Shrimps, pumpkin and all you can find!

A quarter of a large brinjal, a 5 inch triangle of yellow pumpkin, handful of spinach leaves on the verge of wilting, a peeled potato, half a large tomato and a cup of defrosted shrimps. There was nothing I could do with them alone and I had no idea what to do with them together. If I dumped them back in the chiller, I did not have anything else, to churn out a decent dinner for three of us at home. Well as they say 'necessity is the mother of all inventions' and in this case the creator of something nice and new!!

Cut the Brinjal into large cubes, smear with oil and lay on a pan on slow fire to brown them well on each side....keep aside
Saute the shrimps with some chilli powder, salt and turmeric....keep aside
The pumpkin, potato and tomato cut into similar cubes but no grilling done
Heat half a teaspoon of oil, toss in some onion seeds (black jeera/ kalonji), break a chilli and add to it.
Wait for the smoky smell and put together the potato, pumpkin and tomatoes
Add a half a teaspoon of chilli & turmeric powder each, salt to taste, stir the veggies around, close the pan and leave on slow fire.
Add the spinach, half a cup of water and allow to simmer under a closed lid.
Once the vegetables are cooked and soft, add the grilled brinjal and shrimps.

Hot rotis/ Indian bread or steaming rice...the choice of accompaniment is yours.....





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