Quick Indian Cooking

Answer this. What’s the point of all this self-styled, know-it-all banter and cooking if I can’t give a professional total hell from time to time?

So I take to any brief respites from my kitchen with great aplomb. Scanning the restaurant menu for dishes I would hesitate to cook at home. Ordering everything my heart desires. Protesting vehemently about discrepancies in the food/service/ambience.

My third dinner out this week and I was ready to exercise my self-bestowed rights. But just as I was about to tuck into the Beef and Foie Gras Gyoza’s at my friend’s chi chi new restaurant this week, my stomach gave up on me.

I was really looking forward to those dumplings. Instead, I was bundled into a black cab, while cursing poetic justice, and sent home.

Revenge is a dish best served cold they say. Now I had to soothe myself with a cooling treat from the quick Indian staple – the South Indian Curd Rice.

Back in India, this was standard lunch on blindingly hot summer days or when you didn’t feel quite right. Fresh, full of flavour and idiot proof – it’ll mend bruised pride and a raging inside in no time at all.

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Five consecutive late evenings and I needed to relocate my Karmic centre.

Off I went to the dreaded yoga class. Me in gym-friendly spandex amidst a sea of linen cotton.

An hour into the class the Irish sadhu instructor whispered, now you are going to do a shoulder stand. Stretch your legs to the heavens, then gently extend them sideways and take deep breaths.

I lay there twisted into an unrecognisable human tower. The blood rushed to my brain before I could say Dal Makhani. I. Felt. Empowered.

So I decided to master the wonderful world of the blogosphere. I finally worked out how to read all my favourite blogs in one go. This site is now complete with a super recipe index and snazzy food conversion calculators (in the toolbar) thanks to my blog and children’s storytelling supremo Hugh. And then, I found this fantastic resource, Foodari, that allows you to create your own cookbook online.

Feeling rather smug over the weekend, I made a fresh, healthy and blindingly simple Paneer Bhujia or Paneer crumble. Then, tried chappati making with renewed gusto. And finally, plate heaped with brunch, found my inner peace in front of the telly.

PS = It would come as no surprise to learn that I NEVER make my own paneer or Indian cheese. Store bought is fine. I wouldn’t know the difference anyway.
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My friend said it was like Sex and the City, but better and set in a Beirut beauty salon.

We weren’t disappointed. Throughout the stunningly shot, golden caramel feast, we sobbed into a carton of sweet popcorn. Mulling over the power of friendships and collective wisdom, even in the most unlikely of settings.

I desperately wanted to recreate that feeling of a giant hug at home. In a large aluminum pot.

It had to be Khichuri, a rice and lentil dish that is the Indian equivalent of Risotto. The word literally means mixture and is also known by other variations like khichdi.

The principle is simple. You boil rice and lentils together. Add in vegetables of your choice, a few select spices and serve piping hot with fried stuff, yogurt and pickle for serious satisfaction.

While on the subject of friendships in the most unlikely of places. This is part of my contribution to fellow blogger Bri who is very sick and who bloggers are uniting to provide medical help. This is my entry to the special yellow-themed food photography event being hosted by Bee.
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This week hubby, QIC’s photographic genius and investor extraordinaire, had a minor op. While he braved the NHS, I stood in a corner shaking like a leaf at the sight of gauze and tape. For all that gobby, brassy chit chat…

How appropriate, then, that I get tagged by Gori Girl for my six unspectacular quirks! Despite being somewhat quirky generally, I figured mine had to be Indian cooking-related here for obvious reasons. So here goes:

1. The only shortcut I will not use is ready made ginger and garlic paste. It tastes of nothing. Frankly, if you can’t peel and mince the real thing you might as well order a pizza.
2. I never make desert for dinner parties. After all that effort on the main savoury dishes, it somehow falls behind the agenda. Besides, what’s wrong with ice cream?
3. My stomach can’t handle chillies. Shocking and inexcusable. But goes to show that you can cook and eat Indian food without setting your insides alight.
4. My large kitchen has only two store cupboards. So I only buy a new spice variety when I run out of another one.
5. I don’t deep fry at home. My conscience and clothing will not allow it.
6. There is more frozen food in my fridge than fresh. I cook a lot, a few times a week and freeze everything apart from potatoes and rice to keep us going.

I tag the lovely Maninas, Elisabeth, Asha, Sandeepa, Smita and Nandita.

The rules are as follows:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Tell us about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

PS = Hubby is making a speedy recovery and hopes to return to Indian food photography early next week.

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