Paneer Butter Masala with a hint of fresh Methi Leaves

My friends son is worried these days. He doesn't mind getting late to school if mommy grants him few extra minutes to watch his favorite cartoon show in the morning 'Cat in the Hat'. He fears about growing up to become Daddy and go to office. So he pleads with mommy darling to let him watch his favorite cartoon.

I could not stop laughing when my friend told me about it .... I loved the innocence and the genuine fear of growing up and becoming like Daddy !! I am sure we all would have had similar thoughts during our years of growing up.

When I was of his age and I heard my mom and aunts talk during family reunions or even over the phone, I always used to wonder how these women never got tired talking about the same stuff. Their world revolved around their husband, children,in -laws, maid servant, clothes,jewelry, foot wear,hand bags, food, weight gain/ loss etc. I would make faces and pledge that I would never grow up to talk stuff like that. Per me whatever they spoke was boring. My world was all about Disney Princess, story books, Tom and Jerry, Coloring Books etc.

Unconsciously I have stepped into that phase of life where I am like my mom and aunts. My day starts thinking what I need to cook to feed hubby dear. Then as I begin my daily household chores I complain to the people on the other end of the phone about the difficulties of living in a servant less country. For a moment I refuse to accept the life of luxury I lead here ....... yes, I love being a hypocrite. I look for recipes and discuss about my cooking .... sometimes I brag about my culinary skills. I look for Sale and Offers and rush to the stores to get my hands full. I love to call my friends and cousins and boast about the new dress or footwear I bought and check for updates on the latest fashion trend. I look for any fine lines on my face, look for grey hairs and worry about the 'muffin top' that shows up below the old dress. I can talk for hours about calories and healthy eating. Every damn thing that I would have otherwise ignored hurts my ego. I no longer hang on to the Cartoon Network. It is more about Fashion TV, Food Network and Home Decor Channels. I am confined to the food, cosmetic and clothes aisle of department stores. I no longer venture in the Toys Section. Barbies and Dora's of the world no longer catch my attention.

I am sure the Generation Z would be looking at us as a bunch of boring people, the same way we used to do. And I could so much appreciate the genuine concern of my friend's son about growing up.

Preparation Time - 40 minutes

Serves - 4

Ingredients

Cubed Paneer - 2 cups

Fresh Methi Leaves - 2/3 cups

Chopped Onion - 1.5 cups

Chopped Ginger - 2 tsp

Chopped Garlic - 2 tsp

Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp

Chopped Tomatoes - 2 cups

Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

Cummin Powder - 1/2 tsp

Green Chillies - 3

Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Butter for cooking

Sugar - 1 pinch

Salt per taste

Method of Preparation

1 Bring any store bought paneer. Cut it into medium size cubes.

2 Finely chop onion,tomato,ginger,garlic and green chillies. Keep aside.

3 Heat some butter in a kadhai/ pan. Add cumin seeds to sputter. Add the chopped onion,ginger,garlic and chili and fry till golden brown and soft. Now add salt,chopped tomatoes,turmeric powder, red chillie powder, coriander and cumin powder. Keep stirring the mixture. Do not allow it to stick to the pan. Add about half a cup of water and simmer the masala/ sauce for some time.

4 Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Put the masala into a blender and grind it into a fine puree.

5 Add a little more butter (about 1 tsp) to the same kadhai. Add the ground/ pureed masala to the kadhai. Toss the cubed paneer and peas and stir well.Add one pinch of sugar.

6 Add the fresh chopped methi leaves to the gravy. Stir well.

7 Add little water if the gravy is dry and let the paneer simmer in it for 5 minutes.

Serving Tips

Serve hot with any Indian flat bread like Roti, Paratha or Naan.

Notes

If the paneer is in the refrigerator and hard to cube, place the entire paneer packet into a bowl of warm water. This will soften it.

Make sure that you cool down the masala before grinding it.

Variation

Use 3 tsp of canned tomato puree instead of fresh tomatoes.

Buta Daali Alu Tarkari .. aka ... Chana Daal

One universal truth is ...... nothing can replace 'Ghar ka Khana" (Homemade food ). And no food can be more satisfying than home made ones and especially if it is made by mom. ...... Guess it has the Midas touch !!

But it was not always that I admired food from mom's kitchen as much as I do today, everything was better than her's . I used to be a very willful child when it came to food. The list of food that I didn't eat or didn't like to eat outnumbered the ones I ate. I used to give my mother, grandmother and aunts a tough time everyday ..... my tantrums were unending. And being the first grandchild I was pampered and spoilt. I used to piss my mother so much that she would threaten me about boarding schools and hostels.

And I used to dream of the freedom of staying in a hostel with nobody around to boss, nobody to force feed me with veggies. Little had I imagined about the food and other problems associated with hostel life. I still remember the first day in hostel when I walked up to the dining hall and served myself with cold rice, daal and eggplant curry. With moist eyes I walked to a corner trying to hide my tears as I ate that meal. No one was around to pamper me and none at whom I could throw my tantrums.

Laxmi Amma the cook stared at me as I struggled to finish that bland and disgusting food. "Don't waste food ..... you have to finish all you have on your plate", she told in a stern voice pointing at my plate. I struggled with every morsel as tears rolled down my eyes. I was missing home and more than that I missing the food from mom's kitchen. Slowly I befriended Laxmi Amma. She would fry me an extra pappad or make me an omelet. In return I would buy her jasmine flowers or get medicines for her aching knee. Each meal time I would remember 'ghar ka khana' and finish my food with a sigh. It was a lesson learnt the hard way. I remembered the words wisdom of my grandmother about God punishing children who wasted food.

Soon my semester was getting over ...... which meant that I was going home for vacation. Rather than making a list of lessons that I had to study, I made a long list of things that I wanted to eat. I would read out my wish list each time my mother would call to make sure that she remembers it all.

And the day I was home I ate like there was no tomorrow ..... everything that was on my plate !! As I licked my plate there was a burst of laughter. My mother, aunts and grandmother laughed their hearts out. It was sweet revenge !!

Preparation Time 30 minutes

Serves 3

Ingredients

Chana Daal - 3/4 cup

Potato cubed - 1 medium size

Chopped Onion - 1 tbsp

Chopped Garlic - 1 tsp

Chopped Ginger - 1 tsp

Green Chili - 2

Cinnamon - 2 inches

Cardamon - 2

Bay leaf - 1

Cumin seed - 1/2 tsp

Cumin Powder - 1/3 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1/3 tsp

Clarified Butter - 1 tsp

Garam Masala - 1 pinch

Turmeric - 1 big pinch

Fresh grated coconut - 1/2 cup

Cilantro for garnishing

Oil for cooking

Salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1 Wash daal and pressure cook till one whistle adding salt and turmeric. Keep aside.

2 Add a little oil in a kadhai. Fry the potato when the oil is hot. Fry till all the sides brown. Remove and keep aside.

3 Add some more oil if required. Add Cumin seeds, bay leaf, Cinnamon, cardamon to it and fry for a minute. Add the chopped onion, garlic and ginger. Sprinkle a little salt and fry till they are soft and there is no raw aroma.

4 Add a little turmeric, cumin powder and coriander powder. Fry for 2 -3 minutes. Add the potato and mix in. Add a little water and cover and cook till the potatoes get cooked.

5 Add the cooked daal and simmer.

6 Add butter and garam masala and stir in.

7 Before removing from heat add the shredded coconut and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Serving Tips

Serve warm with rice or roti.

Notes

Do not over cook the daal. You may also opt not to add the coconut.

Let me know what Ghar ka Khana/ home made food means to you. I would love to hear it from you all .....

Wrap or Roll .... Chili Paneer !!

A typical conversation between me and my mother during my years of growing up ......

S : ( Shouting from her study table ) What is there for today's dinner ?

Maa : Mixed vegetable stew and Phulka.

S : Making faces ...... She is no more interested in dinner. Plans how to escape eating the vegetable stew.

Decides to take a walk to the kitchen on an inspection mode. Walks to the kitchen pretending that she is thirsty. Inspects the vegetable stew from a distance while drinking water.

Wishes she could skip dinner and the bland vegetable stew and drags her feet back to the study.

Couple of minutes later - "Maa, I am having a stomach ache I am not sure if I will have dinner".

Maa : (Rather the Smart Maa) Ok dear ....... have a glass of milk and eat a banana before going to bed.

S : Unable to decide which is worst. The Phulka and Vegetable Stew or milk and banana. Finally she decides upon eating one Phulka with a little vegetable stew and a banana. Escapes drinking milk !!

Another Day ..... A Saturday Eve !!

S : Entering the house after spending time at her friends house and playing badminton. The aroma of "something special" is in the air. Super Excited she hurries to the kitchen. Sees Maa preparing Chili Paneer. Drool !!

Maa : It's already late ..... you are never home at time. No going to anywhere from tomorrow. Go wash you hands and face and finish your homework. Dad will be there anytime soon.

S : Curses her teachers for burdening her with so much homework. Pulls out a book ..... opens it .......... Stares at the ceiling waiting for the Paneer Roll to get ready. Recollects how Sonali and Shweta fought at school during the games period, how Mrs Muller sent all the boys out of the class and punished them. Evil smile on her face ...Did everything but study.

Impatiently hurries to the kitchen " Maa I am very hungry. My stomach is churning ...... Can I have something to eat ?"

Maa : Wraps a little Chili Paneer in a Roti and hands it over.

S : Gobbles it with big bites as if there is no tomorrow !!

Preparation Time - 30 minutes

Makes - 5

Ingredients

Paneer Cubed - 1 cup

Chopped Bell Pepper - 1/2 cup

Chopped Onions - 1/3 cup

Chopped Garlic - 1 tbsp

Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp

Chili Garlic Paste - 1 tsp

Chopped Chili - 2

Soy Sauce - 1 tbsp

Chinese Salt - 1 pinch

Lemon Juice - 2 tsp

Chopped Coriander Leaves

Tortilla - Any store bought one

Salt per taste

Oil for cooking

Method of Preparation

1 Heat about 1 tbsp oil in a open pan.

2 Add cumin seeds and chopped green chilies when the oil is warm.

3 Add Chopped garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes. Now add ginger garlic paste and fry for 2-3 minutes.

4 Add the coriander and cumin powder and fry for 1/2 minute. Add 1 tbsp water and stir well.

5 Add the chopped bell peppers and onion and fry till semi cooked. Add salt, chili garlic sauce and china salt. Saute for couple more minutes. Now add the soy sauce. Next add the lime juice.

6 Add cubed paneer and give it a rough stir to mix well with the remaining mixture.

7 Remove from heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

8 Wrap the mixture in a tortilla bread.

Serving Tips

Serve warm. You may also add chopped raw onions to it.

Variation

Instead of using Tortilla, you may wrap it in your regular roti/ chapati.

Brussel Sprouts and confessions of an imperfect wife .....

The husband is no more amused of visiting the neighborhood super market, neither does he stop by the old lady selling her favorite 'Malli Phula' (Jasmine flower) on his way back from office. And the forgetful and lazy wife doesn't care to make a list of things for the weekly grocery/ vegetables that needs to be bought. Thus making the husband run to the stores more than once a week. They both grumble but things don't change much. Life goes on .....

The moody wife cooks per her convenience and if not in a mood doesn't care to move a spoon or buzz by the kitchen. The poor fellow has to do with Maggi or anything that is ready to eat. The husband sits with his eyes glued on the television or on his laptop watching everything that disinterests her.

The 'Impress Me' game is long over. They both love being themselves and still enjoy each other's company.

But things were NOT the same few years back. Everything was a fairytale ...... ok not a fairy tale but like the Hindi movies from the 80's. I suppose it was meant to be that way.

The wife was (read as pretended) 'Pati vrata' and the husband 'Joru ka gulam'......

The wife would finish all her work, clean the house, cook some of his favorite dishes before he returned. She would line her eyes carefully with kajal,dab some talcum powder on her face, comb her hair and fill her parting with sindur ..... and wait with a smile on her face for the husband to return. Both of them would perch like two love birds sipping their tea and munching their favorite Haldiram Alu Bhujia after the husband returned from work. The husband would then empathize with the wife for the lonely hours spent and propose for a drive or shopping trip. In no time would the wife get ready and they soon would be headed towards their favorite shopping complex. The guy would insist on buying something for her to make her evening a little special and would never get bored walking up and down the aisles of the Women's section. They would come back late and the wife would still have all the energy in the world to impress him with the new recipe she learnt from the aunty next door. Sounds perfect isn't it ....... but perfection everyday too can be monotonous ! Boring for me .....

So like the most imperfect wife (self confession needs a lot of gut and that too in public) I refuse to make a list of things that needs to be bought. I love the disgust on J's face when asked to accompany me to the neighborhood store ..... he looks real cute that way ! And I was almost like a vegetable last week ..... I refused to see the work around me. I just wanted to spend 'my time' ..... but please don't get ideas .... I did cook and did make the morning tea too ...... no I lied a little bit. J made the morning tea on Tuesday and Wednesday.

But then I did dedicate my 100th post to him ..... And made his favorite Chicken Marsala although I had other plans. So the bottom line is ....... I love being an imperfect wife, if you call it that way.

Had enough of laugh ..... so better get back to some serious business - Recipe for Brussel Sprout curry.

Preparation Time - 30 minutes

Serves - 3

Ingredients

Brussel Sprout - 1 pound

Finely chopped Onion - 1/2 cup

Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp

Chopped Tomato - 1/2 cup

Garam Masala Powder - 1 pinch

Turmeric - 1 pinch

Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Whole Cinnamon - 1 inch

Cardamon - 2

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Salt per taste

Oil for cooking

Method of Cooking

1 Chop the Brussel Sprouts into two half. Microwave it for 4-5 minutes by adding a little water to it. Keep aside.

2 In a pan drizzle a little oil. When warm add the cumin seeds and whole garam masala (cinnamon and cardamon).

3 Add the onions and fry till translucent. Then add ginger garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes.

4 Next add the chopped tomatoes and turmeric powder and chili powder. Fry the mixture for another 5 minutes.

5 Add the Brussel Sprouts now. Add salt per taste and mix well. Cover and cook on medium heat. When the sprouts are soft add a little garam masala powder and remove from heat.

Serving Tips

Serve warm with roti or rice

Notes

Do not over cook the Brussel Sprouts

Daal ..... The Common Man's Meat !!

Is a 2 Billion dollar home flamboyant enough ? And that too for a family of four ! To add to that there are 3 helipads and and parking space for 160 cars. Not to forget 600 people working to maintain this much talked about billion dollar home. I am not sure how many Indians are taking pride in this India's first Billion dollar house making it to the Forbes Magazine. But surely not me ! I get grumpy and upset when people discuss about this abode of Mr Mukesh Ambani in which he takes so much self pride. Does one really need all these ? Was the current 22 floor house of Mr Ambani not enough for four people that he had to move to a 27 floor mansion ?

Could Mr Ambani not find a better way to spend this 2 Billion Dollars ? I can think of a hundred more effective ways to spend the money.

A small percentage of this amount would have made a big difference for a lot of people who do not even get a meal a day.A charitable hospital, better education for the poor and needy, vocational school and colleges to make more people self employed. .Or how about funding a world class cancer research institute. These are few things that come to my mind in a blink .... I am sure there are many noble ways to spend this 2 Billion.

I believe making it to the list of 'Richest People of the World' on Forbes is not a measuring tape for your riches. It is about how much you give back to the society. I know many people whom I interact with ....... they are not even 0.0001 % as rich as Mr Ambani. But they have dedicated their time and money (whatever little they have) in the service of mankind. One such organisation is Seva Samarpita Charitable Trust. It is run by few retired doctors and teachers.

To me they are the real heros. One's life is not remembered by how much riches he accumulated or where he lived or what car he drove. It is important to have values in life and believe in serving the less privileged ones.
The world remembers JRD Tata just not for the industrial empire he set up but for his philanthropy and simple living !!

So as a silent protest to this 2 Billion Dollar lavish home, I decided to post the recipe for 'Garlic Daal', Daal being the common man's 'Meat'.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.

Epictetus

Preparation Time 30 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

Toor Daal - 1 cup

Garlic - 4 cloves

Green Chili -1

Dry Red Chili - 1

Panch Phoran - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 2 tsp

Chopped Coriander leaves - little

Turmeric Powder - 1 pinch

Salt per taste

Method of Preparation

1 Wash the daal and soak in in water for 15 minutes.

2 Pressure cook adding salt and turmeric.

3 In a kadhai, add some oil. When hot add minced Garlic and chopped green chilies. Also add the panch phoran and red dry chili to sputter. Pour the cooked daal carefully to this seasoned oil.

4 Simmer for a minute. Garnish with chopped Coriander.

Serving Tips

Serve warm with rice. Add a little ghee or butter on top of it for flavor.

Variation

You may prepare using any other daal, Moong or Masoor Daal.

Alu Chop

If you see a bee line before an old rickety looking 'Thela' at Old Station Bazar road in Bhubaneswar ... then don't hesitate to join the Que. If you categorize yourself as a health and cleanliness freak who would only dine in restaurants that make it to the Page 3 of the leading news papers and drink mineral water, then ignore it . All I can say is you are missing a lot in life and you can buy my words for that.

Like someone has quoted 'Don't judge a book by it's cover', I would say don't judge this mobile Desi fast food joint by it's look. I have seen this cart smudged with the ugliest looking blue color since I was a child. Only the blue color and the hand written 'Jalakhiya' (Jalakhiya = Nashta in Hindi) has faded over time. Everything else remains the same. The taste of the Alu Chop, Singada (Samosa), Anda Chop (Egg Chop), Chingudi Chop (Prawn Chop) is as delectable as it used to be even fifteen years back.

I was standing in this long Que after a long gap of seven years just to have a bite of his delicious 'Alu Chop'. In fact it was J's idea as he could not give in to the temptation as we were walking past by that way.

Gopal Kaka the owner of this Thela has seen me from the time I held my father's finger and walked up to his Thela. As a kid I would have made innumerable trips to his cart .... especially when it rained. He looked at me from a distance. It was the same warm look ..... yes I was amused that he recognized me even after so many years. Only this time I could see that age had taken a toll on his appearance. His hair was grey and his face had more wrinkles than I could count. But his enthusiasm and energy level had not reduced a bit. He never got tired smiling at the crowd and talking to them. His wrinkled face had the same old charm. He was talking to his old customers and enquiring about their family and what their kids were doing. And he tried striking a cord with the new ones as he dropped the alu (potato) dipped batter into the hot oil.

Soon the gap between us and the cart shrunk. He looked at me and the 'new face' with me . I could see the happy disbelief on his face. 'Arey kete bada hai galuni' (Can't believe that you have grown up ) he said looking at me. I introduced J to Gopal Kaka. The expression on his face was as pure as his heart.

He quickly wrapped some hot Alu Chop in a 'Khali Patra' (Plate made from dry leaves) before putting it in the plastic bag. I stood in utter disbelief that he remembered what I relished after so many years. When J handed him the money, he grabbed him by his side and gave him a hug. He put the money back into J's pocket. I saw his eyes go wet ..... and so was mine. I felt very small before this old guy selling some snacks to make a living. But I tried hiding my tears as I walked back home.

Every time I prepare 'Alu Chop', I remember this man. And because he knew that I was going to miss his 'Alu Chop' across the seas, he handed me his secret recipe.

He taught me one of the biggest lessons of life ' People remember you by the good deeds you do. They won't remember you for the fortune you leave behind'.

No matter how hard I try I don't match up to Gopal Kaka's Alu Chop ....... the most important ingredient called 'Love' is not available over the counter !!!

Preparation Time - 40 minutes

Serves 3

Ingredients

For the Alu masala

Potato - 3 mid size

Green Chili - 3

Garlic cloves - 6/7

Mustard seeds - 1/3 tsp

Curry leaves - few

Turmeric - One pinch

Salt per taste

For the Batter

Besan - 2/3 cup

Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric - 1 pinch

Salt per taste

Oil for deep frying

Method of preparation

1 Mix Besan + Red Chili Powder +Coriander Powder + Turmeric + Salt per taste in a mixing bowl. Add a little water and mix well to form a thick batter. Do not make the batter runny else it will be difficult to coat the Potato masala.

Keep aside.

2 Boil and mash the Potato. Crush the garlic. Chop the green chilies.

3 In a pan heat a little oil. When hot add the mustard seeds to sputter. Add the crushed garlic and chilies, fry for a minute. Also add curry leaves.

4 Now add the mashed potatoes along with a pinch of turmeric and salt per taste. Mix well. Remove and let it cool.

5 Form small balls of the mashed potato masala.

6 Heat oil in a kadhai. When hot, dip the potato balls into the batter and coat uniformly. Deep fry.

7 Remove to paper towel.

Serving Tips

Serve warm with you choice of sauce or chutney.

Notes

Do not make the batter runny/ watery. Add water slowly a little at a time.

Variation

You may add the chili per taste.

And yet another Sunshine Award from Soumya ...... Thanks Soumya for the sweet gesture and for sharing this with me.

Mahalaya ...... Khichudi, Dalma and Kheeri

The air outside was crisp and the a cool breeze swayed the curtains. I heard the bells and the sound of conch from the near by temple. I looked outside through the narrow gap between the windows, it was still dark. The morning hustle bustle in our house had started much early.

Aai (my maternal grandmother) had switched on her old transistor on full volume. A familiar voice recited the chants of various hymns of 'Mahisasura Mardini'. I guessed it was 'Mahalaya' ! I have always associated Mahalaya with an early morning audio montage of recitation of stanzas from 'Mahisasura Mardini'.

I heard Padma fill the bucket with water and splash it. Her glass bangles moved in rhythm to make a nice jingle as she swept the courtyard. Gopal Bhai the 'Phul wala' was also early. He rang his bicycle bell twice before he left the small woven bamboo basket with flowers for the usual morning puja. But today there was a 'Laal Mandara Mala' (Red Hibiscus Garland) along with the marigolds. Aai had asked Gopal Bhai for the Laal Mandara ..... she wanted to beckon the goddess by offering her favorite flower. Padma finished sweeping the courtyard and grabbed the faded plastic bowl in which Aai kept the Muruja ( Muruja is fine rice powder/flour. It is used to prepare motifs/rangoli ). She moved her hands swiftly to make a big rangoli around the 'Tulsi'.

The early rays of the sun and the early morning breeze was intoxicating. This morning was quite special in it's own way.

Aai was ready for the morning puja . Her long wet grey hair swayed in the morning breeze as she lit the lamp near the 'Tulsi' and watered it. I stood behind her as she began the puja . My eyes were stuck on the special bhoga/ prasad. "Aai is it Mahalaya ? Does that mean it is Durga Puja ?" Aai smiled and nodded as she gently caressed my tangled hair. Aai completed her Puja and placed a laddu on my hand. I happily roamed around the house nibbling on the laddu.

I knew it was time for new dresses, sweets, buying balloons from every balloon wala that passed by our house, exchange of puja gifts among kith and kin. And most importantly it was time for family reunions and pandal hopping.

I spent the rest of the day following Aai wherever she went and listening to stories of 'Maa Durga' and the victory of good over evil.

I have got so engrossed and busy with life that I have almost forgotten the true meaning of celebrating Puja. I wish I could unwind time and wake up to run to the courtyard and hear stories from Aai while eating Khichudi, Dalma and some warm Kheeri.

Sending this to Pree's 'Beyond Five Days of Durga Puja'.

Preparation Time - 30 minutes

Serves -3

Ingredients

Basmati Rice - 1/2 cup

Mung Daal - 1/2 cup

Chopped Onion - 1/2 cup

Chopped Methi Leaves - 1 cup

Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp

Cinnamon - 2 inches

Cardamon - 4

Green Chili -3

Roasted Peanuts - 1/3 cup

Clarified Butter - 1 tbsp

Salt per taste

Sugar - 1/2 tsp

Method of Preparation

1 Wash the rice and mung daal and keep aside.

2 In a pressure cooker add the clarified butter. When warm, add the cumin seeds, slit green chilies, Cardamon and Cinnamon.

3 Add the chopped onions and fry till brown. Now add the rice and the daal. Stir fry for about 5 minutes. Make sure you stir continuously else it will stick to the bottom of the cooker.

4 Next add the chopped methi leaves and peanuts. Fry for 2 minutes. Add salt per taste and sugar.

5 Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook till you get one whistle.

6 Remove from heat, open cooker and add some clarified butter on top of it.

Serving Tips

Serve warm with Dalma

Variation

You can use roasted mung daal instead of raw one.

You can use cashew nuts instead.

Other Names

Mung Daal Khichudi - Muga Dali Khechedi, Methi - Fenugreek.