Paneer Broccoli Do Pyaza AND Mix Veg Kootu for Arusuvai

First off, I'm absolutely overwhelmed by your love and response to my Blogiversary post HERE! I'm so very thankful to all of you who left such sweet and wonderful messages for my blog :) I truly appreciate it and loved reading each and everyone of them a few times over ;)
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Also, a big thanks to my readers who tried my Khasta Kachori and wrote to me how they enjoyed it, was a pleasure hearing from you.

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Feel free to click on the image for a close up view :).......

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Now, as a part of the Arusuvai chain I received some lovely gifts from my dear friends and this post is in continuation of that chain. My dear friend Musy sent me a package, I call it 'jadoo ka pitara' aka magic box with endless gifts flowing out...... :) I got some great tasting home made garam masala with an enticing aroma that filled my kitchen and my home! I also got long peppers and a speciality rice & lentils, will discuss them in greater detail in my next post. I did not want to delay this post any longer than I already have, will try to post the next in the series soon. I also got freshly ground kuttu podi from dear Deepa, she ground it the day she sent it to me, can't get any fresh than that :) Accompanying that was a cute card and a choc bar! Thank You ladies for the goodies, had fun preparing these dishes! Sorry, had to say no to a few other friends :(
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I wanted to prepare something different with the garam masala, so I paired it with my favorite paneer and then added some broccoli for added nutrition...lol
The flavor combination is very different from my daily cooking, I let go of my obsession with garlic for this one and used ginger in a juice form, try it, it sure turned out very good!
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Paneer Broccoli Do Pyaza
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1 cup cubed paneer (I used homemade)
1 big onion finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1 tsp grated ginger, to be juiced later
1.5 tbsp ghee/oil
1/2 tsp ajwain/oregano
1/4 tsp garam masala ( if using store bought, you may need to increase it to 1/2 tsp)
1/4 tsp haldi/turmeric
1/4 tsp red chili pwd, as per taste
salt, as per taste
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1. Steam broccoli fork tender, reserve.
2. Heat ghee/oil.
3. Add ajwain, let splutter a bit.
4. Add onion and saute on medium till soft and pinkish on the edges.
5. Add all spice powders, except garam masala and mix well.
6. Add Paneer and steamed broccoli, mix well. Add juice squeezed from the grated ginger & garam masala, saute a minute, cover and switch off the gas. Allow a few minutes for flavors to mingle.
Enjoy Paneer Broccoli Do Pyaza with roti/paratha and a bowl of chilled yogurt...YUM!
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I decided to use the kuttu podi to make a mix veg kootu. I followed Shilpa's recipe for kootu and it turned out amazing, the medley of flavors was wonderful, a coconut lover's delight :)
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Mixed Vegetable Kootu

1/2 cup toor dal
1 tsp kootu podi
2tbsp coconut
1 cup veg (I used carrot, potato, beans, onion & tomato)
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard
curry leaves
a pinch hing/asafoetida
a pinch turmeric/haldi
1/4 tsp tamarind extract
1. Boil toor dal and vegetables separately.
2. Grind coconut, tamarind and kootu podi. I added cinnamon & clove as Deepa mentioned that it did not contain these.
3. Add paste to dal and veg, cook 7/8 minutes.
4. Heat oil, add mustard, curry leaves, hing and add to the kootu.
Enjoy delicious Kootu with rice!
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It was fun using the ingredients, I would now like to extend this friendship chain to Pravs, who cooks up some wonderful dishes over at her blog! Thank You for being a part of this chain, Pravs!