Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Radish Curry

caleb's roommate john michael made up this dish. it's one of our favorites! sorry there are no measurements. do it to taste.

cut up:
a bunch or two of radishes, slivered
1/2 medium onion, chopped finely

Heat 2 T. oil (veg or peanut. not olive)
add mustard seeds cook until they pop
add 1 T. minced curry leaves

add the onion and cook until brown. add salt
add minced garlic and turmeric

add radishes. cook until they turn color.
put on lid and simmer until consistency turns mushy. the radishes will keep their form though. this will take a while. once they're mushy, bring heat up until radishes brown.
add 1 T. curry leaves

1 comment:

Daphne said...

an update from jml:

A lb or so of fresh radishes.
radish greens (optional), 1/4 cup
cumin seeds
mustard seeds
salt (kosher or sea)
black pepper
turmeric
curry leaves (optional) (10-12 fresh leaves)
garlic
onion (white or yellow)
long green chili
or
cayenne powder
asafoetida

1) Trim radishes. Save greens for later. Slice radishes into quarter size slices. Slice onion thinly.
2)Heat oil to med high. Add radish slices and cook until they slightly change color. Add the onions and cook until they also begin to sweat.
3)When onions and radishes begin to SLIGHTLY brown, add pinch of tumeric, salt to taste, black pepper to taste and 1-2 cloves of garlic crushed. Stir for a minute or until garlic is fragrant.
4)Add heat (chopped green chili or cayenne powder) and reduce heat to medium low.
5)Cook until onions are brown and radishes are still on the crispy side.

The tempering:
1) Heat oil in skillet on med high. Add 1 tbsp mustard seeds and 1 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds. Cover and wait until mustard seeds stop spluttering. Remove from heat.
2)Add pinch of asafoetida. Add crushed or minced curry leaves and stir. Add to curry.

If the greens aren't bitter. Chop them and add to dish. (Cilantro can be substituted.)

Notes:
The ratio of radishes to onions should be 4 to 1 or 3 to 1.
Find the long green chilies in the Indian store. Serranos/Jalapenos don't taste right in Indian (or Thai) food.
Continuously taste food and adjust seasoning if necessary.