Nanu-nani's favorites #Kashmiri gobhi, #chana masala

As I grew older, I thought the best part of my life was over
THEN
I was handed my first grandchild and realized that best part of my life had just begun!

Well! heard the quote before? I am sure it rings true for all the new grand dads and moms. Gurpreet uncle shared this quote recently on facebook and that got me writing about the beautiful couple   - Ishrat’s and Jaiteg's nanu nani :)

The other day, I was sharing with uncle and aunty about my blog!  Before aunty could say anything, Ishrat pitched in with a couple of her favorite nanu, nani dishes. She had many which were her best and she would like me to share all of them! But then, we settled on two nanu-nani’s favorites. 

Well! uncle aunty are retired and living an independent life, with frequent trips from their grand kids who live a few miles away.  Ishrat shares that Nani is a great cook and nanu is no less! Ishrat adores nanu-nani and their home is her favorite place to be.

It always makes my heart glow when I hear about husbands, dads, dadus and nanus cooking at home... Gurpreet Uncle finds cooking a perfect way to pamper his family and the children just adore his cooking as much they do their Nani’s! Uncle shared with me how he started cooking.. It was his love for non-veg that made him master the art of cooking it – he can cook anything – chicken, fish, mutton, keema, - anything – u name it! There was the restriction of no cooking non-veg in his parents house when he was young. But non-veg was his first love and he took his masterchef hat outside! He started cooking outside the house, at a friend’s place, at neighboours..and there started his love affair with cooking! And finding a partner who as much likes cooking was a bonus :) 

 .

You must have heard “families that eat together, stay together” – here’s another thought to ponder upon – “family that cooks together, stays together”. When cooking helps unwind, bond and make memories together.

So, while we were chatting over nimbu pani and bhelpuri, I started noting down the recipes,  it was fun discussing the recipes, we were five of us, me, Aman (my bestie), Ishrat, uncle and aunty – and it was cool to see Ishrat chipping in with the ingredients and method of the recipes, Way to go girl! you are on to become the next master chef! 

So, which one are her favorites from nanu-nani? Nani makes awesome kasmiri gobhi and nanu – chole! Kashmiri gobhi is an interesting recipe. It uses a whole cauliflower, and it tastes super! Please do try at home!

Find the recipes below:

Nani's Kasmiri Gobhi

Ingredients:

 

1 cauliflower

mustard oil for deep frying

6-7 cloves garlic

25 g ginger

4 onions (chopped)

Tomatoes – 6-7

Peas – 20

Coriander leaves

turmeric (1/2 tsp)

salt and red chilly powder to taste

coriander powder (1/2 tsp)

jira powder (1/3 tsp)

Garam masala (1/4 tsp)

Method:

1. Remove the cauliflower stem completely, take the who cauliflower and steam it in cooker. Add cauliflower, enough water and ½ tsp salt. Close the cooker lid without whistle. Steam for 5-7 minutes.  Remove from water and let it cool.

2. Take enough mustard oil in a frying pan to fry the gobhi. I know it sounds too rich but once in a while with that special dinner or bdays and anniversaries, we can take that liberty. It will taste yum, don’t think too much and read on to cook.

Fry the steamed cauliflower until golden brown

3. In a pan, take 2 tsp oil. Add grated ginger, garlic, chopped onions, saute until golden brown

4. Grind tomatoes and add it to the pan, let it cook. Now add turmeric, salt, chilly powder to taste, coriander powder,  and jeera powder,  and, let it fry well, until the oil leaves the masala.

5. When the masala is done well, add peas, let them cook.

6. Now place the fried gobhi in a bowl, top it with the gravy we made above so that it coats it well. Sprinkle on some garam masala, Garnish with grated cottage cheese and coriander!

Enjoy the aroma and savour the taste!

Nanu’s chole 

Ingredients:

safed chole (chickpeas)

2 onions (chopped)

2 tomatoes (chopped)

Green coriander for garnish (chopped)

2 green chillies (optional)

Anar dana (1/2 tsp)

salt to taste

black pepper to taste

Method:

1. Soak chole overnight. In the morning (or when you want to cook them), whistle chole with water and ½ tsp salt. The proportion of water should be right. If you take 2 bowls chole, add 3.5 bowls water. Give 7-8 whistles until chole are well cooked.

2. Take one tbsp chole and mash them well and add them back to the rest (this will thicken the gravy)

3. Add black pepper, salt to taste and anar dana and mix well. Add black pepper little liberally as this dish tastes better if a lil hot. You can also slit green chillies (2-3) and add.

 4. Fill 2/3 of the serving bowl with chole, Top up with onions, tomatoes and coriander.

Your yummy chole are ready!

Now rock that special dinner for those special guests – I have given you two new recipes that you can’t ever  go wrong with!

Happy cooking!