Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Semolina Khichdi with Moong Lentil



Recent comment of Asaram Bapuji on how calling the rapists 'bhaiya' and chanting the Saraswati mantra would have saved the hapless girl from being brutalized has sparked a lot of controversy across our nation. Many of my friends quite perturbed by the comment poured their heart on Facebook in angry status messages, but by such hullabaloo over his comment they are only helping him earn what the comment was meant for - undue publicity and some 30 days of fame. Asaram has become an infamous celebrity overnight; the self-proclaimed godman now is a household name that would give him ample professional leverages in luring more followers. If anyone thinks of his controversial comment going to affect his number of followers, he is wrong. Even negative publicity is a publicity which only will help him gain a slew of new followers. Who has unknowingly and unconsciously supported Asaram reach his goal of attracting new members in his ashram?? We did.  



Today on FB, I came across a fantastic parody of the whole situation put into a form of joke as about how following 10 ways as specified by the well-known of our country can prevent a rape. Here it goes:

"1. Don't live in India - Migrate to Bharat instead. (Courtesy - RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat)

2. Don't eat chowmein. (Courtesy - Khap Panchayat)

3. Don't go out with boys in the night. (Courtesy - Abu Azmi of Samajwadi Party). Better still - go on self-imposed house-arrest.

4. Don't wear jeans. Fashion is strictly prohibited. (Courtesy- too many people to mention)

5. Get married when you are 16 years old. (Courtesy - Khap Panchayat)

6. Don't use mobile. (Courtesy - Khap Panchayat)

7. Don't cross Maryada (Courtesy - MP Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya)

8. Say NO to anything remotely connected to western culture (Courtesy - RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat)

9. Perform puja to put "stars" in correct "position". (Courtesy - Chhattisgarh Home Minister Nanki Ram Kanwar) And if everything mentioned above fails and you are still being raped, here is the last weapon

10. Call your rapist "Bhaiya". (Courtesy - Spiritual Guru Asaramji Bapu) That ought to STOP THE RAPE!! " (Extract taken from SantaBanta Jokes)

I personally believe Asaram Bapu watches a lot of soppy hindi movies where the heroine trapped in the 'changul' of villains addresses one of them as 'bhaiyaa' stirring humane emotions in him who, then, makes a 360° shift in character from the hair-raising monster into a self-righteous brother, who while a minute ago was all horny suddenly converts into a savior of his newly found sister's honor. How melodramatic and filmy!!

 


Over to the recipe, Semolina Khichuri is an interesting concoction, the recipe of which required 'radhuni', a special spice very strong in flavor to be added, but although spices sold under the Bangladeshi brand name 'Radhuni' are available aplenty, the 'radhuni' spice that we Bengalis use in many vegetable preparations is nowhere to be found. The availability of a brand by a similar name only leads to more confusion when we look for our Bengal 'radhuni', everyone pointing direction towards the shelf overflowing with the stacks of Radhuni spices. Hence I have told one of my relatives travelling to India to bring a few packets of our radhuni masala on her way back. Meanwhile, since radhuni masala is missing in my kitchen inventory, I make do with garam masala powder which has lent an exquisite fineness to the wholesomeness of Semolina Khichudi. Best served with Narkel boda, this khichuri tastes great with even Narkel Posto Boda. 



Ingredients:                                                 Cooking time: 30 minutes
ü  1 cup semolina (240 ml)
ü  1 cup moong lentil
ü  2 medium size potatoes (cut into cubes)
ü  1/2 of a cauliflower (cut into large size florets)
ü  1 carrot (chopped)
ü  1/2 cup of green peas
ü  5-6 green chillies (chopped)
ü  2 tbsp cashew nuts
ü  2 tbsp raisins
ü  1 tsp garam masala powder or radhuni
ü  White oil
ü  Ghee
For sauté:
ü  2 bay leaves
ü  1/2 tsp ajwain or carom seeds
Method:
1) Heat a skillet. Add moong lentil and dry roast them, stirring continuously, till lentil changes color to golden brown. Take off the flame and wash the lentil under running water repeatedly.
2) Heat oil in a wok. When oil turns hot, add the ingredients for sauté and allow them to sizzle.
3) Add semolina and shallow fry them, stirring continuously till semolina turns one shade darker.
4) Add the vegetables and the lentil one after another. Pour required amount of water. (Semolina absorbs a lot of water, so you may need to refill quite frequently.)
5) When vegetables are half cooked, add salt, sugar, cashew nuts and raisins. Cook covered on low heat till lentil and semolina are cooked through and vegetables are tender.
6) Add garam masala powder, whichever using. Mix in.
7) Stir in ghee. Serve hot with Narkel boda or Coconut Fritters.

1 comment:

  1. Loooks very nutritious and tasty .. As I go along and reviewed the procedure it is so easy and simple to follow ... almost all of the ingredients are available in my kitchen! Probably I will make some later! Thanks for sharing!

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