Kadhi Chawal (Yogurt Curry with Rice)

                                                Kadhi Chawal (Yogurt Curry with Rice)

Punjabis are predominantly wheat eating people. They cook rice only on special occasions. Rice is eaten with Rajma, Chole or Kadhi. In winter rice is cooked with peas called matarwale chawal. Kadhi rice and Rajma rice are my favourite dishes too. I prepare it on Sundays or on holidays for lunch.

Punjabi Kadhi

Ingredients: - Sour curd - 1kg, Gram flour- 1 cup, Water -1 litre, Onions-2 chopped, Garlic-6 cloves, Ginger-1" piece, Salt - 2 tsp., 1 tea spoon Garam Masala, Cooking oil- 3 tbsp., Chopped coriander-50 grams.

For Baghar or Tadka: - Mustard (Rai) -1 tsp., Fenugreek (Methi)-1/2 tsp., Cumin seed (Jeera)- 1/2 tsp., 6-7 curry leaves

Pakoras (Dumplings) Gram flour -250 grams, Sliced onions, green chillies, fenugreek or spinach chopped, salt -1 tsp., red chilli powder -1/2 tsp., and oil to fry.

Method

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard, fenugreek and cumin seeds. Add paste of garlic and ginger. Fry the paste till it gets brown, add chopped onions and fry them till light brown. Keep aside. Make batter with gram flour, add water, salt and spices. Beat well till it is light and fluffy. Add onion, chopped chillies and fenugreek or spinach leaves. Heat oil in a Kadai. Make pakoras. Beat curd, add gram flour and water and stir well. Add this to the fried onion-ginger garlic paste. Add salt and powdered masalas to it. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes (stirring frequently) till it coats the back of the ladle, add pakoras and chopped coriander. Cover and keep it aside.

Kadhi goes well with boiled rice.

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Idli Sambhar

                                                              Idli Sambhar

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Rice
• 1 cup Urad Daal (white)
• 1 1/2 tblsp Salt
• A pinch of Baking Soda
• Oil for greasing

How to make idli sambhar:

• Pick, wash and soak the daal overnight or for 8 hours.
• Pick, wash and drain the rice. Grind it coarsely in a blender.
• Grind the daal into a smooth and forthy paste.
• Now mix the grinded rice and daal together into a batter.
• Mix salt and set aside in a warm place for 8-9 hours or overnight for fermenting.
• Idlis are ready to be cooked when the batter is well fermented.
• Grease the idle holder or pan well and fill each of thm with 3/4th full of batter.
• Steam cook idlis on medium flame for about 10 minutes or until done.
• Use a butter knife to remove the idlis.
• Serve them with sambhar or chutney.

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