Asparagus Curry
I love asparagus! After having tried it as a soup, in pasta, and simply steamed, I was stumped for how else to use it, until a friend Indianised it and made a curry out of it. I don’t remember her exact recipe, but guessed and came up with a version that we love. It’s quick, and doesn’t compromise the tender, juiciness of the asparagus, but just adds a mild spiciness to it. Pairs well with rice as well as rotis.
On another note, is there any vegetable left that we Indians haven’t made a curry, chutney, or a podi out of? 🙂
Lemon Pickle South Indian Style (Elumichai Oorugai)
This is the basic lemon pickle recipe that is a staple in most Indian households. There are probably hundreds of variations of this preserve from the many regional cuisines in India. This one is a simple one made in Tamil Nadu. Goes excellent with the ubiquitous tambrahm cooler aka yogurt rice aka thayir saadam, upma, roti, etc. Versatile. Settles an uneasy stomach in its salted version. Just an amazing pickle.
Cabbage Curry
A simple, mellow, satvik side dish for rice/roti. It gets done in the time to make a rice and a rasam. And, I promise, you will not smell the trademark cabbage smell. This pairs really great with sambar/rice, or rasam/rice. In my family, we grew up eating most vegetables mixed with plain rice for a starter, with a little drizzle of ghee. This dish provides the good fat from the coconut, and the supposedly cancer-fighting properties of the cabbage.
Okra Curry
One of the simplest curries to make, and it’s delicious, no hint of any slimyness. I got my kids to eat okra when they were little with the same line my mom got us girls to eat it: it’s brain food, and it’ll make you a whiz at math. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but my kids love love love okra made this way, and won’t let me make it any other way! It’s a breeze to make, and is awesome mixed with rice, and a little ghee. Or as a side for rasam and rice, sambar and rice, yogurt rice, you get the drift…
This is one vegetable you must wash before cutting. One time, in my very very early days of cooking, I forgot to wash it before cutting, and thought nothing of washing it after. Big mistake! Slimy mess, and never repeated again 🙂