Oriental Mary

Best wishes for 2014

You can end 2013 on a spicy note. Something special for those who like 'hot' stuff. Only for those who are of legal drinking age and for whom alcoholic beverages are not contraindicated, or not suggested, or not advocated etc. for health or religious or any other reason. Drink responsibly, don't drink and drive. 

Crushed ice, ice cubes, Schezwan sauce, Salt and crushed black pepper for coating the glass rim, lemon juice, 100 ml tomato juice, 60 ml Vodka. Take in a shaker 100 ml of tomato juice, add 60 ml vodka, one third teaspoonful of schezwan sauce, pinch of salt and crushed black pepper, half teaspoonful of lemon juice and crushed ice. Shake vigorously. Coat the rim of a tall glass with mixture of crushed black pepper and salt. Place an ice cube or two at the bottom of the glass. Carefully pour the mixture from shaker. Pierce a dry red chili, pitted green olive and again a red chilli on a long tooth pick. Place this on the top. Keep stiring and Enjoy.

Drink responsibly - Oriental Mary

Variation is Tikha Peru, where tomato juice is replaced by Guava juice and schezwan sauce is replaced by few drops of Tobasco and lime juice in a lesser quantity. Rest ingredient and process is same.

Indo Italian Fusion

This is the last post of 2013. Let 2014 bring all my friends more prosperity and happiness than past. Let me take you to the first decade of this millennium and share a Indo-Italian fusion.

The new millennium brought in many changes in the food culture. Western fast food joints were already doing good business. KFC that had a hard time in last decade tried their luck with renewed efforts to stage a successful comeback. Australian coffee shop, Gloria Jean, was also trying for space in the Indian market. So all in all, everything was looking great with impressive economic growth.

The era was fusion was gaining ground. Spring Roll Dosa to Chinese Bhel and McAloo Tikki to McSpicy Paneer everything was becoming popular. At Domino’s Kheema Do Pyaaza started shaking hands with Chicken Mexicana. Pizza Hut designed Veg Pizzas, all different combinations were being made available to Indian customers. For various reasons Italians had a different say in India. Few Italians are so well-known as Pizza is known in India, right from Delhi to a village. Somehow apart from Pizza other Italian cuisine had not much of luck in India. Risotto, Lasagna, Spaghetti, and many other specialities could not attract average Indian foodie. Pasta has not really clicked in the Indian market. May be the pastas are bland and tasteless. It is the sauce, cheese, herbs etc add taste to the pasta, and perhaps that did not find favour of Indians.

Ingredients for Dal Botie

Pasta is a traditional Italian food. Pasta is made in most part of the world from wheat . Pasta can be in different forms either as a sheet or shapes or what one can commonly calls as a noodles. About 310 different forms of pasts have been documented. Basically there are two categories of pasta, fresh and dried. There is a subdivision as long pasta and short pasta. Long pasta has travelled across the world and depending upon the diameter it is referred as vermicelli, spaghetti, fedelini, capellini etc. In India we have it as semiyan, sevai, etc. In the eastern part of the world, wheat has been replaced by rice. China, Thailand, Indonesia and even South India have rice noodles, a form of long pasta. Iranians brought a different form of pasta to India, very often we have it with Kulfi, it’s what we call as Falooda. Middle East and North East Africa including Egypt, use the long pasta mostly for deserts and it’s known as She’reya. Semiyan are mostly consumed as a sweet preparation, with exception of South India where it is also used to make savory Semiyan Upma.

Short pasta did not attract the eastern part of the world as long pasta. Various forms like penne, macroni, farfalle, spighe, riccioli, rigates etc. have no takers in India. The Minute Pasta, also called as Pastina, is used more in soups, but again Indians did not accept it. Coming back to dried sheet pasta, I get reminded of a wonderful preparation that my mother used to make, it was a complete meal for me. For her it was a variation from regular meals and took same or perhaps more time to prepare. The preparation was Dal Dhokli, a Roti cooked in Dal. I took cue from same to make my own version of Dal Dhokli, it’s fusion of Italian pasta with Indian Dal. I have used whole wheat "bow ties", a form of farfalle pasta for this preparation.

Indo Italian Fusion

Recipe: Take a bowlful of leftover Dal. If you were too hungry to finish everything earlier night, then you will have cook Dal, preferably split and skinned pigeon peas (Toor Dal, Arhar Dal). Take 25 bow ties in a microwave safe bowl or casserole. If hungry you may add few more. Add water and ensure the water level at least half an inch above the bow ties level. Add little less than half teaspoonful salt. Microwave on high for twelve minutes. While bow ties are getting cooked. Place a yoke on gas stove. Add one and half tablespoonful refined oil of your choice. Avoid olive oil. Add mustard seeds, once these splatter, add half teaspoonful of Carom seeds (Ajwain) and add teaspoonful each or turmeric (haldi) powder, red chills powder, garam masala (any branded garam masala will do). Immediately add cooked dal to this. Add water to have desired consistency (as thick as good quality sweet corn soup). Let mixture boil. Remove bow ties from microwave, drain the water. Add these bow ties to boiling dal. Reduce the heat and let boil for two minutes. Add salt if needed (depends if the cooked dal had any salt). Add Little Dry Mango (Amchoor) powder or lime juice if you like sour dal (it’s optional) and  finally add chopped coriander leaves.

Pour the above in a serving bowl. Add spoonful or more of Desi Ghee (check with cardiologist and check your serum lipids) for that irresistible wonderful taste and flavor. Enjoy.

PS: Many of my friends in the US have started enjoying this preparation. Try out at least once.
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Jacketed Potato

The last decade of last century was very crucial for India. India announced liberalization Foreign investments and products had less entry barriers. India attracted McD, KFC, Coca cola in this decade. KFC had problems to start with but for McD and Coke it was much smoother entry. McD adapted their product mix to suit the Indian cultural framework. Not only the menu underwent a change with beef finding no place in Indian menu, McD positioned themselves as a family restaurant. The fast food joint serving junk food in USA became a family restaurant in India. The pricing was designed to attract even those who would not otherwise spend that kind of money on fast food. It was still higher, as the Vada Pav that one would have for Rs.5/- was available in modified form as McAloo Tikki for minimum of Rs.25/- plus taxes. There was a segment available for this and McD established themselves well. The promotion was well designed to attract all age groups with emphasis on retro time frame for pricing. McD went ahead with home delivery in India. I haven’t seen McD doing home delivery in other countries. Not lagging behind were Pizza chaps, also cashed upon the changing food culture. The Pizzas also went in for adaptation and gave different local toppings for Indian consumers. Dominos brought in change with delivery in thirty minutes. A different standard in service industry was set in.

Baked and slightly roasted Potato with Cheese

Gadgets were getting popular. Microwave ovens were launched, but consumers had lots of reservations. Most of the fast food chains were using microwave ovens to reheat the food. The utility was more for reheating rather than cooking. It took a while to develop skills for microwave cooking. I got a microwave oven from Dubai in 1992 that’s still working. The newer versions of convection, grill, were not available in those days. They emerged in India little late. My passion for cooking made me experiment with microwave cooking. It was fun. I tried a simplest dish nearly twenty years back and I routinely make it for evening snacking, mostly during rainy season and winter. I got idea for this product in England.

On one of the weekends I decided to travel to south England, as there was nothing much to do in London. I drove to Sheepwash village in the county of Devon. Sheepwash village was adjusted as the best village in England. A very small village that was really well maintained. All possible amenities that a village would need were available. There was a small church, war memorial, piggery, bakery, grocer, post office you name it and everything was available. Sitting in the pub in this village that had about 300 population, yes just 300, I was looking for a vegetarian snack. There was none. The owner of the pub offered to serve a dish that did not figure in the menu. He called it as “Jacketed Potato”. I liked the name, it sounded interesting. I ordered the dish and was happy at my decision.

Ingredients for Jacketed Potato

Let’s see how I make jacketed potato. In the original recipe the entire process is done on a charcoal grill. As it is little difficult to have a charcoal grill in two BHK apartment, I make this preparation in microwave oven. Let us start, take a large potato, similar to one that we had when we made La Al Burto. Wash it properly. Prick it with fork all around. Wrap the potato in plastic film and microwave on high for two to three minutes. Turnover and microwave for another two minutes. Check, if done, be careful as it will be hot. If still hard then microwave for another minute. In maximum six minutes a potato will be done. (If not done then change the microwave or buy better quality fresh potatoes). Once done let it stand for two minutes. Get it out from the oven and remove the plastic wrap. Be careful again as it will be hot. Pierce a skewer through the potato, if skewer is not available then use a thin knife. Now roast the potato on gas flame, as charcoal may not be available. Let the potato skin burn a little to give a typical burnt smell. Next step is to cut the potato in half, vertical or horizontal, cut as per your choice. Scoop out little portion from the center of both the halves. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Stuff the hollow portions with cheese, cheddar or mozzarella or combination and a chopped clove of garlic. Place these two halves again in the microwave oven with stuffed portion facing upwards. Microwave for a minute or till cheese melts. Remove from the oven, allow cooling for a while, scoop out small portions at a time and enjoy. Discard potato skin if you don’t like. Enjoy with hot cup of Masala Chai (Read the blog)
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Tea made simple

All these I have been talking about the way food was cooked in second half of last century and I gave simple recipes for evening snacks. There are few more to come before I start giving recipes for the breakfast. However last week someone requested me to explain how to make good tea. I was foxed. I thought everyone can make tea. I thought and realized that the most difficult preparation to make is tea. You may not believe, but it’s a fact. Had it not been like that then we would have never heard the sporadic comments like tea is good today or aaj chai badhiya bani hai  (आज चाय बढिया बनी है )  and similar. I really appreciate my friend who has been frank enough admit inability to make tea. This needs guts. Thanks.

Good tea is very subjective. Some one likes strong tea, someone is found of light tea. Some like aroma others wants strength. Somebody is fond of lots of sugar others aren’t. in addition there are large number of factors that are beyond our control, like quality of tea leaves, quality of milk, steeping time, brewing time, temperature of the tea to be served, climatic conditions and as I always say, that a tinge of love added while preparing the tea.

Indian Tea with Milk and Ginger

We had tea in India much before British learnt how to spell tea. When East India Company got firmly rooted in India they encouraged the tea plantation in Assam in nineteenth century for their commercial interest. India has been the largest producer of tea. Today India is pushed from top position to second largest tea producer’s position by China. Tea has been a native plant in Assam and some antique recipes of tea leaves and garlic are also documented. Contrary to this many researchers claim that tea travelled from China to India. Hope China doesn’t claim that Assam is a part of their territory on this pretext. In one of the four ancient novels, “The Dream of the Red Chamber”, the author Cao Xueqin has mentioned that the tea was imported and consumed by rich people in China. Some researchers believe that tea is native of India and has been mentioned even in Ramayan. Some believe that the Somras, is tea. Black tea is a fermented product and so is, as claimed, Somras. The base for any alcoholic beverage is of vegetable origin and so is for most of the intoxicants (afim, charas, ganja, tobacco etc) except two legged human beings (your sweetheart) and chemicals (LSD, amphetamine and alike). Ayurveda has been advocating various infusions, commonly called as Kadha, may be kind of herbal tea, so tea is certainly not alien to us.  Finally I can beyond any doubts claim that tea is not from China. It would have never lasted so long unlike Chinese goods.

Tea has been regionalized. In China it’s the green tea. There are also flavoured teas like the most popular, Jasmin tea. From China tea travelled to Japan in the eighth century where the monks of Zen Buddhism had tea to keep them awake for meditation. Here again when tea is served it is usually green tea; however black tea and Chinese jasmine tea are also popular. Milk is not added to tea in these countries.

British enjoy tea. The typical “English Breakfast Tea” is a blend of tea from India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. The other popular blend is for Earl Grey Tea, which is a black tea with addition of oil from fragrant citrus fruits that offers a distinctive taste and aroma. These two blends popular in the UK are strong blends, and therefore milk is added to the brew.

Americans have been ungrateful to tea. In fact they owe their independence to tea. It was the Boston Tea Party, a protest against tea duties in 1773 that sparked off the American War of Independence. Had tea not been there, America would have been yet another British colony. But Americans forgot tea and chose coffee. Times changed, Chai has attracted Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and many other American fast-food and beverage joints. Snapple offers ice cold fruit flavoured tea in American market.

Tea is a national drink of India. India has 30% consumption of world tea production and 70% of India’s produce is consumed locally. Tea was again a rich man’s drink in this country till 1950. Government of India set up Tea Board in 1950 and then after there is no looking back. Tea is different in every state in India. Commonality is Indians need strong brew. Fragrance is manageable as chai masala, ginger, cardamom mask the original flavor. There is no better drink than Adrakwali Chai with Pakodas or Batata Vada anytime on a rainy day or a hot cup of tea when one is out of the bed, particularly in morning in the winter season.

Mix that's needed to make Chai Adraki

Let’s see how an acceptable cup of Adrakwali chai should be made. I have tried to standardize the process so that the taste remains same or similar in every attempt. For as much tea I want, I usually take that much quantity of water. So for one cup of prepared tea, I take one cup of water. I understand this is fundamental but it is important. Even the tea pot is same every time. Pour water in the pot, grate small piece of ginger directly in the water, add one and half teaspoon sugar, more or less as per your taste, and bring it to boil. Once the boiling is vigorous, reduce the flame and add two third teaspoonful of tea powder/granules. Boil this for one minute by watch. Now add one third teaspoonful of Darjeeling tea leaves. Stir well with a spoon. Swich off the flame and cover for two minutes, again by watch. This is the time I give for tea leaves to brew. After two minutes slightly lift the cover, if you see the leaves still floating on the surface then you have to cover again and wait for a while. The leave generally settle down when the brewing is complete. While brewing is going on take about one fourth cup of milk in a microwave safe cup and heat for 30 seconds. Milk will be near boiling temperature. Carefully remove this from oven and pour in the tea decoction. Pour slowly so as to judge the desired strength and colour of the tea. You may need more or even less depending upon quality of tea and milk that you use. Strain the tea in your favourite mug or cup. If you need it hot then microwave for maximum fifteen seconds. Few trials will help you reach a level of standardization. What I do is to take a particular brand of tetrapack milk with higher fat contents. In USA I use half and half, in India avoid any toned milk if you want good tea. Not to worry about calories as the quantity that you are going to use for one cup of tea will be about 50 ml of milk. You can certainly adjust this by eating one candy less or doing more workouts. I am sure in few trials you will boast that making good tea is my cup of tea. Remember there is no substitute to a good refreshing cup of tea, even though I like coffee. Enjoy.

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Tea around the world

La Al Burto

I am not a professional cook or a qualified chef, but I like to cook. I like it because I like to eat food. After eating only I would pass a judgment if it was up to my taste or not. I never call any food as bad. What I may not like someone else might like. It’s matter of individual taste. There are few other possibilities; someone may not have done a right job. The method and ingredients might not have been right. So why blame the food? Cooking is now my passion, and I encourage everyone to try to it out, even to those who hate cooking. I have a friend in USA who does not cook for an excuse that I could never imagine in my life. The only excuse she does not cook is that the carpets in her house absorb the fumes and the house stinks. What an excuse and what a word to use for aroma of the food. Some use a very common excuse of paucity of time. But if one plans well cooking can be over in few minutes. Well everyone has some reasons to hate cooking and I never challenge them. It’s the way they think and they have the right. We all are different, someone listens to music to sooth the nerves, someone smokes to relieve the tension, someone is at feet of some Baba to restore lost confidence there are thousands of way to find solace. I find it when I cook. During my two months holiday in USA in 2000, I travelled through USA only by surface transport, rail and road. Met large number of friends across the country, Enjoyed their hospitality. All of them went out of the way to make my stay comfortable. I had to offer something from side and what I offered in return was cooking my signature dishes with available ingredients for them. I would ask them to shelve their plans to take me out for a dinner and in return I would prepare my signature dishes for them and their friends. It was very satisfying and soothing. Not everybody can do it or should do it. I did because I liked it.

Spicy boiled and mashed potatoes

My job took me entire India and to very large number of countries around the world. I would never miss an opportunity to learn local cuisine wherever I went be it a roadside vendor making Litti in Patna or Cajun Style Dirty Rice from a Chef in leading Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. I would even teach Indian dishes to the chefs of the hotels where I stayed abroad. It started in 1985 when I taught Upama and basic curry to the Chef of Hotel Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. Indian restaurants had not mushroomed in that era as they are today. Another lesson was to my Bangladeshi friend, Manzoor’s wife Maya, who was fond of Dasa and wanted to learn the same. In return I got a recipe from each one of them. Let’s see what Maya taught me. It’s very simple, fast to make and healthy dish. I consume it as a snack while it’s an accompaniment for rice for Bengalis and for rotis or Litti for Bangladeshi Biharis.

Aloo Bhurta Bangali Style

Let’s see how it’s made. Take 3 or 5, medium or small size potatoes; if you are in US then you can take one large size Russet potato. Prick with fork or a knife at few places. This helps to release the steam that gets generated within when it’s been microwaved. Cover potatoes with plastic wrap and microwave on high for four minutes. I would suggest turning over once after about two minutes. Press a potato gently with thumb; if it’s soft then it’s done. If you feel it is still uncooked then micro for another minute or so. Generally four to six minutes are enough. Be careful when you press the hot potato, you may dip your thumb in cold water before you press the potato. Do it your way but be careful.  Allow to cool for a while. In case if you don’t want to use microwave then you can boil the potatoes (of course without plastic wrap), but it takes longer time. Peel the potato and mash. Be careful when you handle a hot potato. You can do it as stupidly as your boss does it when you get pixxxd off or you can do it as wisely when your subordinates are unreasonable with you. Joke apart, be careful. Chop few coriander leaves, about one tablespoon of chopped leaves are fine. Keep aside. In small yoke or a kadhai heat about 30 ml or two tablespoon of Mustard oil. Yes, mustard oil. Don’t raise your eyebrows. The mustard seeds are a source of this oil. The same seeds are used to make mustard sauce that you have when you buy a sandwich in fast food joint. Source and caloric values are same. Once oil is heated add about quarter teaspoon mustard seeds, let splatter, switch off the gas, add one fourth teaspoon of turmeric powder, haldi. Pour this over the mashed potatoes. Sprinkle one sachet of red chili flakes that you might have in stock when you got your last pizza, else you can use chili powder or flakes to your taste. Add salt as needed. Mix well with a spoon as the tempered oil must be hot. Garnish with coriander leaves. Bengalis like it in a shape of ball (God knows why?). You may or may not do that. I take this stuff for my evening snacking. Remember baked potatoes are very healthy and you don’t have to worry about carbs. Try out. It takes less than 10 minutes by watch and is done by the time you download two songs (of course legal downloading). Enjoy.

Ingredients for Aloo Bhurta

I have made variation of the above recipe. I call it La Al Burto. A name with Spanish touch as this recipe will be appreciated in Mexico also. There is no oil, no tempering in this variation. All that you have to do is to add a teaspoonful of your favourite pickle in the mashed potatoes, along with chopped coriander leaves, chili flakes and salt, which you will have to adjust as the pickle that you are adding has already some extra salt. Mix well and give any shape that you desire and enjoy. This goes very well with white wine or white rum, though I don’t recommend alcoholic beverages. Good recipe when you want to save on gas and use microwave only.

PS: If the bhurta is little dry, as it depends how long the potatoes had taken shelter in your or grocer’s shelf, as that affects the moisture contents. You may thus sprinkle small quantity of water or add oil as per your taste to make the bhurta moist. Enjoy.