Cilantro in action...

Like Pravin said, we have actually started using the cilantro in the kitchen! Here's the proof...



Looks yumm? Its inspired by the aloo gobhi Ginne often got for lunch (long long ago when we worked together in Pune).
Ok here's my version of no onion no garlic aloo gobhi:

Ingredients:
Ghee - 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Ginger - 1/2 an inch
Curd - 3 tablespoons
Turmeric powder - 1.5 teaspoons
Cumin powder - 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
Cauliflower - about half of a medium sized cauliflower
Potato - 1 large one or 2 small/medium ones (if you are like Pravin, you definitely want more potatoes :) )
Salt to taste
And last but not the least...fresh cilantro!

Method:
1. Heat ghee in a heavy pan
2. Put in the cumin seeds and let them splutter
3. Add grated ginger and fry till you get the aroma of ginger
4. Add 1 tablespoon of curd and keep stirring it till it blends with the ginger and dries a little bit
5. While that's going on, wash the cauliflower and break it into florets. Wash and cut the potatoes into wedges
6. Repeat step 4 twice.
7. Add the turmeric, cumin powder, coriander powder and chilli powder. Mix well.
8. Add the cauliflower and potato. You may want to add a touch of water if it is too dry.
9. Cover and cook till the vegetables are done.
10. Add salt to taste and mix well.
11. Garnish with fresh cilantro!

My green thumb series...Cilantro

Its been more than a year since I posted anything on my blog. So I thought I would share some pictures of my little patio garden.

While I was growing up in Goa, we had a little patch of land around the house that we cultivated. We had flowering shrubs, herbs, fruits and even some vegetables. So this year, as winter was giving way to spring, I decided to take advantage of the beautiful California weather and start a container garden on my patio.

Fortunately, part of my patio gets good sunshine for almost 6 hours a day and part of it is always in the shade. Thus, I could choose from plants that required full sun, part shade or full shade. I started with buying a few types of seeds, peat pellets for germinating them, potting soil, teracotta pots, fertilizer, watering can and gardening gloves.

I had never sown seeds in a peat pellet before and the whole experience was very exciting. I started with cilantro since it is low maintenance and has a quick ROI. I sowed the seeds indoors in a little container made for the peat pellets. The seeds started sprouting in about 7-10 days of sowing. When the saplings were about 2 weeks old, I transplanted them to a herb box. Here are some pics courtesy Pravin :)


...Just sprouting




...Waking up




...Little sapling




...First leaf




...Little plants




...Flourishing :)