Today was a tough day of cooking. It is generally so after a few days of eating out and to gos.
S is falling into a comfortable routine of working from home on Fridays. So quite often we go out for lunch. There are specific reasons for S and me for such practice. I like the perks of eating out on weekdays which have small portions that are meant for one human being and not a wrestler, and 4- course meal at reasonable rates. Its like eating at happy hours and we need not worry about making a to go of leftovers which is more often than not three shrimps and 2 calamari strips.
Then on Saturday we felt like having some tandooris. Generally, we drive all the way to Kabab and curry which is a good 30 min drive from my home. But, since we were tried after a long day of completing some long stalled errands we went to Shalimar after some long ages. Too tired to eat at the resturant we asked for to go, picked a bengali movie and came home. Needless to repeat have some pleasant memories of food.
So when it came to Sunday which is today, I was much stumped. I wanted to have some vegetarian and S wanted to have fried rice. Too much work for a lazy me.
After much contemplation I decided on Paneer with aloo matar and cinnamon peas rice.
Paneer with aloo matar
250 gms paneer
2 medium size potatoes
half cup peas
some onion,
one flake of garlic,
1 in ginger slice
cumin seeds, mustard seeds
2 green and 2 dry chilli
one medium tomato, a piece of bell pepper/capsicum and a couple of mushrooms.
1 ilaichi, i in cinnamon
Cilantro, turmeric, salt, garam masala to taste
Heat oil in the wok. Add cumin seeds, dry chilli and mustard seeds and let them splutter then add onion, garlic. when the onion starts turning golden add the tomatoes as this gets fried add turmeric, chilli powder, dhania powder. do not allow the food to stick to the bottom. Now add the peas and potatoes. let the water dry and the potaoes stightly golden. Add salt, cinnamon and some water. let it come to a boil add the paneer and mushrooms. bring to a boil. add the garam masala and cilantro.
The rice:
wash the rice. Keep aside. heat a teaspoon oil. add some peas and cinnamon (actually you can add just about any veggie you want) add this to your rice and make it whatever way you do( rice cooker, pressure, microwave).
Today S was not sad about an all vegetarian set table at dinner :-))