Dandia & Potluck

Well, it’s Navratri Festival. To give you an idea of what Navratri is about, I have put a brief description henceforth. Navratri is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar, which usually falls in October. This is essentially a religious festival. During Navratri, the Goddess Durga is worshiped in her nine forms. Back home, everyone celebrates this festival by praying to the Goddess and many keep a 9-day fast.
It’s that time of the year when Men and women wear traditional attire and celebrate by dancing late into the night. The beats are given by clapping which is called Garba or using sticks which is called Dandiya raas. This festival is held on a lavish scale mainly in the state of Gujarat, India and also through the rest of the country.

Today we are planning to attend a Dandia raas with some family and friends. We have decided to meet up a little early so that we can have dinner together and get ready for the celebration. Since of us have other chores to take care potluck came to our rescue where I chose to prepare a vegetable dish. It is Aloo Beans.

Aloo Beans

Ingredients:

1/2 pound string beans cut small
1 & 1/2 cup frozen potatoes or 2 medium size potatoes diced
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
2 – 3 cloves
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp red chilly powder or per taste
1 & 1/2 tbsp coriander powder
1 tsp Amchur powder
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
Salt to taste
In a pan heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. Let it splutter to infuse the flavor and aroma into the oil. Then add the cloves, cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Now add the string beans and saute for a few minutes. Cover with a lid to cook until half done.

NOTE: If you are using frozen cut potatoes, this is the time to add it. If you are using fresh potatoes, then add it along with the string beans right at the beginning.
Now add the spices mentioned including the Garam Masala and Amchur powder and salt to taste. Mix well for a few minutes until cooked. Your dish is ready!. You can serve this with some Chappatis or Naan bread or even Pita Bread or Tortilla to complete your no fussy meal.

If you cannot get Garam Masala or Amchur Powder it’s totally okay. You can skip the Garam Masala. You can add some lemon juice as a substitute for Amchur powder.