2 russet potatoes (aloo), peeled and cubed
1 small cauliflower (gobi), florets separated
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas (matar)
1 yellow or white onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic (or more, if preferred), finely chopped
1/2 cup canola or sunflower or safflower oil
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp turmeric powder
2 tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp ginger, finely chopped
2 tbsp coriander powder (if not available, use more coriander leaves)
2 tsp red chili powder or 1 hot chili pepper chopped fine
2–3 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/4 cup water
1 cup coriander leaves
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oil in deep skillet or large saucepan with heavy bottom. Add cumin seeds until they begin to sizzle.
Add onions and sauté on high heat until they’re translucent.
Turn down heat to medium. Add turmeric, cumin powder, garam masala, coriander powder, chili powder and salt and stir for three to four minutes.
Add garlic and ginger. Stir. Add peas and stir.
Add potatoes and cauliflower. Stir until all ingredients are coated well with spices.
The mixture will start to sizzle. Add water so as not to burn the vegetables. You have an option here to add more water if you want a soupy curry. But my father preferred a drier version, as do many North Indians, so my mother didn’t add a lot of water to her recipe.
Turn down heat and cover the pot. Cook for another 10–12 minutes, taking care not to overcook the cauliflower. You want to leave a little crunch in the florets.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Eat!
THE MAHARANI COCKTAIL
During the winter holidays, my brothers and I used to look forward to coming home from our various colleges. My mother would call my older brother, Madhup, ahead of time to ask which cocktail he wanted to make for the family—he chose a different cocktail every year—so she could have the ingredients ready for our arrival. She rarely drank, but she made an exception when we were all together, savoring the limited time with her three children. Madhup would mix the cocktails and we’d stay up late into the night sipping, trading stories, laughing and teasing one another.
Because the dowager queen is a fan of gin and tonics, I asked Madhup to create a cocktail just for her. Enjoy it with a samosa, pakora or any other savories Lakshmi has on offer.
INGREDIENTS:
1.5 oz gin
Pinch of freshly ground cardamom
4 strands saffron
DIRECTIONS:
Combine and let stand for 5 minutes until flavors are infused in the gin.
Strain.
Then add:
3 oz tonic water
3 drops Patrón orange liqueur
Ice
Cheers! Sláinte! Prost! Na zdravi! Cin-cin! Salud!
ISBN-13: 9780369701046
The Secret Keeper of Jaipur
Copyright © 2021 by Alka Joshi
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at CustomerService@Harlequin.com.
Mira
22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada