May 23, 2008

Gobi AlooTamatar Masala, Mufuletta Sandwich with Olive salad!

I will be linking my Gobi Aloo Tamatar Masala to "fortune Cooking" event going at Nithu and Shriya's "Spicy Tasty" blog. We are supposed to choose one Zodiac sign and cook with veggies it's compatible with. I chose "Cancer sign with Cauliflower" for this, enjoy hosting girls!:)

Sangeeth from "Art of cooking Indian food"
blog has launched a new event called "Eat Healthy..Fiber Rich", and asks us to cook something fiber rich this month. Here is my Gobi AlooTamatar masala full of fiber and Zodiac friendly too, enjoy hosting Sangeeth!:)

Celebrating the Zodiac sign (Cancer) of our Bichon Frisé , A.J.!! :D
Bichon Frisé , in French literally means a "curly lap dog". Our pet AJ (short for Arvind Junior!:D) is a mix of Bichon Frise and a Poodle but he does have 98% Bichon characteristics in him than a Poodle! His birthday is in June and he will be 10years old this month, 70yrs old in dog years!:D Small dogs of his size live about 12 0r 13yrs. So I thought why not give him some attention in my blog too. He loves to snuggle on that Bean bag every night! Happy birthday old man! :D
NO! He won't eat this Gobi masala, gets his own Salmon and brown rice canned doggie food, which is his favorite dish! His food sounds better than our's, don't you think? Hahaha!!
More info about this breed of dogs are here and here.

Fiber rich Cauliflower:
This is what Whole foods website says about Cauliflower,
"Filling, high in fiber, and low in calories, Cauliflower is a great food for reducing your waistline, says Dr. Barry Sears in his book The Top 100 Zone Foods. Weighing in at only 25 calories, a cup of florets contains 100% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin C, one-third of the RDA for folate, and a nice serving of potassium and vitamin B6. These nutrients all work to protect your heart. Cauliflower also contains bioflavonoids, indoles, and other chemicals that protect against cancer. To retain the flavor of cauliflower and minimize nutrient loss, cook it rapidly by boiling or steaming. Overcooking cauliflower diminishes the nutrients significantly."
Food writer Mark Bittman quoted a Cornell University study, stating that 100 grams of cauliflower had 55 mg of vitamin C after boiling, 70 after steaming, and 82 after being cooked in the microwave oven.
For more info about the benefits of fiber, check out here.

Fiber contents of Aloo-Gobi-Tamatar:
1 medium baked potato with skin has 3.8 gms of fiber and 1 cup of Cauliflower has 3.35 gms of fiber, 1 small onion has 1gm of fiber and 1 Tomato has 1.4gms of fiber!

Gobi Aloo Tamatar masala:
The title literally means Cauliflower, Potato, Tomato in spices, you can make this with or without sauce. You can add any veggies like green peas and cooked beans to this recipe. Just make sure that you don't cook the veggies to death which leaves the dish without any nutrition! :)

To make it, you need:
1 small head of Cauliflower, 1 large red Potato peeled or leave the skin for more fiber and cubed, 1 large Tomato chopped 1/4 cup Tomato sauce, 1/4 tsp turmeric, cilantro.
Season: 1 tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds, 1 small onion finely chopped, 1" ginger grated or ground.
Dry spices: 1 tbsp Coriander seeds powder, 1/2 tsp or more Chilli pd, 1/2 tsp Garam masala, add 1/4 tsp Cardamom powder and 1/4 tsp Fennel seeds pd at the end for that special fragrant touch!


To make the masala:

1. Cut the flowerettes and bake them on a sheet in a single layer at 450F oven for 20 mins or spray some oil on top and Microwave them for 3-5mins or until you see reddish spots on top.
2. Heat oil in a non-stick pan, add Cumin seeds, chopped onion and fry until reddish. Add ginger, stir and then cubed Potato, a tbsp of water, cover and cook for 2 minutes. If potato is cooked before in the MW, it's even easier!
3. Put in all the dry spices like turmeric, Tomato sauce or Tomato pieces. Cook for 1 minute or until oil shows.
4. Now add all the almost cooked Cauliflower, salt, add about 2tbsp or more water, stir fry until almost dry, unless you want some sauce. In that case, add more water or veg stock to it.
5. Garnish with cilantro and lime juice.



Serve with whole wheat rotis for even more fiber kick or serve on a bed of cooked Quinoa, you will be in nutrition Heaven! :D

Another look!


Have a great weekend, see you all next week!

Last minute addition about Fiber:

I found a great article about the benefits of Fiber at this diet website. Take a look, it's a lot of info! Good to know all these too! :)

*****************************************************************************************************
Anupama of "Food and More" is hosting a Sandwich Festival 2008! this month. Last time I somehow missed the deadline for her event and this time I almost did it again until I saw sandwiches flying in every blog this week. I am sending my delicious Muffuletta to her, thanks for hosting Anupama! :)


What's a Sandwich and why we we call it so?
A sandwich, essentially is a "grab and go" food made of two or more slices of bread with one or more layers of filling such as meat, cheese, vegetables, salads or ever popular peanut butter and jelly!

WIKI says, ""The first recorded sandwich was by the famous rabbi, Hillel the Elder, who lived during the 1st century B.C. He started the Passover custom of sandwiching a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, spices, and wine between two matzohs to eat with bitter herbs."

"In 1765, John Montague's biographer, N. A. M. Rodger, points out in his book, The Insatiable Earl - A Life of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, that the sole source for giving Montague credit for the invention of the sandwich, was gossip mentioned in a travel book by Grosley, and that at the period in question 1765, he was known to be very busy, and it is just as likely that it was for the purpose of eating at his desk."

"In 1840, the sandwich was introduced to America by Englishwoman Elizabeth Leslie, (1787-1858). In her cookbook, Directions for Cookery, she has a recipe for ham sandwiches that she suggested as a main dish!"

New Orleans style Muffuletta sandwich with Olive salad:


Here are the recipes I have already posted at Foodie's Hope few weeks ago and reposted here for "Sandwich Festival 2008!" Hope you try it! :)

Whole wheat bread and Muffuletta with Olive salad!

Enjoy and have a 3 day long safe, peaceful weekend!:)

71 comments:

Trupti said...

Wow Asha Gobi Aloo Tamatar masala looks delicious. I am going to make this today. Thanks for sharing this recipe
check my blog. There is surprise for you.

FH said...

Thanks T, I will check your blog. I didn't know Cauliflower was so good for us! Learnt a lot!:))

kamala said...

Ashaji This is too good.I love Gobi in any way.It is so tempting.BTW , U have a sweet surprise for u in my blog.

Sangeeth said...

wow very yummy recipe asha...thanks for sending it to the event :)

Kalai said...

Cauliflower looks delicious, Ashakka! :)

sunita said...

Asha, AJ is so cute :-)...love the gobi masala :-)

It's the kids' half term next week

Have a great weekend :-)

Unknown said...

Gobi masala looks good...and the sandwich is a gr8 entry for the event..

ServesYouRight said...

I love that your dog is a Cencerian :-D I have been trying to make that quiche dish with the fluted adges very unsuccessfully in pottery :-)

I heart vegetarian mufuletta - god bless the South!

Smita

notyet100 said...

as always..lovely post,..

Shilpa said...

Few more events? how do u remember all of them Asha and how do u cook for all? Wow...

I have heard abt mufeletta sandwich before..the name sounds so cute :D.

SMN said...

Ashakka gobi allo matar and sandwich luks yummy can i grab some?

Finla said...

Cauliflower dish looks really delicious Asha.
I have to catch up with all the events going on too.
Love your old man, I me AJ Junior :-)

Cham said...

I will wish the "old man" in June. Don't forgot to celebrate with cake too, he is so cute :)
Aloo tamatar and the sandwich , oh oh, u make me feel hungry Asha. Have wonderful Long weekend!

Uma said...

mmm. Gobi aloo tamatar is so yummy! Love the sandwich too. Have a great weekend ahead.

FH said...

Hope you try my version too Kamala, will check your blog ASAP!:))

You are welcome Sangeeth, got to learn a lot about fiber! Didn't know Raspberries have so much fiber, good to know!:)

Thanks Kalai. Cauliflower is my fave too, specially in Pulaos!:)

FH said...

Sunita, he is a cute old man!:D
Good luck to your kids next week, make eggs for them in the morning for breakfast, brain food!:)

Thanks Hetal. Try the sandwich, you can skip the ham etc if you are a vegetarian!:)

Really! Must be hard to make fluted edges, atleast you are trying, good for you. Sounds like fun!
HeHe! South rocks when it comes to traditional dishes!
Enjoy the weekend Smita!:)

Laavanya said...

I seem to have missed quite a few of your aroma posts... That aloo gobi tamatar is very tantalizing.. nice tip about roasting.

FH said...

Thank you Priyanka!:)

Shilpa, at last I am done with all the events for this month except there is comic strip to do now, just announced! I try and please all the event hosts!Hahaha!

Go ahead and grab some Sush, make my day!:D

FH said...

F, so great to see you girl. How are you? I bet you are enjoying your sister's visit. Have fun.
Yeah, he is a old man, thought I will give him a 15mins fame too!:D
Enjoy the weekend, see you later.Hugs:)

I will Cham!:) Dogs get nice snacks too, but can't feed the cake or chocolate, not good for them. Since he is old, got to soft, digestible doggie food!:)

Thanks Uma, you too. Enjoy 3 days of fun!:)

ranji said...

asha!!this is one of the things i hate when i browse thru other blogs-the fact that i cant have these delcious dishes unless i make it..have to satisfy myself just looking at it:(...how i wish i could just grab it from the comp:)...great entries..

Sum Raj said...

cauliflower is everyone's fan...its perfectly presented asha...thanks for sharing it and sandhwhich mind blowing.....

Mansi said...

the spread looks great Asha! thanks for the "reducing waistline" tip!:)

have a great weekend gal!:)

Sagari said...

aloo gobi looks delecious asji, nice sandwitch

Unknown said...

I love the sandwich Asha..and the aloo gobi is too adorable

Suganya said...

You love muffuletta, don't you?

Arundathi said...

the muffuletta looks great!

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Now that sandwich looks like heaven!

FH said...

That's the way I feel too Ranji, specially in the afternoons when I have to eat leftovers or don't have anything at all to eat!:D

Thank you Suma. My favorite is Muffuletta!:)

HeHe!! Mansi, loads of fiber=slim waist!! I wish!!! Sigh...!!!:D
Enjoy 3 day long weekend!:)

FH said...

Hope you try Sagari!:)

Thanks DV, try it this weekend girl!:)

YUP! Anytime Suganya, Olive salad itself is good enough to eat!:)

Thanks A, try and make it. You don't have to bake bread, store bought will do very well!:)

FH said...

It tastes like Heaven too Meeta. It's so huge, it feed the family of 4 and you won't feel hungry for a whole day after having one of these slices!:D

Rajitha said...

AJ is adorable :)..the sabji looks delicous...yum!

TBC said...

Aloo Gobi looks great, Asha.
Enjoy the long weekend.

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,
gobi aloo tamatar masala looks delicious.tried ur cheese puffs and they were delicious too.Thank you.

Shalini

TheCooker said...

AJ is a bonafide cutie!
Can never have too many versions of the gobi-aloo...yours looks positively delicious.

Pravs said...

Seeing Muffuletta pic, i have to go get one tomorrow. Wow, you know to make it. Gobi Aloo Tamatar masala ..thats a mouth full :)

Unknown said...

Gobi masala looks delicious Asha.Today at the library, i saw the recipe for Muffuletta sandwich in a cooking magazine.Noted it done to do list.Nice entry.

jayasree said...

Gobi Aloo masala looks very yummy. Thanks for sharing the info on cauliflower.

sra said...

Happy Birthday to AJ! That site on fibre you linked to seemed interesting! And nice dish you put your cauliflower in!

delhibelle said...

Yummy aloo gobhi ! I have been toying with the idea of mw-ing gobhi with oil, and you have already figured it out for us. Thanks for showing the way again:)

FH said...

Thanks Rajitha.:)

tbc, he is cute. He is pretty old too now, age is getting to him!

Shalini, you did! That is wonderful, glad it worked out for you. Some find it hard to get the puff first time they try. Enjoy!

Red Chillies said...

Look at AJ! He is so cute :-) I had to laugh that he is named "Arvind junior" (hilarious). Whew, how do you rememerber all these events. Loved your gobi masala ( even though AJ does not). The picture is beautiful too.

FH said...

TC, I know every blog has atleast one Alu-Gobi, seems to be popular because it's so easy!:D

Pravs, you are so lucky to get M whenever you want it! I have to make at home which is not that fun!:D

Mahesh, Muffulettas are fabulous, try and make it. Buy a huge round loaf, that's how they serve in New Orleans, enough to feed a 6 member family!:))

FH said...

Jaya, isn't that great to know humble Gobi has so many good things? I didn't know that before!!:)

HeHe! Thanks sra, I will make sure AJ will enjoy the day!:)
Yeah, who knew Alu and Gobi has so nutritious! That dish is for making Quishe or creme Brulee etc, it's cute!:))

Hi DB, I am learning new way to use MW because of these events. Spray little oil on Gobi, spread to thin layer in batches and cook on high on MW just until they get some color, cooked 3/4 way. Cooking too much will make them dry and tasteless!:)

FH said...

HeHe! He is a cute old man RC!:))
I saw other blogs with lot of sandwiches, so thought I repost mine too. Aloo Gobi, I always love, yummy!:)
Did you see the sour dough Naan at Fh? Easy to make, hope you try. Arvind is on call this weekend, so taking kids out myself and enjoy but he is free on Monday! Have a fun 3 day weekend!:))

Sangeeth said...

you have a surprise in my blog :)

Suganya said...

Hi Asha...
U are really great... U r posting so many recipe so fast. Great job!... Gobi Aloo looks YUM!. I would like to have it with rotis.... I have mufulette sandwich once long back, but never thought of making it at home. Nice try dear. Love it. so colorfulllll...

bee said...

thank you for making cauliflower in my honour. i'm cancerian, so is J. your old man doggie is cute. isn't he the one who got lost and came home all smelly? funny guy.

FH said...

Hi Sangeeth, will check!:)

Sukanya, I posted a dish for every event there is this month!:D
I think I will slow down a bit from now on or atleast I will try! HeHe!

Bee, I am so happy! A very happy birthday to you in advance. Hugs!:)
Yeah, he is the great wanderer! He has a slight jaw defect, so he can't smell like other dogs to come back home sniffing. He keeps on walking until somebody finds him, we have to watch his every move once he is outside now!:D
Have a fun 3 day long weekend.

Purnima said...

Wonderful entries, Loved your AJ, looks lovable n hugable! The cauli dish and the M looks truly good! Loved the pic! Honestly, hw do u arrive at a decision what to cook,when n conglo. it as multiple-events on yr blog!! Phhhhewwwww...U never cease to amaze!!

FH said...

HeHe! Purnima, I cook everyday for 4 people anyway. For a event, I just choose the ingredients and make a dish. Next day, it will be gone!:D
Sometimes, I cook particularly for a event like Jackfruit dishes for which I have to go shop in the Asian stores. Besides, cooking is relaxes me. I like the instant results!
Have a great weekend. Arvind is on call this weekend but free tomorrow, waiting to watch Indy flick!:)

Andhra Flavors said...

love gobi..it looks delicious.Nice Recipe asha..

FH said...

Thanks AF, Gobi aloo is always simple and delcious!:))

J said...

Baked aloo gobi...wow! I always made it in the MW because the potatoes cook faster in the MW!! Now I know it saves the nutrition too :)

FH said...

J, that's true! I was surprised and happy to know that we save some nutrition too while cooking super fast in the MW! Saves plenty of time than cooking for 1 hr in the oven! Some people don't use MW at all,scared of it too!:D

Anonymous said...

Hi,visiting ur blog for the first time,nice and lovely blog.
Gobi Aloo Tamatar masala ..thats a mouth watering. I love it.This curry always rocks......
Would love to see u on my blog.

FH said...

Hi Sireesha, good to see you here. I always visit bloggers who visit me, will see you later and blogroll you!:))
Yeah, gobi alu is easy and healthy too, enjoy.

KonkaniBlogger said...

Love the Muful..., it looks really delicious and Gobi looks yummy too, have never tried baking it and then making. Nice entries Asha!!

FH said...

Thanks Maya. In New Orleans, Muffuletta is so huge that family of 6 can easily eat it up!:D
I love the Olive salad, hope you try. You use smaller hard rolls you get in the stores. See you tomorrow!:)

Daily Meals said...

Gobi aloo tamatar masala looks yummy... love the palak dal too.

FH said...

Hi Vijaya, how are you girl?
Yeah, Gobi alu is easy and delicious as always!:))

SASHREE said...

Wow Asha,gobi aloo masala looks simply delicious..it is very tempting..one of my favorite

FH said...

Hi Sashree, great to see you here. Yup, alu gobi is probably the most fave dish for most Indians, easy and yummy!:))

Anonymous said...

Thanks for entering in to our contest. Good luck with your entry.

Siri said...

ur dog is so cute ashaji..:D and advanced Happy birthday wishes to ur 'old man'..love the gobi aloo masala.. yummy..:D

Hugs,
Siri

Namratha said...

The Aloo Gobi looks good Asha, interesting event, didn't know about the fortune cooking :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Yikes! That muffaletta is one hunking sandwich, Asha! And you really have a way with cauliflower. Seriously. Has it ever looked so good?

Vani said...

Curry looks delicious, Asha! OMG, I've known you for so long but never knew u had a pet! AJ is ADORABLE! Give him a hug from me, will ya?

FH said...

Thanks Shriya!:))

Hugs to you too Siri, enjoy the weekend!:))

Nams, I don't blame ya! There are so many these days! I have to do 1 in 3 entries from now on, too much even for me! :D

FH said...

LOL! I know Susan. That Muffuletta feeds a family 6-8 easily! That HUGE in New Orleans!!:D
Aloo Gobi is every Indian's fave dish, easy ans healthy too!:)

Vani, I grew up with German Shepherds all my life, we are dog people!:D
We had a Labrador here and now AJ. He is adorable little dog although I prefer big dogs, kids wanted this little lap dog!Yeah, he is getting old!:)
Your profile photo is so cute!! M is growing up so fast!

Anonymous said...

Oh, AJ is adorable, Asha!! Very fitting that you should show him off. Looks like a king there on his doggie bed-throne :)

Aloo gobi looks yummy, one of my faves! Will try your version soon. Have a great weekend!

FH said...

Linda,
yes, he is the king of the beanbag!:D
Max, that cat I told you about looks exactly like your cat, that's why I was reminded of AJ chasing Max and vice versa! :D