Hi friends! My regular readers would know that these days I am trying to cook and post curries which are low in fat. I am trying to make curries without compromising on the flavour but surely the calories.
As foodies we all know that a Makhani gravy as the name describes is made in butter (makkhan) and cooked in a cream. I have posted two of these variants earlier Daal Makhani and Cauliflower Butter Masala, which also happens to be a very popular recipe from my site.
In the Makhani gravy the main base is tomato flavoured with whole spices. It’s easy to work with tomato and whole spices as they do not add to the fats, the real work goes in replacing cream and the butter as they are the fattening agents and add to the overdose of calories.
One can surely use a low fat butter and a low fat cream but that reduces calories to some extent but if one wants to indulge in an extremely low calorie affair then there comes the real challenge. I have surely not used any cream or butter here, so then what did I do? I found a very interesting ingredient which provides a creamy texture and still does not add much to the calories, this does not let one miss that creamy texture added by the cream…it’s the skimmed milk powder. It just conveniently replaces the cream in the makhani and one just does not miss it!!
Ingredients
a large handful of peas (I used frozen)
2 potatoes cubed
8-10 french beans chopped
1 small cauliflower cut into small pieces
1 carrot cubed
one onion boiled and pureed
2 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
3/4 pack of tomato puree
6-7 tbsp milk powder
whole spices (bay leaves-3, cinnamon stick-1, black cardamom-2, green cardamom-4, cloves-4)
a pinch of nutmeg
1 tbsp kasoori methi
1 tsp sugar
2-3 tsp kashmiri chili pwd
2 tbsp coriander pwd
a pinch of turmeric
a pinch of garam masala
oil for cooking about 1 tbsp+ 1 tbsp ghee
salt to taste
Method
Boil and cook all the vegetables in water.
Heat the oil and ghee mix and add the whole spices and let them crackle.
Now add the kasoori methi and saute for few seconds without letting it burn.
Add the g-g paste and add the kashmiri chili pwd.
Put the boiled onion paste and cook for a minute, now add the tomato puree and sugar.
Add the coriander pwd, turmeric and mix. Remove from fire and add the milk powder mixed in water, this prevents curdling of the milk. Saute for a few more minutes.
Now add the veggies, salt and garam masala and cook for a few more mins. Just before removing from the fire add the nutmeg and mix.
This curry goes well with Jeera rice, Whole wheat Naan, Paratha or Roti.
Just show off with some cream on top.Tips-
One needs to be careful using the milk powder as it curdles easily. That’s the reason salt is added at the finishing stage plus when the milk powder is added as a slurry, remove the pan from fire.
I have used the skimmed milk powder, one is free to use any.
Sending this to Sara and Sunita’s- Think Spice Think Garam Masala.
I made a Makhani dish too, coming tomorrow. I add fat free Half Half, creamy and no fat at the same time. taste the same or similar to full cream! :)
ReplyDeleteOnion gravy looks so good, lovely color.
This is nice and healthy ! will give it a try.
ReplyDeleteand Pari beautiful pics .. loved them !
Asha looking forward to your recipe with half half.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kanchi, I am glad that u liked it, will look forward to ur feedback.
Wow! New template! This is what I've been overthinking and exhausting my brain for! Anyway, looks very delicious!
ReplyDeleteWonderful twist Pari...looks just delicious..how abt not adding the milk powder atall?
ReplyDeleteThanks UN.
ReplyDeletePriti, one can avoid the milk powder completely, it is only to enhance the creamy texture provided you increase the onions else it will be too sweetishly tangy, only if you like it like that.
That's a delightful veggie masterpiece pari.Like the new look of your blog,itz so colorful.
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is definitely healthy and I love your presentation. That's a beautiful plate ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe Pari. I love the presentation. I have started to add low fat yogurt instead of cream to my curries now and it tastes fine. But then, I like my curries sweet and sour.
ReplyDeleteI have recently embarked on a low cal diet. This mixed vegetable gravy sounds very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks San and Ancoo.
ReplyDeleteMina, I have posted many curries using curds here in my blog and I have loved using the curds in this way.
Thanks Lataji, even I am trying to get into a low cal diet but with both the kids it's not possible all the time.
Amazing clicks, that first one is super, Great low carb curry ..
ReplyDeleteLove
Kairali sisters
oh my mouthwatering yar...very nice.looks colorful
ReplyDeleteSounds healthy and delicious!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a delicious curry and healthy too... I love your first click and the plate too :-)
ReplyDeleteI tried makhani dish with hung curd and the taste was great. this idea of adding milk powder sounds nice. the makhani gravy has got a nice colour...looks very rich and creamy.
ReplyDeletebetween you can add a spoonfull of besan to the milk powder mix. mostly it prevents curdling.
Thanks Sayantani, will keep the suggestion in mind.
ReplyDeleteLooks Yumm :)
ReplyDeletebumped in here for the first time...you have a lovely blog going...love all the delicious recipes out here...liked the name of your blog..
ReplyDeleteMixed veggies curry looks rich and delicious...yummy!
Hey veg makhani looks scrumptious and less laden with calories.I usually substitute low fat milk for cream..
ReplyDeleteHey Pari.. that sounds like an innovative substitution. Good to know! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteLooks so delicious curry..
ReplyDeleteAmazing Picture and a wonderful recipe
ReplyDeletePari
ReplyDeleteVeggie makhani looks really good. I need to try this one.
Great idea! Healthy and tasty veg makhani..I use fat free half and half for these kind of recipes. Love the first click...
ReplyDeletePari, have to try out. You have made it sound soooooooooo tempting :)
ReplyDeleteyummy and healthy!
ReplyDeletei am so much liking these low calorie but so tasty feasts from you, Pari! this gravy looks so delicious and rich.. a very tempting recipe indeed.
ReplyDeletehealthier choice,nowadys we both prefer veg and its a gud choice
ReplyDeleteFab dish here, very inviting!!
ReplyDeletenice step wise pictures pari. love the gravy with lot of veggies init. AAding milk powder is a nice idea
ReplyDeleteThe color is gorgeous! Guilt free food :)
ReplyDeletelovely!! i think i'll give it a shot today!
ReplyDeleteAnything as low calorie goes directly to my fav...Stunning dish..
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to use skimmed milk powder instead of cream, must be really tasty to have as well..surely will try this one
ReplyDeleteCurry has become one of my favourite dishes since I started joining the blogging world...yours looks very tempting.
ReplyDeletepari, trust u to come out with something like this.looks great and wat more- in a healthier version..and I love this new look of ur blog..
ReplyDeletenice pic...esp the first one..like tht serving dish..adding milk powder is somethin new to me..shud try it out
ReplyDeleteHi Pari..firstly thansk for visiting my space and dropping in ur lovely comment....
ReplyDeleteYou have a very well developed space here...Love the way u present ur dishes and write abt them....
mix veggies usuing skimmed mil..awesome...thats what we need healthy cooking...gr8 gng..
following u....
Thats really interesting fat free makhani gravy.. they looks sooo creamy and yummy too...
ReplyDeleteNice and lowfat vegetable dish.
ReplyDeleteVery colorful dish.
Lovely and yummy gravy, looks awesome. Beautiful click.
ReplyDeleteRich and delicious..without any calories :)
ReplyDeleteDelicious Curry,looks yum...gravy looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHI Pari,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful click,
Nice recipe, will try it sometime. Milk powder is the good option. Thanks for sharing.