Hi DTers! I’m here from Reddit (same username). Good to see people from the OG DT here.
Kicking things off with a super random question, as I always do on the DT: I’d like to make oven baked tandoori chicken with basmati rice, but I’m not sure what to do for veggies. Chutney isn’t really a replacement for veggies, but more of a dipping sauce, right? Can I put chutney over veggies like broccoli, cauli, carrots, etc? That probably doesn’t sound right, but can anyone please recommend an easy Indian-style veggie side dish?
Hopefully it’s something easy and basic, because I’m a lazy and terrible cook :-(
Normally I might suggest a light dal with tomatoes, carrot, and cauliflower - the moisture would nicely round out the dryness of the chicken and rice while still being hearty and filling for a winters night. But that is perhaps a bit overkill.
Stir fried green beans and onions with a pinch of turmeric would go nicely. If you have any whole spices, a small amount of black mustard seed and cumin or fennel seed quickly tempered in the oil at the start really adds that Indian flavour without being overpowering. I add chilli flakes to the oil as well when I add the onions. Here is an example using powdered spices and no onion but it’s a very versatile and simple dish - as the link suggests, use frozen sliced green beans to make it much faster.
Or, quite honestly, a plain raw salad - tomatoes, shredded carrot, lettuce - with a very light dressing lemon or vinaigrette would do the trick, lots of south Asians will have it that way at home - again for the freshness and moisture, and acidity from the tomatoes, but without the intense flavour of a chutney.
Thanks for the warm welcome!! All great suggestions too! I’ll experiment with the beans but will mix the tumeric and cumin powder with a bit of oil and drizzle it over the onions and beans. Curry powder wouldn’t really fit in here would it?
vegetable medley!! broccolini chopped into half or thirds, spinach, cherry tomatoes, sesame seeds, and any sauces/oils. Put the broccolini into a pan first, then tomates, then spinach last. Add/remove other veggies as wanted (i like adding sliced capsicum) and it goes with most dishes. Sauces/oils can be changed up depending on the main dish it is being served with.
Zucchini with this 👍👍👍 I like to add a little water in the frying pan to start it, pop the lid on, cook like that for maybe 5 mins until it cooks some of the veg a bit without burning the oil and stuff. Once water evaporates, add oil (or in my case, butter, which is way better), some garlic paste and chilli. Finish the cooking for another 5m. Beautiful
Hi DTers! I’m here from Reddit (same username). Good to see people from the OG DT here.
Kicking things off with a super random question, as I always do on the DT: I’d like to make oven baked tandoori chicken with basmati rice, but I’m not sure what to do for veggies. Chutney isn’t really a replacement for veggies, but more of a dipping sauce, right? Can I put chutney over veggies like broccoli, cauli, carrots, etc? That probably doesn’t sound right, but can anyone please recommend an easy Indian-style veggie side dish?
Hopefully it’s something easy and basic, because I’m a lazy and terrible cook :-(
Hello!!! Welcome!
Normally I might suggest a light dal with tomatoes, carrot, and cauliflower - the moisture would nicely round out the dryness of the chicken and rice while still being hearty and filling for a winters night. But that is perhaps a bit overkill.
Stir fried green beans and onions with a pinch of turmeric would go nicely. If you have any whole spices, a small amount of black mustard seed and cumin or fennel seed quickly tempered in the oil at the start really adds that Indian flavour without being overpowering. I add chilli flakes to the oil as well when I add the onions. Here is an example using powdered spices and no onion but it’s a very versatile and simple dish - as the link suggests, use frozen sliced green beans to make it much faster.
Or, quite honestly, a plain raw salad - tomatoes, shredded carrot, lettuce - with a very light dressing lemon or vinaigrette would do the trick, lots of south Asians will have it that way at home - again for the freshness and moisture, and acidity from the tomatoes, but without the intense flavour of a chutney.
Thanks for the warm welcome!! All great suggestions too! I’ll experiment with the beans but will mix the tumeric and cumin powder with a bit of oil and drizzle it over the onions and beans. Curry powder wouldn’t really fit in here would it?
Yeah full on curry powder might be overkill. Keep it relatively light and let the beans shine through :)
I’d go with some green beans or sauteed spinach. Chutney is a condiment so a generous dollop on the side of a plate is all you need.
Thanks!!
Spinach and pumpkin curry is a simple Indian vegetable dish. Or maybe an eggplant curry?
cauliflower , potato with curry powder and coconut milk
This is super simple and sounds delicious. I might leave the rice out and just use this. Thanks!!
Make a few Indian veg dishes to go on the side. Eg Saag. Welcome to the other place.
Thanks!!
vegetable medley!! broccolini chopped into half or thirds, spinach, cherry tomatoes, sesame seeds, and any sauces/oils. Put the broccolini into a pan first, then tomates, then spinach last. Add/remove other veggies as wanted (i like adding sliced capsicum) and it goes with most dishes. Sauces/oils can be changed up depending on the main dish it is being served with.
Zucchini with this 👍👍👍 I like to add a little water in the frying pan to start it, pop the lid on, cook like that for maybe 5 mins until it cooks some of the veg a bit without burning the oil and stuff. Once water evaporates, add oil (or in my case, butter, which is way better), some garlic paste and chilli. Finish the cooking for another 5m. Beautiful
Zucchini!! Brother in Frypan, thank you. Will add this next time!