Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Chushi Pithe

Chushi Pithe is a sweet preparation that is fast getting obsolete. Last time I had it may be when my grandmother was alive. In an effort to bring back some of the forgotten recipes, I cooked Chushi pithe recently and sharing the same in my blog so that you people try this at home and the legacy of chushi pithe passes on to our next generation.


The recipe is very simple. All you need to do is first of all soak about one cup of rice in water (I used gobindo bhog rice) for an hour or so. Then drain the water and let the rice dry. When the rice will become completely dry, grind them into powder. This powder is the key ingredient to chushi pithes (sweet dumplings).




Ingredients:                                                Cooking time:40-45 minutes

ü  1 litre milk

ü  200 gm rice powder

ü  a generous pinch of cardamom powder

ü  Nalen gur (jaggery made from dates), taste wise

ü  Batasha or sugar biscuits (as per need)

ü  1/2 cup of coconut, grated (optional)

ü  1/2 cup of broken cashew nuts

Note: Batasha and nalen gur are sweeteners used in Bengal extensively during the winter substituting normal sugar. Nalen gur mix helps bring the slight brown color to the sweet dish, making it look really appetizing. In case of unavailability of these two ingredients, you may stick to normal white sugar.

Method:

1) Knead a dough using rice powder, a pinch of salt and little amount of water. 

2) Now comes the trickiest part of preparing chushis. Rub a little rice powder on your palms first. Then take a pinch of dough and keep that on the palm of your one hand and by applying light pressure with the forefinger of your other hand, make chushis.


3) Keep the chushis aside for an hour. It will stiffen them.

4) Now in a non-sticky pan, condense the milk through slow heating on medium flame. When the milk will reduce to half of its quantity, add the chushis. Gradually add nalen gur and batasha, if using, or normal sugar. (Please make sure to stir the milk continuously to prevent it from burning at the bottom.)

5) Finally when the chushis are cooked through, and the milk takes the form of kheer, sprinkle a pinch of cardamom powder and stir in. Turn off the gas.

6) When the Chushi Pithe would come to room temperature, garnish with grated coconuts and cashew nuts. Serve chilled.



3 comments:

  1. looks good and bit tricky bit with chushis

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  2. I too had it when my grandmother made it.U have written the method very clearly.Will try now.Thanks.

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  3. thank you so much.for a long time i am trying to make this pithe coz my husband likes this recipe a lot.but still now i have not reached perfection as there is no one to tech me.previously my husband's grandmaa used to make this pithe but many years befor my marriage she passed away.so i didnt have any scope to know the recipe.after reading your recipe today i have made perfect choshi pithe.thank you so much

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