Arbi Masala

Arbi like potato is a root vegetable, high in starch but with better nutritional qualities. It has 3 times more dietary fibre.It is an excellent source of vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, and folate.Arbi is also known as Arvi in India, but known as Taro/Colocasia the world over.
Arbi roots are extensively used in North Indian cuisine where as Arbi leaves are extensively used in Konkani cuisine.
My favorites are the "Pathrode phodi", "Venti thalasani" made from the colocasia stems, "Ganti thalasani" a speciality made by knotting the leaves, "Alvatthi" and the most famous of them being "Pathrode or Pathrado".
This dish is made from the root Arbi and again I would categorize it under North Indian cuisine, very easy to make and goes well with rotis/phulkas.

Serves 3
Ingredients:Arbi/Arvi/Taro/Colocasia - 200 gms

Onion - 1 large - chopped
Tomato - 1 medium - chopped
Green chilly - 2 - finely chopped
Garlic - 2 cloves - finely chopped
Ginger - 1 inch - finely chopped
Red chilly powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tsp
To Garnish:
Coriander leaves - chopped - 1 tbsp
Green chilly - 1 - slit lengthwise

Method:
Wash the Arbi roots well, put them in a pressure cooker and after 1st whistle reduce the heat to low, then simmer for 10 minutes and then switch off the heat.
Allow to cool naturally, then peel the roots to get the white fleshy root.
Slice thinly and keep aside.
Take a large pan, keep on medium heat, add oil, and fry the chopped ginger, garlic, onion and green chillies till onions turn almost golden.
Now add all the spice powders, tomatoes and salt and fry till tomatoes become soft.
Then add the sliced arbi and fry well till arbi are lightly crispy.
Serve hot garnished with chopped coriander and slit green chilly.

"Dahi Vada /Dahi Bhalla/Thayir vada" or Split Black lentil dumplings in seasoned Yoghurt

"Dahi Vada" or "Dahi Bhalla" or "Thayir Vada", call it with whatever name you like, if you like curds, this is one street food/starter/evening snack that you will love to eat!!
Its nothing but Split black lentil fried dumplings, served with seasoned yoghurt.
In North India this is called as Dahi vada, in Western India as Dahi Bhalla and in South India as Thayir Vada...!
In the North Indian version this is served without the sweet chutney, but in the western version the vadas are topped with the sweet chutney which is the Dates n Tamarind Chutney/Khajur Imli Chutney.
In both these North and West Indian versions, the curds is just whisked well with a little bit of salt.
In Northern and Western India this is served as a starter/snack.
But in the South Indian version, the curds is diluted a bit and seasoned with some south Indian aromatics/spices.
In South India this is a part of breakfast.
Whichever the version maybe, we love all Dahi vada.
My Mom used to make this very often during our childhood, her version would be Thayir Vada the South Indian one, but I would always add the green mint and coriander chutney and sweet dates n tamarind chutney and convert it to a North+Western Indian version and eat it.
This is one dish which can be served as a starter in a north Indian meal/buffet, eaten for breakfast or as an evening snack.