Recently, I met a very interesting group of bloggers who are powering their way through a series of power foods every week, based on Power Foods: 150 Recipes with the 38 Healthiest Ingredients, (from the editors at Martha Stewart’s Living Magazine). Mireya- from My Healthy Eating Habits introduced me to them (a big Thank you Mireya 
) It’s a challenge I could not resist. More so because some of the foods I have never cooked with, and others, I would not even think of cooking unless someone was forcing my hand ( for example apricot, the ingredient for next week. In my books, apricots are juicy fruits to be sliced and savored, or better still, grind them – seeds and all- and turn them in a fabulous face scrub. (Don’t laugh , St Ives made a fortune doing just that.)
So who are these brave warriors bloggers? Meet them here:
This week’s ingredient got me excited. It is winter squash. I love these colorful little gourds with all my heart. I always knew these fab little buggers were a gold mine of nutrients, glamorous even (to have a whole festival designed around one? To me, that is one celebrity vegetable ). But to be a power food too? That had me smiling all the way to my refrigerator.
I am not going to bore you with why they are a power food and glamorous, but if you are new to the term ‘winter squash’, you can find a titanic load of information here, here and here.
It’s not Halloween yet, so I chose pumpkin’s less glamorous but equally, if not more, powerful cousin butternut squash. To know how powerful, please check here. I decided to make a very simple mixed vegetable that comes straight from my Ma’s kitchen. She is not a fancy cook, but her creations have had many, many people drop their jaws in awe. I have friends who still swear by one curry or the other that they tasted at our place eons back.
When I say not fancy, I mean it. What I am presenting today looks a veritable mish-mash of chopped vegetables. You can’t really make out one from the other, mainly because ripe butternut squash has fibers that disintegrate while cooking. That makes it lose its shape, and coats the fellow vegetables with its soft fibers and juices as well. But trust me, it is even more delicious that way. This little messy looking dish, which refuses to give glam shots, is hot, spicy, sublimely flavorful, and packed with a punch of glorious anti-cancerous antioxidants and nutrients – Protein, loads of fiber, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Folate, beta carotene, potassium, calcium,manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron, phosphorus, flavonoids, polyphenol….I can go on and on. You get the gist.
- 1 cup butternut squash cubed small
- 1 cup potatoes cubed small
- 1 cup eggplant cubed small
- 1 cup onions chopped fine
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp paprika/cayenne pepper/red chili powder
- 1 green chili broken into large pieces
- 1 tomato sliced
- 1 level tsp coriander powder
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp mustard/olive oil (I prefer mustard, but olive is fine).
- In a skillet (that has a lid), heat oil on high and season cumin seeds.
- Once they crackle, add onions, butternut squash, eggplant and potatoes (all at the same time).
- Stir to mix.
- Add salt, red chili pepper powder and coriander powder. Turn around the vegetables so they get evenly coated with the spices.
- Turn the flame to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Then uncover and stir gently with a flat spatula, making sure to scrape the bottom so that the vegetables don’t stick.
- Repeat the process for another 5 minutes. Check to see if potatoes and eggplant are cooked. If not, continue cooking till they are soft.
- Now add tomatoes and chilies, mix well.
- Cover and cook till tomatoes are soft (another 5 minutes).
- Switch off the flame and drizzle lemon juice.
It’s so good even I think it’s awesome
I haven’t given butternut squash the Indian treatment yet but this looks really yummy. I can imagine what it tastes like..mmmm.
I’ll wait to see what other power foods you come up with.
Nazneen xx
Nazneen | Coffee and Crumpets recently posted..Pasta with Cannellini Bean Sauce
It’s not fancy when you give it the Indian treatment, but it tastes yummmmmm!!
Powerfoods coming from a superchef – makes sense
Love that you have joined! I love this Indian sabzi with butternut squash, I have always wanted to try it Indian style!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
hahahaha! Superchef or no, I love the idea of power foods.
So glad you’ve joined us Minnie! This adventure has been a lot of fun for me and I’m sure it will be for you to. Your sabzi looks amazing!
Martha@ Simple Nourished Living recently posted..{The Recipe Redux} Martha’s Enlightened Crème Fraîche
Thank you Martha
I am looking forward to it.
Welcome to the group and happy power food blogging!
I have learned a lot with our group; I know you will, too.
Good luck with venture.
What a gorgeous sabzi–lovely recipe. Enjoy the weekend, Minnie!
Alyce Morgan recently posted..38 Power Foods, Week 15 — Winter Squash — Israeli Couscous-Butternut Squash Salad with Fall Fruit, Cheese and Orange Vinaigrette
Thanks Alyce
Have a fab weekend.
(My comment seems to have disappeared–I’ll try again)
Welcome to the group, Minnie. Good to have you.
I’ve been learning lots and know you will, too.
Beautiful sabzi!
Good luck from Alyce @ More Time at the Table
Alyce Morgan recently posted..38 Power Foods, Week 15 — Winter Squash — Israeli Couscous-Butternut Squash Salad with Fall Fruit, Cheese and Orange Vinaigrette
mhm… looks so delectable and plus its super healthy. We love health foods! =D
I love your little descriptions on the pictures, comes handy and its useful. I ll have nto check out that group now.
Helene Dsouza I Masala Herb recently posted..Comment on Ambade Curry – Spondias, Hog Plum by Hotly Spiced
Isn’t that exciting!! I hope you like it enough to join
Minnie recently posted..Butternut Squash Sabzi – power food blogging
It sounds silly but I was really eating squash because I liked the flavour and texture. I kind of knew that it was good for you being a vegetable but I didn’t realise that it was a superfood!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Airline Review: China Southern Airlines Business Class, Guangzhou To Amsterdam
Even I didn’t know Lorraine. As they say, you learn something new everyday
Minnie recently posted..Butternut Squash Sabzi – power food blogging
Nothing says “welcome to fall” like butternut squash … Looks so good, Minnie
CJ at Food Stories recently posted..NEW Food Story Photo Submissions & Photo Contest Update
Yes!!! Don’t you just love how colorful grocery shelves look in the fall?
Minnie recently posted..Butternut Squash Sabzi – power food blogging
OK, OK, believe me you convinced me. I’ll try this funny looking but very delicious dish because it sounds soooo flavorful!
So glad to have you with us too.
It is. Try it, I swear you won’t regret it.
I do love a squash subzi and if it is cooked in mustard oil, all the better. Gald you are part of our blog group, Minnie!
Ansh recently posted..Baked Acorn Squash with Salmon Mousse
Thanks Ansh! I loved your posting too. Looking forward to know you
I don’t think I’ve ever used Butternut squash before but this sounds delish! Will have to give this a go when I have more cooking time on my hands
Ames @ a Melbourne girl at heart recently posted..much room for improvement – Pho Chu The, Box Hill
It’s really yumm. Hopefully you will like it too
)
This dish looks amazing. I love butternut squash soup so am sure I’ll love this dish. Bookmarking it to try soon.
Mina
Mina Joshi recently posted..Mutter Paneer with Tikka masala
You must tell me how it turned out. Will wait
Welcome to the Power Foods group Minnie! I love all the spices in the dish you made this week – can’t wait to see what else you make throughout this fun series.
Jeanette recently posted..Gluten-Free Chocolate Coffee Marble Cake Recipe (Starbucks Giveaway)
Sounds very comforting and I always love butternut squash! With my favorite potatoes and spices… this must be really delicious!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Japanese Cheesecake | Cream Cheesecake チーズケーキ
Made the sabji…smells good….will let you know how it tastes….:)