Healthy Vegetarian Recipes - Potato And Cauliflower Curry

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My Potato And Cauliflower Curry Recipe

This potato and cauliflower curry is one of my favorite vegetarian curries. It an easy to prepare vegetarian recipe based on a Punjabi style curry.

I have adapted this Indian vegetarian curry recipe from The Madhur Jaffrey Ultimate Curry Bible in order to make it healthier, since I am trying to lose weight. The curry can be served with breads or rice and with a nice yoghurt raita and pickles.



The original recipe calls for the potato and cauliflower to be fried in oil before making the curry but this isn't necessary to get a great tasting potato and cauliflower curry and omitting the oil makes it a perfect low fat vegetarian meal.

This lens is one in my series of 'Healty Vegetarian Recipes'.
Click the links to view the other recipes.
Easy, Creamy Eggplant (Aubergine)CurryLentil Curry
Potato And Cauliflower CurrySpicy Leek And Potato SoupCelery Soup

Ingredients You Will Need To Make The Potato And Cauliflower Curry Recipe 

Here is a list of items you will need that will make enough Potato And Cauliflower Curry for 4 people

spices

5oz onions peeled
2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
4 cloves garlic, peeled.
About 12oz small salad potatoes which have been cooked and cut into approximately 1 inch square pieces.
1 lb cauliflower florets cut slightly bigger than the potato pieces.
A good pinch of ground Asafetida
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper
1/2 can good quality chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
3 small green chillies with small slits cut in each
Spray oil such as 'Frylight'
2 tablespoons reduced fat fromage frais or creme fraiche
Handful of chopped coriander
1 pint boiling water

What Is Asafetida? 

Asafetida is the sap from the roots and stem of a giant fennel-like plant which dries into a hard resin. It is sold in both lump and ground form, the ground form is the one I have used in this recipe.
Asafetida has a strong aroma and is used in very small quantities both for its legendary digestive properties and for the much gentler, garlic like aroma it leaves behind after cooking, It is excellent when used with dried beans or vegetables and should be stored in a tightly sealed container.

Find out more about asafetida in the article below.

Asafoetida (Ferula assafoetida) (Persian ?????? Angedan), alternative spelling asafetida, Oxford English Dictionary. asaf?tida. Second edition, 1989. (also known as 'devils dung, stinking gum, asant, food of the gods, Kaayam (Malayalam), Hing (Bengali, , Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali), Ingua (Telugu), Ingu (Kannada), Perungayam (Tamil), Hilteet (Mishnaic Hebrew), and giant fennel') is a species of Ferula'' native to Persia (Iran). Asafoetida has a pungent, unpleasant smell when raw, but in cooked dishes, it delivers a smooth flavor, reminiscent of leeks.

Asafetida is available from Amazon 

If you don't have a local Indian store that stocks asafetida you can purchase it online.

Asafetida isn't expensive and once you have some it lasts quite a while as you only need use a pinch at a time.

LG Hing (Asafoetida) 100g (3.5oz)

Amazon Price: $2.79 (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

LG Hing (Asafoetida) 50g (1.75oz)

Amazon Price: $1.98 (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

Vandevi Hing (Asafoetida) 50g (1.75oz) - Pack of 2

Amazon Price: $3.48 (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

Vandevi Hing (Asafoetida) 100g (3.5oz) - Pack of 2

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

Asafetida or Hing - 3.5oz - 3 Packages

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/17/2009) Buy Now

How I Chop The Onions, Ginger And Garlic 

The easiest way to finely chop onions, garlic, ginger, chillies etc.

Anything that is going to save me time and effort in the kitchen is a 'must have' and these mini blenders do just that. Not only is it good for chopping smaller amounts of food, with the stick attachment it is also great for blending soup right in the pan.

Braun MR5550CA Multiquick Professional Hand Blender, White

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)Buy Now

The mini blender or chopper is one of my favourite bits of kitchen equipment, I use it almost all of the time when I need to chop small amounts of things finely! It is great for the onions, chopping them really finely (without the tears!) and also for things like chillies as it keeps them away from your hands and prevents little mishaps if you don't wash your hands carefully enough after chopping them!

Spray Oil

Sometimes when using a spray oil it can be difficult spraying it down into the pan so try holding the spray upright and tiltling the pan sideways to make it easier.

Instructions To Make The Potato And Cauliflower Curry 

What you need to do to make this easy vegetarian curry

Buy at Art.com

Well, to start off with I put the onions, ginger and garlic into the mini blender with about 3 tablespoons of water and whizz them until it makes a smooth paste.

Of course if you dont have a mini blender then you can always finley chop the onions, garlic and ginger then pound them into a paste using your pestle and mortar. I find, though, that the blender saves so much time and effort.

Next put a large non stick pan over a medium-high heat and spray a few times with the oil. Put in the asafetida then immediately put in the cumin seeds. Give a quick stir and then put in the onion mixture. Fry this for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Now put in the rest of the ground spices (the coriander, cumin, turmeric and cayenne). Stir for about a minute and put in the tomatoes, continue stirring while cooking for anothe 2 minutes.

Next I reduce the heat, add the cauliflower and the water, stir and cook for around 5 mins before adding the potatoes and chillies. Check for salt and add to taste.
At this point I stir the whole mix, cover and leave for the flavors to infuse until I am ready to eat.

When you are ready to eat, gently reheat the curry then stir in the fromage frais or creme fraiche. Add the chopped coriander and stir through. Serve immediately.

"Always add fresh coriander towards the end of cooking or it will lose its wonderful flavor."

 

coriander cilantro herb

Protect Your Clothes Whilst Cooking 

A fun apron for that spicy cook

Healthy Vegetarian Recipes From Around The Web 

As I come across more healthy vegetarian meals I will add their link to the list.

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Steam butternut squash in vegetable steamer. Reserve 1 cup of the steaming liquid for the soup. Meanwhile braise the onion or leek and red pepper in the ...

Cauliflower Blogs On The Web 

Find out what people are saying about cooking cauliflower.

Food and Beverage: Christmas Cauliflower Recipe
Christmas Cauliflower Recipe Ingredients 1 head of cauliflower 4 oz. can of sliced mushrooms 1/4 cup of diced green pepper 1/4 cup of butter 1/3 cup of flour 2 cups of milk 1 teaspoon of salt 1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese ...
Cauliflower cheese & spinach pasta bakes recipe - Recipes - BBC ...
Somewhere between macaroni and cauliflower cheese, these pasta bakes are perfect for a cold day.
Cara's Cravings: Spiced Cauliflower Latkes
Cauliflower. I figured, why not grated cauliflower in place of shredded potatoes? The only consideration I gave was to steam the cauliflower a little bit, figuring it wouldn't cook all the way if I left it raw. ...
Mussels with Miso, Roasted Cauliflower, Fish Sauce Vinaigrette ...
I am using the excuse of Wordless Wednesday. I guess I don't have much to say, or I am just too freaking tired to write. Maybe because I spent the better.

Your Comments Are Welcome 

I would love to receive your feedback and comments so please feel free to leave me a note here, and if you have a food or drink related lens of your own please drop by The Cooks Cafe and submit it for inclusion in the group.

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  • Reply
    divacratus divacratus Oct 19, 2009 @ 11:58 am
    I personally love Madhur Jaffrey's recipes! Thanks for sharing this one. I am lensrolling it to my [url=http://www.squidoo.com/spicy-potato-bites]Spicy Potato Bites[/url] lens. Do have a look at it when you're free.

My Healthy Vegetarian Recipe Collection 

Check out my other lenses featuring healthy vegetarian recipes.

by flighty02


Hi there, I'm flighty02, a recent addition to the Giant Squids.
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