Torani Kanji ( Fermented rice water and vegetable soup from Odisha )

Kanjee is one of those coolants from Odisha that also doubles up as a soup .Or maybe it is just an excuse to sample this delicious liquid goodness throughout the year !! And why not when it is available in multiple flavors. There is a pariba kanjee, khada kanjee, saga kanjee, dahi kanjee and the most delicious of all, the 'Torani Kanjee'. Hats off to the Odia ladies of yore who had the ingenuity to make delicious meals out of frugal resources !! It is tough to believe that bringing about a slight change in the ingredients can alter the taste to such an extent.

One needs to plan well in advance to prepare this dish. Water discarded from cooked rice is collected over days and stored in an earthenware pot which allows it to ferment and develop a sour taste. It is a bit of a technical process wherein we retain half of the previous day's rice water and mix it with the current day's lot after it has been cooled and diluted. It is a slow and elaborate process which is worth the wait. I still get nostalgic remembering the huge pots in which my grandmother used to brew and simmer this thing. It has a particularly strong aroma ( somewhat pungent actually ) that is sure to tickle the olfactory ducts of the neighbors. Hence the generous quantity in which is it prepared.

While one can enjoy the 'Kanjee' all around the year, the abundance of vegetables and leafy greens (especially 'kosala sagaw') during the winter months make it a must-have during the fall. There is something very soothing about sipping 'Kanjee' from a big bowl while enjoying the wintry sun. So, here is the recipe of the 'Torani Kanjee' which I got from Mom after a lot of advice and deliberation. 'Keep the torani carefully covered', 'do not let it become too stale and smelly', 'remember to throw away half of the pervious lot when you mix in the fresh one', and so on. Guess it is ingrained in a mother's psyche to keep the advise coming even after we are completely grown up.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 2-3 litres of torani (rice water)
• 1/2 cup radish slices
• 1/2 cup pumpkin pieces
• 1/4 cup green papaya slices
• 1 small eggplant ( cut into semi-circles) 
• 6-7 okra ( cut into inch long pieces
• 10-12 fat garlic cloves
• 4-5 dry red chili
• 2 sprigs of curry leaves
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 pinch kala jeera
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 3 tsp mustard oil
• 3-4 pieces of ambula ( dried green mango )
• salt to taste

Preparation - Collect the excess water after cooking rice. Dilute it with a cup of water. 

Drop in a piece of ambula and cover the vessel with a thin cloth . Let it stand overnight.

Again collect the rice water on the next day. Dilute and allow to cool down completely. 

Throw away half of the previous day's rice water along with the ambula. Add the fresh lot along with another fresh piece of ambula. Let it stand overnight.

Repeat this process for 3-4 days. Once the torani starts to smell a bit pungent and taste sour, we can proceed for the kanjee.

Cooking - Dilute the torani with 2-3 cups water and transfer to a deep saucepan. Add salt to taste and a bit of turmeric. Bring it to a full boil. (be careful as it tends to rise and come out of the vessel )

Add the chopped vegetables to the torani. Let it boil on a medium flame till all the vegetables are cooked.

Check for salt and sourness. If it lacks enough tang, drop in 1-2 pieces of ambula.

Heat the oil in a tempering pan.  Once it starts to smoke, reduce heat. Add the broken chilis, mustard and kala jeera .Quickly follow with the crushed garlic and curry leaves. Once the garlic turns brown on the edges, pour the contents of the tempering pan over the kanjee.

Let it boil for another 2-3 mins before removing from the flame.

Serve hot or at room temperature.

It can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days .

The veggies I have used -

Product Review : Nutrus Green Coffee

Last week, I received a sample of Nutrus Green Coffee for a review. Needless to say, I was quite intrigued by the product which claims to be India's first Green Coffee with probiotics . Since 'probiotics' refers to live bacteria/yeast that are ingested for their beneficial properties, it can be described as some kind of a health drink. The product claims to help you lose weight but not over night. Sounds quite sensible, doesn't it ??

Here is what I have to say about the product -

It has a nice flavor which is milder than the instant coffee I usually drink. Since we are not supposed to add sugar to it, it is definitely lower in calories. And it is refreshing too ! Most importantly, it tastes good and in fact, is much better than 'Green Tea' which inevitably has a bitter note.

Pros of the product - 

1. It is easy to prepare. Take a cup of hot water and stir in the contents of the sachet. Cant get any easier.

2. Taste is a definite plus unless you happen to be an Expresso addict.

3. Claims to help in reducing weight (have been taking it for 1 week only so cannot vouch for it)

4. Rich in antioxidants.

5. Modulates Glucose and Fat metabolism.

Cons of the product -

1. It is on the expensive side. Costs Rs 225 for 20 single-use sachets.

2. Availability is an issue as of now. Can buy online at an extra cost (delivery charges).

Final verdict - I love the taste of this product and hence I don't mind giving up my regular tea/coffee for it. As for the weight loss claims, I would like to try it for a few more days before giving the final verdict. Since I already lead an active lifestyle with regular exercise and healthy meals, I will not be making any drastic changes in my routine apart from swapping by morning and evening tea with Nutrus Green Coffee . Will update this post after a month.

Chicken Do Pyaza ( My Low Calorie Version )

Chicken do pyaza is one of those delicious sides that has been 'off radar' for quite sometime. Not because it lacks in flavor but because we had had an overdose of it. That coupled with the fact that food is turning increasingly exotic. [And may I add 'outright outlandish' ? After all I am gonna eat it and not frame it up in my living room . There are better ways to appreciate art rather than eating it.]

Coming back to me and my lazy ways with food. It was yet sluggish day (what else do you expect when the sun stubbornly refuses to put in an appearance ?) and I just wanted something light and tangy to go with my rotis. I was reminded of my carefree PG days when I rarely ventured into the kitchen. And most importantly, when 'takeaway' dinner was either Chicken do pyaza or Hyderabadi Chicken with chapattis. That feeling of nostalgia inspired me to try out a easier and lighter version of the 'do pyaza'. And I loved the results.

So, here is the simple and low calorie version of this restaurant favorite -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 500 gm chicken ( with bones )
• 2 large onions
• 1 large tomato
• 1 1/2 tsp GG paste
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 cup curd
• 3-4 green chilis
• whole spices ( 1 green cardamom, 3-4 cloves, 2 inch cinnamon, 1 bay leaf )
• 4 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp sugar
• cilantro for garnishing

Preparation - Grind 1 onion into a smooth paste.

Wash the chicken and marinate with onion paste, GG paste, powdered masalas (except garam masala), 1 tsp oil and salt.

Peel the tomato and chop into fine bits.

Peel and chop the remaining onion into big chunks. Put small slits into the green chilis.

Beat the curd with 3-4 tsp water, sugar and a little salt.

Cooking - Heat oil in a non-stick wok. Add the whole spices. 

Once they release fragrance, add the marinated chicken and toss on high flame.

Once the chicken starts to change color, reduce the flame and cover the wok. 

Remove cover after 3-4 mins and add the finely chopped tomato. Sprinkle a little salt.

Cook covered while stirring at regular intervals. Once the chicken is almost done, add the beaten yogurt and the onion chunks. Also, throw in the green chilis. 

Stir continuously till the yogurt forms a nice thick gravy and coats the chicken pieces. Sprinkle garam masala powder and mix.

Garnish with cilantro and remove from the flame.

Note - Check out more chicken recipes HERE .

Black Rice Risotto ( Comfort food takes a Vegan turn )

Khichdi for the Indians. Risotto for the Italians. Comfort food can take any name but ultimately it is all about conveying the feeling of sheer happiness. The feeling of being connected to everything dear yet the euphoria of soaring in the clouds without any strings attached. That's the magic of comfort food. It makes you feel alive all over. Again and again.

And that's precisely why we go seeking for our grandmother's or mother's recipes when we are feeling low. It triggers all those childhood memories of being held in a warm embrace, being rocked to comfort and then being pampered silly with the dish of our choice. Of the phenomenal taste of all those slow cooked recipes that only love and patience can achieve. And lots of patience is what it takes to cook up a risotto. Especially when you are making it black rice.

Unlike the traditional variety that calls for the use of wine and cheese, I made one without using either. I added a touch of vinegar to get that acidity and used some almond milk towards the end for that creamy texture. Cooked it in a open shallow pan by adding just enough liquid at regular intervals. And loved the way it turned out. Nice, rich, creamy and nutty. 

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 90 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/2 cup Black rice
• 8 almonds 
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 medium sized onion
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• 1 1/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth ( optional , I use water )
• salt to taste
• parsley for garnishing

Preparation - Wash and soak the black rice overnight.

Soak the almonds separately.

Peel the almonds and grind into a fine paste . Dilute with 1/2 cup water and grind for another 30 seconds. Strain the almond milk.

Cooking - Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add finely chopped onions and garlic. Saute till the onions just start to caramelize.

Add the drained rice and give it a gentle stir.

Add 1 cup broth/water along with the vinegar. Sprinkle some salt. Let it cook uncovered till the liquid is almost absorbed/evaporated.

Add another cup of liquid and let it cook. Repeat the process till the rice is mushy and the risotto looks creamy.

Add the almond milk and the coarsely ground pepper. Stir it in . Adjust the salt if required.

Remove from the flame .

Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.

Malabar Parotta Roll with Chicken Kasa stuffing

My love affair with Kerala cuisine dates back to my school days. Having a best friend who could trace her roots to the backwaters was the beginning of a life long tryst with one of the most aromatic cuisines that India can boast of. I have come across cuisines that rate much higher on the visual appeal but the aromas that waft out of a Mallu kitchen are nothing less than orgasmic. But more than the noteworthy non-vegetarian recipes that you can find at any decent restaurant, I am sold on the simple vegetarian fare that is consumed in most Kerala households. The simplicity of a thoran, the sharpness of Puli-inji , the sweetness of Erissery and even the yummy richness of a Ulli Sambar makes me go ballistic. Maybe it has got something to do with the fact that my friend's family was a strict vegetarian (Nambiars to be precise ).

Growing up together during all those years, we had our share of group studies, pimples, body image issues and not to forget the crushes ( often the same guy ). Ok, this is no secret but most girls in a class will have a crush on the class topper ( undoubtedly a nerd but one with a measure of cuteness thrown in ) at some point of time. The guy who bags most of the sports prizes comes a close second while the third position is generally reserved for the resident 'Tansen'. And going by my interactions with the kids in our society, the status quo still continues.

But getting back to our group study sessions, the finger-licking Mallu food was definitely an added attraction. No wonder most of the studies (and gossip) happened at her place. So, when it was time to experiment with a fusion dish that spanned '2 states', I just had to pick up something that belonged to God's own country and marry it with one of Odisha's culinary gems. Hence, the decision to bring together the flaky and crisp Malabar Parotta and the deceivingly simple Chicken Kasa to make a sumptuous evening snack ( something like the Kathi rolls but very different in taste and texture). A word of caution though. Getting it done is definitely a labor of love but one that will be definitely worth it !

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 1 hour 15 mins

Ingredients -

For the Malabar Parotta -

• 2 cups maida
• 1 cup of milk ( room temp)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 3-4 teaspoon oil
• water as required
• salt to taste
• more ghee/oil for frying

For the Chicken Kasa - 

• 600 gm Chicken (with bones)
• 1 large tomato
• 1 large onion
• 1 inch ginger
• 10-12 garlic cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 2 green cardamom
• 2 cloves
• 2-3 dry red chilis
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/5 tsp garam masala
• 3-4 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp sugar
• cilantro for garnishing

Extras -

• Onion rings ( soaked in water and vinegar in 1:1 ratio )
• tomato sauce
• a dash of lemon juice

Cooking - 

For the Malabar Parotta - Break the egg into a bowl. Add the salt and sugar to it. Beat lightly. Add to the flour along with the milk and a little water. Mix gently till you get a slightly sticky dough. Cover and keep aside for 15-20 mins.

Start kneading the dough once again. Add some flour or a little oil if it seems too sticky. Knead for 5 mins till the stickiness reduces to a large extent. Spread some oil over the dough. Cover with a towel and keep aside for another 10 mins.

Rub oil generously all over your hands and start kneading the dough. Knead for 5-7 mins till most of the moisture is absorbed and the dough looks smooth and even. Divide into 4-5 portions and shape each one into a ball. Rub oil all over the dough balls and keep aside for half hour.

Sprinkle flour over the working surface and roll out each ball. Brush a little oil all over the roti and sprinkle flour evenly over the surface. Take hold of one edge of the roti and fold it like you would fold a paper to make a fan. Once it is folded into a long shape, twist it into a coil around of the ends. Brush more oil over the coil and keep aside for another 5-10 mins. Repeat for the remaining dough balls.

Finally, take each coil and roll out into a parotta. 

Heat a tawa. Place the parotta over it, cook for 1-2 mins and then flip it over. After 1 min, add ghee and fry on one side till small brown spots begin to appear. Then it flip over, add more ghee and fry on the other side as well. Take care that you press it down while frying to separate out the layers.

Repeat with the remaining ones.

For the Chicken Kasa - 

Wash and marinate the chicken with the salt and turmeric for 10 mins.

Take the onion, ginger, garlic, red chili and whole spices in a chutney jar. Grind into a smooth paste. Add it to the marinated chicken along with 2 tsp oil. Mix well. Let it stand for 20-30 mins.

Heat the remaining oil in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add the sugar and red chili powder. Just as it starts to smoke, add the marinated chicken. Toss on high for 2-3 mins. Cover it ans cook till half done.

Add the finely chopped tomatoes at this stage. Cover once again and cook till soft ( the meat should be easily separated from the bones). The curry should be dry at this point. Add the garam masala and chopped cilantro. Mix in and remove from flame. 

[ Note - The chicken should get cooked in it's own juice. If at any point, the curry looks too dry, sprinkle a few drops of water to avoid getting it burnt. ]

Once it is bearable to touch, separate the meat from the bones. 

For the finishing touches, take a parotta, add some the chicken pieces and a few onion rings. Drizzle the sauce over the parotta. Add a dash of lemon juice. Wrap it up and dig in !

Important - You have obviously been good !! Reading till the very last line of this post :) . Ok, so here is a suggestion that will make this recipe super easy.

Try this with a Heat & Eat packet of Malabar parottas. They are delish, especially the ones sold by ID . Yes, even I do this when I am in the mood to cheat ;) .

ChatPati Oats Locho ( Monsoon Mania Collaboration )

Ever tried to guess the reason behind those hunger pangs that crop up everytime there is a down ? Well, it could be sudden fall in outside temperature that makes one feel chilled and hence the craving to eat something hot along with one's favorite beverage. Or it might even be the limited mobility that makes one explore other avenues before finally settling down on snacking . After all good food has a relaxing effect on us.

Or maybe, it is that primal desire to bite into the forbidden fruit...er..food. With most doctors and elders putting a blanket ban on street-side fare during the rains, they suddenly start to look even more inviting. Wading though the murky waters, the aromas of bhajjis and samosas wafting up from the street vendors assail our senses and send our normally logical brain into a tailspin. And we end up eating stuff that we would otherwise not even touch with a barge-pole. 

But given that gastrointestinal disorders are very common during monsoons, it is best to steer away from street-foods. Some advance preparation can actually go a long way in avoiding such blunders. This 'Surti Locho' recipe is one such example to an easy to prepare and very healthy steamed snack. I have added a healthy twist to this recipe by substituting the 'poha' with oats and serving it up with a tangy 'Puli-inji' relish.

But hang on !! There are more recipes to be discovered as I am back with a collaboration with my bloggers friends Saswati who blogs @ Delish Potpourri and Parinaaz of A Dollop of That fame. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to check what these gals are dishing out !

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 45 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup channa dal
• 1/3 cup urad dal
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 tsp crushed ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp pepper powder
• 2 tsp oil
• 2 pinch turmeric
• 1 tsp baking powder
• salt to taste

For garnishing -

• puli inji relish
• coriander leaves

Preparation - Wash and soak the channa dal and the urad dal separately for 6-7 hours.

Take the oats in a bowl. Cover with just enough hot water to moisten it.

Grind the channa dal into a slightly coarse paste.

Grind the urad dal separately into a fine paste. Add the moistened oats to the same jar and blend together.

Transfer all the ingredients ( except baking powder) into a big mixing bowl . Bring everything together.

Cooking - Take sufficient water in a steamer. Bring it to a boil.

Grease a round/square dish which is about 2 inches deep. 

Finally add the baking powder to the batter, mix evenly and pour into the baking dish.

Put it in the steamer and let it cook for 30 mins. Insert a toothpick into the center to check if it is done.

Remove it from the steamer. 

Scoop out some of the hot Locho onto a serving plate or bowl. Garnish with Puli inji relish ( or tamarind jaggery chutney ) and cilantro. 

Serve piping hot.

Note - Refrigerate any remaining batter ( to which baking powder has not been added ) and use it up in a day or two .

Check out these fabulous Monsoon recipes contributed by my fellow bloggers !!

Parinaaz's Eeda Chutney na Pattice ( Egg and Chutney Croquettes )

and

Saswati's Peas and Cottage Cheese Kebabs 

Chaak Hao Tann ( Or my version of the Black Rice Pancakes from North-East )

A feeling of 'deja vu' overcame me when I first stumbled upon this recipe on the internet. Was it because of an uncanny resemblance to the Arissa pitha? Or was it something else that triggered that sensation ? I am still not very sure apart from the fact that these pancakes had a very solid first impression on me. And that new-found love further intensified when I bit into them for the first time. Of course I tweaked the recipe a little bit keeping my taste buds in mind, but still the results were sensational. For now, I claim to have become a black-rice convert !!

Chak Hao or black rice is a aromatic rice variety that is native to Manipur ( or maybe small pockets in the entire north-east region but I am not too sure of that ). So special is this variety that an Emperor in China had banned the cultivation of this rice for the masses. Hence it came to be known as the 'Forbidden Rice'. This variety of rice contains gluten and hence people with Celiac diseae should not consume it. But for others, this the best variety of rice for a number of reasons.

Black rice has a very high proportion of antioxidants which is crucial to the prevention of cancer and Alzheimer's . Its high anthocyanin content is very much capable of lowering the risk of heart attacks and controlling high cholesterol levels. Plus it is grown organically which results in higher nutrient value and zero exposure to chemicals.

Read on for the recipe ( Sourced from HERE ) -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup Black rice
• 1/2 cup Atta (flour)
• 3 tbsp powdered jaggery
• 1 tsp fennel (coarsely powdered)
• 2 tsp ghee

Preparation - Wash and soak the black rice overnight. Drain the water and transfer to a grinder jar.

Grind the rice into a smooth paste. (If it feels dry, use some the water that we had drained earlier)

Add the powdered jaggery and grind again.

Transfer the batter into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup flour and the powdered fennel seeds.

Mix everything to get a firm dough. If it feels wet or stick, add a little more flour to make it firm.

Divide the dough into 8 equal portions.

Rub a little ghee on the hands and roll each portion into a ball. Then flatten it into a disc of about 4 mm thickness.

Cooking - Heat a skillet or tawa. Grease with a little ghee.

Place the discs on the skillet and drizzle more ghee on the sides.

Cook on low flame till one side is done. Then flip it over and add a little more ghee. Both surfaces should get a layer of crispness while the center should remain moist. Remove and keep aside.

Allow it to cool down before serving.

Should stay fresh for 3-4 days in the fridge ( not tested yet as mine got over on the same day ).