Masala Dal Adapted From Julie Sahni Recipes

BAINGAN BHARTA

Steps:

• Prick the eggplant with a thin-blade knife. Grill over or next to very high heat, turning as necessary until the skin is blackened and the eggplant collapses. Or broil, or roast on a heated cast-iron pan in the hottest possible oven. It will take about 20 minutes.
• When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel (this will be easy) and trim away the hard stem. Chop or mash in a bowl, with lime juice.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and chiles and cook for another minute. Add the tomato, turmeric and salt. Cook until the tomato is soft, 5 minutes or so.
• Stir in the eggplant purée and cook, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and garam masala and turn off the heat. Serve hot with warm chapati bread or pita, or over rice.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken:
• Use a fork to prick the chicken breasts all over on both sides. Arrange the chicken breasts on a large sheet of plastic wrap, spacing them apart from one another, then cover with a second large sheet of plastic wrap. Using the smooth side of a meat mallet or a rolling pin, beat the chicken until the breasts are an even 1/2- to 3/4-inch thickness.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 tablespoon peanut oil, lime juice, and garlic. Add the pounded chicken, and rub the marinade over the meat. Set the chicken aside while you make the sauce.
• Make the sauce:
• In a small bowl, whisk together the coriander, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, and grated ginger. In a heavy, wide 4-quart pot or sauté pan over moderately high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until light brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. (Note that because they are sautéed so quickly over moderately high heat, the onions will not caramelize evenly.) Reduce the heat to moderate then stir in the spice and ginger mixture. Add the tomato purée, water, heavy cream, and salt, and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to gently simmer the sauce, uncovered, until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. DO AHEAD: The sauce can be prepared ahead and refrigerated, in an airtight container, up to 3 days.
• While sauce is simmering, cook chicken:
• Heat a heavy 11- to 12-inch griddle or skillet over moderately high heat until very hot and add 1/2 tablespoon of peanut oil. Working in two batches, cook the chicken breasts, turning them a few times and lowering the heat if the chicken chars too quickly, until just cooked through and browned well on both sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Transfer the chicken as cooked to a cutting board. Wipe the griddle or skillet clean with a paper towel and cook the remaining chicken, adding the remaining 1/2 tablespoon peanut oil between batches.
• When all the chicken is cooked, cut it into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the simmering sauce and continue to gently simmer it, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the black pepper and chopped cilantro, and season with salt. DO AHEAD: Chicken tikka masala can be prepared ahead, cooled, uncovered, and refrigerated, covered, up to 3 days.
• To serve:
• Transfer the chicken to a serving dish and garnish with additional cilantro sprigs. Serve with naan, and/or if desired with Basmati Rice .

CHANA DAL, NEW DELHI-STYLE

Steps:

• Combine the chana dal, turmeric, cardamom, bay leaf, salt and 4 cups water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently, cover partly and cook for 40 minutes. At that point, the mixture should still be quite moist; if it is not, add 1 cup additional water and continue cooking, covered, until the dal is tender, about 20 minutes; turn off the heat. Remove the bay leaf. Use an Indian mathani (see related article) to purée the dal for about 1 minute; the dal should be saucy but not soupy.
• To make the tadka, put the oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the cloves; let sizzle for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until medium brown. Stir in the chili flakes if you're using them, and turn off the heat.
• Pour the tadka into the dal; stir gently to combine. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

CHICK PEA RAGOUT WITH GLAZED VEGETABLES 'CHANA MASALA'

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine chick peas, tomatoes and tomato paste. Set aside. In a large pan heat the oil over moderately-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, cumin and coriander. Cook, stirring often, until the onions turn light brown, about 8 minutes. Add zucchini, bell peppers and salt and black pepper to taste. Pan roast the vegetables, stirring regularly, for 5 minutes.
• Add chick pea-tomato mixture to the onion mixture. Add water and bring contents to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes, or until the flavors are blended and the sauce is very thick. Serve ragout topped with yogurt.
• For the topping: Combine yogurt, cucumber, scallion, coriander and hot green chilies.

MASALA DAL (ADAPTED FROM JULIE SAHNI)

Steps:

• Wash and rinse the peas in three changes of water.
• Bring to a boild in 4 Cups of water then reduce the heat to medium-low to keep the peas simmering.
• Cook for an hour or until peas are cooked and tender.
• In the mean time add the ghee (or oil) to a medium sized skillet at medium-high heat.
• Once ghee is hot add cumin seeds and ground pepper and tumeric for 10-15 seconds.
• Next add the onion and cook until brown 10-15 minutes.
• When the onion mixture is cooked add to the split peas.
• Now deglaze the skillet you cooked the onion in with ~1/4 cup of water and add this to the split peas.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve with naan or your favorite other bread.

CURRIED TUNA AND GRAPE SALAD

Steps:

• drain tuna and place in a bowl.
• add celery, grapes, onion, toss.
• toast the curry powder in a small skillet for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
• remove with a spatula to a small bowl, cool combine celery seed, garlic, cottage cgeese, skim milk, lemon juice, and curry powder in a blender until liquified season with salt& pepper.
• pour dressing over tuna, toss.
• sprinkle with toasted walnuts, serve.