Saturday, August 25, 2007

Cuminy Cruciferae

It’s difficult to concentrate on a post when the TV is on full blast and the viewer claims he cannot but hear it at that volume. It’s even more difficult to ignore your blog when there’s an event going on but you just can’t summon the time or energy to look for a relevant dish or devise a new one.

I’ve slipped into this uncomfortable habit of being chief cheerleader when a new blog event is announced and not entering! So me tells me: Shall I take any dish and say it contains whichever ingredient is being celebrated? Switch the proportions when you write down the recipe, who’ll know? Then me tells me: “It’s dishonest, it’s dishonest” in an inner voice that grows and throbs louder and louder. Sigh! The next best option is to cook whatever you’re cooking that day, add an extra dose of the ingredient called for, eat it, test for taste and make an entry of it! Which is what I’ve done. As you can expect, a dish that was born out of such soul-searching can only be simple and straightforward, so here it is! It’s an as you like it dish as there aren’t too many ingredients and only cumin is allowed to dominate.




One small head of cauliflower, separated into florets
One small head of broccoli, separated into florets
Tomatoes – 2, chopped
Cumin powder – 1-1/2 – 2 tsp
Oil – 2 tsp
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
Urad dal/hulled, split black gram – ½ tsp
Turmeric: ½ -1 tsp
Salt – to taste

Heat the oil in a pan, swirl to coat base.

Pop mustard, then add the urad dal.

Once the dal browns, add the broccoli and cauliflower and sauté on high flame for a minute or two.

Lower flame, add turmeric, mix, cover and let cook till the florets are softer. You can sprinkle a little water to hasten the process.

Now add the chopped tomato, cumin powder and salt, mix. Cover and cook till the tomato is cooked/skins start separating from the pulp.

Mix, remove from fire.

This is my entry for Sunita’s Think Spice event.

32 comments:

  1. Hey sra, you know what...I make almost this same combination of vegetables( without the mustard seeds and with some potatoes) :)..talk about great minds thinking alike:D...I simply adore this dish...thanks for making it for me!

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  2. err, and without the urad dal...

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  3. Sra, thats such a coincidence. i posted a mixed vegetable dish with cauliflower and broccoli too!! for the same event :-D. Talk about telepathy ;).

    Your version looks quite yummy! next time i make this your way :).

    cheers,
    musical.

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  4. Photo is fabulous.Don't know what special trick you did this time!:)
    Cauliflower and Broccoli is a great combo.Great entry.
    I just came back from the Eye doc, and I know exactly when I am going to go under the knife! You will have to wait until Wednesday to know the date!Hahaha!!

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  5. Lol, sometimes its tough to come up with great ideas, isn't it? :) But looks like you managed to whip up a winner... so no chillies or chilli powder, huh? That will really highlight cumin! Nice entry.

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  6. full of fiber in there!! cauli and broccoli look good together. my hubby hates both of them. hmmmm but I dont stop making them. have to combine them sometime:)

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  7. You, you, you, you are some smart lady :) I like the offerings after such deep soul-searching :)

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  8. Sra, you've got the right idea. The best way is to tinker, test and taste, and only then, if you think the recipe passes muster, then present it; otherwise, you risk a bum recipe that will hurt your credibility and be a disservice to those who try it. That floral bowl is the perfect compliment for your colorful, and I'm sure, tasty creation.

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  9. Honest Sra, Thats a lovely looking dish!

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  10. Sra the cauliflower is really looking good, I mean it :D))
    You do have a knack of creating delicious dishes. Nice entry :)
    To remove 'heirs', immerse the florets in warm salty water for 15 to minutes. The heirs in any form will settle down at the bottom. Wash the florets in fresh water and use:)

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  11. Sra,
    Potato and brocoli hmm new combination, but love cumin and aloo combo.

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  12. Haha, you have a really nice way of writing Sra! And I love these cuminy things! :)

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  13. hey Sra, rastunappu anta aloo cumin giurthu vachindi anduke cauliflower badulu aloo rasanu

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  14. Sunita, it was a nice dish to eat, too, v light. In school when someone said "Great Minds ..." the others would immediately say "Fools seldom differ" :)Not that we're fools, I was just reminded of that.
    Musical, I visited your blog - it looks quite colourful!
    Asha, thankuthanku. White on white, some turmeric - I suppose that was the trick! Eye and knife - {shudder}
    Sig, yes, too many spices, too little taste :)
    Sharmi, I find broccoli tastes best with v little spice, that's why I used it in this dish.
    Cynthia, thanks, nobody's ever called me smart! :)
    Susan, yeah, I'm not going to cheer any more if I can help it - I can feel myself becoming a joke, that's why I was mulling desperate measures!
    Suganya, coming from an ace photographer like you, that's a great compliment.
    Archana, thank you so much. Yes, that's what I do with cauliflower, never thought about heirs and eggs, somehow, yuckk!
    Sreelu, thanks. Mee meme kosam eduruchoostunnanu, meeku ishtamuntene - marchipoyaremo ani gurtuchestunna, ante.
    Jyothsna, thanks. Hope you're able to see the pix still.

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  15. nice appetizing pic, sra.

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  16. I have to try this recipe...for the name alone :) (and to sneak some broccoli into my spouse's diet...)

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  17. Your post titles pull me to your blog always! :) I totally agree with your thoughts..... I saw the same combo of broccoli and potato somewhere and now I think I must try it. :)

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  18. Oh Sra, I had to laugh when I read about the "inner voice" arguing with itself -- happens to me alot! Your cuminy Crudiferae looks totally yummy :)

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  19. what a clever entry! ;) Looks mouth wateringly delicious! :)

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  20. I think I love the name of your dish more than the dish itself ;-)

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  21. Richa, thanks.
    Nupur, :) Biology was a strong point but I checked the Net, just to be sure it wasn't wrong! I was thinking of cauli-broccoli cuminy but this was snappier!
    Coffee, go ahead!
    Linda, glad I could make you laugh!
    Tee, thanks! :)
    TBC, ah, now that's telling! :)

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  22. Nice entry Sra. with cumins the cauliflower tastes better. Viji

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  23. What a lovely dry dish with a combo of both the "related veggies"!!Love cauli and broccolis..!!

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  24. I liked the title to this post where the cumin is claimed to be crucified.. hahaaa! Loved your dish with the use of broccoli....photo kuda chala bagundi! Nice post dear..

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  25. Oh, my! These cook-blogs are so useful! :)

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  26. Hi Sra, That's innovation indeed! Keep it up..Cauliflower and brocolli combo seems like "kumbh mela mein bichde, Sra ke blog mein mile" Nice blog. :)

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  27. Hahaha...trust you to conjure up somethin delicious from simple ingredients...:-)

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  28. nice entry... and a funny
    write-up, could not help but smile all the way thru

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  29. This is looking great!......Lovely picture...YUM!....Nice recipe...

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  30. Viji, thank you.
    Bharathy, thank you.
    Padma, :) Thanks andi.
    Bla, thanks
    Pragyan, welcome, and thanks.
    Santhi, thanks.
    Rajitha, thanks, glad I could make you smile.

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  31. never cooked cauliflower and brocolli together.. looks like a great combo.

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