Red Gram with Spinach

Sorry, but this post is just a teaser. I think I first read about Cooking at Home with Pedatha on Tigers & Strawberries, or maybe it was Mahanandi, but in either case I’ve had it on my wish list forever. I recently decided I was going to start making more Indian food – whether Mark likes it or not! – and immediately ordered this very nice cookbook with so many rave reviews. I received it yesterday and as Mark is out of town again, tonight was the perfect opportunity to try it out.

I made Red Gram with Spinach, or Palakooora Pappu. It was REALLY good!

The book is really nice – almost too nice. As in, it’s so nice I’m afraid to get it dirty and all my favorite cookbooks are filthy. It’s very pretty to look at, has full-colour photos of every dish, contains a pictorial glossary of just about every ingredient so you can find it in your Indian grocery store, and makes the dishes seem a lot simpler to pull together than it sometimes seems Indian recipes are. In fact, this meal took me less than half an hour to make and 15 minutes of that was pressure cooking the dhal (gram), which required no supervision.

Want to see it closer up?

I can’t wait to make more recipes from this book, and maybe I’ll adapt a few to put up here. All I need to do is convince Mark he’s going to like these recipes as much as I do…

23 Comments »

  1. Jain Said,

    September 1, 2009 @ 9:56 pm

    If the guy has any taste buds at all, it won’t take much convincing! Lovely plate, and looking forward to more Indian dishes…yum!

  2. Jain Said,

    September 1, 2009 @ 9:56 pm

    If the guy has any taste buds at all, it won’t take much convincing! Lovely plate, and looking forward to more Indian dishes…yum!

  3. Josiane Said,

    September 1, 2009 @ 10:17 pm

    When I saw your tweet about your Indian feast, I hoped that you would blog it… My wish was granted, even if this post is just a teaser! Thanks for the book recommandation, I’m taking good note of it.

  4. Josiane Said,

    September 1, 2009 @ 10:17 pm

    When I saw your tweet about your Indian feast, I hoped that you would blog it… My wish was granted, even if this post is just a teaser! Thanks for the book recommandation, I’m taking good note of it.

  5. Jes Said,

    September 1, 2009 @ 10:27 pm

    Beautiful! I can’t get enough of Indian food–I’ll have to find that book somewhere soon!

  6. Jes Said,

    September 1, 2009 @ 10:27 pm

    Beautiful! I can’t get enough of Indian food–I’ll have to find that book somewhere soon!

  7. kibbles Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 6:18 am

    I’m with Mark, Indian food doesn’t like me or agree with my insides, even if I cook it attempting to reconcile our relationship. But it still looks delicious!

  8. kibbles Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 6:18 am

    I’m with Mark, Indian food doesn’t like me or agree with my insides, even if I cook it attempting to reconcile our relationship. But it still looks delicious!

  9. Liz Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 6:48 am

    I have this book but have never used it. Thanks for the inspiration!

  10. Liz Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 6:48 am

    I have this book but have never used it. Thanks for the inspiration!

  11. Amy Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 6:48 am

    Yummo! We’ve been looking for a decent Indian cookbook.. Hazzah

  12. Amy Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 6:48 am

    Yummo! We’ve been looking for a decent Indian cookbook.. Hazzah

  13. Courtney Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 3:23 pm

    OMG…I *need* that dal recipe! It looks so good! Maybe you could adapt it a bit and post int?! Haha…I am glad you enjoyed it–it looks amazing!

    Courtney

  14. Courtney Said,

    September 2, 2009 @ 3:23 pm

    OMG…I *need* that dal recipe! It looks so good! Maybe you could adapt it a bit and post int?! Haha…I am glad you enjoyed it–it looks amazing!

    Courtney

  15. Jessica Said,

    September 4, 2009 @ 10:24 pm

    Hey! Just wanted to say that i loveee your blog, and have been reading it for a while now! And just curious, do you use chopsticks for all the food you eat? Ive been using chopcticks a lot lately, and Its hard for me when its not sticky rice haha.

  16. renae Said,

    September 5, 2009 @ 9:26 pm

    Hi Jessica,

    I generally use chopsticks for any food it makes sense to. I prefer them to forks, but I don’t use them exclusively.

  17. Jessica Said,

    September 4, 2009 @ 10:24 pm

    Hey! Just wanted to say that i loveee your blog, and have been reading it for a while now! And just curious, do you use chopsticks for all the food you eat? Ive been using chopcticks a lot lately, and Its hard for me when its not sticky rice haha.

  18. renae Said,

    September 5, 2009 @ 9:26 pm

    Hi Jessica,

    I generally use chopsticks for any food it makes sense to. I prefer them to forks, but I don’t use them exclusively.

  19. celine Said,

    September 5, 2009 @ 1:03 pm

    I’ve only gotten into Indian food recently and now I can’t get enough of it. I can’t tell you how drool-worthy this all looks to me right about now.

  20. Maka Said,

    September 6, 2009 @ 2:43 pm

    I NEED to eat this NOW. I am confused though. What is the name of the cookbook? Please, please, please post the recipe soon!

  21. renae Said,

    September 6, 2009 @ 3:54 pm

    Maka, the name of the cookbook is Cooking at Home with Pedatha.

  22. Maka Said,

    September 7, 2009 @ 10:08 am

    I forgot to add…my daughter, my very good friend and I each host a dinner every Thursday. My dinner last Thursday was Thai. Among other dishes I made a Satay in peanut sauce grilled on my barie. My son, who loves Thai, said that it was as good as any he’s had at an upscale Thai restaurant. I will send you the recipe, if you like.

  23. Maka Said,

    September 7, 2009 @ 10:08 am

    I forgot to add…my daughter, my very good friend and I each host a dinner every Thursday. My dinner last Thursday was Thai. Among other dishes I made a Satay in peanut sauce grilled on my barie. My son, who loves Thai, said that it was as good as any he’s had at an upscale Thai restaurant. I will send you the recipe, if you like.

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