View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
The Musette: Aloo Gobi
This hearty cauliflower and potato curry is probably the most common and basic vegetable curry you will find anywhere in India. Originally from the Punjab, it’s a firm favourite across the Indian sub-continent and Pakistan. Cheap, filling and generally vegan, it’s a recipe everyone needs in their curry repertoire. But one of the disadvantages of its universal appeal is that there is no such thing as a universal recipe.Yes, there are as many recipes as there are Indians!
This is my vegan take on Atul Kochhar’s recipe from Simple Indian. I don’t generally make amendments to recipes from Michelin starred chefs, but I’m sure he won’t mind.
Ingredients (enough for 4 hungry cyclists)
- 4 medium waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 large cauliflower, split into florets
- 1 small finely chopped onion
- 2 tsp black onion seeds
- 4 cloves
- 4 cardamon pods
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
- 1 tsp salt
- 250ml (1 cup) passata
- 5 -10 tbsp filtered water
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garam masala
Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6 (400°F/350°F fan), put potatoes and cauliflower florets on a baking tray, spritz with a little vegetable oil and bake in oven until cooked and a little charred round the edges, approx. 40 minutes.
2. After 30 minutes, heat finely chopped onion in 1 tsp vegetable oil in a deep frying pan (skillet) until transluscent. Do not allow it to colour. Then add onion seeds, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamon pods and bay leaves. Cook for a minute or two until the spices start to crackle.
3. Add the passata, water, chilli powder, salt and tumeric to the pan stirring well and now add the cauliflower and potato which should be almost but not quite cooked. Gently cook through for 5-10 minutes until you can easily pierce with a fork.
4. Taste sauce to check seasoning, add coriander and garam masala and serve with rice or an Indian flat bread.
5. Or, like me, omit final seasoning, leave to cool, put in the fridge overnight and heat up the following day before adding coriander and garam masala.
Sheree’s Handy Hints
1. Cut the florets slightly bigger than the potatoes so they cook in roughly the same time as the potatoes, rather than overcooking and disintegrating before the potatoes are done.
2. You can, of course, serve this as a main dish, or as a side. Typically, I’ll serve it with a “wetter” dish such as dhal and either boiled basmati rice or some roti and some hot and spicy pickles.
I just decided I needed a curry fix.
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We’re having curry this evening but it’s a Thai green curry with prawns.
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Being an Indian i.e. someone who has had this dish many a time, I’m glad to say that yours looks really good as well! Well done, Sheree! 🙂
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That’s praise indeed! Thank you so much Mia.
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Hi, I hope you are doing well. I have nominated you for the Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award. I hope you will accept my invitation and will surprise me with your wonderful thoughts.
Link for the Award is: https://idealinspiration.blog/2020/04/26/ideal-inspiration-blogger-award/
Best Regards
Rising Star
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That’s so kind of you James and of course I’ll take part.
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That’s so nice of you Sheree 🤗 💖
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Sorry, did I just call you James? Time for bed, it’s been a long day.
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Ahhh, that’s cooool Sheree, Stay safe
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You too!
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cathynative77@gmail.com Pastor Cathy Native
On Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 11:18 AM View from the Back wrote:
> Sheree posted: “This hearty cauliflower and potato curry is probably the > most common and basic vegetable curry you will find anywhere in India. > Originally from the Punjab, it’s a firm favourite across the Indian > sub-continent and Pakistan. Cheap, filling and generally ve” >
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Too bad I can’t taste it. yummmmmmyyyy
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Cool
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Thank you so much for this, Sheree. I’m always looking for new and healthy meals.
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You’re welcome
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So glad someone’s cooking Indian! I see a lot of Italian on my timeline and people usually associate my country’s food with being excessively spicy and curry like. While this is a dry vegetable that we cook and often eat with dal and curd. Looks great by the way!! 🙂 Curious to know how did you make the dal?? Make sure you add more water and like you said make it “wetter”.
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There’s a link to my dhal recipe in the post. I confess I too cook a lot of Italian.
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Haha that’s alright, I love it. I only meant that people don’t know the real Indian food.
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You only get that at home cooked by someone whose heritage is Indian
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Just to think, I made this just yesterday. Usually I make it gravy based and add tomatoes for a little sweet sour flavour 🙂
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Mmm, interesting!
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This looks so good! I was just thinking what to prepare next week and I’ve found a winner! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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My pleasure
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Nice try.
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Thank you 🙏
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hmm! Looks good.
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Thanks Sandy
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Sounds delicious, Sheree. We don’t eat much Indian food. Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure
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Lovely post thnx to share
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My pleasure
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