Rice with Baby Onion curry , Butternut Squash Palya and Vegetable bajji

I tried this combination for the first time though I have made this curry few times and eaten with rice. I have also cooked pumpkin palya and eaten it as a side dish with other type of combination of curry and rice. And the vegetable bajjis are just a part of my pregnancy cravings. I had these baby onions at home which my sister in law had given to make this curry. And thanks to Mallika , my sweet sister in law from whom I got this amazing curry recipe. Its quiet an easy curry and no fuss curry. For pumpkin palya . I used butternut squash and the sweetness from this vegetable and the spiciness of chilli and mustard gives it a very good kick and balances the sweetness.

Baby Onion curry

Ingredients

About 250 gms baby onions

1/2 cup grated coconut

3-4 dried red chillies

1 1/2 tsp coriander seeds

1/4 tsp methi seeds

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp tamarind pulp

2tbsp oil

Method

Soak all the onions in warm water for 2 hours , this makes peeling a lot easier. Meanwhile dry roast coconut , red chillies , methi seeds and coriander seeds separately. Cool and grind these roasted ingredients with little water. After 2 hours peel the onions , heat oil and add the whole onions . Cook them till they turn golden brown in colour. Now add the ground paste and salt and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook for 20 mins on low flame. Add more water if needed. If the onions are not cooked then cover and cook for further 10 mins. Serve with hot rice.

PS : I have also used normal chunked white onions instead of baby onions , they too taste quite good.

Butternut Squash Palya

Ingredients

1 Butter squash chopped ( The skin was tender so I did not peel the skin)

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

3 dried red chillies

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp grated coconut

1 tsp oil

Method

Heat oil , add mustard seeds. After they stop spluttering add chillies . Stir and immediately add chooped squash. Add 1/2 cup water and salt. Cover and cook on medium flame. This should take about 20 -25 mins. Do not overcook the squash , they become mushy.

Vegetable Bajjis

Ingredients

Sliced veggies

1 cup gram flour / besan

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tbsp cornflour

1 cup water

oil for deep frying

Method

Mix the above batter ingredients into a smooth consistency. Use as many different vegetables you want . I used Bell peppers , butternut squash, sweet potatoes. Other vegetables that can be used are potatoes , broccoli, cauliflowers , babycorns , spinach, etc. I used some sliced onions for the left over batter and added about a tbsp of rice flour to make onion pakoras.

I am so excited to post my recipes for The Combo Event conducted by Pari of Foodelicious blog.