Chapter 1

Sabji

Image Credit: © Nayna Kanabar/simplysensationalfood.blogspot.com

Sabji (SUB-jee) means “spicy vegetable dish” in Hindi, one of the main languages spoken in India. There are many sabji recipes. This one uses kidney beans, onions, potatoes, and Indian spices. It is cooked on top of the stove.

India

Image Credit: © 1999 Artville, LLC

India is just a little bigger than Argentina, and about one- third the size of the United States. But it is the second most populated country in the world (behind China), with over one billion people.

In many homes, family members sit cross-legged on the floor for meals. They use plates made of banana leaves and eat food with their fingers.

Masala

Spices are very important in Indian cooking. The word masala means spices. Some of these spices are black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, nutmeg, and turmeric.

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What You Need

Equipment:

• Soup pot
• Frying pan with lid
• Spatula or wooden spoon
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Colander

Ingredients:

• 2–3 medium white or Russet potatoes
• 1 8-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 tomato
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Fresh ground black pepper

Masala (Indian spices):

• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne or chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin

Cook’s Tip

Instead of dry spices, buy a jar of Indian sauce, like tandoori paste, from the grocery store. Stir ¼ cup or more into your sabji.

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What to Do

1. Measure, scrub, and cube the potatoes. Put them in a soup pot and cover with water.
2. Boil potatoes until soft. This takes about 15–20 minutes. Drain^*.
3. Dice the onion.
4. Heat oil in frying pan.
5. Sauté onions in oil until translucent^*, about 3–4 minutes.
6. Dice tomato. Add to onions and stir.
7. Add all spices. Stir.
8. Drain and rinse the kidney beans.
9. Add beans, cooked potatoes, and frozen peas to the pan. Stir.
10. Cover pan with lid and simmer until heated, about 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

^*What’s This?

Pour potatoes into a colander to pour off the liquid. Careful! It’s hot.

^*What’s This?

Soft and almost see-through.

Serves 3–4

Cook’s Tip

If your sabji seems too dry, add ¼ cup of water.

Cook’s Tip

Sauté means to fry lightly in oil or butter.

Did You Know?

Beans are a good source of protein.

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