Monday, August 27, 2007

Zucchini Ka Bharta


I love to make new dishes, using different recipes and different ingredients. I've tried making things that I've never made before and thankfully, most of them have turned out great, leaving my hubby dear asking for more! On my last trip to the Indian grocery store, I saw a vegetable that I had no idea about the vegetable. It looked similar to cucumber. Its called the Zucchini. Usually I see this vegetable is been used in the Chinese and Thai restaurants in the stir-fry recipes. But I didn't like either and would always try to scurry for something else to eat. But I wanted to try this vegetable now, not as the way I knew it, but as I would like to. So I bought about two of these zucchini. Today, while I was cleaning up the fridge, making space for next week's groceries, I saw them lying in a corner of my fridge, almost forgotten. I accepted the challenge and got to work. I stared at it for a while and then it struck me - a great new way to eat it! Growing up, I always enjoyed the Baigan ka bharta. So thought of using this recipe. Instead of Baigan to add zucchini. I liked the ingredients and nutritional aspects of this curry.I followed the Baigan ka bharta's recipe mostly and it came out very good. It was so easy to cook and so tasty, I for one could eat it all by itself. You of course, can choose to combine it with hot Chapatis or rice and your favorite achaar! Can't wait for my hubby to get home and try it, I know he will love it, and I'm guessing it'll put a smile on his face as well for trying it and not giving up.


Preparation time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 25 mins

Ingredients:
1 large zucchini, chopped
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 1/2 tsp ginger, grated
1 tsp garlic, grated
1 tsp green chillies, finely chopped
1/2 cup tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 tsp tumeric powder (haldi)
1 tbsp corainder powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tbsp amchur powder
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste
1/4 cup water

For the garnish:
2 tbsp chopped corainder leaves

Method:
1. Heat the pan add 1 tbsp of oil and saute the chopped zucchini till they are half cooked. Remove the cooked zucchinis in a bowl.


2. Heat the 1 tbsp of oil in the same pan, add cumin seeds. When they crackle add the onions and saute for few minutes.
3. Add the ginger, garlic and green chillies and fry again for a few seconds.

4. Add the tomato, tumeric powder, corainder powder, amchur powder, garam masala and cook till the oil is separates from the masala.
5. Add the sauted zucchini, salt to taste and water and mix well.
6. Garnish with corainder leaves. Serve hot with Roti.

11 comments:

Suganya said...

Zucchini is such a versatile low-cal vege. You vl soon find a lot ways to cook with it. Minestrone soup is one to start with.

Rajitha said...

that is a nice way to use zucchini.. personally i like it crisp tender.. i think it will work well this way too. just hate it when it is soggy and in massive chunks..

Padma said...

I love to cook with zucchini, though did not try much recipes out of it...
great post with beautiful pics

Athika said...

Hi Suganya, I will definately find different recipes with zucchini. That is a nice idea of making Minestrone soup. I will definately try it. Thanks

Hi Rajitha, Hope you will like this recipe. You can fry the zucchini into crisp and tender and add the sabji. This is my way of making it.

Hi Padma, If you like zucchini then you should try this sabji. Hope you like it.

Thanks for your comments.

Viji said...

This is interesting Athika. Viji

FH said...

I love Zucchinis in Indian dishes.I have many including savory pancakes, check out Foodie's Hope.
Subzi looks so delicious, enjoy:)

Latha said...

Very creative Athika! We love zucchini at home. I usually make a gravy curry with peanuts for rotis, usually add zucchinni in stir fry's and in pastas and we also make a zucchinni chutney. Will try u're recipe when i buy zucchinni next!
My first time at your blog. You have a nice blog! And u look ravishing in your profile picture :-)
Cheers
Latha

Aruna said...

Athika, the zucchini bharta looks great!!! I love zucchini... will try out ur version!!!

themistressofspices.wordpress.com

Athika said...

Hi Viji, Thanks for your comment.

Hi Asha, Thats a nice idea of making pancakes. I will definately check out your blog and will try ur recipes soon. Thanks for your comment.

Hi Latha, Hope you like my recipes. After seeing that you can make so many things with zucchini I will definately try them all. Now I started liking this vegetable. I really appreciate for your comment. Thanks

Hi Aruna, Thanks for your comment. Hope you like this sabji.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I tried your zucchini ka bharta recipe and it came out great! Thanks for sharini your recipe.

-Nandini

Anonymous said...

wow!! looks good. i had brought zucchini from the grocery store, but didnt know wat to do with it.. :)
i will try ur recipe.