Navratan Korma

By admin on April 25th, 2008

This delicious vegetarian dish gets its name from Navratan (meaning nine jewels) or the nine different vegetables, fruits and nuts that you put into it. Feel free to substitute any vegetables that you may wish to use. The dish goes perfectly with jasmine rice and naan. Naan is a rectangular flat bread made of white flour. I found a great video that demonstrates how to make naan using your home oven and a pizza stone. I’ve included the video below.

Video - How to make naan:

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups paneer (substitute w/ white farmers cheese), cubed
2 cups cauliflower cut into small floretes
2 cups peas
2 medium potatoes, cubed
3 carrots, cut in long thin strips
1 cup French beans, cut in thin strips
1 inch piece of ginger
5 garlic cloves
1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
4 green chillies
3/4 cup water
2 tbls cooking oil
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. turmeric powder
2 tsp. cumin powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garam masala powder
1 tsp. fenugreek powder
2 large tomatoes, pureed
1.5 cups yoghurt
1/2 cup cashews, chopped into small pieces
2 slices canned pineapple, cut into small pieces
10-12 saffron threads, soaked in 1/4 cup hot water

DIRECTIONS:

In a food processor grind the ginger, garlic, cilantro leaves green chillies and tomatoes into a paste, add a little water if necessary.

Heat cooking oil in a saute pan over low-medium heat, fry paneer cubes until golden brown, about 5-6 minutes, and then set aside.

In the same pan over low-medium heat, add a little more cooking oil and then add the ground paste, frying until it turns a golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.

Add all the vegetables and spices (including the saffron soaked in 1/4 cup of hot water, stir-fry for 1 minute then add the yoghurt, salt and 3/4 cups water, stir on high heat for 2-3 minutes, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked. Just before serving add the pineapple and cashew nuts.

Server with warm jasmine rice and naan.