Can Never Get Enough of the Lentils and Vegetables!

So again I started running out of ideas and started panicking. Until, just last night when I was asking my mom for help and told her everything I already wrote about, she gave me some ideas. SO……..I thought about combining both things since both dishes are eaten with Roti (breads- chapati, tandoori…etc). Lentil is called dal which as most know is liquidy and the vegetable(s) is subzi which is usually dry but sometimes has some gravy. *stared ones are my favorite!

Lentils/Dal

Dal is usually translated as lentils, but it really refers to a split version of the many kinds of lentils, peas, chickpeas (light and dark colored ones), kidney beans, black eyed peas, green beans…etc. I did not know that lentils are also known as “pulses” which are seeds of plants in the legume family. Vegetarian people like me get their proteins from these pulses and vegetables which may not sound that pleasing, having to eat these most of the time, but there are so many different kinds where each is unique and delicious in its’ own way, that I never feel like I am limited or running out of dishes. Lentils include most of the nutrients like protein, fiber, minerals and vitamins, but they are still low in calories and less to no fat. One cup of cooked lentils contains about 230 calories but still after consuming leaves one feeling full and satisfied.

So without any further delay, here are some of the lentils/ Dals and pulses…

1.*Dal Makhani- main ingredients are whole black lentil, red kidney beans, butter and cream

Recipe: https://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe/Dal-Makhani.html

2. *Masr Moong Dal/ Yellow Dal- very healthy, light, and easiest to make

Recipe: https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/yellow-lentil-dal

3. *Kaale Sholey/ Kala Chana-  black, small chickpeas, also very healthy, the stew or curry of this dish is good to drink when sick too 

Recipe: https://pipingpotcurry.com/kala-chana-instant-pot/

4. Chite Sholey/Kabli Sholey or White Chana- white chickpeas (mentioned these in the “Let’s get back to some Punjabi Food” post)

Recipe: http://www.spiceupthecurry.com/chole/

5. *Rajma– red kidney beans in thick gravy with many spices, tastes best with rice

Recipe: https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/rajma-masala-recipe-restaurant-style/

6. Rongi– black eyed peas, look/cooked similar to Rajma, also taste best with rice

Recipe: http://allrecipes.co.in/recipe/118/my-favorite-raungi.aspx

Dal Makhani

Yellow Dal

Kala Chana

White Chana

Rajma

Raungi

 

Vegetables/Subzis

This is where we, vegetarians, get our other proteins and where we gain our left out calories, fat from the lentils. Like lentils, pulses there is a plethora of vegetables and the so many different kinds of ways to cook them that again, there never feels like a shortage. There is never being bored or sick of eating them! Some people tend to cook the vegetables seasonally, for example Saag (spinach and raw broccoli) and Shalgam (turnip) are often considered the “fall/winter vegetables.” On the other hand, Karele (bitter melon) and Pindiyan (Okra) are considered “spring/summer vegetables.” Some people cook and eat accordingly because sometimes some vegetable such as these may not taste as good because of the season, but some people do not care and eat whatever, whenever. My family and I usually go according to the seasons, but once in a while, my brother and I change things up according to our moods. haha.

Here are the vegetables/subzis…

1. *Karele- bitter melon or bitter gourd, some people don’t like this subzi, but I love it and it is very healthy (has all important nutrients from iron to potassium to vitamin C and more), they say the juice of this bitter melon is very bitter but is very good for you, some people make it by cutting and frying and some by filling with spices and then frying, adding some potatoes also lessens the bitterness and adds taste

Recipe: https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/karela-sabzi-recipe-punjabi-karela-sabzi/

2. *Pindiyan/Bhindi- okra/ ladyfinger, this also requires cooking and frying, can be made both ways by cutting or filling just like the Karele, my brother and I like it best by cutting, putting a lot of onions is always best!

Recipe: https://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe/Bhindi-ki-Sabzi.html

3. *Aloo Gobhi- potatoes, cauliflower and spices (when I was little I thought the cauliflower looked like chicken and one of my uncles’ was over for lunch and when I told him this, he picked it up and ate it like chicken! lol)

Recipe: https://www.cookwithmanali.com/aloo-gobi/

4. *Aloo Gajar Matar- potatoes, carrots and peas, tastes good with Makki di Roti (corn roti, mentioned it in “Welcome to Punjab” post)

Recipe: https://mytastycurry.com/punjabi-aloo-gajar-matar-sabzi-recipe

5. Kaddu- squash/sweet pumpkin, once we planted/grew these at our backyard in the summer and they grew very big and tall, we used to put them next to my brother and measure/compare lol, there were so many so we shared with our friends and family

Recipe: https://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe/Kaddu-Ki-Sabzi-Sanjeev-Kapoor-Kitchen-FoodFood.html

6. *Matar Paneer- peas and cheese in a tomato based sauce with spices

Recipe: https://indianhealthyrecipes.com/matar-paneer-mutter-masala/

Karele

Karele Filled

Bhindi

Aloo Gobhi

Aloo Gajar Matar

Kaddu

Matar Paneer

 

The restaurants I have mentioned before such as the following…all have the lentils and vegetables. Some have buffets and some have a Thali which is the Indian name for a round platter that is used to serve food (steel plate, bowls and utensils usually used). This is why restaurants use Thali to name the meal that comes with a selection of your choice of the various dishes they have and is served on a platter. Restaurants’ menus usually mention in the little description under Thali how much of what they can have (ex: two vegetables, one lentil, yogurt, rice, two Rotis, salad, and one sweet dish) but some may allow more dishes.

Places nearby:

• Guru Palace

Address: 2215 US-1, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902

Phone: (732) 398- 9022

Rating on Google: 3.8/5

Menu: http://gurupalacerestaurant.com/

– I just found out about this place, though I had heard about it before. Our food always comes from here for our RU Sikh (Rutgers Sikh Student Association) events and it’s amazing! So would definitely recommend trying this place out since I have already mentioned the other ones (but should always keep them all for future references).

• Mithaas Restaurant  

Address: 1463 Finnegans Ln, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902

Phone: (732) 658- 3880

Rating on Google: 3.9/5

Menu: places.singleplatform.com

• Delhi Garden Indian Restaurant

Address: 1677 NJ-27, Edison, NJ 08817

Phone: (732) 248-1888

Rating on Google: 4.5/5

Menu: delhigarden.wixsite.com

• Chand Palace (Recommended by Professor as he’s been here)

– variety of vegetarian Indian mild-spicy food & large buffet options

Address: 1296 Centennial Ave, Piscataway Township, NJ 08854

Menu: http://www.chandpalacerestaurant.com/ (click on appetizers for the snacks)

Phone: (732) 465-1474

Rating on Google: 4.2/5

See you soon!