A perfect recipe is crafted with love and affection.
I have often been quizzed about the ingredients of a successful recipe. One that is appreciated, is easy to prepare and easier to remember.
My thoughts always rush back to my most repeated and sought after recipe of Dal Baluchi and Murgh Makhan Methi wala, or Baluchi Chooza Kebab. But these are not very easy to recreate at home since the slow cooking method involves a lot of time and devoted attention. Hence these are not apt for the most successful recipe as it is defined.
But then, which recipe is The Recipe? When I look back, I recollect that a lot of the recipes that my mother prepared were ridiculously simple. This treasure that I hold onto even today gave me the ingredient of success. A perfect recipe is crafted with love and affection. Here is a recipe from my mother’s recipe archive that she prepared with great love and affection. It is simple but surprisingly tasty.
Kali Dal Ki Khichdi
Ingredients:
2 cups small grain rice (Jeerakasamba or Sona masoori variety)
1 cup split black lentil (urad ki kali dal)
1 tspn mustard oil
½ small root (5 gms) crushed ginger
1 tspn or to taste salt
1 tbspn ghee
1 radish
Papad
Method:
1.Wash and soak rice for 20 min. Wash and soak dal for 1 hour.
2.Put rice in a cooker and add dal, mustard oil, salt and crushed ginger and water. (water quantity will be double i.e: 6 cups)
3.Close lid and put it on high heat till some pressure is built up and then bring flame to low and allow three-four whistles.
4.Allow it to cool on its own. Open when pressure subsides, pour ghee and mix the khichdi.
5.Serve with fried papad and grated radish salad.
Image courtesy: © Thinkstock photos/ Getty images
(Image used for representational purpose only)
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