Cauliflower ( phul gobhi ) has been a very popular vegetable in Indian household. It is eminently suitable for multiple applications and may go not only as a sought after companion dish for Rice /Roti/ Paratha ; it can be a very suitable ingredient in the making of not only Pulao but Pakoda as well.. It has always been a favourite of my father in every season. When I was a child, I used to see vegetables like Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrots, Capsicum in the kitchen only in winter. Now the seasonality of these vegetables is a thing of the past. One gets them now off the shelf throughout the year. One however, misses the old flavour of these vegetables. The aroma that pervaded the kitchen even an hour after cauliflower had been light fried lingers in the memory even now.
The other day I accompanied my husband to the nearby weekly vegetable market where I was told vegetables would be displayed on the ground under the sky. Yes, I saw plenty of fresh vegetables with the vendors, most of whom were women. It was a great experience for my younger son (7) who had accompanied us while the elder one (13) stayed back to study at home. My husband bought a good quantity of a variety of vegetables to stock the Refrigerator to its capacity so that he is off the neighbourhood grocer for a couple of days. We got a few cauliflowers too. One day, I thought of cooking the cauliflower differently. Even both the children liked it.
Hope you would find it interesting Here is the way to go:
Ingredients-
1. Cauliflower(phul gobhi) : one-- medium
( boil the florets in water with haldi (turmeric)powder and salt for sometime till the florets are half done ) ...
2. Onion –One small (sliced )
3. Tomato –One medium (chopped)
4. Oil-One teaspoon
5. Hing (Asefotida )- A pinch
6. Capsicum- Small one (chopped)
6. Salt -To taste
7. Haldi (turmeric) powder – Half teaspoon
8. Pepper powder -To taste
9. Mustard seed -1/4 teaspoon
Method -
Heat oil in a pan ,add mustard seeds , let them splitter . Add a pinch of hing and the onion , fry till its brown ,add chopped tomatoes , fry till done . Add cauliflower florets. ....
Add salt to taste, pepper powder, chopped capsicums and mix well . Cover the lid for two minutes or till the capsicums are tender. .Add pepper powder and mix well .Serve hot with paratha ,roti or steam rice with dal ....Enjoy this simple but delicious phul gobhi dish as a special side dish ....
