Broccoli Rice Dish / Vegetarian Broccoli Recipes / Broccoli Rice Recipe

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Broccoli Rice Dish / Vegetarian Broccoli Recipes / Broccoli Rice Recipe

Hi friends, today's recipe is another dish with broccoli. I have already posted a recipe of Broccoli - a basic stir fry with capsicum. Broccoli rice dish is a quick lunch box recipe which comes in handy during any busy day.
This flavoured rice is not so spicy. Its mildly flavoured with the typical Indian spices that go very well with broccoli. The addition of sweet corn makes it sweet and delicate. Overall, the broccoli rice is a neat and clear recipe with no much of preparation beforehand.

I have prepared this vegetarian broccoli rice in a pressure cooker making the task much more easier and faster. I have used the normal rice and not the basmati rice which I generally use  for flavoured rice, pulavs and biryanis. However, this broccoli sweet corn recipe is an exception. Now this rice dish is just an idea of preparing these kind of dishes, but you can always modify the recipe to suit your and your family's tastes and likes. 

You can also try other rice dishes like

Carrot Fried Rice

Coriander Coconut Pulav 

Mango Rice

Sprouted Channa Palak Rice

Amaranthus rice in coconut milk

Vaangi Bath Recipe

Methi Peas Pulav

Spinach Rice

Preparation

Chop the veggies into chunks and get them ready. Heat oil and ghee in a pressure cooker.

Add cumin seeds along with the spices namely dalchin ( cinnamon ), bay leaf, cloves, black pepper and cardamom. Do add the cashews also and sauté for a few seconds.

When the cashews turn light brown in colour, add sliced onions and slit green chillies.

Allow the onions to become transparent. Now put the ginger garlic paste.

Mix thoroughly and add the methi leaves.

Fry until the leaves wither. Now add the broccoli, carrot and sweet corn.

Mix well and add the diced tomatoes. Tomatoes are optional. If you wish, you can just skip them and add a little curd.

Saute for a few seconds and add the washed rice and biryani masala powder.

Add sufficient water and salt and cover with the lid.

Cook for 3-4 whistles. Serve hot with any raita of your choice. Or pack for lunch box.

Ingredients

Oil  1 tbsp 
Ghee  2 tbsp.
Bay leaf  1
Black pepper corns  13 - 15 corns ( in number )
Cloves  3
Green Cardamom  1
Cinnamon Stick  1"
Cumin seeds  1tsp
Cashews fistful
Onions 1 big
Green chillies  2
Ginger garlic paste 1 1/2 tsp
Methi Leaves  1/2 cup
Broccoli  1 cup
Sweet corn  1/2 cup
Carrot  1/2 cup
Tomatoes  1 big
Rice  1 1/2 cup
Biryani masala powder  1tsp
Salt to taste

Method

1. Heat oil + ghee in a pan and add the spices along with cumin seeds and broken cashews. 
2. When the cashews are coloured, add the sliced onions and slit green chillies.
3. Add the ginger garlic paste when the onions turn translucent. Saute for a few seconds. 
4. Now add the finely chopped methi leaves. Cook until they wither. 
5. Add the broccoli, carrot and sweet corn and mix. 
6. Add the tomatoes, washed rice, biryani masala powder and salt. 
7. Add enough water and cover with lid. Cook until 3 -4 whistles.
8. Serve hot with any raita or plain curd.

Notes

• You can always increase or decrease the amount of veggies in these kind of dishes. I love to have more veggies in every bite, hence add more veggies. 
• You can use any kind of veggies like beets, paneer, beans, etc,. as per your availability. 
• Addition of mint leaves will also give a unique flavour and aroma from the dish. 
• You can skip the tomatoes and add 5 tbsp. of curd .

  

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Simple Drumstick Curry Recipe / Drumstick Vegetable Recipes / Vegan Drumsticks / Muringa curry

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Munagakaya Curry / Simple Drumstick Curry Recipe / Drumstick Vegetable Recipes / Vegan Drumsticks / Muringa curry 

The local market here is bursting with fresh veggies like drumstick ( Muringa ), tender spring onions, green peas, tomatoes , shallots and green leafy veggies like methi etc. Needless to mention the variety of fruits - oranges, grapes, Gulab guavas, watermelons, musk melons are a few. I actually went to the market to buy some tamarind. But seeing the fresh veggies I could not resist myself and bought many of them. I felt as if the veggies were waiting for me to take then along with me. So I grabbed as many as I could. But my son who accompanied me was becoming impatient. Vegetable shopping is one thing that I simply love ❤, especially if its a farmers market.

Today I am posting a basic and simple drumstick curry with tomatoes and onions as the base. This is such a side dish that make you leave licking your fingers. The tangy and juicy tomatoes along with the onions give an excellent gravy for the tender drumsticks. This combo of tomatoes, onions and drumstick is a must try in every household at least once during this season. So lets see the preparation of munagakaya curry ( muringa curry ). 

 

You can also check my recipe of drumstick leaves chutney powder aka murungai keerai podi alias munagaku karam podi.

Preparation

Wash and cut the drumstick into finger size pieces. Put them in a tumbler and add water just enough to cover them.

Cook them on a medium flame until the drumstick become soft and tender.

In the meantime, chop the onions and tomatoes finely. Drain the water from the drumstick and keep aside. Do not throw the water, we will want to use it for the preparation of the curry. Heat a pan and add oil in it. Temper it with mustard and cumin seeds.

When they splutter, add curry leaves, red chillies and hing.

After a few seconds, add finely chopped onions and slit green chillies. 

Mix well and cook until they are translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and cook until the raw smell of ginger vanishes.

Add the finely cooked tomatoes, salt, sugar and turmeric powder.

Cook covered until the tomatoes are mushy. Now add the coconut powder, chilli powder, Garam masala powder and coriander powder. 

Give a thorough mix and add the cooked drumsticks along with the water.

Mix well. Check for seasoning and cook for another five minutes to allow the drumstick absorb the juices and spices. Serve hot with either rice 🍚 or roti.

Ingredients

Drumstick  4
Onion  3
Tomatoes  2 ( big )
Oil  2 tbsp
Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds  1 tsp
Curry leaves  few sprigs
Red chillies  2
Hing  big pinch
Salt  to taste
Coconut powder  1 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder  1 tsp
Garam masala powder  1/2 tsp
Sugar  1/2 tsp

Method

1. Wash and cut the drumstick in finger sized pieces. 
2. Cook in sufficient water until soft and tender. 
3. On cooking, drain the water and keep the drumstick aside. Retain the water as well for the preparation  of the curry. 
4. Heat oil in another pan and temper it with mustard seed, cumin seeds, curry leaves, hing and red chillies. 
5. Add finely chopped onions and slit green chillies and sauté until transparent. 
6. Throw in the ginger garlic paste and cook until the raw flavour of ginger disappears. 
7. When the onions turn light brown in colour, add chopped tomatoes, turmeric, salt and sugar. 
8. Cook uncovered until the tomatoes are completely cooked. Stir in between. 
9. Sprinkle coriander powder, chilli powder, coconut powder and garam masala powder. 
10. Mix well and add the drumstick along with the water that was preserved earlier. 
11. Mix in well and cook for another five minutes so that the drumstick absorbs all the juices and spices. 
12. Serve hot with either rice or roti. 

Notes

• You can also add veggies like potato, carrots, brinjal etc. in the above preparation along with the drumsticks. 
• Adding dried coconut powder gives a unique aroma and taste to the dish so do not skip on that step. 
• This is the basic version of the drumstick curry. Keep watching this space for more recipes on drumsticks and other veggies.
• Some people like to add some garlic pods during tempering. 

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Tasty Cabbage Recipes indian / Indian Vegetarian cabbage recipes / sauteed cabbage recipes /

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Purple Cabbage Stir Fry / Cabbage Curry Recipe Indian Style / How to Cook Cabbage Healthy

Purple cabbage fry is similar to that of the normal cabbage fry except the colour. The procedure of preparing this curry is also more or less same as the other fries like ivy gourd fry, ladies finger fry, cauliflower green peas fry, broad beans fry, simple radish fry, spring onion fry, karela fry, baby potatoes fry, etc. .

The nutrients in this purple coloured cabbage is way more than that of the ordinary one. As a matter of fact, the coloured veggies like carrots, bell peppers etc. are more necessary for our health. Health experts also advice us to take more coloured and colourful food which pleases our eyes 👀 and body. So, I do not miss any chance to grab these colourful cuties whenever I see them.

If you check my broccoli stir fry recipe, I included sweet corn and capsicum. My idea was to make it colourful and tasty 😋. I could have included paneer, red bell pepper for the extra colour, but alas, I did not have any of them on me. I will work on this and let you know the outcome.
For today, its the simple cabbage fry which becomes more appealing with the addition of green peas. I have used the frozen green peas but you can also use the dried peas or fresh peas when available in the market. If you are using the dried peas, then soak them overnight and cook them in the pressure cooker the next morning. Now they are ready to be used in the preparation of this curry. 

Preparation

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and cumin seeds.

When they splutter, put the chopped onions and slit green chillies in.

Sauté for a minute and add turmeric powder.

Give a stir and add the shredded cabbage. Sprinkle salt and sugar and mix well.

Cover with a lid and cook on low to medium flame. Keep stirring occasionally to avoid burning at the bottom of the pan. When the cabbage becomes soft and tender, remove the lid off and add the frozen green peas.

Mix well and do the seasoning with chilli powder, Garam masala powder, coriander powder and flax seed powder.

Mix well and fry for another 2 minutes. Switch off the flame and serve with either rice 🍚 or roti.

Ingredients

Purple Cabbage  1/2 of a medium sized cabbage
Oil  1 1/2 tbsp
Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds  1 tsp
Onion  1
Turmeric  1/2 tsp
Green peas ( frozen ) fistful
Salt  to taste
Sugar  1/2 tsp
Chilli powder  1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder  1/2 tsp
Coriander powder  2 tsp
Flax seed powder 1 tsp

Method

1. Shred or chop the cabbage finely and keep aside.
   
2. Heat oil in a pan and temper it with cumin and mustard seeds.
3. When they crackle, add the chopped onions and green chillies. 
4. Saute for a minute and throw in the turmeric powder. 
5. Add the shredded purple cabbage along with sugar and salt. Mix well and cover with a lid. 
6. Keep stirring in between to avoid sticking at the bottom of the pan. 
7. When the cabbage becomes soft and tender, add the frozen green peas and cook for another 5 minutes. 
8. Sprinkle all the spices namely, chilli powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder and flax seed powder. 
9. Check for salt and switch off the flame. Serve hot with either rice or roti. This curry can also be used as a stuffing for katti roll or parantha. 

Notes

• During tempering, you are free to add any ingredients like red chillies, channa dal, curry leaves etc. which give additional aroma to the dish. 
• You can also include cumin powder in the spices list. 
•  If you are adding fresh green peas, then add them along with the shredded cabbage and cook covered. 
• If you want to use the dried green peas, then soak them overnight, pressure cook them the next morning and then use in the curry as mentioned above. 
• To make it masaledaar, you can add ginger garlic paste as well.
• You can also add any other veggies like carrots, potatoes, beans and paneer as well. 

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Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe / Sautéed Broccoli / Pan Fried Broccoli

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Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe / Sautéed Broccoli / Pan Fried Broccoli 

Todays recipe is a simple stir fry just like any other fry curries. But what makes it special is the variety of veggies that are added and the spices that go into it. This is a curry that I prepared using whatever veggies were available to me at the time, but you can basically include anything you like.

Broccoli is a versatile veggie just like cauliflower, carrots, beans, potatoes, green peas etc. It is highly rich in Vitamin K, Vitamin C, chromium and folate. Broccoli is also a very good source of soluble and dietary fibre which thereby helps in reducing cholesterol levels. It also has numerous antioxidants which helps in building immunity in the body.

Though it is not easily available in the local markets, it is quite common in the supermarkets. It is good to include this veggie once in a fortnight considering the fact that it is very gassy. My son is not a great fan of broccoli, but the addition of the other ingredients like paneer, sweet corn and capsicum makes him to forget about the broccoli and enjoy the dish thoroughly.

You can also check my other simple fry curries which go very well as an accompaniment for both rice or roti :

Snake Gourd Poriyal

Baby Potato Fry

Munagaku ( moringa ) leaves fry

Paneer Bhurji

Ladies Finger Fry

Spring Onion Fry

Broad Beans Stir Fry

Cauliflower Green Peas Stir Fry

Simple Radish Fry

Preparation

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and cumin seeds.

Allow them to splutter. Now add chopped onions and saute until they become transparent.

Throw in turmeric powder and mix.

Now add chopped broccoli and sweet corn seeds.

Add salt and cook covered until the broccoli is 90% cooked. Now add the capsicum ......

.......and cook uncovered until the capsicum is cooked but it still retains its crunchiness. Now add the paneer cubes and mix. You can add homemade herbed paneer for extra flavour. 

Finally add the diced tomatoes and cook until soft.

Sprinkle all the spices namely - chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder and flax seeds powder.

Mix it well and check for seasoning. Switch off the flame and serve hot with either rice or roti.

Ingredients

Broccoli  1/2 of a medium broccoli

Sweet corn 1 cup

Paneer  100g

Capsicum 1

Oil  2 tbsp

Onion  1 ( chopped )

Salt  to taste

Garam masala  1/2 tsp

Coriander powder 1 tsp

Chilli powder  1 tsp

Flax seeds powder 1 tsp

Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds  tsp

Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan. 
2. Temper it with mustard and cumin seeds.
3. Once they crackle, add chopped onion. Sauté until translucent and add turmeric powder. 
4. Add the broccoli pieces and the sweet corn kernels. 
5. Sprinkle salt and mix well. Cook covered stirring occasionally until the broccoli is almost cooked but not completely cooked. 
6. Add the capsicum pieces and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. 
7. Now add paneer cubes and diced tomatoes. 
8. Cook until tomatoes are soft. 
9. Sprinkle chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder and flax seeds powder. 
10. Mix well and check for seasoning. 
11. Switch off the flame and serve hot with either rice, roti or chapathi.

Notes

• Any other veggies like beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, cabbage, green peas etc. can be added according to the availability. 
• Addition of flax seeds powder makes the dish more nutritious.

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how to cook chayote vegetable / Kootu Recipes

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how to cook chayote vegetable / Chow chow Kootu / Kootu Recipes

Kootu is a traditional dish which can be prepared with any kind of vegetables mixed with lentils. It can also be referred to as a stew which is of semi gravy consistency. Kootu is a Tamilnadu dish which is popular all over India especially in South India.

Today´s recipe is a kootu dish prepared with chow chow. Chow chow is also known a Chayote squash in English. There are different names in different languages for this veggie. In Hindi, it is known as Ishkus, in Tamil - Seemai Kathirikai, in Kannada - Seeme Badanekayi and in Telugu - Bangalore Vankaya or Seema Vankaya.

This chayote ( chow chow ) belongs to the squash or gourd family and is very low in calories. It is rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is also very rich in Folate Vitamin. This is a versatile veggie that can be used in the preparation of dry curries, gravy curries, sambar and kootu.

Today´s recipe is chow chow kootu. This kootu is a perfect combo for roti or chapathi. This also goes well with plain rice. The addition of lentils like channa dal and moong dal makes it a wholesome dish which is very healthy.

Preparation

Peel the skin of the chow chow and discard the inner seed. Chop them into small bite sized pieces. Keep aside. Grind roasted channa dal, green chillies, ginger, garlic, cumin seeds and coconut to a coarse paste.

Add diced tomatoes and grind once again to make a smooth paste.

Keep this paste aside.

Heat a pressure cooker and add oil. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds.

When they splutter, add chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent.

Add turmeric powder and mix.

Now add the ground paste and mix well. Add salt and sugar.

To this, add the chopped chow chow pieces, washed lentils ( channa dal and moong dal ) and sambar masala powder.

Mix well and add little water sufficient to cook the chow chow and the lentils.

Check for seasoning and cook with the lid on. Cook for 3-4 whistles and switch off the flame. Serve hot with roti, chapathi or rice.

Ingredients

Chow chow 3 ( medium sized )

Onion 1

Cumin Seeds 1/2 tsp

Oil 2 tbsp.

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Sambar masala  1tsp

Moong dal 1/4 cup

Channa dal 1/4 cup

Sugar 1 tsp

To grind

Coconut 2 tbsp.

Garlic 5 pods

Ginger 1" piece

Green chillies 3

Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp

Roasted channa dal 2 tbsp.

Method

1. Grind all the ingredients given under to grind list. Keep aside. 
2. Heat oil in a pressure pan and add mustard and cumin seeds. 
3. When they splutter, add onion and sauté until pink in colour. 
4. Add turmeric powder, the ground masala paste, salt and sugar. 
5. Mix well and add the chopped chow chow pieces, washed lentils and sambar masala powder. 
6. Mix well and add enough water to cook the lentils and veggies. 
7. Cover with the lid and cook for 3-4 whistles. 
8. Serve hot with rice or roti.

Notes

• You can skip the roasted channa dal but it gives a nice thickness to the kootu. 
• Sambar masala gives a unique flavour to the curry. If you do not have that handy, simply add little Garam masala powder, coriander powder and cumin powder. 
• You can skip the green chillies during grinding and add chilli powder while cooking to get a nice red colour to the kootu. Or you could also add dry red chillies while grinding. 
• I have washed the lentils before adding to the curry.

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