Distinctiveness of various foods tends to come from varied components (typically local). So here is Shira (suji halwa to north-indians, sheera for s.indians or sweet cous-cous of the maghrabis).
Typical Pujecha Shira, after a worship (my memory being of satyanarayanachee puja) this PRASAD tops it. Makes up for listening to the Bhatji... :)
Puja puja rahte, potachee ki devachee.
(modified with comments and additions from a satyanarayanachi pooja webpage)
Quantity: 7-8 Plates Shira.
Material: 2 Vati Rava (Sooji), 1¾ Vati Sugar, ½ Vati Ghee, Badam (Almonds), Manuka (Resins), Charoli, Keshar (Saffron), Banana
Procedure:
1. Roast Rava in a utensil in ghee to make it well done i.e. color changes to brownish.
2. Add same amount of water as Rava if it is fine,.
3. Add water 1½ times the quantity of Rava, if Rava is coarse.
4. Heat & stir well till the water evaporates (thus cooking rava).
5. Add sugar & heat again.
6. Add Almond pieces, small circular pieces of banana, saffron, elaychi powder etc…
7. Control the heat & stir well to ensure that the lumps are not formed; shira is not too thick nor too thin like paste.
---------- ENJOY!
Remember, don't miss out on the bananas!
With the time on hand, I was curious about Charolis since I had been dreaming recently of them, and couldnt for the life of me figure out what exaclty they are called. So here goes:
Charoli
Buchanania latifolia
Also known as chironji. A small, rounded, lentil-shaped, almond-flavoured seed hardly 6 mm (1/4 in) long. It is used in Indian sweets, most often topping Karachi halwa and the simple but delicious yoghurt dessert, shrikhand (see YOGHURT). It is also one of the four seed kernels in the mixture called char magaz.
And pray then what is CHAR MAGAZ?? Well,
This should answer it:
Literally translated: Char means 4, Magaz means intelligence. WISE!
Char Magaz is a combination of four seeds/nuts: Almonds, Pumpkin seeds, Cantaloupe Seeds and Water melon seeds. This is believed that ingestion of this combination results in brain development and rejuvenation. This is primarily used in Rajasthan area. Char Magaz is used to make Thandaii, Bhang, as well as sweets. Char Magaz is also consumed by nursing mothers in the belief that essentials will be passed through milk to babies for their brain development. There may be some truth to this. Almonds and Pumpkin seeds are high in fatty acids that are good for building and maintain parts of the brain.
AND While on the theme of spices and CURRY!!!
Here is the curry plant or Murraya koenigii Spreng.
No comments:
Post a Comment