The Steaming Pot - Easy vegetarian recipes from India

When the crop gives you carrots, make aloo gajar ki sabzi. This filling vegetable curry of potatoes and carrots, with its hint of sweetness, pairs perfectly with Indian breads, raita and pickle on the side.

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Chana dal has a rich texture and a hint of sweetness in its taste when compared to other yellow dals such as moong or toor. These qualities make chana dal the perfect pairing choice with green leafy vegetables, especially greens that lean towards bitter.  For those who would not touch fenugreek chutney or chaulai saag, a smart alternate to get their dose of greens is by "hiding" the leaves in chana dal.

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Rajma masala giving you the same old same old vibe? Try something different with rajma (kidney beans) this time – something that is quicker to put together, that works wonderfully as a teatime snack or lunchtime salad. Try rajma chaat.

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Indian vegetable dishes are most often tinged yellow, the color of turmeric. Recipes high on tomatoes and red chilies may be red, those that rely on leafy vegetables, green. White is rare – one reason that makes this cabbage coconut stir fry exceptional.

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Bhindi bhujiya besanwali, with its crunch and bite, appeals even to those who turn their noses up at okra in other forms. Perfect on the side with rice and dal.

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Saag – an Indian dish of leafy greens, eaten along with rotis or rice. A variety of leaves can be used in saag: spinach and mustard greens are popular choices, while chaulai (amaranth leaves) is used often in Bihar. Chaulai saag is a simple, dry preparation with amaranth leaves and a hint of spices.

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Mid-April each year, the harvest festival (or the start of the regional New Year) is celebrated round the country in diverse ways. Punjab has its Baisakhi, Kerala its Vishu. Bihar welcomes the season with Satuaan (सतुआन), also called Satuaa Sankranti (सतुआ संक्रांति).

The prefix satuaa- comes from sattu (roasted Bengal gram flour), a staple food in Bihar. For Satuaan, it is customary to eat a meal with sattu as its star item. The festival ushers in the summer season, so associating sattu-eating with it follows sound logic: sattu’s cooling properties are an effective antidote to heat.

We keep up with tradition by having sattu in some form on the occasion. This year, we had sattu chokha.

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