Ok!
My favourite cookbooks are Demuths vegetarian - which you will find on Amazon.
Saag Paneer for 2-3 people
-buy a block of paneer cheese, cube it and fry in oil and a mix of turmeric, cumin powder, garam masala, something like that. Then when golden remove, drain on kitchen paper and leave.
- more oil, more spices, plus chillis etc. Fry 1-2 onions (i buy frozen sliced), some garlic or garlic paste.
- can also add sliced mushrooms next if you fancy maybe 100-200g
- add spinach (fresh spinach works better than frozen) I guess I put in around 200g
- simmer, you can add a little water, or a tin of coconut milk/cream which tastes good but obviously adds calories
- add the paneer
- serve with rice - basmati fine but we like red camargue rice which takes longer but has a lovely flavour and texture
- tend to buy naan these days. Pre-children I made them by hand.
Puy lentil thing is a Demuth's recipe I seem to remember. The way below if a bit cheaty but you can do it more cheaply.
- 1 block of haloumi, slice, dry fry (no oil), put on plate and try not to snack on it!
- thinly slice 3 bulbs of fennel (usually remove outer layer as tough), can add a little garlic paste. Fry in oil and half a teaspoon of chilli flakes until softening, then add a slosh of cream (to taste) and a larger slosh of dry white wine.
- prepare puy lentils (i cheat with a microwavable sachet which takes 45 seconds to cook)
- throw lentils in with fennel, cream, wine and cook through, add the halloumi too. Add a bag of fresh spinach
- serve with pasta
Sorry they're not that accurate but I tend to read the cookery books the first few times then work out what short cuts will work, and then just throw in other ingredients in whatever quantities I fancy.
The pasties are long-winded and every time I curse but then enjoy them so much I put them on the plan. They're from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's veg book. I cheat (2 small children) with shop bought puff pastry I'm afraid (don't tell my husband).
Fry a bunch of spring onions then add a load of frozen peas and cook lightly. When cool add a crumbled up block of feta, lots of ground black pepper, half a beaten egg and a large bunch of chopped mint.
Roll out the pasty into thin squares or circles, put filling in part, fold and seal, then brush with the other half of the beaten egg. Cook for about 20 mins or so. They freeze and reheat really well too and can be microwaved to reheat though the pastry can go a bit soggy.
Hope that works out and I haven't missed some vital step!