Bangali Style Pulao

January 9, 2016January 14, 2016 ~ 1CupOfJoy ~ Leave a comment

This is one of my all time favorite! Long grained basmati cooked with cashew nuts and raisins with a hint of sweetness that tastes heavenly with spicy Kosha Manghso (Slow cooked mutton) or Deemer Dalna (egg curry) or just by itself. I call it Best Friender Pulao, since growing up this was a staple made by my favorite aunt, Monju Kakima (who I refer to as my best friend). Even today, whenever I visit India I make my demand for this pulao.

Over the years, this has become one of my go-to recipe for whenever I am entertaining and a big hit among my friends, a recipe I share often. A few posts back I wrote about how food to me is about re-living and/or creating new memories. This dish is rich with a lot of memories, some of the best memories of my childhood and a whole bunch as an adult. Hoping it does the same for you as well!

I like adding a lot of fresh vegetables because they add favor, make the dish look beautiful with all that color and then there is also the healthy aspect. You can use a bag of frozen mixed vegetable as well and it will taste just as good.

Time for Prep: 45 mins Time to Cook: 20 mins Yield: 6-8 Servings Level: Medium

Ingredients:

2 cups of Basmati rice
Chopped mixed vegetables:
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 1/2 cup green beans
- 1/2 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1/4 cup green pepper
- 1/4 cup red pepper
- 1/4 cup yellow pepper
- 1/2 cup sweet corn
1 tbsp cashew nuts
1 tbsp raisins
1 inch stick of cinnamon
4-5 green cardamom
1 Bay leaf
7-8 cloves
1 tbsp black peppercorns
2 tsp caraway seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp mint, chopped
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp ghee or oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
3.5 cup water or broth.
Salt to taste

Process:

Rinse and soak rice for 30 mins. Drain and set aside.
In a heavy bottom pan heat the ghee and add caraway seeds, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves, black peppercorns. Sauté for till you begin getting the spice aroma around 2-3 mins.
Add the cashew nuts and raisins, cook for 1 min.
Add all the vegetables, cilantro and mint, sauté for another 2-3 mins.
Add the drain rice, which should’ve gotten a little dry by now. Mix and sauté for around 2 mins or until the rice is well coated and starts to glisten.
Add water, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Stir slightly.
Cover and let cook for around 12-15 mins, when the rice is almost done and there is still a little bit of moisture remaining. Turn off the heat and let it sit for 20-30 mins.
Using a fork, fluff up the rice a little. Serve with your favorite side dish or with just Raita.

Roshogolla

January 5, 2016 ~ 1CupOfJoy ~ Leave a comment

1524178_10154220906405573_5115683737530121643_o Roshogolla or Bengali Rasagulla is essentially spongy balls of indian cottage cheese (chhana) cooked in sugar syrup. There are various versions to the origin of this dessert, but this is the one I like, because this is the version my mom told me.

The year was 1868 in Bhagbajaar (Kolkata), a confectioner named Nobin Chandra Das was having a discussion with a bunch of freedom fighters who were concerned about the popularity of English desserts in India.

“Nobinda, these puddings and pies are becoming very popular. These days the youth prefer those to puli and pithe” said one of them.

“Can you think of a way we can change that? Your a master confectioner can you come up with something which is swadeshi and delicious?” said another.

Nonbinda thinks a little and says “I think I have an idea, let me try it out tonight and we can all taste it here tomm”

That evening the confectioner mulls around his kitchen, takes a bit of chhana and gives it a boil in sugar syrup flavored with fresh ground cardamom, a bit of rosewater and voila! One of the most popular dessert of India was created.

I do not have a sweet tooth, but this dessert has my heart. Its not fried and made from pure chhana (cottage cheese) and considered to be a safe comfort food when recovering from a fever or stomach upset (Not to mention the low calorie count per serving!). Since I grew up in Hyderabad and getting this from the Pada’r mishtir dokan (local sweet shop) was not really an option, my mom whipped some up in her kitchen. Recovering from a flu almost always involved mom feeding me some roshogollas and story telling.

This is a recipe that a lot of people requested I post, so here goes. Let me start by saying that this dessert is a tricky one to master and you might not get perfect result in your very first try, don’t let that discourage you. Here are a couple things that I learnt:

Raw (non-homegenized/non-pasturized) Cow milk gives better result.
After curdling the milk, gently squeeze out the extra whey and hang it for 45min-1 hour. This helps with having the right amount of moisture you need for the softness of the final product.
While kneading keep in mind that less is more. As soon as you feel grease in your palm, stop!
Boil it in a big stock pot that has enough depth for the chhana balls to expand, thats how they become spongy
Keep aside half of the sugar syrup and add some in between cooking time to ensure the syrup doesn’t get too dense or too hot.

Time for Prep: 45 mins Time to Cook: 15 mins Yield: 20-25 Servings Level: Medium

Ingredients:

For the channa
- 4 cups (32oz) whole milk
- 2-3 tbsp lemon juice
For the sugar syrup:
- 2 tbsp rose water
- 3-4 cardamon, crushed
- Saffron (optional)
- 1.5 cup sugar
- 4 cups water

Process:

Making the channa:
- Bring milk to a boil, add the lemon juice and lower heat. In a few seconds you will notice the milk solids forming. Turn off the heat. When the water is completely separated (turns a greenish shade) drain into a colander lined with cheese cloth.
- Run a little bit of water on it to get rid of the lemony taste, drain.
- Gather the ends of the cheese cloth and bring them together, like a purse, slowly squeeze out the water. Be careful not to burn your hands as it is really hot.
  - This is now my mom does it: Hold the ends with your left hand and using a pair of tongs hold the purse just on top of the solids with your right. Then slowly twist the cloth with your left hand. The water squeezes out without resulting in burning fingers.
- Hang it for 45 mins-1 hour.
Preparing the Golla (Balls from the channa):
- Remove the channa from the cheese cloth, it should not be soggy wet nor should it be dry (The picture should give you an idea).
- With the heel of your palm mash the channa and knead. Collect from the sides, mash, knead. Continue for around 10 mins (or less depending on the pressure of kneading). As soon as you feel a little grease in your palm, stop. over kneading will result in hard Roshogollas.
- Now pinch out small portions and roll between palms to form smooth round balls no bigger than a quarter. (See picture)
- once done, cover with moist muslin and set aside while you prepare the syrup.
Preparing the Rosh (sugar syrup):
- Place a large stock pot (or a pressure cooker) over medium heat.
- Add the sugar, water, cardamon and saffron (optional).
- Bring to a boil. Set aside around 1/2 cup of this syrup.
Cooking the Roshagollas:
- To the rest of the sugar syrup add the chhana balls one by one.
- Shake the pan gently, to move the balls a little and cover immediately. Do not stir, that will break the chhana balls.
- After around 3-4 mins, open the lid and add half of the reserved sugar syrup and shake the pan. This step ensures that the consistency and temperature of the sugar syrup stays constant.
- After another 3-4 mins repeat the step above and add the remaining reserved syrup, shake the pan.
- Cook for 2 more mins. Check for the doneness of the roshogollas and switch off the heat. And add the rose water.
- To check for doneness:
  - Take it out with slotted spoon, press a portion. If it springs back to original shape its done.
  - Or take one of them out and drop it in a glass of water, if it sinks its done. (I prefer this method).

If you ask a non-bangali, they would say that let it cool and then serve. But a Bangali will always say that the best way to enjoy these are when they are fresh and warm! The second best way is to let it chill for a couple hours first.

Note:

While preparing the Gollas from channa you can add 1-2 tsp of Sooji (Cream of wheat) or all purpose flour or arrowroot powder. This ensures that the chnana balls will not crumble when boiling in syrup.

Lao Posto (Opo Squash with KhasKhas/Poppy Seed)

November 17, 2015 ~ 1CupOfJoy ~ Leave a comment

Posto or khaskhas or poppy seed is a pretty popular ingredient in bengali kitchens. It has this euphoric sleepy effect, which makes it a perfect ingredient for those lazy weekend afternoons, when all you have in the days plan is some reading and a nice long afternoon nap. And in a bengali household, thats usually the plan. We love our adda (chit chat/debates/political discussions), literature, good food and lazy afternoon naps followed by Cha (tea) and biscuit cookies (pronounced biskut) at 4:00 pm.

Its not often that I find opo squash or bottle gourd in the local farmers market. I always do a little happy dance when I find them (Yes, fresh produce makes me happy! I am weird that way). This vegetable is one of my favorite, its versatile, light and packed with health benefits. But if your unable to find some, you can replace it with zuccini or summer squash as well.

Opo squash is very high in water content and usually shrinks to 1/2 the quantity when cooked so be careful while adding salt. Less is more, remember you can always add more salt later if need be.

Time for Prep: 10 mins Time to Cook: 30 mins Yield: 4-6 Servings Level: Easy

Ingredients:

1 medium sized Opo Squash, cubed (around 3 cups)
6 tbsp khaskhas/poppy seeds
5-6 fresh green chilli, slit in half
2-3 dried red chilli
1 tsp black cumin
1/2 tsp sugar
3 tsp ghee or 2 tsp oil
salt to taste

Process:

Soak khaskhas/ poopy seeds in water for 15-20 mins.
Heat 2 tsp of ghee in a pan in medium -high heat, add black cumin and dried red chilli, wait till they splutter.
Add the chopped opo squash/ bottle gourd, pinch of salt and fresh green chilli, saute for 3-4 mins.
Cover, reduce heat and let the squash cook until tender, 15-20 mins.
In the mean time, drain and transfer the soaked khaskhas/ poppy seed to a blender, add a couple green chilli and salt to taste and grind to make a smooth paste. The paste should be thick and not watery.
Once the squash is tender, add the poppy seed paste, mix it in so that its evenly coated, cover and cook for 5 more mins.
Turn off the heat, add 1 tsp of ghee and 1 tsp of sugar, mix it in.
Serve with plain rice.

Narkel Nadu (Coconut Confectionary/ Coconut Truffle)

October 16, 2015 ~ 1CupOfJoy ~ 1 Comment

Mahalaya (which just went by on October 12th) brings with it a tide of memories – setting the alarm for 3:45 am and gathering around the radio promptly at 4:00 am to hear ‘Mahisasura Mardini’ sung in the magical voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadhra, the man who made Mahalaya memorable. As he masterfully recites versus and narrates the story of the decent of Goddess Durga on earth and her valiant slaying of the demon Mahisasura, mom would get busy in the kitchen making a breakfast of Luchi (Puri), Aloor Torkari (sautéed potatoes) and Narkel Naru. The narration ends with mankind bowing to this supreme power- “Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha.”

And the feasting would begin! I am an Athiest, but even today I wake up early morning every Mahalaya, turn on iTunes and listen to Mahisasura Mardini while making Luchi, Torkari and Narkel Nadu. It’s about traditions and re-living memories.

This is also a quick recipe for making a decadent dessert for any day in the year. My mom is known in our friend circle for the amazing Narkel Nadu she makes, I have just made a couple tweaks – she uses Cardamon Powder, I like to use All-Spice instead and replaced regular sugar with coconut palm sugar (for its low glycemic index).

Time for Prep: 5 mins Time to cook: 30-35 mins Yield: around 24 Level: Easy

Ingredients:

12oz frozen grated coconut (or fresh grated coconut)
8 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup whole milk
4 tbsp coconut palm sugar (or regular sugar)
1 tsp ghee
1 tsp all spice (or cardamon powder)
Dry coconut flakes (optional)

Process:

In a heavy bottom pan mix in the sugar and coconut, before turning on the heat.
Turn the heat to low settings and cook the mixture for 4-5 mins, stirring frequently, till the sugar is melted and the coconut is lightly toasted.
Add the milk and condensed milk, slowly stirring it in.
Add the ground all spice (or cardamon powder). Taste test to see the level of sweetness and add more sugar if needed.
Keep stirring frequently and cook in low-medium heat till the coconut is cooked. This will take approximately 30-35 mins.
1. Milk dries up and the coconut comes out clean from the sides (see picture above).
2. Be careful not to dry too much or you cannot make the balls. I usually just test it out by making a ball and seeing if it stays, if not I cook a little more).
Take off the heat, Add ghee and stir it in.
Cool slightly and start making the balls by rolling it between your palms which are around 1 inch in diameter.
Roll in dried coconut flakes (Optional).

Jhaal Aloo Dum (Spicy Potato)

October 3, 2015October 3, 2015 ~ 1CupOfJoy ~ Leave a comment

I like to call it ‘Baba’r Jhaal Jhaal Aloo’ (Dad’s spicy potato) since this was my dad’s speciality. The Mukherjee family, like most Bengali families, loved potatoes (still do) and had it for pretty much every meal. So to break monotony, we had multiple recipes and variations to cook this drool worthy vegetable. This one is by far one of my favorite recipes. It goes best with fresh, straight off the griddle, fulka/chapati, vegetable pulao or peas pulao.

Family dinners was a big part of growing up, sitting together sharing a meal and talking about our day over delicious food and on Wednesdays watching Chitrahaar (when I was really young, and cable tv was still not popular). My mom was the main chef of our household, but every now and then my dad would whip up something delish. Dad with his favorite drink ‘Old Monk Rum’, mom, my sister and me with our glasses of lime juice cordial, working together to get dinner served. Being the youngest, I always got stuck with setting the table and my sister with cleaning after because I was too young to do it right (even when I was 15). I really liked being the youngest!

It calls for the most basic ingredients, but here’s my preference:

I like to use Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder (Everest brand) because of the rich red color it adds
I use plum tomatoes because they have less seed, more meat and disintegrate really quick creating a rich creamy base.

Time for Prep: 10 mins Time to Cook: 20 mins Yield: 4-5 Servings Level: Easy

Ingredients:

8-10 baby potatoes, boiled
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
4-5 green chili pepper, slit
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste
2 tbsp cilantro chopped
a genrous pinch of asefoetida (optional)

Process:

Heat a the oil in a pan/wok in low-medium heat setting, add cumin and let it roast till you smell the aroma.
Add chopped tomatoes, slit green chill pepper and salt, cover with lid and let cook for 4-5 mins.
Add chill, coriander and turmeric powder. Stir them in and let cook for another 5 mins. Add a little water at this stage if needed.
Cut the boiled potatoes into half (This is optional you can leave them whole too. I like cutting them because I like smaller pieces) and add them to the tomato gravy.
Cook for 3-4 mins (without cover) or till the gravy thickens and there is just enough to coat the potatoes.
Add asafoetida and cook for 30 seconds more.
Remove from heat and garnish with the chopped cilantro.