Sunday, February 27, 2011

Mushroom Matar Makhanwala- The best :)!!!

Sangeeta and I had been to PF Chang's last night and we had brought home lots of left over food from there,I enjoy their lettuce wraps a lot and between the two of us we had 4 each and were full by the time I had finished half bowl of the hot & sour soup so the entrees had to be packed. We were saving room for the dessert-which was carrot cake and lime cake...ooooh...that was good and yes- I have to mention we enjoyed dinner after having watched Kings' Speech- An excellent movie wherein Colin Firth has stolen many a hearts with his English accent stutter-Wow!!! I have watched him in Pride & Prejudice,Bridgete Jones and love actually etc and now this-His acting skills are phenomenal and he always does complete justice to the character he plays. I just hope he wins the Oscar's today*finger crossed* He totally deserves it .

Today Manasi is back from Chicago and on her special request I am making her most favorite Daal Chawal,something she always seems to miss when she is away from home for more than a week . No- I don't mean to post that now,I will be doing that soon though for Mahir,he needs to look at it and prepare it in my absence.That reminds me I have to do it soon before I stay back in India and he and Manasi fly back here. There is still time and being the procrastinator that I am-Think it will wait till the last minute :0

So today's post was technically prepared in Schenectady NY( Sangeeta's house) but is being published from CT. We were in no mood to eat PF Chang's food again ,moreover on our way from NY city we had stopped at Hannafords to pick up veggies ,so we were keen on exausting those while they were still fresh. I looked at the mushrooms and pictured something rich and creamy,I had a good  40 minute gruelling workout in the morning and wanted to reward myself :) I looked through Sangeeta's pantry and found everything I would need so Mushroom Makhanwala it had to be :) Very easy to prepare,no complicated steps,and turns out this dish is super delicious and goes very well with tandoori roti or even plain phulka. This is also a great main course dish for those who are fond of entertaining friends & family, fetches lots of compliments and it is hard for people to belive that it was prepared at home and not some topnotch resturant :)


Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
serves 3

Ingredients:
almonds: 15-20
Onion: 1 medium sized sliced thin
Ginger paste: 1 tsp
Garlic paste: 1tsp
white Button Mushrooms: 1 packet  about 20 mushrooms washed and halved
Green peas : 1 cup
Cinnamon: 1 inch piece
Green cardamom: take the seeds and save the skins for tea or something alike
fresh Cream: 2 tbsp optional
Olive oil or butter: 3 tbsp
Turmeric: Little more than a pinch
Kashmiri Red pepper: 1/2 tsp or to your taste
salt: 1/2 tsp or to your taste
Honey: 1 tsp
Kasoori Methi: 1 tbsp roasted ,cooled & then crushed on the vegetable as a finishing touch

Take a pan and heat the 3 tbsp oil or butter.
When the oil is hot add the cinnamon and cardamom,when it starts to emanate the aroma add the sliced onions and saute till they turn translucent.
Now add the ginger and garlic paste along with salt,turmeric and red pepper.
Take the almonds and grind them in the coffee grinder to a fine powder and add this to the onions. Add 1/2 cup water and turn off the flame.When cooled puree this in a smoothie maker. Turn it in to the same pan.
Now take a seprate pan,add 1 tsp oil and add peas and mushrooms to this saute this for 5 minute or till cooked but still crunchy to the bite.
Add these to the puree and put it back on the flame ,at this stage you can add a tsp of honey and blend it well ,and if you feel like add some fresh cream and serve with either tandoori roti or phulka or naan .




28 comments:

  1. Mushroom masala looks so thick and inviting. Can't take my eyes off it.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  2. Kavita it sounds like your visit with Sangeeta has been very entertaining. Can't wait to try your recipe...going for mushrooms in the morning :) Welcome back home Manasi...how did you like Chicago??

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  3. Yes Nancy,it was such a nice break for me.Manasi also enjoyed the mission trip as a senior,and had mixed feelings through-out as it will never be the same again as an alumini on these mission trips. She found the trip to be very rewarding as they helped redo houses for people living in the transitional housing. She is now tired and sleeping and is not looking forward to school tomorrow :( Thanks Deepa for the lovely compliment,I am glad you like it.Nancy thanks for thinking of trying this,let me know -If it turned out the way you expected it to :)

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  4. Mushroom masala looks creamy and delicious. I love rich curries specially for my rotis.

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  5. Wow kave, gravy looks so inviting....Mouthwatering here...
    kurinjikathambam

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  6. I can see why it is the best...The gravy is so creamy!!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  7. missed your awesome posts kavitha..glad to see you back..:D
    very interesting recipe..I will have to give it a go..
    Tasty appetite

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  8. Gravy looks extremely creamy,thick and yummy, prefect side dish..

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  9. Welcome back,kavitha...Wonderful post in spicy and yummy makhanwala..

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  10. Dish looks lovely and love the mushroom peas combo!

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  11. Almond gives a light sweetness and richer taste to the gravy. Excellent side dish.....

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  12. Creamy and delicious makhanwala,drool worthy.

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  13. I ma thinking of cooking mushrooms, now i think i am going to make this :-), looks awesome kavi..

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  14. Mushroom looks yummy and color looks fabulous.

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  15. The Mushroom Matar Makhanwala is looking so rich and finger licking good.I am so sad that this week I didn't get mushrooms when I did my grocery shopping, so no makhanwala for me till next week.

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  16. Hubby n I totally love this dish..i make it a little different, wiil definitely try your version for a variation :) Yummy looking!!

    US Masala

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  17. That looks so perfect , creamy and yummy!!!loved it..
    I love colin firth too :) and happy that he did win :)

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  18. very yummy... superb
    www.rajafood.blogspot.com

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  19. This dish looks so tempting...super creamy

    Super Yummy Recipes

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  20. Frist time here..yummy recipes collection.
    Gald to follow you..

    Mushroom curry looks delicious.

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  21. Wow, the curry looks so creamy and sounds so yummy.

    FOODELICIOUS

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  22. well, Colin Firth did!!!!!!!!!!!i like him too. though watched only bridget jones. is he there in lost in translation?

    and this recipe is created especially for me!! i know how delicious it is. will make for papa when i go home end of the month.

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  23. Lovely and rich gravy. This dish looks very tasty.My 1st viist here Following your blog.Do drop by simply.food some time.You have anice collection of posts.

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