ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA

 

It's been long, I wished to blog about this potato-onion fry every Bengali homes perhaps used to cook at least twice or thrice a week for breakfast. It goes with any kind of Bengali / Indian breads, "luchi / porota / ruti. I loved it so much that I had it with baked breads too; on days the mother could not prepare hand made breads! I preferred the combo  any day over a "dudh pauruti" the mother wanted us to have. I always hated milk, who knew then there is something as heavenly as "bangdung", the chilled rose milk drink? Ruti / Porota / Luchi with this ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA and a Bangdung drink is what I would prefer for my lunches and pack the lunch box. A Bengali breakfast plate would be like handmade bread, this potato-onion fry and "jilipi or  roshogolla or pantua"!

Earlier, the worst tendency among Bengali Homes had been to have boiled, creamier milk served hot, at least warm. It was a must have in our family and how I hated it. I do not know how my predecessors digested it served around 10:30 pm, post dinner with thick cream on top. I loved only the top cream, the rest was forced on me. Way later in life, when I met T, I knew cow milk is not a necessity for humans. Yet, I fed it to the son as any Indian mother would do until one day his system refused it. Pediasure, powdered puffed rice, boiled beaten rice, popped rice, rice, lentils, potato, carrot, beetroot, fish & chicken stews were his staple for 21/2 years. Thereafter, milk was allowed only thrice a week, chilled; never boiled and hot. 

How I remember running to the doctors with a child; immensely stressed; from Dr. Dipak Kumar Roy to Dr. Aninda Kundu to even the very renowned Dr. Amitava Pahari. They allowed this panicky mother; it is only the visiting guest T, who would say had he be the doctor, he would have thrown me out of the chamber. Yes, Bengali Mothers are accused of not allowing their children to grow; its true in both cases. If girls, they cannot let the girl be in her new role without interference, wants her to be the same as before. In case of sons, they cannot accept his new role and let be. I have gradually taught my mother that I have a different role now; without their importance getting any less. Not all girls will do that. I am now being entrusted with the responsibility to prove Bengali mothers are brave, giving, liberated, etc. How could someone take a flu shot without telling us? After much coaxing, he told he had taken it already. 

Life turned very different; got dilly-dallied, slower. In between 9am and 8pm I can do anything, I can go anywhere, I can meet anyone but a virus is not letting us be us. We are very cautious at this home but at times, I am getting irritated; life seems mundane; there is no fight with the resident of the next room; you cannot force anyone to take calls, you cannot let go of your own blood either. You are a bothering kind and sit at home; you feel very lonely and sad at times; your partner clearly told not to visit movie theatres this year. Kya karey? You do not like sitting amidst crowd and talk; you want to bring some changes in the room set ups but cannot call labourers! In this scenario, what you all will do I do not know but tomorrow I will be visiting Hanifa to avail their discount on sarees, I have the plan to buy some low cost cotton and semi cottons from Hanifa & Mustafa. I cannot wait for Kolkata visit anymore, neither am I willing to buy expensive ones.

It feels good to get back to blogging after over two weeks, that too with a family favourite Bengali breakfast side with potatoes, onion, chillies; ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA. In our fifties; we want our meals simple. It is a bit difficult for us to have vegetarian rice meals day in and day out; once a week is fine. But as I say, the simplest Indian / South Asian Bread meals seems a bliss to us; if there is a dessert, its near to heaven. We had it for dinner, so the plating is different from how the Bengali breakfast meal is like; luchi / porota / ruti, ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA o mishti / a sweet. Breakfast seldom happens at this home post August 2020; so you see a salad instead.

INGREDIENTS : 

POTATO : 2 BIG SIZED

ONION : 1 BIG SIZED

GREEN CHILLI : 2-3 SLITTED

DRY RED CHILLI : 2 HALVED

NIGELLA SEED / KALOJEEREY / KALONJI : 1/4 TSP

SUGAR : 1 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2 TSP

OIL : 2-3 TBSP [I USE MUSTARD OIL]

PROCEDURE :

Peel the potatoes, cut lengthwise into three pieces, a bit thick. Again cut widthwise, thick off course. Wash well and soak in water for 10-15 minutes.

Peel the onion, cut the two ends and cube. Wash thoroughly. Drain the water from the potato and take together with the potato. Add the salt and turmeric to it and rub well. Keep standing for 5 minutes.

Heat the oil in a wok and temper with the nigella seeds and the halved dry red chillies.

Give a stir and add the marinated potato and onion pieces. You can add the marinade but do not cover cook; it will be fry kind and dry.

We will cook uncovered at minimal heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring every two minutes. We will add the washed & slitted green chillies now.

Thereafter, we will cook uncovered at low heat for another 7-8 minutes. Once it gets soft, yet firm; we are done. We will add the sugar, stir for half a minute and switch off the gas.

We can enjoy it with any kind of bread or dal-rice!