Of lovely neighbours and lovelier food

 

The next best thing to having a Mallu neighbour is, having a  Mallu neighbour who is also a kickass cook. I can’t thank God enough for giving us the Jacobs as neighbours. If not anything else, wine, food and laughter are  what we typically dwell upon in weekends. And in all this wining and dining, I get to learn the most awesome recipes from her (Maju). Remember this?

The other day she sent me the most awesome pumpkin and spinach curry. Needless to say I went to bliss land and on my return hounded her for the recipe. What a simple thing it is and yet tasted completely out of the world. So today, I set to make this most terrific pumpkin-spinach today. I know of at least 2 readers who don’t like pumpkin and are reading this, and sulking. To them, all I can offer is pity. No, really, what a beautiful tasting vegetable you are missing out on. Duh!

So around lunch, I was starving and decided my lunch had to be that thing that my lovely neighbour gave. So out came the stuff from the fridge and on the table were:

1 big bunch of spinach, cleaned, chopped

1/4 of a pumpkin diced to small cubes

1 extremely large onion :), sliced thin

1 sprig of curry leaf

3/4 tsp ginger-garlic paste

1/2 tsp of cumin powder

1/2 tsp of coriander powder

1/4 tsp turmeric

chilly powder (optional) to taste

salt to taste

1/4 tsp mustard seeds

2 tablespoons of fresh cream (AHA! ;) )

2 tsp of  vegetable oil

 

Method: In a small wok, heat oil. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves and the onion. Sauté until translucent. Add the ginger-garlic paste, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilly powder. Mix well. Add the pumpkin cubes, salt and stir well. Now add the fresh cream and mix well again. Cover with a lid and on low flame cook until  pumpkin is completely mashed, like a paste. Once you reach that consistency, add the spinach and mix well.  Turn off flame. Don’t cook the spinach too much. The colour goes for a toss and it goes all soggy.

 

This is the original recipe from her. I added cauliflower and peas to this too, just to increase the bulk. I had 3 mouths to feed ;) and one bunch of spinach wouldn't have been sufficient. It still tasted as good. But I just wish I had turned off the flame soon after adding the spinach. The colour wasn’t as bright and green like her’s. But tasted as good! Serve with Roti and baby mango pickle! Burrrrrrrp!

 

Oh waaaaaaaaaaiiit! There’s more!

My neighbour’s been really kind. OK this one’s the other neighbour.  They gave away their teenage daughter’s trampoline and beautiful swing for my lil rascal. It looks lovely in our backyard, and each time we have a party, the kids have such a ball. I had to send her something. So made some puff pastries filling out of the spinach and pumpkin I made above. I just added ricotta cheese, chilly sauce and cheddar cheese shavings. Made little puffs out of it and sent them over. I just had a bite and think they should like it! They looked like this:

 

 

 

 

So, what do ya have to say? oh btw, these are inspired by Maju too. :)