Sunday, November 28, 2010

Let's start at the roots.. Indigenous Rajasthani delight

So I think since these days I am in Grad School (Read: student budget. Translate: have to cook more), I should revive this space (not that there was much happening here anyways)..but seriously, it's about time that I describe the patterns I see in the kaleidoscope of my kitchen here, rather than slapping short blurbs about these experiences onto my Facebook page

So what do I cook nowadays? Indian, Indian and more Indian food (c'mon, I am trying not to feel homesick alright!). And when talking about Indian food, how can my traditional cuisine be far behind. So let's start with the culinary delights from my beloved Indian state..my roots, my true home. Rajasthan. Just hearing its name, or thinking of my many captivating trips there, or simply reviving the magic of its beauty etched in my mind is enough to make my heart warm up with joy. The sheer thought brings a smile on my face and makes me want to go back, to soak myself in its vibrant culture and humble traditions.
...Yes, I am in love with Rajasthan, the colorful desert state of India. The land of the spectacular sand dunes where majestic forts have withstood the test of time and live to tell a story of their own. Where tradition meets modern. Where your eyes are treated to a gorgeous color fest. Where folk stories and folk dances form the everyday life.

And since I grew up in a traditional Rajasthani family I have, of course, developed my own palate for spicy delicacies and...ghee and...oh yes, sweets! Most of Rajasthan is covered in arid land and sand dunes; therefore, over the course of time the scarcity of water (and thus fresh vegetables) have resulted in unique food dishes that make me admire the creative imagination of the people who conjured up these recipes. Without much ado, here comes our first indigenous item of the cuisine, one that I find extremely fun to make and eat~~ Papad ki Sabzi!

Pssst: maybe in the coming few weeks (hopefully not months) I will share some recipes/ blogposts from my mum's kitchen that are simple to execute and yet delightful to serve.

For this time, I found a video that details out all the step-wise procedure to prepare papad ki Sabzi.Show Me the Curry

Till then, happy cooking!