Onion-free recipes: Ajwaini arbi, Baingan masala

Onion-free recipes: Ajwaini arbi, Baingan masala

Our reader and food blogger, Anamika Sharma shares two simple, onion-free recipes that can be made with seasonal veggies

Ajwaini arbi

Ingredients
250 gms arbi/colocasia/taro root
½ tsp carom seeds/ ajwain
A pinch of asafoetida
1½ tsp oil
Salt, to taste
1 tsp coriander seeds powder/ dhaniya
½ tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp dry mango powder/ amchoor
½ tsp garam masala
Chopped kasuri methi leaves or coriander leaves

Method
Wash the arbi and pressure cook with two cups of water till one whistle. Arbi is generally very sticky, so ensure you don't over cook it, one whistle and it will be done. Now lower the flame and let it cook for few more seconds. Let it be in hot water for few minutes before you open the steam of the pressure cooker. Remove from the pressure cooker and let it cool for some time. Drain the water and let it cool further. Apply a little oil in your palms and begin to peel the arbi gently. Now, heat oil in a kadai and add asafoetida and ajwain to it. Heat it for a few seconds and gently toss in the arbi . Let it cook for about 10 minutes. Gently turn the sides ensuring they are cooked from every side. Add all the dry spices to it and cook on low flame for another five minutes. Finish off with a sprinkling of kasuri methi or coirander. Serve hot with dal and chawal.

Baingan masala

Ingredients
8 small baingan / brinjals
4 tsp oil
Salt, to taste
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 tsp coriander seeds powder/ dhaniya
1½ tsp dry mango powder/ amchoor
1 tsp fennel seeds/ sauf
1 tsp gram flour/ besan

Method
Wash, clean and dry the brinjals. Slit each brinjal lengthwise till the stalk ensuring not to cut them in halves. In a bowl, mix all the spices together. Stuff this mixture in the slit brinjals gently. Take a heavy bottom kadai or a non-stick kadai, heat oil in it and add the brinjals gently. Cover the kadai with a lid and let it cook on low flame. Softly stir and occasionally flip them. Cook for about 20-25 minutes till its done. Serve hot with parathas.