Shanta’s Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts Curry 

By Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff

Butternut squash and brussels sprouts are in abundance in the fall and winter when our bodies need them. They both contain nutrients needed for the cold season. Butternut squash is rich in important vitamins A, Bs, and C, minerals, plus disease-fighting antioxidants. This low-calorie, fiber-rich winter squash can protect us against conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and mental decline. Brussels sprouts are high in fiber; vitamins A, K, and C; and minerals. These nutrients can reduce inflammation, protect bone health, support digestion, and improve blood sugar levels.

Using both of these super vegetables, I created a festive dish for the holidays. This recipe was inspired by my sister visiting from India who created a dish when she saw the cute brussels sprouts for the first time. My version is a fusion of her Indian techniques with some Thai ingredients, adding a thick spiced sauce made of butternut squash and coconut milk.

This recipe requires several steps, but the creation is very rewarding. (The various steps can be done ahead of time and assembled in the last step right before serving). The process includes steaming or baking the squash to separate its flesh, and cutting it into chunks; making a sauce with coconut milk; boiling some potato cubes; skillet-frying tofu and brussels sprouts; assembling all ingredients with herbs and finally covering them with the sauce. This is a substantial, colorful, and delicious vegan center piece for your holidays.   

INGREDIENTS

1 medium-sized butternut squash (you will need 3 cups when cut into chunks after cooking)
1 Yukon gold or red potato, peeled and cut into small chunks (to measure 1 cup)
4 tablespoons oil
1 cup firm tofu, cut into small cubes
12 to 16 brussels sprouts, stubs trimmed and halved (to measure 1 cup when cut into halves)
1 cup coconut milk (not cream; low-fat coconut milk is okay)
1 teaspoon each cumin, turmeric, and coriander powders
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stalk of lemongrass, cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)
3 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped scallion or spring onion with some of their greens
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger root
Few strips of red bell pepper
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro with its stems
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Rice or roti, to serve

PREPARATION

Cook the squash by baking or by steaming. I prefer steaming because it is faster and more easily controlled for doneness. Steamed squash is easier to peel than either raw or baked squash. To steam the squash, place the halves with the cut-side down on a steamer basket. Put 2 cups of water in a saucepan that is large enough to fit the basket. Cover and steam for 15 minutes. Then uncover, insert a fork in the flesh; if it comes out easily, the squash is done, it should not be too mushy.

Alternatively, to bake the squash, preheat the oven at 350 degrees and bake the squash for 45 minutes. To check doneness, insert a fork and if it comes out easily it is done. You do not want to over-bake the squash as it will cook more in later steps.

In a separate small pot filled with 3 cups water, parboil the potato cubes for 10 minutes or less until they are cooked but still firm. Drain and set the potato cubes aside.

While the squash and potatoes are cooking, spread 1 tablespoon oil on a skillet and heat it over a medium flame. Lay the tofu cubes in a single layer and fry them on one side for several minutes till they change color. Turn to cook the second side until lightly browned. Remove the tofu and set aside.

Next, add 1 tablespoon oil on the same skillet and lay the brussels sprouts halves in a single layer with the cut-up side down. Cook for several minutes till they start changing color. Turn to cook the second side for 2 minutes. Set the sprouts aside.

Next, check the squash. Allow the cooked squash to cool and then peel it. Cut the squash into bite-sized pieces and set aside 1 cup of chunks. Place the rest of the squash (2 cups) into a jar of a blender or food processor. Add the coconut milk, 1/4 cup water, powder spices, and salt. Blend into a sauce. Place the sauce into a pot and cook it gently for 5 minutes over a low flame. Add the lemongrass to the sauce and set it aside.

In a large sauce pan or a wok, place 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the scallion, garlic, grated ginger, bell pepper strips, and cilantro. Stir fry for a few minutes to wilt the herbs. Then add tofu, Brussels sprouts, squash, and potato chunks and stir fry gently for several minutes.

Reheat the sauce, over a low heat and take out the lemongrass pieces and discard them. Pour the sauce over the stir-fried ingredients. Cook the mixture over a low heat while stirring for 2 minutes. Add the fresh lemon or lime juice in. Top the dish with cilantro and serve it hot with rice and/or roti (bread).

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Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff is a resident of the Sunset District of San Francisco. Shanta is a co-founder of Other Avenues Food Cooperative, where she worked for over three decades. Currently retired from that job, Shanta now writes recipes and articles on food and nutrition. She demonstrates vegetarian recipes and teaches cooking classes in SF.

She is  currently doing backyard cooking videos with her daughter Serena to share her recipes with the community. Shanta is the author of the cookbooks Cooking Together and Flavors of India and a local food co-op history book, Other Avenues Are Possible: Legacy of the Peoples Food System of the San Francisco Bay Area. Shanta’s cookbooks are available in San Francisco at Other Avenues Food Cooperative, Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Green Apple Books, Folio Books, Omnivore Books, Book Passage, and in Sausalito at Driver’s Market. You can also order her books through books.google.com, greenapplebooks.com, or instacart.com/rainbow-grocery. 

Two holiday Recipes by Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff 

(1) How to Prepare Packaged Papadams  (also called Papads) 

Papadams, crispy, chip-like crackers, are a popular snack in India.   Papadams (also known as papadas) are made from black lentil flour, oil and spices. The very stiff, papadam  dough is rolled into paper-thin discs, dried and packed to sell.  Most households in India do not make papadams from scratch but buy them  packaged from grocery stores as making papadams is time-consuming process and done by skilled people, in factories. In fact, one of the oldest papadam factory, Lijjat Papad, is a cooperative that was started by a few Mumbai women with a shoe- string budget in the ‘50s and now employs thousands of women who share their profits. They make millions of papadams daily to sell in India and to export them abroad.

Packaged Papadams are sold in the US at ethnic food markets and in some health food stores, along with other wheat-free products.  However, unlike a bag of potato chips, packs of papadams are not ready to eat.  They have to be roasted or fried before you eat them.  Here are 3 methods of preparing the papadams.    

After you purchase the package of papadam from a store, do not refrigerate, instead stock them in a pantry.  Before serving, cook them using one of the three following methods. 

Roasting on a skillet:  Open the package and place one papadam at a time on a heavy skillet (such as an iron pan) that has been preheated at a high temperature, very hot. The papadams will begin to form blisters. Press the papadam with a kitchen cloth all over its surface so that it cooks evenly forming blisters all over and changing color. Turn the papadam a few times and cook until it is crisp. Repeat the process to cook more papadam and stack the cooked papadam on a platter or a basket.

Roasting in a Microwave Oven:  Like cooking popcorn, a microwave does this job quickly and effectively. Cut each papadam into two pieces. Adjust the oven temperature to popcorn setting. Place one or two pieces in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Flip over and cook on the second side for 20-30 seconds. Store cooked papadams on a plate or in a basket. 

Deep Frying:  Although this technique is not preferable by some, deep frying is is a practical method when serving papadams at a later time after preparing. To deep fry: heat a cup of oil (or less for just a couple of papadams) in a wok or a small frying pan. Slide a papadam into the oil. Turn the papadam using a tong as soon as it comes to the surface. Cook on the other side for a minute until light brown. Remove it from the oil, allowing excess fat to drain back into the pot. Serve the papadam hot or at room temperature with a chutney. (Cranberry chutney recipe to follow.)

Cranberry Chutney 

Chutneys are a spicy condiment and they are an essential element in an Indian menu. Chutneys are served, in a small portion, with a meal or with a snack. At many Indian restaurants, chutneys are often served with papadams, before the rest of the meal arrives.  

Freshly made chutneys are not to be confused with the preserved pickles that take many steps to make. Pickles are usually put away for weeks or even months before serving.  In contrast, fresh chutneys are made quickly with fruits, vegetables, nuts or seeds. Ingredients for chutney are often mixed raw, but some chutneys are made by cooking the ingredients, as in this cranberry chutney.  

I had never seen cranberries before coming to the US from India. When I was served cranberry relish at a Thanksgiving dinner, I was enchanted by its color and aroma. I decided to spice it up to make the chutney.  

Ingredients: 

2½ cups cranberries

1 cup water

¾ –  1 cup sugar, honey, or maple syrup

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

½ teaspoon each ground cardamom and cinnamon

Few pinches of  ground cloves 

Few pinches of cayenne powder (or to taste) 

First, chop the cranberries coarsely using a food processor or a blender. If you are using a blender, add the cup of water to the berries when you blend them (which you will be adding to cook them with). The water helps facilitate blade movement in the blender. For the food processor you don’t need to add water when chopping the berries. You can also use a wide-bladed knife, but the electric gadgets make the task easier.

Next, transfer the chopped cranberries to a saucepan. Add water and cook the berries covered at a moderate heat for ten minutes to soften them.  

Then, add the sweetener, ginger and powdered spices.  Stir to mix and cook without a cover for 15 to 20 minutes.  Check every few minutes and stir the berries to make sure that they do not stick at the bottom.  When done, the chutney turns into a jam-like consistency and it looks shiny and deep purple in color. Allow the chutney to cool for a few minutes, but while it is still warm, pour it into clean glass jars. Close the jars tightly. The chutney is ready to be served hot or cold. This chutney keeps for up to two months, if refrigerated. This chutney makes an attractive and healthy holiday gift!

Makes 3 ½pint jars of chutney 

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Chutney Recipe modified from Cooking Together; a Vegetarian Co-op Cookbook  by Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff 

Shanta is a writer and creates recipes.  Shanta makes chutneys for the holiday months of November and December to sell at Other Avenues.  You can find them refrigerated near the beer and wine section. 

Suki Bhaji Okra  (North Indian Okra Stir Fry)

Okra is native to West Africa and was brought to the United States by enslaved Africans. It became a popular soul food in the south. However, the use of okra is not widespread in rest of the US.  

Okra is believed to have come to India via the Middle East. In this tropical country okra thrived and became a popular feature in many Indian recipes with regional variations.

Okra is colorful, dainty, nutritious, and tasty when cooked right. Okra’s nutritional profile is very impressive. One cup of cooked okra contains 3 grams of protein, 147 mgs calcium and 1.18 mgs iron. These essential nutrients are often difficult to find in vegetables.

When cooked, okra has mucilaginous characteristics that works  for or against a dish depending on the recipe. For example, in a gumbo recipe, okra’s sliminess is essential to create a thick sauce. However, in many Indian recipes, the stickiness is not desirable. So, there are a number of techniques in Indian cuisine to remove the sliminess of okra such as by deep frying in a batter, or by stuffing them with spices and flour or dry fruits, or by stir- frying as in suki bhaji (dry/cooked vegetables) as shown here.

When selecting okra, choose young, tender and firm green pods. For this recipe, okras should not be washed, but instead pat-cleaned with a wet kitchen towel.

30 pods of okra, cleaned with a damp cloth,  tips removed and cut into four pieces, length wise
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds
3 green onions (scallions) cut into half, lengthwise, including some green parts
1 semi-hot fresh pepper such as the Anaheim or Poblano pepper, cut into thin slices
l tomato, cut into small pieces
½ teaspoon each turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder and salt
Few pinches of cayenne, optional
Juice of ½ lime or lemon
Few sprigs of chopped cilantro leaves

Heat oil over moderate heat and add the mustard seeds. Allow them to pop for a minute and then add the onion and pepper slices. Stir fry for a few minutes and then add the tomato. Keep stirring until tomatoes form lumps. Add the okra slices. Add the salt and the powder spices and continue to stir fry so that the okra is completely cooked using the juices of the vegetables. Sprinkle the lime or lemon juice all over the top. Correct seasoning adding the optional cayenne and more salt if needed. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice or bread.

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This recipe is modified from Shanta’s cook book “Cooking Together: A Vegetarian Co-op Cookbook”, Copyright © 2017 by Shanta Nimbark  Sacharoff. Shanta’s books are available in San Francisco at Other Avenue Food Co-op, Rainbow Grocery Co-op, Green Apple Book Store, Folio Book Store, Omnivore Books, Book Passage and in Sausalito at Drivers Market. You can also order her books through books.google.com,  www.greenapplebooks.com , or www.instacart.com/rainbow-grocery

Shanta is a co-founder of Other Avenues Food Cooperative, where she worked for over three decades.  Currently retired from that job, Shanta writes recipes and articles on food and nutrition. She demonstrates vegetarian recipes and teaches cooking classes in S.F.

Sambhar: South Indian daal (lentil soup) with vegetables

by Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff

The word dal (also spelled daal or dahl) means a soup-like preparation of split peas, beans, or lentils, which are staples in Indian cuisine. The consistency of a daal can vary according to its intended use. A thinner daal may be served as a first course, and a thicker version, such as this sambhar, may be served as an entrée. My sambhar recipe has a California touch – with lots of seasonal vegetables.  In short, this soup is substantial enough to be a meal in itself!!

In addition to the use of pungent spices,  a step in the preparation of dal that sets it apart from other soups is called vaghar (loosely translated as “tempering”). It is vaghar that gives the daal its characteristically deep and unique flavor.

8 cups water
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained thoroughly
1  teaspoon salt
1 fresh hot green chili pepper, such as jalapeño, minced after core and seeds are removed
1  tablespoon fresh ginger root, grated
½ teaspoon each coriander and turmeric powder
1 tablespoon safflower, canola, or olive oil
¼ cup onion, finely chopped
¼ cup bell pepper (any colors), chopped finely
1 cup cauliflower or broccoli, florets only, cut small
1 cup each: carrot, eggplant, celery, zucchini, and tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch chunks
1 tablespoon shredded dried coconut
3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey or sugar
A few tablespoons of  fresh cilantro, chopped

For the vaghar:

1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 teaspoon black or brown mustard seeds
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 – 3 whole dried red, hot chilies
a pinch of hing (asafetida), available at Indian markets or health food stores (optional)

Rinse  red lentils thoroughly in hot water and drain them completely.  In a large soup pot, bring the water to a boil and add the drained lentils. Simmer lentils briskly uncovered for 15 minutes. Add salt, green chili, ginger, coriander and turmeric. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes more over a moderate heat.

While the lentils are cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and sauté the onions and bell peppers for a few minutes. Add the chopped and cubed vegetables and stir fry them for five minutes. Next, add the shredded coconut and sautee for 3 minutes. Add this vegetable mixture to the pot of simmering dal. Add the lime or lemon juice and honey or sugar. Turn down the heat. Cover and cook the sambhar over a low heat for 15 minutes.

For the last flavoring step, make the vaghar: Heat the oil in a small saucepan or a metal measuring cup. Add the mustard seeds. When they start to pop, add the cumin seeds and dry red chilies. Then, moving quickly, add the optional hing, and pour all of this smoky oil mixture into sambhar, and immediately cover the pot. Turn off the heat, and keep the pot covered for five minutes or longer to settle the vaghar flavor. Next, uncover, remove the whole dry red chiles and discard them. Correct the seasoning Top sambhar with chopped cilantro and serve with rice or bread.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

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Recipe modified from Shanta’s cookbook, “Cooking Together: A Vegetarian Co-op Cookbook” which we sell at Other Avenues. Recipe Copyright2017@Shanta Nimbark  Sacharoff 

Tired of having to face alcohol-laden holidays?  Want to serve something festive, but without booze?

These healthy drinks are  great choices for those who want to have a cheerful and clear-headed drinks. They are also suitable for young kids who cannot have caffeinated drinks such as chai or coffee.  

Recipes by Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff 

Hibiscus Cocktail (Jamaica)

¼ cup dried hibiscus flower (also known as hibiscus “tea”)

2 cups water

2cups cold, clear apple juice

Ice cubes as needed

Boil water and hibiscus for several minutes.  Strain the brew, cool it at room temperature and refrigerate to chill. Add apple juice.  Add more apple juice for a sweeter drink. Pour into four glasses (with ice, optional) and serve.

Hibiscus Punch

¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers

1 cup water

2 cups clear apple juice

1 cup or bit more seltzer water

About a dozen very thin slices of apples and lemons or oranges  (with their skin, but core and seeds removed)

Make the brew using the instruction above.  Chill and mix with the apple juice.  Right before serving, add seltzer water. Taste for sweetness and add more juice if needed. Transfer to a bowl with fruit slices and serve.

Welcome Drink:  Cucumber Thirst Quencher

This is my version of a beverage that was offered to me as a welcome drink at an Indian hotel on a very hot day.

2 large organic cucumbers, cut into sticks lengthwise  (important to use organic as you will need to use the skin)

4 to 6  sweet apple (such as golden or red delicious)  cut into small chunks or  2 – 3 cups of clear apple juice

½ inch long fresh ginger root

A few fresh spearmint leaves

1 lime

Rinse cucumbers and cut off its ends.  If you have a juicer, juice the cucumber, apple, ginger and a few mint leaves.  Squeeze the lime juice and serve with mint leaves on top.  If you do not have a juicer, use a blender to blend cucumber with a cup of water, ginger and a few mint leaves into a puree.  Strain the puree using a fine sieve or a cheese cloth.  Next, sweeten with apple juice.  Squeeze in the lime and serve with mint leaves on top.

Refrigerator Pickles with Cucumbers and other Vegetables

By Shanta Nimbark Sacharoff (author of Cooking Together)

Pickling vegetables, fruits and other food items has been an old tradition throughout the human history, as our ancestors must have figured out how to preserve abundant food for the time of scarcity. Stories of pickling have been documented in many folklores.

Preserving foods in vinegar or other acidic solutions is one of the oldest methods of preventing food spoilage. Archaeologists believe that ancient Mesopotamians pickled food in 2400 B.C and that people of Tigris Valley in India pickled cucumbers in 2030 B.C.

Pickled vegetables haves many health benefits such as reducing muscle cramps and maintaining blood sugar level. In addition, pickles are a good source of antioxidants. Pickled foods are easy to digest and pickles aid the process of digesting in general.

Pickling vegetables for the fridge is very easy. Unlike pickling processes for long-term preservation, here the pickles are meant to be consumed within two months. And this recipe requires very little preparation. You can combine many vegetables to make your jar colorful and turn it into an elegant, edible gift. No picnic basket should be filled without a jar of pickles!

The ingredients needed for the recipe are easy to find at Other Avenues, except for the grape leaves. Fresh or preserved grape leaves can be found in ethnic specialty food markets. Although not essential for pickling, grape leaves are added to the jar of pickles to keep them crisp — a better option than alum, another additive used for keeping them crisp.

Ingredients: 

4 to 6 pickling cucumbers (2 or 3 if long)

2 medium size carrots

1 (or a ½ ) daikon radish or a bunch of breakfast radish or 1 watermelon daikon*

2 cups white vinegar**

3 cups water (purified water preferred)

2 tablespoons (or less) kosher salt (or any sea salt)

2 teaspoons sugar (or less)

5 to 6 smashed cloves of garlic, skin removed

Several sprigs of fresh dill weed

Few fresh or bottled grape leaves

Few small pieces or slices of jalapeno pepper after removing seeds

*Any fresh and crisp vegetables can be used for pickling.

**Adjust the amount of vinegar and salt to suit your taste.

Method:

First rinse all vegetables, but do not peel. Then, cut them into thin strips. You can slice some vegetables such as watermelon daikon into thin rounds. Rinse the dill weed and grape leaves and pat dry them with towels. Prepare the garlic as described in the list. Set the prepared vegetables and the herbs aside

Next, combine the vinegar and salt in a saucepan and bring to a complete boil. Transfer this solution into a mixing bowl and add the cold water and sugar. Whisk the solution to dissolve the salt and sugar. Set the solution aside.

Clean two wide mouth quart- size mason jars with tight-fitting lids. Line the bottom of the jars with some garlic chunks, two pieces of a grape leaf, some dill weed sprigs and two pieces of jalapeno pepper.  Next, arrange the strips and pieces of vegetables into the jars making sure that the strips stand next to each other, well-packed but leaving some room for the liquid solution. Arrange grape leaves on the wall of the jar, reserving two pieces to be added on top. Add remaining garlic, dill weed and jalapeño pepper into both jars.

Next, slowly pour half the liquid solution on one jar of the vegetables and the rest of the solution on the other jar. Arrange remaining grape leaves on top. Close the jars tightly and leave the pickles at room temperature for an hour. Then, gently turn the jars upside down to distribute the liquid and place the jars in the refrigerator. The pickles will be ready to be consumed in 36 hours.   Make sure to place the jars back in the refrigerator after each serving. These pickles can keep for up to two months.***

Enjoy!

*** When you have finished all the pickles from the jars, the brine can be used to make a second batch. These will have a milder, less tart and salty flavor which some people may prefer. Discard the liquid after the second batch of pickles. You will need to start a new liquid solution for the following batch(es).