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.