desi tadka!!!

For me no sophisticated meal can beat the taste of good old "chulhe di roti "with a dollop of home made white butter on it...yum"!! ("Chulha" is the clay oven that uses fire wood and is found in most rural indian households) The hearty and robust food that is made from freshly procured goodies in these households are not just yummy tasting but can also put any of those so called"healthy and low calorie fancy sounding fancy tasting"foods to shame in terms of their nutritional value.I try and source these ingredients from the best possible places(read nearby village markets)which is easier for me beacause i live in a place that makes   shopping in local rural markets as easy as shopping in an upmarket store for ingredients from far off shores.

Now "makke di roti and sarson saag"(corn/maize meal tortillas and mustard greens curry) is one such favourite combination that almost all of us would have loved at some point.This recipe originated from rural areas of punjab where farmers would eat this after a long and tiring day of working in the fields.This is usually accompanied by a tall glass of full cream sweet to the core" lassi"(a drink made from sweetened yoghurt).

But i decided to stay away from it because it is so popular that almost everyone knows the recipe so well its no point retelling it again.

Instead; i did a jowar (sorghum)roti with a hearty palak paneer with a twist(i called it patiala palak paneer because i couldnt find a heartier sounding name).Here is the recipe:

patiala palak paneer

ingredients

fresh paneer(cottage cheese)-250 gms
palak(spinach)puree-1 cup(i blanched the spinach leaves in hot salted water for a minute before pureeing it)
tomatoes(sliced in strips)-2 medium sized ripe ones(if u want u can deseed them)
grated onions-1 medium sized bulb
garlic cloves-8 to 10
grated ginger-1"inch
whole coriander seeds-i tspn
cumin seeds-1 tspn
whole dry red chillies-2 or 3
cumin powder-1 tspn
garam masala powder-1 tspn
paprika.red chilli powder-1 tspn
turmeric powder-1 tspn
salt to taste
oil/ghee to saute

procedure:

• heat a tblspn of oil/ghee in a heavy bottommed pan or wok.when the oil is hot enough add cumin seeds and the whole coriander seeds followed by the red chillies.

• Add the whole garlic cloves and then throw in the grated onion and ginger.saute till the mixture is well cooked and is golden in colour.

• Add the powdered spices i.e. turmeric,paprika,cumin powder and then add the tomatoes.add a little water to bring together the spices and cook till the masalas start to leave oil from the sides.

• Now add the pureed spinach,salt and garam masala.Cover and cook at low heat for about 6-7 mts.do stir it in between.add paneer and cook for further 3 or 4 mts.water can be added according to the desired consistency,just remember to season it accordingly.add some white butter in the end(optional) and remove from heat.serve with hot bread/chapati/paranthas.

Jowar rotis(sorghum flat bread)

Mix a cup full of jowar meal with a three quarters cup of very hot water.Mix vigourously with a spatula and cover immediately.keep this covered for 10 to 12 mts(after which it also gets easier to handle as it cools down by then).Now take out the dough on a floured surface and knead it adding some wheat flour when needed to.also add a big spoonfull of sesame seeds to enhance the taste if you like it.i added it while rolling the dough into chapatis though.this much dough will make some 4-5 medium sized ,slightly thick rotis.

roll the chapatis and when needed use some wheat flour to dust.

note: do not roll the chapatis too thin or else they'll turn very hard and chewy after cooking.

• cook on the griddle/pan on  medium heat on both the sides till well done,use some ghee if required.Serve hot with daal or curry and some pickles on the side.

Health tip:

Including slower carbs(maize,sorghum,whole wheat and millets etc) in our daily dinner menu is far more beneficial for our bodies as opposed to excluding carbs totally in dinner(i know this is what most health freaks do)because not only it helps bring satiety and thus better sleep;but also when combined with good  proteins(paneer,tofu, legumes and lentils etc),ensures that the body effieciently repairs itself overnight hence increasing the chances of fat burning through the day.Happy eating!!