Carrot Springs Pasta In Tomato Sauce

CARROT SPRINGS PASTA IN TOMATO SAUCE

D2 was experimenting with all the cutters and graters which I had not used for a very long time. After a little practice she was able to make beautiful carrot 'springs' using a particular grater which Dibs had bought for me long time ago. D2 was so much involved in the procedure that she forgot to stop until she had made a mound of beautiful carrot springs! Since the 'mound' looked very much like pasta we decided to cook it with pasta and call it Carrot Springs Pasta. This is how we prepared it. 

INGREDIENTS 

Pasta - 150 gms 

Salt - 1 pinch 

Carrots - 150 gms ( Peeled and grated into springs) 

Olive oil - 2 tbsps 

Crushed pepper - 1/2 tsp 

Crushed garlic - 1/2 tsp 

METHOD 

1. Boil one liter of water with a pinch of salt and one tbsp of olive oil in a large vessel. 

2. Add the pasta and cook till soft but not mushy, stirring now and then. 

3. Drain the pasta and keep aside. 

4. Heat one tbsp of olive oil in a pan and add the crushed pepper. 

5. When the pepper gives out a good aroma add the crushed garlic. 

6. Add the carrot springs and gently toss till al dente and keep aside. 

FOR THE PASTA SAUCE 

Olive oil - 1 tbsp 

Finely chopped onion - 2 tbsps 

Tomatoes - 6 ( Chopped) 

Crushed garlic - 1 tsp 

Red chillies - 3 

Peeled and crushed fresh ginger - 1tsp 

Salt - 1 tsp 

Sugar - 3/4 tsp 

TO MAKE THE SAUCE

7. Blend the chopped tomatoes with garlic, red chillies, ginger, salt and sugar in a mixer.

8. Heat oil in a pan and saute the chopped onion till it becomes soft. 

9. Add the tomato blend and cook till it thickens into a sauce. 

10. Add the pasta sauce to the cooked pasta and sauteed carrot springs and gently coat each and every strand using a spatula.

D2 enjoyed the Carrot Springs Pasta after clicking lots of pictures though she missed a little bit of cheese topping.

Alu Chole - Potatoes And Chick Peas In Spicy Gravy

ALU CHOLE 

Four and a half decades ago there were not many chaat shops in Bangalore. Deepak Chaat Shop was the only one in the vicinity which catered to the needs of Chaat lovers who hung around Brigade Road and M.G. Road in the evenings. The sweet couple who ran the show cooked the most delicious Chaat dishes and served them to the customers with untiring enthusiasm.The heavenly taste of Alu Chole which they served with their special  spongy and golden brown saucer sized bhaturas is still fresh in my memory. When I shared my nostalgia with D2, she  eagerly enquired about the taste and analysed the ingredients that might have gone into such a delicious Alu Chole. 

I was immensely pleased when D2 gave me a thumbs up and said ''yummmy!" after tasting the first spoon of Alu Chole which we cooked together in my kitchen. The efforts made to recreate the nostalgic Alu Chole with the available ingredients in my kitchen did not go waste after all! 

INGREDIENTS 

Chick Peas/Kabuli Chana - 2 cups ( Soaked overnight) 

Potatoes -2

Tomatoes - 2 ( Chopped) 

Onion - 1 ( Peeled and chopped) 

Garlic - 6 segments ( peeled) 

Coriander seeds - 3 tbsps 

Pepper - 1 1/2tsps 

Cumin seeds - 1 1/2 tsps 

Cinnamon - 1 big piece 

Cloves - 6 

Cardamoms - 2 

Fresh ginger - a stout 1'' piece ( Peeled and chopped) 

Green chillies - 2 

Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp 

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp 

Salt - 2 tsps 

Tamarind - A plum size ball 

Powdered jaggery - 3 tbsps 

Sesame oil - 3 tbsps 

Fresh coriander leaves - for garnishing 

METHOD 

1. Soak tamarind in warm water and extract a thick juice and keep aside. 

2. Pressure cook the pre soaked chick peas and potatoes until three whistles and allow to cool. 

3. Grind the chopped onions with coriander seeds, pepper, cumin seeds, one green chilly, ginger, garlic, turmeric powder, chilly powder, cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms into a smooth paste adding little water. 

4. Heat oil and fry the paste till it does not stick to the pan and till you get a very pleasant aroma. 

5. Add the chopped tomatoes and salt and cook till soft but not mushy.

 

6. Add the tamarind extract, jaggery  and one slit green chilly. 

7. Next add the cooked Chana and cook for another five minutes. 

8. Peel and cut the cooked potatoes into big cubes and add it to the gravy. 

9. Add more water if the gravy is too dry and continue to cook for another two or three minutes till all the ingredients blend together. 

10. Switch off flame and garnish the Alu Chole with chopped coriander leaves. 

Serve the sweet, spicy and tangy Alu Chole with freshly chopped onions and a wedge of lime. We  relished Alu Chole  with Paneer paratas.