KALIJEERA RICE & CHICKEN ECONOMIC MEAL

I remember the date I cooked this family lunch, 30th November, 2019. It doesn't require much of skill or labour. The near cooked rice be taken down, strained at right time. One should not take up such projects on a day when this cook is supposed to go for a running event in evening. The man did shout at me but looking at his & also son's eating pattern that afternoon, I felt what I have done is right; as usual their plates looked squeaky clean after meal & before wash, they were nice enough to eat all of Potato & Peanut Salad served alongside. Tossed in chaat masala, with drizzle of lemon juice, it tasted great. Later in the evening, during entire period of my run I suffered from severe acidity may be because of having rice around 3pm which was cooked in good amount of ghee / clarified butter. Had I have a bowlful of that salad and a piece of chicken, no discomfort would have been caused. Even plain rice would have been fine I am sure. I know too much of ghee causes us Bengalis acidity, I have experienced it. 

Actually, it is all about what one has grown up eating. Kalijeera Rice is a fragrant, short grained rice coming from Bangladesh, I always stock it for pulao & payesh because it resembles Gobindobhog Chal of West Bengal. Here, Bangladeshi eateries use this short grain variety of rice for their Biryanis, I get to know that back in Bangladesh they use it for same. I do eat, get home meat & rice meals from these eateries occasionally but to my dissatisfaction. In Chicken Rice, chicken feels dry; in case of mutton rice, meat smells raw. These days I do any kind of meat and rice with varied combination of spices or even with the readily available spice mixes, better than getting it from eateries. Last 30th of November, I did not have time for elaborate something, I cooked one-pot chicken-rice meal KALIJEERA RICE & CHICKEN ECONOMIC MEAL.

I need finish blogpost sooner. Yesterday, I did not have time to go to market for raw produce. We are going out once done with my post, Cristine with household chores. I ain't willing to go to Indian Market but the local wet market closes by 12pm, I am unwilling to buy packaged meat, fish from local supermarket, their sea-bass is good & fresh however, I have a cauliflower lying in fridge. I am going to the Indian market for "kaikka, magur, maurala", etc. Going on a Saturday morning is good but not always possible, I am getting old man. I have told our boy to wait once back from school if we are late, I will get him sweets, we definitely will have our meal at Ananda Bhavan. No, we will not walk down to the Bangladeshi shop, the sky continues to weep, I am unwell, do not want son to wait in an empty house for long back from school. Their lunch boxes were packed with luchi-torkari. The boy's school is giving up today for winter break, he left his box wanting to have lunch outside with his friends. Mumma allowed, he has earned this allowance, further details shall be shared in public in the right time. I feel restless. The teachers, friends, son, his father are happy, only I cannot rejoice wholeheartedly; the husband has to shout, "you are such negative, stop worrying, take pride in your boy, he will manage those few marks in Mathematic, Spanish in few months." I am unstoppable, "you cannot go wrong at any step during this time boy!" He complains that his mumma is never happy with him, keeps lunch box in kitchen counter, takes snack box with apple, Dharwad Peda leaving mumma to weep alone, "byas ebar ga cherey debey aar July te kharap ekta result korbey, shob jabey amar." 

There is one Bengali couple teachers from Barasat in his school, husband is the physics teacher who definitely repents meeting me four years back. The husband refused to call me his wife post afternoon yesterday not because I almost jumped onto Sir, started complaining about our son but because I did that without valid appointment. Sir is their class teacher, does not take any of his subject, he understands me more than husband. I will pay tribute to each of his teachers in public after few months if given a chance. Now I should share a nutritious, one pot chicken and rice recipe KALIJEERA RICE & CHICKEN ECONOMIC MEAL for you to do over this weekend.

Use fresh chicken for a better taste.

INGREDIENTS :

CHICKEN : 8-10 PIECES [MEDIUM CUT, I USED LEGS & THIGHS]
KALIJEERA RICE : 11/2COFFEE MUG [A SHORT GRAINED, FRAGRANT RICE FROM BANGLADESH]
SLICED ONION : 2 SMALL TEACUP SIZED
GREEN CHILLI : 6-7
GINGER PASTE : 11/2TBSP
GARLIC PASTE : 2TBSP
CUMIN POWDER : 1TSP
CORIANDER POWDER : 1TSP
RED CHILLI POWDER : 1TSP
TURMERIC POWDER : 1TSP
LEMON JUICE : 5-6TBSP
GREEN CARDAMOM : 7-8
BLACK CARDAMOM : 2
STAR ANISE : 2
CINNAMON STICK : 6-7 TWO INCHED SIZED
CLOVE : 6-7
BAY LEAF : 6-7
MILK : 1SMALL TEA CUP [AT ROOM TEMPERATURE]
GHEE : 6TBSP +2TBSP+2TBSP
YELLOW FOOD COLOUR : 3-4DROPS
SALT : AS REQUIRED

PROCEDURE :

Wash, soak rice in enough water for 1/2 an hour. Wash chicken few times, marinate with half of turmeric+cumin+coriander+red chilli powders+lemon juice+ginger+garlic pastes+salt.

Keep marinated chicken covered for an hour. Let us cook rice.

Take a deep bottomed vessel, fill it with water, bring to boil. Add salt, half of bay leaves+cinnamon sticks+green cardamom+cloves. Let boil for 3-4 minutes.

Strain water from rice, cook until 70% done.

Strain to drain rice completely.

Spread rice on trays or newspaper to soak in last drop of water.

Rub cooked rice with 2tbsp ghee, leave like that for 1/2 an hour.

Place heavy bottomed vessel on gas oven. Pour 6 tbsp of ghee. Temper it with the remaining bay leaves, cinnamon, green cardamoms, cloves, black cardamoms, star anise.

Add washed, sliced onions; fry till golden brown.

Add remaining turmeric+ginger+garlic+salt and fry for 2 minutes. Add marinated chicken, stir at high heat for 3-4 minutes.

Lower heat to minimal, cover cook until chicken is done 80%. We have to check in between, stir to avoid any burn.

When chicken is cooking, we will prepare a mixture of 2tbsp ghee, milk, few drops of yellow food colour.

When chicken is done, take it off on a plate.

Add a layer of rice in the bottom of vessel.

Level, place some cooked chicken. Pour some ghee-milk-yellow food colour mixture+whole green chillies. Repeat process once again. The top layer would be of rice, on it the mixture.

Tie lid with a heavy towel, place close tight.

Place a pan atop gas stove, then container. Cook at low to medium heat for 40-45 minutes.

Once done, shake well before serving it fresh, hot.

Choose a heavier vessel, preferably a non stick or an earthen pot.

Do not forget to get some raita, salad alongside. I served it with a salad of boiled potato, roasted peanut, cucumber, tomato, chaat masala and lemon juice.

RAGI FLOUR BEETROOT ROTI JALA

What you see above is our island's favourite Roti Jala, a spider webbed / laced pancake or crepe with its origin in Malaysia. It is also called Roti Renjis or Roti Kirai. I see similar something made in Bangladesh too, "chitey ruti". WIKI gives some interesting fact about its history. Originally, Malaysians were mostly fishermen who discovered this net like pancakes to have as teatime snack. Roti Renjis refers to "rinsed bread." Can you imagine originally the batter was made, rinsed onto pan with hand? Roti Kirai is it's another name because 'kirai' means circular motion as done making holes in used condensed milk can. Thereafter, what you see below was discovered. These containers are of various shapes and sizes, I bought this one.

I am feeling happy; since yesterday until this morning, I had been having tasty, healthy food. I did long walk in old neighbourhood park, had "yong tao foo", then watched a good movie.  Thereafter preparing a batter with coconut milk, beetroot juice, finger millet / ragi flour was a five minutes job. Cristine did juice while I was still watching movie. What was I eating while watching? I will make a public post about it. Below is what I ate this morning. I have to have breakfast with my morning tea. I loved this healthy vegetarian cob webbed pancake or crepe whatever RAGI FLOUR BEETROOT ROTI JALA; I had them this morning too with my favourite 'peyazkolir chocchori', homemade 'jolpai er achar.'

This is reason why I had started late writing post; I was enjoying my food. What you see at far is son's PTC list, the creature does it all alone, booking date and time for PTC, selecting colleges he applied for admission in two different countries, keeping in touch with them through emails; everything without any help from us. Wish our mother was this strict with us. However, our family had sent a goodie bag for the son. December is a special month for this family.

Who can send an Avengers written t-shirt except for "nono" that is his "mamujaan", B Aunty is fond of all sheds of maroon; hence, Dimma sends black because his favourite colour is black; Piya, the husband's sister had always been aesthetic; hence buys and wraps gifts too, I did not see what is inside, his favourite Hajmola comes from Thamma. What came for me should come in a public post. I have told him that "we be there or not or wherever you are, you will keep in touch with the rest in family always, take care of them; you need not worry; the maximum of our belongings will be co-owned by your spouse if only the later loves our's with all it's being & vice-versa." 

We had vegetarian crepes RAGI FLOUR BEETROOT ROTI JALA for dinner last night with "egg drop curry, garlic pickle, cucumber+tomato+onion salad." I loved it, had it in morning too. The family can have it everyday if only I prepare batter with refined flour, else it would be an occasional affair for them. Had my mother or grandmother be here, they would have cleaned my system with cotton and dettol if not wash it; I had kept the food plate on it. Its for the picture, I was holding it while eating.

In case you do not have the specialised bottles, make holes in cap of plastic bottle, use.

INGREDIENTS :

FINGER MILLET / RAGI FLOUR : 2 COFFEE MUG
BEETROOT JUICE : OF ONE STANDARD SIZED
COCONUT MILK : 200ML
WATER : AS REQUIRED
SALT : AS REQUIRED
OIL : 2 DROPS FOR GREASING AFTER COMPLETION OF 3-4 CREPES

PROCEDURE :

We will be using these few ingredients.

Take Ragi Flour, Salt in a wide mouthed bowl, mix well.

Discard two ends of standard sized beetroot, peeled, washed, chopped smaller. We used a blender to get the juice.

We will pour beetroot juice, coconut milk to finger millet flour.

We will mix it well before adding water. I prefer half and half water, coconut milk, because smell of healthy coconut milk is strong to me.

We will add water little by little for a thin consistency of batter.

We have used a washed funnel to pour batter to container.

We will close lid tight.

We will switch on gas oven, place pan atop it, heat well, then brush well with few drops of oil.

Shake bottle well, pour content into pan in quick, circular motion.

Don't worry if tip of bottle gets blocked, disturbs free flow. Just tap on kitchen top, shake well; it will work.

Let it cook for about 1/2 a minute. We do not need to turn over, cook again. Just transfer to plate.

After every 3-4 crepes, grease pan with little of oil.

I couldn't fold them; served fresh, hot with "egg drop curry, salad, garlic pickle."

BUTTERCUP CARDAMOM CAKE

This home loves Swiss rolls, butter scotch / strawberry / vanilla cream cakes, my baked plain cakes. They would love to have a swiss roll made by me, this mediocre hardly ventures out of known area. Baking plain cakes & cookies I started in my teens, that too in an electric, round oven meant for basic cakes. That had high possibilities of electrical shortages, yet I used it on weekends until marriage. I think the totally damaged one is kept in storage loft of my parental home. Our mother is not in habit of throwing off stuffs, how much I say. Else that home could be beautifully decorated. 

I believe we need not have money but aesthetic sense to decor home. Like I do not spend at all on home decor, may be because of family I belong to; the other reason is my aversion to spend my husband's hard money. I cannot be spendthrift because no one in my side of the family are, we value money. In such scenario, my urge to blog about simpler, homely recipes using regular ingredients in kitchen is quite natural. This vegetarian cake  BUTTERCUP CARDAMOM CAKE is one. We get here varied kind of fruit mixes, this home has no dearth of mixing them in wine, follow a decent recipe, work on it, who will eat? Some at this home get busy separating fruit mixes from cake; I hate wastage. Nut Cakes are okay for them, pastries I get for them from local bakeries if not always from branded chains. I like small bakeries who sell fresh stuffs. I found a small eatery who bakes butter croissants in store. I will go there regular for chilled soy milk, fresh croissants, chicken pies. 

It's raining since morning. That's worrying me. 

         

After two days of sitting at home, eating non-stop, I have to go out at least down below in pool! I do not like hitting gym, neither yoga. Yoga is best form of exercise you can gift your body; I firmly believe one can't be benefitted from something they don't enjoy. I am not the kind who would want to sit at home, watch television. I am not that level of romantic to whom consistent sound made by raindrops may seem like Yanni's. Let us see how the day shapes, until then, let me finish writing recipe of vegetarian cake, simply done with minimal ingredients BUTTER CUP CARDAMOM CAKE. 

You see, for an Indian, Amul Butter is synonymous to butter; I am no exception. At times, it happens that there has no supply of it for days or even for more than a month; hence, I use substitutes for my bakes like buttercup, oil. I am not comfortable with margarine. Even the mother never got it. We did not believe it, later doctors declared margarine may not be healthy. This cake was made few months back which has used condensed milk. Recently, I stopped getting condensed milk; evaporated creamer works wonder.

INGREDIENTS :

REFINED FLOUR : 1COFFEE MUG

BAKING POWDER : 1/3TSP

BAKING SODA : 1/4TSP

BUTTER CUP : 125GM

CONDENSED MILK : 100ML

FULL CREAM MILK : 2TBSP

PLAIN YOGURT : 1/2MEDIUM TEA CUP

SUGAR : 2-3TBSP

VINEGAR : 2TBSP

GREEN CARDAMOM SEED : 1/2TSP

VANILLA ESSENCE : 1TSP

PROCEDURE :

I arranged ingredients at one place.

     

Sieve together refined flour, baking powder, baking soda, take in a bowl.

         

I used electrical beater I can see. Pour softened 125 gm of buttercup, plain yogurt, full cream milk, sugar, vinegar, cardamom seeds to it.

          

          

          

Beat at moderate speed for 5-6 minutes, pause in between.

          

Add vanilla essence, beat for 1/2 a minute.

I use my convection mode microwave oven for bakes. I placed bake stand inside, preheated oven at 180*C for 10 minutes.

           

Meanwhile in an aluminium cake tin, I poured batter. Tapped it lightly on kitchen counter.

I had then placed cake tin in the middle of the stand.

       

         

I baked it for 30-35mins at 180*C. Thereafter, we will take it out, wait for it to cool down.

                              

                                      

Having fresh slices of it is good but this home refrigerates too. We bring it to normal room temperature before having.