TOPA KUL DIYE MOTOR ER DAL

I THINK AFTER QUITE SOMETIME I AM BLOGGING ABOUT A FAMILY RECIPE!

And that cannot be otherwise but Bengali! We are a middle class Bengali family, of East Bengal origin to be precise and hence, we cook a variety with perhaps anything edible, may be we cook & make inedible stuffs edible? You can say, from our family kind of kitchens; there started using every part of a vegetable; peel to the seed to cook a recipe may be! There has in my phone's album a couple of such rustic recipes, of them four are with Kharkon pata, a different variety of yam leaves! If you ask my preference, these days I want to eat such meals like "dal, aloo bhaja, shutki mach er bhorta", "shukto, chuno mach er chocchori, dal", "pabda mach er jhal, dal, fulkopir bora", "chicken aloor patla jhol, aloo potoler dalna, ucche chocchori!" I can talk about 25-30 more of such combination of Bengali food! We must have ruti-porota-luchi on a regular basis! BTW, some of your beloved friends out there {or mother? haha} eats desi breads; you can gladly share in your space! They cannot make it is a different issue!

TODAY TOO I STARTED TO WRITE LATE!

It is my fault altogether! Until 2:30 pm, I was re-arranging the existing blogpost's pictures! All of a sudden, I felt I should not keep too much of workload for Cristine! I set the ladder & did the cleaning job! I changed the bed spreads & cleaned Cristine's room & toilet, washed her clothes, door curtain in the washing machine, hanged! Her door curtain holder fell on my head, I did not die! That made me eat a bit late than regular! And I ate uncountable number of those appe starting at 4:30 pm onwards, I was working & eating one! Cristine has to do a lot of ironing once back!

 

T is scolding me as to why I climbed the ladder in an empty home, we ask Cristine to do it in my presence! I am practicing, so I do not have any issue when we visit our son, that I can serve his home during the time of visit! Only that T hates doing any household chore & both my thumbs got injured, in fact both of our's since our visit to that land! My condition aggravated in the past one & half month! I feel good whilst engaged, else weird thoughts get hold of me! I am irritated, feels extremely violated! People I loved & trusted blindly, actually manipulated me to serve their friendship, put on sell my emotions in an open market! I do not know if henceforth, I should arrange college group meets in our Kolkata Home at all, I think I should attend college meets if only they arrange it in an eatery; not in my place or at anyone's place in groups; individually I can attend! I love my friends but I should love myself too! I cannot let people use me! The day our son would call his college friends home & ask mumma to cook & feed them, allow her to share the pictures in public; mumma would get back to normal! For the childhood friends, and the few of the school friends left in Kolkata, things would remain as it is! Someone has to declare in public I am the best & closest of all friends the person ever had, then I would consider to facilitate the person's other friendships! I do not want to see that gang around, I enjoyed watching until I was a dumb! I am still dumb but my eyes got half opened! Do not get nonsensical testing my loyalty, I am loyal to myself alone! 

WHAT IS THIS TOPA KUL DIYE MOTOR ER DAL?

Motor Dal is Yellow Split Pea, looks similar to Toor Dal / Pigeon Pea, but not the same! Usually, Bengali families cook their sour lentils curry with this variety of pulses! Throughout the entire summer, my side of the family would cook sour curries! The use of Topa Kul / Sour Jujube in a lentil curry was rare, the mother mostly used elephant apple, raw mango, tamarind, dried raw mango  [amshi] slices! Sour Jujube was majorly used to prepare two to three varieties of achar / pickle! My brother, his wife do need sour lentils during the summer, I can have it throughout the summer! The son was brought up feeding dal & rice majorly! Even T, his mother, our deceased father; the non-dal lovers adores / adored a sour lentil curry! Why not share this vegan, gluten-free family, Bengali curry TOPA KUL DIYE MOTOR ER DAL that our mother cooked rarely when sour jujube was in season?

INGREDIENTS :

MOTOR ER DAL / YELLOW SPLIT PEA : 1 MEDIUM TEA CUP

TOPA KUL / SOUR JUJUBE / BER : 6-8

SLITTED GREEN CHILLI : 3-4

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2 TSP

DRY RED CHILLI : 2-3 [HALVED]

BLACK MUSTARD SEED : 1/4 TSP

BAY LEAF : 1

SALT : AS REQUIRED

SUGAR : 1 TSP

OIL : 2 TSP [I USE MUSTARD SEED]

PROCEDURE : 

Wash & smash the jujubes a bit, marinate with little salt & turmeric!

Wash the lentils & soak in hot water for an hour. Pressure cook at minimal heat up to 1 whistle adding two coffee mugs of water, 1/2 tsp turmeric & some salt! Let the lid open in it's own time! 

If you boil in a container, the dal / lentil curry would taste better! In that case it has to be soaked in hot water for 2-3 hours & simmered, half covered in minimal heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour!

In a wok, heat the oil & temper it with the black mustard seed, dry red chillies, give a stir! Add the boiled dal & give a stir! Let it boil for 6-8 minutes at medium heat! Do not forget to add 1 1/2 coffee mugs of water to the wok!

Thereafter, add the slitted green chillies & the smashed sour jujubes & let boil for 3-4 minutes! Then add the sugar, let boil for a minute, take down!

I do not remember if those were meat or fish croquettes, the other bowl has onion stalks & potato stir fry!

 

ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA FUSILLI

WHO CAN STAY AWAKE AFTER EATING A PLATEFUL OF RICE AT 6 PM?

I am struggling to stay awake & am scared now! I should not have eaten that amount of rice! I clicked & then deleted, why should I set wrong examples for you! Today, everything went haphazard! I did not have much work, yet! I am telling you, the re-arrangement of the pictures in the blog is eating up my time! Else, I had little of the household chore! In fact, I planned to go out for a KFC meal today! I eat my first meal post 4:30pm-5pm! I could not manage the time & I had to write a blogpost! I skipped the plan, cooked broken rice-potato-egg together! That is the quickest meal we cook at this home when in a hurry or when my bones get lazier! I did not understand the quantity, ended up eating all of it! I did not wish to make it stale as the broken rice variety I got is too bland with no aroma! We are used to cooking this recipe with the Gobinda Blog variety of rice, aromatic it is! In it's absence, I cook with the Chinigura or Kalijeera rice varieties grown in Bangladesh! I forgot to eat the medicines I was supposed to eat in the morning! Yesterday, I ate a fusilli bowl & the day before a Subway value meal!

                                        

Not that I am a sandwich lover, but the meal made me feel light on my stomach around 6 pm! Some days, I do like a Subway meal; not more than a wrap!

IN BETWEEN ALL THE MESS, I MADE SOME OATS COOKES!

They are tasting perfect to my tastebuds; but why are they chewy & not crisp? This I must ask my friends who bakes often! 

I do not fancy the store bought biscuits & cookies anymore; even the Subway oats cookie seemed too sweet to me, I wish to try them at home on some days! Today I used oats, brown sugar, banana, butter! My cookies never are crisp! Anyway, cookies are never totally crisp! But I am happy they are tasting good! I am happier because my mini toaster oven is put to some use! I am not comfortable using a traditional oven, I do not understand it's functions! I bought this one to learn; even if it spoils I need not regret too much as it costs 39:90$! Also, our tiny flat cannot accommodate two big machines! This does not affect me anymore, I have crossed passed that state of irritation of living in a rented space in the prime of my life! I was never too demanding in life, the word lifestyle was absent in our parent's lives! Now I look forward to my son's life, I wished to take on some people but his IB grades disappointed me! When would our child get the kind of job we wish for him? 

WHAT IS THIS ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA FUSILLI?

This is hilarious, ain't it? To temper a fusilli bowl with nigella seeds? And then cooking it with onion & potato? It can be put as this, when a Bengali household feels lazy to make some "ruti & aloo bhaja", they make ALOO PEYAZ BHAJA FUSSILI! The pasta variety is readymade and the rest of the work takes less time than making "ruti torkari"! Actually, I had to use up this amount of the fusilli variety! The amount would not be enough once Cristine comes back! Just yesterday mid-noon the idea did strike, what about cooking a pure Bengali potato & onion fry & add to the boiled fusilli? What you gain in this recipe is the freshly made spicy tomato sauce! I find the store bought sauces for pasta too bland to my tastebud! Hence, even if you are not keen about adding nigella seeds to a fusilli bowl; you must read the recipe for the sauce! It is a vegan dish you can have at any meal of the day; no I would not add any extra vegetable if I am cooking it with "aloo peyaz"!

INGREDIENTS : [FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE]

CHOPPED RIPE TOMATO : 1 COFFEE MUG

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1/2 TSP

CUMIN POWDER : 1/2 TSP

CORIANDER POWDER : 1/2 TSP

KULAMBU SPICE MIX : 1/2 TSP

SEASONING MIX : AS REQUIRED

SALT : AS REQUIRED

SUGAR : 1 TSP

OIL : 1 TSP

INGREDIENTS : [FOR THE FUSILLI BOWL]

BOILED FUSILLI : 2 COFFEE MUG

THE TOMATO SAUCE MADE

POTATO CUT LENGTHWISE : OF 1 BIG POTATO

FAT SLICES OF ONION : OF 1 BIG ONION

SHREDDED CARROT : OF 1/2 A CARROT

SLITTED GREEN CHILLI : 3-4

NIGELLA SEED : 1/4 TSP

ITALIAN HERB MIX : 1/2 TSP

OIL : 1 TBSP

PROCEDURE :

Boil the fusilli in enough water, a bit of salt & few drops of oil! Strain the water!

Dress & wash all of the vegetables!

Heat 1tsp oil in a wok; add the chopped tomatoes, spice powders including the seasoning mix, salt!

Add 2 tbsp of water & give a stir! Cover cook at minimal heat! As it melts, add the sugar & the slitted green chillies! Take down as it thickens enough!

Heat 1tbsp oil in a clean wok & temper the oil with nigella seeds! Marinate the potato & onion with a little of salt & add to the wok! Give a stir and cover cook at minimal heat for 9-10 minutes, stirring in between! 

Wash the shredded carrot and add to the wok & stir fry for 3-4 minutes! 

Mix together the sauce & cooked fusilli & then add the fried vegetables! Add the Italian seasoning mix!

Serve & have it fresh!

METHI KALO JEERA FLAVOURED QUICK NAAN RUTI

I WISH TO COOK EASY, UNCOMPLICATED RECIPES & GIFT MY READERS THE SAME!

Where do people have time to spend hours in the kitchen? Or they just do not have the energy? Both are true, elaborate cooking is no more considered a quality or a necessity! Moreover, it requires a phone call to order food!There are few like me who enjoy cooking uninterrupted & hop eateries at the same time! I do not know why I am not fond of getting food to the doorstep; eating outside is also about the place, it's decor & environment! I indeed supply food but I tried / would try my best to deliver the food fresh & warm to my clients! During the pandemic, however, the food delivery services fed a number of families & saved many from getting infected! There are people like my sibling who cannot eat home cooked food continuously & also there are young students like our son who heavily depended on such services for sustenance, staying away from home! At one point, he was finding the student canteen's food a bit of boring. He was bound to; the only thing he picked up from his mother is her thing for a variety of food! She tries serving a variety of food on the family's plate! T hardly has any interest in food, the son though not have an oversized stomach like his mother, he does enjoy varied food; both home cooked & ordering from outside! Now that home cooked food is not available, baby depends heavily on the outside food! He is too unwilling to discuss about his daily life with us!

LOVING TO COOK & LOVING TO COOK EASY RECIPES IS A SMART THING!

I do not have the energy to cook complex, the purpose is no more with the food loving son at far! T & Cristine can eat meals with a chicken or egg curry! I need lentils & vegetables! Also, my interest in cooking is not gone! I enjoy this exercise, I have nothing else to do! Also, updating my blog is something I am not ready to quit at this time. They go to work, they study, they publish their work; what do I do? I tremendously enjoy writing & at the same time do not trust my capability & try publish my work! Anybody, who can help me organise my recipes & write ups into a novel? T is least bothered about my wishes, the son is busy building his life! I should have a space to express, given I cannot mingle easily with my brethren! I relax taking ideas of cooking from here & there! I cook or do not cook them all, it is an enriching experience for me! I am planning to eat outside my lunch tomorrow, locally & that is making me happy! I would just stroll, I was to go today but could not manage the time! There are few people in this world with whom I wish to talk uninterrupted!

WHAT IS THIS QUICK MADE METHI NAAN RUTI?

I do not remember where from I learnt to prepare an easier naan bread dough using self rising flour! But I am sure it is not my invention, I am definite I came across a recipe where we are asked to prepare the naan dough with plain yogurt, self-raising flour, a bit of salt & sugar, oil! Then I forgot all about it, few months back the memory revived & I am using the self-rising flour to make both a naan bread & bhature! Is it cheating? Would you call it a cheat recipe? Whatever they say, for a lazy cook like me who prefers cooking & serving fresh on her family's plate, is finding this extremely helpful! I was eager to share this recipe of the vegetarian naan bread for quite sometime that I named METHI KALO JEERA FLAVOURED QUICK NAAN RUTI! 

INGREDIENTS :

SELF RISING FLOUR : 2 COFFEE MUG

PLAIN YOGURT : 1 MEDIUM TEA CUP

SUGAR : 1 TSP

SALT : 1/4 TSP

OIL : 2 TBSP

DRIED FENUGREEK LEAF / SHUKNO METHI PATA : 1 TBSP [TO FLAVOUR]

KALOJEEREY / KALONJI / NIGELLA SEED : 1 TSP [TO FLAVOUR]

BUTTER OR GHEE / CLARIFIED BUTTER FOR GARNISH!

PROCEDURE :

We will take all of the ingredients in a wide mouthed bowl except for the dried fenugreek leaves & the nigella seeds! The norm is to mix the flour, salt, sugar & oil at first & then add the yogurt! I am not particular that much!

We would prepare a smooth dough kneading well for 8-10 minutes! We may not need to add water, add a little if only required!

We would keep the dough covered with a moist piece of cloth for 15-20 minutes, remove the cover & knead again for 2-3 minutes!

We would tear off portions & smoothen between our palms!

We would take together the nigella seeds & dried fenugreek leaves in a bowl & some water in another bowl!

With help of the rolling pin & base, we would give them any shape, sprinkle some dried fenugreek leaves & nigella seeds on the top & press lightly with the rolling pin!

On the back side we would apply some water & place carefully on a hot pan / tawa / griddle!

Roast both the sides well & take down!

The back side would look as below!

Again, take each on a manual wired griller / ruti chakni and cook further, they would fluff up!

  

 

We would serve & have immediately brushing some butter or ghee / clarified butter!

We had it on that day with bhandhakopir ghonto, achar, salad!

 

DHONEPATA KANCHALANKA LEBU PATA POMFRET

IT IS 7:30 PM; I HAVE JUST STARTED WITH MY BLOGPOST!

As I have told you earlier I am not irritated having to do the household chores! That I am unable to manage time, organise myself is what is making me furious! Actually, all my old blog pictures are causing me irritation! How could I miss the reflections in the pictures here & there,  with no focus? It is not possible to change all of the pictures, I can at least do some editing! This editing & refurbishing the blogposts in between doing the house chores are jeopardising the time management part! What is making me sad is the fact I am unable to go out for a proper fitness regime! Although, I do only walking & swimming, I do them without any fail from Monday through Friday! That is not happening but my eating spree has not lessened! This morning I did Bread Pulao again & see the amount! I have sent some to a neighbourhood home but do not know if they would enjoy it!

I DID NOT GET TO SIT FOR A WHILE TODAY!

I did a pav bread today & a vegan & gluten-free millet halwa too! I would be going to the Mustafa area tomorrow & won't be getting millets for quite sometime! The rest at home do not enjoy, and the Neogi family gave us big packets of sattu / chatu / roasted gram flour before leaving for Abu Dhabi! Their son is also our responsibility now! He had Dengue last November, he stayed with us for a week! Thereafter, I am unable to feed him for a single day, he is just not visiting us or letting me send Cristine to his nearest MRT with some home cooked Bengali Food! Girls are way easier to handle, specially those like Wisha, she would meet me at intervals, let me talk uninterrupted to her! But she would not give me more than 2-3 hours! Though we plan to meet once every month, it gets delayed! Let Cristine come, I wish to call this boy & girl together, how much of fun it would be! I would have been happy & content had our son got a second family there! But we have support for an emergency, the father's long time friend's daughter Gargi! She works in a bank & too tied up with two daughters! She wished to meet me on our last visit, we just could not! She assured me they would be there for any emergency! My cousin sister left that state, then a friend got me introduced to his cousin sister there! I remain too worried about the son & it is to stay for life! Oh! Let me cook some rice & heat up the food! The pav bread we can have tomorrow, bread at both meals is abnormal for a Bengali! This Mumma's worries lie there, her son mostly survives on cereals, milk, breads! Where is the time for him to cook? He orders online too but he is a student, lives a budgeted life! Mumma can feel everything, he was always served hot, mostly mumma cooked food while here, its about to be three years he left home! 

WHAT IS THIS DHONEPATA KANCHALANKA LEBU PATA POMFRET?

The son, T & Cristine like Pomfret, any variety of, I cannot have! Because it was black pomfret, I had problem cooking it too given it's too smelly! My folks enjoy fleshy, boneless or less boney fish varieties, they do not mind if it is a sea-fish or a fresh water one! I am too rigid & choosy about having fish, I would either have few fillet varieties or those I grew up eating! On some days, I can still have smaller sized silver pomfrets, not always! Sunday, I would show you what fish I would cook tomorrow night! Saturday I have other engagements! In some selective upscale markets in Kolkata, Black Pomfret is sold! We have always stayed in the suburbs of Kolkata, our wet markets are abuzz with fresh water fish, of different sizes & varieties! Okay, silver pomfret is sold in every market! Why would I have any interest in sea fish? In this island, Black Pomfret is way cheaper, 15-16$ per kilogram at this time but each fish are big sized! Those who are unlike me are bound to enjoy it! I have  used coriander leaves paste in this gluten-free fish curry recipe, DHONEPATA KANCHALANKA LEBU PATA POMFRET! You can see the fish is quite fresh, just that such sea fish curries do not generate any interest in me! Then, we are to rise above our selves at times! Mumma wants to wrap up, she had quite bit of workload today!

She cooks or does not cook, there are always piles of utensils to wash!

INGREDIENTS : 

BLACK POMFRET FISH STEAK : 5-6

FRESH CORIANDER LEAF PASTE : 1 MEDIUM TEA CUP FULL

GREEN CHILLI PASTE : 1 TBSP

SLICED ONION : 3-4 TBSP

GARLIC PASTE : 2 TBSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2 TSP

KHAFFIR LIME LEAF : 2-3

SALT : AS REQUIRED

NIGELLA SEED / KALOJEEREY : 1/4 TSP

BAY LEAF : 1

OIL : 4-5 TBSP

PROCEDURE :

Get the fish steaks cut by your fish vendor! Wash them well! Marinate with a good amount of salt & keep for an hour! Thereafter wash under running water well!

Again marinate with some salt & turmeric! Heat the oil in a wok & lightly fry the fish steaks, do not deep fry! Take out!

In the remaining oil, add the nigella seeds & a bay leaf! Give a stir & add the washed onion slices & fry until golden brown! Add the garlic paste & stir cook at low heat for 2-3 minutes, add 1 1/2 coffee mug of water!

When the gravy starts boiling, add half of the chilli-coriander leaves paste & the lemon leaves! Let boil for few minutes!

Add the lightly fried fish steaks now & let simmer for 5-6 minutes at low heat! Thereafter add the rest of the coriander paste & salt to adjust! Give a stir & let cook for a minute at low heat! We should be done!