Thursday, May 20, 2010

Gujarati Vegetables With Lime And Cilantro


Ever since Paula Wolfert gave me a Clay Coyote Flameware skillet the other day, I've been jonesing to use it. However, at the same time I got the skillet, I also got all inspired to fix some meatless Indian raw salads that I'd learned of from a cookbook she'd also given me.
 I kept staring at the beautiful Flameware skillet up on the shelf next to my clay pots and my fingers were just itching to get it on the stove for a test run.
 So today, I decided to cook up a simple Gujarati vegetable dish with lime and cilantro and try out my new pan.
   I picked up 3 organic zucchini on sale from our local farm market and that was the starting point. At a $1.49 a pound how could I resist?
Here's what I did.
 Halve and steam 2 Yukon gold potatoes for about 15 minutes. When they're fork tender, run them under cold water to stop the cooking process and set them aside.
In a large, deep skillet or kadhai, heat 2 Tbs of butter or vegetable oil.
 When it's hot toss in:
1 tsp. coriander seed
1 tsp. cumin seed
1 tsp. of fennel seed

Stir them around until the spices darken and then ad in:
1/4 tsp of red chili pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. of turmeric

Stir them around for a bit and then toss in:
3 large diced zucchini
2 steamed potatoes, diced.

Saute the vegetables for about 20 minutes. Stir them about. The potatoes will get nice and browned and crispy.
When all the vegetables are cooked through, toss in :
1 cup of frozen peas. If using fresh peas put them in with the other vegetables.
1 tsp. of lime juice
1 and 1/2 tsp. of salt
2 tsps. of sugar

Mix the spices in well and then stir in 3 Tbs of chopped fresh cilantro and serve. This dish is great, economical and cooks up fast. Alan liked it so much that after 2 helpings he asked, "is this part of Meatless Monday?" No dear, it's Thursday.
 I have to add totally beside the point, that I've started baking bread. Up here in Sonoma it's quite common to find insanely delicious bread from a whole raft of artisan bakers. Unfortunately, a lot of these breads also have insanely high price tags. So I've picked up my stone, and my peel and have started baking. I've been churning out this bread, proofing it in my cozy warm garage next to my Volvo, and now letting it slowly rise in the fridge for a few days, turning it into sourdough. Alan has all sorts of suggestions for interesting add-ins. Here's the sourdough I baked this afternoon.
Alan has now asked for jam. Buy a man some bread he'll eat it. Show a man you can bake bread..he'll ask you to make jam.

14 comments :

  1. I envy you that you have mastered this kind of indian cooking I have very little knowledge other than italian and some french...your recipes are always so special with ingredients I have never used coriander and tumeric are two of them not clue what they taste like...amazing...this looks great!

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  2. Love it! That could go so well with my samosas filling as well!

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  3. Gujrati subzi is good as i love such light quick preparations...... but i liked the bread and the quote more....i have experienced the same thing with home baked breads .....more jam and more butter and more bread of course...:)

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  4. Well, this vegetable dish is just the kind of thing I ADORE. And your bread is great - you could probably sell it for a nice price yourself!

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  5. Well I can never say no to a dish like this! that loaf is so beautiful, looks like you got it at Tartine!

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  6. That last comment is hilarious! I laughed out loud. Alan is a wise, wise man. I'm betting he'll ask if you can make butter next :)

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  7. @lawyer Loves Lunch..ha! you are sort of correct..I'm ready for him Paula gave me a great recipe for homemade butter, which I haven't tried yet.

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  8. @citronetvanille,
    I love looking at it..Alan eats it. I'm making rosemary meyer lemon bread right now ..It's snuggled up in the garage..I bought some lovely Brittany sea salt to scatter on the crust.

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  9. mmm, yum. i just made Spanish rice the other day, but added lime and cilantro which really rounded out the dish. your clay skillet is amazing!

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  10. @brie: Le Grande Fromage,
    thanks..yes I really really love that thing! Especially since Paula says it works great as a non-stick sort of pan. Can't wait to try.

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  11. yum, sounds tasty and what a cool skillet. Thanks for the recipe.

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  12. That is a gorgeous skillet. Now I am jones-ing to get one. I love this dish, simple and tasty. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. @Casey Angelova,
    I really love that thing, I'm cooking everything in it! I have two of their pieces, both gifts from Paula and they're amazing.

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  14. @Casey Angelova,
    I love that skillet and ever since I got it I've been using it for everything. The Clay Coyote guys make great stuff. I have two of their pieces both gifts from Paula and they're a real joy to use.

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