Gujarati Dinner Menu

Gujarati Dinner Menu

      Comment   

My Cheerful Kitchen Gujarati Thali
My Cheerful Kitchen Gujarati Thali from mycheerfulkitchen.blogspot.com

Introduction

Gujarati cuisine is known for its diverse flavors and textures. It is a blend of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The cuisine is primarily vegetarian, and the dishes are made with a variety of vegetables and lentils.

Ingredients

The ingredients for a Gujarati dinner menu are readily available in most grocery stores. You will need the following ingredients:

For the Main Course

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas)
  • 1 cup moong dal (split green gram)
  • 1 cup chana dal (split chickpeas)
  • 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, potatoes, peas, beans)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 2-3 green chilies, chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoons oil
  • Salt to taste

For the Side Dishes

  • 1 cup tomato-cucumber salad
  • 1 cup raita (yogurt mixed with vegetables and spices)
  • 1 cup papadum (thin, crispy Indian crackers)

For the Dessert

  • 1 cup shrikhand (sweetened yogurt flavored with saffron and cardamom)
  • 1 cup ras malai (soft, spongy balls of cheese in a creamy milk syrup)

Instructions

For the Main Course

  1. Wash the rice and soak it in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside.
  2. Wash all the dals and soak them in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and keep aside.
  3. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
  4. Add onion, garlic, and ginger paste. Sauté until the onion turns translucent.
  5. Add chopped tomato and cook until it turns mushy.
  6. Add mixed vegetables, turmeric powder, and salt. Sauté for a minute.
  7. Add soaked dals and rice. Add 4 cups of water and mix well.
  8. Cover the pressure cooker and cook for 3-4 whistles.
  9. Let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork.
  10. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

For the Side Dishes

  1. For the tomato-cucumber salad, chop equal parts of tomato and cucumber. Add salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
  2. For the raita, whisk yogurt until smooth. Add chopped vegetables (cucumber, onion, tomato) and spices (roasted cumin powder, salt, pepper) to taste.
  3. For the papadum, roast the thin crackers over an open flame until crisp.

For the Dessert

  1. For the shrikhand, whisk sweetened yogurt with saffron and cardamom powder until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
  2. For the ras malai, boil milk in a pan. Add lemon juice to curdle the milk. Strain the curdled milk and knead it into soft balls. Boil the balls in a syrup of milk, sugar, and cardamom powder until they absorb the flavors.

Nutrition

The Gujarati dinner menu is a complete meal that provides all the essential nutrients. The dal-rice combination provides protein and carbohydrates, while the mixed vegetables add vitamins and minerals. The tomato-cucumber salad and raita provide fiber and probiotics, while the papadum adds crunch. The shrikhand and ras malai provide a sweet ending to the meal. The menu is low in fat and high in fiber, making it a healthy and delicious option for dinner.