Before i begin my actual post, let me hurl away into a monologue. As if all my posts are anything but monologue. But hey! Listen up. This one is crucial. May not be to you. But to me. I must tell you all how i count my blessings. How i thank Divine Providence for bestowing upon me the energy to do so many odd things that i do everyday. Well, the realisation that i ve an abundance of untapped energy dawned on me a few months back. Not so long ago, i was sick. I was so sick i could hardly do anything. Not in a paralysed sense. I could move about. And do anything that dint require an effort. But unfortunately, all things meaningful in life are done with effort. That was a time when i couldnt find the energy to even rustle up a decent meal. And then there were the scholars who frequented my house and took it upon them personally to make sure i repeat a million times what a clause is and what a phrase is. It was then that i realised how much i take things for granted. I really dint know there was such an immense pleasure in cooking and teaching for me until i was drained out of energy like a wilted piece of spinach who still looked green but only lacked the taste.
Along with such awakenings, i also realised what beautiful people i have in my surroundings. All of them willing to make adjustments for my sake. All of them loving me bountifully. And all of them caring for me. That restored my energy and i got back to what i do in full swing in no matter of time. The moral of the story. Count your blessings. And count them slow.
Well now the actual post. Assuming that you have read about those beautiful people in the aforementioned few lines, let me introduce one of those wonderful people. Priya Sreeram of Bon Appetit. In case you have not read the lines, i strongly recommend that you do. Now, a lil about Priya. In fact i have quite a prolix testimonial to write about her. But what do i do? Her guest post beckons. So let me keep it short. I had the fortune to meet Priya through R. And i m ever so grateful to R for that. Priya. All cliches of being a great food blogger and humble and all apart, i love her for her sense of cuisine. But more than that, i love the way she writes. I m totally in awe of her fabulous language and how she takes the foodie world in her stride with all her beautifully penned posts. Succinctly put, Priya is quietly mind blowing. You wont find her doing rounds of the social network. The possibilities of finding her cuddled up with a book and mug of chocolate is more. That s Priya for you. Thank you Priya for writing up a fantastic post as usual. Go on and read her post.
Fada
Ni Khichdi (Comfort in a bowl)
It gives
me immense pleasure to do a guest post for Anusha. Her space ’Tomato Blues' , is
dotted with crackling recipes and finger-licking pictures. I especially like
the way she pours out her heart and hearth adventures. A heady mix of spunk and
vigour indeed ! When I read her mail with the request, I had no doubt as to
what I wanted to post. Something soothing, healthy and utterly satiating too.
In other words comfort in a bowl.
I am a huge fan of broken wheat or cracked wheat . Commonly called as dalia or godumai ravai, it is a powerhouse of nutrition and fiber. I involve them in my everyday eating as much as possible. When I spotted a lovely recipe for a khichdi with the broken wheat and lentils in Tarla Dalal’s The Complete Gujarati Cook Book, I was one happy soul. The book a win from Gayathri’s WTML event, is a treasure trove of recipes from the ‘Land of the Legends’ and this recipe like others is a keeper.
The khichdi/khichdee/kedgeree, a one pot meal is a wholesome dish on its own. I cooked the dish with more water than given in the recipe to give it a more mushy texture. It was perfect for my little one to wipe his plate clean. The dish is pressure cooked, though you can also cook the dish in a thick bottomed vessel in exactly the same way. Cook with the lid closed till the lentils are well done.
What’s in it :-
(Prep Time : 15 mins,
Soaking Time : 15 mins ,
Cooking time : 25 mins)
{Serves: 3 to 4}
- Broken Wheat - ¾ cup- approx 100 grams
- Yellow Moong Dal - 1 cup - 200 grams
- Ghee - 1 tbsp
- Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
- Cinnamon - 1 stick
- Cloves - 3
- Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
- Asafoetida - ½ tsp
- Onion - 1 large (chopped)
- Potato - 1 large (scrubbed and cubed)
- Carrot - 2 small (cubed)
- Green peas - a fistful
- Cauliflower - 1 small flower
- Ginger & Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
- Whole pepper corn - ½ tsp
- Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp
- Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
- Salt - to taste
- Water - 4 cups - as required
Garnish with :-
- Chopped Coriander
Let’s get
cooking :-
Wash and soak the broken wheat and the lentils in enough water. Drain and keep aside.
In a pressure cooker, heat the ghee and the oil and as it warms up add the cinnamon,cloves,cumin and asafoetida.
When the seeds crackle, add the onion and saute for a few seconds. Tip in the remaining vegetables and saute. Add the remaining ingredients including the lentil and the broken wheat. Saute on a medium flame for a few minutes.
Add water, mix well and pressure cook up to 4 whistles.
Take off flame. Once all the steam escapes, open the lid. Stir the khichdi very well adding little hot water if required. Garnish and serve hot with choice accompaniments.
Verdict :-
Finger-licking good. The dish simmered with vegetables and spices is a delectable meal. Perfect on its own or can also be served with curd and papads.
E.N.J.O.Y
Priya s post is a perfect winter delight. I hope you all make some, relish some and lick it all clean.
This is day 3 of NaBlaPoMo January and miraculously, i m finding the energy to write posts everyday. Check here to know what the other NaBlaPoMoers are doing this January. And kick up some energy with the kichdi.
And i m happy to tell you all that beginning this January, i will be featuring a guest post every month. Shoot me an email at anusapraj@gmail.com if you are a newbie blogger on the block and you love blogging.
