03 April, 2009

Gobi ka Kheema: The art of 'ahem' Seduction!!!

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Gobi ka Kheema

Curly haired, little pot bellied, fair and of course handsome! He was there again that night surrounded by his family and friends. I tried to move away from his sight before he could see me and rushed to move past him. But alas, that was not to happen and he was beside me in within few seconds.



“Take me home with you tonight” he whispered into my ears.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea” I said and tried to move away from him.
“Why not? Don’t you fancy me anymore?” he pleaded.
“Err, something of that sort” I said without looking into his eyes.
“Please tell me, what is it that you don’t like about me is?” he demanded!
“Well, there are quite many things I don’t like about you and I don’t think you would like to them in front of your family and friends”, I said.
“I don’t care about anything or anyone. All I want is to know the reasons as why you have been avoiding me since last two months! Please, be considerate!” he pleaded again.
“OK, if it this is what you want hear!” I took deep breath.
“Yes! I am tired of seeing you avoiding me whenever we are in same room and I can’t help but see you favouring that new guy in block!” he said.
“I don’t like how inconsiderate you are when it comes to sharing space. Remember last time you came home with me? You occupied so much of space in my tiny home without even considering what others may think or feel!” I blurted.
“Oh! I am sorry about that. I will try not to occupy too much of space and be friendly with others from now on” he said trying to hide his smile.
“I have never been fond of you. Remember the days when we were kids? You would visit our home at least once a week and make my life miserable as my mother favoured you always?” I said, bit to loudly perhaps.
“Is it? I knew your mom was fond of me. I remember her telling one of your aunts how pleasant little boy I am and always doing right! But I never knew you were jealous of me”, he said sounding almost relieved.
“I was not jealous! It’s just that you never smelled nice like others. Well, to tell you frankly I think you stink a lot”, I shouted back.
“What??? Come again! I stink?” he shouted back.
“We stink?” shouted all his family members in chorus, who were eavesdropping all along and pretending to be busy with their own affairs.
“Yes, that is the main reason why I have been avoiding you. I tried to like you but your stench that comes from miles makes me run away from you” I told him and his family who didn’t look that friendly anymore.
“That’s because you don’t know how to use me like her. Why not take few tips from her as how one should treat me with respect/dignity that I deserve? Learn from her how to cook me not just slaughter me with overdose of spices and other unnecessary ingredients. And more importantly, learn to appreciate the health benefits you get from me. After doing all this if you still think I am not good enough for you then we will end our relationship. So, how about taking me home tonight?”


And I took him home that night and yes, he won!!! He wooed me and seduced me that night. He looked good, he tasted better and more importantly he smelled divine!



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Gobi ka Kheema

Thank to dear Ashwini for her brilliant recipe for Gobi ka Kheema, I am ‘kind’ of cauliflower convert now! For someone who tries to avoid cooking and eating cauliflower as much as possible, I must say that this recipe is a keeper! The secret is pan frying the grated cauliflower till they turn golden brown and then cooking them with very few ingredients. And oh boy! It smelled and tasted divine. The aroma of sautéed grated cauliflower was something that I didn’t expect! I was even considering of opening all the doors and windows open, in spite of outside temperature close to freezing point, just to make sure that our home wouldn’t smell like some dead rat! ;) But surprise, surprise!!! It smelled divine! (Did I say divine again?) Gobi ka Kheema is definitely one of the best Cauliflower dishes I have ever tasted and I don’t know how to say this, I will be making this again tonight ;)



P.S: Before some of you ask, I seriously don’t fancy any curly haired or little pot bellied men ;) So please, don’t start teasing me!


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Grated Cauliflower for Gobi ka Kheema

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Gobi ka Kheema (Grated Cauliflower cooked with sweet Green Peas and spiced Tomato puree)
Prep Time: 10-15 mins
Cooking Time: 15-20 mins
Serves: 4-6
Recipe Source:
Food for Thought

Recipe Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium
Serving Suggestion: With any Indian flat breads or with flavoured/steam cooked Rice
Ingredients:
1 medium Cauliflower
½ cup Green Peas (I used frozen)
2 medium Onions, grated or finely chopped or pulsed in a blender
2-3 Tomatoes, blanched and pureed *
1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
1-2 Bay Leaves
¾ tsp Garam Masala
½ tsp Red Chilli Powder (I used Kashmiri Chilli Powder)
1 tsp Jeera/Cumin Seeds
Big pinch of Hing/Asafoetida
2 tbsp Oil
Salt to taste
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Gobi ka Kheema

Method:
Clean the cauliflower and separate it into large florets. Grate them coarsely by hand or using food processor.
Next, heat about 1 tbsp of oil in a pan and add grated cauliflower to it. Sauté it on medium flame for 8-10 minutes till they start to turn golden brown. Keep it aside till needed.
Heat another tbsp of oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, hing and bay leaves to it. When cumin starts to sizzle and turn golden red in colour, add onion and ginger-garlic paste and stir fry them till raw smell from onions and GG paste disappears and onions turn light golden brown.
Reduce the heat and mix in tomato puree. Add chilli powder, garam masala, green peas and salt to taste and mix well. Let the gravy simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Mix in sautéed cauliflower and adjust the seasonings. Cook for another 5-7 minutes on reduced heat and ensure that cauliflower is coated well with spices.
Serve this delicious Gobi ka Kheema, garnished with finely chopped coriander leaves, with any Indian flat breads or Rotis and enjoy.

Spiced Tomato Puree


Note:
* You can simply use blanched and pureed tomatoes for this recipe or use this recipe that I made following Ashwini’s recipe for this delicious and aromatic tomato puree. All you need for this Tomato Puree is 3-4 roughly chopped Tomatoes, 2-3 Green Cardamoms, 2-3 Cloves, 1-2 Bay Leaves (Optional), 1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste, and 2-3 slit Green Chillies. Place all these ingredients in a stockpot along with 1-2 cups of water and cook it on reduced heat till tomato is reduced to pulp (about 10 minutes). Discard whole spices and green chillies and let it cool. Now either you can mash the pulp and strain the puree into another pan or simply pulse in your food processor. Transfer this puree into a stock pot and add about 1 tbsp Kasuri Methi, salt to taste and little cream if desired and bring it to a gentle boil. That’s it!!! Let it cool and pour it into ice cube moulds and pop them in your freezer. Once frozen, remove from moulds and store it in zip lock bag and use them as and when needed. I have started using them quite a lot in curries, gravies and even I have replaced vegetable stock cubes with this healthy homemade spiced tomato puree.

56 comments:

  1. looks very delicious sia.. i am drooling here :)

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  2. Never had gobi this way, I am tempted to try this recipe. Looks delicious indeed !

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  3. Oh, that was hilarious, Sup! Glad you're a convert! well, kinda... :)

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  4. Gorgeous Pics!! What? No like gobi?? papa gobi!!

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  5. The first part was reading a Johanna Lindsey story :) This is a very new dish to me, sounds and looks too delicious!

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  6. Hi There,
    I just started following your blog....but i am getting addicted to it these days. I learn a lot of things from your website. BTW..Just curious, are you trained in photography as well?. Your pictures look really nice.

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  7. lovely recipe... and awesome introduction :)
    was laughing out loud at work reading the exchange :)

    - Indhu (www.thayirsaadham.com)

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  8. Looks super good.. Nice pics.

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  9. Heyo!
    Loved the recipe and now, your pics are seducing me:) I Have bookmarked this one.

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  10. :)) Funny story... It was fun to read! The gobi looks really delicious!

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  11. This dish is so photogenic right? I made this about a year back and posted it and everyone loved the picture.

    Yours are amazing too :)

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  12. Tell us the truth, i cannot believe u refered the curly hair to gobi! I love the "dead rat smelly veggie" in any form! Looks fabulous!

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  13. Great writing Sia! And a lovely recipe too. :-)
    Though I like gobhi have never tried making a kheema out of it. Now I'll. :-)

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  14. Enjoyed reading the conversation...
    Lovely pics.

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  15. Hey sia looks so good nice read too..it looked like u added rice to it.

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  16. Hmm u weaved a nice story...lolz
    I had heard loads o ppl complaining abt the SMELL of cauliflower,but i never understood wht they mean,coz i hardly feel that way.I always shallow fry the Gobi before using it in dish except ofcourse Gobi parathas,and i feel radish more awfully smelling after grating it,than Gobi.Ok Ok wont ramble overboard,lets come to the recipe,which is again such a nice one.My mom makes somewhat similar like this,sans peas.But this looks so perfect,even my mom will agree that this looks better than her's :-)

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  17. looks absolutely yum sia!!

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  18. You really ought to be writing romantic novels, I think.:)

    I never thought about cauliflowers as curlyhaired, fair and potbellied. But, we like our cauliflower and I refuse to agree they stink! Not the fresh ones anyways. :D
    But you took your potbellied love home and "unka kheema banadhiya"!! :(

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  19. hahahahha, loved the anecdote ....tell me, you talk to vegetables? and don't deny that you're slightly (no much) fascinated by curly haired, pot bellied, hahahaha, yet fair, (superb choice :) gentlemen, hahaha; and the way you deny it, i think I'm sure you have a small weakness for them :)????

    i love cauliflowers, yes they stink when they get boiled but well spiced, they're yumm! btw, i like your preparation using coconut and green peas(have never tried with coconut)

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  20. Looks so delicious...can't wait to try...a perfect dish...

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  21. :) this was fun to read... i think i'll also have to give this a try to become a gobi convert!!

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  22. You make me drool whenever i visit your blog! Delicious recipe!

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  23. Wow Aloo ka Kheema looks delicious and pictures are great...

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  24. Hi Sia...

    I like Gobi, its very light on the stomach... But this one... Is a Diners delight :)

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  25. Sia, This is absolutely gorgeous dear...Nice write up, enjoyed reading it buddy..

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  26. nice read curry looks so delicious i too make this but with out green peas next time will add green peas

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  27. You are a very creative writer..Its so hilarious ..I enjoyed reading about your gobi-convert story :)
    Gobi ka kheema is a lovely recipe ,Thanks for it :)

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  28. Hi, Happy Sri Rama Navami!

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  29. Hi, Happy Sri Rama Navami!

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  30. Looks YUM Sia.....
    my son loves Gobhi.

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  31. Sia,

    my to do list of your recipes is growing everyday so yummy I got to try this.

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  32. Yeah, as Aparna said, you should be writing a romantic novel! I completely got immersed in the conversation. I felt like I am reading a novel. LOL at the conversation. Kudos Sia!

    Gobi smells funny of course! I don't like it too! But I will try this kheema method. Looks stunningly gorgeous. Yummy.

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  33. Next time Sia when you start like this don't give away the veggie!! I enjoy the guessing game:)

    I make this too and I love gobi. No wonder you got seduced! Your kheema looks so much more tastier and spicier than mine!

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  34. LOL Sia You should really start writing novels:-) You do keep that suspense hang the further we read:)

    Never thought of making gobi in to Keema! lovely recipe.

    wanted to thank u for the Khandvi recipe again.. mine got voted for the best recipe. hugs to u!
    Soma(www.ecurry.com)

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  35. I've made this from Ash's blog. And I must say, I haven't tasted another Gobi dish quite the same :)

    And I love the foreplay ;)

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  36. Oh, Sia!! I read your intros, and I am never sure whether I'll end up in the kitchen or on the sofa, dying of a broken heart! ;)

    If you don't like gobi, try it frozen. Get a bag of florets, begin by boiling in small amount of water, then let the pot boil a little dry and you'll get the same great 'roasted' aroma and taste.

    The gobi kheema looks delicious!

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  37. Tee hee ;)

    I love both the gobis - cabbage and cauliflower - the secret for me is to to not overcook them - no cook, no smell :)

    This is a new recipe to me and I'm definitely going to try it!

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  38. Enjoyed the narrative. The dish looks absolutely yum!!!

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  39. Wow superb...duper recipe and yum.....

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  40. Nice to read the story !! Gobi ka kheema looks so gud with peas, nice combination.. new an shall try !!

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  41. the tomato puree sounds like a great idea. will try making it when there's place in my freezer.

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  42. simply superb! Amazing flavours, love the recipe:-)

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  43. I was wondering where the story was going :) But I love happy endings...so its all good :p Loved the tip about tomato gravy cubes. And the cauliflower dish looks amazing!

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  44. I love cauliflower but my hubby dislike the same, I hope ur Gobi Kheema will help me converting my hubby as well

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  45. Sia, so glad you liked the kheema! If it has made you a convert even I am going to look at it differently :) Thanks for letting me know.

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  46. Hi Sia, Today I made Gobi Kheema Oh! it comes out really good. Just the difference was color I didn't get the bright red color. Probably less chilies..
    Thanks for the recipe.

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  47. wow love the Gobi ka Kheema...looks delish!

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  48. That was a blast from the past..I felt like I was reading Mills n boons! the grated cauliflower subzi sounds delicious. I'll be trying this one out as cauliflower is regular guest in my house.

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  49. Sia, I tried this kheema today and we all liked it very much. Thank you so much for this awesome recipe.

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  50. yumm...i really want to try this Sia. I have always loved cauliflower and never tried this kind of cooking with it =) thanks for sharing and the gorgeous photos

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  51. Hi,

    I used your recipe and it came out very well. I have posted my recipe pic on my blog with your site link. Do share more good recipes.

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  52. Hi, I have to say I've never been that adventurous with cooking cauliflower, but this recipe has me converted! I think the best seal of approval came from my two and a half year old son, who can be a fussy eater and normally takes 20-30 mins to eat his dinner. But when I cooked this for the first time he polished it off within 10 mins in fact he finished his dinner before I had finished mine (which is usually unheard of!). So thank you, for shoeing me how interesting and versatile cauliflower can actually be!

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  53. Hi, I have to say I've never been that adventurous with cooking cauliflower, but this recipe has me converted! I think the best seal of approval came from my two and a half year old son, who can be a fussy eater and normally takes 20-30 mins to eat his dinner. But when I cooked this for the first time he polished it off within 10 mins in fact he finished his dinner before I had finished mine (which is usually unheard of!). So thank you, for shoeing me how interesting and versatile cauliflower can actually be!

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  54. @Mrs Ganguly, I totally related to what you said. I was not much of a fan of Gobi when i was a kid but I really enjoy it now :) I am glad to know that all your family members liked it, especially your little one. As a mother to toddler, I know how it feels when your kid eats without fuss :)

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  55. OMG!! It took me to the end to realize that you are talking about cauliflower. Hilarious and beautiful.

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