Navratna Vegetable Bath

Summer is here and so are the summer holidays. With kids at home there is much more variety required especially with regard to food. Navratna vegetable bath is one such summer afternoon lunch recipe which is yummy, nutritious and colorful for the kids.

Preparation time: 20-30 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Rice 21/2 cups (250 gms)
Carrot 2
French beans 10
Potato (aloo) 1
Onion 1
Green peas (batani) 1 cup (100gms)
Cauliflower florets ½ cup (50 gms)
Grated cabbage ½ cup (50 gms)
Capsicum 1
Baby corn 4
Kidney beans ½ cup (50 gms)
Coriander 1 bunch
Green chillies 2
Fresh and grated coconut 2 cups (200gms)
Cinnamon stick (dal chini) 1
Cardamom (elaichi) 2
Cloves (laung) 2
Cumin seeds 1tsp
Refined cooking oil 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Method:

Finely chop the onion. Dice the carrots, potato, cut the French beans, capsicum and baby corns into small pieces.

Pressure cook rice and set aside.

Boil together the carrots, potato, French beans, capsicum, baby corns, kidney beans, cabbage, cauliflower florets and green peas. The vegetables can also be pressure cooked up to 1 whistle.Drain the water and keep aside.

Grind to fine paste: green chillies, fresh and grated coconut, coriander, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

In a pan/kadai (bandli/mookudu), heat oil. Add the cumin seeds, chopped onion and fry till golden brown. Add the boiled veggies, salt to taste, sprinkle water and leave to cook for 5 mins.

Add the above ground paste and mix well. Cook for 2 mins and remove from heat. Add cooked rice and mix well.

Navratna vegetable bath tastes great with any of the dals, kadhis , chutneys or raithas. A colorful, nutritious and sumptuous treat. Get the kids to chop the veggies that will make a summer activity to boast of in school!