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Gari (Tamarind Vegetable Vindaloo)




Ingredients

Quantity
Peanuts or sunflower oil
¾ cup
Onions – thinly sliced
1 ¼ pounds (1 ½ lbs)
Garlic cloves – silvered
6 medium
New potatoes – unpeeled cut in 1” cubes
¾ pounds (1 lb)
Mixed vegetables (zucchini, carrots, green pepper, cauliflower etc.)
1 pound
Paprika
½ tsp
Turmeric
½ tsp
Fenugreek seeds
1 tsp
Minced fresh garlic
1 ½ tsp
Salt
½ tsp or to taste
Hot green chillies (trimmed & chopped – seeds included )
2 (about ¼ cup)
Water
2/3 cup
Tamarind concentrate
1 tsp
      Or

Lime juice
1 tbsp
Molasses
1 tsp
Garam masala – recipe in direction
1 ½ tsp
Whole cardamom seeds – depodded
½ tsp
Ground cloves
1/8 tsp
Cayenne
¼ tsp or to taste
Shredded unsweetened coconut
1 tbsp
Fresh frozen peas
1/3 cup
Chopped cilantro
1 tbsp
Yoghurt



The searing heat and intensely spiced flavors of vindaloo, a distinguished dish of southern India, is not just for carnivores. Gari is a vegetarian vindaloo in which sweet summer vegetables are cooked in a rich, tart, tamarind-based sauce. Substitutions for the various vegetables based on seasonal variations are acceptable, as long as the substitutes are sweet and firm and not sour and leafy. Serve with plain rice and raita. (See recipe for Kela Ka Raita.)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep skillet, add the onion and garlic, and lower the heat to medium. Fry at medium-high heat until the onion starts to brown (about 10 minutes). Set aside, off the heat. Drop the potatoes in the boiling water and boil 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, slice the vegetables about ½ inch thick. Place the skillet with the onion back on low heat and add paprika, turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, salt, and green chillies. Reheat until sizzling a little and add 2/3 C water. Stir in the vegetables (except the peas) and the potatoes. Simmer 20 minutes, covered.

Remove about ½ C of hot liquid from the pot, place in a deep bowl, and add the tamarind concentrate, stirring fiercely to dissolve it and pressing it against the sides of the bowl. Pour the mixture back into the pot, increase the heat to high, bring liquid to boil and reduce it until the sauce is very thick (about 5 minutes).

Stir in the garam masala, cardamom, cloves, cayenne, and coconut, lower heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook peas separately in boiling water until just tender (2-3 minutes), checking frequently. Cool them under cold running water and reserve. Just before serving, add the peas to the mixture, cook them just long enough to warm them and serve the dish garnished with cilantro.

Makes 3-4 servings.


Garam Masala


Ingredients

Quantity
Cardamom pods
2 tbsp
Ground cinnamon
4 tbsp
Whole cloves
2 tbsp
Cumin seeds
1 tbsp
Mace
1 tbsp
Ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp

Place spice mixture in a skillet and roast it lightly over a high flame until the spices darken in
color. Grind in an electric spice mill and store in an airtight bottle.