crème fraiche, orange zest and freshly chopped coriander