Spinach and Cheese Curry

1 1/2 lb Spinach, fresh

1/2 lb Ricotta cheese,

-fresh (see note) 3 md Brown onions

Ginger, fresh -(1 1/2 inches), -chopped fine 1 md Tomato

1 1/2 t Cumin seeds

1/2 t Turmeric

1/2 t Red chile powder

-(cayenne; more to taste) 2 Cloves

1 pn Nutmeg

1 pn Mace

1 T Ghee (or use

-melted butter or oil) Salt (to taste) Cook the spinach and chop it up. Cut the cheese into about 3/4-inch cubes and deep fry a few pieces at a time in oil (a wok is good for this). Fry the chopped onions in the ghee. When almost brown, add the finely-chopped ginger. Use a medium to high heat. When the onions are golden, reduce the heat and add the skinned and chopped tomato, then the spices and salt. Cover for a few minutes, then add the spinach and salt. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes to let spices penetrate. Add the cheese pieces, mix and serve. NOTES: * Indian vegetarian spinach and cheese curry -- This is a dish I learned from an Indian lady, at a cooking class. It`s simple to make and has a beautifully subtle flavor. As per true curries, it uses raw spices instead of some prepackaged curry powder. Yield: Serves 4 to 6. * We eat this dish as a meal with rice, although you can use it as one dish along with others. * The quantities given for the spinach and cheese are very flexible. I never measure or weigh them, just putting in what seems right. Experiment. Similarly, it can be kept hot for a while with no loss in taste or texture. * In North America, most Ricotta cheese is packed as a pot cheese. This recipe calls for a more solid form of the cheese. Specialty ethnic markets in large cities will carry solid Ricotta. You can make your own by buying a tub of pot Ricotta and wrapping it in a clean cloth to wick the moisture out, leaving the whole assembly in the refrigerator for a week or so, and changing the cloth every day. With such treatment the cheese will gradually solidify enough that you can slice and fry it. Buffalo-milk Mozzarella is a fair substitute, and ordinary Mozzarella is a last-chance substitute. * Don`t fry the cheese too long. It should have a golden exterior and have a marshmallow texture inside. Frying too long makes it hard and dry. * Use whole cumin seeds and cloves, not the ground variety. * Like most curries, this reheats splendidly. : Difficulty: easy to moderate. : Time: 1 hour. : Precision: Approximate measurement OK. : Peter C. Maxwell, : Department of Computer Science, : University of New South Wales, : Sydney, AUSTRALIA. : : peterm%[email protected] : Copyright (C) 1986 USENET Community Trust