Navratna Kurma

We invited a family friend who recently got married over for dinner. Since I'm at my mum's place for a while I really didn't have worry about the cooking. My help usually goes as far as deciding the menu :) Once I'm home I am mommy's little girl again with no responsibilities to worry about!! But this time I decided to contribute to the cooking for a change.
The reason this dish is called 'navratna' is because it has nav (nine) varieties of veggies. But it totally depends on what veggies you would want to add in. I only used 4 different vegetables so i suppose that would make my dish 'char-ratna' ! :p

Ingredients

• 2 tea cups of assorted and boiled vegetables ( peas, carrots, potatoes, french beans)
• Grated paneer 200 gms
• Puree of 3 tomatoes
• 2 onions, grated
• Ginger & garlic paste, 2 tsp
• Turmeric powder, 1 tsp
• Red chilli powder, 2 tsp
• Coriander powder, 2 tsp
• Garam masala, 2 tsp
• Cream 100 gms
• 1 cup milk
• Oil 6 tbsp
• Cashew nuts and raisins, a handful
• Chopped coriander leaves, for garnish
• Salt to taste

Procedure

• Heat 1 tbsp of oil. When hot fry the cashew nuts and raisins until the nuts turn golden brown and the raisins puff up. Keep aside
• Now add the rest of the oil. Fry onions and ginger-garlic paste till golden brown
• Add the turmeric powder, Chili powder, coriander powder and garam masala and fry well for 2-3 minutes till the raw smell goes
• Now add the tomato puree and dry fruits and fry till the oil leaves the sides
• Next add milk and bring to a boil. Now simmer till the gravy thickens
• Add the cream and mix well
• Add paneer to the gravy
• The vegetables go in next. Simmer for a few minutes
• Garnish with the coriander leaves and some more cream

Happy cooking!