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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Baked Vegetables

This recipe is close to my heart as I evolved it to get my daughter to eat veggies. She used to be a fussy eater when it came to vegetables so I evolved this method to make her eat some greens. And it worked like magic on her. You can make it too to make your kids eat vegetables. Not just kids but grown-ups also will drool over this one. Firstly take vegetables of your choice e.g today I have made with  carrots, corns, french beans and red bell pepper as these were lying in my fridge . You can also add broccoli, mushrooms and peas subject to availability.  Boneless chicken can also be added . It tastes super. Saute these vegetables with garlic and add them to white sauce, with chilli flakes and oregano. Top it with cheese, oregano and chilli flakes . It is then baked in oven till the cheesy layer on top melts. The creamy soft vegetables wrapped in melted cheese just disappear in the mouth. This nutrient dense dish with so many flavours makes it irresistible. A bowl of veggies which normally liked by few turns into a dish which is desired by everyone. 

This dish is not at all spicy, so kids can enjoy it immensely. Serve this along with garlic bread. 

We need:

  • 2 Cups of finely chopped vegetables. 

  • 10 cloves of garlic finely chopped

  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil

  • 1 Tbsp of grated Ginger

  • 2 Tbsp All purpose flour ( Maida) 

  • 2 Tbsp Salted (Yellow) butter. 

  • 1Tsp Black pepper powder

  • 1 Tsp Chilli flakes

  • 1 Tsp Oregano

  • 1 Tsp Pizza Seasoning( optional) 

  • 350 ml Milk

  • 1/2 Tsp Cinamon powder( optional) 

  • ¼ Tsp of Nutmeg powder. 

  • 2 Tbsp grated Mozzarella cheese. 

  • Salt to taste. Approximately 1 Tsp


Here we go:

  1. Heat a pan and add cooking oil to it. When the oil is heated add finely chopped garlic to it. Saute it for a minute. But the garlic should not change colour. 

  2. Now add finely chopped vegetables to it. Saute it for two minutes. 

  3. Add ginger and salt to it. Vegetables will release water after the salt is added. 

  4. Cover the pan and let the vegetables cook in its own water. It will take 5 min on low flame to get the vegetables done. Meanwhile stir it two three times to cook them evenly. . Switch off the flame when veggies become soft but not mushy. Keep aside. 

  5. Now let us make white sauce. Heat a pan and add butter to it.

  6.  As soon as it melts add all purpose flour to it. Mix well. Saute till the raw smell of flour goes but the colour of flour doesn't change. 

  7. Gradually add milk ( at room temperature). While adding milk keep on stirring it with a whisker, so that no lumps are formed. Add milk in batches. Soon the mixture will turn into smooth white sauce. Keep on stirring otherwise it will stick to the bottom. 

  8. Add black pepper powder and cinnamon powder to the sauce. Grate a nutmeg with a fine grater and add ¼ tsp of it to the white sauce. It enhances the taste of the dish. 

  9. Now is the turn to add previously sauteed vegetables to the white sauce. Mix well. 

  10. Add oregano and chilli flakes. Keep on stirring to combine the flavours. 

  11. Cover it with a lid. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Keep on checking it in between. When the mixture looks homogenous, switch off the flame. Mix well. 

  12. Take this out in a baking dish. Spread some grated mozzarella cheese on top. Sprinkle chilli flakes and oregano on it. 

  13. Bake it in a preheated oven on 180 degrees for 8 min or until cheese melts and form a layer. Take out from oven and serve hot with Garlic bread. 

Cooking Time 30 minutes
Serves : 3

Tips:

If you want to keep it light you can add steamed vegetables also and skip sauteed vegetables. The taste will slightly differ. 

Do not burn the butter otherwise the taste and colour of the dish will be spoiled. 

Vegetables should not be mushy. Switch off the flame as soon as they are just done. 

Use a whisker while adding milk to avoid lumps. The spoon will not serve the purpose so use whisker while incorporating milk. 

Be careful about the quantity of salt. We have added salt to the vegetables and there is salt in cheese and  butter too. 





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