Aarti Sequeira Kids Recipes

INDIAN OMELET

Steps:

• I thought that this was the only way to make an omelet until I had the French and American kinds. It's funny; we like ours thin and lightly browned, whereas the classic American version is fluffy and pale yellow. This almost reminds me of a Spanish frittata; you can eat a quarter of it with a small salad and it makes a satisfying light lunch. My mum usually makes this for lunch when she's got a heavy dinner planned. It's one of my dad's favorites! This is also apparently one of those things that you can get at the train stations in India: jump onto the platform, grab a hot "railway omelet" and speed walk to work where you can nosh away in peace. Bliss!
• Grab a bowl. Crack the eggs into the bowl and beat until lathery, about 1 minute. Whisk in the onion, chile, cilantro, turmeric, and paprika until well combined. Sprinkle with a big pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
• Grab a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add the oil and warm over medium-high heat until mildly shimmering but not smoking. Have a spatula/spoonula at the ready. Pour egg mixture into the pan. Grab the spatula/spoonula and, in small circular motions, distribute the onions, chile, and cilantro evenly around the pan. This also helps move some of the uncooked egg down to the surface of the hot pan. Cover and cook for 2 1/2 minutes.
• Grab a plate that's as big as your pan. Pull off the lid and look at your omelet. It might still look a little runny, but it shouldn't be super runny. If it is, then cover and cook 1 more minute. Slide the omelet, cooked side down, onto your plate. Then, holding the plate from underneath, put your pan over your plate, and flip so that the uncooked side lands on the pan. Cook, uncovered, another minute.
• Slide onto serving plate, cut into 4, and serve.

MUM'S EVERYDAY RED LENTILS

Steps:

• Put the lentils in a strainer and rinse them under running water. Add them to a bowl, cover with water and let soak for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of water, the onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, chile, if using, and the lentils. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Skim any scum from the surface. DO NOT ADD SALT YET; it will toughen the lentils, thereby lengthening their cooking time. Lower the heat, cover the pot with a lid and gently simmer until the lentils are tender, almost translucent, and almost falling apart, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Whisk the lentils, releasing its natural starch, and mash some them so the mixture becomes thick. Add salt, to taste.
• Tempering oil (bagaar): In a small bowl, combine the cumin and mustard seeds. In another bowl, combine the spice powders. Have all the ingredients ready because this will move very fast!
• In a small skillet, over a medium-high flame, warm 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add seeds and immediately cover so you don't get covered in spluttering oil and seeds! Add the spices. They should sizzle and bubble a little - that's the blooming and it's exactly what you want. Don't let them burn. The mixture should bloom for about 30 seconds, no more.
• Pour the oil mixture into the lentils, standing back so you don't get hurt when the mixture splutters again. Stir to combine. Transfer the lentils to a serving dish and garnish with cilantro.

KHICHDI

Steps:

• Combine the rice and lentils in a large bowl. Cover with water and swish around with your hands until the water is cloudy. Pour off the water, then repeat this process until the water runs clear, 3 or 4 times. Cover with water and let soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Set an electric pressure cooker to sauté on high. Add 2 tablespoons ghee, the bay leaves, pepper, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and the hing. Allow to cook until the leaves are sizzling, about 1 minute.
• Drain the rice and lentils in a strainer. Carefully add to the pressure cooker and stir well. Continue to cook, stirring often, for about 2 minutes, until the water has evaporated off the grains and they sizzle.
• Add the grated ginger, turmeric and 5 1/2 cups water to the pressure cooker. Stir well and add 2 teaspoons salt. Put the lid on the cooker and set the steam valve to the sealing position. Cook for 12 minutes on high pressure. Let the cooker naturally release the pressure for 20 minutes. Manually release any remaining pressure, then open up the cooker and stir, discarding the bay leaves. The porridge should be the consistency of a soft polenta or risotto; feel free to add more water until it's just right.
• Start making the toppings while the pressure is releasing. Make birista, or fried onions: Set a small skillet over medium heat and add the sliced onion. Pour in just enough canola oil to cover. Gently fry the onion until uniformly golden brown, about 10 minutes, stirring every now and then. Using a slotted spoon, remove the onion to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Add the cashews and coconut to the oil and fry until golden brown. Remove the cashews and coconut to the plate and sprinkle with salt.
• Pour off all but 1 to 2 tablespoons of the oil. (But don't discard it! The oil is great to drizzle over vegetables before you roast or sauté them; it's also a great start to a soup, pasta sauce or curry.) Add the remaining 2 tablespoons ghee to the remaining oil in the skillet. Once shimmering, add the dried chiles, garlic and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds. Cook, shaking the pan and stirring, until the garlic is golden brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Pour the porridge into a serving bowl, then pour the contents of the skillet on top and gently stir. Top with a big dollop of yogurt, the fried onion, cashews and coconut, and some cilantro.

ALOO GOBI

Steps:

• Mix the Ginger-Garlic Paste, coriander, turmeric, and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl. This is a simple wet masala (spice mix). Set aside.
• In a large pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the serrano pepper, wait 30 seconds, and then add the cumin seeds and wait until they're done spluttering.
• Add the wet masala (careful, it will also splutter). Cook until the paste thickens, deepens in color slightly, and oil oozes out of the perimeter of the masala, about 2 minutes.
• Add the cauliflower and potatoes, stirring to coat the vegetables with the masala. Season with salt and add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes. Then, remove the lid, stir, and cook until the cauliflower and potatoes are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
• Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.
• Save what you don't use in a small glass jar. It should last in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks. It's a delicious addition to marinades, pasta sauces, stir fry sauces, slow-cooker recipes, gravy etc. We always had a jar of this stuff in our fridge growing up.

AARTI SEQUEIRA'S ALOO GOBI

Steps:

• For the ginger-garlic paste: Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.
• For the aloo gobi: Mix the Ginger-Garlic Paste, coriander, turmeric, and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl. This is a simple wet masala (spice mix). Set aside.
• In a large pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the serrano pepper, wait 30 seconds, and then add the cumin seeds and wait until they're done spluttering.
• Add the wet masala and hing (careful, it will also splutter).
• Cook until the paste thickens, deepens in color slightly, and oil oozes out of the perimeter of the masala, about 2 minutes.
• Add the cauliflower and potatoes, stirring to coat the vegetables with the masala. Season with salt and add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes. Then, remove the lid, stir, and cook until the cauliflower and potatoes are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve.