Vegetable Navratan Korma

From 3 days I was thinking of trying out a new recipe and in one of the online lists, I saw vegetable navratan korma and decided to make that.  This time instead of manjulaskitchen.com, I tried the recipe from vahrevah.com.  If you search up Korma on this site, it will give you 6 different variations for veg-main dish.  But the recipe I followed is located at: http://www.vahrehvah.com/Navrattan+Korma:6176.  I have to warn all those people who want to try out this recipe that this recipe took me 3 times more time to prepare than it did for Shahi Paneer.  This proved to be very time consuming recipe.  Even in this recipe, I did some variations and this time I am going to list all the steps and ingredients used to make Veg. Navratan Korma.  One thing you need to make sure is that you have all the things ready before you actually start the process.  Because once I started cooking, I realized I didn't have green chilies chopped or ginger shreaded.  But I had help from my mom who was not just supervising the process but helped chopping some of the vegetables and in last minute preps.  The dish came out very well and looks good too.  Here is a snap of Veg. Navratan Korma that I made and then if you also want to try it, I am listing the entire process.

Ingredients:
Vegetables:
- Potatoes (1 large potato), Caroots (1 cup), Green Peas (1 cup), Green Beans (1 cup), Capsicum (1/2 cup), Cauliflower (1/2 cup), Onion (1 onion finely chopped), Green Chilies (1 to 2 finely chopped), Cilantro (finely chopped)

Spices:
- Cardamom (eliachi - 2), cinnamon (taj - 1), Cloves (laving - 2), Jeera, coriandar powder, cumin powder, garlic paste (1 spoon), shredded ginger, salt, black pepper, garam masala powder, hing

Dry Fruits:
- Cashews (1/2 cup), almonds (1/4 cup), raisins, pineapple

Other:
Paneer (chopped in cubes), Cream/Yogurt, oil, and butter

Preparations:
1) Chop all the vegetables (potatoes, carrots, capsicum, peas, beans, cauliflower).
2) Cut the Paneer in cubes.
3) Onion, green chillies, and cilantro should be finely chopped.
4) Shred the ginger.
5) Boil the vegetables (add cauliflower to the boiling bowl after the other veggies are half cooked so cauliflower doesn't get over boiled).  Also I boiled potato cubes separately in microwave (3 times 5 minute cycles).
6) Boil onions and cashews in water separately.  Once cashews are bit tender, remove the water (leaving little bit in there) and make a paste out of it.  Keep the paste aside.
7) Cook Paneer in butter and once they turn light brownish, keep them aside.
8) Cook cashewnuts, and almonds in butter until they get little brown and keep them aside.

Process:
1) In a pan, add oil, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and jeeru.  Mix well and add garlic paste, shredded ginger, and a pinch of hing.  Mix everything together and let the mixture get little brownish.
2) Add the cashewnut + onion paste, and chopped green chilies to the mixture.
3) Add coriander powder, cumin powder, and garam masala powder.  Mix it all well.
4) When the oil starts to separate and the mixture becomes little bit dry, then you can add little bit water (half or full cup).  Mix well and bring it to boil.
5) When the mixture is bit creamy, add the boiled vegetables, fried paneer, and cooked dry fruits.  Add raisins, and few pineapple pieces.  Mix everything well.
6) Add salt to taste, cream or yogurt as an alternative, and black pepper.  Mix everything and let the mixture cook for 5-7 minutes and let it come to boil.
7) When it's almost cooked, add finely chopped cilantro and turn off the heat and let the pan sit on stove for a minute or so.

And there you have your Vegetable Navratan Korma :D.

This was definitely a lot of work compared to Shahi Paneer, and that's why a 45 minute recipe took me 1.5 hours.  After using up 6-7 bowls, 2 pans, and couple of other cooking vessels, for cooking, the navratan korma was so worth it!  The kitchen was in a bit mess afterwards, but also got it cleaned after eating :).

Hope the detailed preps and process helps you if you decide to make this for yourself.
Next, I am planning to make Malai Kofta, so stay tuned!

Tata until next time :)