Mix Veg Makhani Style - World Vegetarian Day Special!
6 minuteRead
I get it, when it comes to any Makhani recipe, there are two obvious things that come to your mind - Paneer Makhani and Butter Chicken. Well, there can be more uses of this simple and easy-to-make gravy. And this time, it goes in your classic mixed vegetables. That’s why Mix Veg Makhani Style.
To make the mixed vegetables, you don’t need to have a particular kind of vegetable, it goes with almost everything. However, here we are using some of the regular ones. Be it onion, tomatoes, cauliflower, mushroom, beans, and potatoes. The nitty-gritty can go here and there and you can use anything you want. Besides, mixing them with the makhani gravy makes it more restaurant-style that your kids will surely love. So, a nice way to get them to eat what they hate the most.
Vegetable mix reminds me of World Vegetarian Day so we must dedicate this recipe to this wonderful day. This day, the 1st of October is when the entire world celebrates the love for vegetables. However, there is more to know about it.
Why do we celebrate World Vegetarian Day?
Why do people turn to vegetarian diets? You won’t believe it but India still follows the most vegetarian diet in the world. Yes, our tradition is still making us hold back on those ethical food choices. However, many people who follow vegetarian diets say that it is a great source of energy without harming any animals.
Therefore, to this date, people from across the globe celebrate World Vegetarian Day as the special occasion for all vegetarian ideologies. By this, I mean all the good things. So, it's a great day to show people that eating meat is not necessary to show your gratitude towards food. Vegetables can do the same for you without having to kill an innocent animal.
Back in the old days, vegetarianism was quite popular. In the 5th or 6th century, India was already following Buddhism-inspired plant-based staple food. Then comes China who has been following a vegetarian diet for like 2000 years. That’s not just it, countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and many more adapted the same diet before westerns moved there.
Hence, soon in the mid 20th century, the western world finally understood the significance of a meat-free diet. That’s how the North American Vegetarian Society established the 1st of October as World Vegetarian Day to spread the joy, optimism, and compassion for vegetarianism.
So, there’s a great story behind the unique World Vegetarian Day that made it special for millions of families worldwide. Therefore, let’s ditch those animal products and cook something lovely from all vegetarian ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium-size diced potatoes
- 1 cup diced cauliflower
- 1 cup diced mushroom
- 2 capsicum diced
- 1 cup chopped beans
- 1 inch ginger
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon cream
- 5 medium-size tomatoes (roughly chopped)
- 3 roughly chopped onion
- 2 finely chopped onions
- 2 tablespoons of dahi (yogurt)
- 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds
- 1 black cardamom
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 cloves
- 4 green chili
- 12 cashew nuts
- 1 heaped tablespoon Kashmiri red chili
- 50 gms of butter
- 1 pinch of turmeric
- 1 tablespoon red chili powder
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 1 tablespoon Kasuri methi
- Salt to taste
Method for the recipe
Here comes the main part of the recipe. Now, because it is a mixed vegetable in makhani gravy, we’ll look at the method in portions. So, let’s begin with the gravy and then move to the real recipe. Ready? Let’s start.
How to make the Makhani gravy?
- In a pan add butter.
- Then add bay leaves, cloves, black pepper, jeera, and cardamom. Toss them for a bit.
- Now, time to add roughly chopped onions. Stir it and let it sweat. Don’t let them turn golden brown, just let them become translucent.
- As the onion is sweating, in the yogurt, add the dry spices- Coriander powder, turmeric, red chili powder, Kashmiri red chili powder.
- Now, once you see the oniona all done, it's time to add garlic cloves and ginger into it.
- Along with them, add cashews as well. Let them cook for another minute.
- This is the step where you will add roughly chopped tomatoes and green chilies. Along with your dahi mixture.
- Stir them nicely and cover them with the lid.
- Cook it until the oil from the yogurt is visible.
- Now, add water which is enough to cover the tomatoes.
- Cover the lid again and cook until tomatoes are all squishy.
- Once done, turn off the gas and cool the mixture down.
- All you need to do is grind it nicely.
- Now, because we are not making paneer makhani, we don't need to strain the gravy because here we will like the chunks with other veggies.
Time to make the sabzi:
- In a kadhai, add about two tablespoons of oil and 2 tablespoons of ghee.
- Once the oil heats up, add your chopped onions for the tadka.
- Now, add all the vegetables that take the most time to cook. So, here I am adding cauliflower, potatoes, and beans. Mix them and spread the oil evenly.
- Cover the lid and let it cook for like 15 minutes. Obviously, you have to mix at different intervals.
- Now, once all these veggies are almost done, it's time to add other veggies like mushrooms and capsicum. Mix it well and cook for another 5 minutes.
- After that, you need to pour all your gravy in. There should be enough time for it to soak all the flavors from the Makhni gravy.
- Also, add salt at this stage.
- Mix well and cook for another 10 minutes. Mix in between as well.
- Once you see all the veggies are done, you can finally add fresh cream. Also, add the sugar to balance the tangy flavors of dahi and tomatoes.
- Mix it well and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Now that everything is done, the finishing is just to add Kasuri methi. So, take a portion in your hand. Scrub them between your palms and sprinkle on your mixed vegetables.
- It's all done and ready to be served.
Mix Veg Makhani Style should be served piping hot because you wanna keep everything fresh and warm while eating.
Sure you can have it with chapatis but my suggestion would be to have it with garlic naan or tandoori roti. Also, if there are more items on the plate-like daal makhani and raita with salad, you will see how this mixed veg will be the star of your dinner.
Things to keep in mind
- As I said earlier, you can add any vegetable to this dish. The only thing to keep in mind is how they would complement each flavor and if they are going right with the recipe or not. For instance, if you wanna use ladyfinger or yams, make sure you fry them before mixing with other veggies. Also, what goes great with this recipe include carrots, paneer, and peas.
- When we are talking about fried veggies, this recipe would just blow your mind if you fry your veggies before using them in the recipe. Moreover, it also makes cooking faster. However, I am not frying here because there is already lots of fat in the recipe. Frying may also take away the nutrients.
- While you are grinding the gravy, make sure you take out all the spices. Not the powders but others such as cloves, black pepper, cardamom, and bay leaves. Now, you must be wondering what is the reason behind this. The main reason is if you grind them with the gravy, it will make it dark. You want the redness of the gravy, not the brown color. So, it is an important step.
- Mix Veg is a great way to give all required nutrients to your family. This recipe may take too much time to cook but there is a rich amount of vitamins, iron, calcium, prosperity, carbohydrates, and many other qualities.
Conclusion
The vegetarian diet is more about vegetables, nuts, grains, and whatnot. But that doesn’t mean you cannot consume animal-related food. There is still dairy, eggs, and honey too. The real purpose of World Vegetarian Day is to celebrate sustainable food that has no harm to the environment or any other living being. It's for the welfare of all lives on the planet.
Needless to say, the Mixed Vegetable recipe is what you need to make this day special not just for you but for the entire family. Teach your kids what it's like to have the best plant-based products put together to create such a delicious recipe.
Enough bragging, try out this recipe and see what your guests have to say about your chefism to support vegetarianism.
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