Let’s keep it simple, shall we? Well, what is simple cooking for someone, could be a hassle for somebody else. Vegetarians will find non-vegetarian cooking an elaborate process. Making specific pastes, masalas or gravies that are a must-have in one’s daily cooking does not feel like any effort at all to some. Probably they grew up seeing their moms and granny’s cook an elaborate spread.
Here I bring you some North Indian fare that is as simple and yet as non-simple. A good change from my regular regional cuisine.
Lassi
Tell me honestly, what comes to mind when you think of Punjabi food? You will say a lot of things. Ok, let me reframe the question. What beverage comes to mind when you think of Punjabi food? Undoubtedly, Lassi. A tall glass of lassi, with a thick slab, literally, of cream is an ultimate thirst and hunger quencher. With so many flavours of lassi now available, I am still totally in love with the light, sweet aroma and flavour of rose. So, rose lassi it is for me.
Dal Makhani
Irresistible, mind-blowing and super delicious is what I can say about this thick whole black gram curry preparation with that design of cream. In this gorgeous Dal Makhani, I absolutely love the perfect balance of ginger-garlic. I actually like the dal tasting more of ginger in a subtle way though. Tender gram and rajma (kidney beans), in a simple makhani gravy and that superb blend of dry and fresh spices. Totally fabulous. Somebody please take that serving bowl away from me.
Masala Channa
This chaat dish has brown Bengal gram and is nutritious too. Great for snacking or as a break from daily cooking, oops eating. Ok, so not a bad chaat option either. Best is to soak 2-4 cups of black chana and use a little of it for your other recipes and reserve this for the Masala Channa chaat. Rest of the seasoning remains the same. The puffed rice, papdi or puris are replaced with black gram.
Dhaba Dal
Yet another black gram preparation, this time with split and skinned black gram known as urad dal. I am surprised that this Dhaba Style Urad Dal is a dry preparation of gram in North India. This is close to my version of a Dhaba Dal. Not sure how many will like it, but it was a good change from the routine urad dal preparations.
While I was yearning for simple North Indian fare, it turned out to be quite a treat. Seriously, with these recipe links, results will always be fantastic. This means, my search for simpler home-cooked food continues.
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