Aharveda Thali

When you remove gluten, lactose and sugar from an Indian thali, its no longer a thali. I went in expecting a plate of pale looking boiled vegetables. I was wrong. What was put in front of me on a sparkling silver thali was to my surprise quite appetising.The menu changes each day. 

I relished rice bhakris and tomato chutney. The mooli chawli bhaji was wholesome and went well with bhakris. They called raw cabbage and cucumber pieces with tomato salsa khimchi. It was well seasoned and no surprise, I polished it clean. The power of fresh coriander and mint chutney is underrated. It adds "chaar chaand" to your meal.



The day I picked to go they had a few chinese items on the menu which I didn't savour as much. Thali and chinese shouldn't go together. So I was disappointed down by their fusion attempt. Having said that I did eat it all. It was delicious but odd just like eating a sushi pizza. I would go back wanting wholesome Ayurvedic indian food. Feed me dal, suran bhaji, navalkol, karela and drumsticks something. 

I drank chaas, and called the waiter with gotcha look.This is buttermilk. Hence not lactose free.*high five*. He says it's made of coconut milk and raw mango. My jaw drops and I cuss at my palate. This is chaas says my brain. Is it really? Stroke of genius.

This thali has not replaced my gujju thalis steeped with ghee, chaas, fried stuff and sweet dal. But what it did was opened my mind to different foods that were never on my radar. Upwas vari rice is one such find! Not only they made vari or samo for a rice with soy sauce and veggies for mains, they also made firni with the same. Sweetened by jaggery and honey that firni can belong on every Indian menu. 

I applaud the minds behind Aharveda, their effort seems honest. The thali comes with a feel good vibe that makes me think they should add "guilt-free" in their description as well. This is Mumbai's marmite divide. Love it or hate it, your tummy will surely appreciate this meal. 

Your liver might do a happy dance too.

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

This book is a delight. Alain de Botton has beautifully laid down the anatomy of this pure emotion. One of the few books that encapsulates what goes on in minds of a man and woman in love at every stage of their life together. The chapter on parenthood and the different stages of love gave me a profound understanding of phases that I havent experienced myself yet. At that time, I felt like this is the bit that parent should read. There is a chapter on Kirsten's mother on her deathbed. Thats a chapter every person who has lost a loved one, or is aware of we are going to lose our loved ones one day or the other should read.  This book is for every person who  believes that they will have a perfect relationship and that their love is like no other. The book dissects love and marriage so well, it should be made compulsory for couples preparing to say " I do" and for couples who wonder why isnt their marriage/ relationship perfect. Its a "how to" manual on relationships. Get your copy!

Amba Haldi Pickle

Recipe

1) Buy a mix of orange and white haldi root. Wash thoroughly. With a blunt knife scrap the black bits (if any). Avoid using a peeler, it takes a lot of the nutrients away. I let the skin be.

2) Chop it as you like. Place it in a mixing bowl. You need to work with this fast, it oxidises very quickly. I noticed a yellow tinge on my palms and fingers much later from handling haldi. I dont know how to avoid that, Im guessing rubbing a lil ghee or oil on the palms before chopping might help.

3) Add juice of 1 lime and some sendha salt. Mix well.

4) In a pan, heat some mustard oil until smoky.

5) Slit some green chillies and fry them in the oil.

5) Add mustard seeds, sauff seeds, couple methi seeds in the oil. This could burn in matter of seconds to take it off the flame quickly. And pour this tadka on to the bowl of haldi. Mix well

6) Add a pinch of red chilli powder.

7)Let it cool. Store in an air tight jar in the fridge.

This pickle will last a week or so in the fridge. And no need to put this out in the sun. This takes less than 15 mins. The quantity of lime juice and oil can be increased if you want more gravy. Indian food  recipes are forgiving. We cook by instincts and our tastes. Hence, how much quantity of spices you would like to use, I leave it to you.

Happy Pickling!

Beetroot sabzi

This is super simple.

1) Grate 2- 3 medium sized beetroots and fresh coconut separately.
2) In a skillet, pour some coconut oil (you can use ghee or vegetable oil)
3) Add mustard seeds, sliced green chillies and curry leaves.
4) When all of its splutters, add some sesame seeds
5) Next goes in the grated beetroot
6) And last thing that goes in is fresh grated coconut and saute.
7) In a couple minutes, take it off the flame and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and dhaniya leaves
8) Serve hot with rotis

I dont cook this sabzi for more than 3- 4 mins just long enough for the raw smell to go. I prefer it to be fairly undercooked to retain some crunch. You can shut the flame and cover it to cook it further more.  If you want some kick to it then before adding the beetroot and coconut, add a pinch of sambhar masala or kolumbu masala to the oil.

Other combinations that work wonders in this same recipe :
1) Cabbage carrot coconut
2) beetroot carrot coconut
3) Raddish with coconut and jaggery

Bon Appetite!

AMBIL recipe

There are many different versions of Ambil. Growing up, my mother always made this using Jowar flour.  When I visited my hometown in Northern Karnataka during my summer vacations, I saw many families having this for breakfast before going out to work in the sun. I am sure every regions has its own unique version.




Recipe:

1) Take 2 tbs of Ragi flour in a bowl.
2) Add 2 tbs of yogurt to the bowl.
3) Mix well and let it sit for 20 minutes. The longer you let it rest, the sour it tastes. So if your yogurt is sour to begin with, then you may not need to rest it for this long.
4) Boil 2.5 cups of water in a vessel.
5) When the water is boiling, stir it with a spoon and add the ragi yogurt paste.
6) Stir vigorously to avoid lumps.
7) Once its mixed well, wait until it boils.
8) Add salt to taste
9)  If your ambil is too thick, then add some water
10) Serve in bowl with pickle and buttermilk or yogurt.

Additional flavourings:
1) You can add some crushed garlic to the boiling water for more taste.
2) Similarly, cumin, coriander leaves, some green chillies can be added.

I am rubbish at following recipes. Its all instincts when it comes to measurements. So I have found a proper recipe with step by step pictures. https://www.chefatlarge.in/recipe/savoury-ragi-malt-nachani-ambil/
The same recipe works for jowar ambil. Do try that too.
Hope this helps!

Coconut Rice recipe for the lazy

This is quick (lazy) version of coconut rice. I dont have ingredients measured, but worry not use your instincts and it will be fine. The traditional recipe, rice should be cooked in coconut milk.

But who’s got that kinda time?

What I found in my kitchen:

Leftover boiled rice

Coconut oil or Ghee

Fresh coconut grated

Urad dal and chana dal

Tamarind (Imli) soaked in water

Curry leaves

Mustard seeds

Coconut milk

Green chilli (can use red dry chilli instead)

Toasted cashewnuts

What I managed to whip up:

1) In a skillet heat some coconut oil, Add mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal and curry leaves.

2) Next add in grated coconut and roast lightly. Careful not to brown the coconut.

3) Add chopped chillies.

4) Next goes in about 3 tablespoons of coconut milk (just enough to coat the rice that you will be adding in later)

5) Add imli juice. This is optional. I used very little imli for a sweet sour balance.

6) When the sauce bubbles, add in the rice. Mix well.

7) When the rice is hot enough, switch of the flame.

8) Add a generous spoon of ghee

9) Season with salt and pepper

10) Garnish with roasted cashews and curry leaves

Note:

If rice is just prepared and steaming hot then add in the rice to the sauce and switch of the flame

instantly.  Also, use less of coconut milk, to avoid it getting soggy.

For my leftover rice, I needed the moisture from coconut milk so I added more.

Bon Appetite!

Buffets

Blood boil -o- meter on buffets.

1) Diners eating from their plates while walking back to their seat. 'Arre, ruk jao yaar'  The food isnt running away. You can wait a few seconds while you park your arse on a seat and them chomp away.

2) Food kept in the open. Look, I am all for fancy displays and that we first eat with our eyes. But my eyes get sore just thinking of the germs sitting on that food. Nope, cannot happen.

3) Food that looks like has been sitting on the stand since the neolithic period. The baked goods section, cheese and salami section more often than not is a victim here. If i were in their place, i would appoint someone (happy to volunteer) just to be not lose perspective and scrutinise the food display strictly.

4) Diners who chose not to move from their seats, and demand food items that are on display from the staff.

5) Cutting the line.

6) Touching food thats on the buffet spread by hand and then decide not to take it.

7) Overloading your already filled up plate, and then not eating it in the end.

why why why?

Long walks in Hampi

With the help of my loving family, my best friend and I finally ticked Hampi off our travel list. And we practiced 'Dolce Far Niente' italian for the sweetness of doing nothing. Away from the hustle bustle and gadgetry, a couple days spend  on the boulders of the mighty Tungabhadra river was a dream come true.

Like most places in India, Hampi is not an easy place to reach. One can get here, provided you are up for a long journey. Hubli is the closest airport and from there it is a 4 - 6 hours journey to the boulders.We chose to to take an overnight train to Hubli and hired a cab to take us there which cost us around INR3000.
Hampi is a place of rich history and a glorious past of the Vijayanagra empire. The sightseeing places are across the river. A coracle ride to the other side is joyous. On learning that it was my first coracle ride, our coracle rider was kind enought to show us some tricks,also spinning the boat with child like enthusiasm. I hired a rickshaw for couple of hours to take from one place to another. Roads are well made and its a comfortable ride. The stone chariot one sees in every picture promoting Hampi is mesmerising to see in person. Intricate stone carvings on each and every direction. Some of the walls have ancient scriptures carved in stone. The stories of the queen dancing in her private chambers with more than a thousand diyas illuminating the entire palace adorned with marigold flowers forces you to go back in time and imagine the sights. Music was made by thumping the stone pillars, our guide was gracious to give us a short preview.The interior is cooler in temperature.  The folklore is plenty. The stories of kings, queens, the lavish bazaars, gems trading, music, art and culture echos how vibrant this city once was. Locals are helpful. My mobile network was poor, when another rickshaw driver saw me frantically trying to get in touch with our driver, he came up to me and just offered to use his phone.

We were staying at Hampi Boulders. The moment you step in there your fatigue just vanishes. Small cottages by the river, makes sure everywhere you look you are surrounded by serenity of nature. It took us a while to find this hotel, they have no signage to get here. All you do is enter through a large brown gate, when looked at you are trespassing a private property. No boards screaming out "hey, heres your home for the next couple of days". When I asked why, they say, they choose to keep this property low key. As you drive past those gates, what seemed barren entrance transforms itself to a jungle orchard with trees almost drooping with the weight of their blooming flowers. We stayed in Otters cottage overlooking the river. Waking up to the sound of flowing water is mesmerising. The sunrise is beautiful. I spent my morning sipping on my chai and listening chirping birds. The nature trail walks offered to all hotel guests is must try. Bamboo bridges take you  across boulders to view a magnificent sunrise/sunset. The hotel tariff included all meals, and bon fire dinner under the stars. They grow organic vegetables and fruits in the property and hence the food is delicious and homemade. They have a rock pool which keeps the water quite cool in the sun. The staff is very helpful.

Such wonderful 3 days spent here.  I will definitely want to go back spend a couple of chilled out days after the monsoons. More than the sights i loved the hotel experience.