50th post with Madhur Jaffrey’s Egg Curry and A (no Two) Giveaways!

By
Prerna Singh
-

I know its Wednesday and its supposed to be Wordless, but trust me you won’t mind me talking today! I had to jump in and give the series Wordless Wednesday a tiny pause because I was happy today. Happy because this is my 50th post! When I started this blog it was like my recipe journal where I wanted to collect all my recipes because I was missing pages from my old recipe-book a little too often. Fifty posts ago I had no idea that it would bring so much along with it. Not only was I able to save my favorite recipes at one place but it also introduced me to a whole new world out there – I got to know so many gorgeous people who I can now call friends. It’s a great feeling and if I have never said this before then today I just want you to know how much I cherish each and every one of you. Thank You for being here to support me and cheer me up!

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I was am not a very good cook and I am a new mom so I don’t even have a lot of time to cook but I and my family are BIG foodies. I always hunt for recipes that are simple, with minimum ingredients and are quick to make so that I can put dinner on the table while juggling with my crazy day-to-day life. I guess that’s what most of my friends/readers try to do. So when I decided to do something for them, I thought I would help them find some interesting ideas from my recipe-book which they could try. Since Indian food is something I’m most comfortable with, I thought how about I share a simplified version of Indian food and make it approachable to those who love the cuisine but don’t have a lot of time. Like this recipe, which I can’t call mine but you’ll soon know why I’m sharing it with you today. The recipe is for hard boiled egg curry and it is from Madhur Jaffrey’s Quick and Easy Indian Cooking.

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I love this recipe because it falls right in my comfort zone. It’s quick and easy and tastes delicious! And this book is full of such recipes. Traditional Indian recipes which otherwise people dread trying because they look so complex are a breeze with this book. Madhur Jaffrey has done an awesome job with this book by making the recipes look simple and not adding a zillion ingredients in them. If you like Indian food even a little then you would find these ingredients in your pantry any time. I love this book and I love you! So I thought if I could share this book with you, it would be great. But since I can’t give it to all of you, I would love to randomly pick any one reader who I can send a copy to.

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And now one of my favorite recipes from the book. The recipe for Masaledar Ublay Unday or Hard Boiled Egg Curry.

Ingredients: (from Madhur Jaffrey’s Cookbook)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cumin
1tsp ground coriander
1tsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
5 tbsp (2 1/2 oz) onion, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 cup canned tomatoes (or lightly drained, canned whole tomatoes, finely chopped)
1/4 tsp sugar
3-4 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (Chinese parsley, fresh green coriander)
4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and cut into halves lenghtwise.

Method:

Combine the cayenne, turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Mix.
Put the oil in a medium-sized, non stick frying pan and set over medium heat.
When oil is hot, put in the cumin seeds. Ten seconds later, put in the onion and ginger. Put in the spice paste.
Stir and cook for 15 seconds. Now put in the tomatoes and sugar. Bring to simmer.
Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Put in the cilantro.
Stir once or twice. Lay the cut eggs in the sauce and spoon more sauce over them.
Cover and gently simmer for 2-3 minutes. And then serve with rice or even bread (toasted or plain).

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When I got married and set out to build my first home and kitchen as a new bride, my mother in law gave me a big box of stuff which among other things had a large helping of her famed garam masala. She was making it in her kitchen from as far as she could remember. As I began to run out of it, I started getting frequent shipments of garam masala all the way from India from her. But it was not long before my worst fears came true! Early last year, a combination of events left me without a stock forcing me to the grocery store. Then came a spell of several months when I was trying every brand of curry powder on the shelves. But neither of them came close. Again – MIL to the rescue! She shared her much cherished recipe for home-ground garam masala and after several shots at it (ok may be more than that), I think I perfected it. So for my 50th post, I also want to share with you this integral part of my kitchen in the form of a 5 oz bottle of my homemade Garam Masala powder.

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I use the same masala in all my curries like this egg curry recipe where just a teaspoon of this masala makes up for several ingredients. Even in little quantities, this masala brings with it some of the freshest aromas and that’s probably why it lasts me a lot longer too.

Rules of the giveaway: No you don’t need to follow me on twitter or like me on facebook! You visiting my blog and spending a little time on it is good enough for me. To enter this giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment below stating your preference as “Option A” or “Option B”:
Option A: Madhur Jaffrey’s Cookbook – Quick and Easy Indian Cooking
Option B: IndianSimmer’s home made Garam Masala
Also I would love to hear from you your thoughts on what can make IndianSimmer a better experience (optional). I will randomly select two winners one for each giveaway and post the results in my 22nd Oct. post. Since I’m currently unable to ship outside USA, I will have to pick a winner from within the US.

Now there is something I have to add for those picking Option B (here comes the fine print!). While this home made Garam Masala does not contain egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, wheat or dairy products, it has been prepared in a kitchen where these products are used. It’s primary ingredients include cloves,cinnamon, cumin, black pepper, black cardamom, and bay leaves. It has been prepared using my own recipe. Please do not choose Option B if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

Prerna Singh
http://www.indiansimmer.com

96 Comments

  4. Hello,
    We love your recipes, especially when its on Egg.
    These are so delicious.
    I have always looked at your blog for the various pictures and the way you write.Just Love it!
    You have shared some nice information about Egg Curry in this post.
    The points you mentioned are genuine and perfect.
    The content completely describes about the topic you wanted to portray with us.
    Thanks for sharing such valuable post.

    Regards
    VentairIndia Team

  6. i tried this recipe n really enjoyed it..tho instead of the sugar ..i used a lil bit of coconut milk…hubby n i r not fans of sweetness

  8. Congrats on your 50th post! Option A please! I grew up watching Madhur Jaffrey on t.v. but don’t have any of her books.

    Devi

  9. Congrats Prerana on 50th post. I am in love with your photography and have introduced your blog to many many people 🙂 I would like to see and taste your masala but since I don’t stay in the US I would go for the book which any of friends/family can carry to India if at all I get to be the lucky one 🙂

  10. This dish looks beautiful and delicious all at the same time. Your exquisite photography has me craving a bowl for myself! Congrats on hitting 50 posts!

  14. Hiii…Congrats on 50th !!! I have been follwoign your blog quite sometime now and I absolutely love it…I have tried many recipies and both my husband and my unborn kid who is still in my stomach loves it :)…Keep up the good work !!!

    I would opt for Option A.

  20. Wow just found your blog. Very nice indeed. Congrats on 50th post. Will have fun looking at all of them.
    Cheryl Christian
    @PlumSage

  24. I just found your blog and love it! I’m terrible at cooking Indian food, but between your blog and Ms. Jaffrey’s book, I think I could get the hang of it.

  25. Oh my! This is a tough choice! I think I would go with option B though…I can buy the book myself but how often would I get homemade Garam Masala????

  26. Your photos are stunning! So well-lit and well-composed. I love Indian food – cooking it and eating it – so the cookbook would be wonderful!

  28. Came back to say that I made this curry for my husband and he gobbled it up. He doesn’t always trust me in making Indian food because he thinks I’ll never come close to his mother’s cooking but he surely loved this. Thank you!

  31. Wonderful post! Option B sounds fantastic. I haven’t gotten much into Indian cooking because of my lack of spices, but I have a pretty large selection of bookmarked recipes. Thanks for the opportunity!

  33. Ahhh I would LOVE the garam masala!!! (Option B) It is the one elusive ingredient I’ve been trying to track down for the past two weeks. You can’t make real Indian food without it (…well…you probably can, but it’s key for many recipes). Thanks for the cool giveaway!

    danielleslpr@gmail.com

  35. Congratulations on your landmark post! Loving your recipes and learning a lot from you. I’d also love to learn from Madhur Jaffre so I’m going with option A.

  38. Oh Prerna, congrats on your 50th! What a wonderful way to celebrate. You are talented beyond belief! Here’s to many more beautiful posts & years of food with you…simmering beautifully! Of course I love MJ, and this is one of her books I don’t own. I have a US address if that will do. If yes, I’m in!!

  42. I would love a copy of Madhur Jaffrey’s cookbook! I just discovered how much I love Indian cooking this year since I started cooking it at home (I can’t eat out because of my peanut/nut allergy) and I would love to learn some new recipes!

  43. I am a newlywed bride myself and have been meaning to learn Indian cooking for my husband (who is). I would love to try your homemade masala as all I can muster are the packaged masalas from my local Indian grocery. Option B would be amazing to receive 🙂
    mir.otic@hotmail.com

  44. I just found your BLOG today (via foodgawker)and will be following you from now on! I love to learn about (and try!!) foods from different ethnic backgrounds and have already marked a couple of your recipes to try. 🙂

    I would most definitely pick option B. While I’m sure that Madhur Jaffrey’s Cookbook would be a wonderful addition to my kitchen, a bottle of your homemade Garam Masala powder would be a very unique and wonderful treasure to be able to use!

    Cheryl
    phantomcg AT aol DOT com

  47. Hey P,

    Congrats on your 50th! You should feel really good about yourself. Your blog has developed wonderfully and it’s looking amazing. I hope it continues to make you happy and allows you to grow through it. Being half Indian and not knowing much about Indian cuisine is shameful, I tell you. My grandmother never taught me and my dad didn’t bother teaching me to speak Hindi let alone cook it. Haha. I’d love the book, Prerna, but then again, who of us wouldn’t? 😉 Kisses to your little girl.

  48. I would choose option B (IndianSimmer’s home made Garam Masala). Your blog is wonderful, keep up the good work!

    Zita
    Budapest
    Hungary

  49. Motee..loads of congratulations for ur half century… love to see the people praising.!.!

    Now ive got 50 different reasons 2 have a treat frm u, with 50 diff dishes and an ice-cream..which u used to prepare, now long-long before i guess..

    keep up th good work motee…

  52. Option B, Option B , Option B. Can buy the book any day but the garam masala is bound to be special :)..Happy 50th blog. Wishing you many many more.. Awesome photos, as usual. I look forward to making egg curry some day very soon !

  59. Dear Prerna,
    Congratulations on your 50th post! Your blog has really helped me enjoy Indian food. The way you write and the your photography is most soothing. I have shared your blog with my daughter-in-law who also is a budding photographer.

    After making some of your recipes for my husband, I felt brave enough to share with some of my friends and they were all very impressed and enjoyed the spices and aromas that is unique to Indian food. For Pictures of my happy week-end stop by my blog.

    It would be hard to think of any way to improve your blog as it is so wonderful to visit. One thing I do love is when you talk about your memories of food in India. I find that fascinating!

    If I have a chance to win, I would choose B, because I feel it would be a real privilege to
    taste a garam masala from your kitchen, which has the influence of your mom-in-law. What a joy to me that would be.
    dlindaannor@gmail.com

  61. Congratulations on your 50th post! You’re blog is beautiful. I ran out of my grandmother’s homemade garam masala and am totally missing it! Would love to try yours.

  64. Ha! I didn’t even come by for the giveaway, but since I’m here…Option B, please. Hands down.

    I so love Indian food. Last nights dinner was Chicken tikka masala. Be still my heart. This weekend, I am attempting to make Naan for the first time. Making bread is not my forte, so please send good vibes my way.

  65. Hip hip hooray! All 50 posts are lovely. As for the giveaway, option A definitely. I had an Indian friend in high school and college who no longer lives nearby. She, as well as my father who went to India ten years ago, instilled a great and ravenous love for Indian food — would love to have a MJ cookbook to work from!

    Cheers to you and Indian Simmer,

    *Heather*

  66. Do you need to ask anything to me? 😉 As I’m an avid reader of your writing and always drooling at ur enticing pics. 😀 I would pick up Madhur Jaffrey’s book but I’m outside USA. 🙁 🙁

    Ha! I don’t mind to try my luck for my US based sister though. Hope you don’t mind. 😀

    Keep it up this work, Prerna! You’re already doing awesome! 🙂

  68. Dear Prerna,

    Congratulations and hugs for your 50th post !!

    Your blog is a balanced combination of great photography and food.
    I know we should not judge a book by it’s cover but truly speaking visuals are quite important. That’s what draws one to read further down … Since you are doing a wonderful job in clicking your dishes …I suggest you to keep that up 🙂
    Ahhem …. now coming to the more interesting part – Giveaway 😉 I am too greedy, hmmm know that’s bad but ….
    It’s tough to choose between both … guess the book for this time if I am lucky.
    This is just the beginning gurl …… I wish you many more milestones.

    And before I forget, the egg curry looks gr8. I am gonna prepare it tonight to celebrate with you.

    Cheers n Happy Cooking,
    Satrupa

    http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

  69. I love this giveaway!! I would have to go with option B, since it is handmade with love, but it was a hard choice! I think you are doing an amazing job with your blog- gorgeous photography, thoughtful posts and terrific meals.

  70. Many best wishes on your milestone, and on your excellent blog! I’ve learned so much already. If I were lucky enough to be chosen, I’d select option B. Access to good ingredients is sometimes limited in suburban neighborhoods. Thanks so much for all your hard work, and for you generosity.
    Regards,
    Donna

  72. Prerna,
    I love your blog and I’m so glad I found you on Food Gawker. While studying in India my favorite dish was egg curry and I’ve been looking for a good recipe for years. I’d love the book to learn more simple dishes. I love “Wordless Wednesdays” the pictures are always amazing. -Kelly

  73. Prerna,
    Congrats on your milestone! Either option is appealing to me but foodstuff shipped to Maui can be problematic so I guess I’ll pick the cookbook if I win.
    Cheers and here’s to many more posts!

  74. Thank you so much for your blog. I’ve learned so much in the past few weeks since I found it! Congratulations on your 50th post. I’ll go with Option A for the prize.

  75. COngrats on your milestone. I am a new follower of your site. I would opt for the cookbook 🙂 My sugggestion for your website – You could include some food photography tips!

  76. Option A – I have been meaning to get that cookbook for long, but somehow its still not happened yet:) maybe this is my lucky shot:)

    Your blog is very pretty, with all those gorgeous photos, and I love how you bring varied recipes to your audience, not just Indian!

  77. Congrats on your 50th post. I love your blog. Looking forward to many more posts from you. Now to select from your two options, I will go for option A, though option B is more tempting, but we do have a kid with severe nut allergies, even if there has been accidental mixing of spoons with nuts severe reaction can happen. So option A for me, but I would love to have your recipe for the Garam masala though. Would you kindly share it with your readers. Please?

    Aparna Mulgund
    aparnamulgund@sbcglobal.net

  79. OptionA and your recipe for option B.. that way i can have both… anyways even if i dont win..please share your recipe for garam masala.. Awesome blog, has me coming back..

  80. Ooo ooo option A! I love Indian cooking which is why I started to follow you on Twitter. I think that your blog is clean, attractive, and generally easy to navigate. I wish I could offer you better advice but I’m just starting out myself! (I am within the US)

    You’re an inspiration and I love reading your blog. <3 Keep it up!

  82. Prerna.. CONGRATS on the 50th. Time does fly right? And oh wow the giveaway, I would have to choose option A, since I’m a total sucker for cookbooks.

  83. Hiii, am so thrilled to find ur blog and am so excited about the giveaway too:-)
    If i win this , i would love to have it shipped to a blogger pal [US], who wud be excited with both the options!!
    That said , do u have email subs?
    cant find it , if yes ,plz do add me:-)wud love it!!
    thanxx a ton!!

  87. Prerna – I found you on twitter for the first time and fell in love with your blog. I love the way you write and your photographs are so gorgeous. Congratulations on your 50th post and Cheers to many more.

    I would like to choose Option A as any of the Madhur’s cookbooks are great keepers. 🙂

    Hugs,
    Siri

  88. Congrats on your 50th post! Keep going, because you are doing a wonderful job!!! I’m so happy that we met through our blogs :o)

    As for the contest: I’d love to expand my cooking horizon and learn more about Indian cuisine – so I’ll go with Option A :o)

  89. Difficult task to choose one…
    but OPtion A i can get from anywhere…
    but ur MIL’s bful aromatic masala is on my top list now…looks so so flavorful…tsp of tht wonderful masala wil change take my curries to heaven….pass me some dear….regards to ur mil..

  91. congrats on ur 50th post….hope to see many more than 100000000000000 soon…wish u all the very best….
    Abt ur space,evrything is so eye catchy,bful blog logo,name and top on the list ur pics..they say it all….no words…just mindblowing…clear texts,easy to adapt and simple recipes,love ur detailed way of explaining and way of writing ..love reading it ..all these things makes one come again again to ur lovely space…keep up the good work dear….fingers crossed…hope i win…hugs
    sanyuktagour@gmail.com

  92. Oh, wow – what a hard choice! I love your blog – my SIL is Gujarati but lives across the country from us… so, we have to make our own yummy Indian food or pay top $ for it at a local (luckily very good) restaurant! So, while B is tempting, I think I would have to go with Option A. That cookbook would be handy. Thanks so much!

    BTW, I *love* your photos!

  93. Congrats on ur 50th post and as usual the pics are excellent.
    I actually dont cook that much from a cook book, ever since i discovered the world of blogs, but your garam masala sure sounds awesome enough to not pass. Even my MIL sent me a container full of home made garam masala and like you said I finished it off and am now struggling with the store bought ones. I tried making it once, but it just doesnt come out right..so yes some of that beautiful looking masala would be great, if i manage to win 🙂

  94. Such a loss to not leave in US 🙁 Madhur Jaffrey’s cookbook is a great keeper and I got it from a friend though to be honest I have done much with it. I would love to have some homemade garam masala !

    Happy 50th post Prerna. Great Going. You rock:)

  95. I just found your blog a few days ago via FoodGawker. I’d love to receive the cookbook as I’ve just been getting into Indian Cooking with my boyfriend. Thanks for sharing your recipes with us!

  96. Prerna, I adore your blog. Your pictures and words bring me a strange sense of serenity (and I’m naturally tightly wound and uber stressed ALL the time). Congratulations on your 50th post. I adore Madhur Jaffrey and I’d love to try your garam masala so if I’m fortunate enough to win, I’ll let you pick and be surprised and elated with my winning, regardless of what it is that I win 🙂

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