Adrak ki Subzi and Dhaniya Poori / Ginger stew and puffed spiced bread

Hot and tangy ginger soup served with spiced pooris -Perfect for winters

Adrak ka shorba, Saunth ka saag or Ginger soup are some of the many names for this hot and delicious preparation. It is very popular in my family, specially made during chilly winters and monsoons. This is also a post-natal food, specially given to new mothers after child birth as it is very good for warmth, aids digestion and improves appetite and cures gastric problems.

This thin ginger curry can be served along with meals as an appetizer, digestive or as a side dish, but my mother always serves this with dhaniya ki poori and fried potato chips, which make a great combo.

Even Dhaniya ki Poori is also a post-natal food which is very good for lactating mothers. The dried spice mixture (coriander, cumin, carom and ginger powder) which is added in the poori is called kayoka. So you can use this combo as a winter food or as a a post- natal food.

Prep time- 10 min
Cooking time- 15 min
Difficulty level-easy
Spice level-medium
Cuisine- Indian
Type- Main , breakfast
Serve-3

SAUNTH KI SUBZI

INGREDIENTS-

• Ginger/Adrak, grated and tightly packed -2 .5 tbsp
• Dried ginger powder/Saunth- 1tsp *
• Yogurt /Dahi -1/2 cup
• Water- 2.5 cup
• Lemon juice- 1 tsp (optional)
• Fresh coriander- 2 tsp
• Black salt /Kala namak- 1/3 tsp
• Salt- to taste

Tempering / Waghar

• Ghee -2 tsp
• Cumin /Jeera-1 tsp
• Carom seeds /Ajwain- 1/2 tsp
• Asafoetida /Hing- 1/4 tsp

PROCEDURE-

1. Grate ginger with a fine grater or grind to make a  paste.
2. Heat ghee in a pan and add cumin,carom and asafoetida.
3. When cumin start crackling add the grated ginger and saute for 30 seconds on low flame
4. Add saunth powder and saute for about 30 seconds or till it start giving a nice aroma.
5. Blend yogurt and water with a whisk or hand blender.
6. Pour the yogurt mixture in the pan and cook(keep stirring)
7. Cook till it comes to a rolling boil.then boil further for 2 more minutes (keep stirring to avoid curdling)
8. Switch off the flame and add lemon juice (optional) and chopped fresh coriander.
9. Serve hot.

NOTE-

* If dried ginger powder is not available then add 2.5 tbsp of fresh grated ginger.

DHANIYA  KI  POORI

INGREDIENTS-

• Wheat flour/atta-1.5 cup
• Semolina/sooji-1/4 cup
• Cooking oil -1.5 tbsp
• Asafoetida /Hing- a pinch of
• Salt-to taste

Grind together(keyoka)

• Coriander seeds / Sabut Dhaniya -2 tbsps
• Dried Ginger powder/Saunth- 1tsp
• Cumin seeds /Jeera -1 tsp
• Carom seeds /Ajwain -1 tsp
• Black pepper/Kali mirch -1/2 tsp

PROCEDURE-

1. Take all the spices listed in (Keyoka) the mixer jar and grind to make a powder.
2. In a big bowl add wheat flour,semolina, salt, oil and ground masala powder(kayoka)
3. Mix well and then add warm water to make a medium hard dough.
4. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
5. Now knead it well and make small balls from the dough.
6. Roll to make medium thick pooris /discs.
7. Heat ghee or oil in a deep pan and gently slide the rolled poori in it.
8. Press gently to help it puff from both sides.
9. Fry on medium heat to a nice golden colour .drain on a paper napkin.
10. Serve hot with fried potato fingers and saunth ki subzi.

Shakarkand Ki Chaat

Spicy Sweet potato snack - quick and oil free

Shakarkand/sweet potato is a tuber and is very high in vitamin B6,good source of VitC,D ,Iron,Magnesium and is very rich in fiber and is fat free so now becoming popular worldwide.It is a versatile tuber ,you can bake, roast, grill or boil it and can make many different types of dishes with it or just enjoy the plain roasted one as a snack.

Roasted shakarkandi is very popular during winter as a snack or can be enjoyed just plain roasted one. street vendors on small stalls sells these charcoal grilled sweet potatoes,which are then peeled ,cubed and few spices and tangy chutnies are mixed in it and a tangy and spicy snack is served in just few minutes.
Traditionally sweet potatoes are grilled on charcoal for the wonderful smoky aroma but you can also bake them in an oven or just boil them in a pressure cooker.
you can mix lemon juice and dry spices only or add tamarind and green chutney,both versions taste great.

Prep time-5 min
Cooking time- 10 min
Difficulty level-easy
Spice level-medium hot
Cuisine- North Indian
Type-Snack,side
Serve - 4

INGREDIENTS-

• Sweet potato /shakarkandi  - 2  (400 gms)
• Tamarind chutney -1.5 tbsp
• Green chutney - 1.5 tbsp
• Red chili powder -1 tsp
• Black salt /kala namak - 1/4 tsp
• Roasted cumin powder  - 1/3 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Green chili,chopped -1 tsp
• Fresh coriander,chopped -  2 tbsp
• Lemon juice- 2 tbsp

PROCEDURE-

1. Boil shakarkand /sweet potato in a pressure cooker with a glass of water,if its big then make into 2-3 big pieces.
2. Boil on medium heat fopr 3 whistles.
3. When cool down completely then peel the skin completly.
4. Chop the boiled sweet potato into medium size cubes.
5. Take a big bowl and add chopped sweet potatoes.
6. Add all the spices and both chutney and lemon juice.
7. Mix preperly add chopped green chili and fresgh coriander.
8. Serve with a tooth pick and a lemon wedge.

Tips-

1. For the smoky flavour- slice the boiled and peeled sweet potato into 1 inch thick roundels. grease a non stick flat pan with few drops of oil.arrange the sweet potato slices over it in single layer and cook on medium heat till it get nice golden color,turn the sides and cook from other side too. make cubes and make chat.
2. Can also make without the chutnies.
3. You can substitute lemon juice with orange juice.
4. Can also add some boiled potatoes and ripe banana cubes in it.