Mati Mahor Dali Khar diya (Black Gram with Soda)

The preparation of Black Gram (Mati Mah) with Soda is typically served in Assam. This is very effective against stomach ailment , acidity and constipation.
The preparation is very simple.The Black gram is first roasted in the pressure cooker itself for a few minutes without any oil. Then the gram is boiled with a pinch of baking soda or Banana Soda(Kol Khar) and salt. After that boiled dal can be cooked for a few minutes in a pan with a pinch of oil

Banana Fry

Banana is most probably the single most fruit in the world everyone is aware of. It is sweet in taste while ripe and is a highly nutritional fruit.

Banana is of high nutritional value. It is rich in various minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. Besides it also contains Vitamin A, B and C. Eating a banana everyday can keep many problems like constipation, bowel problems, anemia, blood pressure, heart problems, ulcers, brain stimulation, depression, nervous disorders, stress, morning sickness, menstruation, etc. at bay. The fiber content present in banana helps in lowering cholesterol level in the body. It is helpful for gaining as well as losing weight.

In various parts of the globe, banana has been cultivated and used differently, sometime as fruit, sometime as vegetable. Each and every part of the tree is useful. In Assamese kitchen banana of a particular kind is used as a vegetable. It is called "Kas Kal" or "Pura Kal" in Assamese. It is actually aw banana of a particular variety.

I won't go into detail of banana and its benefits. What I thrust here is the importance of banana in daily food chart of each individual irrespective of age.Here I'd like to share with you a very simple banana recipe that's crispy and tasty!



Raw banana used as vegetable is available in the market. For two persons, one banana is enough. Before cutting the banana put a little onto your palms and the knife. It will prevent your palms and knife being sticky of the banana. Pile off the banana and cut into round pieces as shown in the image. Either use onion or fenugreek seeds for tempering.

Heat 2 tbl spoons oil in a pan. Add onion or fenugreek seeds and fry till seeds splutter or onion turns brown. Add half tsp turmeric powder and add the cut banana. Stir fry or sometime, add salt as per taste. Cover the pan and let the banana cook. Remove the pan cover, fry the banana for around 2 minutes at a lower flame. It makes the banana pieces crispier. Serve hot with rice and dal.

As you can see minimum oil and no spices have been used in its preparation. This recipe is extremely easy to cook, highly tasty and is full of healthy content.

So next time your guest appear all of a sudden, your friend has been facing bowel problems or simply you have started following a balanced diet chart, do include this recipe. You'll find it's amazing. For more such easy and healthy recipes please click HERE.

Sewali Flower - The night Jesmine

Durga Puja always reminds me of those sweet days when both me and my brother would get up early in the morning to collect "Sewali Phool". This is the time when those white flowers bloom at night and fall down in the morning. Every morning Deuta(father) made us to leave the bed by telling someone else who might have already finished picking up those white flowers away! Even if it's chilling cold, dense foggy curtain covering the earth, we used to get up to the call of the "Sewali Flower" every morning.

Now that years have passed, we have grown up. Occasional glimpses of those enthusiastic, funny days is just what we cherish now. Yet after years, I have realized, this "Sewali Phool" has played a vital role in shaping my life. Wondered how? It's not merely of those nostalgic moments that we cherish today. It has done a lot more then that, as a friend, and as a guide.

Let me explain it in detail. Actually my father's call to pick up "Sewali" early in the morning was just an indirect lesson to make us leave the bed early in the morning. We loved those white tiny flowers so much that for their sake we never hesitated to give up the warm lap of blanket in our cozy bed.

Once we are in the battlefield, (oops! under the big "Sewali Tree"), competition between me and my brother started as to who can collect more. We had to collect only the clean once only. So a kind of constructive competition started between us.

Often it happened that someone else had already picked up some of the flowers and so our collection is less. On such days either me or my brother would shake the tree so that the remaining flowers fall down, an the other started collection! This way, we became united during those golden hours of "Sewali Collection"(though rest of the day we were like the greatest enemies on the earth!).

Now I realize, actually "Sewali" has made us punctual, disciplined, artistic and kind towards others. We would come back home with our collection of the day, ad would give our mother. She would prepare some traditional curry with dried flowers. It is a bit bitter in taste, and of course we never liked it! But because we loved those flowers we had to it. It has ben established now that "nyctanthes" has high medicinal value, an it is nothing but my sweet "Sewali Phool". Amazing, our sweet "Sewali" on the back yard had been helping us so much, unknowingly! Thank you "Sewali".

"Sewali Phool" is used in Assamese cuisine. To learn how to cook this medicinal flower click here.

Wow, it's X-mas time. Let's have hot!!!

It's mid December. The cold reaches to the bone and chills throughout the body. Blankets and warm sweaters are wrapped around. It's festival time. The Xmas carols are abound. Bells, balls, glitters, lights and Xmas trees are on. It's just enticing, it's simply thrilling. Yes, Xmas is near! You must be busy planning for the day, right? Thinking of going out to celebrate in town's latest food hub with its myriad of menu? Or thinking of doing something different this time to surprise your loved ones? Thank Jesus, you came to this place. Believe me, I assure you praise from your guests this Xmas. How? Simple. As they say "Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." So why not show your love towards your loved one in abandon? Here is how you be the epitome of love and gratitude (and of course surprise!) with this simple yet unique recipe brought specially to you this festive season.

Duck Curry: Sounds frightening? Where on earth shall I get a duck now? Don't worry. Ask your nearby butcher. Believe me, it's ready with him. After all he cares for your festival planning. Once you have arranged the duck follow me here step by step to your great presentation on the special day.

Ingredients: Duck 1kg, 2 garlic, 500gm onion, 5 inch long ginger, 3 tbsp black pepper powder, 2 tsp coriander powder, 3 tsp cumin powder, salt to taste, 2tsp turmeric powder, 3 bay leaves, clove, cinnamon, cardamom paste 2 tsp, ghee 1 tbsp(optional, for flavor), mustard oil for frying.

Preparation:
1.Cut the duck into small pieces(half or one inch long).

2. Make paste of ginger garlic and half of the onion. Cut long the remaining onions.


















3. Marinate the meat with ginger-garlic-onion paste, turmeric powder, cardamom powder, cumin powder, salt and a little bit mustard oil for 20 minutes.
4. Heat oil, add bay leaves and fry the long cut onions till golden brown.
5. Add the marinated meat and keep stirring till oil comes out.
6. Add pepper powder and more salt if required.
7. Add water and let it cook. 8. Once done, add clove, cinnamon, cardamom paste and ghee.

Let it come to normal room temperature. You can serve it flaming hot too, but flavor comes out once it is cool. Serve with hot rice, polav, sandwich or paratha. That's all you need to do to make the Xmas special this time. Give your fiends a lifetime of surprise. Finger licking and high praise your way is guaranteed!

ALU PITIKA

ALU PITIKA (POTATO MESH) is a side dish which can be served with meals. It's very simple to prepare. Boiled potatoes are meshed and mixed with chopped onions, pinch of salt and one teaspoon of oil. Finely chopped green chilly can also be mixed for teste.

Komal Chaul

KOMAL CHAUL (Soft Rice) is a unique variety of rice that is only available in Assam , doesn't even require cooking.It just needs to be soaked in water for about an hour and it is ready to eat. Komal Chaul can be served with yoghurt and jaggery or it can also be served with a pinch of salt , ginger and raw mustered oil . It is one of the healthy diets during summer , keep the stomach light and avoid any disorder.

From :

Team, AssameseFood.com

Assamese cuisine is a mixture of different indigenous styles with considerable regional variations and some external influences. One of the main characteristics, and probably unique among all the food variations of Indian food, is the use of considerably less spice in all food preparations. Preparations are rarely elaborate................

We are launcing the site as well as blogs to cater to the needs of those who are interested in exploring the healthy and easy delicious cuisine.

From
Team, AsameseFood.com