Mushrooms and Veg Mock Duck

Mock duck can was sitting on my shelf for quite sometime but I needed an occasion to cook. It arrived finally this week when a group of vegetarian women friends decided to have pot luck in my house. One thing good about inviting women for lunch is that none will come empty handed. They have to bring something.

It was a flash invite and unplanned one. but within two hours, all arrived with dish in their hand, all cooked their own speciality. those who didn't cook went to buy cake or ice cream. There were Dahi wadas, paneer in greens, doklas with coconut chutney, cauliflower with potatoes, veg briyani, and then there was also veg black chocolate cake and Gokul ice cream. A big variety..totally Vegetarian.

I only made veg mock duck, mushroom potatoes stew.

I normally don’t eat canned food but this is something that I relish. My friend asked me what is this Mock duck?  Well, it’s a gluten based vegetarian food made of wheat gluten, oil, sugar, soya sauce and salt. It has its flavor from stewing gluten products in soya sauce and MSG.

There were some fresh mushrooms and potatoes  too in my fridge, so cooking this combo was a perfect choice.

Mock duck and Mushroom, both have the tendency to pick up the flavors of the ingredients in which they are cooked. So it will taste good if it is kept for marination for one-two hours.

Early morning, I marinated mock duck and mushroom in

1 cup curds,

1inch grated ginger,

 I tbsp garlic paste,

 2 green chilies,

1 tsp garam masala,

1 tsp turmeric powder,

2 tsp coriander powder,

1 tsp red chili powder and salt.

Ready to cook? Put on your apron and begin

In a pan

heat 2 tbsp oil.

Add 3-4 cloves,

1 large bay leaves,

 4 green cardamons,

1 star anis,

2 dried red chilies,

1 inch cinnamon stick,

1 tsp cumin seeds.

Add 1 chopped onion.

Mix till light brown. 

Add marinated mock duck and mushrooms. 

Add one chopped potatoes. 

add 6-7 green chilies(makes it spicy, so beware)

Mix it well.

Add 2 finely chopped tomatoes.

Mix and keep stirring till oil separates.

Add half cup water.

Cover and keep it on low fire for twenty minutes.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve with freshly baked rotis

 Tell me the truth...Are you drooling? Believe me..it was very tasty!!!

Basic recipe: Peas potatoes

If you are an expert cook then this recipe is too simple for you, thank you for visiting.

Today I get a call from my friend who is newly-wed pampered woman, who has never cooked before and is challenged by her mother-in-law to show some of her culinary skills.


She asks me for a very basic dish, something that is not difficult and tasty as well.


I am not surprised!

Yeah, I have met many such women who don’t even know to fry an egg. For some reason, they have never found reason to cook before marriage.  Busy with studies or career and have enough helpers at home to do the cooking, what is the need to cook? 


There are many parents who will never encourage their children to cook arguing, "Let her rest, there is whole lifetime to cook," so there is chalta hai attitude, 

But after marriage comes a bit of responsibility. One cannot eat everyday out and some basic cooking is important.

This is just the basic recipe which can be cooked by a person who is new to cooking…….

Look into the kitchen for following ingredients

1 tbsp oil

1 medium onion (finely chopped)

2 medium potatoes (diced)

2 green chilies (chopped)

4 cloves garlic (grated)

½ inch ginger (grated)

2 medium tomatoes (chopped)

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 cup shelled peas

1 tsp salt

2 tsp chopped coriander leaves

Let the exercise begin

 Fry onion in 1 tablespoon of oil

Till it gets light brown

Chop potatoes, green chilies and grated garlic and ginger

Add half cup water and Mix garlic, ginger and green chilies

Add chopped potatoes

Add chopped tomatoes

Add dry masalas like coriander powder, turmeric powder, cumin seeds and salt

Mix it well

When we become an expert cook, we can start to grate the tomatoes and add, but when new to cooking, this  kind of rough chopping of tomatoes will pass..the more we pamper our guest the better we are expected to perform, Its best to be just our self and do what is comfortable to us’

Add green peas

Add chopped coriander leaves

Put one cup of water, cover and keep it till potatoes are tender.

Serve it with steamed rice or freshly roasted chappatis


Variation: Instead of peas, vegetables like cauliflower, mushrooms or fried okra can also be used,