Kadai Vegetables

When ever we visit a restaurant,be which ever it may be,I end up ordering butter naan with some kind of rich and delicious gravy.I have tried various gravies from various restaurants and have made few of them at home too.Recently I tried this delicoius kadai vegetables,a vegetable based dish cooked in tomato gravy with various spices and masalas.This gravy is essentially cooked in a kadai (deep wok) and also served as such to retain the feel.Here though I cooked in kadai and served in bowl for ease of eating.The other very famous kadai preparation is kadai panner. This recipe is one definite keeper,with wholesome goodness of vegetables,bursting flavor of spices and its palette pleasing colors of course.This goes best with any of Indian flat breads or any mild flavored rice.I served it with simple jeera rice.
Kadai vegetables
Star ingredient:Assorted vegetables
Time:40 minutes
Serves:3

Ingredients:
Vegetables
1 large carrot
6-8 french beans
1 large green bell pepper
1 small head of cauliflower
2 baby corns
1/4 cup green peas
1/4 cup sweet corn kernels (optional)
1 small tomato chopped fine
2 onions chopped fine
For gravy:
3 large tomatoes
4 strands cilantro
3 green chillies
1 small piece ginger
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon fresh cream (optional)
Salt
Oil
Method:
1.Wash all the vegetables thoroughly.Chop carrot and french beans.Par boil cauliflower with little sat and turmeric to get rid of insects if any.
2.Chop one small tomato and 2 onions fine.
3.Grind cilantro,cumin seeds,green chilli and ginger into a coarse paste.
4.Blanch,peel and puree the 3 large tomatoes.
5.In a kadai,add a teaspoon or 2 oil,fry the ground cilantro paste till it turns fragrant.
6.Next add the onion-tomato and saute well.Next add the tomato gravy and cook for 5 minutes.Add the chopped vegetables,salt,turmeric powder,garam masala and mix well.
7.Add milk,along with 2 cups of water,cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the gravy is thickened.

8.Add fresh cream and serve hot.
 Notes:
1.Garnish with kasuri methi if you have it in hand
2.You can add or omit any vegetable according to choice
3.Butter can be used in place of oil
4.Milk is added to thicken the gravy,you can mix a teaspoon of cornflour to milk if needed.