KEBAB OR CURRIES?
A plate of kebab with chapati or mini porota, besides a bowl of honey sweet chilled mangoes would make us happy. Curries do not suit me in summer; macher tok / sour fish curries though suit in summers. In the past one month, our mother was feeding tamarind and raw mango infused lentil & fish curries a lot. I mostly bought live fish varieties. Some days she too went out to get. My brother is a corona phobic, did not allow the mother go out for two long years. Although I allowed but not much, in fear; if anything happens to her, my brother may blame me! I am not the kind who exerts power where I have little of contribution. I feel if they look after the mother mostly, I should not interfere unless required! She cooked, I was busy appointing cleaners and labourers to do the cleaning, repair works. As I look back, the entire month I was not much into pleasure or had eaten out in the streets of Kolkata. May be because of the heat and dust, I was getting indigestion, stomach ache even with a little more of intake. I have got used to this island's weather that is less humid, the environment is clean, noise is less and commuting is easy! But I am not the earning member in the family, T is to decide the future course, he thinks he would go back to Kolkata in few years! Once the son gets to work finishing his studies, he would join in the decision making process!
ALTHOUGH A FOREIGNER,THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND ALLOWS ME THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT!
Take today's example! I freely went out for a walk in the quiet neighbourhoods. There were greens around for me to savour the walk, I absolutely did not have to be extra cautious about the traffic whilst walking! This island allowed me a mask free walk after over two years, I felt relieved! I did some silly clicks, I usually enjoy the exercise.
Because I do not go out to work; I can have a relaxed life. Like that fox, I kept gazing at the solo ripe mango high up. I instantly went back in time; felt had I have a "loga", a hooked, long bamboo pole, I could have got hold of it! You bet, aloevera gel has magical healing properties! Even if we directly apply it to the skin, there would be no sun burns or itching! After the walk, I had lunch!Though I wanted to have a fish soup devoid of carb; I ended up having noodles, omelette, beans-tofu stir fry!
I ate and kept brooding how we get distanced, how people keep hurting, and how interfering people can be! Okay, may be my possessive nature makes me think people are poky nose; it can be so I am the bone in someone else's juicy kebabs.The thought of it fills my heart with aversion towards the deceitful people. I can love people fiercely; I discovered I can ferociously dislike the same people if things do not go my way!These are not signs of normalcy or of a good human being. When did I want to be one? If any of my reader is planning to give me advice, beware of my wrath. T doesn't try, he gets me be, else he has to bear the worst of my behavioural mood swings I have soaked yellow matar, would make a curry with potato; cook some flatbread & serve for dinner.Okay, I would update the blogpost regarding the Kolkata Roadside paratha and matar curry! Because I have issues with every other person, I keep myself content in my own company; my macbook, a story book, a bowl of my choice of fruit, cooking are few of my pleasure things!
WHAT IS CHICKEN SHAMI KEBAB?
It is definitely not what Hindu Bengali Homes would have often. Because I do not get my kind of fish in our island; I would prefer a mince Mutton or Chicken Shami Kebab with buttered rice or roti / paratha! I think I would miss the Bengali varieties of fresh water fish, mutton as much as my Kolkata Home, Mother, Brother. Jhum & Bidisha are nice to me, their parents are sick, Anirban is too talkative unlike me! I visited people but did not wish to stay at their's for long; I love that cosy corner of my home; where I can sit and cry, sing, sleep; all without any intervention!Thanks to T for that; it was a pleasure to prepare ruti for our dinner yesterday.Cristine earlier prepared too tasty a "fulkopi aloor dalna", on Friday, I guess!
She has become a part of this home! Whatever I ask her to do, she does!
If you are a mutton lover like me; CHICKEN SHAMI KEBAB would seem little less tasty than a mutton shami kebab. I prefer a normal chicken kebab at home or a sheekh kebab; is it because I do not take the Bengal Gram Dal, Chicken Mince in the right measure? Be assured, I only blog when about a recipe if only it is tasty! This specific chicken kebab recipe is a non-vegetarian, starter / appetiser recipe! All of a sudden, I think of the father, who disliked having chicken curry made at home; but how he loved the roti and meat kebabs in the restaurants, specially at Amber! The son-in-law took him; later the son, daughter-in-law, even I! I feel had I have learnt cooking variety a little early, I could have treated him with kebabs made at home!
INGREDIENTS :
MINCE CHICKEN : 250-300 GM
BENGAL GRAM DAL / LENTIL : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP
CHOPPED ONION : 1 SMALL TEA CUP
CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 1 TSP
MINCED GARLIC : 1 TSP
MINCED GINGER : 1/2 TSP
CINNAMON STICK : 1 TWO INCH SIZE
CLOVE : 4-5
GREEN CARDAMOM : 3-4
CUMIN POWDER : 1 TSP
CORIANDER POWDER : 1/2 TSP
RED CHILLI POWDER : 1/2 TSP
TURMERIC POWDER : 1 TSP
DRY MANGO POWDER : 1 TSP
BLACK PEPPER POWDER : 1/2 TSP
REFINED FLOUR : 1/4 SMALL TEA CUP
SALT : AS REQUIRED
OIL : 2-3 TBSP
PROCEDURE :
We would wash the matar dal / Bengal Gram Lentil well, take in a pressure cooker.
We would add to it 2 coffee mugs of water, salt, 1/2 of the turmeric, the cinnamon stick, cloves, green cardamoms!
We would close tight the lid and cook unto 2 whistles; wait until it opens.
I did not paste them as is usually done in this recipe!
We would stir and cover cook for 10-12 minutes at low heat!
We would stir cook for 5-6 minutes and add the boiled Bengal Gram Dal / Lentils, dry mango powder!
After stir cooking for 7-8 minutes, we would add freshly crushed black peppercorns and mix well!
We would grease a bake proof metal plate, take out portions and shape into kebabs; brush oil!
We can cook them on the gas top, I oven-cooked them in the microwave+grill option!
We need to place the low height wired stool and on top of it the plate full of uncooked kebabs!
We would cook one side for 10-12 minutes; turn over and brush oil!
We would cook the other side for about 8 minutes. They should be done!
Kebabs are our favourite foods. These meatballs look great. I am sure it must be delicious.
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