I have an interesting relationship with Indian food. I’d never really eaten any for much of my life. Last summer I found myself in Japan with a friend, traveling around and needing to eat out. The most difficult thing about eating out in Japan isn’t explaining that you’re a vegan, it’s that they don’t tend so listen to you even if you are incredibly specific. So for that reason, I decided we’d spend our week of travel eating in Indian place (which there are many of in Japan).
So there my love affair with Indian food began. But as I grew to love it, the relationship became complicated. With love of food, for me, comes desire to cook it. Something about Indian food always scared me, even when I did it will. I don’t know if it’s the spices I don’t understand or the apparent ease that puts me on edge, but I’m always a bit nervous when I try a new Indian dish.
However, that all changed when I first made Aloo Gobi with a non-vegan friend. Neither of us was particularly experienced with Indian food, but somehow we managed to make an amazing dish. It was extremely easy, and I recommend for any social cooking or potluck occasion (it makes a lot of food).
I adapted this recipe from the amazingness of wikibooks cookbooks. Find the original here.
More after the break.
Vegan Aloo Gobi
Ingredients:
750 g tomatoes, diced or puréed
1 big cauliflower cut into chunks
4-5 potatoes, peeled, cut into cubes
1 lemon
4-5 tablespoons of olive oil (instead of ghee)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon turmeric
2 tablespoon ground coriander
1-2 tablespoon ground chilli
2-4 tablespoon garam masala
1 sprig of mint
Cooking Instructions:
1. Heat the oil in frying pan or wok
2. Add cumin seeds and wait until they turn a light brown color
3. Add the spices (except for garam masala) and the tomatoes.
4. When the mixture turns oily, add the vegetables.
5. Roast the cauliflower and the potatoes until they turn soft. Cover. Stir occasionally.
6. Add the garam masala, mint and lemon juice.
This is a great, easy recipe. Most of the spices can be found at an Indian specialty store or in the Indian section of a store like Wegman’s or Whole Foods.
Good luck!
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