Delicious Dishes: No Onion, No Garlic Needed

Many cultures and dietary preferences exclude onion and garlic from their cuisine. Whether you’re following specific dietary guidelines or simply exploring new flavors, these three recipes offer a delicious and satisfying alternative.

Recipe 1: Spiced Potato and Cauliflower Curry

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes, cubed
• 1 large cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 inch cinnamon stick  
• 2 cloves
• 4 green cardamom pods
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder  
• 1 cup coconut milk
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Instructions:

1. Boil potatoes and cauliflower until tender but firm.
2. Dry roast cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom pods until fragrant. Grind them into a fine powder.
3. Heat a pan with a little oil. Add the ground spice mixture, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, and coriander powder. Sauté for a few seconds.
4. Add the boiled potatoes and cauliflower, and coat them well with the spice mixture.
5. Pour in the coconut milk, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the sauce thickens.
6. Season with salt and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Recipe 2: Lemon Rice

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• Dried red chili, broken into pieces
• A handful of peanuts
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat a pan with a little oil. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
2. Add curry leaves, asafoetida, and dried red chili.
3. Add peanuts and roast until golden brown.
4. Add the cooked rice and mix well.
5. Squeeze in lemon juice and season with salt.
6. Serve hot.

Recipe 3: Sweet Potato and Spinach Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 cups spinach, washed
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• A dollop of yogurt for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Boil sweet potatoes until tender.  
2. In a blender, combine boiled sweet potatoes, spinach, vegetable broth, ginger, cumin powder, and turmeric powder. Blend until smooth.
3. Transfer the soup to a pot and heat gently.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve hot with a dollop of yogurt, if desired.

These are just a few examples of delicious dishes that can be made without onion or garlic. Experiment with different spices and ingredients to create your own unique flavors. 

Image credits: Image by standret on Freepik