Jhatpat Cauliflower Sabji

A very very very (yes I cannot stress more :)) easy and jhatpat (quick) gobi ki sabji recipe is about to be revealed here :) Thank me later :) :) Who doesn't like Gobi? A universal flowerhead loved by almost everyone and is used in making so many unique dishes.

A simple trick that I will mention here will make a difference in the making of this sabji. I say that because cauliflower that we get here in Northern America are huge in size, and has a lot of water content than what we get in India. This used to be one of my favorite vegetables back in India. After moving here, my sabji never turned out like my mom :( that crispy-ish-ness was nowhere in the vicinity!  I was devasted first and then irritated. Later, slowly I realized that the water content in the cauliflower was the issue.

So I started to microwave the florets for 2-3 minutes before I added it in my sabji, that was it, the trick worked! I did not end up with a soggy curry anymore. No onions, no ginger... almost like a stir fry but a very tasty dish! A perfect side dish during a busy day!


Let us take a look at the recipe;

Ingredients:

• 3-4 cups cauliflower florets (med size, don't cut into big florets)
• 1 tsp mustard seeds (rai)
• 1/4th tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 5 crushed pods of garlic ( or finely chopped)
• 1 stick of curry leaves
• pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 3/4th tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2-1 tsp goda masala (or garam masala)
• 1 small tomato chopped ( or 7-8 cherry tomatoes halved)
• salt for taste
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro 
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Preparation:

• Cut cauliflower into florets, wash and rinse. In a microwave safe bowl, add florets, sprinkle a tad of water and cook for 3 minutes. Add florets in a colander and keep it for 5 minutes till all the water drains away.
• In the meantime, heat a pan, add oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, as it splutters add hing, garlic, curry leaves and saute on med flame. 
• Add turmeric, saute quickly and dump the florets into the pan, Mix with a light hand. Now add tomatoes, chili powder, goda masala (or garam masala), salt and mix again everything. 
• Close the lid and cook on a low flame for 10 minutes. Stir in between. Do not add water. It gets cooked in its own steam. If you see that it is very dry, add drops of water. 
• Switch off the gas once you see it is cooked. Keep an eye and do not overcook the cauliflower, let it be little crispy in texture. Now garnish it with cilantro and lemon juice. 
• Serve it with hot roti, Khoba roti, Lachcha paratha, Ragi Poori, Rice etc.

njoY!! happY cookinG!!

Health Benefits: It is rich in vitamins and minerals. It's also a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, and manganese. Cauliflower is a good source of choline, a B vitamin known for its role in brain development. It contains antioxidants that support in detoxification of your body. Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a sulfur compound that has also been shown to kill cancer stem cells, thereby slowing tumor growth. Some researchers believe eliminating cancer stem cells may be key to controlling cancer. It is known to be a heart booster!
So hell yes, this is one delicious and healthy flower in our food chain :)