21 veggie stir fry / Ganesh Chaturthi Recipe

There is very much significance of number 21 in Lord Ganesha's pooja. 21 different types of offerings are made to please Lord Ganesha . 21 blades of Durva grass and  21 Modaks / ladoos as bhog are Ganesha's favourite. Apart from these offerings , we make a special vegetable stir fry using 21 different vegetables on the Ganesh Chaturthi day and on the day of Ganesha idol immersion (visarjan) day.

This veggie stir fry is very healthy and delicious dish. As the dish is made as an offering to Lord Ganesha as Naivedhyam , it is an Onion Garlic free recipe. The dish goes well with Poori or chapati.

We can select any 21 vegetables of our choice for this recipe . I have used ( Carrots, Green pea , Broccoli, Capsicum , Fenu greek leaves , Spinach, Tomatoes , Potatoes, Curry leaves, Bottle gourd , Ridge gourd , French beans , Cauliflower, Bitter gourd , Lady finger , Cabbage , Coriander leaves , Mint leaves , Green chili , Cucumber and Snake gourd).  The veggies are finely chopped and stir fried with freshly ground whole spices , Peanut powder and scrapped fresh Coconut.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of 21 vegetables , washed and finely chopped. 
• 1 tbsp whole spices freshly roasted and ground ( 2 cloves , 2-3 black peeper corn, 1 bay leaf , 1 small stick cinnamon , 1 tsp caraway seeds)
• 2 tbsp scrapped fresh Coconut
• 1 tbsp Cumin-Coriander powder
• 1 tbsp roasted peanut powder 
• 1/2 inch piece of Ginger
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 
• pinch of Asafoetida
• Salt to taste
• 2-3 tbsp Oil

Method:

1. Make a paste of Coriander leaves, Mint leaves, Ginger and Green chilies using a grinder. Heat up oil in a wok on medium heat. Add Cumin seeds. Once the seeds crackle, add Curry leaves and this paste and stir nicely. Now add finely chopped Tomatoes, followed by Asafoetida and turmeric powder. Stir fry the tomatoes very nicely for about 1 minute.

    2.  Now add all the veggies except the leafy vegetables. Mix well and cover cook the veggies for 5-7 minutes until they are 75 % done.

   3.  Now add in the finely chopped leafy vegetables . Stir fry for 1-2 minutes and add the salt , red chili powder , cumin coriander powder, freshly roasted and ground spice powder and mix very well.

   4. Lastly add the peanut powder and scrapped fresh coconut , stir fry for a minute and put off the flame.

  5. Garnish with scrapped coconut serve hot with Poori or Chapati.

If you are looking for some more dishes offered to Lord Ganesha do check out my Dry Fruit Ladoo , Fried Modak , Nariyal Burfi , Ukadiche Modak / Steamed Modak , Suji and Coconut Ladoo , Anarsa, Shahi lapsi Kheer