Thursday, August 13, 2009

Creamy Eggplant and Bell Pepper Stew with few rants

Dear Foodies,
I cant tell you how much i have missed blogging in last two weeks. I felt as if an important part of me was missing. I thought all my blogger friends will forget me :((( thats seriously a scary thought and gave me nightmares! Blogging started with a hobby and now has become a passion for me. This blog gave me lots of new things, a new identity, people from all over the world visit my blog and appreciate my efforts, its such a great feeling and thats what every blogger is craving for, right? I got so many new and extremely talented friends, whom i respect and love for their talent of creating marvellous dishes, this blog is also a place where i can share my views and of course my recipes and experiments!
Shifting to a new place has some serious disadvantages. I have misplaced so many things which i am not able to find, either they are taken away by JADOO (remember KMG?) or i have a ghost in my house! Every morning there is a treasure hunt going on, the only difference being there is no actual treasure to be won but only to find my misplaced things back. Boxes and bags are lying around and with working 12 to 16 hours a day I hardly find time to sleep forget cooking and unpacking. Seriously gals if you are living alone dont ever shift apartments, its bad idea. My new kitchen is quite smaller as compared to the older one, it finishes the moment i step in :( At first i thought its ok as this is only a temporary place and as i will be moving back to india in another 2 months but now it has actually started to bother me, which in turn is worrying me .....ah ....sigh....
Now in such a scenario i require something comforting to my taste buds. No traditional khichdis or rasams and rice but today i present you extremely delicious and easy "Stew". Stewing is a method of cooking meat or vegetables using small quantity of liquid at a moderate heat for a long time. This way of cooking helps in enhancing the flavors in the dish and also helps in absorbing the spices in the meats and veggies. More information on Stews here. Do read it, quite interesting! I have adapted the below recipe from Pooja's traditional Ishtu. Thanks Pooja for this wonderful recipe, its one of my favorites now :)
EC, Rekha, Sanghi Indrani and Muneeba all have passed the below wards to me, once again thank you gals, this drives me to deliver more....oooohh talking like an IT professional now, arnt i? Thank you for having faith in me. The tag i have answered in my previous post here.
Ingredients: 1 big eggplant chopped 1 bell pepper chopped (i used an orange one) 1 spring onion chopped 1 medium onion thinly sliced 1 can coconut milk (400 ml) 2 green chillies slit 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp olive oil 3 elaichi (cardamon seeds) 1 cinnamon stick 3 cloves 1 bay leaf 1 tsp ginger paste Salt to taste 1/2 cup of water Procedure:
  • Heat olive oil in a pan, add cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamon seeds , cloves, ginger paste and green chillies.
  • Temper for a min, now add in sliced onions and spring onion, keep some greens aside for garnishing.
  • Cook them until soft, now add in eggplant and bell peppers chopped.
  • Saute for another 2 mins and then add the coconut milk, water, salt and pepper.
  • Cover and cook on slow to medium heat for 15 to 20 mins, until eggplants have absorbed the flavors and are cooked.
  • Garnish with some srping onion greens.
  • Serve the stew warm accompanied with a bread or enjoy it with steaming rice.

66 comments:

  1. Wow, if that doesn't sound like comfort food I don't know what does.
    Sorry to hear about your moving in troubles. It always takes a little time to get used to new surroundings. Too bad you will move to India by then. Here's wishing you a happy transition in the future. :)

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  2. hey nice stew..yaar..Enjoying between the troubles..thats the spirit.

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  3. Omg!! I can imagine those shifting pains!!
    I too did it alone but was not working that time... so it ok!!

    Even my kitchen is so small but its very cosy with a big serving window.
    One advantage of small kitchen is you can find everything even you are standing in front of you stove by just moving your torso in all directions!! Isn't that great!!

    All the best with your new house!

    And the stew looks yummy!!

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  4. Hey the stew looks so good and colorful ... oh my god really feel bad abt ur shifting things.. it always take time to get used to the new place. All the best.

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  5. Moving sucks indeed, but it will all work out for you I am sure. Best of luck!

    Of course your fans won't forget about your blog! It's one of my favorites and entered in my google reader so I never miss a post.

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  6. Parita, I just had some spicy braised eggplants too! They seem to be in season now....
    Blogging is addictive, but FUN!


    Angie's Recipes

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  7. This looks good! And your onion scones look absolutely delicious!! Oh, I'm going to try them for sure.

    There's something for you on my blog, if you'd like to accept it. :o)

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  8. I hear you! We just put our house on the market. If it does sell in the next couple months, we need to look for a rental and move. I am dreading that in some ways (like the woes you're facing now) but also looking forward to simplifying our lives.

    The stew looks great!

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  9. Hey paritha the stew looks nice & different ..........sooon wanna try it ......

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  10. Hey buddy thats a yummy and healthy one. :) and you finally found your camera.. ;)

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  11. I know how hectic shifting can get! And the stew looks creamy and comforting. Great to have you back.

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  12. An healthy stew.. looks yummy and creamy...

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  13. I know, what you're going thru right now, I'm tired of moving...now in Singapore I'm continuing in one place even though it has some problems.....your stew look absolutely colorful and healthy & you absolutely deserve these awards, gal..enjoy it

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  14. Moving is always a big pain I agree... I wish you get settled soon... the stew looks really good and comforting though :-)

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  15. I agree with you, moving can be very frustrating. At least you have this healthy and delicious stew to comfort you! ;)

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  16. Looks so delicious,yummy and different dear... Great to have you back dear....

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  17. I hate moving places for the reason that I will start missing the old place terribly..but it also gives u a chance to xplore the new place. happy settling down.Stew is so cmforting esp in winter times..I will never say a no to the creamy stew. looks fab

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  18. I know how you feel when you weren't able to blog. It become a daily part of your life. But I'm glad you're back.

    Nice looking stew you got there. It got two of my fav veggies.

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  19. I know moving is tough and that too when things get mis placed... too bad... take your time Parita ... oh so you are moving again in 2 months...
    stew looks so good and tempting pics :)

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  20. never tried stew in olive oil..looks great with eggplants and bell peppers...

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  21. vat a perfectly made stews!! so amazing and colorful!! love the selection of vegies :)

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  22. Very comforting!The coconut milk is a very nice addition...And tell me about moving and losing items!

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  23. Stew looks colourful and fabulous Parita..again leaving in 2 months thats so sad Parita...Enjoy ur awards dear!

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  24. Stew looks wonderful...
    I know what you mean about not blogging for so long...

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  25. Moving can be pretty stressful. Don't worry, you'll settle down soon- and then it's time to move again.:D

    Blogging can get addictive.:)

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  26. Moving can be pretty stressful. Don't worry, you'll settle down soon- and then it's time to move again.:D

    Blogging can get addictive.:)

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  27. Moving can be pretty stressful. Don't worry, you'll settle down soon- and then it's time to move again.:D

    Blogging can get addictive.:)

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  28. lovely curry! looks so delicious.

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  29. Wow the stew has come out perfect Parita! Happy to hear that you liked it! I have only made with potatoes and have to try with eggplant next time!

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  30. stew looks great!...sad to hear about your woes..have heart things will get better

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  31. We wouldn't forget you! I hope you can get settled in your new place soon. This stew must of brought you some comfort. It looks absolutely delicious!!!

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  32. looks so good and creamy...never tried making stew before and looking at this feel like trying it soon...

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  33. love anything with coconut milk...yum!! hope you settle in your new place soon

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  34. this is the 3rd eggplant dish i am seeing today :)

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  35. aah the challenges of shifting home!!
    the stew reminds me of this vegetable stew my mallu colleague used to get for lunch. that one dint have baigan tho.

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  36. seems similar to a kerala veg. stew... i like this kind of cooking.
    i know how it feels to shift n rearrange your stuff.

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  37. I never had an eggplant stew in my life. It was great to learn from you. Congratulation !!

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  38. Hi Parita, that stew looks delicious! I can feel what you are going through. We shifted to a new place 2 weeks back and trust me even now, I have the hang over of it. So I can totally imagine what's with you.
    Hope everything goes fine with you and the treasure hunt stops soon;)

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  39. this stew looks delicious with coconutty flavour in it....

    Lets celebrate Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi by participating in Festive food Events....For more details kindly follow the below mentioned link

    http://purvasdaawat.blogspot.com/2009/08/announcing-krishna-and-ganesh-chaturthi.html

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  41. I also went through the same trouble of moving sometime back. It is really painful...
    Hope you get adjusted soon.., stew looks good Parita.., shall try once..

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  43. Great comfo food. Lovely colours makes it really tempting.

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  44. Welcome back! I know how you feel as we recently moved and it feels like everything is everywhere hehe!

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  45. A comforting and a healthy stew! Well, it pretty much takes time to get adjusted to new buildings...

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  46. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment. It is my pleasure to meet you and to visit with you here as well. You have a lovely blog with so many interesting and delicious recipes. I am always amazed and interested in learning how we can take the same ingredients and present them in different ways and create new recipes.

    Moving is difficult and unsettling and if you are moving again soon then I think it is even more trying. However, I think you will make do and ultimately do well; a new rhythm will be found and you will find your peace again.

    Blessings.

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  47. Welcome back! The eggplant stew looks super comforting and delicious! Good luck with your moving and the new house!

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  48. Love stews with coconut milk, I make one with veggies like my mom used to make.

    talk about moves girl, i don't know how many innumerable times i have moved.. & i hate it.

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  49. Hi dear,
    Thanks for stopping by simply
    Delicious&for the nice comment.
    Luv ur space veryyyy much!!!
    Hw i missed this space until now!!!

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  50. Nice Stew Parita! That must have been one comforting meal with all the other hassles that you are facing... I can completely understand the stress you are going thru as a single person after shifting (I'm single too and I've changed 4 apts :-D) Hang in there girl, and post more recipes when you are back to your normal routine :-)

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  51. Forgot to say, congrats on all the awards!

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  52. The stew looks very tasty and making a stew with eggplant as the main ingredient sounds very delicious to me.

    Shifting places is quite cumbersome and even especially when you are thrown out of your comfort zone. Hope you settle down soon. Take care.

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  53. Stew looks delicious and creamy, never had stew made with eggplants. Also loved the onion scones. Nice recipes wanna try both!

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  54. Ya that sounds nice, easy and yummy! So you return to India is it? Bangalore?

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  55. Missed u so much dear.
    Eggplant in stew sounds delicious.

    P.s:
    I welcome you to participate in the 'side dish for chapathi' event.
    http://elitefoods.blogspot.com/2009/08/announcing-event-side-dish-for-chapathi.html
    Cheers,
    Viki.

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  56. Troublesome shifting!! stew looks absolutley delicious and creamy !!:)

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  57. Lovely dish.Congrats on your awards. Hope you settle down soon, can understand how difficult it is to move and that too you have to make another move in 2 monts.

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  58. Yummy stew. I am a big fan of ishtu, I can imagine how yummmmy this dish would have tasted. Hope you get settled soon.

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  59. wow.. looks really delicious.. great recipe..

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  60. We're glad you're back :) Your stew sounds so delicious, I love eggplant!

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  61. Congratulations on your awards, and very tasty looking stew!

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  62. I've moved many times while single. It never got any easier, but I did learn to have a box of bare-bone essentials set up to get me by until I could unpack the whole lot of them. Hang in, Parita.

    Coconut milk and eggplant sound marvelous together, all the richness without heavy frying. Very nice.

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  63. HI Parita, Thanks so much for always stopping by and encouraging me... I've looked in on your blog, but, first time commenting - I could identify with the shifting issues :)

    Cheers!

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  64. It's like I'm looking in a mirror when I see what you went through with your moving .. I had the same issues with stuff just disappearing without a reason, and my new kitchen being even smaller than my previous one! Hey, at least, it's only for 2 months. The eggplant stew looks delish too!

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  65. Dont worry, you will settle down soon. And stew looks yummy and tempting.

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