August 2006 Roll Call-Ramesh

[Guest guest]

Suzy/M.A,

 

I am not a cooking expert but will try to share the little knowledge I

have about cooking. Will ask my wife to post more later.

 

Lentils are one of the most tasty dishes when well prepared. I'll try

to give you a receipe for one kind of Lentil dish ( there are tons

with different combinations).

For this you need Toor Dal(I dont know its English name, you should be

able to find this in an Indian store with this name. You can also find

this in any Wild Oats). Boil 1/3 cup of lentils along with 2 roma

tomato's chopped into medium size pieces. After boiling stir it and

make sure the tomatos dont are not in lumps, if so just press it with

a spatula. When boiling add enough water to it to make it look like a

soup rather than a paste.

In a pan add some oil, 1 table spoon, and then add half a tea spoon of

mustard seeds and cumin seed. Should be able to find them in an India

store or chineese super market. Add one chopped green chilli (the thin

and small looking green pepper in super market), though the best green

chilli's are the ones in you get in an Indian/Thai market, these have

more flavour and heat. Also add one chopped garlic clove. First added

the garlic and chilli in the oil and after few sec add the mustard

and cumin seed. Once you see the mustard seeds jumping, they splatter

when fried, you can add the lentil mix and leave the stove at

medium-low. Add salt for seasoning.

You can do the same with adding little bit of " Garam Masala " (Get a

general purpose " Masala " power from an Indian store. " Masala " is a

grounded mixture of different spices like cloves, cinamon, cardamon,

cumin, black pepper, some others which I dont know their english

names) to give more spicy feel to it. Dont add too much, may be 1-2

pinches. You could also add some onions after the seeds in the oil and

fry them a bit before adding the lentils. You can eat this with a nan

or roti or rice.

 

Regarding " MY " staple diet we eat rice with 2-3 items. We make a

lentil dish, one curry(its a loosly used word and doesnt necessarly

have to look like what you might be used to in an Indian resturant. I

call even a slighly pan fried chopped vegetable as curry) and at the

end we eat rice with yogurt(curd), to cool off the stomach :-) from

the spicy food.

 

Ramesh

 

 

, MaryAnne Crites

<suzyq_26201 wrote:

>

> Hi,

> I am in West Virginia. I would like to learn more about Indian

cooking, but I would like simple and inexpensive recipes. What is a

staple food for you? Lentils?

>

> M.A.

>

> sramesh81 <sramesh81 wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> My name is Ramesh, originally from India but currently in Arizona, US.

> I have been a vegetarian all my life. During childhood didnt eat

> because of religion but as I grew I became very strong about not

> eating. I just cant stand the though of eating an animal for my taste

> buds. Add to that the health benefits of not eating, was a easy choice

> to stick with.

>

> Black tea with milk(organic) :-).

>

> Ramesh

>

> > , " ~ PT ~ "

> > <patchouli_troll@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Time for our monthly roll call!

> > > This is just a fun way to see where all the

> > > members are posting from and is only for

> > > those who wish to participate, so no pressure

> > > if you are too busy or don't want to reply this

> > > time around... we'll give you another chance next

> > > month!

> > >

> > > 1. What is your name?

> > > [ username or whatever you wish to share]

> > >

> > > 2. Where do you live right now?

> > > [be as specific or vague as you feel comfortable]

> > >

> > > 3. Vegetarian? In transition towards vegetarianism?

> > > Or just here to learn ways to serve more meatless

> > > meals?

> > >

> > > And just for fun:

> > > 4. Coffee or tea?

> > >

> >

Mary Anne

>

>

> How low will we go? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-Phone

call rates.

>

>