FISH FRY

A FISH FRY OR FINGER IS MUCH LOVED!

I had almost all the varieties any Bengali would; Fish Orly, Fish Butter Fry, Fish Finger, Fish Fry! Ain't they were born of  the of the 200 years of colonial influence of 200 years on us? I do not much understand the difference between the Fish Orly & Fish Butter Fry, I find them both a bit oily; fond of fish fry and fingers. Because I am sensitive about sea fish; these days I prefer getting fish fillets, marinating them well, breading & frying them! Because I am also not comfortable with deep frying stuffs now & then, I control the temptation to have them too often! Back in Kolkata, a good quality fish fry demands Bhetki Fillet, very rarely did my family got the fillets & the fries happened at home, neither we frequented a good restaurant to have them often; I would look forward to a festive home to have those! We did not have the liberty to buy from the roadside stall! I got conditioned with the warnings since a young age about poor quality fish fillet being used, I feared buying the low priced one compromising on the quality! The parents preferred an ice-cream, kulfi-falooda, chole-bhature, dosa, vada, idli instead when out! With time, I did feed myself a fry from Benfish but  it's fish quality ain't good! On my last visit to Kolkata, I did not have one for a single day; it was hot, my stomach was not in good condition, our mother does not fancy any Benfish product, she cannot digest well outside food anymore. I had on my mind my brother who came home from office late who got overweight eating out often! This time, I have no fascination towards outside food whilst in Kolkata, except for a good sweets! I was content buying fish & vegetables and getting our mother cooking for me! Not really, I want to cook, she does not let.

OUR SUNDAY MENU WAS FLAT AND SIMPLE!

Last Saturday, I did not cook, we had some leftovers from the earlier week, We had something left from the delivery made on last Friday, we had to finish them. With nothing much to do & the son not in the habit of calling & making us feel happier; I was getting bored yet did not take up a cooking project! I wanted to clean the refrigerator rack! Okay, I cooked yum paratha pizza on the Saturday night, would blog about it sooner! Sunday was Cristine's elder sister's birthday, she cooked a couple of stuffs and took for the sister, friends. They have an elder brother back in Philippines! It was nice that she kept for us MAJA BLANCA, she makes the dessert pretty well. On this day, I do like the milk-cornflour-corn kernel dessert!

For our lunch; we had few vegetarian dishes and a dried fish bharta! I felt T deserved something more for lunch & I was unwilling to wash a lot of utensils or paste ginger in Cristine's absence. I cooked an egg curry in a small pot using sliced onion, whole garlic & few spice powders. Egg is way better than the smelly sea fish varieties!

That is my Sunday lunch thali, we are no more into an elaborate lunch platter on a Sunday as per the Bengali ritual. If I could show you how happy T looked happy finding two yolks in his egg, thats a rare case!

Our Sunday dinner was simpler with Khameri Roti and eggplant-tomato sabzi!

This little of arrangement I can do, thinking how would be life without Cristine, we got mentally dependant on her after the son's departure for a better future! We were watching movies & series too but I am kind of feeling too restless for the past few days, certain feelings we cannot share in public in details. I did not even wish to go out of home for a walk, went for a swim down. Back home, my lunch was this simple; thereafter having banana with maja blanca dessert was a pleasure!

WHAT IS FISH FRY?

I make the explanation easy, fried fish is mach bhaja to me and fish fry do I mean the breaded FISH FRY! Most Bengali would refer the same! These days I make them fresh, good & way tastier than a store bought one. The way I double marinate them, shops may not. Here in the island, they do not marinate the fillets as such, I cannot have them everywhere, specially those made of cuttle fish! However, I thoroughly enjoy the fish orly types at the Long John Silver, Chick-a-Boo, also liked it at Manhattan Fish Market once; okay Fish & Co's too! Best if you try mine, a non-veg, fried seafood item that is loved by a sea fish hater like me! I had a vegetarian paratha pizza to share, I had a lentil fritter curry to share, I had a chicken rice or a mutton kebab to share today, but I wished to share this one! There is also a good dried fish recipe in hand, but two days back the daughter-in-law took our mother to the doctor with much of care, I should not! I am pretty disturbed with something, I had  something good to gift the earth but I do not know where to start from. I wish I could give a shout out about what is bothering me for the past few days! 99% of people would not understand me, better I keep to myself & serve food! Here we do not get skinless sea bass, I was in Kolkata and got precept perfect Bhetki / Sea-Bass. Instead of bread crumb I used crushed toast biscuits,  Kolkata stalls uses the later!

INGREDIENTS : [for the Bengali Style Fish Fry]

Boneless Fish Fillet : 6-8 [I used fresh Sea-Bass fillets]
Lemon Juice : 1/2 small tea cup
Ginger Extract : 2 tbsp
Garlic Extract : 3 tbsp
Ginger Paste : 1 tbsp
Garlic Paste : 2 tbsp
Black Pepper Powder : 1 tsp + 11/2 tsp
Chopped Green Chilli : 2 tbsp [optional]
Bread Crumbs : 200 gm {I used biscuit crumbs]
Refined Flour : 1 small tea cup
Water : As Required
Salt : As Required
Oil : As Required to deep fry

PROCEDURE :

Let us do the colonial rule influenced BENGALI FISH FRY.... the name Bangalir Fish Fry would have suited the most!

We would wash and marinate the fish fillets with lemon juice, ginger and garlic pastes, crushed black pepper powder, crushed or finely chopped green chillies and little of salt for an hour. My garlic changes to green once made to a paste.

After an hour, discard the marinade! Marinate the fillets again with black pepper powder, ginger and garlic extracts and salt.

We would fold in well, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 hours.

We would prepare a mixture with refined flour, salt, a cup of water. It would neither be paste like, nor watery! We would take the bread or biscuit crumb on a plate. We are also to take some refined flour in a bowl!

We would take the marinated fish fillets, one at a time; coat with the dry flour, then dip into the flour mixture and then coat well with the bread crumb & repeat. 

We would take a scale like thing & press from the sides! We would cover the plate with a cling wrap and refrigerate overnight or for few hours before frying.

 

We would take the plate out before frying & remove the cling wrap. We need to heat enough oil and fry in batches. Mine is a smaller wok, so I fried one at a times.

Once both sides are fried well, we would place on to a tissue paper before serving to get rid of the excess oil. The frying process requires adjusting the heat as and when required!

Kashundi, a Bengali mango-mustard sauce is the best pair with it, however you can serve it with your choice of sauce & salad!

FUSILLI FRUIT BOWL

 SERIOUSLY I DO ENJOY CERTAIN FRUIT SALADS!

I like to create innovative salads once in a while, pasta salad my son would eat! Like, I would make raita with few vegetables in such a manner that T would enjoy having on days I make a handmade bread or biryani. Because we are non vegetarian eaters, such breads and raita moments do not happen on a regular basis! Else a bowl of raita / yogurt & minced vegetables is a good thing to have! To make it edible for us, I do add a bit of sugar to it! Because we are enthusiastic cooks in the family, neither I, nor my people have learnt to have food that is not properly made and tasty! I am too scared thinking of my boy eating semi-processed, packaged food! I / We repeatedly ask him to buy raw noodles & pasta packets, cook from the scratch! He tends to buy semi-cooked ones which he further cooks in the oven! This is turning us mad sitting far off! I feel an urge to cook student & bachelor friendly dishes these days hoping against hope that my child would follow my wise words. He is eating outside food since age 19, what would happen to his stomach? His childhood icon Jishnu Dada cooked his own food in his Symbiosis days, during his masters in Toronto & would do the same on his oncoming days of Phd at the same place. On my visit to Kolkata last time, I saw the young Jishnu who loved KFC Chicken & Porota varieties wanting smoothie bowls for dinner some days! About 12 years in a foreign land did not change me much, I eat rustic Bengali Food, okay having the sides with a mix of broken Brown Rice & Quinoa!

Mumma is not mad that she would expect her boy to cook the Bengali recipes from her blog! But she expects her boy to cook some chicken rice, fish bakes, vegetable stewed rice for himself instead of eating out day & night!

I AM NOT REALLY IN A GREAT MOOD!

My thoughts control my mood, I cannot avoid the happenings around! I would poke my nose deep into the matter and want to find the root cause of a massacre / event! Along with the innocent lives lost, I feel for the murderer too instead of cursing! The murderer was not born as one! My anger travels towards the family members, teachers; the parents mostly! Why they couldn't give enough love & care to a child who gets to become an odd member in the society and leaves untimely! This is also a sad thing to witness if you say so! I feel restless relentlessly thinking about all these! There was a time I was not let to read the newspaper for a period! Things bother me too quickly! Then, I do not cease to follow my daily routine. I am busy since yesterday & until tomorrow, a food delivery is to be done. With all these thoughts on my mind & with a heavy heart I shop, I eat well. Our non-vegetarian trolley had to be exchanged for a new one. We carry too heavy stuffs, they hardly work beyond a year and half! At this time I am doing the prep work for tomorrow, writing this blogpost & having what I am to have! I sincerely pray to God be my / our child have a happy, normal life! Anything unlike is my failure as a parent! Every child is different, parenting should be accordingly!

WHAT IS THIS FUSILLI FRUIT BOWL?

Pasta does come home on a regular basis! The son & Cristine love it way too much! The man's not too favourite but takes in his lunch box, he prefers sandwiches over pasta; roti-paratha are the most preferred! Yesterday, back from the office he asked us to stop getting chicken, there is a price hike. I stopped him and told leave it to me, I would source it at a reasonable price as long as possible. I cannot eat the sea fish varieties, I have to have it! Chicken is not coming from the neighbouring country is true but the problem would be solved sooner is also true! But like in Kolkata, it is not necessary for us to have rice & chapati friendly meals all three times a day! Pasta with fruits, vegan like this one FUSILLI FRUIT BOWL is welcome to me! The fruits have to be of my choice, there should be no amount of overpowering of sauces & melted cheese in my pasta bowl! Of the varieties, I enjoy the Fusilli & Farfalle, Tortellini, Ravioli; Spaghetti too. I hope the students & bachelors living far off from their home finds this useful!

INGREDIENTS :

FUSILLI PASTA : 200-250 GM

FRESHLY CUBED RIPE MANGO : A BOWLFUL

FRESHLY SLICED RIPE BANANA : A BOWLFUL

LEMON JUICE : 2 TBSP

FRESHLU CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER : 1/2 TSP 

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OLIVE OIL : 2 TBSP + FEW DROPS

PROCEDURE :

Boil the pasta variety in enough water adding a little of salt & few drops of oil! This may take 7-8 minutes!

Drain the water, take in a bowl! Add a pinch of salt, olive oil, crushed black pepper, toss well.

Arrange in a serving bowl, add the freshly cut & washed fruits, lightly mix and put for chill!

Take out after an hour or two, enjoy!

 

MALPUA APPE

 I TRY TO MAKE HEALTHIER PITHE PULI, SWEET, SNACK!

If you had been watching my activities, you would agree to my claim! I am trying to adapt to healthy eating habits, too oily and sugary stuffs cause me discomfort these days! A pita bread last night instead of deep fried "luchi" is a step towards health for sure! 

I had my dinner with less of guilt, my problem is that I snack in-between meals. I do not know why I cannot resist that. Even T was saying what is the point of doing intermittent fasting if I keep having snacks & biscuits between 2 pm and 10 pm! My binge eating increased after the son left home for a better life! There is nothing fruitful to do and I have been a born foodie, this turn of life was obvious. I am even more sad looking at the double chin of my brother. What is wrong with us siblings I do not know, but we look like two footballs these days. All of my anger goes onto the weight machine and I feel like breaking it! Anyway, a lunch with a plateful of rice on a Sunday is not a crime! There had 'shutkir bharta, palong shaak, borar jhol"! The crime was to have that crisp toast with a generous drizzle of butter and a pinch or two of brown sugar in the evening!

Saturday & Sunday, I had all carbs! Though I may not have rice meals starting tomorrow, until Friday; I am unable to shed a kilogram  because my exercise is either a 45 minutes of swim or an 1 1/2 hours of walk! I see healthy diet plans and healthy people in social media; do not get motivated these days. It seems to me an upheaval task to eat what I do not wish to! However, I keep sending warning messages to my brother and the son. I have asked the son not be fat like mumma, neither to have a skeletal structure like babai!

REEL LIFE, REAL LIFE; ALL OF THEM AFFECT MY LIFE; I FIND ULTIMATE SOLACE IN FOOD!

Like yesterday evening we were watching "Panchayat" Season 2, at the end I was feeling sad and restless. I get happy at the sight of a plateful of food! Planning for what food to cook is another level of a pleasure. The snack I cooked today was on my plan for over a year. I am proud to own an appe pan, I may not use it regular as is done in a Southern Indian home, but it really can get us a variety of snacks using  minimal oil! Today, it caused a disturbance in my fasting routine; I tasted one before 2 pm; after that I had a couple of them before going to swim! Thereafter, I had that lunch with the leftover chicken-rice I cooked last Saturday night in the microwave and rice with "kechki mach er chocchori"! A bowl of sweet oranges was not a concern. Cristine was out at the time, I do not even wish to serve myself well. The man too took chicken rice & mango in his lunch box!

I am too eager to blog about the delicious chicken-rice bowl cooked hassle free! But I felt I need not behave a senile and hyper in public, let me keep it for another day sooner! This recipe would help busy people including an international student like our son! What I cooked this morning is equally worth sharing!

WHAT IS THIS MALPUA APPE?

Bengalis pronounce it Malpoa, I think it is the most common & most loved pithe / sweet snack in the family, second comes the patishapta pancake. Malpua, that is deep fried pancake making is not a big issue but it requires a wok full of oil for the round, fluffy shaped and a little less for the flat ones! Unless it is a special prayer meet or Poush Mash, I do not make them. This idea was playing on my mind for long what about making a malpua batter and cooking them in a spoonful of oil on an appe pan! Whats in a name, the taste would remain same! MALPUA APPE is a sweet snack; vegan food done in a specialised pan to minimise the use of oil! The Bengali Malpoa Batter is flavoured with fennel seeds, I used green cardamom powder, rosewater instead today! 

INGREDIENTS :

REFINED FLOUR : 1 COFFEE MUG

SEMOLINA : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

RICE FLOUR : 2 TBSP

SHREDDED COCONUT : 1 SMALL TEA CUP [I USED DESICCATED COCONUT]

BAKING SODA : A PINCH OR TWO

SUGAR OR JAGGERY : 1 SMALL TEA CUP [I USED BROWN SUGAR]

ROSE WATER : 1 TSP

GREEN CARDAMOM POWDER : 1/2 TSP

WATER : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 1/4 TSP IN EACH

PROCEDURE :

We would take the semolina in a wide mouthed bowl, add water to it. You can use thickened milk to it instead! In this island, the semolina variety is such the soaking time can be of 1/2 an hour, in Kolkata, it may take 2 hours to soften!

The next step is to add the refined flour and beat well so there is no lump left!

Then we would add the coconut, sugar, rose water, green cardamom powder, beat well! We need to keep it covered for an hour!

As we get ready to cook them, we would add the baking soda, a tea spoon of oil and mix well the batter!

The appe pan has to be heated well, each hole has to have this amount of oil or a little less!

We would pour the batter, I missed clicking this step! We would cook both sides well at low to minimal heat. Each side may take 3-4 minutes to cook. The turning over can be done with the back of a small spoon!

We would put them onto tissue paper before serving and having! I forgot clicking this step too!

BEGUN ALOO BORBOTI DIYE SALMON MACH

MY CHOICE OF FISH WOULD MAKE THIS PLATTER PERFECT FOR ME TO COOK! 

When the maximum in the world goes gaga over the beauty & the taste of a salmon, I could not accept it in my life. The above photo feature was done on 12th December, 2020; I tried to give the sea fish a Bengali touch yet could not enjoy it with a bowl of rice!I remember, on the day I cooked it, I still could have the tail end piece with few morsels of rice; on the next day, the stale curry got unbearable for me, but T and Cristine had no issues! By then, the son too was away from home. I do not know what happened, how much of less cooking I do, they do not seem to finish! To that Cristine says, ideas pop up & I keep cooking this & that! I must say, my experiments with food have drastically lessened! It was the son's growing up years who enjoyed varied food! I do not live with a food lover! The moment I get irritated and wish to exchange, he transports some good news! Today, I was walking after sending Cristine back home with what I shopped for Saturday! I get the message of the son's semestral grades that made mumma jumps with joy; baby this time managed straight A's, okay one A- & one B are there but mumma is happy! Our son is a weird stuff, never says anything, we are to download his grades, I scavenge through the parents' group for informations!I do not even know at what frequency he can have a salmon meal; his favourite!

YOU MEAN PAPAD, GATHIYA & KOCHUBHAJA?

Yes, Watsons is having an exhibition in the open area within the Nex mall! They are sold in Mustafa & the Indian Marts; but Watsons? I started giggling. It was a relief to see life back to normalcy gradually; these open spaces were not allowed to hold exhibitions for the past two years!

I did buy a packet of papad for 4$; I do not bring them home, who would fry them in lots of oil, T is not in the habit of such elaborate meals with papad, onion, chilli on the side! I do not like microwave roasted papad! Today, I got one big packet, I may try a curry with some that either side of my family never cooked! If the son played Holi with dadu-thamma as a child, he would take his flower laden rath / chariot along with Dimma all of the Ashokgarh! I would never get to see his childhood again, all I want is to see him at intervals. Another good news that arrived is that my DP has been extended for few more years, I can continue to pick Kharkol Patar Chara from here & there! I thought my rustic self may pose a danger and I may be deported to India! Now, if the son's land allows me a travel visa we can spend few weeks with him! I feel happier after buying that oil pot from Japan Home!

Because I already ate a chicken curry puff and Kheer Potol to beat the hunger, I had nothing much to eat for lunch at 3:30 pm! 

It's raining heavily, but my depressive mood is over powered by a sense of joy, the son got good grades! What else mumma can expect from him except for his safety and security? I wish to wrap up the blogpost sooner, lie down and enjoy the downpour! Tomorrow, I would go to the Indian market, get some smaller fish for myself, I cannot eat the pomfret I bought for them. Moreover, this whole week I did not eat out, I should tomorrow!

WHAT IS BEGUN ALOO BORBOTI DIYE SALMON?

I wished for an easy share today, did not have time to arrange the pictures! I had to gift something to this island and align it with the son's land. If it's coming from me, it has to have a Bengali touch! The other day, my client told they loved the chana curry I sent, but why I could not enjoy? I give authenticity an important place while cooking, I feared if at all it became a Punjabi Chana! I prefer Rajma Curry & Ghughni at any time. The son is not really fond of chana, rajma & ghugni; all he wants are fleshy fish, chicken, mutton! Salmon is favourite fish of the son, man and Cristine; I cooked this salmon with vegetables curry; BEGUN ALOO BORBOTI DIYE SALMON MACH, Bengali style with Bengali regular spices, long beans, potato, eggplants! That makes this gluten-free, non-vegetarian seafood / fish curry!

INGREDIENTS :

SALMON STEAK : 6-7

CUBED EGGPLANT : 8-10 PIECES

CUBED POTATO : 8-10 PIECES

LENGTHWISE CUT LONG BEAN PIECES : A HANDFUL

GINGER PASTE : 1 TBSP

CUMIN POWDER : 1 TSP

CORIANDER POWDER : 1 TSP

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1 1/2 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 2 TSP

FENUGREEK SEED : 2-3 PINCHES

BAY LEAF : 1 OR 2

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 5-6 TBSP

PROCEDURE :

Wash the fish steaks, rub with some salt and turmeric powder! Wash the vegetable pieces, rub with salt & turmeric!

In a bowl, mix together the ginger paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, some turmeric & salt. Add 2 tbsp of water to prepare a paste.

Heat the oil in a wok, separately fry each of the vegetables; take them out! Fry the fish pieces, not to deep fry! Do that in batches, take out!

Temper the remaining oil with the fenugreek seeds and the bay leaves! Add the spice mix and stir cook at low heat for 2-3 minutes. 

As the oil separates from the spice mix, add 2 coffee mugs of water, stir and let boil, covered!

Once the curry comes to boil, add the fried fish pieces, the fried potato, long beans. Cook for 6-7 minutes at low heat, covered!

Add the fried eggplant pieces; stir and switch off the gas burner! If you are not a typical Bengali of Bengal, you would definitely enjoy the curry! I also cooked red lentil curry and spring onion-potato fry on the day!

 

 

MY STYLE MUJADDARA

RICE AND LENTILS OR CHAPATI AND LENTILS ARE THE ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD!

I do not know if age is making me feel or say this! These days a dal, "mumlet", "aloo sheddo" compose a happy meal for me! T would make a hue & cry about why I am always seen in the kitchen, then asks if he has to eat vegetarian food! I do not know why my boy, brother, T dislike vegetarian food! If I do not get my choice of fish, I would prefer a vegetarian meal! Thats what I did yesterday! Cristine was out as part of her Sunday ritual; I cooked bhature / enlivened fried bread to go with the chickpea curry! My people would not mind having vegetarian food in this case! However, my brother cannot think of such a simple lunch platter on a Sunday, that can be his breakfast or be in the office lunch box! For a week, our mother is stationed in her youngest brother's home; the couple went to spend time with their son in Pune! I liked it, I believe if she is active enough she cannot stay jailed at one place. It feels good and silly enough at the same time knowing that my brother misses her, although his spouse is taking good care of him and the home. It is a feel good thing that our mother is required at home; both herself and the daughter-in-law cook good chickpea curry! Its a regular in their lunch box I know!

For our dinner, I wished to go out! As usual, T forgot perhaps what he was; how frequently we freaked out once upon a time! I had the plan to go out, get our dinner. Then I was too unwilling, I served him his favourite, dim-aloo-sheddo bhaat, I had some rice with nigella seed powder & butter, dhokar dalna! My food habit got to be like my rustic, extended family members, I do not mind it or want to hide it!

THE HEAVY RAIN NOW & THEN DOES NOT LEAVE ME IN COMFORT!

It gets me discomfort! Two hours back, I went for a swim, it was all sunny! It is a Vesak Day Holiday here and I perhaps wished for an outing late evening; not to Lumbini, may be to the East Coast Park. Ever since the son left home; I have been pestering the man to freak out often; he hardly wants to step out on a holiday unless it's a friend's home! My crazy self is silly, because it is Buddha Purnima, I see myself in Lumbini; taking too much of interest in mythical tales is a reason! A noodle bowl or a sweet could have been a good share but I planned for what you see! I cooked happily, got disappointed as I craved for sweets post lunch, could not have one. I had mouth freshener, unhealthy it is! I am unstoppable when I crave! I ask Cristine to get a Sunday  and an Apple Pie from Mac, she over powers me & went to get no sugar plain croissant instead. 

Given my age and the ailments I have, with a history of obesity and love for food; it is difficult to lose weight! Intermittent Fasting does not work if the diet pattern is wrong; I am stuck at 59 kg wanting to eat mango, litchi, jackfruit if rice & chapati are to be sacrificed! I cook also to remain unmindful of my needs!

WHAT IS THIS MY STYLE MUJADDARA?

It was in October, 2021 I came across this dish from the Levant! I immediately felt it would go with our taste buds. I think I cooked it for the first time on 26th October, 2021. It says, Mujaddara is the food for the poor, I do not get what is the price of onions in the Levant countries, this dish demands the use of a lot of onions! I used four big onions, yet it felt perhaps my dish required more! What I meant by MY STYLE MUJADDARA is that; to the rice, lentils & onions that are mainly required in this vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian dish; I added potatoes, carrots & green peas too! I did not want to keep omelet on the side, given I cooked mushroom fritters. T told he wasn't expecting vegetarian food for lunch! After cooking & serving, I went for a swim! Imagine, after that heavy lunch and an yogurt-apple bowl, I am craving for something sweet; say a jilipi, or a gulabjamun. That came down to an apple pie & Sunday! Now, finally Cristine is getting some nuts & seeds topped lightly sweet buns, I would have with my tea. I would not care about my dinner! Tomorrow, I must have a mango, coconut with muri, chirey or oats, else my irritation would not go!

I sourced the recipe idea from a couple of existing in the internet, not any particular! 

INGREDIENTS :

COOKED RICE : 3-4 COFFEE MUG [I USED BASMATI RICE]

LENTIL : 1/2 COFFEE MUG [I USED SKIN ON RED LENTIL / MALKA MASOOR]

ONION : 4-5 BIG SIZED

POTATO : 1

CARROT : I

GREEN PEA : A HANDFUL

CUMIN POWDER : 1 1/2 TSP

CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER : 1/2 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/4 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 3-4 TBSP

PROCEDURE : 

I used the skin on red lentils / malka masur dal in this recipe. I washed and soaked it in hot water for 2-3 hours! 

I drained the water, filled it with fresh water, added a bit of salt & turmeric & put it for boil!

Within 12-13 minutes, it would boil to the required consistency! 

We can use cooked rice or freshly cook some rice adding a little of salt to the boiling water! Once the rice is done 80%-85%, we would drain the water through a strainer!

Earlier, I did cut & soak the potato & carrot lengthwise, washed & soaked. We need to drain the water, marinate with salt for 5-6 minutes.

We would also peel & slice the onions; wash them!

I did heat the oil in a wok & fry the carrot, potatoes, green peas; taken out. In the remaining oil; I fried the onions until caramelised!

I took out some for garnish!

I added the boiled lentil, rice, fried potato-carrot-green peas, cumin powder, crushed black pepper and folded in well!

We would adjust the salt if only required!

We enjoyed the meal with mushroom fritter, omelet, sweet mango pickle on the side! Salad I force feed myself; the rest would not touch!