SOMVANSHI KSHATRIYA PATHARE (SKP) CUISINE

SKP cuisine is simple and flavourful……… Except for coconut curries, very little coconut is used…… The main flavour come from a traditional spice mixture – SKP Masala…… This cuisine is a potpourri of vegetables, eggs, fish and meat……. But SKP’s are partial towards seafood…….. Seasonal vegetables like drumsticks, brinjals, turnips, etc. are found in some seafood preparations……. Koshimbir is a must with every meal……. A Maharashtrian yoghurt based salad, koshimbir is served as an accompaniment as it balances the spices of the main course……..SKP cuisine has some unique koshimbirs………. Regular fresh vegetables are prepared with simple basic spices……. Interestingly, SKPs love adding sprouts to fresh vegetables….. This community prefer to cook desi chicken (free range)…… As accompaniments rice, chapatis and rice ghawan (crisp rice pancakes) are more common…….. Kombdi wade (mixed flour poori) are preferred with richer curries.

Gujarati influence can be be seen in some dishes……. During Sankranti, Ukad Handi is made…… Ukad Handi is very similar to Gujarati recipe Undhiyu…….. Both dishes are made during winter as a wide variety of seasonal vegetables are available during this period……… Literally meaning Boiled Pot, Ukad Handi is made by marinating vegetables like potatoes, raw bananas, beans, brinjals, suran, etc. with spices and pastes and filling them in earthen pots…….. These pots are sealed and placed in bonfire……. The vegetables cook in their own juices acquiring a lovely smoky and earthy aroma resulting in a healthy meal.

SKP cuisine is very simple and rustic making use of local ingredients and flavours.

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CONCLUSION – PATHARE PRABHU COMMUNITY CUISINE

Due to their affluent lifestyle, Pathare Prabhus were often addressed as Sokajis…… Over the years, Pathare Prabhu cuisine has developed into a fine art……. While migrating through Rajasthan, Gujarat, Deccan, Pathare Prabhus picked up different nuances of the cuisines of these states and made it their own……. Thus their journey contributed to the unusual dishes one finds in the community.

Pathare Prabhu Community, usually, are Non Vegetarians……. But, particularly during various religious festivals, the vast repertoire of vegetarian dishes they cook are equally delicious…… Though these vegetarian dishes are prepared with elaborate attempts to make them look similar to non vegetarian ingredients…… For example, while cutting snake gourd for Fried Snake Gourd dish, the vegetable is chopped in such a way so that it resembles small prawns……. Similarly, while cooking Suran (Yam) Curry, it is cooked in such a way so that it is as similar to Mutton Gode as possible.

Being progressive, Pathare Prabhus picked up various cooking techniques like baking during the British Raj…….. Bhanole, a baked cabbage and prawns dish, is an interesting example of how this community adapted a western technique to suit their palate.

Other than the Prabhi Sambhar Masala, Pathare Prabhus have various spice blends which give their cuisine a distinctive subtlety …….. Prabhi Methkut is one such example…… One can cook Bombil Methkutache (Bombay Duck Curry) with this spice blend.

The meals are generally eaten with rice and khakra (chapatis slightly toasted with ghee)……. Coconut Milk Curry is a must…….. Sambhare, Kalvan, Sheer and Gode-Aatle are different types of Coconut Milk Curries.

Pathare Prabhu Cuisine is the result of migration of this community…… It has been wonderful journey through this marvellous cuisine.

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.