Usha Singh
For the past few weeks, i have been posting recipes of “simply prepared vegetables” and therefore today i decided to share a recipe for a rather unusual and interesting dish, the Gujarati name for this dish is “Phali ni Kichdi”. It can be served as starter, or as a light lunch meal.
This dish is generally made by the Gujarati community on Ekadashi (11th lunar day of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar). There are 2 Ekadashis in a lunar month of the Hindu calendar, and people observe a vrat (Fast) on this day, whereby they abstain from consuming grains, beans, lentils, cereals and certain vegetables and spices. The preferred food consumed should be fresh and dried fruits, milk products, nuts and potatoes, hence the invention of this dish. Generally the fast is observed over period of almost 48 hours.
When i prepare this dish i am flooded with wonderful memories of my gran, she used to make this on a regular basis, as she was very religious and fasted regularly & this is all that she would eat on the days she fasted (Ekadashi). Unfortunately we do not observe this fast as regularly as she did, but we most certainly prepare this dish on a regular basis.
Peanut and Potato (Serves 4)
5 medium sized potatoes (peeled and chopped)
20ml cooking oil
5ml cumin seeds
35ml sesame seeds
30ml chopped coriander
5ml salt
2 green/red chillis chopped
½ cup water
150ml nibbed peanuts
10ml lemon juice
45ml chopped coriander
Method
- Heat oil in a large pot and add the cumin seeds, chilli and sesame seeds and allow the seeds to splutter, now add the 30ml chopped coriander.
- Add the potatoes and water and allow to cook till potatoes are tender/soft.
- Once the potatoes are tender/soft add the peanuts, salt and lemon juice and switch the stove off.
- Garnish with 45ml chopped coriander and serve with a cucumber raita.
Cucumber Raita
250ml plain fat-free yogurt
45ml grated cucumber
5ml salt
5ml freshly ground pepper
3ml mustard powder
2ml sugar
Method
- Mix all of the ingredients together and serve over the potatoes.
