Dee'lish Trip

1 bunch spinach, chopped
2 green chillies, chopped
1cm ginger, chopped
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
3 tomatoes, pureed
1/2 tsp chilli powder
200g paneer, cubed

Cook spinach in a spinkle of water with green chillies
and ginger – puree with hand blender and set aside.
Heat 3 tbls oil and sizzle fenugreek seeds.
Add onion and fry until golden.
Add garlic and cumin – fry 30 seconds.
Add chilli powder and tomato – fry 5 minutes.
Add spinach – cook 3  minutes. Add paneer and heat.

Inspired by Hotel Moti Mahal, Uttarkashi – Uttar Pradesh.

1 potato, finely chopped
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup cauliflower, chopped
1/2 cup zucchini, chopped
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pounded
1 tsp ginger, pounded
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 small green capsicum, chopped
1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
1/8 tsp turmeric
1/2 tbls pau bhaji masala ++
1/4 lemon in wedges
2 tbls red onion, finely chopped
2 tbls coriander leaves, chopped
butter
6 pau (small bread rolls)

Boil potatoes, peas, cauliflower and zucchini in minimal water until soft – set aside.
Heat 1 tbls butter and sizzle cumin seeds. Add onion – fry until soft. Add garlic and ginger – fry 1 minute.
Add green chilli – stir. Add tomato and salt – cook until mushy. Add capsicum – cook 3 minutes.
Add turmeric and chilli powder, then pau bhaji masala – mix well.
Add vegetables and their cooking liquid – mash to desired consistency and cook 10 minutes.
Heat knobs of butter with some extra pau bhaji masala, split pau and heat face down in spiced butter.
Serve bhaji with pau, onion, coriander and lemon wedges, with extra knobs of butter on top of bhaji.

Inspired by dhaba in Trimbak, Maharashtra

Part four of a retro journal of our
overland trip 2004-2005 has just
been published.
Visit ‘trips’ to check it out.

1/2 cup yoghurt
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1/2-1 green chilli, chopped
2 tsp mint/coriander, chopped
pinch chilli powder
pinch salt
1/2 tsp cumin powder

Combine all ingredients.

Inspired by Shanti Sagar, eatery in Udipi – Karnataka

1/4 cup red Thai tea leaves
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup condensed milk
1 cup cream

Steep tea in boiling water for 20 minutes –
strain, mix with condensed milk, and chill.
Use hand blender to combine with cream,
then re-chill and churn in ice cream maker
for 30 minutes. Freeze.

Inspired by mobile vendor, Koh Mook.

Part three of a retro journal of our 
overland trip 2004-2005 has just
been published.
Visit ‘trips’ to check it out.

300g small cucumbers
1/2 tbls salt
1/4 cup shredded ginger
1 red chilli, shredded
1 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 tsp Sichuan peppercorns, lightly crushed
3 dried red chillies, shredded
1.5 tbls rice vinegar
1 tbls sugar

Halve and de-seed cucumbers, slice into 5cm strips,
mix with salt and set aside 30 minutes. Drain, rinse and dry.
Combine cucumber with ginger and fresh chilli.
Heat sesame oil and 1 tbls vegetable oil, add peppercorns,
garlic and dried chillies, fry 30 seconds, pour over cucumbers and allow to cool.
Add vinegar and sugar. Allow to stand 6 hours in fridge before serving.

Inspired by Zhong Ye Gong, small eatery near Forbidden City – Beijing

350g long Chinese eggplants
2 spring onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 thin slices ginger, shredded
2 tsp chilli bean paste
1 small green capsicum, diced
150g pork chop, shredded
2 tbls soy sauce
2 tsp sugar

Roll cut eggplant diagonally into long pieces, then
fry in 3tbls oil until soft and golden – set aside.
Heat 1 tbls oil and fry spring onion, garlic, ginger,
chilli bean paste, capsicum and pork – stir 5 minutes.
Add eggplant, soy sauce and sugar – stir 5 minutes.

Inspired by small eatery near Red Square, Beijing.

Part two of a retro journal of our 
overland trip 2004-2005 has just
been published.
Visit ‘Trips’ to check it out.

1 bunch spinach leaves
3 cloves garlic, pounded
3 dried red chillies, halved lengthwise
2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil

Heat 1 tbls oil and add garlic and chillies
– stir 20 seconds.
Add spinach and soy sauce – stir until wilted.
Finish with sesame oil and serve immediately.

Inspired by Puzhou Changuan eatery, Songpan – Sichuan.