Monday, January 12, 2009

A VEGETARIAN SUPPER with a FRIEND



New Year has well and truly arrived. Today my husband went out of state for the week. This is usually enough to send me straight to the bread bin to put together a sandwich for supper. The easy, or should I say lazy, way of eating when alone. However my neighbour's husband was also to be out of town so we decided to have supper together. As my friend works full time and has the added work of two small boys, I offered to cook and take it to her. This has several benefits, for me I get a chance to try new recipes and also play with the children, for her it relieves her, for one night at least, of having to cook after a long day at work. So we both benefit from this arrangement.

My first problem is that she is vegetarian, no meat, eggs or fish and also she likes spicy food. Fortunately my new edition of FOOD and WINE magazine had arrived at the weekend and I had noticed there was a section on Indian cooking and some of it was vegetarian. I knew I would cook a vegetable curry using eggplant, cauliflower, onion, chick peas and tomatoes. Mixed with Indian spices and simmered slowly this is a dish I have made several times before and I know it tastes good. From the magazine I chose a recipe for Cilantro-Flecked Corn Fritters, they would be served with natural yogurt and mint chutney on the side. I already had the chutney in the fridge so it was just the patties I had to make.

CORN PATTIES

2 1/2 cups frozen corn
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 1/2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
3 minced garlic cloves
2 tbs chopped cilantro leaves
salt and pepper

Cook corn in boiling water for about until tender, about 4 mins, then drain well.
Heat oil in a medium pan and fry the ginger and garlic fo 2 mins.
Add the corn, stir well and cook for another 2 mins.
Transfer mixture to a food processor and puree.
Remove to a bowl and add the cilantro and salt and pepper.

At this point the recipe and I didn't agree. The recipe said to make into 16x2" patties, I was only able to make 8x1" patties! Don't know what happened because I followed the recipe exactly. However make into as many patties as you are able and chill for at least 30 mins in the fridge.

Heat oil in a pan. Coat the patties gently with flour and fry for 2 mins on each side until crisp and golden. Serve with the chutney and yogurt on the side.

The real prove of the success will be when my friend eats them, but I thought they tasted pretty good and maybe next time I would replace the corn with chick peas.
I hope I have succeeded in preparing a tasty vegetarian supper which my friend and I can enjoy together.

2 comments:

Nazarina A said...

Heh Jacqui,
Happy new year my friend!!!!

I love Indian food but not too spicy. This is a perfect dish to warm up!!!

Unknown said...

HI Jacqui -
Thanks for cooking the other night! The food tasted as good as it looks here!
I think I need to learn Indian cooking from you:-))