The Simple & Humble- Bread Butter

There are very few Comfort foods that have remained so endearing for so many years . To many of us it would seem, that these Foods have been since time immemorial .. The Humble bread butter, is one such Comfort Food. All of us have been eating this , simple, humble, so conventional yet so cool food for so many years together ….. Most of us would have grown up eating the bread butter, from the Simple to make food for your School Tiffins, Breakfast, Evening Snacks, answer to ones midnight morning pangs…Bread Butter is like your Best Friend…..always there for your while you keep exploring relationships in life

There are many ways people prefer to have their Bread Butter…. Slightly soft & thaw butter cut from the Knife & applied to a Soft White Slice of bread, a slightly soft , slightly melted coat on the Fresh bread… Have it along with a Cup of Steaming Hot Tea, and One quickly realizes that the simple pleasures of life are always very simple, very basic.. A Crisp Golden Brown Toast, along with Butter which just melts away on the Hot , Crisp & Toasted Slice of Bread, just becomes too delicious to describe in words ….

While Toasted bread & Butter is what lot of people would have had, especially as the English BreakFast, gloriously describes , Eggs, Crisp Toasted breads with Butter, as the Ultimate Breakfast… I am sure not many of us would have tried the Roasted Bread Butter. That’s Right, Toasted Bread Butter … I generally love my Bread Butter in the Roasted form ….. Just take 4 Slices of Bread, Place them on a Steel Holder & Put it direct over the Gas Flame…Not on the Pan or Tawaa, but directly hold over the Flame, till it gets a Burnt, Black, Charred Look uniformly through the Slice….. Now place some Butter on the Burnt, Charred, Roasted Bread …… and Uffffff….. Try it to even attempt describing the taste …… A Hot Cup of tea, is absolutely divine….

That Burnt, Roasted, Charred Look.....Interesting!!!!!

I am sure this taste is absolutely amazing for the palate and difficult for any description ... Its not at all Crisp, It retains the softness, the Charred & Burnt taste , the amazing color gamut....Quite a Looker this Roasted Bread & Butter

See how the Butter melts away nicely....but not completely

Look at how the Butter is melted & stuck on the Bread … I just love the Color Gamut … White of the bread, Slight creamish yellow of the Butter, Brown, Black of the Burnt bread … Quite a Good fun to watch & eat .
Have this with a Cup of strong tea, Tez patti, less sugar, extra boil & have it with the Bread Butter

The Cutting Cup of Chai.....

As i Always say in my Blog - "Its Simple to be Happy, But so difficult to be Simple" ... This is one of the Most Simple Food yet still so endearing for Generations..... Cheers to Our Savior in Times, Good & Bad !!!

Khichdi Mavas - a Kashmiri Ritual !!!!!!

KhestiMavas - Supposed to be a very Important Fetsivals in Kashmiri Pandits, celebrated on Amavasya....I have been following this small ritual from Childhood, as it holds a special place in my palate & hence in my heart... This is one ritual, which sees the Household prepare some very  really delicious, meaty & sumptous meals ...

There is a Mutton Khichdi which is prepared .. A very simple Khichdi along with Fresh Mutton, from the Thighs, Lamp Chops, Legs ..... Mutton is tendered by marinating with bity of curd to soften it ... The Khichdi has nice balance of Spices ....

The Mutton Khichdi --with right balance of spices

The Lightly flavored taste of the Mutton Khichdi is complimented by having it with a Fiery, spicy , Mutton Roganjosh .....Carefully selected Meat from the few areas of the Goat, namely Lamb Chops or Mutton Chaamps, Raan, Thighs, Chest..add greatly to the taste of the RoganJosh ...and this is Classic RoganJosh we are talking about .. This gravy doesnt use any Onions, No Garlic, No Tomatoes, No Puree - Purely Spices Like Garam Masala, Kashmiri Chillies, Cardamom, Cinnamom, Little saffron, if you , want, and you get a really fine, really spicy Mutton Curry

Mutton RoganJosh......... Lamb Chops....

Well this was about the food, that is so special to this Important Ritual... Mutton Khichdi & Mutton RoganJosh, that add so greatly to the appeal of this festival. I am sure some people would like to know a bit about the history of this ritual...Pl read on

Khetsimavas:

There are several other festivals and Puja rites peculiar to Kashmiri Pandits, some of them dating back to hoary antiquity. One  such distinctly Kashmiri festival is Khetsimavas or Yakshamavasya which is celebrated on the amavasya or the last day of the dark fortnight of Pausha (December-January). Commemorative of the coming together and co-mingling of various races and ethnic groups in prehistoric Kashmir, khichari is offered on this day as sacrificial food to Kubera indicating that the cult of Yaksha existed there from very early times. Khetsimavas appears to be a folk-religious festival - a pestle, or any stone in case that is not available, is washed and anointed with sandalwood paste and vermilion on this evening and worshipped taking it to be an image of Kubera. Khichari is offered to him with naivedya mantras and a portion of it is kept on the outer wall of his house by the worshipper in the belief that Yaksha will come to eat it.

Thats KhestiMavas or Khichdi Mavas for you

Lays Baked Chips - New Packing

Its all about the Packaging these days .... Atleast thats what the Big world of Marketing believes so strongly in ... Even Food is all about Packaging ...I just came across a Newly Packaged or rather repackaged & Rebranded Offering from one of the Most Popular Brand of Wafers - Lays -- Yup the same one, with Saif AL Khan & MS Dhoni, being the Brand ambassadors - The One which makes you Dillogical - The One where, No  One can have just one -- How True ???

I was introduced to this new Product From Lays - The Baked Chips ----- Vow, Looks like an Interesting Concept . The Wafers Market has definitely seen some Big action  exciting flavors - With Bingo, Hippos - Promoting Innovative Munchies & Wafers -- The Lays Offering of Baked Chips, Looks set to take the Wafer Market war to a different segment ..

May be the adult Customer base, or the Diet Conscious or the weight watchers - I dont happen to be in the last two and definitely not the Foodie bretheren, would be too proud to be in those 2 categories..Lot of us have a lot of Fond memeories of Our Childhood Food & Wafers seem to top the Junk Food List for Kiddos .... From the Numerous Local Brands of Chips, to the Branded Wafers - Namely Uncle Chips, Now Lays, Bingos, Crax (Munchies) so on & so forth

I remember one very famous Shop which specialised in Wafers - Called Budhdhanis - This was in Pune & I was an Engineering Student then ... The entire MG road would be filled with the strong smell of the Chips that would emanate out of the Big Budhdhani Shop

Do share your Favorite Chips or wafers from Childhood & Just see, How things are set to change, as Marketers find ways to add new Customers to their base......Till then Have Lays - Baked or Fried ,as you like...

Top Sinful foods in Winter

Winters is the time to be  in North & in Delhi .... Delhi winters are something one should experience simply for the reason that it is tolerable & manageable at the same time absolutely enjoyable.......Delhi winters is the time when the foodie is ready to romanticise with the amazing weather , the cold, the Chill, the Fog , The charm that is associated with the winters .... & ready to devour all this out on the street .... Its great to enjoy the Street Food of Delhi...There are some Comfort food of the Delhi Winters, which can be enjoyed best on the Streets of Delhi, especially in the Late Evenings filled with smoke, fog, & mist......

1.  Enjoy the Hot, Piping & Steamy Soups & the Spicy, Chilly Noodles .... A Sureshot remedy to Open blocked noses ... A Hot, steamy Cup of Soup along with the Spicy & Chilly Noodles, is all set to open your nostrils & you are set to swet in this cold weather... A tantalising trip for the Taste Buds

2. Hot Gulab Jamun - a Hot Piece of Gulab Jamun dipped in the steaming Chaashney or the Sweet Dip, is as heavenly as any food item can get ......Imagine having a Bite of the Hot, steamy Gulaab Jamun in the Chilly Winter Evening.....

3. Ice Creams - This is Probably one of the Sinful meals in Winters ... Cold Ice Cream on a Cold, Winter Night, is as sinful as any food can get .. Theres also a great sense of thrill and excitement having an Ice Cream on a Cold Chilly winter Night

4. Tea - Bread Pakora - If you are back from your Morning Walk or gone to drop off Kids at the Bus Stand for their School Bus, You would not mind stopping by at a small roadside vendor offering, Tea, Bread Pakoras & Samosas .....Nice way to heat up things on a Very Cold & Lazy Morning

5. Gajrelaa or Gaajar ka Halwaa, as Delhites call it fondly.. Best time to have Gaajar ka halwa is Winters .... A Nice, Hot & steaming Cup of Slightly reddish, brown, Gaajar ka halwaa, cooked in Pure Desi Ghee .. Loaded with Lots of Dry Fruits, Cashew, Raisins, Cardomon, Saffron - This Sweet is a Sure Winner in Winters
 

Republic of Chicken -- Going Strong

The Processed Food & Ready to Eat Food Market is witnessing a Sea Change..With rising disposable Incomes, Rise of Nuclear Families & the DINK Group of Urbn Indians, Shrinking Time for the families to cook, The Processed & Ready to Eat foor Market, was just sitting on the verge of a huge wave which is just now being witnessed..... Reublic of Chicken, is looking set to cash in on this wave of Change of Food habits among the Urban Indians .... Also they seem to be cashing in on the Health Brigade & positioning themselves as a "Chicken" Specialist, with dedicated focus only on the "Chicken" .. All Chicken are equal seems to be their Logo .....With over 15 outlets in Delhi/NCR, they are all set to cash in on the Popularity of Processed food & enjoy a Good presence in the City that Loves its Kukkads & Chicke Shicken....a Big Balle Balle to ROC from the Delhiwallas, with their wide acceptance of ROC & its small eatery formats as well

Look at the Variety

Raw Chicken - They have full Pre Cut Broliers, Chciken Legs Only, Chicken Breast Only, Chicken Wings + Chicken Legs mixture

Ready To eat Variety - Seekh Kababs - Chicken & Mutton, Shaami Kababs - Chicken & Mutton, Punjabi Chicken Sticks, Chicken Satay, Chicken Suasages - Paprika, Frankfurter, Tandoori Chicken Salaami-Pepper, Plain, Pistachew - Chciken Tikkas, Chicken Tandoori, Chicken Momos



The Menu.....& Much More

They seem to have kept a very clear focus on Chicken & select Chicken Varieties ... They dont seem to be carrying the Chinese varieties - Manchurianss of the world, which dont taste good as a Processed food or the Thick Curry Items, which some other Chains have on Offer

Some SeaFood On Offer...

 The ColorFul Offer Board Display proudly displays the Spl Offers on Display .. whether its a Combo Pack or some Other Offer

Variety of Pastes & Masalas

Small seating area @ the Outlet

There is a Small seating area at the Outlet, where in people can have some of the Ready to eat varieties .. They Charge about Rs 15-20, and warm up the dishes which you may want to buy, Normally the Chicken Tikkas, Seekh Kababs, or Momos

Amazing Chicken FrankFurter Roll...

Have a Closer Look at the Sausage Roll...

There are some other Joints serving Processed & Ready to eat foods, Namely The Green Chick Shop (They serve varieties of Mutton as well), KhubChand & Bros @ Green Park- which have some of the Best Frozen Seekh Kababs, Touch of Spice etc, whicgh serve great Varieties of the Processed Food..Way to go..But a word of Caution - Processed foods may carry heavy amount of Sodium as preservatives - So Eat with Caution !!!!!

Soya - The Vegetarians Delight

Its a Vegetarians Delight... or Poor Mans Chicken....... Non Vegetarians Poor Cousin...But whatever you may call it, SoyaBean is cool & back in fashion in Great style ..The Hugely growing popularity of successful Vegetarian Chains Like Wah Ji Wah & Soya Express - confirms that Soyabean is almost chic .... Come to think of it, Paneer has been used, used & used for generations ..... You may have tried calling Paneer by Diff names, but it still doesnt change too much...Call it Cottage Cheese, Garden Cheese & the words, the fact is that Lot of Vegetarian Cusines have to move out of the Shadow of Paneer & add more variety ....Soya is very close to bringing that revolution in the Vegetarian Food....

Juicy Afghani Champs --- Soya in a New Avatar

Just Last month we cooked Soya Champs & have been hooked since then ...... Pieces of Soya wrapped around a Stick ..... Deep fried & dropped in a simmerring curry made out of Lots of Fried Garlic, Finely Chopped Onions, Lots of Tomatoes, Coriander, Red Chillis, Garam Masala .. The Champs are given 3-4 small slits so that the Curry Masala can simmer & get into the Soya Champs ...... The Curry is Fiery & spicy - with lots of Garlic

Soya Champ sticks in Hot Garlic & Red Chilli Curry

Lot of restaurants serve this Soya Champ as a Tandoori Snack also ... Wah ji Wah serves some amazing Lip Smacking Afghani Champs .... Juicy, chewy, fresh - all spices nicely mixed - its quite a good bite to have .....

being served as Starter as well

One can also have the Soya Champs as a Nice Snack also...Can saute some Champs Over Little Olive oil .... season with some salt, red chilli, Onions, Coriander, tomatoes, dash of lemon & you get a nice, crsip, light golden crisp Soya Satay ..quite a healthy snack ....

Theres lot of Interesting options that can be explored with Soya in the Vegetarian Food ..... do send some interesting recipes you can ...... Nutrela Pulao or Biryani, is another popular Soya Dish .....I feel the vegetarians should really look upto the soya as their savior & tell the world that its about Time thati People know that Indian Vegetarian Cusine is not just about Paneer as the only glamorous food item..Enough of Paneer Tikkas, Enough of Paneer Manchurian, Paneer Fry, Paneer Makhanwala ...... Its time you woke up to the power of Soya ..Highly nutritious, full of proteins, and also helps one avoid the Milk food fat, thats associated with Paneer ....... You stir fry some Soya Champs, with Onions, Garlic, Ginger, Coriander, & you get a nice Soya Satay ......The good thing is that Soya is quite absorbent, so it can soak the Masalas very nicely

Keep eating & Hope Vegetarian Foodies dont complain thanks to the Soya Revoluytion

Visit to the fish Market

Have you Ever Visited a Fish market & bought that fish for the Evening Dinner of Maach Bhaat  mentioning especially for the Bengalis ... My Bengali Friends pride themselves on the Knowledge they have acquired over the years in buying that Perfect Fish for their Maach Bhaat or Fish Curry With Rice ... Men, Women alike take active interest in the buying of this Staple food ...... Maach Bhaat is no ordinary staple for Bengalis ....My Friends tell me that while feeding a Bengali Kid, mothers dont have to take the trouble of taking out the small thorns  are their in the Fish


Fresh Fish ... Rohu being the most Popular


I have recently acquired this habit of buying Fresh fish from the Fish Market at CR Park, which is like a Very famous Fish Market -- being in the hub of a Bengali Society ... Have been used to that strange smell, many people may feel its a stench, but once you get used to it ....... It just becomes part of the Fish Buying Process .... Rohu, which is the river Fish is the most Popular Curry Fish ......

Rohu Fish typically weighs from 2Kg-4Kgs & has lot of small thorns in it...Its best made as a Spicy Curry & to be had with Steamed Rice

Fresh King Prawns...... Fresh to Fry & savour

Star Prawns .. smaller

Crabs ....

A Spicy & Fiery Rohu Fish Curry.......

Have with Steamed Rice ........

Great Food Combos

Many of us, aree so used to some food in our daily life so much that Imagining Life without them will make it a little broing..Forget that, Try & Imagine, these foods in isolation & not in the Combo that they are supposed to be.....

Chai Biscuit
Also Popularised in Parts of North India as Biskuttt....Chai & Biscuit are an almost unbeatbale & unseparable food combo..Can be had as a Snack, Morning breakfasts, use it as a filler if you have missed meals... Ask the Students, who stay away from their families in Hostels...This is one food - you just cant have enough of ...... Cheers to the Chai-Biscuit Combo

Bread Omelette
Try separating the 2 & you will see a split or a rift wide open... Feeding thousands of Hungry souls, so selfishly for so many years ...While the Critics  the Intelligensia continue to debate, on the Chicken Egg Story ..The Humble bread Omelette has been a constant food companion for millions of us ... Eat it at the Roadside Stall, Outside the Bus Stand, Station, Restaurants, Hotels - They will have their huge variiations to the same.....All you need is some oil, salt, onions, green chillies, 2 slices of bread --- So simple yet so endearing......

Mathri-Anchaar
Another Favorite for North India ...... Mathri Anchaar.....The Neutral or very mildly spiced Mathris, along with the fiery, spicy, tangy, Aam ka Anchar, is a sure shot blow your mind away snack....Have it with a strong cup of Ginger tea, add a little bit of extra sugar than you normally would....& phewww.. The light mathri, the spicy, tangy achaar & the sweet Chai, are sure to get your tempo high......Make sure the Mathris are Crisp & Fresh, to get that perfect taste

Chai-Pakore
Can anyone debate on this ?? The Perfect Monsoon snack....How would monsoons look & feel, if not for the Company of the Fantastic, Chai & Pakora Combo ... The Splashing of the Rains, the smell of the soil, would never remain the same, without this Snack.... A Great Family Time Snack for the Evenings, just right for Chit Chats & some catching up with family on a Holiday .....Try the varieties it has to offer,Potato, Onions, Green Chillis, Palak, Paneer, Even Bread Pakora - Taste best if had fresh & crisp & with Hot Cup of Chai...

Paratha-Makkhan-Dahi-Anchar
This is the Biggest , most famous breakfast food of India..Hugely Popular in North India, this food is now making huge waves & popularity in all parts of the Country...One Hindi Movie - "Jalwa", had a famous line - Parathan ke teen yaar - dahi, makhan aur anchaar....Just Imagine a Nice, perfectly round piece of Aloo Paratha on your PLate - Perfectly round, right size, with slight coriander, chilly powder, onions and aloo as a stuffing.....Drop a Dollop of Amul Butter on that extremely Hot Paratha.....& be ready to have a whiff of that delightful & sinful smell of the melting away butter & the Hot Paratha.... Break that bite, dip it in the Bowl of Fresh & Cold Dahi, touch the Anchar & just drop in your mouth ...... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......

Dosa-Sambhar
Almost an Iconic & Global Food Item, thanks to the Growing Diaspora of Indians across the World. This Simple snack from South India, has truly acquired a Pan Indian Flavor & is eaten with as much love,affection, as anyother food item. People can be seen having refills of the Sambhar, even after finishing the Dosa ..Such is the Bond, that the dish looks completely lifeless withouth the Sambhar

Ice Cream & Gulab Jamub
Come Winters & People can be seen enjoying Hot Pieces of Mouth watering & melting Gulab Jamuns..... The Innovative Ones, often try a Daredevil Combo -- It requires a Lot of Apettite, & ability to bear a possibel Sinusitis attack, But who cares ???? Take a Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream & Drop a Hot Melting piece of Gulab Jamun......Try this only in Winters, to add fun to the eating

Shammi Kebab & Parathas
Go To any Nice Muslim Restaurant, & you will find the Biggest draw will be the Kabab & Parathas..Be it Tundey Kababi - who serve lip smacking Tunde Kababs with their Special Maida Parathas.....Or travel to the streets of Lucknow, where the traditional Lucknowi Cusines is still prevalent in some places - Paratha & Kebabs, are an almost legendary food Item here

Delhis Snacks - Why we Love them ????

Delhi or Dilli as its fondly called, can be a foodies haven ... Right from the Early Morning Breakfast of Channa Bhaturas, Cholle Puris, Bedmi Puri, Halwa, Sweet Lassi to the Lip smacking lunch options available across the roads, nooks, corners, bylanes, malls, Sweet Shops, High streets of Delhi, -a quick sneek at any o fthese places around lunch time will tell you, how much Delhites love their food -- Especially their Rajma Chawal, Kadhi Chawal, Cholle Chawal, Dal Makhni & Rice, Palak Paneer, Cholle Kulche, Delhis streets are filled with choices & that too pretty reasonable ones .. But its the Evening food & snacks that see the Delhities in their full vigor & party mode .... Thats when the Ladies of the House step out to have their bit of fun...Having done their days duties, manahing all household chores, feeding their children who return back from School & now are out for playing..This is the time for all the Homemakers to take their breather for the day, before they get back to the grind for the nights work & dinners....

The Evening Snacks of Delhi, thus also have a deep rooted connect with the otherwise boring & dull lives of the Homemakers ---- and Imagine what Life would have been 15 years back... when there was No Internet or not even a fraction of the Internet Penetration of today, No Facebook, No Social Networking, No Mobile Phones, No Cable TV or Dish TV.... so the Spicy Snacks of the Local Neighourhood Chaatwalla, were an inspirational source of Spoice, Colors, Taste in their monotonous lives ..... Thats why you would realise, that why Delhi Wallas or North Indians Love their Chaats, Gol Gappas, Dahi Balle.... These Snacks provided an Opportunity to the ladies to meet, Chat, Gossip, Bitch, at their Local Neighorhood Chaat Wala..One lady would share , details of the Expensive Gifts, which his Nannand (Punjabi word for - Husbands Sister), had bought from Kannedaaa(Canada) .. So these Snacks hold a special place in the hearts of Delhities , Young & Old ......

Aloo Tikki - A Patty prepared from Boiled, Mashe Potatoes, Red Chillies, Coriander, Spices , mixed with Corn Flour & Deep Fried  to a Golden Crisp Patty ...... Its absolutely Crunchy...Crisp on Outside, soft, steamy inside .....Served with a Sweet Saunf Chutney / Tamarind and Green Mint & Coriander Chutney..Its garnished with different things - Ginger, shredded Cottage Cheese, Pomegrenade, Mango, Onions etc ....A Really divine Snack...Its best to Consume within 2-3 minutes of preparation, else it turns soggy & loses the wonderful crispiness , that Make Aloo Tikki, So Special

Aloo Tikki-- Just waiting for my Plate & Mouth

Aloo Chat - This is also another Popular snack -A Potato is sliced into many small pieces, which are deep fried on a big tawaa untill they turn golden brown & Crispy...The Deep Fried Potato pieces are then pt in a Big Bowl & a Variety of Fresh Spices added - Red Chilly Salt, Lemon Juice, Chat Masaala, given a good mix & served in samll portions ... Typically no additional Chutney or Condiment is used .... During the Festival of Navratras, The Fried aloos are mixed with a Special Salt - (Black Salt or Sendaa Namak) & is consumed as a food during fasting also

Fried Aloo Chaat....Golden Brown......

Papri Chaat - Delhis & Punjabis Big time favorire snack.... A Punjabi Women can share her Gold Necklace, but not her Papri Chaat ... This wholesome snack is quite reflective of the Punjabi Mood - Colorful, Lively, mix of tastes .... Crisp Puris or Flat very thin Papris, are mixed with Boiled Potatoes, Soaked Channas, Chaat Masala, Chilly Potwder, Amchur, topped with a generous splash of Cold Sour Yoghurt....Dshed with a Layer of Red Tamarind sweet Chutnet, then one layer of Green Chutney, then Finally Topped with a Final Layer of Yoghurt ..It can be garnished with a Variety of things,  Coriander, Ginger, Mango, Onions, Poemgrenade etc - This is absolutely Lip Smacking ........ The Sweet & Sour taste of Tamarind Chutney, The Hot Spicy , Greem Mint & Chilley Chutney , The Cooling effect of Cold Curds....Roller Coaster of Taste ....

Dahi Bhalle - Another Epitome of Classic Punjabi Snack, Dahi Bhalle is an all time, All India Hit Snack....Bhalles are nothing but Pattys made of Urad Dal batter, spices & deep fried.... The Bhallas are kept in Cold Water, & soaked ...The  water is squeezed out of the Bhallas & placed in a Pan...Cold Dahi is then Pourde over them...Tossed with a Thick Red Tamarind Chutne, coriander, Chaat Masala, Green Chutney.. Its served Cold .... The Bhallas are soft & spongy .... The Cold Dahi along with all the wonderful spices, Chutneys , and the smooth texture of the Dahi Bhallas..Just go down as smooth as Scotch..Quite a Nice Appetiser , The Dahi Bhalla is one hell of a Snack....



Dahi Bhalla- Colorful, Soft, Spongy, Succulent...............



Kashmiri Keema - A Labour of Love

While the Kashiri Wazwan is hugely Populr among Food Lovers, especially for its exquisite preparation of the Non Vegetarian Mutton Dishes... The world is crazy over the Kashmiri Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Kabargah, Mutton Kali, which are all the Main Coursei Mutton Dishes..There is another range of Delicacies which make use of the Mince meat, namely the World Famous Goshtaba, Rista & Keema or Mach, as we fondly call it in Kashmiri Cusines

While Goshtaba & Ristaa, are round in shape & use different spices & herbs, Mach is the more commonly made Mince meat dish in Kashmiri families.... All 3are infact a Huge labour of love ... The best way to make the keema is to buy the best meat mince for the dish. The mutton for the Mince, shoudl ideally be from the Lamb Thighs (Raan) or shoulders... The trick is to get the meat from a freshly slaughtered goat....Typically the Head male or patriarch would visit the butchere & pick the goat, this is especially useful when buying large quantities for family functions or festivals..... Then he would ensure the meat is minced in his presence nicely to get the right texture, & quality ...Lot of Butcher Shops still do the mincing in front of the customers

Meat being minced.....Labour of Love

This fine mince is then mixed with Oil, salt, Turmeric, Fennel or Shonth, Sauff powder, Red Chillis, Garam Masala, Eggs for Binding.... Kashmiri Cooking doesnt use any Tomato, Onions,Garlic ..Its just the use of amazing Herbs & Spices

The Mixing of Spices....

Keema ...Koftas

After thorough mixing & skillful binding of the mutton balls, into these beautiful, slightly reddish, slightly pinkish Mutton Keema Koftas..... This beauty is now ready to go into hot, Boiling, spicy curry base which is ready..these are dipped into the Boiling Curry to give it the Final Shape

These are best had with Hot & Steaming Rice... Trust me, this taste is one, yo have to eat it to believe it .. There is extensive use of just simple spices like Garam Masala, Heeng, Cloves, Fennel, Saunf Powder, Small & Big Cardamoms, can produce one of the world class Recipes of a Truly world Class Cusine...No Fancy Spices or herbs, No exquisite processes, Just great labour of love.... One can also have this with Chapatis or Parathas, But it is highly recommende to have it with a Plate of Hot steamed rice

Do Try at Home whenever you have time..... A Truly awesome Culinary Delight

The Water Snacks

Suprising Title for the Blog...But theres a whole variety of Snacks which combine spiced water & a fried round & small pastry usually filled with a stuffing. This Snack is almost a legendary street food in most parts  it of India..If you have been a Delhite Like me, You would refer it to as a Gol Gappa....One of the Most Iconic street foods of Delhi....Infact Delhi street food snacks are Incomplete without mentioning a few snacks, and Gol Gappa is absolutely one of them....Chaat Papdi, Aloo Tikki, Dahi Balle & Gol Gappa, are the typical snacks without which the Earlier Delhi Aunty or Bhabhiji or Ms Chadhas , Ms Aggarwals, Ms Malhotras of the world, could not even imagine their Evening Out

Delhi, being quite strongly Influenced by the Punjabi & Baniya Culture, and almost being a Pot Pourri of sorts, a meling pot for various cultural Influences, understandings, with these 2 being pretty dominated, and being quite a Patriarch Society, wherein the Males of the Family, play a pivotal role in all the Decision Making & even sensitive matters, apart from the Being the Bread Winners....So for quite a Few Delhi women, esp. during the late 80s & Early 90s, these snacks were almost a symbol of their little liberation & freedom....The Gol Gappa, has been a word used to lovingly or mockingly, describe a round rotund, & healthy person, especially for the Kids

Gol Gappas are stuffed with a Boiled potato, mashed with diff spices & herbs, stuffed inside a deep fried, very crsip, puri, & dipped in spiced water..The Puris are made up from Atta or Sujee.This water is mainly, Tamarind Base, or Mint Based & is generally served Cold..The water is so tasty, that its almost a tradition for people to ask for 2-3 helpings of the spiced water, after finishing their quota of Gol Gappas

Gol Gappas

In Mumbai, the Gol Gappas, are also known as Pani Puri...and the stuffing is usually made of Channa, Chickpeas, Mutter..and is served Lukewarm & not as Ice Cold as is loved in Delhi..

PaniPuri

The Origin of these Snacks seems to be from Uttar Pradesh, where they are also known as "Paani ke Bataashe"..Bataashe means, something that can easily crack on applying a little pressure....In Lucknow & Parts of U.P Pani is prepared using mint, tamarind, asafoetida (hing), black pepper, red chili powder and salt. At Hazaratganj in Lucknow you can savour Paanch Swaad Ke Pataashe which means the Pataashe are served with five differently tasting Pani....

In West Bengal, Kolkatta, this dish is known as the Puchka...which is the King of Street Food in Kolkatta...The filling is made by lightly mashing boiled potatoes with black salt, salt, some spices, a generous portion of tamarind pulp (made by mashing ripe tamarind in tamarind water), chilli (powder/chopped/boiled & pasted). The tamarind water Tetul Jol is made by mixing tamarind and spices/ salt and making a light and tart liquid with water

Some examples are imli ka pani (tamarind in water), nimbu ka pani (lemon juice in water), pudine ka pani (mint in water) and khajur ka pani (dates mixed in water). In West Bengal, Orissa, Mithilanchal part of Bihar and the southern part of Jharkhand, many people enjoy panipuris containing no sweet but with tamarind juice and spicy mashed

Do try whenever you have time in Evenings...South Extension in Delhi, Khau Gali,Juhu in Mumbai, are where you can devour the best of these amazing snacks

Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panipuri

Samosa - The Humble Snack

 Have you ever given some thought to the most humble food that has been present for such a long time that you have taken its presence for granted...This was the food Item without which your birthday parties would never have been possible..Its one of those food items, without which the monsoons & that splashing rain would not have looked & felt the same.... Many a times, when your early winter morning slumber is disturbed for whatever god forbidden reason this food along with hot & steamy cup of tea would be the savior....Many office meetings & evening snacks  would be incomplete without this snack ......All Offices, Corporates, Govt, PSUs, consider this as a savior snack...It looks so humble & simple, so basic yet so effective ...It can be somebodys favorite guilt food....Long before, Burgers , Pizzas & Many of the Foreign food chains Invaded India, This has been & continues to be Indias best homegrown & home made snack......Even Today Kids find it as enduring as a MacDonalds, or Pizza Hut, & still as appealing....and thanks to the Enterprising & Evergrowing Indian Diaspora, This food is as widely available as the Chicken Tikka, if not as Popular....All Communities Love it & all have their different flavors & versions to it...The Greatness of this Snack is that It lends itself to a lot of Experimentation & varieties albeit with encouraging  Results..You can stuff this with meat, Chicken, Onions, Peas, Chickpea, Mushrooms,Potatoes, Condensed Milk.......

It doesnt limit itself to just a limited offerings & condinments....Stuff it in Bread Slice and you get a Samosa Sandwich, a Pouplar Campus snack in Mumbai.......Pav Samosa, YOu can have it wityh Ketchup, Tamarind Chutney, Green Mint & Chilly Chutney, Coriander Chutney....Have it with a plate of Aloo subzee, or Choley...It taste just as great.....In the Bylanes, Gullies, Main roads, Highways, Dhabas, its still as Popular as ever..Lot of Hotels also have the Samosa as part of their Menu...

The Samosa too Like all of us has a Story & a HIstory.....Having its origins somewhere in Central Asia, Its also known as Sanbusak or Samsa in parts of Central Asia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Uzbekistan. According to the “The Oxford Companion to Food” the Indian samosa is merely the best known of an entire family of stuffed pastries or dumplings popular from Egypt and Zanzibar to Central Asia and West China

Diff Avatars of the Samosa in Asia,

In the Turkish-speaking nations where it is called samsa (& variants) it is made both in half-moon shapes and triangles. Sedentary Turkish people such as the Uzbeks and in Turkey itself, people usually bake their samsas, but nomads such as the Kazakhs fry them. Occasionally, samsas will be steamed, particularly in Turkmenistan. In Central Asia the versions made with rough puff pastry (waraqi samsa, sambusai varaqi) are filled with meat. Those made with plain dough (leavened or unleavened) maybe filled either with meat or fillings such as diced pumpkin, chickpeas, herbs, wild greens, fried onions, mushrooms or dried tomatoes.

Sanbusak / Sambusa

Extolled in poems recited in the courts of Abassid Caliphs in 16th century Baghdad, these savoury pastries are particularly popular in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan & Syria. Traditional sanbusak are shaped like half moons and sprinkled with sesame seeds, usually with edges crimped or marked with fingernails. The usual Arab sanbusak is filled with meat, onions, & perhaps nuts or raisins, but Sanbusak bil Loz is tuffed with a mixture of ground almonds, sugar and rose or orange blossom water. In Iraq and Arabia dates are also a common filling. These pastries were still made in Iran as late as the 16th Century, but they have disappeared from most of the country today, surviving only in certain provinces: e.g. the triangular walnut-filled sambusas made in Larestan. However the Iranians of Central Asia, the Tajiks, still make a wide-variety of sambusas including round, rectangular and small almond shaped ones. In Afghanistan, where the name is sambosa, it is made both in half-moon shapes and triangles. The filling is traditionally ground meat with herbs and spices although halva and rasins are often used as well.

 Some People cook it in Oil - Mustard, Refined, Ground Nut, One restaurant also fries the Samosa in Ghee.....


Reference - http://www.samosa-connection.com/origin.htm

The Best Food Shows

Being a Foodie, doesnt only mean your obsession for eating food, but its the love that extends itself to anything that concerns food.whether its eating & savouring the delicacies, or just watching some platefuls of the food being served at the other table in a restaurant, while you wait for your Order.. Its also about the quest for all possible Information about the food.......whether in print or on TV

Food Shows have become very popular today, and being the foodie, its almost a religion to catch those programmes whenever one can....I am sure the visual medium, the fantastic presetation of the food, already makes your mouth water....Thats what a Good Food show does..... The Foodie, with actor Kunal as the lead, is quite a popular ond pretty old show & running quite successfully...Now what makes the show so cool to watch is the actors presentation..The Rotund, chubby host, aboslutely doesnt give too much of a damn for his dressing & is most casually dressed....His style of presentation may not be too detailed, but his childlike way of eating, almost greedily, is enough to make one salivate.... I feel that a food Presenter, must be able to salivate the mouths of the avaiewers, & almost make them grab some bite of whatever best they can manage at their homes, or order from Outside, But just make them feel like eating., Thats what Kunal Vijaykar excels in doing.. absolutely brillinat & mouth watering show

The Foodie - Kunal Vijaykar  -- http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4363347.cms

Then the Very Cool, Highway on My Plate, on NDTV good Times with the Rocking combo of Rocky & Mayur....Rocky is one of my favorite Food presenters and seems to have quite a decent knowledge about food , the spices, process of cooking....Their presentation is actually very detailed covering the restaurant, the ambience, the little journey to the eatery....The show also covers some details of the City which they are travelling, thus making it a tad more informative....Their knowledge on the food, the meats, the texture, the explanation is quite superlative as well... At the End of the show, they have their ratings for the restaurant, which is quite Unique & also leave the viewers with a food quote of the day

Watch the Video Link for the really Innovative & Gripping, Highway on my PLate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3zQKljLc2k&feature=player_detailpage


Then we have Our Veteran Journalist, Vinod Dua rediscovering his passion for food in the Food Show Zaika India ka..This show is more keeping in line with the Image & somber personal of the presenter & is presented in a traditional manner, sans all the spice & vibrancy of the younger presenters…Vinod dua, seems to be quite knowledgeable about the food & the spices which are being used…His eating also seems to be moderated & doesn’t seem to be like the real hungry & gluttonous eater which the other 2 food show hosts manage to bring….His favorite word for the delicious food items seem restricted to “Umdaa” & “Badiyaa”. He akes great use of his Chaste Hindi, & fluent urdu & brings a very Indian Dimension to the Food

Watch the Foodie & Journalist, Vinod Dua in action, as he explores Zaika India Ka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1hkJFzuyYo&feature=player_detailpage


Then there is another Popular Journalist Anisha Baig in her new show– “Will Travel for food”….While Highway on my plate, was about the street food, & small to budget eateries, Anisha Baigs show is about the Class & Upmarket restaurants as well…I have to admit though that the lady seems to do full justice as far as the eating is Concerned..although she is a Pretyy lady, there is absolutely nothing lady like about the eating& I am sure she would do all female foodies proud…..The theme of the show seems to be more on the Presentation & styling of the food & its presentation…..However the only drawback I feel is that the Program runs in a Voice Over mode, which somewhat kills the spontainiety of the presentation……Its  difficult to create & express the real reactions, the feeling of esctacy, which you achieve on savoring something divine in taste,  and reproduce it later in a studio….

Among Other Food Show, Chakh le India, is also pretty decent, however the presenter, doesn’t seem to elicit the same response which a really big fat foodie can. The Guy seems pretty knowledgable about the Cooking Processes & spices and he dwells more on the Cooking style, and technical aspects of the food………Floyds India, was one of the earlier food shows  & one of the most innovative, which combied cooking and excellent detailing about the local cuisne, process of cooking & the Host, Floyd is an almost legendary figure in the Culinary world….One of the Richest Voice baritones , smooth voice & excellent presentation, made him a  treat to watch…His trademark style of sipping hiw white wines while cooking some exquisite dishes, would make your mouth salivate & immediately head to the nearest eatery to maka e bite

Another Favorite Show, wherin the presenter, is able to create the foodie magic is Man Vs Food…..Vow,,,, what a show & what a Prsenter..This show is about the basics…..not technicalities about food making, not about the spices, or textures…Its not about the cooking styles, recipes & cultures, its just ablut eating……This man takes crazy Challenges & attempts to win those, Like a 3 foot sandwich, or a 6 Kg Ice Cream …Uff, and the way he stuffs himself during the challenge one cant stop feelling bad for him, and just wish, Hey Brother, Can i Help You

Watch him in one of his food Challenges - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE_gmsWG4yY&feature=player_detailpage

To all the Foodies, who love eating, who love thinking about, who love watching, food......"THERE IS NO LOVE MORE SINCERE THAN THE LOVE FOR FOOD", George Bernard Shaw

breads

The World Loves India & Indian Food...Indian Recipes, Spices are celebtrated & almost legendary in parts of the world.....The Tandoor is as Popular in London & Canada as their other Food...But Indian food is not complete or would not be what its is today, without the backbone of its cusines, the Bread....The Hmble  bread, which normally comes as a side order with the food, but is as important in adding to the taste & experience of food Consumption

We have so many varieties of Breads, that this food deserves a special mention & this post is dedicated to that...There are a Lot of Regional Breads also, some of whihc have become popular across the Country & even Internationally... The Northern Part of India, which is perhaps one of the Largest producers & consumers of Wheat, leads the pack in the bread varieties....

The Chapatti or Phulka, which is a bread eaten daily, and Daal Roti, Sabzi is as big a Staple diet as any... The Parathas, which is a Hugely Popular bread of Punjab....is also a big hit on the National & International Scene as well... Wheat dough spread on the Pan & fried with Oil or Ghee, Paratha is a staple bread of North India...It also lends itself to various varieties, when stuffed...Infact only ones creativity can limit one making full use of the enormous scale a Paratha offers...Aloo, Gobhi, Mooli, Gaajar, Onion, Palak, Dal, Eggs, Chicken, Parat Parathas, Baingan, Ajwain, Methi,  -- Its enormous.....

Naan, agains is a highly popular bread especially with Mughlai and Indian Food dishes....People Love it soft, crisp,Plain, Buttered, stuffed with Aloo, Paneer, Onions, Keema, the Naan lends itself effortlesslty to variety.......

Puris & Bhaturas, are Popular breads for breakfast....Deep Fried to a Perfect Golden Yellow Color, They taste great , fresh, crisp,Hot & Oily...



Even Kashmir, offers huge variety of bremploymentads, with bakeries being quite a popular mode of Employment

Telvur - Bread with Sesame seeds
Girdaa -  Dough made of wheat, Ghee & Milk
Lavaasa - Dough made of Maidaa, Slight salt
Katlam -

Vada Pav & Mumbiya Snack @ Delhi

Vada Pav- If you have ever been or stayed in Mumbai, Pune or any Other Maharashtrian State, you will probably be in a position to understand the importance of the Hmble Vada Pav, which is a mighty Street food business & an almost Iconic snack in Maharashtra.... Vada Pav, Misal Pav, Dabeli, in fact constitute a staple food & snacks in Maharashtra

Vada Pav is Hugely Popular in the Entire Maharashtra & is in fact quite a nice & easy to get snack, with all nooks a& corners of Mumbai selling this staple snack….Vada Pavs probably have been around for more than 40 years or so, some stories suggest that Vada Pav was first available Outside the Dadar Station in Mumbai

A deep fried Aloo Patty sandwiched between a Bun…..The Patty is made of a mix of Potatoes, Spices, Curry leaves , a typical Maharashtrian flavor…Deep fried with a basin batter, & getting a light golden yellow color on frying….The Bun is laced with a Very spicy & chilly Dhania Chutney , almost a dynamite… The Bun is also loaded with a powder made of Chillis & Garlic paste .. Have a look at how it looks

Chilli & Garlic Powder Chutney

Kandhe Bhaaji Pav is another speciality in Maharashtra... available at all the corners serving Vada Pavs.... Kandhe means Onions, so basically its a Onion Pakodaa served with a Bun & Chutney....

Misal Pav, is also quite a delicious snack availabel at most of the small & Big Hotesl.. It can be had as a nice breakfast, also had as a quick lunch, Its basically one or 2 namkeen mixtures, like chewda, mixed with a bowl of plain very hot & spicy Curry...Curry & mixture is mixed well, served with Onions, Lemon & Fresh Pavs, this is quite a meal & a hearty snack..... See how this amazing & wholesome snack looks

Dabeli, another Popular snack in Maharashtra & Gujarat. It is one of the most healthy & whole some snack one can have 7 again very widely available in nooks & Corners of Mumbai, Pune , Parts of Maharashtra & Gujarat…. A Mixture of boiled Potatoes, with spices, Onions, is mixed with some Promegrenate (Anaar) & some peanuts, and is sandwiched between the Bun or Pav…. Its served with anaar & peanuts as a side serve along with the Dablei Bun. The anaar adds the sweetness to the hot 7 spicy taste of the mix 7 peanuts.. Quite a Helathy Snack

Do Try these amazing Maharashtrian Snacks whenever in the mood …..  Best Places to Vist in Delhi for Vada Pav & some Maharashtrian Snacks

Delhi Haat / Amchi Mumbai, DLF Phase 5, Gurgaon / Food Chowk, Select City Walk, Saket