sugar as required- you can add about ½ teaspoon of sugar or as per your taste, (optional)
whole spices
1small to medium tej patta(indian bay leaf)
2cloves
½inchcinnamon
2single strands of mace
2green cardamoms
Instructions
preparation
First heat water in a pan, microwave or electric heater.
Then soak cashews in the hot water for 20 to 30 minutes.
After 20 to 30 minutes, drain all the water and add the soaked cashews to a grinder or blender.
Add water and grind or blend to a very smooth paste.
Meanwhile when the cashews are soaking, rinse, peel and chop the veggies.
Steam the veggies in a pressure cooker, steamer or electric cooker till they are cooked completely. You can also fry or saute the veggies till they are cooked.
making veg handi gravy
Heat butter in a handi or pan.
Add whole spices - cinnamon, green cardamoms, mace, cloves and tej patta. Saute the spices till fragrant.
Add finely chopped onions.
Stir and saute the onions on a low flame till they become golden stirring often.
Then add ginger-garlic paste, chopped coriander and mint leaves. Stir and saute for a minute.
Add finely chopped tomatoes.
Stir and saute till the tomatoes soften, become pulpy and you see fat leaving the sides of the mixture.
Then add turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder.
Add the prepared cashew paste and yogurt/curd. Curd is optional and does give a slight sour taste in the gravy. You can easily skip, if you do not prefer curd.
Stir often and saute till you see fat releasing from the sides.
Add water. Stir.
Then add slit green chilies. Stir again and let the gravy begin to simmer. Takes about 3 to 4 minutes on a low to medium flame.
Season with salt. You can also add sugar for a light sweet taste. Stir again.
Add the steamed veggies.
Stir very well and simmer the veggies in the gravy for 2 to 3 minutes. The veg handi gravy would begun to thicken by now.
Grate a bit of nutmeg directly in the gravy. About a pinch of grated nutmeg or nutmeg powder.
Then add crushed kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves) and garam masala powder. Stir.
Lastly add cream. I added amul cream. Use a low fat cream.
After adding cream, stir & switch off the flame.
Garnish with chopped coriander or mint leaves and serve veg handi hot or warm with tandoori rotis, naan, parathas or chapatis.
Notes
* mushrooms have to be sauteed. So once the tomatoes have softened and become pulpy, add mushrooms and saute till they are cooked. You can use a steel handi or even a regular kadai or pot or pan to make this dish.
You can add veggies of your choice like green peas, cauliflower, baby corn, potatoes, cauliflower, baby corn, french beans, bell pepper, carrots and corn.
If you like paneer and mushrooms then you can add them as well.