Thursday, November 22, 2012

Palak Paneer Laasuni ....... memories of Diwali



That morning was unusually calm. The marigolds that decked the front door had wilted away. I could still sniff the gun powder in the early morning breeze. The oil from the diyas had left a mark on my expensive floor tiles. The color of the rangoli had bled into each other. The municipality workers were back on the streets sweeping tattered papers and remnants of the crackers. Moti the neighborhood street dog was so much at peace with himself after yesterdays bombastic night. The garlands of electric lights on the opposite balcony swayed gently in the morning breeze.

Although I am not a very traditional person I still love to light up diyas instead of those electric light garlands. Yes I like those earthy rustic ones. Each Diwali when I light those oil lamps, there is a storm of emotions that stir up within me. 

Some how Diwali is not quite the same ...... things have changed for the better or for the worse. I just buy enough diyas to deck up the tiny winy balconies of my apartment in this distant city that I call home...... not like hundreds of them that my grandma used to buy every Diwali to light up our ancestral home. I miss washing those diyas in buckets of water and that earthy smell. 


The giggles of cousins in the courtyard has faded away with passing years. So have the clanking of the cauldrons that were usually taken out during festive season from the attic for making huge batches of 'boondi ladoos' and namkeens. Now there is no hurry to pack and distribute these goodies to the neighbors.

I simply make a trip to the neighborhood shop to pick up some dry fruit packets. Things are much more convenient than they used to be ...... but still I am not enjoying this easy life. I am missing those cumbersome afternoons when the women of the house would make batches of boondi soaked in sugar syrup and we little girls trying to shape the warm boondies into ladoos with our tiny hands. 

I miss making those trips to the neighborhood darzi for getting that simple dress stitched ........ I feel I  had rejoiced wearing that simple dress more than the designer ones I own today. 

Somehow I felt more of a spectator than a participant in the festival this year.
Yes I did wear festive clothes and I was happy to meet with people but somewhere inside I don't quite get it. May be I am just a little weird !!


Preparation Time - 30 Minutes
Serves - 4

Ingredients
Paneer/ Cottage Cheese cubed - 2 cups
Spinach Leaves shredded - 3 cups
Garlic Minced -  4 tsp
Finely chopped onion - 1/2 cup
Finely Chopped Green Chillies - 2
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric -  1 big pinch
Clarified butter - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste 
Method of Preparation 
1. Heat about 1tbsp of clarified butter/ ghee in a kadhai. When the oil gets warm add minced garlic to it. Reduce the flame   and stir constantly to make sure that the garlic doesn't get burnt. 
2. Now add the chopped onions and green chillies. Add salt and turmeric. Cook till the onions get mushy and have no raw smell. 
3. Add in the shredded spinach leaves and mix well. Now add the cubed paneer cubes. Sir intermittently for about 5 minutes.
4. Lastly add garam masala.

Serving Tips

Serve with any bread/ flat indian bread. You could also make a sandwich with this filling. 



15 comments:

Torviewtoronto said...

delicious aromatic flavours looks wonderful

runnergirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com said...

I love the way you write Satrupa, can actually visualize what your talking about and that's rare.. you should write more often.
Delicious Palak paneer recipe :)

Kamalika said...

Palak Paneer is koenika's favourite dish...will show her that her favourite aunty has cooked palak paneer.....lovely clicks....

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

I too love those earthy rustic diyas. And i never miss or forget to light up diyas on karthigai deepam :)
Nice recipe, liked it..nice way to include greens in the diet...looks yumm.

Bikram said...

nice and healthy :) lovely pictures.. hope you had a good diwali


Bikram's

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

you did it again. lovely write up and so similar to how we celebrated diwali.

lubnakarim06 said...

It is just like seeing through eyes...crystal clear post....enjoyed reading....u know there is one moti here too....that too military one and Lil'M is very scared of.....nice recipe.....pics are droolicious....love that garlic click.....

Priya Suresh said...

Fabulous write up,loved reading.

Flavourful palak paneer, inviting.

raaji said...

vow like that combination...

Nupur said...

Its the same for everyone Satrups, guess we all miss those things which were meaningless and tiresome then.

Your palak paneer look awesome, I love every version of it and though I do use a lot of Garlic in any of my versions, I like your changes. Will try this one soon

Jyostna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jyostna said...

Oops typos hence deleted my previous comment...anyways u r not alone who miss the participation, I also feel the same!

Unknown said...

Delicious & Mouthwatering

Blog - http://shwetainthekitchen.blogspot.com/
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/ShwetaintheKitchen

great-secret-of-life said...

nice write up.. bring back my childhood too.. I miss those 100s of lights and whole process of preparing for it too
Nice recipe and lovely clicks
http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com

garcinia cambogia extract said...

Nice & clearly Write up... Very Delicious & Mouthwatering... Nice & Healthy Also..

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