ALOO LEBU PATA DIYE EGG DROP JHOL

It's been long I haven't blogged about an egg recipe. Let's do it today although I had a mutton recipe on my mind to share. Then last night got news of my favourite writer Nabanita Deb Sen setting out for a long journey. If you look back at tradition of Hindu Bengalis, you will see meat was never a part of any celebration or mourning, okay neither egg. But egg is part of "Boron Dali". It is fish which is considered lucky, pious among us. I am unable to go ahead with fish share today. Egg is fine, the literary genius I am talking about today had been a very liberal soul unlike me, I visualise her as a potful of positivity with immense potential and an infectious smile. Our families never did prepare an egg poach curry or an egg drop curry, it is always a lightly fried boiled egg curry preferably with duck eggs in our homes. 

Here in this island they eat duck eggs preserved in salt. So, we got used to having our egg curry / "dimer jhol" with chicken eggs / "poultry r dim" as family in Kolkata says. Getting in hand these small sized "deshi murgir dim" has become a rarity in Kolkata. They were served boiled on breakfast table whose "kushum", that is yolk used to be  too tasty, sans a fat white coverage. Yes, I dislike the healthier part of an egg... the white. Perhaps the reason to love this egg drop curry with potatoes ALOO LEBU PATA DIYE EGG DROP JHOL. I had been trying this curry ever since I discovered it around. You all know, until the taste of curry does not satisfy my tongue, I cannot share recipe with you. I have to love it myself to be able to share it with you. The addition of kaffir lime leaves, chaat masala to curry touched right chords inside, got ready to share recipe with you.

Just yesterday evening, I was relaxing in guest room with one of Nabanita's Novel Collection, baked Onion Rings & Ginger Tea, late at night I got news of her demise. I am not shocked, she needed rest, served us for long. It will need a slow reader like me a pretty good time to finish reading all her works. 

If son is at home, I am not allowed to sit in living room. He makes it look like concentration camp closing all doors, windows, putting the tv in full volume. Hence, Yesterday evening I was  cooking, also relaxing in guest room. I am cooking less, smart at the moment. I had to change pictures of an earlier Blog Post PRAWN FRIED RICE, my men love it.

To blog about non-vegetarian curry with eggs was what I planned yesterday morning. I think I am enjoying an egg drop curry because I don't have to chew hard boiled egg white. I have done it pure Bengali Style except for use of chaat masala, I would take liberty to call it ALOO LEBU PATA DIYE EGG DROP JHOL.

INGREDIENTS :

EGG : 6-8
POTATO : 2MEDIUM SIZED
LIME LEAF : 4-5 [I USED KAFFIR LIME LEAF]
TOMATO : 1MEDIUM
ONION : 1BIG
GINGER PASTE : 1TBSP
GARLIC PASTE : 2TSP
CUMIN POWDER : 1TSP
CORIANDER POWDER : 1/2TSP
RED CHILLI POWDER : 11/2TSP
TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2TSP
CHAAT MASALA : 1TSP [IT HAS SALT IN IT]
CINNAMON POWDER : 1/2TSP
GREEN CARDAMOM POWDER : 1/2TSP
CLOVES POWDER : 2PINCH
CUMIN SEED : 1/4TSP
BAY LEAF : 1
GREEN CHILLI : 2
SUGAR : 1/2TSP [OPTIONAL]
SALT : AS REQUIRED
OIL : 4TBSP

PROCEDURE :

Peel, wash potatoes. Cut each to 4 pieces, first widthwise, then lengthwise. Wash again, rub with salt, turmeric.

Peel, discard two ends, thinly slice onions. Wash them. Slit two green chillies, wash. Wash, chop tomatoes. 

Take ginger paste, garlic paste, cumin+coriander+red chilli+turmeric powders in  bowl, mix adding little water.

Heat oil in wok, lightly fry potatoes discarding marinade. Thereafter, temper oil with bay leaf, cumin seeds.

Add washed, sliced onions, fry until brown at low heat. 

Add spice paste to wok, stir fry at low heat for 2 minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes, stir fry 2-3 minutes. Add 1 & 1/2 coffee mug of water.

Cover wok, simmer at minimal heat for 3-4 minutes. Add lightly fried potato pieces, cover cook at lowest heat for 2-3 minutes.

Remove cover. Gently break washed eggs, drop them onto boiling curry. Leave wok uncovered, let curry simmer at lowest heat for 2-3 minutes.

Add lime leaves, chaat masala, cloves powder, green- cardamom powder, cinnamon powder, sugar to curry. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.

We should be done. We also had Bengal Gram dal & chicken curry on side. This egg drop curry should goes with "ruti" too.

SHEEM ER BICHI O BILATI DHONEPATA DIYE JHINGE

Listen, life is what how you want it to be. Today is a day when I could seek a lot of "uhh-aha" on my respective pages, stirring up your minds with a big, emotional post, the situation is such. I will not do that, I have watched our mother cooking for us with above 100*F fever without complain. I fight with her on many occasions, cannot be her pet anymore like before which she wants, a sense of guilt however works inside, we could have been a little compassionate towards her, study hard, do something in life.... thats what she wished for. I do not know if our father sitting in another world feels guilty or not, I have never seen him enquiring when she eats her lunch or how she feels on certain days. He definitely was good human being but there is something more what your lady expects from you. I see same in this home, may be so I do not sit, cry comparing my husband's behaviour towards me, that of his father's towards his mother. 

I find a repeat of my mother's life in mine. I was never jealous but I still wonder how dedicated a person can be towards his wife.... all day pampering "eei eei watch your steps, no no no you cannot ride a bus, osudh ta khao... the medicines are placed between her lips ever since I got married, I didn't see husband's mother in most of evenings be at home .... her husband never frowned, made himself tea back from office. His wife was busy partying, he was with Communist Manifesto, son left home at age 20 to support family. In between all these, it seemed to me daughter of that house's academics was severely neglected. Well, let us not compare my husband's treatment of me with that of his father's towards his mother. I may not be friends with her but the way she discharged her duty as daughter-in-law, is rare definitely! But yes, neither our father, nor my man ever enquired what we are doing in the home front, what we are buying, we have complete freedom in that matter!

My overconfident husband thinks what I enjoy is beyond his mother's imagination while I am quick to retaliate "did you ever see me out when you are at home? Did you ever have to serve yourself your own food? Am I a spendthrift? I came to this island with eight year old child, in those lone years I carried 8kgs of rice bags, groceries, bags full of fish, meat, so shut up! I may not have given more importance to social work than my own home but I am absolutely okay with it." But, both of us take such fights lightly as part of life. Not in high spirit today, I prepared a healthy, sugar free, oil free microwave cup this morning for family.

Happiness is within you, your family, friends add more to it.  I give big talks, do not follow the wisdom. But I cook & serve you well. Let us prepare this vegetarian, vegan Bengali curry with ridge gourd, Hyacinth beans, culantro SHEEM ER BICHI O BILATI DHONEPATA DIYE JHINGE. I have also cooked rest of family's favourite prawn curry, mutton curry, paneer, dal alongside.

The man is still at home today until lunch. He would have Egg-Potato Sandwich, head to office when I want him to take rest. He is hardworking, energetic self but only at office. He is back from tour late last night only to travel again over weekend, he is not feeling well, never complains! All his complain is against my tiny green patch which he thinks generates "mosha o machi." The best thing about him is he never stops me from doing what I wish. 

I wish more flowers on my green patch. They are just not getting enough sunlight. The couple fight at this home knows no bound, it is healthy if only you do not allow any third party to benefit from it. Cristine is good but supports Sir more. The man told me last Saturday "dhonepata diye jhinge?"... I said, "toder bari ja hoyna shetai ki weird? Amar to money hoy toder bari khub limited ranna-barir byaparey.... khali thor-bori-khara and vice-versa!" Anyway, he did eat the vegan, gluten free, soothing on your stomach, a dish with ridge gourd, dried Hyacinth beans seeds, Vietnamese saw tooth coriander / Mexican coriander / culantro leaves SHEEM ER BICHI O BILATI DHONEPATA DIYE JHINGE, the son didn't touch, he had his favourites prawn, paneer, mutton, I love such light curries vegetarian or with my favourite kind of freshwater fish variety.

INGREDIENTS :

DRIED HYACINTH BEAN SEED : 2TBSP

RIDGE GOURD : 1BIG OR 2-3 SMALLER SIZED

CULANTRO / BILATI DHONEPATA / VIETNAMESE SAWTOOTH CORIANDER / MEXICAN CORIANDER : 4-5 LEAVES

FRESH CORIANDER : A SPRIG [OPTIONAL]

NIGELLA SEED / KALONJI / KALOJEEREY : 1/4TSP

DRY RED CHILLI : 1

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1/2TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 2TBSP [I USE MUSTARD OIL]

PROCEDURE :

It is an easy recipe but raw,  Hyacinth beans seeds requires few steps to get ready to be used in cooking.

My family used to roast it in sand in bulk, store for a year. I got a packet, dry roasted 2tbsp of them.

I transferred them to bowl. I used a tong to break the shell of each and discard them. Cristine did it for me.

Wash, soak them in hot water for at least 2 hours, we will not need to boil them then as my family veterans used to do.

Peel off ridge gourd skin, discard two ends. Cut half, then into cubes. Wash, marinate with turmeric + red chilli powders + salt. Keep aside covered for 10 -15 minutes.

Chop, wash culantro and coriander leaves, take them in blender. Blend to a paste adding a little of water.

Heat oil in wok, temper it with halved dried chillies, nigella seeds.

Discard water from Hyacinth beans seeds, add to wok. Stir for 1/2 a minute.

Add marinated ridge gourds, fold in well.

Cover cook at lowest heat for 4-5 minutes. A lot of water would release.

Add culantro + coriander leaves paste to curry. Fold in, cover cook for a minute.

We are done, we don't require to add water.

Transfer to serving bowl, enjoy with steamed rice, millet. Get dal, fish, meat, salad... done!

EGG FREE MULTIGRAIN ATTA CORNMEAL KISHMISH CUP

Today I woke up heavy hearted, was feeling uncomfortable. My sleep pattern underwent sea change after relocating from Kolkata. For me it was 10pm-5am sound sleep. After marriage, I saw my new home lacks discipline. As I always say it is Almighty's blessings that the two kids did not stray, there were higher chances. I envy freedom of that home's kids! Yet it was hard to accept that home's ways. I felt I will discipline the setup, later understood its impossible. 

Mum-in-law wanted me to be like her, we are poles apart! She would sit with tea around 10pm back from neighbourhood chat sessions, some days around 11:45pm-12am, there is no a bit of exaggeration in what I say. We were asked to eat, sleep, so I did! I served rest, had my dinner, going to bed happened after 11pm..... Later in life, I did get my own home but could not discipline it, myself became indisciplined. I call in-law's side my own, not because I am a son's mother but that it takes time to adjust to a new environment!

The period when I had a beautiful "apni-kopni" life with my toddler in a 550 sq.ft. space, this mumma would sleep asking her toddler to stick to her belly else "ghyago bhoot"may take him away. For a mother, no other touch can be better than her kid's / kids' tenderly touch, but we cannot deny other requirements in life, I won't make absurd claims! Nothing can be my lullaby these days, my actual sleep period may is 5-6 hours, son's father had to make his ten year old son independent, fine... he has to listen for life"hingshemi korey amar cheler sangey amai alada korechish!"

 The thing is, some of my friends used to scold me, while feeding my son, make him sleep or study, I referred to "ghyago bhoot." I stopped, he fears flies if not ghosts. Mumma continues to, early morning she herself was caught in midst of supernatural or paranormal beings in an unknown land where no one could give her direction of an address she asked for. She wandered alone scared, waiting to know where actually she can get safe place to spend night. This happened between 4am-6:30am today. I wake up around 4am, do necessary job to get more traffic to my blog, come to living room, again try to sleep for two hours. The husband went to neighbouring country yesterday, I woke up with fear, with an uncanny feeling but to this.

The picture is taken at 6:25am this morning. I came back to my normal self finding myself among known! I tremendously felt the urge to bake a healthy bread using baking powder, baking soda, I did. I would share the pictorial experience on my business pages tomorrow.

My morning tea session is ritual, I must bake my own healthy biscuits. Baking early morning may be because of spending sometime at Bread Talk last evening. The man left home around 1pm, I was missing our Sunday afternoon "khunshuti jukto chat" .... Post lunch I slept, dreamt of making two ingredient cookie with cornmeal and banana, woke up, went to Bread Talk for latte with red quinoa bun. We all had "pathar mangsho o haathey gora ruti" on Saturday night, we are versatile. I would share everything tomorrow hopefully; now have this egg free, vegetarian, more or less healthy cup cakes with multi grain atta, cornmeal topped with raisins. 

I feel cornmeal or wholewheat flour is raw deal in cakes, breads, call it unhealthy or what, refined flour is kind of Madhubala in baking world. So, raisins, cinnamon powder would balance raw, wild approach of this EGG FREE MULTIGRAIN ATTA CORNMEAL KISHMISH CUP.

We can bypass a nightmare bringing in some positivity into our lives. For me it's a good book, a long walk, a cheap buy, stirring up dishes.... what's it for you? Do it! Do not just indulge in fruitless activities discussing people, their relationships, their home, collecting news, creating divide. This is something I dislike. I study intents, then get into friendship..... after University level, its few friends we make, acquaintances, known circle helping each other it is actually. I take more interest in beauties my eyes meet.... nature, gothic structures, adventurous woods. Keep figures, nature separate.... a human figure is minuscule to nature's beauty & bounty. I love nature, this island, both at same time. I keep telling him "Boss, we have not tasted 1/20th of World's beauty, when to?" We feel safe in this island, have no future here! I wished for! Meanwhile, let's bake a vegetarian, few ingredients cup cake EGG FREE MULTIGRAIN ATTA CORNMEAL KISHMISH CUP!

INGREDIENTS :

MULTIGRAIN ATTA : 1/2COFFEE MUG
CORNMEAL / BHUTTAR ATTA : 1/2COFFEE MUG
EVAPORATED CREAMER : 100ML

BANANA : 1 STANDARD SIZED
BAKING POWDER : 1TSP
BAKING SODA : 1/4 TSP
CINNAMON POWDER : 1TSP
VANILLA ESSENCE : 1TSP
SUGAR : 1/2 OR LITTLE MORE OF A SMALL TEA CUP [I USED STEVIA POWDER]
RAISIN : 8-10
OIL : 1/2SMALL TEA CUP

PROCEDURE :

Take both flours, baking powder, baking soda in a bowl, mix well. Better pass through sieve.

Take evaporated creamer, vinegar, sugar, stevia powder, oil, banana, cinnamon powder, vanilla essence in blender, blend it at high for a minute.

Pour it to flour mixture, add raisins, fold in lightly. They say not to beat hard cup cake batter. 

I placed bake stand inside microwave, pre-heated oven at 160*C! Thereafter, I placed the cup cake tin atop bake stand, baked at 160*C for 12 minutes. Your time taken may be a bit different.

Make them your tea / coffee time delights.

RANGA ALOOR TIKKI GARLIC PICKLE RICE

Yesterday, I was busy. Early morning I went out with Cristine to local wet market for raw produce, I am against buying fish, meat, vegetables from super marts unless theres an emergency. Wet markets give you best quality raw food at better price, you just have to reach there in time. I dilli-dally, get late. Many practices here are similar to that of Kolkata. I had seen our grandfather, father going to famous DumDum Bazaar by 7-7:30 am to get freshest of vegetables, fish. The father did not have any interest in this job, just forced himself.... my husband does not even force himself. Our mother inherited the skill of shopping raw produce from her father, her youngest brother does it too well, I am a moderate follower of them. 

Day before yesterday, something to do with "ranga aloo" aka sweet potato did strike my mind. Initially, I thought of preparing "ranga aloor jilipi", skipped that idea and prepared some "roshbora"instead in the afternoon, the entire evening was spent preparing sweet potato tikki rice tossed in garlic pickle; RANGA ALOOR TIKKI GARLIC PICKLE RICE, pairing it with spicy pomfret dish, lamb shabu shabu stew. It was tiring but never irritating, cooking makes me feel happier. From market, Cristine came back home, I went for walk, did a 8.6 km, ate Yong Tau Foo in Laksa gravy, Sugarcane Juice, bought three packets of soil for 10 Sing$ and a pot, still some of my plants do not seem healthy, they lack their main food which is sunlight..... thats what the expert in family told me. This winter she would be travelling to Bangalore to my cousin's with our father's youngest brother and his spouse, she is happy, worried about her plants. The brother will never peep, his wife is like me who lack knowledge about plant life. We are happy for mother too, she needs to go out of home at regular intervals, I scold brother when he gets choosy about who she would travel with. My father's youngest brother is great support, an ally to her gardening ventures.... if only he stayed near.... Nagaon, Assam is too far.

Back from my walk, I started with the "Roshbora" making and ended up making good use of the sweet potatoes I got, three standard sized at less than 3Sing$.

It was a satisfying Kitchen adventure for me, We had a get-together to attend, most interesting part for me is the food served, I cannot chat much! I miss Madhuchanda Dey Ghosh at times; we met at an important juncture of life, so welcome.... such people never let you stray. We are poles apart when it comes to IQ Level, however we both cried watching "Stepmom" at Eros, Mumbai. I don't run to few homes in Kolkata without a reason, I enjoy the talk and association. I do not know what my school and college friends do in their other circles but when we meet, it is only reminiscing those good old days including which boy or a girl or a lecturer we fell for, I love that! Better is for me to wander alone or sit together with the family to have a Domino's Pizza or this homely dinner spread of Pomfret, Lamb Shabu Shabu stew with a vegetarian rice main with garlic pickle, sweet potato tikki RANGA ALOOR TIKKI GARLIC PICKLE RICE. My next sole adventure is to visit an Iskcon Temple, I am more interested in their "proshad" lunch, thereafter visiting the nature reserves I haven't, I am to visit certain music fests this month .... life is good man. By end of next year, I should be able to get in touch with some literary groups, 9 years into this island, I did not take membership of a library. Its due to call few friends for lunch meet this month over some good music, let us see. Until then let us cook and eat!

INGREDIENTS : [for the sweet potato tikki]

SWEET POTATO : 3MEDIUM SIZED
CHOPPED ONION : 1SMALL TEA CUP
CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 1TBSP
CUMIN POWDER : 2TSP
CORIANDER POWDER : 2TSP
RED CHILLI POWDER : 1TSP
TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2TSP
CHAAT MASALA : 11/2TBSP
CUMIN SEED : 1/2TSP
LEMON JUICE : 2-3TBSP
SALT : AS REQUIRED
SEMOLINA : 1/2SMALL TEACUP
OIL : 2-3TBSP

INGREDIENTS : [for final Rice dish]

COOKED BASMATI RICE : 11/4 COFFEE MUG serves 4-6members. It should be cooked till 60%-70% done.
THE SWEET POTATO TIKKIS
GARLIC PICKLE : 200ML APPROXIMATELY
CHOPPED CORIANDER
SALT : AS REQUIRED

PROCEDURE :

Wash, cook rice in enough water until 60%-70% done, transfer to colander. Let it be for sometime.

Peel, half, wash sweet potatoes. Pressure cook adding 2 coffee mugs of water at minimal heat up to 2 whistles. Let lid open normally, strain. Let it cool.

Mash boiled sweet potatoes, chop, wash green chillies and onion.

Heat oil in wok, temper with cumin seeds. Add chopped onions, green chillies, stir at low heat.

As onions get translucent, add cumin+coriander+red chilli+turmeric powders. Stir for a minute or two.

Add boiled, mashed sweet potato, chaat masala, little salt, remember chaat masala contains salt in it. Stir to mix well.

Add fresh lemon juice. Fold in well, stir cook for 3-4 minutes. Take down, let cool.

Prepare tikkis / roundels, press between palms. I was enjoying!

Grease an oven proof plate with some oil, take some semolina on a plate and coat the tikkis.

Cook one side for 8-9 minutes, other side for 5 minutes. Spread some garlic pickle on top.

Heat wok on gas top, add about 200ml of garlic pickle, washed, chopped coriander to it.

Add cooked rice, fold in gently. Add little salt if only required. 

Transfer to serving bowl, arrange sweet potato tikkis atop.