TANDALACHE VADE

(RICE POORIS)

Rice is called ‘Tandul’ in Marathi language……. Poori (Fried Indian flatbread) is called ‘Vade’……. Being crisp on the outside and softer inside, Tandalache Vade go very well with curries…… Generally spices are added to rice flours……… Here boiled onions are added to make simple Vade…….. Can be had as main course with curries…… Can also be had as snacks with pickles.

INGREDIENTS : 1 cup rice flour, 1-2 onions, salt to taste, water as required, oil for frying.

DIRECTIONS : Slice the onions…….. Boil the sliced onions in water till soft…….. Add salt according to taste……… Mix rice flour, boiled onions, 1 tsp oil, enough warm water (from boiled onions) thoroughly to form a smooth dough……. Cover…… Let the dough rest for at least half an hour…….. Heat oil……. Make balls from the dough…….. Apply a little oil to the palms…….Take a dough ball…….. Press between two palms……. Vade should not be too thick nor too thin…… Deep fry the pressed Vade till golden……… Take out and keep it on tissue to soak excess oil……. Serve hot.

NOTE : One can make vade by mixing flours of lentils, corn, etc. with rice flour…….. If pressing between palms becomes difficult, one can take a plastic sheet…… Grease it lightly with oil…… Place the dough ball on it…… Flatten it with finger tips……. Alternatively, lightly press with the back of a plate.

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MUTTON CURRY PATHARE PRABHU STYLE

Pathare Prabhu Community prefer mutton……. Mutton, in India, is generally referred to goat meat……. Prabhi Sambhar Masala gives this mutton dish a robust and delicious flavour.

INGREDIENTS : 1/2 kg mutton, 4 medium potatoes, 6 onions, 1 tsp ginger paste, 1 1/2 tbsp garlic paste, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 10 black peppercorns, 4 cloves, 1″ cinnamon stick, 3-4 green cardamoms, 1/2 tbsp coriander seeds, 8- 10 dried red Kashmiri chillies, 1/2 dried coconut, 1-2 tsp Prabhi Sambhar Masala, 1 tbsp ghee, salt to taste, 2 tbsp oil.

DIRECTIONS : Wash chopped mutton……. Keep aside…… Peel the potatoes and chop into two pieces…… Finely chop four onions…… Grate the dried coconut……. Roast two whole onions directly on the gas burner…….
Spice paste : Heat 1 tsp oil……Add peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, cardamoms, coriander seeds and red chillies ……. Sauté till fragrant……. Cool…… Grind to a paste with chopped roasted onions………
Sauté grated dry coconut…… Cool…….. Grind.

Heat remaining oil…… Sauté chopped onion till golden brown…… Add ginger and garlic paste……. Sauté……. Add mutton…..
Add ground spice paste, coconut paste, Prabhi Sambhar Masala, turmeric powder and salt……. Sauté till the mutton is well coated…….. Add potatoes and 1 cup water……. Cover and cook till mutton is done and the gravy is thick…….. Add ghee…… Stir…… Serve hot with steamed rice or chapattis.

NOTE : One can use unpeeled baby potatoes…… Chillies and black pepper can be adjusted according to taste….. Can use fresh grated coconut instead of dried coconut…… Can garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

SARANGYA CHE BHUJANE

Pathare Prabhu community ‘s comfort food is Bhujane…….. This simple tasty recipe can be made from ingredients generally available in Indian homes and is ready in a very short time…… Bhujane can be also made with eggs, prawns, Ravas fish, Ghol fish as also vegetables like potatoes……… Pomfret is called Saranga in Marathi language.

INGREDIENTS : 3 small pomfrets, 2 onions, 1 tsp ginger paste, 1 tbsp garlic paste, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tsp red chilli powder, a pinch of asafoetida, few sprigs coriander, 2 green chillies, salt to taste, 2 tbsp oil.

DIRECTIONS : Clean pomfrets thoroughly and cut into two pieces…… Chop the onions, green chillies and coriander finely……. Except the fish, mix all the ingredients in the cooking pan……. Crush all the ingredients with hand for at least 8-10 minutes till a homogenous paste is obtained…….. Add as much water as is required to wash the hand crushing the ingredients……. Now add in the pomfret pieces and coat with the masala…… Cook on high flame and bring me his to a boil…….. As soon as it boils, turn the heat down…….. Cover the pan with lid……. Cook on slow flame till the fish is done…….. Remove the lid, tilt and turn the pan so that the whole thing comes together……. Don’t stir with ladle……. Switch off the flame….. Cover with lid and let the curry cool down a bit…….Serve with steaming hot rice.

NOTE : Instead of small pomfrets, a big pomfret can be used…….. Chillies can be increased/ decreased according to taste…….. Crushing of the mixture with hand is a must otherwise the resultant curry will be runny……… Don’t stir with ladle as it could break the fish.

KŌLAMBĪ PIE

(PRAWN PIE)

As many members of the Pathare Prabhu community were employed with the British, baking and other cooking techniques became a part of their cuisine…….Pies, savoury puddings, shortcrust crescent pastries, fritters, sour dough breads, etc. evolved during the era of the British Raj…… Kōlambī Pie is the robustly spiced version of the traditional Shepherd’s Pie of the British…… It can be served as main course with garlic bread and salad……..Can also be served as a snack.

INGREDIENTS : For Filling – 350 gms prawns, 4 onions, 6-8 garlic cloves, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp Prabhi Sambhar Masala, mango powder to taste, salt to taste, coriander leaves, oil.
For Pie Crust : 4 potatoes, 1/2 – 1 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, salt to taste, egg yolk.

DIRECTIONS : Clean the prawns…… Finely chop onions & coriander leaves…… Crush the garlic…… Boil and mash the potatoes……. Lightly beat the egg yolk……

Filling : Heat oil…… Add crushed garlic…… Sauté…… Add chopped onions…… Sauté till translucent……. Now add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, Prabhi Sambhar Masala, a pinch of mango powder……. Sauté till fragrant…….. Add prawns & salt…… Mix till prawns are well coated…….Sauté on high flame……. When it is almost done add the chopped coriander leaves…… Mix….. Take off the heat…… The filling is done…..Keep aside to cool.
Pie crust : Add cumin powder, chilli powder & salt to the mashed potatoes……. Mix thoroughly……. Divide the mashed potatoes into two parts.
Assembling the pie : Grease the pie dish well…….. Press one part of the mashed potatoes to cover the base…….. Spread the prawn filling evenly……… Cover the filling with the rest of the mashed potatoes…….. Seal from all ends…… Make pattern with a fork…….. Brush the top with oil……. Bake, in a preheated oven, at 180 degree Centigrade for about 20-25 mins or till browned…….. Take out the pie from the oven……. Liberally brush with lightly beaten egg yolk…….. Bake for another 5-7 mins till it turns golden brown…… Serve hot.

NOTES : This pie can be also be made with tiny white prawn called Karandi in Marathi…….. Then it becomes Karandi Pie……. One can add a handful of boiled peas to the filling…… Chilli powder and other spices can be adjusted according to taste.

TALALĒLĒ SARPADANŚA

(FRIED SNAKE GOURD)

Pathare Prabhu community are thorough non vegetarians…….. But during festivals and certain occasions they have elaborate vegetarian meals…….. Fried Snake Gourd is one such dish……. Snake gourd is called Sarpadansá in Marathi…… Snake gourd is a low calorie vegetable which aids in digestive process, reduces the effects of bloating & constipation, improves blood circulation, prevents scalp disorders, prevents respiratory problems, etc…….. Fried snake gourd can be served with steamed rice and dal (lentil curry)…… It can be also be served as snacks or as starters.

INGREDIENTS : 100 gms Snake Gourd, a pinch of Turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp Prabhi Sambhar Masala, Salt to taste, 1-2 tbsp rice flour, Oil.

DIRECTIONS : Peel the snake gourd……. Cut into two halves lengthwise…… Discard the fibrous bits from the inside……. Chop……. Heat enough oil for deep frying……..Salt the snake gourd pieces……. Rest for a minute….. Drain out the liquid that comes out of snake gourd…… Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder, Prabhi Sambhar Masala…… Mix well with to coat the snake gourd…… Now dredge with rice flour……. Deep fry in oil over medium heat till done…… Take out and keep it on tissue to soak excess oil….. Serve hot.

NOTES : Salting of the snake gourd should be done just before frying…… If the salt is left on for too long, the texture of the gourd will be ruined due to loss of too much moisture…… While heating oil one must be careful…… If the oil is not hot enough, lot of oil will be absorbed and the dish will be ruined……… If the oil reaches smoking point, the snake gourd will burn resulting in bitterness….. Red chilli powder can be adjusted according to taste.